Santa Rosa High School - Echo Yearbook (Santa Rosa, CA)

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THE ECHO 9 other. Hugh immediately got back under cover and began to plan a way to bag both of them. He began to creep around so that he could get one at short range and kill the other before it could reach the brush. Things work- ed splendidly until one of the bears looked toward the skulking hunter. The old grizzly grunted, clamored out of the water, shook the mud from his fur, and started out after Hugh, closely followed by the other one. Hugh did not need to read their minds to find out their purpose; it was only too apparent. He immediately started for the only large tree near, an aok close to the lake. The bears did their best, but Hugh reached the tree first and climbed up among the branches. The bears considered siege operations for a while, but presently decided to storm his position. Hugh was frightened. Two bears and only one shot; for his gun was a muzzle-loader. He saw that he must do something at once, for both bears were scratching their way up the tree. Hugh took careful aim at the foremost bear and fired. The beast, rolling out of the tree, struck the second bear and knocked him down. Enraged by the death of his mate, the remaining bear, growling savagely, again climbed the tree. Hugh was in a desperate predicament. Climbing frantically to the top of the tree, he be- gan to reload his gun. The bear was clawing and grunting his way up the tree trunk, while Hugh worked desperately to ram the charge into the old gun. He finished his task none too soon, for the grizzly was close upon him. Hugh, now feeling secure, raised the gun, took careful aim and pulled the trigger; but there was no report; the cap gave a dismal snap that sent a thrill of terror through the hunter. He struck blindly at the great beast with the useless gun; but the bear sent it clattering to the ground with a sweep of his paw. The terrified Hugh then kicked savagely at his enemy and had his shoe torn off by the latter's ever-ready teeth. The bear’s pull on his foot toppled Hugh from his perch and sent him crashing through the branches to alight on a long, lower limb of the tree. The bear proceeded to calmly de- scend to the level of his intended victim and to creep out on the branch. As he got closer and closer to Hugh, their combined weight caused the branch to creak and groan threateningly. This frightened the bear so that he paused and crouching low, he whined with fear for his position and growled angrily at Hugh. Hugh got a sudden inspiration. Why not drop from the end of the branch and make a run for it? The bear would have to crawl back to the trunk and clamber slowly and awkwardly down the tree, thus giving the frightened fugitive a good start. So, hanging by his hands, he dropped to the ground, and ran for his life, leaving his gun, his shoe and his hat behind. The result was as he had hoped; the bear followed as fast as possible, but Hugh had a good start and by, running like a deer, soon reached open ground, where his pursuer was afraid to follow. Needless to say, Hugh never again attempted to bag two grizzlies at one time, or as he expressed it, “Never tackle a grizzly without a gatling gun.” [Regi Began

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8 THE ECHO. then, as the airship glided downwards and was ready to light, he realized that he was enjoying his trip, but perhaps it was because his first flight was nearly over. Mirandy, standing up in the wagon, gazed anxiously at the machine as it glided down, saying, “They're comin’ back to earth; They're comin’! Oh, my children, ain’t we all thankful! See! they're gettin’ lower and lower; but I hope they won't be caught in those trees. Now they've lit; they've lit at last, and soon our Sill be back to us!” Five pairs of eyes gazed eagerly over the track. At last there appeared in the distance a person, at whose sight everyone smiled. Poor Si, worn out by fright, came forward, waving to his beloved ones and calling, “Oh, Mirandy, it was grea t! and ain't you proud of me?” The hearty greetings over, Si and Mirandy turned their horses home- ward, after thanking the smiling Mr. Cooke for his generosity. Si, driving with one hand, and with an arm about his Mirandy, could only say, “My goodness, but it was great when we were comin’ down!” And Mirandy, her face wreathed in smiles, was too happy and too proud for words. Bear Hunting YO) e EAR HUNTING seems to possess a peculiar attraction. It Al 9 ») gerous and exciting big game-hunting is the quest of the is a sport in which there is plenty of danger and one that requires the hunter. to be constantly alert. The most dan- erizzly bear. Here the hunter often becomes the hunted. Of course, with the modern automatic rifles, there is little danger; but in the days of the old muzzle-loader, when one had to kill with a single shot, it was far different. The grizzly, unlike most bears, likes to fight. He would rather fight than eat ripe wild blackberries. He will al- ways take the offensive, never taking to his heels like his brethren. Man- hunting is as much sport to him, as bear-hunting is to the man. Hugh Patten, a hunter of Sonoma county in the early days, had an ex- perience with bear-hunting that was not of an enjoyable nature. One even- ing about dusk, he was up in the mountains, coming home from a hunt. Be- tween two ridges there was a low place that had hardly any outlet. In the winter time this place was filled with water, forming a lake which covered about twenty acres. The water, when nearly dried up in the summer time, afforded an excellent bathing place for animals of all sorts. Wild hogs, ‘coons, and bears congregated there to splash about in the shallow water. Hugh was tramping hurriedly toward home, neither noticing his sur- roundings nor expecting to encounter any game, after having been unsuc- cessful during the day. But the unexpected happened. Just as he emerged from behind some trees that had hidden a part of the lake, he saw two large grizzlies enjoying themselves in the mud, while trying to keep off the mos- quitoes. They were playing like a couple of cubs, boxing and biting each

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Ai Fortunate Shot S Tom entered the school building one morning, he noticed that several large groups of girls and boys were excitedly discussing something, as it seemed, of very great impo- rance. He became quite curious and, as he walked quickly over to where his set was s.tanding, wondered what could have happened. Tom belonged to a club of six girls and six boys, who were always hay- ing good times in either one way or another. They no sooner spied Tom, who happened to be the favorite, than they rushed toward him, anxious to tell their news. “Oh, Tom,” cried one of the girls, who generally happened to do all of the talking, “what do you think is going to happen? They’ve planned a big game with Montford High for next Saturday. All of the club can go, and we could hardly wait to find out whether or not you could. We could have a dandy time, and you know how much a dozen more rooters could help. Mother will chaperon us, and as you already know, Mildred’s cousin lives there. They have an immense house and told: Mildred that if ever the club wished to come down, we could all stay there. Wouldn’t that be fine? Oh, please say you'll come.” The Marshall and Montford High Schools had always been rivals. In every game that had been played between ten schools, for three years, either Marshall or Montford won, and always with close scores. Montford had won the last game that had been played between the two schools, and since then Marshall had been very anxious for a return game. Now, when the game had been announced, there was naturally a great deal of talk and excitement. The distance between the two schools was about one hundred miles and the fare was a little too high for some of the students. Although Tom’s father had been called a well-to-do man a year before, a great many trqubles and mis- fortunes had left him with very little for a large family to live upon. So Tom naturally hesitated before he answered the. breathless group around him. “I’m awfully sorry, but I don’t think I could possibly go,” he finally, but almost reluctantly, managed to say. “You see, dad has had so much expense lately that I don’t see how he could afford it, and I haven't saved up more than fifty cents since that last trip.” “Oh, what a shame,” muttered one of the group, “I don’t see how on earth we could ever have a good time without you. Can’t you manage it in some way? Ask your father, anyhow”; then added cheerfully, “you don’t know but what your father might have had a piece of good luck since you saw him last.” The rest of the club thought that it would hardly be worth while going unless cheerful and witty Tom Foster were with them. But he did all he could to put that notion out of their sheads. “Dll ask dad if he can spare it, anyway, and I'll let you know by this afternoon whether I can.”