The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1902-08-02

about the ranch, big Yaqui, one
. might truthfully say q living bronze
model of Hercules, though his cop
per-colored skin fitted smooth and
even about his rounded limbs and
only i'm moments of tense strain did
his sincws and muscles stand out like
knotted cables. The ''boss," while
prospecting for a fresh range, had
picked him up in half-starved con-
dition, out on the desert somewhere,
and after his recovery the Indian
showed no inclination to leave. How
ever, he soon proved himself useful,
not only in supplying the outfit with
game, but as trailer. So expert was
he in the latter accomplishment that
Red Pat expressed the belief that
that domned Indian en- thrack q
bird through the ARR"
The Indians sole outfit, when
found, consisted of a pair of ragged,
greasy, overalls. necklace made OF
the claws of the grizzly bear, a buck
horn handled knife and 17-inch
blade and an old Springfield rife
branded "U. S." He never told us
how he came possessor of the rife,
but never tired of telling of his en-
counters with grizzlies; would sep.
aratc the claws on the necklace into
"sets" and tell where and how he
killed each animal He boasted so
long and often of his ability to take
his knife and Kill grizzly. that he
wanted no better fun, that it was n,
wonder when the boys roped big
silvertip up in Box canyon that their
first thought was of Pablo. But the
foreman objected.
Snow, boss, we've heard him brag
so much that we've tired of it; let's
show him up"
But il will be almost like murder"
Don't you be skeered, boss; the
Injun'll either be too busy to come
or, If he does come, he'll git sick a.
soon as he sees this bear: wen only
josh him a little" So word was sent
to Pablo of the capture in Box can
yon, and, to the surprise of the
doubling Thomascs, he soon came
racing up to the scene on the pinto
cow pony that had been set aside for
his use.
''Un grand oso," he fairly shouted
in manner Indicating joyous ex.
citement as nearly as compatible
with his Indian nature. Dismount-
ing, he ran to the circle, which, it
may be superfuous to add, was wide
'of the grizzled monster now mad
dened and biting furiously at the
tough ropes encircling his neck and
great forepaws. In moment Pablo
was stripped to his breech-clout, his
old red bandanna kerchief tying back
his long black hair. Then he wrapped
a strip of heavy wooden blanket
about his left arm from the shoulder
down over the hand, and, with the
help Of one of the boys, tied it on
securely with a piece of rawhide
lnriat; then, hanging his necklace of
bears claws over his left wrist, he
graspcd his knife in his right and
started to advance, but the foreman
interfered.
"No. no senor," said Pablo, hurriedly,
in his Indo-Spanish patois. 'thc men
say Pablo is boaster; that his words
are as idle as the winds; that his tales
are but dreams; that his heart will
turn white and his blood to water.
Senior, let me prove / am what am:
that Yaqui fears nothing that has
life and moves; let him meet ell oso
senior and in the nights to come, over i,
their pipes about the fire, the men may
tell of how Pablo of San Ysidro fought |
Ell oso in Ell Canada" His plea backed !
by that of the men prevailed and the |
reluctantly consented, though !
NIL the time protesting that coroner's
would have us all in Jail for
Pablo, with little red !,
devils dancing in his eyes, glided to-
ward the bear which, rearing upright, |
stood over seven feet.
Cast loose your riatas, seniors,
Pablo wants no advantage" called the |
indian, and the men obeyed. The mo-
nent the ropes were slackened the bear
rlawed the nooses from about his shay |
~ neck and stood unfettered while for |
ourselves and horses we sought posi- |
lions farther away. When within is
'eet OF his enemy, Pablo began moving
N a circle about him, dangling the
and in a chant extoiling the
bravery of the Yaquis and the cow
'rdice of grizzlies. of that one in par