[Illustration:  Boys and Bear.]

The strange medley of noises caused by the boys, the snarling bear, and the obstinate mule, had been heard in the still twilight for a long distance, by the guard, and mistaken for the approach of a party of Apaches.

“I wish you’d take this devilish bear,” said Hal.

“And won’t you take this plaguy mule?” exclaimed Ned.

Both looked so harassed and tired, that, although Jerry and I could not help laughing at their ludicrous situation, we nevertheless pitied them.

“Where in the world did you get that bear, Hal?” said I.

“Get him?  I bought him of a Mexican at Mesilla, and I’m going to take him to California with me for a pet.  He’s tame.”

“Well,” exclaimed Ned, “if you don’t get him along faster than you have to-day, you’ll die of old age before you get there.  We’ve been ever since eleven o’clock getting here, and I’m so hungry and tired I can hardly sit on my horse.”

“Pooh!” retorted Hal; “this is nothing.  You ought to be taken prisoner by the Apaches if you want to know what ’tis to be hungry and tired.”

“How much did you pay for him?” inquired I.

“Only fifteen dollars,” answered Hal.

“What’s that?” ejaculated Jerry.  “Fifteen dollars!  Wall, I dunno which is the biggest fool, you or the bar.  The greaser that swindled yer, ought to be thrashed; and I’ve a notion of goin’ back and doin’ it, for I’ve felt like thrashin’ somebody for a good while.  The bar ain’t wuth fifteen cents, and won’t be nothin’ but a bother.  Mebbe though he might be good for ‘fresh,’ if we git hard up.”

“He won’t be any bother, and you shan’t use him for meat.  He’s just as tame as he can be.  See here, now,” said Hal, approaching the bear, and attempting to put his hand upon its head.  But Bruin snapped so viciously that the boy jumped back in dismay, exclaiming, “Poor fellow! he’s awful tired, I suppose!”

“Yes,” said Jerry; “he’ll be wus tired, though, afore you git him to Californy.  You’ll have to lead him, every step of the way.  He shan’t be hitched to no wagon, for the mules has got all the load they want to draw, now.  But I reckon we’d better be gettin’ back to camp, or the men’ll think, we’ve been took by the ’Paches.”

Supper was soon dispatched, after we reached camp, the events of the day talked over, we “turned in,” and in a short time were fast asleep.

In the middle of the night we were awakened by the most agonizing yells and screams.

Springing to my feet, I recognized Patsey’s voice, and, as I hurried in the direction of the sounds, I met the boy, half dead with fright, rushing towards my tent.

As soon as he recognized me, he fell upon his knees, and, crossing himself, besought me, in heartrending tones; to “protict him, for the Blissed Vargin’s sake.  The divil himself, your honor, has intered the camp, and he got into bed wid me, to ate me up intirely!”