na's voice. They
cantered slowly homeward, and crossed themselves fervently when they
saw the Casa Encarnacion none the worse for her shaking, beyond a few
fallen tiles. After dinner and siesta they recovered their natural
spirits, and the men and boys went forth with the vaqueros to hunt the
cattle. These were found at the foot of the mountain, weary and humble.
Not a horn was tossed in defiance at the volley of abuse hurled upon
them, and they allowed themselves to be driven to the ranches of their
respective owners without a protest.

That evening the household and guests of Casa Encarnacion spent in
music and dancing; so light of heart and careless of mind were the
people of that time and country.

A number of cattle had been trampled to death in the stampede, and the
bodies lay within a few miles of the mountains. It was inevitable that
bears would come out to eat the carcasses. On the night of the day of
terrifying memory no one felt equal to the exertion of another ten mile
ride and the subsequent battle with a possible herd of bears. But at
eight o'clock on the following night Don Tiburcio, Padre Osuna, the
boys, some ten of the caballeros, and as many vaqueros mounted and rode
forth for a good night's sport. The moon was thin and low. As they
approached the spot where the first of the wild band had succumbed to
fatigue they saw a dark object moving beside the carcass. The approach
was stealthy, but the bear suddenly raised his head. In a second five
or six lassos had sprung through the air. One caught the bear--a brown
bear of moderate size--about the neck, another about a hind leg. The
brute drew his legs together like a bucking horse and leaped into the
air, then plunged toward his tormentors; but those that had him in
lasso galloped in different directions, and poor bruin was quickly
strained and strangled to death. Two vaqueros were left to skin him,
and the party rode on. In a very few moments they saw a moving group
some distance ahead. Spurring their mustangs they dashed forward,
letting the lassos fly. Now the sport became truly exciting and
dangerous. Some six or eight brown bears, of varying sizes, growled
furiously and bounded toward the intruders. Three were caught in the
meshes of the rope, the others were making straight for the horses.
There was only one thing to do. The men put spurs and galloped rapidly
away, the bears plunging heavily in pursuit. When the men had
outdistanced the bears by a