on observing that
two of the more timid members of his band were about to fire at the
animal's legs, which appeared below the edge of the trap. Fortunately,
the bear ceased its efforts just at that critical moment, and the trap
fell heavily back to its original position.

"By good luck!" shouted Croft; "an' here comes the cage. Range up on
the left, boys, and out with the hosses, they won't stand this."

The terrified animals were removed from the scene, trembling violently
from head to foot, and the whole band, applying their shoulders to the
wheels, slowly pushed the vehicle alongside of the trap until the sides
of the two met.

There was a strong door in the side of the trap, which was now removed
by being pulled inwards, revealing to bruin an aperture which
corresponded to another door opening into the iron-lined cage. There
were stout iron bars ready to be shot home the instant he condescended
to pass through this entrance; but Caleb, as Croft called him, shewed
himself sadly destitute of an inquiring disposition. He knew that there
was now a hole in his prison-wall, for he looked at it; he knew that a
hole either conducted into a place or out of it, for life-long
experience had taught him that; yet he refused to avail himself of the
opportunity, and continued to rage round the trap, glaring between the
logs at his foes outside. It is unreasonable to suppose that he was
afraid to go into the hole because it was a _dark_ one, for he was well
accustomed to such dark dens; besides, no one who looked at him could
for a moment suppose that he was, or could be, afraid of anything at
all. We must, therefore, put his conduct down to sheer obstinacy.

The men poked him with sticks; shouted at him; roared in his face; threw
water over him; and even tried the effect of a shot of powder at his
flank; but all to no purpose, although their efforts were continued
vigorously for full two hours. The bear would _not_ enter that hole on
any account whatever.

"Try another shot of powder at him," cried Croft, whose patience was now
almost exhausted.

The shot was fired at his flank, and was received with a ferocious
growl, while the strong wood-work of the trap trembled under his efforts
to escape.

"Ain't it vexin'?" said Croft, sitting down on the stump of a tree and
wiping the perspiration from his forehead. Ned Sinton and Tom, who had
done their utmost to assist their new acquaintance, sat down beside him
and adm