Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-12-12

IfOh uIutT tDc ohtufit. NntSi ooc1 80 -
pillow. l was awakened by the tug, was
very much frightened. yelled and saw indis-
tinctly something making for swamp near
by. On another ocrasion one of these ami
mails came barking and yelling down a
mountain side and so followed the procession
my horse, dog end myself for over half
mile. What he wanted never could make
out.
Grizzlies were plentiful, yet | never saw
one in his native forest, not even a grizzly
track Some good luck kept me and the
grizzly apart One night | camped near
sheep ranch. Seeing my fire, the proprietor
made me a visit. Well" said he, you've
chosen not over nice place TO spend the
night in. You're right in the track OF the
bears They've killed twenty six of my sheep
within the last two weeks. Guess you'd bet
ter come and sleep in my barn on the hay"
Which did. a pile Of loose hay, with a
blanket atop of it, was a luxurious exchange
from the hard ground with only a blanket
atop Of that.
Was | afraid in these solitudes! Yes,
was often. | never rested securely at night,
dreaded the darkness and was very glad to
see the mornings light What was | afraid
of! don't know exactly. Perhaps every
thing in general and nothing in particular,
If my dog snufted and growled, which he
would at times do during the night, l was IN
dread of whatever he snuttng or grOwl-
ing at, were 1t beast, reptile or Indian. Were
Indians sbouti Yes, but deemed friendly.
These were the Utes. They had been hostile
to the whites few years previous, and what
was easier than for 4 wandering party OF
them to make away with a lone wanderer
like mysef for the sake Of my horse,
gun, blankets, kit and pocket money!
Many skeleton, 20 be found year,
hence, lays today where the robbers,
either white or copper colOred, left 1t l al
ways gave Mr.. Indian wide berth when
saw the smoke OF his camp fire, though IN
reality there wns no more 10 dread from him,
perhaps not SO much, as from the white
skinned desperadoes liable to 10 met in the
territory Of Nevada at that time What boy
or man need most to guard against in camp
ing out is taking cold from sleeping on the
damp ground People accustomed all their
lives to warm, dry and comfortable beds can
not safely make the change 10 q nights rest
in one or even two pairs ot blankets on or
near the ground with safety. So much damp
ness near you will draw the heat from your
body at the time when il IS most easily
drawn away and is most needed-that Is
during sleep. So by all means follow the In
dian fashion and sleep with your feet as near
the fire as possible. was careless and igno-
rant then Of the proper manner Of taking
care OF myself and suffered a good deal l
often slept cold, and woke up at or 4 in the
morning chilled through. Next day / would
find myself without strength, dull and lack
ing spring in my muscles That meant hsd
lost more strength than | had gained during
the night Its a marvel TO me now that
lived at all through this long continued and
ignorant abuse Of myself. Once | became so
weak as not to be able to stir for three days
from a camp ground. made . sort Of shell
ter of one pair Of blankets, built my fire at
ono end of it and staid there The wind
changed about fifteen times q day, blowing
the smoke from my fire through the shelter.
would then crawl out and build the fire at
the other end Hardly had | done so before
the wind wosld again shift, blowing the
smoke and asheG in upon me as before. This
was during June There was q snow squall
svery day-a common occurrence in that
high altitude. Ny perch il that camp was
about 5000 feet above the sea level Very
warm weather never came there.
suffered also, and ignorsntly, from tho
poor food was Obliged to live on. A con-
slant diet Of bread, bacon, beef or game
without fruit or vegetables is another source
OF dullneSs and heaviness 70 the body, and
campers out are very apt TO hive mainly on
such food. You can't do so aud be very well
This is not picturesque phase of life under
the trees, but the sooner a boy learns 70 take
some thought about what he eats and how It
Affects him. the sooner is he on the right road
to get the most good out OF life.
PRENTICE MULFoRp