This time Mr. Hinkle is concerned with a bear hunt in the ""old West"", but the author's overly sentimental view of horses and animals in general remains a constant. Dapple Gray, a gelding raised by young Charlie Pratt, runs the gamut of human expressions and emotions, and shows on the whole, more intelligence than Charlie. It is Dapple, who with his pummeling hooves kills the deadly grizzly bear, while Charlie is in a tree, having dropped his gun. Disasters, pursuit and final death of the grizzly form the framework of the plot. In the meantime, Dapple behaves like a very precocious horse. Routine, but will probably sell.