d
claiming the strict fulfilment of it.

"If this thing is to be undertaken by me," he said, "I must have it all
my own way and do the thing entirely by myself."

"Nobody objects to your having it all your own way," retorted Victor,
somewhat testily, "but why should you be so secret about it? Why not
give a fellow some sort of idea what your plan is, so that, if we can't
have the pleasure of helping you, we may at least enjoy the comfort of
thinking about it?"

"No, Vic, no. I won't give you a hint, because my plan is entirely new,
and you would laugh at it; at least it is new to me, for I never heard
of its having been attempted with grizzlies before, though I have heard
of it in connection with other bears. Besides, I may fail, in which
case the less that is known about my failure the better. Only this much
will I say, the idea has been suggested to me by the formation of the
land hereabouts. You know there is a gap or pass in the rocks just
ahead of us, through which the bear seems to have passed more than once
in the course of his rambles. Well, that gap is the spot where I will
make my attempt. If you follow me to that gap I will at once return to
camp and let you manage the matter yourselves."

"Well, well, do as you please," said Victor, with a laugh, "and the
sooner you set about it the better. Rollin and I will ride away some
miles in the opposite direction and see if we can't get hold of a wild
goose for supper."

"Ha! perhaps de grizzly vill get hold of anoder and a vilder goose for
supper," said Rollin, with a shake of his head.

When his companions had departed, Ian Macdonald cleaned his gun
carefully and loaded with ball; then placing his axe in his belt beside
his scalping-knife, he proceeded with long and rapid strides towards the
gap or pass above referred to. The bear's track led through this pass,
which was a narrow cut, not more than thirty feet wide, in a steep rocky
ridge with which the country at that place was intersected for a
considerable distance. The ridge itself, and the pass by which it was
divided, were thickly covered with trees and dense undergrowth.

The floor of the pass was level, although rugged, and the rocks on
either side rose in a sheer precipice, so that whoever should attempt to
penetrate without wings to the region beyond must needs go by that
narrow cut.

Arrived at the middle of the pass, where it was narrowest, Ian leant his
gun against the precipice on