52 CAMP-FIRES OF A NATURALIST. 



them off. I wanted to get a shot at them where I 

 could get shelter in the trees if they attacked me. 

 They unintentionally outwitted me, however, and 

 went up a ridge while I was watching a stream." 



"Well, I have a scheme," said Brown. "Let me 

 go back to Harvey's and then down to Las Vegas 

 and get a big bear-trap, and we will get a bear, sure. 

 It will take some time, but it seems that we are 

 spending more time than anything else, anyway." 



" Well, as we need more provisions I guess you'd 

 better make the trip to-morrow, " was the reply, and 

 so it was settled. Brown got an early start next 

 morning and Dyche was left alone. The trip would 

 take about ten days to go and return. Dyche started 

 for the woods to see if he could get another look at 

 his bear herd. 



On the evening of the ninth day after Brown left, 

 Dyche heard the song of a burro down the canon and 

 he hastened to get a warm supper for Brown, who 

 he knew was coming. From the back of old Reuben 

 dangled a fifty-pound bear-trap. Hot coffee, biscuit, 

 and broiled steak were soon smoking on the table, 

 and Brown went ravenously to work on them. 



"This venison is mighty tough," he remarked. 

 " It must have been one of the oldest bucks in the 

 mountains. " 



"Take another piece," said Dyche. 



" It will be better after we've had it a week or 

 two," was Brown's comment, as he took an extra 

 tough bite. " What kind of meat is this, anyhow? 

 It's the toughest venison I ever tasted." 



"May be it's fox." 



