292 THE BEAR FAMILY 



The pack is described as being "without monotony," 

 and containing pure-blooded fox-hounds, plain "yaller 

 dogs" of the conglomerate and unlimited variety that 

 hangs about every negro cabin, and one lone " fice-dog." 

 The latter is described as being more like the Yorkshire 

 terrier in conformation than any other breed. 



The bear, after being chased about in the cane for a 

 good part of a day, was at last overtaken when " Holt 

 Collier spurred his horse almost over him," and thus 

 addressed him: " Gwan, you fool bear! Gwan up a 

 tree or I'll kick you up one." Again the black face 

 was turned to Mr. Parker, who was riding behind, and 

 Collier complained. " Mr. Parker, sah, can't you 

 please, sah, come forward an' tell dis yer bear in polite 

 language dat he'll have some regard for our feelin's, 

 and dat he is desired to get up a tree whilst we all 

 goes and gets de Colonel? " The " Colonel " had been 

 stationed in the break at a point where it was thought 

 the bear would pass and had there taken lunch. 



The bear proceeded until he fell in a water-hole, and 

 when the dogs attacked him, he grasped with a fore 

 paw a yellow cur that was Holt Collier's especial 



pet. 



Thereupon that worthy again addressed the bear: 

 "Leggo mah dog, bear! Leggo mah dog!" and, so 

 saying, he swung the stock of his gun through an arc 

 that landed at the base of the bear's skull and twisted 

 the steel frame of the stock. The dog was dead and 

 "the bear, too, seemed to lack further interest in the 

 proceedings ; but he was not dead, and Holt tied a rope 

 about him and dragged him up to the edge of the pool 

 and tied him to a tree." Then Holt sent a negro boy 



