Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-05-17

the point, we unpacked our stuff and
prepared for the night, making camp
by the stream among the cotton
woods. Chaparral lined the gulch
which we had been following, for we
kept the course of the stream to
make travelling easier.
Carr was preparing supper. had
attended to the needs of Mike. whom
we allowed to wander at will, as we
had found that if any losing was done
it would be his losing us, not we him.
He was celebrating over his meal as
he always did; we called it saying
grace, for he put on an air of sancti-
fled displeasure which reminded Carr
of pious old chap he had once
known who always made disparaging
remarks about the food, after thank
ing the Lord for 1t in an extended
and minute blessing.
We were comfortably settled to our
supper, restfully watching the golden
light climb the hill, drawing after it
amethyst shadows from gulch and
S'hch' ehaihiui tildl lie ldteS udu
seen fit to release us from the clutch
of the desert devils, and though this
lacked much of being the promised
land, still by comparison with that
strip of outside country which lay
bare and glaring to every throbbing
ray of sun, it was paradise to our
jaded minds and bodies.
Gradually into our consciousness
broke the fact that there was an oc-
casional noise in the brush behind
us. sound increasing in volume and
persistency till even Mike stopped
munching and looked eXpectantly in
the direction whence it came. Not
suspecting anything more formidable
than stray coyote, we did not dis
turb ourselves till into the open tum-
bled the huge bulk of bear, which
projected itself toward us with a
speed that sent us to our feet and
toward rock near by in too much of
hurry to pick up our guns, our one
idea being to get out of the way Of
this unexpected guest" AS we scram
bled up the friendly rock which some
thoughtful glacier had deposited
there in ages past, the bear rolled at
a sort of lope to where we had left
the remnants of our meal, evidently
with the idea of helping himself; but
he had not reckoned on Mike-Mike
the only really plucky one of the trio
fhr i,,rt f,,fi <,f ,s,rv
Mike had received his education
bears evidently were not included il
the curriculum, for he was plainly o
a nonplussed and disgruntled mind
He stood and watched the visitor
snufiing about till it seemed to occu
to him that it was UP to him to ado
| to his various other duties that o
watchdog. So he advanced with {
rather tentative air, as one would say
to an unexpected visitor, please give
me your name and will tell the boss
you are here At his approach the
bear, without retreating a step, slow
| ly sat back on his launches, and
rearing his great bulk onto his hind
legs, waved a facetious forepaw in
the face of the now paralyzed mule
Mikes whole frame stiffened; hil
tail stood straight out, his legs grew
rigid, and his chin gradually project
ed itself in apparent voiceless amaze
ment, till, Of a sudden, his lips part.
ed; jaw dropped and the most soul
rending hee-haw, hee-haw, woke the
echoes of the hills. The very essence
of the creature seemed to be poured
forth in torrents of sound, ever with
a louder and more joyous Tilt to the
final "haw," while the bear stood, In
his trrn. netrified by this tumult OF
hideous noise.
We chung to our precarious posi-
ton on the rock, convulsed with help.
less laughter, almost rolling off al
each renewal of the destinations of
.mockery from Mike and the increas-
ing amazement of the bear, who seem,
ed to be striving to collect his wits
| to meet this change of front in his
opponent. Slowly he dropped to all
fours and began to shuttle backward
ever keeping wary eye on the mule,
who relaxed his attitude at the re-
treat of his Granville presumptuuus
enemy. The bear must have had an
instructive understanding Of the ways
of a mule, for he refused to present
TO Mike that part of his anatomy
best suited, to Mikes idea, for as
sault, but beat crab-like and delib-
crate retreat toward the brush. With
head lowered and teeth still display
ed, Mike paced after him, ever keep
ing just within stretch of the bears
nose. Finally, when the shelter of
the brush was within two lengths Of
him, the bear turned in his tracks
for a final rush to safety. At the
same instant Mike showed one more
instance of his many-sided genius.
Whirling like flash, his heels met
the bears flank with an impact that
drew a howl from Bruin, who was
and the last we saw OF him he was
frantically crashing his way through
brush and brier, making all speed to
his lair in the hills.
Mike turned and regarded for a few
moments the waving bushes which
marked the bears retreat, and ii he
did not grin-well then mule never
did. Shaking himself as if to be sure
he was still intact, he strolled back
to the fire and stood over the re-
mains of his interrupted meal, evil
IDENTIFY Eliminating over his encoun-
ter. His old reserve gradually folded
about him like mantle, the youth
full, joyous glimmer died from his
eye, and he fell to eating once more,
while Carr and !, assured that peace
again reigned, slid from our perch
and followed suit.-B. M. Waddell, in
Forest and Stream.
JAPANESE HOSPITAL SHIPS.