The question of “time” was ask me the other day.  What does “time” mean to a mountain man?

Well, I’m here to tell ya bout time.  Good things always come “in time”.

We was sittin in a likker place in Taos one year when this old boy comes in and yells “It’s ‘time’ boys”!  We  all  gits  up  and  fallers  him  to  the  horses.

On our way to beaver country we was all talkin bout the good “time” we had back in Taos.

After a long spell of not catchin no dad blame beaver and then one happins to git in yer traps most often ya hears the words “bout time” come from the trappers lips.

When ya is late gittin over the pass to yer winter’in spot the boss always says—“Hurry fellers ‘times’ a wastin”.

Over on the Snake River one Spring we was held up by some ornery Blackfoot Injuns I heard the cap’in say—“Shoot em plum boys we ain’t got ‘no time’ to be hear  long”!

Whenever one of the boys’ luck runs out and he heads for the big mountain in the sky, we all figger “his time” ran out.

It’s always a “long time” between rondeevoos but when we gits there it’s “shinin time” and fun will be had by all.

Well, I gotta go, “ran outa time”.  Until “next time” keep the nose on your hat outa the dirt.

Bears Butt

July-Aug 1989