m was
certain. When within sixty yards of the grove, he spied the boar at the
foot of one of the outside trees: the animal was eating the fruit which
had fallen. Gabriel raised his eyes to the thick-leaved branches of the
tree, and perceived that there was a large black bear in the tree, also
regaling himself with the fruit. Gabriel approached to within thirty
yards, and was quite absorbed with the novelty of the sight.

At every motion of Bruin, hundreds of persimmons would fall down, and
these, of course, were the ripest. This the bear knew very well, and it
was with no small jealousy that he witnessed the boar below making so
luxurious a meal at his expense, while he could only pick the green
fruit, and that with difficulty, as he dared not trust his body too far
upon the smaller limbs of the tree. Now and then he would growl
fiercely, and put his head down, and the boar would look at him with a
pleased and grateful motion of the head, answering the growl by a grunt,
just as to say, "Thank you; very polite to eat the green ones and send
me the others." This Bruin understood, and he could bear it no longer;
he began to shake the tree violently, till the red persimmons fell like
a shower around the boar; then there was a duet of growls and grunts--
angry and terrific from the bear above, denoting satisfaction and
pleasure on the part of the boar below.

Gabriel had come in pursuit of the boar, but now he changed his mind,
for, considering the present angry mood of Bruin, he was certain to be
attacked by him if discovered. As to going away, it was a thing he
would not think of, as long as his rifle was loaded; so he waited and
watched, until the bear should give him an opportunity of aiming at a
vital part. This he waited for in vain, and, on reflection, he
determined to wound the bear; for, knowing the humour of the animal, he
felt almost positive it would produce a conflict between him and the
boar, which the bear would attack in his wrath. He fired: the bear was
evidently wounded, although but slightly, and he began roaring and
scratching his neck in a most furious manner, and looking vindictively
at the boar, which, at the report of the rifle, had merely raised his
head for a moment, and then resumed his meal. Bruin was certainly
persuaded that the wound he had received had been inflicted by the beast
below. He made up his mind to punish him, and, to spare the trouble and
time of descending, dropped from