Berkeley High School - Olla Podrida Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

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of the San Gabriel river. We reached the canyon by the middle of the forenoon without mishap, and took a half-hour ' s rest in the cool shade. The rest of the day until nearly dark was spent in winding along between its rocky walls, sometimes forcing a path through tangled masses of chaparral and manzanita, or picking our way across the stream on the boulders; again creeping along the mountain-side, where there had been a semblance of a trail, or making a wide circuit around a dangerous fall. The sides of the canyon rose almost perpendicularly for two or three thousand feet. The sun passed below the moun- tain-top at a little past three o ' clock, and by five it was getting dusk. Then we looked about for a secure camping place — one in which we would be safe from intrusion by any of the denisons of that region. Soon we came to a level, open space, well sheltered from the strong current of air that always circulates in these canyons, some ten feet above the rippling stream; and, as it was so near night, we concluded to camp there. After removing the pack from the burro and tying him to a clump of bushes a short distance from camp, Danton and I began to collect logs and brush for our camp-fire during the night, while Craig prepared a bag of quail I had shot during the day. In our search for fuel we explored a steep and narrow side canyon which was literally matted with buckthorn and manzanita, except a well worn trail down the water way, which had evidently been kept open by the continual passing of animals. The brush closed over our heads and the passage became so narrow that we had to stoop painfully in order to make any advance. Traces of the presence of game became abundant, and the odor of the thicket was like that of a menagerie. Our curiosity led us farther than we intended, so we resumed our search for dry fuel nearer the camp. When our task was finished we sat down to enjoy a hearty supper around a cheerful fire. We had hardly commenced when Danton stopped abruptly in the middle of a sentence, fixed his eyes upon some object in the darkness and slowly reached behind him for a rifle. Following the direction of his gaze, I saw two balls of fire gleaming in the darkness about a hundred feet from us, but which disappeared before he could get the rifle to his shoulder. Lions, said Danton; and before morning we had good cause to think lions. In a few minutes the fiery orbs reappeared in another place, and almost at the same instant two more pairs gleamed out of the darkness at different points. Well, said Danton, it looks as if there is going to be a reception here to- night, and, unless we bring Raymond in close to the fire, he will have to play host alone. With that he arose from his supper, and, picking up his rifle, started off in quest of the burro. The next minute we heard an exclamation of surprise, and then the voice of Danton calling from the darkness that Raymond was gone, rope and all. Here was a predicament — a totally unknown region, a lion ' s den, and no burro! Knowing a lion ' s failing for burro meat, we realized that poor Raymond was gone for good unless we could find him in a very short time. We sat down around the fire for a few moments to discuss the situation and to decide whether the burro was worth the risk involved in a search through those dark canyons, infested with such treacherous creatures as mountain lions. But we had another motive in our delay, for the eastern sky was bright with the light of a full moon, and in a few minutes its rays would penetrate the darkness of the canyon. 19

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person could find any kind and any quantity. Bear, deer, mountain lion — in fact almost every species of large game usually found in such a region. Fast, but not least, were the grey mountain squirrels, quail and trout. Such were the happy hunting grounds towards which we were slowly toiling. The first mile from the foot of the trail was covered in a very short time, and we were congratulating ourselves on being able to reach the pines before it became so hot when Raymond, after due consideration of all sides of the question, decided ' ' not to do that day what could be put off until the next winter, when it would be too late, and took a gait that would make the average messenger boy hide his head for shame. As I was ahead with the shotgun, on the lookout for a squirrel or quail for dinner, the honors of burro driver were shared by Danton and Craig All their arguments, pleadings, threatening expressions and gentle (?) reminders with the walking stick failed to increase his speed in the least. It soon became evident that at that rate we would be baked alive before we could reach the welcome shade of the pines two thousand five hundred feet above us. Well could we think hot as we wound in and out of those canyons. Now in the deep cleft of the mountain-side where not a breath of air was stirring, then out on the ragged face of a hog-back ' ' where the sun seemed to beat even more intensely than in the canyon. How we longed for the cool, refreshing shade and the tumbling waters of the half-way place, five weary miles from the foot of the trail. Far, far beneath us we could see the glimmer of a stream as it bounded over the rocks and beneath the overhanging ferns, appearing like a gleaming silver ribbon woven in and out among the rocks and trees so far below. There was but one in the party who did not seem to take any special interest in the beautiful panorama of nature spread out below us, and that was Raymond. He seemed to be rather undecided whether to keep on at his present gait or stop altogether; but a vigorous application of the walking stick aided him wonderfully in his decision. Just at high noon the welcome sight of the running water and shade of the half-way place burst upon us, and in a few minutes we were busily engaged in removing the pack from the dripping, panting burro. An appetizing dinner of bacon, coffee and crackers was soon prepared, and it is needless to say that, after our forenoon ' s toil, we did ample justice to it. The next hour we spent in solid comfort, stretched upon our blankets and gazing at the blue-topped mountain above us. The afternoon climb was not as tiresome as that of the morning, as a greater part of it was in the shade of the pines and firs. Dusk found us at Strain ' s Camp, a half mile beyond the summit of the mountain. After a hearty supper we spread our blankets down, and, with the heavens for a roof, turned in for a good night ' s rest. Next morning we were up and had our breakfast of bacon and coffee by the time the first tints of the coming daylight streaked the eastern sky. Without waiting to wash our few tin dishes we again packed our outfit upon the burro and bade good-bye to Strain ' s Camp. The trip down the north side of Mt. Wilson was not long, but exceedingly rough, the fall of the trail being something over five thousand feet in two and a half miles. At the foot of the mountain ran the West Fork, one of the branches 18

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t As the moon came into view over the tops of the mountains, I suddenly saw- outlined against the bright sky the form of a huge lion, sitting upon a rocky point on the mountain-side. From the point where the lion sat upon his haunches there was a precipitous descent of sixty feet, and then the steep slope of debris and shale to the edge of the stream bed — a distance of a hundred yards — thickly covered with tangled thicket. My friend, said Danton, as he picked up his rifle and stepped back out of the firelight, I guess you have eaten your last supper of burro meat, for you made a big mistake when you came out onto that rock. With that he threw the rifle to his face and pulled the trigger. There was a loud report, a flash of fire, and we saw the lion leap into the air and fall back, apparently upon the rock. Another one of those ugly varmints to my account, said he quietly; it gives me more real pleasure to plunk one of them than it does to kill a half dozen bear, for the}- are the meanest, most treacherous critters that were ever put on earth. If that carcass stays there all night something will tear the hide to pieces, and I want it ; so I guess I w-ill just skip up there and bring Mr. Lion down. You fellows can go on up the canyon looking for Raymond, and I will be down again in fifteen minutes and overtake you. With that he left in spite of our protests against his doing such a foolhardy thing. Replenishing the fire we took our guns and commenced a short search for the burro. We had gone about a quarter of a mile or so when three shots, fired in quick succession, told us that Danton was interestingly engaged. We immedi- ately turned back and ran as fast as we could down the canyon. As we reached the vicinity of the camp, sounds of a fierce struggle burst upon our ears. A flash of light and a sharp report, followed by a brutish scream of rage, revealed to us the nature of the conflict that was taking place upon the summit of the rock. What was to be done? How could we reach him in time? Ah! the narrow canyon and the passage through the brush ! Its opening was just before us, and I now saw that it must lead out upon the hillside near the summit of the rock. To think was to act; and, clutching Craig by the arm, I shouted Follow 7 me ! and dashed into the black mouth of the canyon. Up we clambered, falling over rocks and logs, but never faltering for one instant, even when the closely matted briers tore our hands and faces or forced us to our knees. Now the way became clear, and we sprang panting out upon the hillside. At the same instant I heard a cry of warning, a shot behind me, and the heavy body of a lion struck me with terrific force and knocked me to the ground. I expected to feel its teeth and claws sink into my flesh, but they did not, and I sprang to my feet to find it in the throes of death. No time to tarry, or even to be thankful; we dashed toward the cliff. Danton was gone, but on the ground were tw 7 o great tawny bodies, and, scattered about, were several pieces of clothing, while near the edge of the rock was Danton ' s heavy knife. I peered over the edge. I turned sick at the sight which met my eyes. There at the bottom lay Danton, still and white, while on a ledge a few feet above him crouched a lion. To one side and on the ground was another, his great head low between his paws and his whole body quivering as he prepared to spring. I took in the situation at a glance. The lion on the ledge was directly between Danton and myself. I dared not fire at it. The only thing to do was to shoot the other one, and even that seemed to be a fruitless effort, for 20