The Press., 1910-03-16
..taralldpa colonel. tell us , stor

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 when California. was only poor. farofg Mexican California and nothing more and was very young officer intUn- cle Sam's little army. l once found my self stationed at certain inland town, If Il collection of adobe or mud huts deserved the name, situated about six ty miles distant from the then scarce ly larger village of Yerba BuenaS the now mighty city of San Francisco.
 I've were doing garrison duty. g sin gle company under old Captain Jack
 B.. an easy going commander. who I gave us little to do and plenty of time to do lf in.
 'So, as the hours hung somewhat heavily upon our hands, Captain Jack and 1.-the only officers at the post took to hunting aud shooting. with DOW and then little fishing by way of change to vary the monotouy of our soldier life. Countless Jocks of wild geese, hrant and lesser waterfowl came by thousands to banquet upon the wild Oaf fields and make their reedy homes among the wide marshes which separate the tirmer land about 3onOma from the spreading bays that terminate in the Golden Gate.
 "We had goose for dinuer. brapt for breakfast aud cold duck for supper and lunch till old Jack declared his belief that he should quack if we ate any more such fare.
 ''One morning ] had been very sue ! cessfuI at duck shooting. and when fired of the sport proceeded to shoulder my piece aud secure my | game for the homeward tramp of three or four miles.
 l "As lost sight of the shooting ! grounds and began to enter the live oak groves scattered here and there along the higher ridges bordering the marshy edges of the bay found my self suddenly enveloped in one of those dense mists which sweep up at I certain seasons from the sea- like the ocean vapors of Newport summer afternoon.
 "As had no special path and was ! travelling only by familiar landmarks. 1 DOW rendered indistinct by the hoary haze. was obliged to move more slow ly and soon felt satistied that had missed my way.
 Bleaching at length space open upon three sides. the fourth being thin ly wooded. but without particle of undergrowth. paused for a moment tn survey. so far as my limited horizon would permit. q tract of country which was new tO me. Moreover. ! hoped to hear the sound of running water, which. as knew the general direction of the streams. would serve to guide mP in taking what sailors call a fresh departure.
 "While listening intently l heard from the wooded side of nay nafpow, visible world q sort of pounding. as if some man with large boots and no GOrns bad found bis feet unpleasantly cold and was endeavoring to warm them by stamping in q manper which bRtokened an utter disregard for shoe leather
 "Thep came wheeze like that of a gruff giant troubled with the asthma and finally q mixed compound of crunching and mumbling. as if q huge hog were eating hard corn. My atten tton now being thoroughly aroused by so remarkable combination of sounds. ! peered into the gloom until l fapcied could perceive the vague, misty form of some creature stirring up the fog within twenty feet of the spot on which ] had halted.
 ''It is-no. 1t can't he-yes. but It is grizzly: Don't ] wish l was at home.
 '"Thats what thought. You see. hadn't come bear hunting. was duck shooting and bad nO conyeniences for carrying home Il bear even if l should kill one. and the more ] looked at Mr. Grizzly the better satisfied l was that he had every convenience for killing and carrying me.
 "All had ever heard or read of his ugly. hateful ways seemed to rush into my mind.
 ''If had been examined on this sub ject in natural history just then I should have gone up to the head of my class immediately.
 We stood looking at each other. Ii was evidently a surprise on both sides. stared very hard at the bear with wide open eyes. while the bear stared very hard at me with wide open mouth.
 Fl think the bear got over his aston ishment first. and. what is worst, could see he wasn't at all alarmed He stopped eating. gave a sniff and sort of interrogatory Who are you?' grunt and then took step toward me.
 ''As l am of q retiring disposition and have never been willing to in- trude myself into company where have not been invited. felt some deli cacy in continuing to be q witness of nls repast ara was accordingly with dra wing ifl as transformations way as good manners would permit. when 1t teemed to occur to bruin that he owed It to good fellowship to cultivate my acquaintance.
 ''Declining that honor. dropped Into d backward walk keeping my face. after the manner of royal presen rltf.ne. toward th's manarch ef fl,f western wiIds. when. to my horror. he favored me with grin such grin!- and il was followed by U snap and grOwl.
 "As he quickened his steps toward me uhconSclnuSly h9Stened my own, when. taking long stride backward. found myself suddenly prostrate in sort of dry ditch or slough. where lay for Il moment half stunned in com pany with my dead birds and duck gun.
 ''As recovered myself could hear my grunting and grumbling friend. doubtless nOt Il little astonished at this sudden disappearance go tramping up and down i'll the vain attempt to nose me out In the fog
 II had now time to think and as a merchant might say. take stock of my position and prospects. On the one side was chased by bear-a hungry bear. a cross bear. a bear disturbed at his breakfast If sweet acurns. ! had T..