The Story of Ben 17 



then they would claw and fight each other. These 

 spells always occurred when they were tied to their 

 stake and were pacing the circle in front of their cave. 



We continued to keep them fastened most of the time 

 by their buckskin leads to the stake driven near their 

 den, and they spent much of their time walking round 

 and round in circles. They never however, by any 

 chance, accompanied each other in the same direction, 

 but invariably travelled different ways; and for the 

 most part they rather ignored each other when they 

 met on these journeys, or stopped to play in all friend- 

 liness. Perhaps they would pass without noticing each 

 other a dozen times, when suddenly, as they met again, 

 they would rise on their hind legs and look at each other 

 with an expression of complete surprise, as who should 

 say: '^ Where in all creation did you come from? Here 

 I have been travelling this circle for half an hour, and 

 never mistrusted there was another bear in this part 

 of the country." And then, as though determined to 

 celebrate the lucky meeting, they would embrace and 

 tumble about for a few minutes and then separate and, 

 perhaps, pass each other a dozen times more with no 

 notice taken. And then the little comedy would be re- 

 enacted. 



But on days when their tempers were touchy these 

 meetings were apt to be less playful. Instead of sur- 

 prise they would then exhibit resentment at finding 

 their imaginary solitude invaded; and after a few 



