Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-08
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Just Talks With. Scouts
Conducted BY Mabel Putnam ehiISon

Once in the good old days of minins
in California. when gold nuggets
! danced In the pans used for washing
and when a @iimmer was often to be
! seen on the surface OF the earth, in
stead Of down. down deep in the
ground and by miners torch alone
in those good old days a boy Of !;
said to his father, "?Op, want 10 &C
with you on your next trip TO the
mine. While | was waiting for you in
the office tod = the bOokkeeper said
that | would find it mighty interesting
up there in Placer county just now, for
some OF the fellows at work had writ.
ten him that several big bears were
lowering 'r0und the camp. Yon know
I've always been crazy to see a big
one up in the mountains. where he be-
longs. Cant | go?"
Father looked over the top of hts
evening paper, shOyed his black
trimmed speCtacleS up o bit over his
forehead and cleared his throat How
about the gum"
oh, the old gun-hang the gun,
pop; can't go?" .
You knoM.HeTCectly well, son, that
when | gave you that rifle told you
that you might lave a mountain trip
When You could aim and hit at a hun
dred foot target, and not before; and
that it must be the bulls eye or moth
ing, and it must be three times. Don't
forget that"
But the fellows think l did pretty
we'll to make It twice. Isn't that good
ehoIgh ?"
No. nothing is good enough but per-
lection. OF course you think I'm a
crank, but the fact is, We been hoping
you would take more interest in the
gun and that then, if you go with me,
q big grizzly wouldn't brighten the
wits out OF you; for you know it's for
safety and not just for fun gave you
the rifle. However, il you will show
me marked Improvement by next
week I'll take YOU. But remember
one thing hate a COW ard, and II old
Mr.. Bruin comes tumbling down the
trail, you be game-see? He has to
be hit exactly right, as I've told you,
for his hide is the toughest thing on
earth and his blanket is about a foot
thick besides: = But he likes little boys
yes, and big ones, too He wouldn't
mind taking hunk out Of me, old and
tough as i am. However. next to nuts
and apples and honey, he is really
most fond of boys-loves to hug 'em,
you know"
Yes, 1 remember you told me once:
a bear was very, affectiOnate," said
Alex, with grim smile.
a.. Well; the long and short of the story
is that Alex went to Dishnan Cross
ing with his father. When he woke
on the first morning o. his visit, the
were. just tumbling out OF their
hunks and lighting their candles,
while the COOK was sCurrying about,
filling lunch pals and turning bacon
in the pan, at the same time. 1t was
q small mine and had not been much
worked as yet; hut as free gold had
been spotted with the naked eye by
parties more or less concerned in
up a million or two, and as
few whisperings had gone forth to that
effect, men were standing on the tops
of buildings down IN San Francisco,
holding field glasses. to the northeast.
and ina ginning they could see the SHIN.
mer of the gold-flecked Sierra Ne
xadas. Their imaginations were as
large as AfexandeT when he saw him
self aiming at a bear thousand feet
away, then saw the sudden downfall
of a bale of weli;browned hay, saw it
turn on its side and then saw four big,
clumsy feet come forth, give a. death.
wiggle, and fall limp on the ground.
II was his first bear-his very first.
was in his sleep. :
After the miners had departed, Alex
bravely took the rifle and started out
to explore the country. His father
had warned him not to go alone, but
like many other boys, ne knew better
than his father. His absence was