Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-17
Ube Bear Cracks
~

Know bear track?" he replied, indig-
nantly. "Of course l do"
What shape was it-like human foot?'
she asked. II couldn't see."
George did not answer.
WAS it?' she persisted.
George knew it was not, but was 10th at
this stage of the affair to admit be had been
mistaken.
Perhaps you know more about bears
tracks than do" he said, scornfuly
ohe DID not question further. She had
great ialth in George. He was her oracle
upon al subjects, especially upon things per
tanning to the woods.
AS for him. q strange sensation went all
through him. He suddenly remembered hav-
ing read that the foot of bear makes an
impression quite like human foot-at least,
sufficiently like that there never need be any
danger OF confounding it with the track of q
domestic animal.
And he realized that the tracks he had
seen ana not in any particular correspond to
| that description
But they had come too far on their return
10 think OF going back through the woods.
Ihey mad now reached the open clearing.
Little Anne was thoroughly frightened be-
cause of Georges uncertainty. and besides,
was exhausted by her breathless running So
George found himself committed to having
discovered bear, and yet doubtful of that
tact III his own mind.
were rising. As soon as Anne caught sight
| OF the house, she ran on in advance to be the
hrst to tell the wonderful story, quite for
getting her fatigue in her assurance Of safety.
georges feet dragged rather heavily. He
| was. very much troubled. The cows could not
be brought up that night, since it was too
late Tor any one to start anew, and that
would have involved large amount Of in
convenience.
lie could see plainly that he had jumped
n n ItcipY IL, L.. r Al
ways been particular in urging him not to do.
by the time he had reached the house lit
tie Anne had told the story, and, as have
said, no one questioned in the least what he
had seen.
The story Mr.. Gilbert had heard in the
aiternoon made him unusually creduous.
George took pains to say several times he
thought 1T was a bear-track, to give a
color OF prudence, at least to his statements.
view OF the stronger impression little Anne's
recital had made.
In the evening Mr.. Gilbert went to two Of
his neighbors houses to organize n search
for the marauder early as possible in the
morning.
At break of day three men. armed with
rifles, Joined Mr.. Gilbert, and they set out
together over the woodland path. They pur-
posed devoting the entire day to the capture.
George led the way, with a very doubtful
heart His certainty in his discovery had
beer, abating ever since little Anne asked that
question as to the shape of the track.
They soon reached the spot. Mr.. Gilbert
of old bruins foot.
George, my son." said Mr.. Gilbert, sud
denly, with curious mixture of wonder and
scrutiny in his voice, ''are these the tracks
| you saw pointing to numerous very dis
tinet aG impressions IN the hardened mud.
| The neighbors crowded round.
No, said one, 'these can't be. These
are hog tracks"
Are these the tracks you saw"
l m afraid they are" gasped George with
burning cheeks.
"Well, you go on and find the cows now.
and well go home. ! think an ear of corn
would be good gun for YOU to carry"
| The neighbors laughed vociferously. and
scornfully too, George thought.
You're poor .woodman, George said
full skeered," said another.
The men were vexed at being brought from
home at that early hour, when chores were
to be done and the late fall work crowdinp
at every hand.
Georges father was heartily ashamed of
him, but tried to modify the general censnre
by telling them of the story George had
heard in the afternoon, and adding that he
thought he should have had his ewes prettv
wide open himself if he had had 70 20 that
| lonely road
This did not prevent their expressing sur,
prise, and even disgust, that George should
not have looked a little closer. Their faith
| in his good sense was fatally shaken.
Little Anne confidently expected to see
them come back dragging huge black animal
at their heels She ran to meet them. in
wonder at their speedy return.
"Why didn't you study the tracks INV 1T
tie grl?" her father asked. Never run away
again from an idea"
George brought up the cows, and he was