82 WILD BROTHER 



and souse him from head to tail. Only when the 

 stream struck him full in the face and eyes, did he 

 rebel. Then, snarling, growling, and dabbing with 

 his paws at the water, he would turn tail and run. 



During his first summer Bruno was usually given 

 a bath every day by Mrs. Underwood, who had 

 gladly volunteered for this work. The cub devel- 

 oped a liking for these regular ablutions. Com- 

 rade, wearing a rubber apron, used to take him in 

 her lap and administer the soap and warm water 

 with a large sponge. To dry him (and this part of 

 the operation was the bear's special delight) a 

 woolen blanket was brought into use. Comrade 

 held it by two corners in front of her, and the bear 

 would come bounding up on the run and jump into 

 the middle of it. Instantly the robe was dropped 

 over him and he would tumble about, end over 

 end, first in one direction, then in another. He en- 

 joyed this mad romp immensely. It dried him 

 somewhat and gave him exercise. Later this game 

 brought us into trouble. Bruno came to regard a 

 large piece of cloth held up in front of anyone as an 

 invitation for a "rough-house" frolic. We were 

 mortified one day when, as a lady was approaching 

 the house to make a call, Bruno came romping 

 across the lawn and with a joyous bound jumped 

 squarely into the folds of her clean white dress. 

 Apologies were in order, and the cub was readily 



