SCIPIO AND THE BEAR. 263 



had elapsed, four stout negro men, armed with axes and 

 knives, and mounted on strong nags of their own, (for 

 you must know, kind reader, that many of our slaves 

 rear horses, cattle, pigs, and poultry, which are exclu- 

 sively their own property,) were following us at a round 

 gallop through the woods, as we made directly for the 

 neighbor's plantation, a little more than five miles off. 



The night was none of the most favorable, a drizzling 

 rain rendering the atmosphere thick and rather sultry ; 

 but as we were well acquainted with the course, we soon 

 reached the house, where the owner was awaiting our 

 arrival. There were now three of us armed with guns, 

 half a dozen servants, and a good pack of dogs of all 

 kinds. We jogged on towards the detached field in which 

 the bears were at work. The owner told us that for 

 some days several of these animals had visited his corn, 

 and that a negro who was sent every afternoon to see 

 at what part of the enclosure they entered, had assured 

 him there were at least five in the field that night. A 

 plan of attack was formed: the bars at the usual gap 

 of the fence were to be put down without noise ; the men 

 and dogs were to divide, and afterwards proceed so as 

 to surround the bears, when, at the sounding of our 

 hjorns, every one was to charge towards the centre of the 

 field, and shout as loudly as possible, which it was judged 

 would so intimidate the animals, as to induce them to 

 seek refuge upon the dead trees with which the field was 

 still partially covered. 



The plan succeeded. The horns sounded, the horses 

 galloped forward, the men shouted, the dogs barked and 

 howled. The shrieks of the negroes were enough to 



