292 HUNTING IN THE JUNGLE. 



SO far as to follow him into a clmrcli during divine ser- 

 vice, where fifty good people were performing their daily 

 devotions. Turning suddenly, the cook was horrified to 

 find Romeo no longer visible ! Where could he have 

 gone? A moment before he had been close on his master's 

 heels, and now he was not to be found. Within a few 

 moments, however, he reappeared, but in a most unlooked- 

 for spot, — his great paws on the edge of the pulpit, 

 and his head wagging above them with real eloquence ! 

 There was an immediate stampede among the congrega- 

 tion ; and every man, woman, and child made headlong 

 for the doors, without standing on the order of their 

 going. This incident created a great scandal ; and we 

 were compelled to go elsewhere to refit, where we did 

 not allow Romeo to go ashore, fearing some new es- 

 capade. Arriving home, the cook begged to be taken 

 into my service permanently, so great had his attachment 

 grown to the bear, and I readily consented. 



" Romeo and my children soon became fast friends ; 

 and though my neighbors laughingly spoke of our 

 house as ' the bear pit,' we did not greatly mind, but 

 were proud of our distinguished-looking nurse ! He 

 would go silently down the hall in the morning to the 

 nursery, and awake his little charges, and, when they 

 were dressed, ask nothing better than to play with 

 them by the hour, or walk beside them when they 

 took their exercise ; and I always noticed that nothing 

 was inclined to molest such a well-guarded party ! 



