RECREATION. 



Volume X. 



MAY, 1899. 

 G. 0. SHIELDS (COQUINA), Editor and Manager. 



Number 5. 



HUNTING GRIZZLIES ON HORSEBACK. 



L. E. BURNETT. 



One fine morning while riding over 

 a ridge usually called " The Rim of the 

 Hole." en route to Bates' creek to 

 gather ornithological specimens, I saw 

 a large animal making for a dense 

 patch of timber — spruce, willow, 

 choke-cherry, etc. — and recognized at 

 once the gait of Old Ephraim. 



I was leading a pack-horse, not 

 specially anxious to follow, and some 

 time passed before I reached the thicket 

 in which bruin was resting and cooling 

 himself after his vigorous exertions. 

 He had been forced to flee from the 

 hissing lariats of 2 meddlesome cow- 

 boys who had chanced upon him. 



They had been obliged to give up the 

 chase and return to the herd which they 

 were driving, and so old Silver Tip had 

 escaped. I learned all this afterward, 

 and that there were 2 bears, whereas I 

 had seen but one. I had been a bit too 

 late to see the first, but happened on the 

 second. 



I carried a good Winchester, .40-82, 

 9 shots, and felt fully equal to the 

 emergency. From the direction and 

 vigor of the wind I found it necessary 

 to shelter the pack-horse before begin- 

 ning the campaign, and so selected a 

 good place in the timber, tied him to 

 a bush, and proceeded on my pony, a 

 short-legged, stumpy fellow. 



In order to secure an easy way to 

 retreat I was obliged to go round to the 

 opposite side of his thicket, taking the 

 chance of his winding me. Besides, I 

 wanted to force him out on flat ground 



where I could run him — on horseback, 

 and dispatch him " on the wing," as 

 it were. 



Finding suitable ground, I dis- 

 mounted. " All was quiet," except the 

 distinct panting of my weary victim, 

 like the puffs from the exhaust pipe of 

 a soap factory. 



I nailed him in English. Xo re- 

 sponse. In Choctaw. This time Bruin 

 jumped out to see who " called so loud 

 and called so late." Before I could 

 hand in my card, however, he disap- 

 peared. 



Watching narrowly, I finally located 

 a small bunch of him and fired, but 

 could see no effect. Again I sent him 

 my compliments, but as he was on the 

 lower hillside, I suppose I overshot. 

 He still chose to stay in the thicket, and 

 knowing the animal's retiring disposi- 

 tion I did not wish to disturb his pri- 

 vacy, so waited humbly outside. 



Every time I caught sight of him, I 

 sent in a fresh request for an interview, 

 and at last he concluded to retire into 

 the back yard. Keeping a close watch 

 I caught him in his unsocial move. As 

 he was now just where I wanted him, 

 I mounted and gave the pony the 

 spurs. 



But my departing entertainer had 

 chosen the brushy route of exit, so 

 pony could only walk. 1 Presently, leav- 

 ing the track, I turned to the left, head- 

 ing for more open ground, so as to 

 see. 



I was riding along leisurely and 



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