LIFE OF MYTTON. 47 



lender bears a resemblance to one he paid a toll- 

 keeper near his own house, who had demanded and 

 received double toll from him on the score of its 

 being past twelve o'clock at night, whereas it was 

 only just eleven, and the toll had been once before 

 paid during the day. Although it was a bitter cold 

 night, Mytton waited till the gate-keeper was warm 

 in his bed, and then repassed the gate, of course 

 without paying again. Nor did the frolic end here. 

 No sooner was the fellow once more in bed, than 

 the word " Gate ! " again resounded in his ears ; 

 and finding out whom he had to deal with, he 

 gladly returned the money, and enjoyed the rest 

 of the night in repose. 



The history of this bear may not be unworthy of 

 notice. Mytton purchased her (it was a female) 

 when very young, together with a monkey, from a 

 strolling showman who was passing through Elles- 

 mere, a town five miles distant from Halston, for 

 the sum of thirty-five pounds for the two. Having 

 been upwards of seven years in his possession, 

 and handled at an early age, the former was toler- 

 ably tractable for an animal so naturally savage ; 

 but she was not to be trifled with by strangers. 

 It was indeed in consequence of her injuring one 



