This black and white opaque watercolor was reproduced as an illustration in Dr. William A. Allen’s spirited memoir Adventures with Indians and Game, or, Twenty Years in the Rocky Mountains, published in 1903. In his book Allen recalled witnessing a bloody contest between an old buffalo bull and a large grizzly bear, which had been menacing a small group of buffalo cows and calves. From horseback on a nearby hill, Allen watched the two animals clash repeatedly. The bear tore at the bull with its large claws and teeth, as the buffalo bull gored its opponent unmercifully. The bear appeared to be losing the battle when Allen decided to terminate the contest by killing both animals with his rifle.