The Washington times., 1913-05-09
For The Times Children
Just Before It's Bedtime
THE BEARS BREAKFAST.

ASH and Ernest sat on the fall
Il len log which lay right in their
front yard before their cabin.
But 1t was a rather big yard,
for just at their feet lay the whole side
of one Of the Rocky mountains with
its miles of forest and huge gulches,
and their back yard was a tall olifi
that came towering hundreds Of feet
up over their heads.
Both boys were born in a city in the
East but their father had come out to
look for gold a year before. He had
grown tired of an office in town. and
as he was not strong. built a tiny cabin
on the side of the mountain called
Smoky Top. and lived there with his
wife and two boys, while he spent his
time wandering about the rocks looking
for gold.
Ernest was twelve and Basil ten.
Both boys liked the wild life in the
woods and had learned to shoot as
straight as an Indian. So this warm
spring morning they were very happy
as they sat talking about big hunt
they were preparing to take the next
day.
! "Boys," said the father. Mr.. Clark. as
he stepped out of The door, Il am going
down the mountain to Red Bend. and
! will not be back before dark. Take
good care of mother, and above all.
| watch out that that big grizzly bear
| does not get here before You see him.
"Oh! we are not afraid Of that fel-
low" laughed Ernest, MY rifle will
settle him II can get a pop at hin,
| once"
Now. don't be too sure. cautioned
the father. That bear Is one Of the
worst ever seen in this mountain and
has killed two men already. II You see
any signs of him about, go in the house
and shoot at him from the cracks In
| the logs"
So the boys promised faithfully to re-
member. But they did not take care
to have their rifles in place. Instead.
they sat on the log watching their
father tramp down the rocky trail till
| he disappeared in the woods far below,
| Presently their mother called them into
dinner.
81 do hope father will have better
luck next month"; sighed Mrs. Clark
| I'VE have been out here now long
| time and spent almost all We brought
with us. but have found no signs of
any gold in these rocks. I don't know
| what we can do II this bad luck keeps
up. We can't farm In this woods in the
midst of these cliffs. yet l would hate
! to go back to living in the city again"
! Hush. what's that whispered Basil
| They all listened. Outside they heard
a shuffling step that came toward the
door. Ernest sprang TO the window.
| A few yards off he saw a big brown
| grizzly bear, one OF the largest ever
| in the mountains. rolling up the path
! to the house.
With a bound he pushed the door
shut and threw a heavy bar across it,
| That is the big bear papa was telling
US about he cried, and our rifles
are out in the shed. All we can do is to
stay in here till papa comes"
Basil climbed up the ladder which
led to sort of loft and sat down to
| watch the animal.
"You better not stay at the window,
Ernest" he said. That bear Is heavy,
and II he caught sight of your face he
would rush at the panes and break
through In a moment
The bear trotted around the house
looking for hole by which TO get in,
for he smelt the dinner But as ne
passed the shed, whose door stood open