266 DAN BEARD'S ANIMAL BOOK 



mingled with the smaller ones of her cubs in the 

 dust around the tent; but the only harm done was 

 the stampeding of the camp cow which was not 

 found for several days. I carefully kicked the 

 dust over Bruin's footprints, for Mrs. Beard is 

 only afraid of bears and snakes. Of course I said 

 nothing to her about the incident, although I was 

 sorely tempted to boast of my own bravery. 



A BLACK BEAR WHO WAS STOPPING AT THE SAME 

 HOTEL 



with me became quite friendly and whenever I 

 returned from business, at noon or in the evening, 

 Bruin would be waiting for me in the hotel yard. 

 The front fence was a high board one and faced 

 the main street; Bruin's chain allowed him to 

 reach the fence, but it was too short for him to 

 climb over to the street, so he would sit on a pack- 

 ing case and swing one arm on the outside of the 

 fence and watch for me. As soon as I hove in 

 sight he would exhibit the greatest pleasure by 

 expression and action and greet me with an idiotic 

 grin that was very amusing. The bear knew that 

 in my pocket there was a pint of chestnuts and he 

 dearly loved chestnuts. 



One noon I was feeding him as usual and he 

 was dexterously removing the shells and devouring 

 the white kernels with relish, but not without 

 losing some crumbs; this fact was observed by a 

 big young rooster which slyly approached us in 

 order to pick up 



