128 WILD BROTHER 



box and put the open end just inside the cage. 

 Figs and raisins were on the menu that day, and the 

 bear was eager to taste them. As soon as he was 

 well inside, I slid the door shut behind him. 



In an instant Bruno seemed to realize that some- 

 thing was wrong. The boards on one side of the 

 packing-case had been left an inch or two apart. 

 Through one of these openings the bear's nose and 

 upper canine teeth suddenly appeared. There was 

 a crunching sound and the splinters flew as Bruno's 

 powerful jaws, working like a huge pair of shears, 

 cut their way through the thin spruce board. With 

 a stick I tapped him on the nose ; but he kept at 

 work, and soon would have been at liberty, had not 

 other and newer boards been nailed on the box to 

 cover all the openings. 



Hammer in hand, with nails and several spare 

 boards ready for instant use, I stood in the wagon 

 beside the packing-case until we reached the res- 

 ervation. During the hour that it took for our 

 journey the bear was gnawing and scratching at 

 the side of the box where the openings had been. 

 Whenever there seemed to be any evidence that he 

 was breaking through, I pounded the spot might- 

 ily with the hammer. 



Bruno entered his new home on the run. Sev- 

 eral times he rushed like mad around the cage. 

 Then he became more quiet and began a tour of 



