THE DEATH. 243 



aui vhe bear was dead enough. After the fight, the 

 paintoi seemed satisfied. He warn't much hurt, and 

 fell to rollin' himself over and over, among the leaves, 

 and slidin' himself along on his sides, as you've seen 

 a dog do, to wipe the blood off his hide, and then fell 

 to licken' his legs and sides, and whatever other parts 

 of his body he could get at, to make himself look 

 decent and proper again. Old Pete thought 'twas 

 time for him to take part in the fray ; so creepin' to 

 within shootm' distance, he sighted the painter with his 

 long rifle, and j >ulled. The animal sprung into the air. 

 and after tearin 1 the earth, and strugglin' and kickin', 

 lay still, and the old man took his hide, as well as that 

 of the bear, and went ahead. What the cause of the 

 quarrel between them two animals was, old Pete 

 couldn't find out, but it was pretty clear the bear had 

 been meddlin' with something that didn't concern 

 him, and got himself into a scrape that cost him his 

 life. 



" A painter, Squire, is an animal that has an on- 

 pleasant way with him, whei his back's up, and it's 

 well enough for everybody, and every animal, too, in 

 these wood, to keep out of his way, and give him all 

 the trail at such times, I never happened to see but 



