28 The Black Bear 



as a cover for one of the packs. After a few days in the 

 sun it dried as hard as a board and of course took the 

 shape of the pack over which it had been used. And 

 this skin box now became Ben's home when in camp. 

 It was placed on the ground, Ben's picket pin driven 

 near it, and he soon learned to raise up one edge and 

 crawl inside. It was funny, when he had done some 

 mischief in camp and we stamped our feet and took 

 after him, to see him fly to the protection of his skin 

 teepee, and raise the edge with one paw so quickly that 

 there was no apparent pause in his flight. Then, safe 

 inside, we would hear him strike the ground with his 

 forefoot and utter angr}^ ^^whoofs," daring us to come 

 any nearer. After a few minutes the edge of the hide 

 would be lifted a few inches and a little gray nose 

 would peep out to see if the coast was clear. If no 

 notice was taken of him he would come back into camp, 

 only to get into trouble again and be once more shooed 

 back to cover. 



Ben took great pride in this home of his and was an 

 exemplary housekeeper, for no insect was ever per- 

 mitted to dwell in the coarse hair. At first, when the 

 hide was green, the flies would crowd into the hair 

 and ^'blow," or deposit their eggs. These Ben never 

 allowed to hatch. As soon as he was off his pony he 

 would get to work on his house, and with much sniffing 

 and clawing, would dig out and eat every egg to be 

 found. And not one ever escaped his keen little nose. 



