The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-05-22
AN INDIAN STORY.
HOW THE SHoRT-TAIL BEAR
GOT HIS NAME.
BY HUBERT NARsToN LONG.

Him Muk7wah, him short-tailed
bear"
Pete Mareau, halfbreed, guide, hunt
er, trapper, everything but man OF
work and substance, pulled at MS
/ short-stemmed pipe, expectorated, and
took another squint at the great
tracks in the fresh fallen snow.
Like the spread Of giant hand tha
tracks heat down the snow, indicative
of the weight Of the bear that passed.
| such a short time before.
The white man knelt beside the tracS
and gave 1t close attention.
why do you call 1t the short-tailea
bear Pete? Aren't all bears short
| tailed?"
'Uh-hsh," srunted the halfbreei
| Me tell you bimeby"
Following the well defined trail Of
the bear. the white man and halfbreed
moved through the wood, out into the
clearing whore the cedar workers hal
left their mark beside the swamp.
Far away were the cabins, roughly
built of logs the habitations of the
forerunners Of civilization. Now AMI
then through the woods resounded th2
tinkle of COW bells, as the cattle
sought for browse The frontier cattle
knew no comfortable harms in winter
but with the deer fight for life during
the months of cold.
Beside the track of Muk-wah lay
few fresh bones a few scraps OF sheep
skin. all that was left of the hears
breakfast
"ot man ,Badeau, him lost dal
sheep" said Pete Mareau,
Can we get the bear?" inquired tn
hunter
You bet. We track him; him lay
down pretty soon
Pete Mareau followed the trail Ike
q hound, his keen eyes netting the CIT
offs and sayrng steps as they swung
along, teg
II was a symphony IN green and
gray. black, and white. The pines
hemlprk aassiffscedars showed the gre .
the fre-swept stubs and logs tn
black, while over the surface resteA
the mantle of white. completing the
picture.
Down into the swamp. through It.
and out across the plains went the trait
of the bear.
Him not far way" saId the half
breed.
over a knoll. against the side Of
which rose an old pine stub. the tracks
ended
Mukwah was at home.
Wearled from his Journey into tho |
world, satisfied after his feast. Muk-
wah slept, secure in his den
Pete Mareau secured a long pole AMI
prodded in the hole An angry snort |
was the only response
Again and again the halfbreed used
the pole, with no result Muk-wah aid
not intend to leave his home.
I'VE smoke him out" ne said
Then they gathered the dry branches
which. victim TO decay. had fallen. the
cedar tops were brought and a fire.
started over the mouth Of the den.
II biazed mp fercely. and then tha
green tops were thrown on and covered |
with rnow The smoke. unable TO fol |
low natures law, found its only avenuc
and filled the den
There was a roar, as Of an hundred |
angry animals. the fire was burs |
apart. and blinking and blinded b.
smoke aud light Nuk-wah stood Jus /
fnutside the fire line
The sharp spitetul creek of the RIM |
broke the stiffness. Nuk-w4h lurcshi /
forward. bulle, through his brain
Fresh fuel was thrown upon m
fire. and beside Il. beside the place |
where the bear made his home. MIX |
wah the mighty was made TO yielt
his pclt
"Him fin short-tan bear" erunte1
Pete Marea1. after tho work Of dress
ing the carcass was over.
why is he a short-tailed hear /
Pete? All are that way How ala Il /
happen" asked the white man
"lniun say bear all have long tail
one time" replied Pete Long. lone /
time go. tore white man come hum /
all bear have him long tai.
"lnWp. him go huutin him catc1 /
long-isil up tree lniun him want
bear bear him no want Iniun 20 ge'
him.
"lnjun no have gun. him usa how n
arrow. Him shoot straight an shoot
Muk-wsh through him heart.
"Muk-wah him fall Him fan o.
tail. him break r. Ever since all bea.
him have short taiI"
And that Is the way the Indians tel I
Of the way nature gave the bear his I
short tail.-Detrob Free Press.
Sweet Potato Croquettes.
Mash some boiled sweet potsfoes
season them highly with salt and neo-
per. and add TO every pint Of The veg s.
table one egg yolk and very small /
piece Of butter. Form into crooueftrS