The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1921-06-30

tie for rancher not very far away
from that very canon. They couldn't
remember just how far away it had
been. What if one of those griz-
izlies would raid our camp of sleep
ing Boy Scouts? What is that dark
object there just in the edge of the
trees, let's get little closer, flash
light is thrown on the dark object.
"a bear! A bearp shouts brave
guard and beats it for the glare Of
the camp fire. The bear however,
proved to be only shadow Of an old
log. During the next watch the
guards discover large black object
several hundred feet up the side Of
the. mountain. Upon examination
this object assumed the size and
shape of bear What should be
done? It was decided to watch him
for awhile before giving an alafmS
They did not care to be laughed at
by giving false alarm. While this
object seemed to move about, he
did not seem to be inclined to raid
the camp. The guards Of the next
watch were told to watch him care
fully, and upon the least sign of
move toward to camp to sound the
alarm. They too could see him dis
tinctly, coud see him move as if he
were eating something. They were
glad for big camp fire which kept
plentifully supplied with wood. As
the day began to break the bear
proved to be, only the mouth of
small caye which was about the size
the boys thought bear would be.
Glory, how glad they were that they
had not given the alarm.
Saturday our band of explorers
and sight seers headed for Taos, 40
miles below our camp in Bob Cat
Canyon. On this road we held our
breath several times, as the heavy
loaded cars slowly climbed the steep
grades, or rapidly swung around the
curves on a down grade. Taos is an
inland city of ancient origin Near
here we saw the excavations at
Ranches, of an ancient city, ante-
dating any Of the tribes now living
there. Who this ancient people were
no one has, been able to decide. At
Ranches, the boys picked up bits Of
old pottery, old arrow heads and
other curios, relics of an ancient
race. This region was first visited
by Cabez de Vaca in 1886. Later,
explored by Coronado in 1541,
searching for the seven cities with
their golden treasures. At Ranches
are the ruins of an old church built
in 1778. Some have called New
Mexico and Arizona coolest Amer
ica." 1t was rare treat to the
Scouts of Liberal to visit this histor-
ic and beautiful country. The Pueblo
Indians still living in the primitive
style, and dressed as they have
dressed for ages live in communal
style in their own pueblo, and on
their own land near Taos. The pueb-
10 consisting of adobe houses some
times five stories high. Upper stor-
les reached by ladders from one
story to the next. Originally there.
we're no doors on the ground floors
it being necessary to climb a lad
der up from the outside, then down
a ladder into the rooms below. A
few of them now have doors thru
which one may enter in their SIM
pie home. Those we entered had but
but little furniture, a sort of long
narrow bench or lounge along one
side of the room, with few rugs on
the floor The room was very neat
and clean. The pueblo was surround
ed by an adobe wall, with served as
a protection against the apache,
their long time enemy, and with
whom thew foupht manv hIoodv