They were infuriated at this invasion of their home, and were evidently resolved on teaching the hunter better manners by making their supper upon him.
Carson had no time to reload his gun: had it been given him he would have made short work of one of the brutes at least, but as it was, he was deprived of even that privilege.

Fortunate indeed would he be if he could escape their fury.
The grizzly bear is the most dreaded animal found on this continent.
He does not seem to feel the slightest fear of the hunter, no matter whether armed or not, and, while other beasts are disposed to give man a wide berth, old "Ephraim," as the frontiersmen call him, always seems eager to attack him.

His tenacity of life is extraordinary.

Unless pierced in the head or heart, he will continue his struggles after a dozen or score of rifle balls have been buried in his body.

So terrible is the grizzly bear, that an Indian can be given no higher honor than the privilege of wearing a necklace made from his claws--that distinction being permitted only to those who have slain one of the animals in single handed combat.
No one understood the nature of these beasts better than Kit Carson and he knew that if either of the animals once got his claws upon him, there would not be the faintest chance of escape.