Bisbee daily review., 1909-12-21

about bear.
sixty or more years ago. in the days
when California was only poor. faro1
Mexican California and nothing more
and was sery young officer in un-
Gle Sans little army. once found my
self stationed at a certain inland town.
il a collection of adobe or mud huts
deserved the name. situated about six
ty miles distant from the then scarce
ly larger yillage Of Yerbs. Buena. the
now mighty city OF san francisco.
I'VE were doing garrisoB duty. sin
gle company under old Captain Jack
r.. an easy going commander. who
gave as little 10 do and plenty Of time
TO DO il ia.
$50. as the hours hnug somewhat
heavily upon our hands Captain Jack
and 1.-The only officers at the post
took to hunting and shooting. with
now and then little fishing by way
OF change 70 vary the monotony Of our
soldier life. Countless hoeks Of wild
geese. brant ard lesser waterfowl,
came by thousands 10 banquet upon
the wild oat fields ard make their
reedy homes among the wide marshes
which separate the firner land about
Sonoma from the spreading bays that
terminate IN the Golden Gate.
I'VE had goose for dinner. brant for
breakfast aud cold duck for supper
and lunch TN old Jack declared his
belief that he should Guack if we ate
any more such fare.
"0ne merniBg had been very sue
cessfal az duck shooting. and when
] tired OF SIC sport / proceeded 10
shoulder my piece and secure my
game Tor the honeward tramp of three
or four miles,
-as lost sight OF tSe shOotiaE
grounds and began to enter the live
OAK groves scattered here ard there
along the higher ridges bordering the
ilaarshy edges OF the bay found my
self sssddgHiy enveioped in enc of
those dease Inists which sweep up AZ
ceFrain seasons from the sea. like the
ocean vapors OF a Newpert summer
afternoon.
"As had no special path and was
travelling only by fsmiliar landmarks
now rendered indisiinct by the hoary
haze. was obliged to more more slow
~ aud soon felt satisfied thar | had
missed my way.
Reaching at length space open
upon three sides. tie fourth being thin
~ wooded. but without particle OF
undergrowth. paused for a moment
,1p survey. so far rs my limited borizai
would permit tract of country which
was new to nae. Moreover. hoped to
hear the sound of running water.
which, as | knew the general direction
OF the streams. would serve TO guide
me ia taking what sailors cali fresh
departure
While listening intently ! heard
from the wooded side Of my narrow.
visible world u sort of pounding. as
If some man with large boots and no
eorns had found his feet unpleaSaAtly
cold and was endeavoFing TO warm
them by stamping in a manner which
betokened an utter disregard for shoe
leather.
Then came wheeze like that Of a
and tinaIiy mixed compound Of
crunching and mumbIing. as If huge
hog were eating hard corn. My atten-
tion now being thoroughly aroused by
so remarkable u combination of sounds
peered into the gloom until l fancied
] could perceive the vague. misty form
OF some creature stirring up the fos
-
which / had halted
iii is-no. It can't be-yes. but II is
a grizzly Don't ] wish ( was al home
That's what / thought. You see.
hadn't come bear hunting 1 was ducI
shooting and had no eoRreniences fol
carrying home bear even If | should
kill one. and the more | looked at Mr.
Grizzly the better satisfied | vas tha
he had every convenience for killing
and carrying me.
''Au L had ever heard or read of hi!
ugly. hateful ways seemed 20 rush int,
my mind.
IF | had been examined on this Sub
5ect in natura! history just then
should have gone up.sto the bead o.
my class immedintela4
s'We stood looking % each other.
was evidently surprise on both sides
stared very hart- at the bear wit
wide open eyes. while the bear stare;
very bard at me with wide open mouth
Il think the bear got over his aston
ishment first. and. what is worst.
cotfid see be wasn't at all alarmed. FL
stopped eating. gave sniT and sor
Of interrogatory Who are your grunt
and then took step toward me.
-As l nm Of retiring disposition
and have never been willing to III
frude myself into company where
have not been invited. felt some del
eacy IN continuing TO be witness o
his repast ard was accordingly with
drawing in as unOstentatious a way a
good manners would permit. when
seemed to occur to bruin that he owed
It to good fellowship to cultivate N.
acquaintance.
Declining that honor. Groppes
into a backward walk. keeping 10,
face. after the manner Of royal prescn
fations. toward this monarch OF tbl
western wiIds. when. 20 my horror. be
favored nae with gria-such grta.-
and il was followed By a snap and
growi.
-As be quici;ened bis steps toward
me ! uneonScIously hastened my own
when. fakinG hong stride backward
found myself suddenly prosiraIe il
sort Of dry ditch or slough. where
lev for 4 moment half stunned IN com
rauv will my dead birds and duel
...rts