WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY 
I have known more keepers and other persons killed or 
seriously injured by tame pet bears than by any other 
animal. 
The occasions on which bears have managed to escape, 
for a short time, have not been numerous ; two or three 
only may be worthy of mention. On one occasion a Polar 
bear gave a great deal of trouble, but he was eventually 
driven into a place of safety and captured without any 
damage being done. This bear’s escapade is narrated in 
the Escape of Polar Bear.” On another occasion an 
American black bear was clever enough to climb up a 
chain and escape from the bear-pit. 
I happened to see him from a distance, and, arming 
myself with a dusty stumpy old birch -broom, I went 
towards him. On coming up with him I dealt him a 
smack in the face with the broom which rather aston- 
ished him, and, with the dust in his eyes, he scampered 
away evidently in a very ill-humour, descending the steps 
of the terrace on to the lawn. He ran and tumbled about 
the chairs, giving me time to call for assistance. It was 
not long before three or four keepers put in an appearance 
armed with dungrforks and other weapons. , Mr. Bruin 
then thought it desirable to try and return to the pit. 
To do this he ascended the steps, and, mounting the top of 
the terrace wall, walked along until he arrived at the pit 
from which he had escaped. I followed him at a respectful 
distance, and seeing that he was looking down into the 
pit, and fearing that he might have some difficulty in 
getting into it, or that he might change his mind and 
take another walk, I made a rush at him with the 
stumpy broom and sent him headlong below. I was afraid 
he was hurt, as he moved about very little for some days 
afterwards. 
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