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 



