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Only a few days after Russell went out on his first buffalo hunt he and his green friend took on the terror of a wounded grizzly bear (Reference). "On
the 20th of August we started again to hunt meat: we left the Fort [Fort
Hall] and travelled abot 6 miles when we discovered a Grizzly Bear
digging and eating roots in a piece of marshy ground near a large bunch of
willows. The Mullattoe approached within 100 yards and shot him thro. the
left shoulder he gave a hideous growl and sprang into the thicket. The
Mullattoe then said "let him go he is a dangerous varmint" but
not being acquainted with the nature of these animals I determined on
making another trial, and persuaded the Mullatto to assist me we walked
round the bunch of willows where the Bear lay keeping close
together, with our Rifles ready cocked and presented towards the bushes
untill near the place where he had entered, when we heard a sullen growl
about 10 ft from us, which was instantly followed by a spring of the Bear
toward us; his enormous jaws extended and eyes flashing fire. Oh Heavens!
was ever anything so hideous? We could not retain sufficient presence of
mind to shoot at him but took to our heels separating as we ran the Bear
taking after me, finding I could out run him he left and turned to the
other who wheeled about and discharged his Rifle covering the Bear with
smoke and fire the ball however missing him he turned and bounding toward
me - I could go no further without jumping into a large quagmire which
hemmed me on three sides, I was obliged to turn about and face him he came
within about 10 paces of me then suddenly stopped and raised his ponderous
body erect, his mouth wide open, gazing at me with a beastly laugh at this
moment I pulled trigger and I knew not what else to do and hardly knew
that I did this but it accidentally happened that my Rifle was pointed
towards the Bear when I pulled and the ball piercing his heart, he gave
one bound from me uttered a deathly howl and fell dead: but I trembled as
if I had an ague fit for half an hour after, we butchered him as he was
very fat packed the meat and skin on our horses and returned to the Fort
with the trophies of our bravery, but I secretly determined in my own mind
never to molest another wounded Grizzly Bear in a marsh or thicket."
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