The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1888-04-06
TENDERFOOT DAN.
4 TALE OF SNIPF-HITNTINC IN
THE FOUNTAINS.
Mr.. Vcrdant Green. the Second, Has
Read Novels of Western Life.
Versus Practice Described.
Especial Cor STATE CHRoNIcLE.l ]


rugged mass of hills but little less arid
than the desert which stretches around
them. The mountains are covered with a
scrubby growth OF timber and either from
dew or occasional rains there is sufficient
moisture 10 nOurSh paSturage for some
thousand half Wild cattle. Within score
of miles the only spring Is a stagnant
pool where a gorge from the mountain
breaks through the outlying hills and holds
3 little storm-water from the thirsty
sands
BY this pocket" was camped one even
ing last summer a merry corps of engl-
ueerS. Not that Chief Davis was so hu-
mOrOuS. nor We're his aids unusually witty
but there was a tenderfoOt III camp whose
greenness afforded endless mirth and made
him a butt for practical Jokes He was the
son Of a Pennsylvania Congressman and
had come West with ideas of the country
acquired from the widest stories of ad-
venture and border warfare
Upon reaching the pocket in the after
noon it was found necessary to keep the
beasts away through the night in order to
get water sufficiently clean to make the
mornings coffee. A pistol shot, a whoop,
or a stone flung at the wary steers as they
approached their drinking place would
send them Scamperng, crashing away
through the brush. But there was an old
bull, either bolder than his comrades or
more thirsty, that would not be frighten-
ed and continued TO return as often as he
was driven from the water. Dan at length,
thinking to terrify him, seized tin pan
aud running out from the tents raised a
clamor. Across the open meadow the ani-
NAL retreated for a moment then wheeling
suddenly charged his purSuer. The pan
was dropped, the tenderfoot turned and
lied for his life followed close by the bel
lowing brute. He scurIied across the glade
plunged into tent, under a cot, while the
bull with head down dashed by, then
faced about and paved the earth as if half
a mind TO charge the camp again. Pres
emily he walked off and for some time
could be heard venting his rage upon in
nocent bushes and utterlng angry sounds.
Pale and trembling the youth crawled
from his retreat and submitted as best he
might to the chatting Of his comrades.
" hen the moon rose after little and one
proposed snipe hunt he was eager to
change the subject and urged the sugges-
ton ardently. If bears WERE in the woods.
with knives and pistols, who was afraid
Not he. He had never seen a snipe. Why
not 60 at once? His spirits had returned
and he was anxious to forget his recent
e9capade in a show of bravery.
Taking the necessary bag and tallow
candle the boys trudged mile along the
cattle trail that led up the dark gorge to-
wards the mountain. Then leaving the
innocent Dan to hold the bag open at the
end of log, they stole off to drive the
snipes, but quickly found their way back
to the tents and the comfortable fire.
After his comrades were gone and all
was still. the stories he had heard of grlz-
lies came 10 Dan most vividly. He was in
their hauuts, armed only with pistols
Should one come from the mountain it
must needs pass down that gorge. He
cast his eye about for convenient tree to
climb, in case Of need, but just around
seemed only scrubby brush scarcely higher
than bear could reach He grew more
nervous as he thought of 1t, till his limbs
We're a-tremble. He had been alone an hour
perhaps when there was cracking in the
copse. Dropping the bag he started to-
wards camp as nimbly as the uneven way
and the darkness would let. As he ran
his fears increased. Strange sounds came
from the brush and snorts of animals could
be heard on the hillside He was sure
izzlies were following; they were afraid
Of fire and he lit the lantern.
From the camp down in the glade the
boys, long since returned, saw the moving
light Was it possible Tenderfoot had
discovered the Joker But why such haste2
For by TIE light of his lantern they could
discern hiE now springing wildly along
the trail. Boys, Boys" came the fright
ened voice along the way. Boys Davis!
Help" he screamed between his desperate
leaps Running out from the tents the
young men paused at the edge of the
glade, for Dan was almost among them
and nothing could yet be seen of an enc
my. Suddenly there was crash through
the bushes, a roar, and black form filled
the path behind the running youth. In
staDtlx thora uaS Dan IrODpp6
the lantern and with a terrified scream
bounded towards his comrades while they
sprang away before him and yelling bears.
grizzlies." dashed pell nell into camp.
There be isl Here he comes" arose the
cries as they rushed by the tent towards
the few scattering trees and clambered for
their lives. Now was the time for the
Mormon packer to show his manhood but
the old heather added his voice to the
tumult and sprang for tree. Up they
all clambered into the limbs and still up
till the slender boughs bent beneath their
weight But looking around no sign Of
the grizzlies was discernable. Off IN the
brush the old bull was believing again
and 5avagely "butting" the young saplins.
Perhaps the grizzly had turned aside for
him and calling silence they listened in
tently but not growl was heard.
Just see our things lying there on the
rations. If the bear comes he'll tear them
TO fragments" Some one must go down
and stand guard But who would dare sc
much for a few instruments. One and all
protested, till at length the Mormon for a
large bounty consented to face the danger.
descending cautiously he mounted guard
with rifle in hand and it was not long be
fore a growl seemed to come from the
brush near by. Instantly there was com
motion in the trees again as the youths
called excitedly to the packer. But the
old man without hesitation plunged into
the brush towards the noise. For a mo
ment the silence was intense till rifle
CRACKED in the stiffness, then roars anc
growls and crashing of brush were heard
While the mans cries for help came plerc
ingly in the night. The boys sat thunder
struck, amazed, till one brave fellow slic
from his perch, seized a rifle and disap
peared in the brush. Presently there was
the sound of firing again, and growls, anC
again came the cries for help. Another
youth leaped to the ground and disap
peared, then another and another till DaE
alone clung to the tree top blubberine
and listening at the noise in the chaparral
again the rifles sounded and the boy'
could he heard calling to each other