THE BIG BEAR OF ARKANSAS. 87 
and a horse, that were used to overhauling every thing 
they started after in no time, was past my understand- 
ing. Well, stranger, that bear finally got so sassy, 
that he used to help himself to a hog off my premises 
whenever he wanted one; the buzzards followed after 
what he left, and so, between dear and buzzard, I rather 
think I got out of pork. 
“Well, missing that bear so often took hold of my 
vitals, and I wasted away. : The thing had been carried 
too far, and it reduced me in flesh faster than an ager. 
I would see that bear in every thing I did: he hunted 
me, and that, too, like a devil, which I began to think 
he was. 
“ While in this shaky fix, I made preparations to give 
him a last brush, and be done with it. Having com- 
pleted every thing to my satisfaction, I started at sun- 
rise, and to my great joy, I discovered from the way the 
dogs run, that they were near him. Finding his trail 
was nothing, for that had become as plain to the pack 
as a turnpike road. 
“On we went, and coming to an open country, what 
should I see but the bear very leisurely ascending a 
hill, and the dogs close at his heels, either a match for 
him this time in speed, or else he did not care to get 
out of their way—lI don’t know which. But wasn’t’he 
a beauty, though! I loved him like a brother. 
“On he went, until he came to a tree, the limbs of 
which formed a crotch about six feet from the ground. 
