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THE best "bear story," which has come to our knowledge, 

 is made up of events which happened in the vicinity of the 

 Pyrenees, in France. Just after the battle of Fontenoy, in 

 1745, the young Baron de Villetreton, who had distinguished 

 himself by his courage and virtue, was publicly insulted by 

 M. De Malatour, who envied the young man's popularity. 

 Villetreton was, in principle, opposed to duelling, and he re- 

 fused to challenge his enemy. But to prove his courage and 

 disprove that of Malatour, he proposed that they should join 

 in a bear hunt, on the Villetreton estate, among the preci- 

 pices of Clat, in the Eastern Pyrenees. The proposal was 

 accepted, and De Malatour with a number of others repaired 

 to the chateau. 



The morning following their arrival, a body of trackers 

 and scouts, provided with all manner of discordant instru- 

 ments trumpets, saucepans, drums, &c. were assembled 



4* (41) 



