Girl Scouts in the Rockies

by Lillian Elizabeth Roy

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  SCRUB'S UNEXPECTED HUNTING TRIP

  Mr. Lewis's dog, Scrub, was a never-ending source of fun andentertainment for the scouts. He was a most intelligent animal, andunderstood everything said to him. In fact, his owner said that Scrubwas far more intelligent and practical than many human beings he hadknown. He also told the girls that they could follow Scrub into thewoods if the guides could not go with them, and he would always bringthem back by easy trails--he had such a wonderful sense of location andtraveling.

  The first day in camp, after the three men had started for the glacierfield, Tally and Omney had to complete minor details in the campingarrangements, so the scouts did not ask to be taken for a hike up themountainside. Scrub nosed about for a time, trying to attract thegirls' attention by his "talk" but when they failed to understand, heran away alone, and was not seen again until late that afternoon.

  He came tearing into camp, barking excitedly, and jumping about theguides and the scouts, as if to tell them of some thrilling adventurehe had experienced in the woods that day. They made much of him, butfinally his master scolded him for barking so shrilly, so Scrub placedhis stub tail between his hind legs and crept under a tree.

  The next day Scrub began again to caper about and bark excitedly toinvite the scouts to go hunting with him. But they laughed, and Juliesaid to him, "We're going with Tally and Hominy after a while."

  It was not, however, to Scrub's liking that they tarried so long incamp, and he started away alone. Then when the guides were all readyto go with the scouts, the dog was not to be found.

  "Ev'buddy take gun dis time," suggested Tally.

  "Oh, what fun! Shall we find any wild animals?" asked Joan.

  "Mebbe--dunno."

  The Captain warned the girls about using the rifles without firstnoting all the conditions, and told them not to use them under anycircumstances if there was no danger. As each scout knew perfectlywell how to carry the firearm so as to protect others, and as everyone used precaution at all times, there was no risk of accident.

  The woods were still wet from the heavy night-dew, but the girls foundtheir newly-acquired step protected their skirts from much moisture.The sun was sending its searching light into every secret nook of theforest, and soon the dew evaporated and the gloom in the dense woodsbrightened. The many hitherto hidden things in the forest now stoodclearly revealed in the sunshine.

  They followed the trail that led up the mountainside back of the camp.Tally waved his hand in an inclusive sweep at the sun, then at theforest it shone upon, and remarked, "Him no shine in long. Onnymornin'--den shadow come back an' fores' grow black agin."

  The scouts were eagerly gazing at one thing or another in theirprogress up the steep trail when Betty gave a little cry and jumpedout of the way.

  "What is it--a rattler?" cried many voices, anxiously.

  "No, but the cutest little rabbit I ever saw,--just like the one Vernycaught and helped in the Adirondacks, you know."

  Tally then added, "No rattlers on dis side Rockies, all on udder sidemountains."

  "Betty's scream would make one think she was facing a grizzly!" saidJulie, scornfully.

  "I wasn't frightened,--it startled me, that's all," Betty said,defensively.

  "Was it big enough for rabbit pie?" asked Anne, unwittingly callingdown the reproaches of all the scouts upon her head.

  As they scolded Anne for always thinking of something to eat,--even adarling little rabbit,--Tally suddenly held up a hand for silence.Instantly everything was quiet. Then they heard distinctly theplaintive cry of a distressed animal.

  "Dat deer call. Him 'fraid an' need help. Shall us go?" explainedTally.

  "Oh, yes, Tally, by all means!" exclaimed Mrs. Vernon.

  So they pushed a way through the thick screen of pines until they cameto a clearing where the trees had been burned down. The sun shone intothe place, clearly showing the scene of a forest tragedy which wasabout to be enacted there.

  The two guides made way for the scouts to crowd up beside them, andthere they saw a well-grown deer in the center of the tiny park. Itwas still young and inexperienced, as was shown by the way it backedaround and voiced its horror and fear.

  "What is it afraid of, Tally?" questioned the Captain, because herunaccustomed eyes saw nothing to fear.

  "See on limb dere--where deer must go if she like to get out?"whispered Tally, pointing to one end of the clearing where a giantpine spread its branches far over the place.

  Along the lowest bough crouched a panther, ready to leap. Its greeneyes gleamed with hungry desire for the choice breakfast so near, andits sinuous tail whipped gracefully back and forth against the tree.But its gaze wavered from the deer to something at the other end ofthe clearing. What could be restraining this ferocious beast, whoseclaws, as they dug sharp nails into the wood of the tree, appearedready to rip open the tender flesh of its prey?

  Two sides of the clearing were made impassable for the deer by theclose growth of aspens, interlocked like a brush-fence. At one end ofthe clearing the panther kept guard, but what was the cause of thestarting eyes of the deer as it gazed at the nearer end--the end wherethe scouts stood?

  "Ah, Omney--see?" breathed Tally, softly, as he pointed.

  Then they saw a grey-brown animal about the size of Scrub, with astubby tail. Its body was thick and short, and its head was round. Ithad gleaming eyes, green-slitted like a cat's. Its ears weresharp-pointed and stood erect. The mouth was partly open, with thetongue showing its red edge between the fanglike teeth. Its rustycolor merged so perfectly with the bushes that it was small wonder thescouts had not seen it immediately.

  Its expression, the crouching pose, its tense muscles--all denoted itseagerness to taste the blood of the deer, but there was the panther toreckon with first! Now the girls realized the danger of the youngdeer. How could the poor thing hope to escape from a panther and alynx?

  When the lynx sensed the human beings, she snarled viciously, butshowed no fear. Her entire attention was given to the movements of thepanther. But the fact that her natural enemies, human beings, stood soclose to her, made her act sooner than she might have done.

  Tally whispered the situation in a breath. "Pant'er no jump, fear lynxget him an' en get deer. Lynx 'fraid to jump firs' 'cause pant'er denjump on bof an' eat 'em."

  Then Omney whispered, "Tally shoot pant'er, an' me shoot lynx--sametime. When I say fire--den shoot!"

  So the two guides slowly lifted their rifles and aimed. But the lynxhad crept closer to the deer, which in turn sent a swift look ofapprehension back at the beast that was now preparing to spring themoment the lynx leaped. The deer lifted its muzzle high and bleatedforth a wailing cry, and at the same moment two rifles sounded.

  The instant before they rang out, the lynx had jumped right at thethroat of the deer, and the instant after the panther had leaped also.The bullet sped faster than the lynx could spring, and the latter fellwith a heavy thud to roll over in the buffalo grass at the forefeet ofthe deer.

  Omney's shot at the panther, however, struck its right shoulderinstead of a fatal spot. When the lynx rolled under the nose of thepanic-stricken deer, the poor creature jumped over against the wall ofaspens, and this leap spared its life. For the panther, instead ofripping open its throat as it planned to do, clawed a tear in its sideand then rolled over on the grass. Instantly, the wild beast was upand about to spring again, when a shot from Tally's gun ended itspreying.

  The frightened deer had seen the animal rise to spring again, but hereyes were so blinded with the pain and fury of the gash in her side,that she leaped high and brought both hoofs down upon her deadantagonist. Again and again she lifted her stiffened forelegs anddrove her sharp hoofs into the spine of the dead panther. Finally,however, the deer realized that her enemy was dead, and swiftly shewheeled and fled from the clearing through the opening opposite thescouts.

  As she disappeared, the girls relaxed the nervous tension that hadheld them absolutely motionless
during the battle. Now they sighed,and Mrs. Vernon sat down where she had stood. Betty began cryingsoftly, and said, "The poor deer! I hope its side will heal."

  "Sure! Him go roll in mud of shallow spring and it heal," Tallyassured her.

  The lynx and panther were found to be splendid specimens of theirindividual kinds, and the scouts had the satisfaction of knowing thatthis big game had not been shot for mere sport. But, having saved thedeer's life by shooting the two wild beasts, the pelts naturallybecame trophies for the scouts to send home.

  "They're awfully big brutes, girls. We'll never be able to carry themboth back to camp to-day," said Mrs. Vernon.

  "Skin 'em--onny take back pelts," said Omney.

  "We want to have them stuffed, Hominy, so we need the heads and feet,too," said Julie.

  Tally looked at Omney and spoke in his native language. Then he turnedto the scouts and interpreted what he said.

  "I say, Omney skin animals wid head an' feet on--us go on an' helpOmney on way back. Him done skin den."

  As no new adventure befell them that day, they retraced their stepsand stopped for Omney and the pelts. That night the story was told tothe three men, and it lost none of its coloring by having five scoutstell it, turn and turn about.

  Scrub did not return to camp that night, and Mr. Lewis told Omney tostart immediately after breakfast in the morning and see if anyuntoward accident had happened to the dog. Tally and the scouts wouldnot remain behind, for they were very fond of the pet and worried lesthe had been killed by a wild beast.

  They chose the trail they had seen Scrub take the two previous days,and after climbing the mountain for a time, Tally and Omney arguedover following a faint trail through a jungle. Tally pointed to apaw-track in the soft earth, but Omney declared it was not a dog'strack.

  Yet Tally won his way, and started into the dense thicket. He had notgone more than a few yards before he exclaimed jubilantly and pointedto a wisp of Scrub's hair that had been caught on a briar. Then Omneymeekly admitted that Tally must be right in his intuitions.

  After following the faint trail for a short time, Julie called out,"I'm sure I heard a dog bark just now."

  "Let's shout. Maybe Scrub's lost and is calling to us," explainedBetty, anxiously.

  "Lost! Now Betty, you don't know that dog if you say he could belost," retorted Joan.

  They all distinctly heard a shrill bark, now, and Tally said, "Soundlike him got wild animal trapped, an' wan' us help."

  Finally they were near enough to hear Scrub bark and yelp in reply tothe plaintive whining of some other animal. Then Tally advised thegirls, "You no call Scrub when you come up. Dog look to see you, an'animal jump on him. No say anyting, but wait an' let Tally shoot."

  This was hard sense, and the scouts agreed to obey. Just then theyreached a spot where the forest trees were not so closely grown. Tallyheld his rifle ready to shoot if necessary, to spare the dog's life,but when he came out of the fringe of pines that circled the smallclearing where the dog barked, he stood amazed.

  The scouts deplored the fact that the camera had been left at camp, asusual, for here was a most unique picture. Scrub stood stiffly, thehair along his spine standing upright from excitement. His stub tailvibrated so swiftly that one could not see it move--it seemed a blur ofaction. His front legs were braced, and he was yelping and barking attwo little bear cubs.

  They appeared as distressed and confused as the dog. One, the largerof the two, glared at Scrub with ferocious mien and at intervals, whenthe dog stopped barking for time to breathe, it would chargethreateningly, but never got near enough to grapple with the dog.

  The smaller cub circled whiningly about a huddled mass that lay undera great pine log. It would sniff about the heap and then sit upon itslittle haunches and cry quiveringly. It was this wail the scouts hadheard in the distance.

  At times Scrub would run over to the trail whence he found his friendsapproaching, then the little male-cub would join his sister at theblack heap, and both would whine pitifully to the mother that wasinsensible to their cry. The moment Scrub was aware of any movement onthe part of his opponent, he would tear back to engage his enemy inanother wrangle of sounds.

  "Um! No wonder Scrub no come home las' night!" laughed Tally.

  "Maybe that's why he was so excited the night before--he wanted to tellus," ventured Joan.

  "Yes, but I'm surprised that he remained, when he found we would notfollow him," added Julie.

  "He may have feared we might move camp and he would be left behind,"suggested Mrs. Vernon.

  "I go see why mudder don' help cubs," said Tally. So he started acrossthe clearing, followed by the girls.

  "Um! See--big log fall from tree jus' when bear go un'ner," said theIndian, pointing up at the split bough that had been severed bylightning, with its heavy end left dangling for a time. It had fallenand struck the black mother-bear just as she was passing under, and itmust have instantly killed her.

  "The poor little babies!" sighed Betty.

  "Can't we catch them and train them?" asked Julie, eagerly.

  "Dem die sure in woods--or beastes eat 'em," said Tally.

  "Dear me, we mustn't have that!" cried Mrs. Vernon.

  "If we could only tame them and send them to the Zoo in New York--whata fine thing that would be for the Girl Scouts' Organization. It wouldbe quite an honor," exclaimed Ruth.

  During the unfamiliar sound and sight of the scouts, the cubs blinkedfearfully at them. What new calamity was now at hand--and mother lyingthere so still and helpless?

  Scrub was ordered away from the bears and made to mind, while Tallyplanned how to catch the cubs.

  "I use rope an' lasso bof," said he.

  "We'll surround the cubs, Tally, and Scrub can keep guard so theywon't run away, while you catch them," planned Julie.

  It was an easy task to catch the little girl-cub and tie her to a treenear the mother bear. But it was another matter to catch the boy-cub.Tally threw the lasso, but it merely struck the rump of the littlefellow as he turned to investigate what his sister, who had been givena chunk of cake by one of the scouts, was eating.

  The cub resented the slap from the rope, and snapped at it. But Tallydragged the lasso back, coaxing the bear-cub much nearer. When therope was caught up to coil again, the frightened little fellow racedback to the tree where his sister sat. He was so cunning in hisawkward gait that the scouts laughed heartily.

  This time the rope caught him truly, and he rolled over with a jerk.He clawed and snapped and yelped at the bonds that kept him fromrunning away; and when Tally took in the rope, the cub snappedviciously at him. Then the guide had to throw his coat over the cub'shead and fall upon it to wrap him in the folds.

  But the forepaws were free, so the cub used them well, trying to tearthe garment away from his head. So strong was the little fellow thatTally had his hands full to finally tie him about the neck. In thisfight the cub earned his name of "Snap."

  When both cubs were securely tied to the tree, Tally went over toexamine the old mother-bear. The scouts followed and stood lookingdown upon the huge body sprawled under the heavy log.

  "Her dead at once. Her not hear babies cry--or nuddin'," explainedTally, trying to lift the log from her back.

  Several of the scouts assisted and soon the tree bough was rolledaway, Scrub managing to get in every one's way during the procedure.

  "Her dead mos' two day--babies no get milk to eat," said Tally, afterexamining the teats and body of the bear.

  "Mebbe we coax home wid eats," suggested he, as he glanced from motherto cubs and back again.

  "Tally, I brought some candy in my pocket," said Anne, instantlyproducing the sweets.

  "Bear like sugar. Us lead cubs easy wid dis."

  "Tally, how can we keep this dead bear so we can have her skin, too,"now asked Julie, anxiously.

  "Oh, if we could only ship home such a magnificent bear pelt, wouldn'twe be proud!" sighed Joan.

  "Kin skin and bury 'um now. Come ba
ck mornin' an' carry to camp. Gothan' full wid two cub to-day," grinned the Indian.

  "Oh, if you boys would skin it and save it for us!" sighed severaleager scouts.

  So the guides sharpened their great knives that they always carried intheir belts, and began work on the dead bear. The girls would havefainted at such a sight a year before, but now they stood by without aquiver and watched the Indians skin the animal.

  The pelt was soon stripped from the carcass, and the former was burieddeep under the log, while the latter was left for the wolves, or otheranimals. While Tally finished this work the scouts gathered berries tofeed to the starved cubs. The latter were so famished that theyeagerly ate everything given them.

  All the way home the scouts took turns in holding bits of candy infront of the cubs' noses, to make them run for it. At some of these"home-runs" the cubs got the best of it, and the scouts had to dropthe candy and jump aside, or be clawed in the bears' eagerness to getthe sweets. At such times Scrub barked and jumped at the harnessedcubs, and they in turn would fight back, so there ensued a wild sceneof battle until Tally got the upper hand again.

  Once the cubs were in camp and caged they became tame and friendlywith every one,--even Scrub failed to draw a snarl from Snap now. Thesmaller of the two bears was named Yap, as she was forever wantingsomething to eat and yapped when she could not get it.

  In a few days' time they were freed from the homemade cage andtethered to a tree during the daytime. They furnished great amusementfor the scouts; and Scrub was peeved because every one showed so muchattention to these horrid little brutes, while _he_ would permitpetting without a snap if his friends were so inclined.

  The campers had been on this site for almost two weeks before the menmentioned that they were ready to move along. The cubs were quite tamenow, and ran about camp, playing with every one who would play withthem. They were fine and plump, and the scouts gave much time to thecurrying of their soft silky coats and to teaching them tricks.

  "What do you scouts intend doing with Snap and Yap when we start onthe trail again?" asked Mr. Gilroy.

  "Where do you plan to go from here, Gilly?" asked Julie.

  "Why, Lewis is going back now that he has secured the specialspecimens he came to the glaciers for," returned Mr. Gilroy; "but weare to go along to Flat Top, where I hope to spend some time atTyndall, you know."

  "You told me, Gill, that you wanted to visit Mills' Moraine and huntfor glacial deposits there," ventured Mr. Lewis.

  "So I did, but it is simply impossible for me to lead the scouts sucha dance, and now that they have two bears to dance along with them, Ishall have to forego Mills'," laughed Mr. Gilroy, longingly.

  "Is Mr. Lewis going right back to Denver, did you say?" asked Julie.

  "Yes, he has a public lecture to give at the Auditorium, so he cannotgo on with us," explained Mr. Vernon.

  "Then listen to my idea, and tell me what you think of it--everybody,"exclaimed Julie, eagerly.

  "Why can't Mr. Lewis take back our pelts and the cubs, and expressthem home for us?"

  The very audacity of the suggestion made every one laugh at first, butafter much talking it seemed not so impossible.

  "Then Gilly and Uncle can go through their wonderful heaps of glacialdebris, while Tally guides us along the trail to the Flat Top. We willmeet again at the foot of Tyndall Glacier," said Julie.

  So out of all the talking and planning this was the result: Frolic wasselected as being the best-behaved of the two mules; the double cratewas harnessed to her back, and in each crate a little cub was secured.The pelts of the bear, the panther, and the lynx were strapped acrossher back, and she was ready to start back to Long's Peak village, withMr. Lewis and Omney. There the bears would be crated anew, and shippedto the Zoo at Central Park, New York City, while the pelts were to beexpressed to Mrs. Vernon's home to await the scouts' return.

  Mr. Lewis was then to send Frolic back with Omney, who was to trailwith the party and help Tally in various ways, while his masterfinished his lecture tour in Colorado.

  The morning of their departure, the cubs were scrubbed, combed, andfed to repletion by the scouts, then secured in the crates. They wereoblivious of the tears shed by the scouts over their soft littlebodies, for they were curled up and fast asleep after such a heartybreakfast.

  When Mr. Lewis and Omney rode down the trail, the scouts weptforlornly while the little party was in sight, but once a bend in thepathway was turned, Scrub came in for his full share of love andpetting again.

  "If we could only have kept the cubs with us!" sighed Joan.

  "Thank heavens we have Scrub left as a hostage for Frolic," sighedRuth, hugging the dog, who _now_ ignored every fond attention.

  "As it was impossible to 'travel light' with two bears, isn't it muchbetter the way we arranged it, girls?" asked Mrs. Vernon.

  And they had to admit that such was the case.