Cowboy was heading home to Cortez from Silverton. He had a long hard ride and his horse was tired and needed to graze. Cowboy found a nice spot on the Animas River and decided to make camp for the night. He had just started to cook his dinner when he heard a loud commotion up on the hillside.
Cowboy grabbed his rifle and went to investigate. As he got closer, Cowboy could see a large black bear bent over a log and swatting at bees. Cowboy knew right away that he did not want to tackle that bear or those bees. Cowboy did not have a present for his girlfriend, Miss Honey De Ville, and he knew she had a sweet tooth....so taking her some honey would be a real surprise. Cowboy decided to wait until the bear was gone and darkness had come.
Near midnight, Cowboy went up the hill with three torches and a smoker he fashioned from some branches and a piece of scrap leather. When he arrived at the hive, the bees had settled down and Cowboy was able to smoke out the hive and fill his canteens with the sweet delicious syrup. He took a few chunks of honeycomb as the wax had many uses around his ranch. Cowboy washed off in the river, and when daybreak came, Cowboy saddled up and headed home. Miss De Ville was very happy with the gift that Cowboy had brought home to her. She cooked him a delicious meal that night complete with biscuits and honey.