Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-05-04

taiLs for dJy, We could not have found
better camping place than this to
which Jerry Hawks bear tracks and
mountain lore had lei rs.
We were prospecting party from the
California camps of Campo Seco and San
Andrews. We were now headed for rich
placer mines just discovered $500 near
NnonO lake, on he eastern side of the
Sierras. We We're trying to follow Il
Trail over which not q dozen persons all
told had preceded us through the noun
tain wilds. All day we had been in the
highest OF the high Sicrras, passing along
the north side OF the Yosemite valley
high above all the falls and noted peaks.
From several points we had been able
to look down into the valley itself SO
deep was it That groves of pine and
larch seemed patches OF meadow, and
the falls-such as we were able to make
uut-were 50 foreshortened us to be
hardly discerniblc, except by their
rparl;le aud the occasional flashes of
light thrown out.
The month was August, aud all was
green, blooming and delightful - the
/
/ heights. Our camp was on Il brook that
lower down was probably tributary of
Intlian canyon. We judged so, as from
hill we in the morning saw about OPP
pOsite us--8Way on the south side of the
| Yosemite valley-points where flashed
and sparkcd the Nernal, IllilOuette ard
Nevada falls.
1t was a superstition among miners in
the early days that a cOlored man or
woman in Il raining claim or II pro-
speeding party brought good luck. For
this reason and because he was good
cook, an experienced mountain man and
a tireless prospector we had enlisted
with us Jerry Hawk. Leaving the super
stilion to take care Of itself, old Jerry
was n desirable and valuable acquisition
to such an expedition as that upon which
we were engaged. lie WAS over six feet
in his stockings, handsomely featured
black as coal ana perfect Hercules in
strength. Jerry was good natured and
tho life of the campfire. lis stories Of
life in Virginia in the Old slave days
We're racy and apparently ineXhaustible
Aftorsuppcr, when pipes had been pro-
around the campfire, Fred TOWne, after
! cying Jerry for some time to study his
! hmnor, ventured 10 say to the old black
mOm!taineer: Uncle Jerry, this even
ing when wanted to go and shoot the
bear you said you could tell of fgh,
/ with II cinnamon bear that would make
my hair getup on end. Suppose you give
, us that story; my hair feels pretty lively"
ooh, pshaW, boy, on'y wanted to skeec
! You cutcn goin up &c Sulch an gittin hurt
wifi de bar"
"But, Uncle jerry persisted the
| young man, you must just then have
| had IN mind one Of your old time bear
fights, for you said it was an old she
bear, and it might be well for me to
hear what a cinnamon bear can do"
Yes, an den yer see dat yer gon ter
do jis as yer please arter all and git
! yerse'f ch&wed no. Sides, boy, dis yere
/ sCrape wat had in mind don't mount
| ter much arter all-dat is on de side OBJ
| de bar. Come ter look il ober. l'ze rad
/ der shame Of dat cinnamon. DE crit
| ter oughter dove Letter, said the old
man with a sigh as lie slyly watched
I
Come, Jerry said Ben kindly, ''let
US have the bear story"
This invitation from the leader of our
party was just what jerry had been
skirmishing for
"Sartin, Cap'n Arle, but Ize feerd ve'l
be disappointed, sab. De bar didn't do
herself justice. lie done tole yen BOYS
bout all de biggest an best Oh my bar
fights
"Well, .evor mind that, Jerry" said
Uncle lob Tenplc; "let us have the
story"
"Mistah Temple, de bar didn't have Il
fair show an maybe she didn't Kit fair
play; still, sab, de slirimmage was Il
little curious IN RAIDER outer de regular
line"
No need 10 be backward, Jerry" said
Uncle Bob
This set. it with Jerry. The old
man had h..l fishing TO get critical
Uncle Bob tn commit himself by asking
for the story,
AFTER all" hositat07 the old man.
wlp was a. ..t., .'n~ors and piano
playor5-harI a. ..a.l iul difficult to
stop. "Artor all, 'iaia.; rar!y fit story
to tell aforo 10 boy. Eai-e de ole bar
didn't do hersef justice; but SIGH as il is
| turns IL in
CHAPTER II.
The story:
Lemme see. Long bout Fl 1.-TWO. not
y berry great while artcr dey struck dem
| l,.I ;.i.