Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-03-16
WEDNESDAY EVENING. MARCH l6. 1892
DIDN'T COUNT THE COST.
THE MULE MAS PEACEFUL UNTIL
THE GRIZZLY iNTERFERED.


When Eiis Anger Nas Aroused the Rear
Had 90 Take It.-An Interesting sight
10 "A Man Up Tree. .''--AnnIhtIation
or Brutn.
Some years ago was the owner Of a
large iron-gray mule named Pete Pete
and | were travelling over spur of the
Wahsatch Mountains, says writer in
she Courier. Journal, aud l WAS enjoying
the scenery. Pete turned his attention
elsewhere. for his whinny reminded mo
that IL was dinner time.
Accordingly, when we came 10 a nice
grassy place tetllered Pete to tree, al
owing him about twenty feet OF range.
While munched ham and crackers Pete
cropped the fresh grass which grew long
and green. Suddenly he reared up and
Inorted in manner that very plainly
said: Look out.
sprsng to my feet, and it was quite
we'll did so, for it saved me from the
embrace Of very large, very hungry,
and very ferocious grizzley bear, who was
standing erect and preparing to throw his
paws around me. rushed for the near
est tree and was up it in the winking of
an eye. l have often thought how kind
was OF Providence 10 put trees in the
same places as he does grizzly bears.
was safe for the time being, but. alas.
poor Petel The bear went about things
N very cool and complacent manner.
de must have seen at the first gIauce
that Pete was tethered with q strong rope
and could not escape and climb tree, as
had done. So he sat down on the trunk
of the fallen tree which had Just left
10 such haste and began to study Pete.
Pete's behavior surprised me. When l
was safe the alarm had seen expressed
10 his eyes disappeared altogether. He
dropped his head and began to nibble the
grass again He went on with his graz
ing just as if there was no such thing as
agrizzly bear in the world. He would
zip off the succulent green stems and
chew them with great steadiness aud
regularity, and occasionally could hear
his contented snort rs he struck an unusu-
ally delicate bunch of grass.
The bear was as much astonished as
at Pete's absorption in the business OF
eating and indifference to danger. Evil
IDENTIFY he considered such conduct with
out parallel, for he looked harder than
ever at Pete, then he scratched his head
and tried to think out an answer to tile
problem. But Pete calmly went on with
his grazing and looked neither to the
right nor to the left, while ! sat in my
tree and stared.
Soon the grizzly got tired of the en-
deavor to decipher the mysteries of the
mules behavior. Appetite was getting
the better of curiosity, and he prepared
for work. He went back to the log
against which he had first leaned and
made a critical examination Of his de-
stroying apparatus.
He stretched his front paws and slap
ped the muscles of each with the other.
Evidently he was satisfied that he was in
good trim, for he opened his mouth and
ran his paw along the edge of his teeth
70 see that they were sharp. Each claw
was inspected in detail, and when all
was over his bearship appeared to be
thoroughly satisfied that he was fit to
demolish whole drove of mules. If the
opportunity offered.
These things done, the bear gave the
signal for action. He opened his Mouth
and emitted series Of growis which
made my flesh creep and my hair rise up
under my hat.
But Pete, as before, went along with
his grazing. His countenance expressed
no proof t.iat he had heard the growing
Of the grizzly. The latter dropped on
all fours, with his hungry mouth open
and his great teeth disclosed.
Still Pete made no sign that he either
saw or heard, but confined his attention
strictly to the business of finding dinner.
The bear, also having the latter end in
view, rapidly approached until he was in
striking distance. and then. rearing up,
prepared to disembowl Pete and break
his neck with one blow.
Down came the outstretched paws, and
at that moment Pete seemed to become
aware for the first time OF the presence of
the grizzly. He sprang forward, the
paws struck only the air, and then saw
gray form double itself in a ball, and
bound upward.
Out Of that ball flew two legs, which
shot back and forth with the rapidity
and force of piston rods, going thump,
thump upon the body of the grizzly. Up
and down went the body. and back and
forth went the two pile drivers. The
bear was struck all over, on his head, on
his shoulders. on his side, on his paws.
He fell in one direction aud then in an
other He was kicked into the air and
pounded into the earth.
The breath was driven out Of him. and
life followed. aud at length he lay upon
the ground shapeless mass, every bona
In his body broken, while Pete had
quietly returned to his interrupted graz.
ing wfkh0ut d hair injured