
Photo by Frederick K. Vreeland 
Ursus horribilis imperator looks amiable enough here, but when brought to bay, it’s quite another story! 
ony bordering the Casa Grande. On 
entering Casa Grande, we found Ram 
‘seated in his “flivver,” awaiting our 
arrival. He led us to a grassy spot, 
near which was a well, where he had 
made his own camp. 
AFTER the evening meal was over, 
we settled about our campfire and 
discussed plans for the hunt. Ram was 
of the opinion that we could find no 
better place to establish our camp, than 
the spot on which he and I had camped 
before, on the day we saw the tracks. 
He pointed out that the place where 
he had seen the tracks was a runway 
for game, and that there the conditions 
were most conducive to successful hunt- 
ing. Also, the camp-site some two 
miles away, was a most desirable one, 
and within easy striking distance. It 
was agreed that Ram should leave his 
“flivver” at Casa Grande, and the three 
of us would go in my car to El Valle, 
where we would pick up Ram’s young 
son, and then proceed west to a ranch 
some fifteen miles distant from our des- 
tination. We would travel the remain- 
ing distance with horses. 
An early start the following morn- 
ing put us into El Valle at noon, about 
eighty miles south of Casa Grande. 
There we found Ram Jr., anxious and 
keen for the trip. And after securing 
a supply of fresh eggs, we pulled out 
for the ranch, arriving there after dark. 
Page 657 
Our host was a kindly old Castillian 
gentleman of the old school. He ex- 
tended to us a most cordial welcome, 
insisting that we should not bother 
about pitching our tent, but should 
come into his house as his guests, for 
as long as we cared to remain. Need- 
less to say, we accepted his hospitality, 
and were soon seated at his table enjoy- 
ing a wonderful supper of roast duck, 
with all the trimmin’s. Ram and the 
boy had likewise accepted the hospital- 
ity of a friend who was the Don’s 
ranch foreman. 
OvUR host spoke perfect English, and 
entertained us. thoroughout the 
meal and evening, with accounts of 
some of his big game experiences. We 
found additional proof of the presence 
of game in that section, for the Don 
showed us several silver-tip and lion 
skins which he had secured there him- 
self. After learning of our destination, 
he told us we could find no better place 
than that which we had chosen for our 
camp, and predicted much success for 
us in that vicinity. 
The Don certainly was a true sports- 
man in every respect, a fact that was 
made manifest, by his offering us the 
use of his two trained hounds, and 
agreeing to accompany us on the hunt. 
He secured a light and took us out to 
see the dogs before we retired for the 
night. They were both fine specimens, 
and wagged us,a friendly greeting 
when the Don opened the gate to their 
enclosure. 
E told us the dogs were father and 
son, and had been trained for lion, 
but the older one might prove useful 
for bear also. You can well imagine 
our delight, as the dog we had intended 
bringing had disappeared two days be- 
fore we started, and we had been 
lamenting the fact all the way 
from Columbus. However, everything 
looked rosy now, and we retired to the 
guest chamber, as we heard the Don 
giving instructions about our departure 
on the morrow. 
It seemed that I had scarcely closed 
my eyes, when there came a knock at 
our open window, and the ranch fore- 
man informed us that breakfast would 
be served in just thirty minutes. Who- 
ever invented that “pun’—“anybody 
can go to bed, but it takes a man to 
get up’—certainly must have slept in 
just such a bed as we occupied that 
night. However, we put forth a su- 
preme effort, and in a few minutes 
stepped out into the yet dim light of 
a frosty November morning. 
The Don was ahead of us, and was 
just returning from the kennels, where 
he had released the dogs. He gave us 
a cheerful “Good-morning,” inquiring 
as to how we had rested, and then led 
(Continued on page 684) 
