e bear, "and so would you, if you had not eaten
anything for the last few weeks!"

After a pause:----

"Hurgh, hurgh!" said Mr. Boare, in a guttural voice; "I never tried; but
a big fellow like you ought to be able to get through a deal of work."

"Perhaps so," observed the surly bear; "but I don't intend to make the
experiment."

After another pause:----

"Hurgh, an idle fellow, I'm afraid!" said Mr. Boare, half aside; "and
not quite so civil as before his breakfast." Then he exclaimed aloud,
"I suppose you will make no objection to help me dig up some more food,
seeing that you have made away with my dinner, hurgh?"

"Who do you take me for?" said the ungrateful beast, springing to his
legs, and eyeing his entertainer with one of his furious looks.

"Who do I take you for, hurgh, you graceless cub?" exclaimed Mr. Boare,
in a rage, for he was rather hasty in his manner, and his red eyes
twinkled, and his back began to get up in a way which showed his
agitation; "who do I take you for? Why, I did take you for one who would
be at least thankful for food given you when almost starving: but I now
perceive you are only an ugly lump of a bear. Out of my sight this
instant, or, from want of my own dinner, which you have devoured, I
shall, perchance, make a meal of you!--hurgh, hurgh!"

As he said these words the bristles on his back started up so furiously,
and his tusks glistened so horridly in a little ray of sunlight, which
was peeping in to see what was the matter, that Master Bruin felt
thoroughly frightened, and made a precipitate retreat, turning round at
every few steps to observe whether he were followed, and if it would be
necessary to take refuge in one of the trees; but Wylde Boare, Esq. only
grunted out his favourite expression, which, in this case, was mixed
with a great deal of contempt, and recommenced digging for his dinner as
if nothing had occurred to disturb his usual contented state of mind.

Bruin now travelled on till he reached a stream, which came bounding
through this part of the wood at a very rapid pace, and making a
terrible fuss because sundry large stones in the middle of its course
rather impeded its progress. The noise it made, and the anger it showed,
seemed to please our sulky bear mightily, so he sat down on the bank
with his toes in the water to enjoy the spectacle. The scene was a very
striking one, and was fitted to charm the most indifferent eye; and
Bruin, bear as he was, cou