How I Killed a Bear. 825 



mean eaten by a cannibal. This difficulty could not occur in the 

 German, where cssen signifies the act of feeding by a man, and /rcssen 

 by a beast. How simple the thing would be in German : 



HlER LlEGT 

 HOCHWOHLGEBOREN 



Herr 



Gefressen, 

 Aug. 20, 1877. 



That explains itself. The well-born one was eaten by a beast, 

 and presumably by a bear, — an animal that has a bad reputation 

 since the days of Elisha. 



The bear was coming on ; he had, in fact, come on. I judged 

 that he could see the whites of my eyes. All my subsequent reflec- 

 tions were confused. I raised the gun, covered the bear's breast with 

 the sight, and let drive. Then I turned, and ran like a deer. 1 did 

 not hear the bear pursuing. I looked back. The bear had stopped. 

 He was lying down. I then remembered that the best thing to do 

 after having fired your gun is to reload it. I slipped in a charge, 

 keeping my eyes on the bear. He never stirred. I walked back sus- 

 piciously. There was a quiver in the hind legs, but no other motion. 

 Still, he might be shamming ; bears often sham. To make sure, I 

 approached and put a ball into his head. He didn't mind it now ; 

 he minded nothing. Death had come to him with a merciful sud- 

 denness. He was calm in death. In order that he might remain so, I 

 blew his brains out, and then started for home. I had killed a bear ! 



Notwithstanding my excitement, I managed to saunter into the 

 house with an unconcerned air. There was a chorus of void 



"Where are your blackberries?" 



"Why were you gone so long?" 



•• Where's your pail?" 



11 I left the pail.'' 



• Left the pail ! What for?" 

 \ bear wanted it." 



" Oh, nonsense 



"Well, the last I saw of it a bear had it.' 



•'Oh, come! you really didn't see a bear?" 



"Yes, but I did really sec a real bear " 



Did he run?" 



" Yes; he ran after m 



