Hard Riding in California 367 



dons wore in California at the time, and passing 

 behind the tree, succeeded in tying the bear's 

 hind legs together and had Senor Oso at his 

 mercy. He had made the capture single-handed, 

 with the aid of his horse. 



The bear was taken out of the willows and 

 carried to the ranch in the following ingenious 

 fashion. A stiff hide of a steer was brought to 

 the place and laid flat on the ground, and holes 

 cut in the end of the legs. The lariat was now 

 thrown over one of the front legs of the grizzly 

 and the end run through the hole of the leg of 

 the hide. This was then pulled taut by the 

 horse, and the result was that the paw of the bear 

 was hauled down to the foot of the hide. Then 

 another riata was thrown about the other front 

 foot of the bear, and the same operation per- 

 formed. The hind legs, which were fastened to 

 the tree, were now cut loose and each caught 

 and fastened as above, and we see the bear lying, 

 belly-down, flat on the hide, its four powerful 

 paws stretched out, looking for all the world, as 

 Mr. Johnston said, like a pinned bug on the 

 card of some collector. 



In this position the bear was ugly, comfortable, 

 and harmless. Three or four riatas were now 

 fastened to the hide, front and side, and with 

 ends wound about the pommel of the saddles the 

 Californians moved away dragging the hide and 

 the bear. 



