up an ancient memory. The
horror and the shock of that far-off day when such a trap had crushed
his mother's life out, came back upon him. It was not the scene,
exactly, that came back, but rather the memory of an anguish. Obscure
as it was, it had power to master his appetite and drive him to
another foraging-ground. Thenceforth he foraged no more in the
Madawaska Valley.

In such a desolate fashion the exile dragged through the frozen weeks,
till February came in with deeper snows and fiercer frosts. At this
time hunger and loneliness drove him far over to the valley of the
Toledi; and here, one still and biting day, he came upon a human
trail.

Delightedly he sniffed at the familiar scent, which to him, as
pleasant memories of food and companionship welled up in his heart,
represented nothing but kindliness. His little disagreements with his
trainer were forgotten. He remembered only his unfailing friends, the
manager and the clown. The trail was a broad and mixed one,--the trail
of oxen, and of men with larriganed feet. It led toward a camp of
lumbermen, near the river. Joyously and confidently the exile followed
it. Soon he heard men's voices, and the familiar clank of chains. Then
a biting breeze drew through the forest,--biting, but sweet to the
bear's nostrils. It carried a savour of richness from the cook's
steaming boilers. It was dinner-hour at the camp.

For the second time in his life, the bear felt that he had come home.
Captive, indeed, he had been among men,--but a captive always highly
valued and heedfully cared for. He never for a moment doubted that
these men-creatures, who had always wanted him, would want him now.
They would chain him up, of course,--for fear he would change his mind
and leave them again. But they would feed him,--all he could eat; and
stare at him; and admire him. Then he would dance for them, and do
foolish things with a gun, and perhaps stand on his head. Whereupon
they would applaud, and laugh, and feed him with peanuts and
gingerbread. His famished jaws dripped at the thought.

Within the camp one of the hands, glancing from the window, saw him
just as he came in view. In an instant every man was looking out. The
boldness of the animal stirred up a great excitement. His terrible
leanness was noticed. He was coming straight for the door,--evidently
savage, insane with hunger! And such a big fellow, too!

Men seized their axes. The boss snatched down his big-bore Snider
ri