The Saint Paul globe., 1904-01-24
HUNTERS "REMINISCENCES
OF LIFE ON THE PECOS

and just as it was dying out again Leon
came down with an armful of fuel. Then
We tethered the horses between two fires,
and kept them both blazing. The wolves
drew off and we could only locate them by
their howis and snarls and an occasional
gleam of eyes, but they were not near
enough to worry us.
Now you might think our troubles
were over then. That's what we thought,
but We made big mistake. Even the
two Indians couldn't foresee what would
happen before morning.
well we took turns at sleeping and
feeding the fires. 1t was my turn last.
and Leon had called me. BY the stars
Judged it to be about o'clock in the
morning.
Leon was just curling up. in the
blankets when an unearthly row broke out
where we knew the wolves to be. They
no longer howled, but each indfvidpa al
member of the pack seemed to turn him
self loose into snarls. We could also hear
grunts. and pebbles and rocks were be-
ing kicked about as though an elephant
were trying to tear up the creek bed.
Leon said, I naturally can't help
turning loose few rounds into that meet
ing. just to contribute our little mite to
the excitement
Beaan Pumping Cartridges.
Leon let out grunt of Indifference.
picked up my revolver, and. pointing it
toward where 1 thought the thickest of
the row to be, l began pumping cart
ridges.
We'll I didn't think before began that
the row could be any louder, but If I'd
fired into a powder barrel the result
couldn't have surprised me more 1 was
still more surprised at the result of my
shooting on my two companions.
Leon Sprang to his feet with q yell
and grabbed his gun. Juan was up only a
second after. Both of them jumped in
front of the fire. their backs to it, their
faces toward the fight out in the dark
ness.
Then they both began firing and I did
the same, although | had no idea then
that there was something besides wolves
out there. Pretty soon l heard the clat-
ter of big powders coming toward US;
then a gigantic form roaring Ike bull,
only louder, came pounding into the fire.
light. 1t was bear. and at the first
glance / thought him about the size of a
small house
Rum shouted Leon and we scattered
over the creek bed toward the other fire.
I've got TN the bank all right Mean
while the other fire had blinded the bear
and he had pelted right into 1t. He
roared and screamed and We Just poured
a steady fire into him. which didn't seem
to bother him SO much as the blazing
brush.
The End Of Him.
FINALLY he freed himself, although his
fur was smoking in a dozen spots, and he
made for the bank, where we stood firing
our repeaters. But he was weakening,
and about half way he rolled over and
stirred the river bed up. Finally he gave
a last groan. q supreme SpaSmodic kick,
| and fell back, motionless.
Then Leon went down to rebuild the
half-scattered fire. but noticed he gave
the bear a wide circuit. He might have
SO not that 1 have a scar yet where 1t
burned my hand.
We'll. when daylight came the wolves
| left us with last howl. and we skinned
| the bear, which was a hak-grown grizzly.
That kept us busy all day, but toward
evening Leon and went out and shot a
wild goat, which went well with the bear
| for supper.
| I'VE dragged most of the bear carcass
some distance off from the camp, and
| that night we heard the wolves and
coyotes battling as they gorged them
Selves and we knew there was no dam
| ger of their bothering us.
! Next morning we pulled stakes and