nothing
in particular occupied his brains; true, his looks were black, his head
was cast down, his eyes, as usual, were cunning and ferocious, but then
they were always so, and consequently presented no index of what was
passing within.

Suddenly his features brightened, his face assumed an expression of
interest, and he put his paw gently behind him to secure a stone, whilst
his gaze was intently fixed on a dry spot of the bed below. Following
the direction of his look, one might have perceived an uncommonly fat
frog pulling with all his strength at the leg of another one whose body
was hidden behind a heap of pebbles, and certainly the sight was one to
amuse a wiser head than a bear's. The standing-place of the paunchy
little animal being very green and slippery, and the leg which he so
tightly clasped belonging to a fellow creature of no ordinary
robustness, the struggle was diversified every few seconds by the fat
fellow toppling on to his nose or back, or being dragged behind the
heap, and then suddenly reappearing, still holding with passionless
determination to that devoted leg, and tumbling about without uttering a
syllable. It was when the greater part of his body was exposed to view
in a position more comical than dignified, so great were his exertions,
that Bruin's stone, cast with unerring aim, descended upon the
unfortunate frog. It hit him upon the softest and most projecting part
of his back, and had the effect of raising him instantly into a
perpendicular position, when looking round and observing the huge beast
above about to repeat the application, he clapped his broad hand over
the wounded place, and limped hastily away; nor could all the
enticements of the bear, conveyed, it is true, in very unflattering
language, induce him to expose his person to the chances of a second
throw.

Bruin's attention was shortly after aroused anew, by observing a
wretched old dog tottering under the weight of a large bundle, strapped
upon his back, which he was conveying to the city. He came within a few
feet of the bear, whom he knew slightly, and casting down his load,
which he seemed to have brought from a distance, wiped his face with his
ragged tail. Bruin was the first to speak.

_Bruin_ (with a grunt).--Hard at work as usual, eh! Flip?

_Flip._--Yes, Master Bruin, these are hard times; no bone to pick
without it, you know.

_Bruin_ (with a very emphatic grunt).--That depends; some have lots of
bones, and