Was A Great Mule

Ibought a large iron gray pack mulo carry niy goods across the Sierra evadas. I christened hun Pete. The Lv after we started we- Pete and I- "e to a nice grassy place. I tethered pete to a tree, allowing Mm about enty feet range, and taking some ham and crackers out of my haversack t down on a fallen tree to eat them. yhile I munched the ham and crackers Pete cropped the fresh grass, which ew long and green. Suddenly he reared up and snorted in a marnier that veW plainly said, "Look out!" I sprang to my feet, and it was quite well I did so, for it saved me from the embrace of a very large, very hungry jnd very ferocious grizzly bear, who was standing erect and preparing to throv his paws around me. I rushed for the nearest tree and was up in it in the vinking of an eye. I was safe for the time being, but, alas, poor Pete! The bear went about thin'gs in a very cool and complacent manner. I could see by the expression of his eyes that he was taking Pete's measnre, for he cocked his h6ad over on one side and assumed an appearance of great wisdom, as you have seen critics look at a picture. Pete's behavior, much as I had already learned of that remarkable animal, surprised me. When I was safe his alarm disappeared altogether. He dropped his head and began to nibble the grass again. He went on with his grazing just as if there were no such flaing as a grizzly bear in the world. He would nip off the sticculent green sterns and chew with great steadiness and regularity, and occasionally I could hear his contented snort as he struck an tuausually delicate bunch of grass. PETE KEPT ON GKAZING. The bear was as much astonished as I was. Evidently he considered such conduct without a parallel, for he looked harder than ever at Pete, then scratched his head and tried to think out an answer to the problem. But Pete calmly went on with his grazing and looked neither to the risrht nor to the lef t, while I f ■ i 1 Lili. w - - - Cj - ' I sat in my tree and held my breath. By and by the bear aróse, made a grand circuit around the tree in order to watch Pete from every angle and point. Getting no satisfaction out of that mode of procedure he caine over to my tree and looked up at ine f or an answer. But I had none to give him. Between the bear and me we began to think that Pete had lost his mind. Perhaps fright at the appearance of the bear had so bereft him of .reason that he continued to eat grass through the mere forcé of habit. Soon the grizzly's appetite overéame iiis curiosity and he prepared for work. He seemed to me to make a critica! examination of his destroying apparatus. He stretched his front paws and slapped the muscles of each with the other. Evidently he was satisfied that he was in good trim, for he showed his great teeth with joy. He appeared satisfied that he was fit to demolish a whole drove of males. These things done, the bear gave the signal for action. He opened his moath and emitted a series of growls which made my flesh creep and my hair rise under my hat. PETE STOPPED FOR A MINUTE. Pete went on grazing. His countenance expressed no proof that he had heard the growling of the grizzly. The latter dropped on all fours, with his hungry mouth open and his great teeth disclosed. Still Pete made no sign that he either saw or heard, but confined his attention strictly to the business of finding dinner. The bear, also having the latter in rapidly approached untü he was in striking distance, and then, rearing np, prepared to diseinbowel Pete and break his neck with one blow. Down came the outstretched paws, and at that moment Pete seemed to become aware for the first time of the presence of the grizzly. He sprang forward, the paws struck only the air and then I saw a gray form doublé itself into a ball and bound upward. Out of that ball flew two legs, which shot back and forth with the rapidity of piston rods, going thump, thump upon the body of the grizzly. Up and down went the body and back and forth went the two pile drivers. The bear was struck all over, on his head, on his shoulder, on his side, on his paws. He feil in one direction and then in another. He was kieked into the air and pounded into the earth. The breath was driven out of him and life followed, and at length he lay upon the ground a shapeless mass, every bone in his body broken, while Pete had quietly returned to his interrupted grazing