THE BEAK "MONAKCH." 201 



so avoid an experience like Dad Coff- 

 man's. 



The precaution was well taken. While 

 he was arranging the bait he heard snuf- 

 fling and the movement of some animal 

 outside. Supposing that some cow or per- 

 haps the burro was wandering about, he 

 paid no particular attention to the noise, 

 but when the bait was arranged and he 

 turned to go out he saw the muzzle of old 

 bruin poked into the door and his eyes 

 blinking curiously at the dark interior of 

 the trap. Bruin had come down for a feast 

 and had followed the trail of the steer's 

 remains with unexpected promptness. He 

 had scented the honey, which was more 

 alluring than stale beef, and evidently was 

 considering the propriety of entering the 

 trap to get his supper, which might con- 

 sist of honeycomb au naturel, with Exam- 

 iner man on the side. 



The man in the trap deemed it highly 

 improper for the bear to intrude at that 

 time, and quickly decided the etiquette of 



