The San Francisco call., 1910-03-26
ny PERRY NnwpERRy


through the greediness of the bear
residents of the adjoining forest, but
never in the FIVE years that he hal
called this rough mountain ranch home
had he seen bear tracks so big as these.
IF l did not know that the last OF the
grizzlies was exterminated many years
back | would call the maker of those
marks grizzly sure" he said to his
son. VIII, who was down on hands and
knees measuring the footprints.
Fourteen inches, father said Will
excitedly there isn't brown or cin-
namon bear on the range with such
feet 1t surely must be a grizzly"
No can't be- They're thing OF the
past in California. When my father
brought the family out here in 81 they
were thicker than the small bears are
now, but | have not heard or read of
one being shot or even seen for more
than 10 years, and that is pretty good
indication that they have died out. A
grizzly is not like panther. hiding
himself away forever in the high parts
and only letting himself be known by
his yowls He doesn't break for shell
ter when man pokes his nose into the
same quarter section. If there were
grizzlies about, there would be bear
stories by the dozens. These are proba
bly, the prints of an uncommonly big
cinnamon, and just now he is happy
cinnamon with a big pork dinner in his
nsides."
There was no talk of hunting ex-
pedition for the bear, although VIII
had a temporary hope.
1t was during the nooning that Mr.
Field said to Will: Take the shovel.
boy, and go up the ditch to the slide;
l think that the trouble Is there and
YOU probably can clear it away this aft
ernoon. If you do not find the break
there, follow up the creek, but get it
clear if you can There is going to be
another big rain, possibly tonight, and
with that ditch clogged it will do lots
of damage to the fields
Will finished his lunch, took the
shovel from the woodshed and started
for the place on the mountain called
the slide. He had not gone far when
he heard his fathers call; "Ho. Will
hallo," VIII turned. "Hallow he
shouted back
Better get the rifle. You might run
on to that bear
Will hesitated. laughing. The
chances of that bear being in the par
ticular direction he was about to take
add another burden to his pack. Then
he thought that he might likely see
grouse. to be beheaded with the 80
caliber bullet, and added to rather
meager and monotonous bill OF fare;
so he came. back and took the rifle
from the hooks above the fireplace.
Going hunting, Will?" asked his
mother.
mo. Going to mend the break in
the ditch Taking the gun to protect
me against grouse"
They would certainly taste well to-
night and Mrs. Field went on with her
dish washing, while Will climbed over
the garden fence, short cutting for the
slide.
The ditch trouble was not at the
slide, although there was some clearing
necessary there. and VIII spent an hour
throwing out rocks and strengthening
walls. A mile and half farther up,
around the side of the mountain, the
ditch broke out of the creek, securing
in this distance enough elevation so
that it ran around the upper side of
the Fields farm and was used when
the long summer drought came to
moisten the hay field. planted to al
falfa, and the orchard and garden A
heavy rain coming now with the ditch
clogged would cause it to overflow and
drown out the newly seeded fields. Will.
with the shovel on his shoulder and the
rifle in his hand, followed the winding
course of the ditch as it ran crowding
close to the mountain side
The creek came through a narrow
mountain gorge, making swift descent
by cascades and waterfalls. through
trees and brush. Will was watching
closely for signs of small game, the
early pheasants or grouse, squirrels or
the mountain hare. AS they were like
ly TO be found in the wooded creek bot
tom, his eyes were cast that way.
watching for movement that was not
the wind in the trees or the rushing
water against oyerhanging branches.
On the other hand, the mountain side
ran up sometimes precipitously; again
at angles more easy of access. Usually
bare and rocky. there were places along
the ditch where pine trees and red