The beast charged after the first shot, but slackened its pace on coming almost up to the man.

The latter's gun jambed, and as he was endeavoring to work it he kept stepping slowly back, facing the bear which followed a few yards distant, snarling and threatening.

Unfortunately while thus walking backwards the man struck a dead log and fell over it, whereupon the beast instantly sprang on him and mortally wounded him before help arrived.
On rare occasions men who are not at the time hunting it fall victims to the grisly.

This is usually because they stumble on it unawares and the animal attacks them more in fear than in anger.

One such case, resulting fatally, occurred near my own ranch.