Fight Between Friday and a Bear

           Butneverwasafightmanagedsohardily,andinsuchasurprisingmanner,asthatwhichfollowedbetweenFridayandthebear,whichgaveusall,thoughatfirstweweresurprisedandafraidforhim,thegreatestdiversionimaginable. Asthebearisaheavy,clumsycreature,anddoesnotgallopasthewolfdoes,whoisswiftandlight,ashehastwoparticularqualities,whichgenerallyaretheruleofhisactions; first,astomen,whoarenothisproperprey; Isay,nothisproperprey,because,thoughIcannotsaywhatexcessivehungermightdo,whichwasnowtheircase,thegroundbeingallcoveredwithsnow; butastomen,hedoesnotusuallyattemptthem,unlesstheyfirstattackhim. Onthecontrary,ifyoumeethiminthewoods,ifyoudon’tmeddlewithhim,hewon’tmeddlewithyou;butthenyoumusttakecaretobeveryciviltohim,andgivehimtheroad,forheisaverynicegentleman.Hewon’tgoastepoutofhiswayforaprince; nay,ifyouarereallyafraid,yourbestwayistolookanotherway,andkeepgoingon; forsometimesifyoustop,andstandstill,andlooksteadilyathim,hetakesitforanaffront; butifyouthrowortossanythingathim,andithitshim,thoughitwerebutabitofastickasbigasyourfinger,hetakesitforanaffront,andsetallhisotherbusinessasidetopursuehisrevenge;forhewillhavesatisfactioninpointofhonor.Thatishisfirstquality; thenextis,thatifhebeonceaffronted,hewillneverleaveyou,nightorday,tillhehashisrevenge,butfollows,atagoodroundrate,tillheovertakesyou. 

           MymanFridayhaddeliveredourguide,andwhenwecameuptohimhewashelpinghimofffromhishorse; forthemanwasbothhurtandfrighted,andindeedthelastmorethanthefirst; when,onthesudden,wespiedthebearcomeoutofthewood,andavastmonstrousoneitwas,thebiggestbyfarthateverIsaw.