THE BEAR MAKES A JOURNEY 77 



barrels of pork, flour, sugar, and molasses are put 

 away for safe-keeping. Windows and doors are 

 boarded over and securely fastened, as a protection 

 against marauding animals ; but in spite of these 

 precautions, the bears sometimes break in and steal. 



We found such a place one day in the woods. 

 The black rascals had torn off the boards from the 

 log-house door and had rolled out a puncheon of 

 molasses. With their sharp teeth and claws they 

 had broken a hole through the tough oak head and 

 with their paws had dipped out every drop from 

 the cask. Now that we had an opportunity to 

 observe at close view the sagacity of little Bruno, 

 it was easier for us to understand how his wild 

 brothers could be such ingenious thieves. 



One noon, on the shores of the lake, as we were 

 preparing to "boil the kettle," I had a surprise. 

 Joe, our Indian guide, coming out from the bushes 

 where he had gone for dry wood to kindle our fire, 

 made an announcement. "One big black bear, he 

 been killed here day before yes'day." 



On the other side of the point of land from where 

 we were lunching, Joe had found a deserted camp- 

 ing-place that recently had been occupied. Beside 

 the fireplace he came upon the skull of a black 

 bear, and near-by, on the ground, lay the big fore- 

 paws of the animal. These he now held up to 

 my view. 



