TREEING A BEAR. 77 



Aere. His home was further to the south. 

 Neither was the large and clumsy cinna- 

 mon bear abundant on the banks of the 

 beautiful Willamette in those dear old 

 days, when you might ride from sun 

 to sun, belly deep in wild flowers, and 

 never see a house. But the small black 

 bear, as indicated before, was on deck in 

 great force, at all times and in nearly all 

 places. 



It was the custom in those days for boys 

 to take this bear with the lasso, usually on 

 horseback. 



We would ride along close to the dense 

 woods that grew by the river bank, and, 

 getting between him and his base of re- 

 treat, would, as soon as we sighted a bear 

 feeding out in the open plain, swing oui 

 lassos and charge him w T ith whoop and 

 yell. His habit of rearing up and stand- 

 ing erect and looking about to see what 

 was the matter made him an easy prey to 

 the lasso. And then the fun of taking bin? 

 home through the long, strong grass! 



