THE BIG BEAR OF ARKANSAS. 03 



ntes with his auditors, in a grave silence; I saw there 

 was a mystery to him connected with the bear whose 

 death he had just related, that had evidently made a 

 strong impression on his mind. It was also evident 

 that there was some superstitious awe connected with 

 the affair, — a feeling common with all " children of the 

 wood," when they meet with any thing out of their 

 everyday experience. 



lie was the first one, however, to break the silence, 

 and, jumping up, he asked all present to " liquor " before 

 going to bed, — a thing which he did, with a number of 

 companions, evidently to his heart's content. 



Long before day, I was put ashore at my place of 

 destination, and I can only follow with the reader, in 

 imagination, our Arkansas friend, in his adventures at 

 the " Forks of Cypress,'' on the Mississippi. 



