inutes, before one of
the Mexicans rushed towards me, saying,--

"Don Jerry is shouting to _El Senor_ from the rise of ground out
back upon the road."

Springing upon my horse I rode rapidly toward the spot where he stood,
when the sight that met my gaze, almost convulsed me with laughter.

Coming up the road were the boys. Ned was mounted upon his pony, and
trying to lead Hal's mule. Like most Spanish mules, the animal had a will
of its own, and would not be led; but on the contrary, pulled back so
strongly upon the lariat, which Ned had attached to the pommel of his
saddle, that the pony could scarcely move a step.

Hal's coat was off, his face black with dust and sweat, and he, tugging
at a lariat drawn tightly over his shoulder, at the end of which was a
small black bear, scarcely more than a cub. The animal insisted upon
squatting on his haunches, and in that position, Hal was dragging him
through the dust, the creature all the while expressing his disapprobation
by low, snarling growls of defiance, and a vigorous shaking of himself
between each growl.

[Illustration: Boys and Bear.]

The strange medley of noises caused by the boys, the snarling bear, and
the obstinate mule, had been heard in the still twilight for a long
distance, by the guard, and mistaken for the approach of a party of
Apaches.

"I wish you'd take this devilish bear," said Hal.

"And won't you take this plaguy mule?" exclaimed Ned.

Both looked so harassed and tired, that, although Jerry and I could not
help laughing at their ludicrous situation, we nevertheless pitied them.

"Where in the world did you get that bear, Hal?" said I.

"Get him? I bought him of a Mexican at Mesilla, and I'm going to take him
to California with me for a pet. He's tame."

"Well," exclaimed Ned, "if you don't get him along faster than you have
to-day, you'll die of old age before you get there. We've been ever since
eleven o'clock getting here, and I'm so hungry and tired I can hardly sit
on my horse."

"Pooh!" retorted Hal; "this is nothing. You ought to be taken prisoner by
the Apaches if you want to know what 'tis to be hungry and tired."

"How much did you pay for him?" inquired I.

"Only fifteen dollars," answered Hal.

"What's that?" ejaculated Jerry. "Fifteen dollars! Wall, I dunno which is
the biggest fool, you or the bar. The greaser that swindled yer, ought to
be thrashed; and I've a notion of goin' back and doin' it, for I've felt
like t