A FIRST VISIT TO THE CITY. 61 



soon a full-grown, ill-lookin' young man thought he'd 

 take a hand at the sport, and jin'd in with the "boys in 

 poken' fun at me. He pushed the little ones agin me, 

 and wanted to know how many cubs like me, the old 

 bear had at home. I'm a patient man, Squire, but 

 there's some things I can't stand,' and bein' laffed at 

 without occasion, is one of 'em. So I told the young 

 feller, if he'd mind his business, I'd mind mine, and 

 that would make it all straight and right between us ; 

 besides, if he didn't, he'd get into a fix that wouldn't 

 be pleasant. The chap seemed to have grit in him, 

 and squared off for a fight, but what it was to be 

 about, I didn't understand any more'n the man in the 

 moon. I advised him in a good natered way, to keep 

 on his own side of the trail, but it didn't do any good. 

 He seemed to take it for granted I was scared, and 

 that made him more full of fight than ever. He laid 

 his hand on the collar of my old huntin' coat, and at 

 a jerk tore it half off my back. Blood's blood, Squire, 

 and mine was up. I wan't a baby then, and ain't 

 now. That handful of bones" (said he, baring his 

 brawny arm, and doubling his huge fist,) "hain't 

 often been flung at a human critter, and I hope never 

 will be again. But when it lighted on that fellow's 



