STORY OF A BEAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2006, 4 August 1892, Page 39

STORY OF A BEAR.

By Murray Aston.

In the Grand Duchy of Oulenburg there is a mighty forest abounding in all sorts of game, from the insignificant rabbit to the great brown bear. His serene Highness the Duke is a renowned sportsman, and spares neither time nor money to secure the main object of his existence once at least every week — viz., a good day's shoeting or hunting. Every fowl that flies and every creature that walks is, it need hardly be stated, carefully preserved. A perfect army of rangers, keepers, and watchers is on duty day and night, and clever indeed must be the poacher who can evade their skilfully organised system, for spring guns are set in every direction, and in connection with these are carefully laid wires on all sides, the slightest contact with which will give immediate notice to those on the watch that some one is about.

The forest of Oulenberg contains some glaut trees, centuries old, many of them, knotted and gnarled, hollow with age, forming comfortable dwelling places for birds and beasts. In one o£ these there dwelt, not so very long ago, a couple of brown bears'. One was fully grown, an ugly customer when fairly roused to auger, but generally speaking quite mild and inoffensive. Indeed, to say he was gentle would not be a misapplied term. Anyhow, he was certainly inclined that way. His companion was far younger — indeed, quite a baby, not mush larger than a terrier dog. He also was a good-natured little beastie, and had he had a maternal relative— she, alas I had fallen to the gun of the duke shortly before this narrative begins — his cup of joy would have been full. As it was, his pater was not so sociable as he might have been, since, naturally enough, he was continually fretting for his poor slaughtered spouse Of course every student of natural history knows that the male bear a3 a rule would rather eat the cubs than look after them, all the care and affection devolving on the mother be^r, who would gladly sacrifice her life in defence of her offspring. But in this care Bruin, the father, certainly was unusually kind and attentive to his sod Growl, and they lived quite happily together, as we have already stated, in a grand old hollow tree.

Thß common brown bear (Ursus arctos) inhabit 3 Europe and Asia, and in some parts is quite plentiful. Indeed, the preserves of the Grand Duchy of Oulenburg are unusually well-stocked. It is painful to be obliged to record a fact not altogether creditable to his serene Highness, but truth compels us to state that if there was one sport that the Duke loved more than another it was bearbaiting. He reasoned in support of this practice that as bears had been from time immemorial — from the ancient Romans even — specially devoted as affording material for conflicts in the arena, it.being on record that as many as 1000 bears had been exhibited in the good old days at one time, and that iv the reign of good Quoon BBS 3 it was a fashionable amusement to adjourn to the bear gardens to see the creatures attacked by dogs— so, the Duke argued, there could be no harm in his keeping up this ancient practise ; and in pursuance of this resolve he had instructed the keepers to capture alive any bears, especially cubs, since when taken young, they are easily trained, and may also hn taught to dance, being very fond of music.

No wonder, then, that one five spring morning Bruin and Growl were wakened early by the baying of a hound at the foot of their tree, and peering out cautiously to discover the cause of all the commotion, Growl's appearance was greeted with a shout from the sportsmen, who, attracted by the action of their faithful dog, were eagerly scanning the boughs, and had at once detected the presence of the venturesome cub. Quickly he withdrew, but too late. One of the huntsmen was soon up the tree, and the unlucky animal rapidly descended the opposite side, only to fall a captive to the huntsmen gathered below. Bruin, however, thought it wiser to remain in seclusion ; and so pleased were the keepers with their capture that they refrained from any further explorations for that day at all events, and quickly make their way to the Duke, who heartily thanked and rewarded them for their prize.

His Highness regarded pocr Growl with considerable interest, which was changed into merriment upon the poor little fellow raising himself into a sitting posture and placing his little fore daws in what appeared to be an attitude of supplication. In reality he was so scared that he had simply taken up a posture of defence, and was ready to greet any attacks with an infantile hug. l>ut his supposed submission answered an excellent purpose, for ie quite touched the heart. oL the Duke, who at once resolved that this berir at ]«qst should be spared the borrow of the baiting-pit, and iustrucLions were at once given for the preparation of a necessary outfit for him, including a strong muzzle and chain, and a special attendant was .appointed forthwith.

Growl was conveyed to the ducal palace and regaled upon such dainties as had never before fallen to his lot. Fig 3, dates, apples, pears, nuts, and honey were set before the lucky little bear and graciously accepted and rapidly disposed of. You see, poor fellow, he was very hungry, and soon he had curled himself up in a snug cage and was not long in falling asleep. When he awoke it was some seconds before he could realise his position, and when at length the dreaJful truth began to dawn upon him that ho was a prisoner, he lifted up his voice and emitted a prolonged howl of grief. So load and long was it, indeed, that his attendant came running en dishabile, to see what was the matter; but Growl refused to be comforted, and notwithstanding that the hour was a most unreasonable one in which to creat a disturbance — it was barely daylight— the broken-hearted cub indulged in a series of such hideous noises that were nearly costing him dear, for the duke, who was unusually

tired, had it in his mind to oider him to be "put out of his misery," but, on second thoughts, he changed his mind, and requested instead that the cub be removed to the stables. Here, however, he caused no small consternation, since the horses, aware of his presence directly, began to prance and kick, and Growl was forthwith removed to an empty dog kennel adjoining other kennels, which, however, were not untenanted, and whose occupants nearly tore their houses down in their savage attempts to get at their unusual neighbour. The cub himself was by this time nearly frantic with fear and grief on his confinement, and when his keeper rather loughly took him up once more te place him in an empty loft he had suddenly thought of, that functionary was rewarded with a bite in the fleshy part of his thumb, which caused the man to yell and fairly dance with pain. Cursing Growl for a savage little brute, he flung him to the ground, and the young bear was not slow in taking advantage of his liberty, and before the attendant could collect his senses, the cub had taken refuge underneath some outbuildings which were raised on short piles.

(To be continued.)