Again there was a roar of mingled pain and rage, and the grizzly, like its companion, quickly decided to retreat. As soon as the lumbering animal, still roaring with pain and shaking its head, regained the ground at the base of the tree, its companion, having somewhat recovered from the results of its former attempt, once more began to climb. But Kit Carson, now more confident, met the ascending bear with a second resounding blow upon its nose. Evidently the spot was somewhat tender, for the grizzly emitted a loud roar of pain and with still greater haste started to the ground. Once more the second bear attempted the ascent, but the result which had followed its former efforts speedily compelled the attack to be abandoned. Both bears now were steadily shaking their heads, growling and in pain, and yet neither apparently was inclined to withdraw from the spot where they had trapped the scout. CHAPTER XX—WILD HORSES Apparently the two grizzlies were confident that they would be able to wait as long as the man whom they had compelled to seek refuge in the tree. The slow minutes passed, and even Reuben, who was watching from the distance and as yet had not been discovered by the bears, was becoming cramped and impatient. He was not willing to call to his friend, for he dared not do anything to attract the attention of his enemies. He was well assured that he would not be able to drive them away as successfully as had Kit Carson by wielding a club. At last when what Reuben was convinced was at least two hours had passed, apparently the two bears decided to abandon their vigil. Apparently, too, they did this not because they were discouraged, but because their feeling of hunger drew them in another direction. With the strange lope or rolling motion with which bears run, both grizzlies advanced to the place where the elk which Kit Carson had shot was lying. This was not far distant from the trees in which the young trappers were hiding, and in a brief time the sounds of the repast were distinctly heard. Snarls and occasional growls were frequent. Once one of the bears rose to a sitting posture and viciously struck his companion on the head with his paw. The action apparently did not arouse the anger of the second bear, who was thoroughly busy in his task of devouring the body of the slain elk. Would the animals never eat their fill? Reuben, cramped and with every nerve tingling, had watched the savage beasts, hoping that they soon would be satisfied and then would depart from the region. At last, when the grizzlies had devoured most of the body, apparently satisfied with their repast, they both turned and for a moment threatened to come back to the place where they had tried to climb the tree in which the young scout had found refuge.