BEAR HUNT IXC 261 



wIk'Ii lir lias laki'ii ii iVoui the liLiiilsinaii. ( iidcr these 

 circuinstaiices, the hitter *" has iiothiiii'' to clelciid liiinself 

 with l)ut Ill's knife. Tliis ]i(> takes crosswavs in his hand, 

 to run il<>\\n the liear s open throat. If lie (h)esnot succeed 

 ill this his life is h)st ; the hear tlaes his skin, iind i)ulls the 

 hail- and ilesh over his heail and ears, face and all." But 

 he adds "If the luintcr eoiujuers, he then tlaes the Ix'ar." 

 It appears that the hear has a pari icular dislike to a (•()\v 

 with a hell round her neek. '" At this hell he is mightily 

 oli'eudcil : he tears it off and strikes it so flat with liis i)aw, 

 that it shall ne\er speak or vex him ai^aiii. \\ hen he 

 wants to cross the water, "it" he sees a hoat h\' the way, 

 he will iio after it it it he on 1\- to rest himself: if he i>ets 

 in he will sit in the stern quite ([iiiet and peaceal)le ; the 

 farmer, however, docs not care to let him in it' he can play 

 his (^ars fast enough." However, the bear is sometimes 

 useful. ■■ lor. says the fjishop, "" 1 was told that an old 

 grass-l)ear was many years known to follow the herds like 

 their u'liard. and stood often taiiieh h\', as the maid was 

 milkiiiu', and always drove the wolf aAvay. lie did no 

 hurt to any <iiie : oul\' in aul iiinii. when he was almost i;"oino- 

 to look foi' his dell, he would take a kid or a sheep, as if 

 for vSummer's wages: hut I doiihl if there are many of his 

 kind that use that discretion. Tlie\' saw howcNcr. lor 

 certain that in his proper jurisdiction or the place where 

 he usuallv resides, he will take hut one ])ie('e fi'(Hn a man." 

 The last statement is sliuhtK' ainhii-uous. This human 

 element in the cliaractcr of the hear is further illustrated 

 by Lloyd, wh(j says, '' When he linds a 'gin' set for liis 

 destruction he sj)rings it, after putting stumps and roots 

 between the teeth." The same author (juotes W. \'ergelanit, 



