122 
WILD AMERICANS 
who went hunting and found a grizzly bear. The 
Negro was so frightened by the big bear that he fon 
got all about his gun. He ran to a tree and climbed 
it, and the bear sat down under the tree to wait. 
Buck and Ginger were delighted with the song. 
When the two men had finished, Buck demanded: 
“Did the bear ever get him, Uncle Ely? 1 ’ 
“I don't know. Probably not, although I don't be^ 
lieve the song tells. I imagine the bear grew tired of 
waiting." 
“Would the bear have hurt the man?" 
Uncle Ely answered, “Yes, very likely. A grizzly 
bear is monarch of the wild. He is the strongest, 
most ferocious fighter in North America. 
“Yes, sir! I mean it. I have seen only two grizzlies, 
outside of zoos, but I have talked to many a trapper 
and hunter about them. They are the wildest animal 
we have. However, very few of them are left now." 
Mother added, “You are right, Ely! I have read 
about them. They can even kill cows or horses with 
one blow of their great paws, they are so strong. 
“Yes," continued Mother, “they were such big 
dangerous animals, and so common when pioneers 
settled our country, that many stories and songs have 
been written about them. Father and Uncle Ely 
