The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-30

that can be wished for in mountain
home, and Rob spends a great deal OF time
at home, as he is very fond of reading.
Sometimes though be is there from
necessity. and that is when it rams. 1t
WAS on one of these days last April that
the first part of ROb's story happened. lie
had been in his house all day, as the rain
started early in the morning. And most
miserable rain il was. seeming worse in
contrast to the bright days that are COM
mon in Arizona during the early part OF
the year. After all the tine weather the
least sign of a cloud throws gloom over
the landscape calculated to produce TT
of the blues in very short time.
But this day was exceptionally bad. 1t
seemed as il the rain would never stop.
and at frequent intervals the shrek of
the wind through the pines was like howl
of pain. 1t may have been that Rob got
used to the sound and did not notice a real
howl near at hand until be had heard 1t
several times.
Then he listened. but for several mo-
ments heard only the rain as it fell from
cold, heavy sky of dull gray on to the cabin
roof. Then he heard the howl, but before
he could locate it the shrek Of the wind
came from the pines.
But Rob was convinced that some AMI
NAL was near by and went for his rife.
The wind hoWled and the rain poured
down for a long time before he heard the
eOuuu again, dlInUUSn lC oLOUu Ill Tue
doorway listening
When he did bear.it his quick hunters
ear told him it was bear and that it was
injured in some way or IL would not howl
as it did. 1t takes great deal to make
most wild animals cry with pain and bears
in particular.
Rob thought he had an easy thing Of it,
and was soon in sight Of his game. 1t was
a brown bear with its hind legs caught
under large log. How it got there was a
mystery at first, but little investigation
convinced Rob that it must have climbed
onto the log when the rain had washed and
softenej the ground underneath 1t and the
extra weight caused the log to roll. The
bear was surprised and losing its balance
fell underneath and stopped the log from
rolling further. At any rate the bear was
there, and Rob WAS soon having an argu-
ment with himself about killing it.
1t was such cold blooded thing to do,
ana then he thought he had better kill it
and put 1t cut of It's misery. He raised his
rife to put a ball between the bears ewes,
but they looked at him in peculiar man
ner and then it struck him that the bear
might not be hurt very much.
The poor creature howled 80 piteously
he concluded 10 give her chance and
went for hook TO pull the log off. 1t was
soon done, but the poor bear did not get
up and run as Rob expected. She seemed
to know he was trying to relieve her and
lay perfectly still.
Rob did not know what to do now. He
saw that one OF the bears legs was broken
and the other badly bruised. He thought
he had better shoot her, put did not have
the heart to do so.
At last Rob went up to examine the
wounded leg. He got very close, yet she
made no move to attack him, and at last
he picked up the broken leg to see the ex-
tent OF the injuries. The bear seemed 10
know she was not in danger and laid her
head down on the ground. The moving
of the leg must have been very painful,
hut she did not utter sound, allowing
Rob to twist it around as he liked.
Rob laughed at himself when the pc
culiarity OF his position struck him forc-
bly,, but he made up his mind to do all he
could for the wounded animal and went
back to his house for rags 10 tie up the
broken leg. When he was tearing an old
shirt to pieces he wished the bear would
get up and leave during his absence. Then
be threw the rags on the floor and con-
cluded to leave the bear to its fate. He
knew that during the night some other
wild beast would find the wounded bear
an easy victim. This struck him as cruel
and he made up his mind to kill the poor
wounded brute and put it out o its misery.
But he carried his rage with him as well
as his rife, and also box OF salve, and
instead of killing the bear he was soon
busy putting the broken limb in the best
shape he could with his limited knowledge
of surgery.
The bear knew he was doing her an ACT
OF kindness, and looked at him as If trying
to convey thanks. Once she raised bel
head and reached back. Rob thought she
was going to bite him and drew away, but
the wounded animal only put out heI
tongue to lick his hand.
When the work was finished Rob got VI
and the bear did the same. The broken
limb was tied tightly and did not drag or
the ground.
Not much speed was made. but the
wounded animal managed to get over the
ground slowly and laboriously. Rot
watched her 60 down the hill and attemp
to go up the hill on the other side. Bu
the work was too much for her. and in.
stead she went down the gulch consider
able distance and laid down.
Rob went back to the house completely
disgusted He told himself that MAJ
had better be in some other business wht
had no more 'gizzard" than to waste hin
mi no nd oilnu ff