rawling a few yards, turned back and
moaned, as if to entreat them not to desert their mother. But her cubs
not yet rising to follow her, she returned to them again, and, with
signs of inexpressible fondness, went round first one and then the
other, pawing them and moaning all the time. Finding them at last cold
and lifeless, she raised her head towards the ship and began to growl in
an indignant manner, as if she were denouncing vengeance against the
murderers of her young; but the sailors levelled their muskets again,
and wounded her in so many places that she dropped down between her
young ones; yet, even while she was expiring, she seemed only sensible
to their fate, and died licking their wounds."

"And is it possible," said Harry, "that men can be so cruel towards poor
unfortunate animals?" "It is too true," answered Mr Barlow, "that men
are frequently guilty of every wanton and unnecessary acts of barbarity,
but in this case it is probable that the fear of these animals
contributed to render the sailors more unpitying than they would
otherwise have been; they had often seen themselves in danger of being
devoured, and that inspired them with a great degree of hatred against
them, which they took the opportunity of gratifying." "But would it not
be enough," answered Harry, "if they carried arms to defend themselves
when they were attacked, without unnecessarily destroying other
creatures, who did not meddle with them?" "To be sure it would," replied
Mr Barlow, "and a generous mind would at any time rather spare an enemy
than destroy him."

While they were conversing in this manner, they beheld a crowd of women
and children running away in the greatest trepidation, and, looking
behind them, saw that one of the bears had broken his chain, and was
running after them, growling all the time in a very disagreeable manner.
Mr Barlow, who had a good stick in his hand, and was a man of an
intrepid character, perceiving this, bade his pupils remain quiet, and
instantly ran up to the bear, who stopped in the middle of his career,
and seemed inclined to attack Mr Barlow for his interference; but this
gentleman struck him two or three blows, rating him at the same time in
a loud and severe tone of voice, and seizing the end of the chain with
equal boldness and dexterity, the animal quietly submitted, and suffered
himself to be taken prisoner. Presently the keeper of the bear came up,
into whose hands Mr Barlow consigned him, c