Grizzly Adams and Gentle Ben were strolling along the moutain trail when they met Jim Bridger. Bridger liked Adams. He din’t have too high an opinion of Ben. Plus, he was scared to death of the bear.

“Howdy there, Grizzly Adams”, Bridger said.

“Howdy to you, Jim Bridger. Ain’t ya gonna howdy Gentle Ben?”

“Now, don’ ya start. Ya know, Griz, folks are a talkin’ somethin’ fierce about you ‘n that there bear. It do seem a mite strange”.

“Why, Been’s ben a bet-. Wait, Ben’s been a bitter, wait, I’ll get it. Ben’s been a better friend to me than mos’ folks has”.

“Pick a peck of pickled peppers. Bet ya can’ say that neither”.

“Ben don’ normal et people. But I were you, I wouldn’ get him all riled up like.”

“Tell me, Griz. I is jus’ a wonderin’. Exac’ what it be you do to live. Ya don’ trap beav and ya don’ hunt, you know,”, he said pointing to Ben.

“I don’ really do anythin’. Ya know, I don’ know how I survives. Ben he don’ like me killin’ critters so I wears leaves. I found this here hat. It were on a dead guy. He didn’t need it no more. The Indians stole his clothes. I don’ eat nuttin’ but berries and fish. Ben don’ even like it iffen I find somethin’ already dead. He lets me eat it but he don’ seem to happy none ‘bout it. Ben don take much to fire so I’s cold all winter while Ben sleeps. I can’ rightly answer that”.

“I’s tellin’ ya straight, Griz. Ya gots to git away from that bear. Folks is talkin’ ‘bout ya. I’s a one a them. It, it jus’ ain’t normal like, this runnin’ round with no bear. Now, a good dog a make sense. But, this here bear, it ain’t right, Griz, it ain’t right.”

“Had me dog oncet. It took to mind to bite Ben. I had ta shoot that dog. He be all messed up. Now, Jim, I like you but Ben figures out what ya sayin’ you be all messed up too”.