ANIMALS IN SICKNESS 227 
see how the gypsies were going to take over the captives, for 
they had no luggage and no cages in which they could keep 
the bears. When Malferteiner asked them how they were 
going to manage it, they replied that he need not worry 
about that, they would look after it. He could not see, how- 
ever, how they were going to avoid running into considerable 
danger; for no attempt had ever been made to tame the 
bears or break them in in any way. The first thing that 
the gypsies did was to leave the creatures for a couple of days 
without food. They then brought a cask of salted herrings, 
which they put in the cages. The bears did not like this 
food at all, but their dislike availed them nothing, for no 
other was offered them; and on the third day their hunger 
became so acute that they devoured the herrings. Forthwith 
they became, of course, exceedingly thirsty, but no water was 
given them. Instead of water, bowls of sweetened spirit 
were placed before them, and this they greedily lapped up. 
They were then thoroughly intoxicated and sank into a very 
deep sleep. The gypsies were now in a position to carry 
out their evil purpose without fear. They walked into the 
cages where the formidable animals lay as harmless and 
motionless as sacks of flour; they extracted their large canine 
teeth with pliers, and cut away the claws from their paws. 
Even the deep wounds in the flesh which they made in this 
operation did not arouse the bears, and the gypsies knew no 
pity. Rings were drawn through their noses, and to each 
animal two chains were attached, one round the neck and 
another to the ring in the nose. The creatures had now 
been altogether deprived of their weapons of offence and 
defence. They were placed upon a cart, and the gypsies 
drove off with them. After many hours the unfortunate 
animals awoke and fell out of the cart; but, held as they 
were by the chains, they were compelled to run behind. 
The gypsies had taken the additional precaution of muzzling 
them, but this was entirely unnecessary, for the poor brutes, 
stupefied and weakened by pain, had no spirit left for attacking 
15 * 
