Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-06-02

plump into a crowd OF both coyotes and
coons, who were having n great time
sliding down a bank into the water.
One Of the coyotes caught sight of
Jumper and called out: Where did
you come from?"
so you are Jumper. are your"
Yes, I'm Jumper, and ] want to get
/ acquainted with all the animals along
the Platte canon, SO I WON'T he lone
some.1
You've come TO the right place"
laughed another of the coyotes. Then
turning to the rest OF the crowd, he
said: Come on and let's initiate the
cub And before Jumper could re-
treat. even il he so desired. he was sur
rounded by coons and coyote on all
sides and picked up bodily and tossed
into the water. Dow he went to the
bottom like a stone, but soon came TO
the surface. putting and blowing.
Hardly had his head appeared when
one of the coyotes grabbed him and
chucked him under again. not nee, but
several times. until the poor little bear
was almost ~strangled. Finally he was
allowed to swim TO the shore, where
he scrambled up the bank and tumbled
over. more dead than alive.
How'd you like it?" asked one OF the
coons.
Sandy little cub. anyway" said a
coyote.
All Jumper could 30 was to pant, his
tongue lolling out like a dogs after "A
hard chase.
That's the first initiation explained
Bill Coyote, the largest animal i'm the
crowd, but YOU just wait for the sec
ond one
IF you keep me under water much
longer than you did this time" replied
Jumper. I'm sure there will be no
third"
Then the coyotes and coons resumed
their play and Jumper joined them.
1t was great sport for them to see the
little bear tug up the slippery hill n
come sliding down again. All made the
descent except Bill Coyote. Just as he
was ready TO make the start he looked
up n saw an old bear coming along
the bank.
In a he knew she was Jum-
per's grandmother.
Jumper looked back TO see Bill come
down, when he saw the coyote wink
n then wave his paw as much as to
say, Lay low" Then raising his voice
above the din. Bill called out: Hello,
Miss Bear
In an instant Jumper was hugging
the ban like a pussy willow, with all
his body, except his nose, under water.
Hardly had Grandma Bear got out of
sight when Jumper climbed up the
bank and started for home as fast as
he could go. Occasionally he would
stop where the sun shone the bright
est and rub his hair TO try and dry it,
but it was a hard task on such short
notice n II was a-Sorry looking little
bear hat finally arrived at the old den
to await his grandma's coming.
Jumper was tired out and hardly had
he lay down TO rest when he fell asleep,
and as he slept he dreamed he was slid
ing down the hill into the water. Don't
push, Bin. Don't push, and IL make
a big splash" he yelled; and then he
awoke suddenly with a start, to find
Grandma Bear standing by him feel
ing of his wet hair.
"Golly, but / had a bad dream" said
the little bear as he looked up into his
grandmother's eyes.
Who's Bill? ?" demanded the old bear.
Bill? What Bill?r asked Jumper,
as if he had never heard the name be-
fore.
THE Bill you We're talking about in
your Sleep"
The little bear scratched his head a
moment. 1t was a perilous time for
him, and he knew it, but his bear wit
came to his rescue and he replied: "Oh,
/ know now, grandma. It was a goat
named Bill that ] used to play with
over near Silver Plume. He was all
ways pushing and butting."
And the old bear believed what jun
per told her, and gave him a hug of
gladness like she would a long lost
sister. Then she took him in the den
and insisted on having him eat nearly
all of the grouse.
That night when the little bear was
ready for bed he cautiously dropped a
lump of salt nto the teapot, for the
next day was April. fools day.