bottom ov the canyon which I was follerin’ was…
source date: 1891
availability: public-domain

bottom ov the canyon which I was follerin’ was dry as the bones of old Methuselah. ’Twas about the middle ov the hottest afternoon I ever felt in this here country. I got so dry my throat begin to swell up terribly. I seed I wasn’t er going to find any water in that ere canyon, so I made up my mind to git out. After a while I found a way to ride over the ridge, which I proceeded to do. I rode on some two or three miles and came to another canyon, in the bottom of which I could see runnin’ water. I couldn’t get doun to it. I rode along the cliff for a mile or so, but couldn’t find a place to git down. After a while I could manage to climb down, but ’twas too steep for my boss. I bound to have some water, so I dismounted and climbed down. I wasn’t more nor half way down when I heard a growl which I knowed at once was a bear. Sure enough, on looking round to my left there stood an old she bear and two cubs. The cubs saw me, an’ were ready to leave. Jist as I step- ped back the two cubs come rushin’ by. I didn’t have a thing to defend myself with ’cept a pocket knife. But the old one didn’t care to tackle me. I felt considerably better when she and her two cubs passed on. I went down an’ got my drink, thinkin’ no more erbout the bears.