time would have made
me laugh heartily. He at once dropped upon all fours, and when Socrates
flipped down to the ground and walked towards him, using language fit to
make your hair stand on end, the bear backed away. And he kept on
backing away as Sox advanced upon him, pouring out as he came every word
and every fragment of a quotation he had learned in the course of a long
and studious career. One of the reasons I have for thinking that he is
getting on for a hundred years old is that Sox on that occasion raked up
old slang phrases in use in the first years of the century--phrases I
had never heard him use before, and which I am sure he cannot have heard
since he has been in my possession.

"This stream of vituperation was too much for Big Reuben. He feared no
man living, as you know, but a common black raven with a man's voice in
his stomach was 'one too many for him,' as the saying is. He turned and
bolted; while Socrates, flying just above his head, pursued him with
jeers and laughter, until at last he found inglorious safety in the
inmost recesses of his den, whither Sox was much too wise to follow
him."

"I don't wonder you set a high value on old Sox, then," said I. "He
probably saved your life that time."

"He certainly did: I could not have held on five minutes longer."

"And did you ever run across Big Reuben again?" asked Joe.

"Yes. Or, rather, I suppose I should say 'no.' I saw him a good many
times, but he never would allow me to come near him. Whether he thought
I was in league with the Evil One, I can't say, but, at any rate, one
glimpse of me was enough to send him flying; and as I was sure I need
have no fear of him, I had no hesitation in walking up the gorge if it
happened to be convenient; and thus it was that I discovered the deposit
of lead-ore up near its head."

As this piece of information precluded the necessity of our prospecting
any further, and as we had by this time finished our meal--which was
shared by Peter and his attendant sprite--we informed our friend that it
was time for us to be starting back; upon which he remarked that he
would go part of the way with us, as, by taking one of the gulches
farther on he would find an easier ascent to his house than by returning
the way he had come. Hanging his skis over his shoulder, therefore, he
trudged along beside us at a pace which made us hustle to keep up with
him.

"Do you think you would be able to find my house again?" asked th