The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-14
nEZ ON THE TRAIL
Tlts Path so Marrow That Neither
Could Pass His Foe.
Death w~s r~cv.tab's for Ono. and ns
Chose II Own Wsy.-A ThriilIo1 T ay-
oily La tho Pinat Mountains OF
Southern Arizona.

- 49, ~'N PiS poiSN AOi oiHiltEs WIktCS -
correspondence the Detroit Free Press.
At no time were wo less than one hum
drcd feet above the bottom. and some
times tho height was doubled.
have spoken OF it rs q gorge. 1t was
ono OF tho great riffs in tho Pinal
mountains OF Southern Arizona = In
some places valley half mile wide
In others narrow, deep and dismal can.
yon not moro than fifty feet across.
Opposite Va as we rested, and not over
quarter OF = milo away. the wall OF
the canyon was almost straight up and
down and entirely clear OF tree or bush.
TWAS higher on that side than on ours
foil OF two hundred feet to tho rooka
below. We were slipping our coffee,
when we suddenly caught sight OF an
object moving along the faoc OF the OPP
posite cliff. We could not soc It, but there
was evidently n ledge which furnished
9 foot-path. We at frat took the object
for bear, but no sooner had the old
trappcr got on his feet than no observed:
TITS only mountain pony, boys."
1t was chcstnut-cOlored pony weigh
Ing about Two hundred pounds. with q
very shaggy coat. lIewss descendants
OF tho wild horse of the plains. but in
stead Of following them over tho prai.
Tics he had taken to the hills. His
breed used to DO az numerous in the
Finals as goats, and they hnd tho CON
pany of largo numbers Of buffaloos
which never descended to the valleys.
Tho lcdgo must have bcen a very mar
cow one, for VIC saw the pony move
slowly and with caution. lie had como
almost opposite us when second OBJ
ject moved out from bchind rock to
the east OF us. We at first supposed it
to be another pony. but tho trappcr no
sooner set eyes on it than ho whispered:
ITS big cinnamon bar, and We arc
going to eco some fun.''
No sooner had tho bear moved out
than he was face TO face with tho pony,
though distance Of somc fifty feet
separated them. The pony threw up his
head and uttered snort OF alarm, while
the bear sat up and looked at him.
That WAS not tho first wild beast tho
pony had seen in his roamings through
those lonely mountains. but 1t was the
first he had seen under such circum-
stances. The Ledge MAS nos wide enough
for him to turn about. What would
he do?
Tho bear Was in no hurry. He
seemed to DO sure that no had his din
aer safe and perhaps u close Wow Of the
pony WAS novelty to him. Two of us
gUs ready to shoot. hoping to drive him
away. If not kill him. but the old trap
por motioncd us back and said:
at is the way God ordained; let His
rules stand"
The pony had perhaps seen us from
the first. lilo now looked over, seem
ingly in appeal. but he found only pity.
lilo started to back down the tr,il by
which he had como, but no had net
moved moro than ard when tho idea
sxs abandoned. The tv.:; Was luu mar
.v.:. tic advanced to his former posi-
ton, and then looked stra .ght across tho
qSrgc into our faces.
God made it solo mado 1t sol"
whispered tho trappcr, as he heard u
movement Oh our pat
For perhaps five minutes tho bear and
tho pony feed each other and wo could
not sec that either moved in tho slight
est Then the bear began slow al
vance. The pony stuck his head out on
limo with his body and uttered sort
OF whistle through his nostrils.
lied fight il he had show, but no
hasn't got one" whispered tho trappcr.
Tho pony's under lip fell down and
showed his teeth. and his ears wcre laid
back like an enragcd cats. AS the boar
drew nearer he raised ono forc-foot and
then the other. and struck Thorn sharp
ii on the rocky path
Ncarcr Nearer! Nearer!
The bear did not walk. but hitched
himself along foot by foot. whilo no
kept his great paws swinging In tho air.
lie evidently suspicioned that the pony
would attempt to jamp over HIM. Now
they arc flftc II feet apart-now ten
now only five. Now the pony uttcrs
scream OF alright or amer and tho
snorts Of tho bear como plainly to our
oars. They face each other for full
minute, and every one OF us is trembling
rs If personally monaccd.
Swish! Tho bear gathered himself
and made rush, roaring loudly as no
did SO. Quick az no moved, tho pony
moved quicker. 1t was death on tho
trail ahead death on tho great bould-
crs in tho bottom OF the gorge. lie
choose the latter. and as the bear rushed
no reared up, wheeled to tho right. and
sprang far out into space with such
cry OF terror as human beings have ut
tered when they went down to an awful
death. f'ccrinI over the rocks. wo SAW
his dead and mangled body on tho cruel
rocks below.
Sleep and Is nntv.