The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-03-04
PETE AND THE GRIZZLY.
4 Gray Mule Whose Only Concern was for
His Masters Safety.

| MS Mastor's safety.
Some years ago was the owner Of a
arge iron-gray mule named Pete. Pete
was the pride of my heart. the apple Of
my eye. my spoiled favorite. Pete and
were travelling over spur of the Wah-
satch mountains, and not having any
thing particular on my mind was en-
joying the scenery which in that region
is very fine. Pete may have been oc-
cupied for awhile in the same manner.
but if he was he soon turned his atten-
ton elsewhere, for his whinny reminded
me that it was dinner time, and that
both Pete and l were hungry.
Accordingly, when we came to nice
grassy place 1 tethered Pete to tree,
allowing him about twenty feet of
range, and, taking some ham and
crackers out of my haversack sat down
on fallen tree to eat them. While
! munched the ham and crackers Pete
cropped the fresh grass which grew
long and green. Suddenly he reared
up and snorted in manner that very
plainly said: Look out"
/ sprang to my feet, and it was quite
well did so, for it saved me from the
embrace of very large, very hungry
and very ferocious grizzly bear, who
was standing erect and preparing to
throw his paws around me. / rushed
for the nearest tree and was up it in the
winking of an eye. Ihave often thought
how kind it was of Providence to put
trees in the same places that he does
| grizzly bears.
| was safe for the time being, but,
alas, poor Pete. The bear went about
things in very cool and complacent
manner. He musthave seen at the first
glance that Pete was tethered with a
strong rope and could not escape and
climb tree, as | had done. So he sat
down on the trunk of the fallen tree
which l had just left in such haste and
began to study Pete. Perhaps he was
endeavoring to calculate the precise
amount of flesh on Pete's bones, and at
what point it would be best to begin
| his meal / could see by the expression
Of his eyes that he was taking Petes
measure, for he cooked his head over on
one side and assumed an appearance of
great wisdom, as you have seen critics
ook at picture. He also licked his
chops in evident anticipation of the re-
past in which he was about to indulge.
Pete's behavior, much as | knew of
that remarkable animal, surprised me.
When / was safe the alarm that l had
seen expressed in his eyes disappeared
altogether. He dropped his head and
began to nibble the grass again. He
went ON with his grazing just as if there
we're no such thing as grizzly bear in
the world. He would nip off the sue
| ,ulent green stems and chew with
great steadiness and regularity, and
occasionally l could hear his contented
snort as he struck an unusually delicate
bunch Of grass
The bear was as much astonished as
at Pete's absorption in the business
Of eating and Indifference to danger.
Evidently he considered such conduct
without parallel, for he looked harder
than ever at Pete, then scratched his
| head and tried to think out an answer
to the 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.
By and by the bear arose from the
tree. He knew that he could not size
! up Pete's conduct merely by sitting
there Then he made a grand circuit
around the tree in order to watch Pete
from every angle and point Getting
no satisfaction out of that mode of pro-
cedure, he came over to my tree and
| ut for D,,t
had none to give him, for was as much
puzzled as the bear was Between the
bear and me we began to think that
Pete had lost his mind. Perhaps fright
at the appearance of the bear had so
bereft him of reason that he continued
to eat grass through the mere force of
habit
Soon the grizzly got tired of the en-
deavor to decipher the mysteries of a
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 critical examination of his de-
stroying apparatus He stretched his
front paws and slapped 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 to see that
they were sharp. Each claw was in
spected in detail and when all was over
his bearship appeared to be thoroughly
satisfied that he was fit to demolish a
whole drove of mules, if the opportu-
nifty offered
These things done, the bear gave the
signal for action. He opened his mouth
and emitted series of growls 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 that he had heard the growing
of the grizzly. The latter dropped on
all tours, with his hungry mouth open
and his great teeth disclosed. Still Pete
made no sign that he either saw OF
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 disemb bowel Pete and break
his neck with one blow.
Down came the outstretched paws
| and at that pnonapt Data caap,aJ - -