The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-09-14
A Kentucky Mule.

Sam Parsons gray mule Zeke is old
and gray, but he possesses great strength
both Of understanding and Of body.
Saturday old Sam concluded that be
wouldn't work, and accordingly he
shouldered his muzzle loading rife and
went hunting. Bot before departing he
turned Zeke out 10 Craze.
Finding the grass aronnd the parsons
cabin rather seanty, Zeke wandered
down the edge Of the creek next 10 the
mountain side. There within the shad-
og of the woods hestruck nice, tender
elump Of grass and Immediately began
to eat it with great delight While en-
gagged in this eongenial task large black
bear came down the mountain side and
approached Zeke. Zeke had probably
never seen a bear before, as the ursina
tribe has long been scarce in those noun
tains- Nor is it likely that the bear had
ever on any previous occasion looked
upon q mule. But this bear was hungry
and, while Zeke was bigger game than
he had bargained for, be evidently
thought it worth while to take a look at
him, for he came a little nearer.
Zeke was not bit afraid. He had
never stood in awe Of manhood, not even
Old Sam, his master, and it was not like
ly that at this late period Of his life he
would be afraid ofany four footed Great
ure that walked the earth. Zeke calmly
went On with his pleasant task of eating
grass. The bear edged up another yard.
Zeke switched his tail and cleverly
knocked fly off his back, and being re-
lieved Of the burden Of the insect still
munched the grass.
The bear began to grow inquisitive.
He evidently did not understand what
kind Of an animal Zeke was, his studies
in zoology being limited. he stood upon
his launches and growled, not as threat
but as kind Of friendly salute Zeke
did not raise his head, but still munched
the grass. The bear stopped growing
and walked in a respectful circle around
Zeke, studying him from every corner.
He might have been a hundred miles
away for all the notice Zeke took. The
bear was puzzled ana uttered another
growl Of interrogation. Again finding
himself unnotieed he began to grow an
CRY.
Tie bear went around behind Zeke
and came very close, evidently determin-
ed 10 try by touch TO arouse the strange
animal Suddenly Zeke doubled himself
up in knotand leaped high in the air.
Two legs flew out the bunch like piston
rods and caught the bear in the side,
whirling him over a complete somersault.
When be struck the ground he righted
himself and rushed away with a growl
Of pain. But Zeke was hot after him,
and the bear, seeing that he would be
Overtaken, scrambled up a hickory tree.
bIrely missing terrible drive Of Zeke's
hind heels
Noon came and still Zeke was under
the tree. The afternoon passed. 1t was
almos. sundown, but still Zeke was
there. The bear could stand it no long
eT. Zske was about twenty feet away
from the tree, apparently taking no
notice, and accordingly he crawled down
the trunk as quietly as possible, intend
ing TO slip away in the forest Barely had
he touched the ground when Zeke turn
ed with a snort and leaped upon him.
So fast did his hind legs fash back
and forth that they looked like the driI-
ing rods Of an engine In a minute the
bear was dead, every bone in his body
broken. Mrs. Parsons, who saw it all
from the door of her cabin, says that the
bear didn't even have time to growl.
When asked why she hadn't taken the
gun from the house and shot the bear in
the tree-for she isa girl woodsmau and
bold as a man-she replied:
4 knowed Zeke didnt need no help.
aud besidesI didn't want to spile the
fun."-N y Sun.