back to the
fireplace, stumbling over my wood as I went. I had a fleeting notion
to fling fresh wood on the fire which had almost burned out. Again I
collided with my dusky visitor.

I hesitated no longer. I would vacate the cabin instantly, for good
and all, without stopping to gather up my few belongings. Across the
dirt floor I dashed, grabbed the creaky door and jerked it open.

But before I could dart through I was shoved aside. In panic I sought
that exit, but was buffeted about, and finally knocked headlong on the
ground.

Thoroughly scared, I leaped to my feet, ready to run.

Standing a few feet in front of me, big ears thrust forward
inquiringly, was the friendly burro of the night before.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

BEARS AND BUGBEARS

In my childish estimation, bear stories rivaled the tales of mad gold
rushes, thundering bisons and savage Indians. No chore was so hard nor
so long but that I managed to complete it in time to take my place in
the fireside circle and listen to accounts of those huge animals that
lived in the Rocky Mountains and were fiercer than any other bears in
the world. "Ursus horribilis," my father called them, and a delicious
little shudder would run down my back at the sound of the words. There
was talk, too, of hunters who had tracked these monsters to their lairs
and overcome them. Early I decided that when I went West, I would
become, besides other things, a mighty bear hunter. The cows I drove
to pasture were "ursus horribilis" (how I reveled in those words!)
fleeing before me, and I was stalking them through the wilds with rifle
upon my arm, and pistol and hunting knife in my belt! I planned to
discard the ragged overalls and clumsy "clodhoppers" of the farm, as
soon as I reached the mountains, for smoke-tanned, Indian-made buckskin
suit and moccasins, all beaded and fringed. I wondered if the Indians
wore coonskin caps like Davy Crockett--I felt it absolutely necessary
that I should have one to wear to meet my first bear.

My first venture into the woods below the Parson's ranch I remember
vividly, because I was filled with eager, yet fearful anticipation. I
expected to meet a grizzly around every bowlder. I kept wondering how
fast a bear could run; I halted frequently beside trees, for I
remembered my father's saying grizzlies did not climb, so I planned to
shin up the tallest tree in the woods should one come in sight. In my
dreams back on the farm, my only