EXTRACTS FROM JOURNAL. 259 



February Qth. — Gave Bruin a dose of strychnine, 

 poor thing ; for eight minutes there was no result, then 

 she suddenly lay down, stretched her limbs out, and 

 was dead. The other day she infringed on her liberty. 

 She was never allowed to go below the upper deck ; she 

 was quite well aware of this prohibition, and never 

 attempted to trespass on forbidden ground but once. 

 It was Sunday afternoon, when the ship was par- 

 ticularly quiet, and Miss Bruin evidently thought now 

 was her chance to satisfy a curiosity she had long felt, 

 of having a peep below. Down the companion-ladder 

 she noiselessly but quickly went, straight into my 

 cabin. The quartermaster on watch soon missed her 

 ladyship, and finding where she was, rushed to me, 

 reporting, " The bear is in your cabin, sir." I thought 

 of all my glass and crockery, my dressing-table with 

 all its nicknacks, and Bruin's horrible inquisitiveness ; 

 no monkey I knew was more addicted to curiosity, and 

 none half so apt to do so much mischief in a few 

 moments, as my big rough pet of a bear. Down I ran 

 to my cabin, expecting I hardly knew what, and there 

 sat Bruin quietly on the locker close to my dressing- 

 table, looking the picture of wickedness. How well 

 she knew she had no business there, her expression 

 was simply too ludicrous. Speaking very kindly, I 

 got between her and my treasures, and sat down. 



