They surrounded the thicket, firing and throwing stones into the bushes.

Finally, as nothing moved, they ventured in and found the indomitable grisly warrior lying dead.
Cowboys delight in nothing so much as the chance to show their skill as riders and ropers; and they always try to ride down and rope any wild animal they come across in favorable ground and close enough up.

If a party of them meets a bear in the open they have great fun; and the struggle between the shouting, galloping, rough-riders and their shaggy quarry is full of wild excitement and not unaccompanied by danger.
The bear often throws the noose from his head so rapidly that it is a difficult matter to catch him; and his frequent charges scatter his tormentors in every direction while the horses become wild with fright over the roaring, bristling beast--for horses seem to dread a bear more than any other animal.

If the bear cannot reach cover, however, his fate is sealed.

Sooner or later, the noose tightens over one leg, or perchance over the neck and fore-paw, and as the rope straightens with a "plunk," the horse braces itself desperately and the bear tumbles over.
Whether he regains his feet or not the cowboy keeps the rope taut; soon another noose tightens over a leg, and the bear is speedily rendered helpless.
I have known of these feats being performed several times in northern Wyoming, although never in the immediate neighborhood of my ranch.