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
wanted to find out what was going on. His nose was a much surer guide
in most matters than his eyesight.
What the fresh spring wind told him was evidently to his liking, for
his tongue lolled out, his mouth dripped saliva, and he went at once to
the trap-door leading upstairs, and pushed it open with his shoulder.
In the cozy farmhouse kitchen, an event that fills the heart of the
average country boy or girl with delight, was in progress.
Upon the kitchen range was placed a large galvanized iron syrup-pan.
In it was three or four inches of golden maple syrup, which danced and
steamed and broke in little mountains of yellow bubbles, something the
color of sunlight.
This was the amber toll from the rock-maple, discovered long ago by the
Indian, whose primitive methods have been so greatly improved upon by
the white man. But there are still very remote places in Canada, where
the old-fashioned slash in the tree, into which a wedge is driven, has
not been superseded by spiles and buckets.
Several of the neighborhood children were gathered at the farmhouse
kitchen and jollity ran high.
Suddenly the door leading to the wood-shed flew open, and there in the
doorway stood Black Bruin. With a shout of delight they rushed upon
him, eager to greet and caress their wilderness pet.
For a week or two, as usual when coming forth from his long sleep,
Black Bruin was rather inactive, and did not want much to eat; but by
degrees his spirits returned, and it was evident from the size and
strength now acquired, that he was to be more of a rogue and bother
than he had ever been before.
But even his warmest admirers, the neighborhood children, who always
took his part, no matter what he did, were not prepared for his next
antic.
Of course it was impossible for his friends, who had not been sleeping
and going without food for several months, to say just how hungry the
culprit was, or how strong the blood lust was upon him.
There had been pig-killing at the farmhouse, and the bear had eaten
some of the refuse meat. This had only whetted his appetite for more,
so he did some pig-killing on his own account.
One morning a neighboring farmer, very much excited, rushed into the
yard and accused Black Bruin of stealing a small pig that morning from
his sty. Although the family protested stoutly that he must be
mistaken, a search of the premises showed that their pet was missing.
The bear's master thought best to settle for the pig, but even then the
neighbor was much put out, and promised to try the effect of a rifle
upon the thief the next time he should appear.
The marauder did not return to the farmhouse all that day, but came
slinking home late in the evening and went at once to his den in the
wood-shed. Again he was chained to the maple in the front yard, and
forced to live the life of a prisoner. But he was now getting so
strong that any ordinary collar would not hold, and he soon broke away
and again went upon a foraging expedition. This time his choice was
mutton, and his master had to pay for a pet sheep that he had taken
from a neighbor's back yard.
This was getting serious, and the bear's master was thinking of
corresponding with the keeper of a zoo or menagerie, to see if he could
give his troublesome pet away, when Pedro Alsandro appeared upon the
scene, and the whole tenor of Black Bruin's life was changed.
Pedro was an Italian peddler, carrying two large packs. He was a small
man with a swarthy olive-colored skin, and dark beady eyes, set rather
too close together.
He appeared one warm April morning, and in the usual lingo of his kind,
invited the good people at the farmhouse to "buy something."
When his pack had been overhauled and a few small purchases concluded,
the peddler noticed Black Bruin, and he at once took his fancy. His
greed was also appealed to by seeing the bear perform his tricks.
Pedro had once owned a dancing-bear, but it had run away from him to
escape harsh treatment.
"Why should I lug these heavy packs about," he thought, "when I could
make twice the money, merely by leading this bear from town to town?"
So the Italian set to work to gain the confidence of the bear and as he
had had considerable experience with his kind, it was not long before
he had petted and bribed his way into Black Bruin's good-will.
"You buy someting me, I buy someting, this bear," he finally said to
the farmer.
This proposition was greeted by some neighbors' children with a chorus
of wails and the housewife too objected, but to the farmer, who was
much perplexed to know what to do with the bear, it seemed like quite a
Providential opening.
"What you do with him, Pedro?" he asked, for he was as much attached to
the rogue as he would have been to a dog that he had raised from
puppyhood.
"I make heem one fine dancing-bear," replied Pedro, "I teach heem lots
treeks. He jes walk long, eat lots, sleep lots, have good time."
"Will you be good to him, Pedro?" asked the housewife, for she hated to
think of the bear's having any but considerate treatment.
"Y-e-a-r-r--lady," replied Pedro. "I feed heem much sugar, much peanut
and much banan. He good bar, I keep heem careful and good."
So Pedro finally left a part of the contents of one of his packs in
exchange for the bear, and went upon his way with a lighter pack. In
one hand he held a stout rope, the other end of which was fastened in
Black Bruin's collar.
The poor bear continually looked back and whined as they went down the
road, but Pedro coaxed and bribed him with sugar, that he had brought
along for the purpose, until he was out of sight of the house.
Once beyond the reach of interference upon the part of his recent
master, the Italian cut a stout heavy stick and sharpened one end, and
with that as a goad, he drove the bear relentlessly before him.
Instead of coaxing there were henceforth sharp thrusts with the point
of the stick and savage blows upon the head.
At first Black Bruin was furious at such treatment, for had he not been
spoiled and petted all his life? He soon saw, however, that this man
was a new and terrible creature to be obeyed instantly, and one whose
wrath it was not well to provoke by pulling back or sulking.
For several hours they journeyed on in this manner, until a small
village was reached. Here the peddler disposed of the remaining goods
in his two packs at a country store, and went into business as the
keeper of a dancing-bear.
That night the two slept in an old barn, curled down in the hay, and
nestled closely together for warmth.
When his deep breathing told the bear that his new master was sleeping
soundly, he crawled carefully out of their nest and tried to slip away.
But with a start Pedro awoke and pulled savagely upon his collar, while
with his stick he prodded him back into his nest.
Truly this was a strange and terrible creature into whose hands he had
fallen. He knew what was going on when he was asleep, as well as when
he was awake. There would be no escape from him. The poor brute did
not appreciate the fact that the Italian had tied the loose end of the
rope about his wrist, so that the slightest tug upon it would awaken
him.
The following morning, Black Bruin began his labors as bread-winner for
both. At the first farmhouse they came to, Pedro stopped and in his
broken English, offered to entertain the good country people with his
bear in return for breakfast for both man and beast.
The offer was promptly accepted and Pedro's companion was made to
shoulder his make-believe gun and march up and down. Then he was given
an egg to suck, and he carefully nicked a little piece in one end, and
licked out the delicious contents. This was the trick that he liked
best of all.
Finally he got down on all fours and was horse for three children for
several minutes. They would sit astride his back, with their small
hands tightly clasping the bear's long, glossy hair, while Pedro slowly
led him up and down.
At last the breakfast was set before them and the poor bear, who had
done all the work, was glad of his share of hot biscuit and maple syrup.
When they were upon the road again, Pedro began teaching the bear new
tricks, for the few that he already knew were not enough to satisfy his
new master, who thought he saw considerable money in him.
Whenever they came to a tree that was suitable for climbing, he would
lead Black Bruin up to it, and shout "climb," at the same time
thrusting his pointed stick viciously into the bear's hinder parts.
At first, the bear remonstrated and growled, but he got such a drubbing
and jabbing that he went whining up the tree, and when he would not
come down Pedro threw stones at him, until he was glad to escape the
missiles by obeying.
Much practice of this trick soon made the bear a great tree-climber,
and he would scratch up the tree at his best pace, at the slightest
sign from the Italian.
Next Pedro bought a bottle of ginger pop, which he sweetened
considerably to make it even more palatable for the bear, and then
slowly turned out a part of the contents for him to lick up. When this
had been done, he put in the cork very slightly and held it up for the
bear to lick. Of course the cork soon came out and more of the
contents was spilled for the bear to drink. In this way by degrees he
taught the brute that the cork must first come out and then there was
sweet within.
When the trick was finally mastered, the bear would stand upon his hind
legs, take a bottle of ginger pop from a man's hand, hold it between
his paws, pull out the cork with his teeth, and deliberately drink the
contents.
The performance of this trick got Pedro and the bear all the soda water
and small drinks that they cared for at the country stores and hotels.
Occasionally Pedro would push the cork in very tight to tease the
performer, who would sometimes growl and box the bottle with his paw,
to the great delight of the children.
At first the bear did not like beer, but he soon learned, and would
drink it down the same as any toper.
Peanuts, pop-corn, corn-cake and candy he also learned to like, and his
manner of eating these delicacies always amused the children.
Sometimes when he had been doing tricks in a village for hours he would
get very tired and lie down and sulk, when Pedro would beat and prod
him cruelly.
If the passers-by remonstrated with the Italian for treating his good
bear in this manner, Pedro would make the excuse for cruelty so often
heard in Italy, where very little consideration is shown animals.
"Huh, lady," he would say, "he no Christian, he just brute. Pedro,
Christian, bear, brute, devil."
Whenever Pedro and his companion entered a village, they were always
followed by an admiring crowd of children. As many as could, would
climb upon Black Bruin's back, and ride in triumph through the street,
while dozens, who were less fortunate, followed behind, shouting
approval.
Although it was quite a hardship for the bear to carry such a load, yet
the petting of the children was a great pleasure to him in these days
of tribulation. It reminded him of the children at the farmhouse where
every one had been so good to him. For, brute that he was, he was
still amenable to kindness, and brutalized by brutality.