40 The Black Bear 



his home. He found some cast-off clothing in the alley 

 near his shed and dragged it into his den under the 

 carriage-house. After arranging this first instalment 

 he hurried out to look for more, and for several even- 

 ings the furnishing of the sleeping apartment occupied 

 the major part of his time. Once he came back drag- 

 ging a fine cashmere shawl that he pulled off a clothes- 

 line where one of the neighbors had hung it to air! 

 Not until the floor of his den was several inches deep in 

 rags did he give up foraging and once more return to 

 his usual habits. 



And then, one morning, when I went to the shed for 

 kindling, there was no Ben to greet me. The ground 

 was buried several inches deep in snow and quite a 

 drift had sifted through the crack under the door; 

 and I saw by following Ben's chain that it led down 

 under the carriage-house, and knew that he was now 

 enjoying the comforts that he had made ready a month 

 before. As long as the severe weather lasted Ben re- 

 mained in his cave. But there was nothing either 

 mysterious or curious about his condition. Sometimes, 

 in the coldest weather, I would call him out and he 

 never failed to come. It usually took three calls to 

 bring him however. At my first cry of ^^Ben!" there 

 would be no sound; then, at a louder ''Ben!" there 

 would be a shaking of the chain, then quiet again; 

 but at the third peremptory call there would be a 

 few puffs and snorts and out he would come, fairly 



