Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-05-02

FRIGHTENING BEARS.-1 ears ago when
Indians and bears were plentiful In Cali
fornia and white men we're not, on my
way TO San Francisco was riding through
what were known as the tute marches,
bordering the San Joaquin river near its
mouth. Those were days before railroads,
steamboats,, or even ordinary sailing yes.
sells, when journeys Of four or five hun.
dred miles were made on horseback
swimming streams when you came to
them, or canoeing" them when they were
very wide, and leading your horse from
the stern of the "dug out.'
was to cross the San Joaquin in this
latter fashion, and was approaching the
point from which travellers shouted to the
Indian ferryman on the opposite shore,
and called him over in his cranky craft.
The sun of brilliant summers day was
setting behind me, and his dazzling rays,
already nearly level with the tops Of the
bushes that had sprang up by the horse
path, lit up the tall, sturdy trunks of the
forest trees that stretched far to my right.
was about breaking the silence of the
vast solitudes by shouting with all my
might, "Whoop-eew which was the ferry
call, and had Just turned my horses head
toward the river bank, when two bears,
which had come down from he woods for
their evening drink, and had been con-
cealed from my view by the bend in the
road and the tall bushes, suddenly app ar
ed not twenty PAGES in front. scratching
for roots in the middle of the road. Now,
horses love bears about as much as do
little children who have heard nurses
stories Of them; SO, no sooner had the
beast on which I was riding caught a
glimpse of the great, shaggy intruders,
that he gave snort of surprise, and
whirled so suddenly in his tracks that
went over his side, saving myself fiom
tumble only by clutching the high pommel
of my California saddle and holding on
for dear life. Back up the road scampered
my flying steed, while clung like
Comanche to his hanks. Righting myself
in the saddle, however, / brought the
heavy Spanish bit TO bear, and soon reined
in the frightened animal. had much
difficulty in making him face about, but
the great jingling spurs which we wore in
those days were very persuasive, and,
though with fear and trembling, the poor
h rse, putting like locomotive began to
retrace his steps.
We had gone back only few yards
when We saw the bears again, and despite
my own and the horses nervousness, l
burst out laughing attheir comical appear
ance. They had been as much frightened.
probably as we, but seeing our cowardly
flight, had taken courage and trotted up
the road after us, until they came into the
full glare of the sun; and there they both
stood, motionless on their hind legs, side
by side, each shading his eyes with his
right paw and apparently transtxed with
wonder and amazement. Horses they
were familiar with, because the plains of
the San Joaquin were covered with rowing
bands of wild horses; Indians they had
occasionally seen and put to flight; but
what that white faced object, with the
blue shirt and colored handkerchief around
his neck, was, must have been to them,
just then. tine one absorbing inquiry of the
bear intellect. for they were certainly
taking their first look at white man.
The left paw of each hung by his side,
limp and nerve.ess, and. under the paw,
which deftly and with most ludicrous
effect shaded their vision, the little, wide
open, piggish eyes were, in their puzzled
expression, irresistibly comical.
1 had no gun with me, and don't think
should have used 1t If had one; but
bethought me Of tho ferry call. and yelled.
"Whoop-ee!" at the top Of my lungs. That
broke the spell and interrupted their gaze
at the same moment, and two more fright
ened bears never got down from their
hind legs and took to the woods.
The Indian ferry-man across the river
gave the answering shout, "Hy-yar!" and
shouted "Whoop-ew again. heard the
bushes clash and snap and break, as those
two utterly astonished bears burst madly
through them In their fight. l did not
call them back.-E. W. Rempie, in 50.
Nicholas for april.