272 IN A LOG CAMP 



of men. On one occasion, mine host related, 

 and this he vouched for, a gang of 

 men were cutting down trees, and in the fall 

 of one it brought down a decayed neighbor, 

 turning up the dead roots to the sun. Under 

 that tree, it seemed, was the den of a bear, 

 and when rudely disturbed by the tearing 

 the roof from over his head, he very natu- 

 rally roused himself and came out to see what 

 was the matter. The guide was the first one 

 to see him, and in his consternation at being 

 faced by a big bear, with no gun at hand, he 

 uttered a loud cry, started back, and fell 

 flat in the snow. Surprised at his greeting, 

 the bear turned to go the other way and 

 met two men, who also cried out in terror 

 and ran. The patient beast turned still an- 

 other way, and lo, the fourth man added his 

 voice and his flight to the others, when the 

 guide by this time recovered called to 

 them all to come back, for the bear was more 

 scared than they were. Which, by the way, 

 I did not regard as fair to the peace-loving 

 animal. He was simply trying to get away 

 from the screaming crowd. But men are 

 never fair to their humble relatives. Because 



