g over the aperture. Had Messieurs the Police been aware of Bruin's
climbing propensities, they would scarcely have left this point
unguarded; as it was, the bear proceeded immediately to take advantage
of it. With a spring he caught hold of an opening formed by a missing
stone, and drawing his body up to his paw, he stuck his foot into the
hole and pressed his broad back against the opposite side; a projecting
brick gave him a second hold, and then the difficulty was over, for the
chimney narrowing he managed to get up by the simple pressure of his
knees and back, and the use of his broad and muscular paws. A few
seconds sufficed for him to reach the top, on which he sat with his
heels dangling in the air, to enjoy the prospect and take breath, while
he deliberated on his farther proceedings.

Meanwhile an inquiry had been entered upon by the authorities of
Caneville concerning the riot, in which one of the police was alleged to
have been killed, but as the object of the inquiry limped into the
assembly during the sitting, it was not considered worth while to hear
evidence as to the authors of his death; and as he, moreover, distinctly
stated that the beast who struck the blow was not a bear, it was ordered
that the bear who was in custody on the charge should be liberated
forthwith. Great was the surprise of his guards, however, on proceeding
to his prison, to find that he had anticipated the verdict and had taken
the liberty of setting himself free; in what way was pretty clear, as,
on looking up the chimney, they were no less amused than astonished to
see him just in the act of swinging himself on to the projecting branch
of the tree and disappear from their view. They ran round into the
court to mark the end of Bruin's manoeuvres, but he had been too quick
for them; not knowing of his being again a free bear, and apprehensive
of being pursued, he had descended the tree with the utmost velocity,
climbed over a ruined wall, and dropping, not lightly, into the stream,
with a few bold strokes reached the opposite shore, where he immediately
climbed a leafy oak, with the intention of waiting till the hue and cry
was over.

He kept his position very quietly all day, rather surprised that no
commotion should be visible in and about the prison, of which he
commanded a good view; and as evening was falling he resolved to
descend, and, recrossing the stream higher up, seek refuge in some one
of his late haunts. Just as he w