846 A BEAR'S CHARACTER.

It is easy to suppose that at the noise of Friday’s pistol we all
mended our pace, and rode up as fast as the way, which was very
difficult, would give us leave, to see what was the matter. As
soon as we came clear of the trees, which blinded us before, we
saw clearly what had been the case, and how Friday had disengaged
the poor guide, though we did not presently discern what kind of
creature it was he had killed.

But never was a fight managed so hardily and in such a surprising
manner as that which followed between Friday and the bear, which
gave us all (though at first we were surprised and afraid for him)
the greatest diversion imaginable. As the bear is a heavy, clumsy
creature, and does not gallop as the wolf does, which is swift and
light, so he has two particular qualities, which generally are the
rule of his actions. First, as to men, who are not his proper
prey; I say, not his proper prey, because, though I cannot say
what excessive hunger might do, which was now their case, the
ground being all covered with snow; but as to men, he does not
usually attempt them unless they first attack him. On the con-
trary, if you meet him in the woods, if you don’t meddle with him
he won’t meddle with you. But then you must take care to be
very civil to him, and give him the road; for he is a very nice
gentleman, he won’t go a step out of his way for a prince. Nay,
if you are really afraid, your best way is to look another way, and
keep going on; for sometimes if you stop and stand still, and look
steadily at him, he takes it for an affront. But if you throw or
toss anything at him, and it hits him, though it were but a bit of
a stick as big as your finger, he takes it for an affront, and sets all
his other business aside to pursue his revenge; for he will have
satisfaction in point of honour. That is his first quality. The
next is, that if he be once affronted, he will never leave you night
or day till he has his revenge, but follows at a good round rate till
he overtakes you. :

My man Friday had delivered our guide, and when we came up
to him he was helping him off from his horse—for the man was
both hurt and frighted, and indeed the last more than the first—
when, on the sudden, we spied the bear come out of the wood. And
a vast, monstrous one it was, the biggest by far that ever I saw.