So again, we are ten, countin' Slippery Ben, Ghost Ben and his shadowy steed.

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

One day Jim Bridger and Jim Baker were hunting together in the wilds a little west of here, when they came upon a mother grizzly bear and two half grown cubs. A lucky shot finished the old one and Baker proposed that they waste no more ammunition. That each take one of the cubs, and "kill and sculp them with our butcher knives," which proposition no real mountaineer would reject.

After a goodly fight. Baker succeeded in getting the better of his bear, but the bear that Bridger attacked seemed to be worsting him. Bridger called for help, but Baker answered that he "didn't want ter interfere in another man's ba'r fight," but he finally "lit into it," and Bridger immediately retired, leaving him to fight alone. Baker was again victorious, but angry at Bridger and demanded an explanation. Bridger explained thus :

"Ye tarnal fool, Jim, ye got me into this scrape, and I got myself out. I wanted to shoot mine, but you wanted to kill and sculp 'em with butcher knives. So as the ba'r fight were yourn, I thought I wouldn't interfere, and let ye have it plenty."

After some reflection. Baker answered :

"Dod rot it, Jim, if ye aint right, but I'll never fight nary another grizzly, without a good shootin' iron in my paws."

These old, rough characters had their philosophy and ideas of humor.