260 DAN BEARD'S ANIMAL BOOK 



ous wild beast. On the contrary the black bear 

 seems to be the acknowledged comedian and clown 

 of the American forest. 



How dangerous Bruin was before our ancestors 

 brought their unwieldly arquebuses with them to 

 this country is not easy to determine. The intro- 

 duction of firearms to replace the bows and arrows 

 of the Indians has unquestionably changed the hab- 

 its of all creatures unfortunate enough to be classed 

 under the head of game. 



When Bruin saw the first white man with a gun, 

 and saw how this stranger u did well and properly 

 take a match out of the left hand with the thumb 

 and second finger, holding the arquebus in due 

 height, as well for ease as for safety," Bruin was 

 no doubt deeply impressed, and when the bear saw 

 how this white two-legged animal "did bring the 

 match handsomely near his mouth and did blow off 

 the match before he did put it upon the Cock and 

 set the piece against his breast" not against the 

 shoulder Bruin's curiosity must have been greatly 

 excited; but when this hand cannon at last belched 

 forth a stream of fire accompanied by a thunder- 

 ous report, the poor bear was without doubt terri- 

 fied, although probably uninjured. 



Since that day there came the Daniel Boones 

 with their long deadly "Kaintuck" rifles and they 

 taught Bruin to dread the accuracy of firearms in 

 the hands of men with whom powder and shot 

 were scarce and consequently not wasted : men who 

 shot to kill with each discharge of their long brass- 



