148 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



some giant monarch of the forest, was supposed to be 

 the bear. Again and again our mistake was found out, 

 and a new object was metamorphosed into Bruin. Ten 

 minutes were thus spent, the flock of sheep became, if 

 possible, more uneasy, when, with sudden energy, they 

 made a simultaneous dash and crossed to the far side 

 of the field ; still no bear was visible, but that he 

 was close at hand was evident. Loss of time or pro- 

 longed suspense began to make us careless ; an advance 

 into the field had even been proposed, and was about 

 to be executed, when the sheep made another start, 

 evidently intent on returning to the position we found 

 them in ; but as they passed a log out rushed Bruin, 

 and cut off the retreat of the hindermost. The poor 

 victim made two or three feeble efforts to regain his 

 fellows, then turned and looked his enemy in the face, 

 and from that moment succumbed to fate, at the same 

 time retaining the use of his legs. Nor did Bruin rush 

 up and seize him. He only headed him off when in- 

 clined to turn out of the proper direction, driving him 

 all the time towards the right side of the field, which 

 edged on a piece of swamp. Soon the fence was gained ; 

 here the sheep's fortitude forsook him, and as both 

 landlord and self had followed as close in rear as 

 advisable, we were witnesses of a proceeding almost 

 incredible. Bruin was evidently in a magnanimous 

 frame of mind, or was overcome by his natural polite- 

 ness, for without worrying or mauling, never for a 

 moment using his teeth, he picked up the poor sheep 

 between his paws, placed it on the top of the rails, 

 then pushed it over, and with the agility of a grey- 

 hound cleared the fence himself. The shock had 

 roused the victim and reanimated him, for both walked 



