Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-02-03
t MET ON THE TRAIL.

NJ uO GlLuo "eHo "o less Cl1H Olo uuu-
dred feet above the bottom, and some
times tho height was doubled.
have spoken Of it as gorge. 1t was
one Of tho great riffs in tho Pinal
mountains of Southern Arizona - in
some places o valley half mile wide
in others narrow, deep and dismal can
yon not moro than fifty feet across.
Opposite us as we rested, and not over
a quarter OF mile away, tho wall Of
the canyon was almost straight up and
down and entirely clear Of tree or bush.
1t was higher on that side than on ours
fall Of two hundred feet to the rocks
below. We were slipping our coffee,
whom we suddenly caught sight Of an
object moving along the face of the OPP
posite cliff. We could notsee it, but there
was evidently ledge which furnished
O foot-path. We at first took tho object
for a bear, but no sooner had the old
trapper got on his feet than he observed:
''It's only a mountain pony, boys"
1t was q chestnut-colored pony weigh
ing about five hundred pounds, with a
very shaggy coat lie was n descendant
OF the wild horse of the plains, but in
stead Of following them over the prai-
ries he had takon to the hills. His
breed used to be as numerous in the
Finals as goats, and they had the COM
pany of large numbers of buffaloes
which never descended to the valleys.
The ledge must have been a very mar
row one, for we saw the pony move
slowly and with caution. He had como
almost opposite us when a second OBJ
ject moved out from behind rock to
the east of u.s. We at first supposed it
to be another pony, but tho trapper no
sooner set eyes on it than he whispered:
'It's big cinnamon bar, and we arc
going to SOC Somc fun!'
No sooner had the bear moved out
than he was face to face with the pony,
though a distance of somo fifty feet
separated them. The pony threw up his
head and uttered q snort of alarm, while
the bear sat up and looked at him.
That was not sho first wild beast the
pony had seen in his roapings through
those lonely noun tains, bat it was the
first no had seen under such circum-
stances. The ledge was not wide enough
for him to turn about. What would
no do?
The bear was in no hurry. He
seemed to he sure that he had his din
ner safe and perhaps close view of the
pony was novelty to him. Two of us
got ready to shoot, hoping to drive him
away. if not kill him, but the old trap
per motioned us back and said:
''It is the way God ordained; let His
rules stand"
The pony had perhaps seen us from
the first. flo now looked over, seem
ingly in appeal, but he found only pity.
He started to back down the trail by
which he had come, but he had not
moved moro than a yard when the idea
was abandoned. The trail was too mar
row. Io advanced to his former posi-
ton, and then looked straight across tho
gorge into our faces.
God made it Sole made it sop
whispered tho trapper, as he heard u
movement on our part.
For perhaps five minutes the bear and
the pony faced each other and we could
not see that either moved in the slight
est. Then the boar began slow adj
vance. The pony stuck his head out on
limo with his body and uttered sort
OF whistle through his nOstrils.
"Io'd fight If be had a show, but be
hasn't got one" whispered the trapper.
The pony's under lip fell down and
showed his teeth, and his ears were laid
back like an enragcd cats. As the bear
drew nearer he raised ono fore foot and
then the other, and struck them sharp
ly on the rocky path.
Nearerl Nearer! Nearer!
The boar did not walk. but hitched
himself along foot by foot, while he
kept his great paws swinging in the air.
He evidently suspicioned that the pony
would attempt to jump over him. Now
they are fifteen feet apart now ten
now only five. Now the pony utters q
scream OF alright or anger and the
Snorts OF tho bear come plainly to our
ears. They face each tether for full
minute, and every oneof us is trembling
IS il personally menaced.
Swish! Tho bear gathered himself
and made q rush, roaring loudly as he