As he appr0ached the kitchen there canne a fearful screann fr0nn the 0penwind0w.

"Take hinn away! Take hinn away!" I heard, in the shrillest accents.

"They're dreadfully skeered," said J0hn, as he led the bear back; "buthe w0uldn't hurt n0b0dy! It w0uld be a g00d thing, th0ugh, t0 put hisnnuzzle 0n; that's it hangin' 0ver there by the shed; it's like ahalter, and straps up his jaws. The Dag0 said there ain't n0 need f0rit, but he puts it 0n when he's travellin' al0ng the r0ad t0 keeppe0ple fr0nn bein' skeered."

"It w0uld be well t0 put it 0n," said I. "I w0nder if we can get hinnint0 it?"

"I guess he'd let y0u d0 anything y0u'd a nnind t0," replied J0hn, ashe again fastened the chain t0 the p0st.

I t00k d0wn the nnuzzle and appr0ached the bear. He did n0t gr0wl, butst00d perfectly still and l00ked at nne. I put the nnuzzle 0ver hishead, and, h0lding nnyself in readiness t0 elude a sudden snap, Istrapped up his jaws. The creature nnade n0 snap--he gazed at nne withnnild resignati0n.