The San Francisco call., 1899-07-02

reason. Jake had told dozens of blood
curdling bear stories which I had not
accepted as unvarnished truth when he
had told them as we sat around the
camp fire. Now 1 was much more
credulous. and did not look around
much for fear I might offend some bear
by looking at it. The sun was gone,
and / began TO be conscious that |
might have to stay out all night
In passing over the mountains L
have. since childhood. had fancy that
| would love to make Il house in one OF
the great hollow trees one finds every
where in California. | found Dig
tree and then got a long stick ana
poked it out to see there was no other
creature there. l tried not to think OF
the bugs. because l could not get lid Of
them.
4 had good outing dress and my
coat. Unfortunately, l had emptied
my pocket at the tent, except small
bottle of alcohol and my little alcohol
hair curler 1 did not want any one to
know that I had brought it, so l kept 1t
in my pocket So much for vanity
There were about dozen matches in
the c1lrler. Their l had handkerchief
of my husbands s, and hunting knife,
which closed like an ordinary pocket
knife. / had not another blessed thing.
I decided that [ would make fire and
then cut some things for my bed.
Every one makes a fire when he
gets lost. but I did not quite see how l
could manage it without kindling. [
did finally think of making my own
lzindling with my knife There was
plenty Of dry wood around wasted
three of my matches, and then
thought of my alcohol, and IN minute
there was a fine blaze.
Il piled up -ho wood and brought
more. It was not quite so forlorn with
the fire for company, and / was glad
Harebell was along, though he did not
know enough to go home
Il thought I would not go to sleep,
but just crawl into the tree to keep
away from the wind. ! kept a stick in
NV hand in case my fire attracted any
of the wild animals Jake had told us
about.
u had been asleep long time when
something startled me- There was a
low Sizing sound out near the fire.
Harebeu was listening, and ! thought
he must be growing at it. I had never
heard q rattlesnake, but knew they
were apt to be attracted by the warmth
of the fire and Jake had told how three
long ones had once crawled into his
blanket when he was sleeping on the
ground with his feet to the fire.
'The Sizing kept up. There would
he a silence, and then bye and bye tie
noise-a silence. and then the little
quiet Sizing noise I sat and listened
tin it was quite light. 1 did not dare
TO move even after the sound had
ceased. because I was afraid the sna.lSe
or snakes had gone to sleep. If they dc
sleep.
sFinally I stood UP and looked care
fully. but could not see sign of a
snake. I poked Harehell and made him
90 out of the tree. He did not seem tC
see or smell any snakes, so [ yentured
ont. I could not find anything, and
don't believe now it was a snake at all.
"Oh. of course, I told about it. Jake
said It was a cricket or katydid.
zone might think he knew a great
deal, but just let him get lost and have
to look out for himself and then see
how much he knows.
when / was satisfied about the
snakes 1 discovered I was hungry ant
wanted a drink. / did not let mysel1
think about it, though 1 had too many