286 HUNTING IN THE JUNGLE. 



" Gertrude distinguished herself, and prepared them to 

 perfection ; but she would not eat of them herself, because 

 there was something human about their appearance ; and 

 although I told many stories of the brute's cruelty and 

 very inhuman ways, nothing would alter her resolution, 

 and we finished them easily without her ! 



" There is nothimi; more interestino; or curious than the 

 bear's life, — alone, in hiding among the rocks and deep 

 in the lonely forests ; and between him and the orang- 

 outang; there is a strong; resemblance in instincts and 

 intelligence. One of the most cruel varieties of bear is 

 the white one found in Norway and Siberia, where, among 

 the superstitious, he is credited with almost divine char- 

 acteristics, and even his lonely way of life is considered 

 a sign of profound wisdom. They bring him their crimi- 

 nals for judgment ; and if the latter are imeaten after 

 striking him on the nose, they are pronounced guiltless ! 

 The Siberians have a queer w^ay of hunting the bear. 

 One day I had landed at a small towni, and found the 

 people in a wild state of excitement. A bear had come 

 from the nei2;hboring; woods and carried off a woman 

 to his fortress, and, Ijy chance, had selected the prettiest 

 girl in the village and a recent bride. I advised an imme- 

 diate pursuit of the ravisher, and headed a small party 

 w^hich, wdth the aid of dogs, was soon on his track. We 

 had provisions for several days, and the hunters were 

 all armed with small-bore guns and long knives at their 

 belts, and their courage aroused for any emergency, far 



