ABear and her Cubs. 65 



the lakes and streams, in this wild country, and it 

 may well be supposed that he had seen and experi- 

 enced much, the recital of which, to one unused to 

 such scenes, would afford a vast deal of interest. 



" You see," said he, " Squire, that big rock," 

 pointing to a boulder on the margin of the lake, about 

 the size of a haystack. Against it, were piled large 

 fragments of rocks, and just in the rear of it was a 

 space that would form a comfortable den for a bear or 

 a wolf. " Well," said he, "I had a time of it right 

 there, ten years ago this summer. I'd been out here 

 huntin', and one day I was paddling along by the 

 shore, when what should I see friskin' about on the 

 sand there, just by that rock, but two cubs about as 

 black as the devil, and the size of a big cat. I knew 

 the mother wasn't a great way off, and wouldn't take 

 it kind of me to be medlin' with her babies, but I 

 wanted them young bars, and made up my mind to 

 have 'em too. They didn't seem to be at all afraid, 

 but set np on their bottoms, and looked at me as I 

 stepped ashore, as impudently as though I warnt 

 human. I examined my rifle, and saw 'twas all right, 

 and seizing one in each hand, tossed them into the 

 canoe. They set up a terrible cry for such small 



