HOW TOM WAS BORN A FRENCHMAN 351 



Then he turned to Captain Pamphile : ' Where does 

 my brother wish to go ? ' he said. 



1 To Philadelphia.' 



' Follow me, then,' and the Indian strode towards 

 the forest. 



They walked all night, and at daybreak came to the 

 open plains. Here the Indian halted. 



' My brother has arrived,' he said ; ' from the top of 

 that mountain he will see Philadelphia.' 



With these words he plunged back into the forest, 

 a-nd the Captain set out to climb the mountain. 



On reaching the top he found his guide had said true, 

 and he saw Philadelphia lying between the green waters 

 of the Delaware and the blue waves of the ocean. Off 

 he started in high glee, though his goal looked quite a 

 two days' march off. He was stepping briskly along, 

 humming a tune and swinging a stick, when he noticed 

 a black object at some distance. As he drew nearer the 

 object seemed to approach too, and at length he made it 

 out to be a negro. 



This was lucky, for he wished to find some place 

 where he could sleep. So he hurried on till he was face 

 to face with the person he had seen. 



Then he discovered his mistake. It was not a negro 

 but a bear ! 



The Captain saw his danger, but he did not lose his 

 presence of mind — though a glance round showed him 

 there was no means of escape. 



The bear on his side halted some yards off and 

 examined the Captain. 



^ The Captain reflected that many bullies are cowards 

 atSieart, and that possibly the bear might be as much 

 afraid of him as he was of the bear ; so he advanced. 

 The bear, not a bit frightened, advanced too. 

 The Captain turned on his heels to retreat, but after 

 three steps found his way barred by a rock. Leaning 

 against it, so as not to be surprised in the rear, he waited. 



