THE BEAR MAKES A JOURNEY 61 



stable-keeper, a loquacious individual, was in his 

 element : at regular intervals he retailed the story 

 of the bear's upbringing, and between times he 

 suggested to me that an admittance fee ought to 

 be charged in that way I could get enough cash 

 to pay for our board and lodging ! 



I was a little worried about Bruno's food. Mrs. 

 Weldon had warned me that he was particular 

 about his meals. It seemed that, since he had been 

 weaned, he had always fed from a little wooden 

 trough that they had hollowed out from a small 

 tree. He was insistent about this. He wanted 

 everything primitive and simple. Cups, saucers, 

 or bowls he refused to countenance. Knowing his 

 peculiarities on this subject, I had brought some 

 condensed milk and the trough along with me. 

 Diluting the milk with warm water and adding 

 some bread, I now offered Bruno his supper. 



We had a large guest-list at the banquet. A solid 

 row of heads and shoulders lined the top of the en- 

 closure. Suddenly a shout of surprise and delight 

 arose from the audience. Gingerly the bear had 

 sidled up to the trough. He seemed suspicious 

 about something. He put his nose down and gave a 

 sniff. Then, "Whoof" he said, and up went his 

 paw and slam^rattlety-Jfang^QV&f and over, went the 

 trough, and away went the milk over the floor. The 

 crowd laughed, yelled with joy, and made remarks. 



