t.

But it must not be imagined that Black Bruin led a very lonely life
even upon the chain, for the children frequently took him berrying, or
to the deep woods for nuts.

When the apples had been picked and most of the honey taken from the
hives, he was again given the freedom of the place to come and go as he
wished.

But the very worst of all Black Bruin's mischief and thieving came
about the second week in November, when he had been upon his good
behavior for several weeks, and the family hoped that he had reformed.

One night the household was awakened by the most violent and persistent
squealing of a pig. It did not seem to be any of the pigs at the farm,
but the sound came from down the road and it steadily drew nearer to
the buildings.

What it all meant the farmer could not imagine, so he hurriedly dressed
and went out-of-doors to find out.

He was just in time to see Black Bruin come shambling into the yard
carrying a pig, of perhaps twelve pounds' weight, in his mouth. He was
holding him by one hind leg and the load was so heavy that the culprit
could barely keep the poor pig's nose from dragging on the ground.

The farmer at once went to his assistance and rescued him, to the great
disgust of Black Bruin, who growled and plainly gave his master to
understand that he considered the pig his own property. He had not got
him out of the home sty, so that his master had no right to interfere.

Again Black Bruin paid the penalty for misbehavior and was chained up,
while next morning, the farmer had the humiliation of carrying the pig
home.

After about a week more of life upon the chain, the culprit slipped his
collar and disappeared. This time the farmer remembered his
disappearance of the fall before and finally looked under the barn,
where he found him curled up for his winter's sleep.

CHAPTER VI

THE LIFE OF A DANCING-BEAR

About the first of April, the third year of his adventurous life, a
sense of something that he craved was borne in upon the deep slumber of
Black Bruin, or perhaps it was only the returning warmth that awakened
him.

In either event he awoke, yawned, stretched himself and turned about in
his nest under the horse-barn. He felt stiff and cramped, as one had a
right to, who had been sleeping since about Thanksgiving time.

Finally he got up, and going to a crack in the cellar wall, sniffed the
breeze, which came in quite freely. This was always his way when he
wa