The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-05-05

venOm0uS lizard or snake, ella
monster may be taking an airing in
the neighborhood, or, Of less danger
| but considerable discomfort, each
| particle of vegetation is at apparent
war with the world and stands armed
at every point; you live in an atmo-
sphere of every man for himself,
| which has something Of the effect
on the nerves of a flyer in Wall
street, where everyone's motto is
sauve Qui peut.
SO it was relief to be out OF the
worst OF it, for now our progress car
ried US from the desert lands behind
into the beginnings of normal vege-
| tation. A stream-small, but prom
Using better things nearer its source
| -trickled along, its way enlivened by
bushes and low trees. Deeper we
went into the heart of the hills, those
towering mountains seeming to go up
and up into the sky. and as the sun
dipped behind them, Mike concluded
| it was time to camp, though two
hours of the day still lay ahead Of us.
Knowing the uselessness of disputing
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-
fed 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 it 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
canon, thankful that the fates had
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
faded minds and bodies.
| Gradually into our consciousness
broke the fact that there was an &C.
casional noise in the brush behind
us. a 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 a bear, which
projected itself toward US with a
speed that sent us to our feet and
toward a 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
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.
At the institution of learning where
Mike had received his education
| bears evidently were not included in
| the curriculum, for he was plainly OF
a nonplussed and disgruntled mind.
| He stood and watched the visitor
snuffing about till it seemed to occur
to him that it was up to him to add
to his various other duties that of
watchdog. So he advanced with a
| 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 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; hts
tail stood straight out, his legs grew
rigid, and his chin gradually project
ed itself in apparent voiceless amaze
ment, till, of 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
louder and more joyous Tilt to the
final "haw," while the bear stood, in
his turn, petrified by this tumult of
hideous noise.
We chung to our precarious posi-
ton on the rock. convulsed with help
less laughter, almost rolling on at
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
GEI - ~..1