AN AMERICAN'S ADVENTURES. 295 



" One cold winter night, a poor little child very insuffi- 

 ciently clad, and barefoot, came to our door to ask for 

 alms. He was a bright, fearless little fellow, and be- 

 tween Romeo and himself it was a case of love at tirst 

 sight. We gave the lad something to eat, and as sotni 

 as his hunger was satisfied, Romeo took him bodily, 

 and carried him off to his own quarters, where he took 

 him between his warm haunches and pillowed him on 

 the soft fur of his breast. For many days this was the 

 lad's regular couch, and he was always sure of a wel- 

 come and a share of whatever was best in Romeo's 

 larder. 



" By the way, I remember very well the first time I 

 hunted a bear, and it may amuse you to hear it." 



I assured him that it would, and he continued : — 



" It was in the Tyrol ; and I had been reading, as boys 

 will, most exciting books of hunting adventures, until 

 my imagination was filled with them, and I resolved 

 to imitate my heroes forthwith. I had a light double- 

 barrelled shotgun, and armed with it, I set out one bright 

 morning early, in search of hea7's. After walking sev- 

 eral hours without seeing anything in the way of game 

 larger than a robin, T met an old man, bent and worn, 

 going toward the village. On seeing my sportsman- 

 like equipment he stopped to ask me in search of what 

 game I had come, and on my frankly telling him, lie 

 laughed long and loud. 



" ' What, are there no bears now in this neighborhood '.' ' 



