And even as he looked and wondered from whence such a pair of creatures had so unexpectedly come, the horse gave a terrified snort, threw up its head, and recoiled back upon its haunches.  The cause of this fright was at once apparent, for around a huge boulder a large hear had suddenly made its appearance.  Reynolds saw at a glance that it was a grizzly, the most formidable animal of the north, and the terror of the trails.  Although greatly startled at meeting the horse and its rider, the bear had no idea of retreating.  They were blocking his lordly advance and it made him angry.  Its coarse savage growl sawed the air as it moved menacingly forward.

All this Reynolds noted as he kneeled upon the ground, firmly clutching his rifle with both hands.  Beads of perspiration stood out upon his forehead as he watched the scene across the deep gulch.  The horse was rearing wildly, and backing slowly up the trail.  There was no room to turn around, so with remarkable coolness and self-control the fair rider was keeping him pressed close to the bank and face to face with the on-coming grizzly.  At any instant the horse might disregard the guiding hand as well as the friendly words of encouragement, and in mad terror attempt to swerve suddenly around, and thus hurl itself and rider into the yawning abyss below.

All this passed through Reynolds’ mind with lightning rapidity, and he realised that there was not a moment to lose.  The bear was advancing more rapidly now, and in a twinkling he might hurl his full weight of eight hundred pounds of compact flesh, bone and muscle upon horse and rider.  But ere it could do this, Reynolds brought the rifle to his shoulder, took a quick, steady aim, and fired.  The bullet sped true and pierced the bear’s body just back of its powerful right shoulder.  The great brute stopped dead in its tracks.  It swayed for an instant, and then with a roar that drove the recoiling horse almost frantic with terror, it leaped sideways and plunged down the precipice, carrying with it a small avalanche of rocks, earth, and rattling stones.

Reynolds watched the bear until it had plowed its way to the ravine below, where it remained a confused and motionless heap.  Then a smile of satisfaction over-spread his face as he lowered his rifle and lifted his eyes to the trail above.  The girl had the horse under control now, and was urging him slowly down the narrow way.  But the animal’s fear was most apparent, for he was advancing very timidly, his whole body quivering with excitement.  The fair rider, however, seemed perfectly at ease, and not the least disturbed at what had just happened.

After she had passed the spot where the bear had first appeared, she reined up the horse and looked across to where Reynolds was standing watching her most intently.  Waving her band in friendly salutation, she called aloud: 

“Come on over.”

The young man obeyed with alacrity.  He sped down the hill, leaped across the narrow stream, and hurried up the trail.  He was panting heavily when he reached the girl’s side, and the perspiration was streaming down his face.  She looked at him curiously, and her eyes danced with merriment.