The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1902-07-03
| How Pablo Killed
the Grizzly ~ ~
BY E. E. BOWLES.

#TN HERE was an Indian hanger-on
about the ranch, big Yaqui, ons
might truthfully say living bronze
model of Hercules, though his cop
per-c olored skin fitted smooth and
even about his rounded limbs and
only in moments of tense strain did
his sinews and muscles stand out like
llnotted cables. The boss" while
prospecting for 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 a trailer. So expert was
he in the latter accomplishment that
Red Pat expressed the belief that
that domned Indian en- thrack
bird through the ARR"
The Indians sole outfit, when
found, consisted of a pair of ragged,
greasy, overalls, a necklace made Of
the claws of the grizzly bear, buck
horn handled knife and 17-inch
blade and an old Springfield rife
branded ~. s." He never told us
how he came possessor of the rifle,
but never tired of telling of his en-
counters with grizzlies; would sep
arate the claws on the necklace into
"sets" and tell where and how he
killed each animal. He boosted sc
long and often of his ability to take
| his knife and kill a grizzly, that he
wanted no better fun, that it was no
wonder when the boys roped big
bilvertip up in Box canyon that their
first thought was of Pablo. But the
foreman objected.
"Now, boss, we've heard him brag
SO much that we've tired of it; letr
show him up"
"But it 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 as
soon as he sees this bear; Wen only
josh him little" SO word was sent
to Pablo of the capture in Box can
yon, and, to the surprise of the
doubling Thomases, 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
element as nearly as compatible
with his Indian nature. Dismount-
ing, he ran to the circle, which, it
may be superhuous 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 breechclout, his
old red bandanna kerchief tying back
his long black hair. Then he wrapped
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
lariat; then, hanging his necklace Of
bears claws over his left wrist he
grasped his knife in his right and
started to advance, but the foreman
interfered.
"No, no senor," said Pablo, hurriedly,
in his Indo-Spanish patois, 'the 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 a Yaqui fears nothing that has
life and moves; let him meet ell oso
senior and in the nights to come, over
their pipes about the fire, the men NAV
tell of how Pablo Of San Ysidro fought
ell oso in ell Canada" His plea backed
by that of the men prevailed and the
foreman reluctantly consented, though
all the time protesting that a coroner's
warrant would have us all in Jail for
manslaughter. Pablo, with little red
devils dancing in his eyes, gided to-
ward the bear which, rearing upright,
stood over seven feet.
Cast loose your riatas, senors,
Pablo wants no advantage" called the
Indian, and the men obeyed. The mo.
ment the ropes were slackened the bear
clawed the nooses from about his shay
CIV neck and stood unfettered while for
ourselves and horses we sought posi-