"I now threw off all disguise, and whirled my cord with a wide circular sweep, and in another moment it would have been very unpleasant for Bruin, but somehow the line appeared to get foul. While I was opening the noose, the animal settled upon his feet and came toward me; but the moment he saw me begin to whirl again, he got frightened, up-ended himself as before, and shut his eyes.
"Then I felt in my belt to see if my knife was there, when the bear got down again and came forward, utterly regardless.
"Seeing he was frightened and trying to escape by coming so close I could not have a fair fling at him, I dropped the noose on the ground and walked away, trailing the line behind me. When it was all run out, the rascal arrived at the loop. He first smelled it, then opened it with his paws, and putting it about his neck, tilted up again, and nodded significantly.
"I pulled out my knife, and severing the line at my wrist, walked away, looking for some one to introduce me to Smarty Mellor."
Footnote A: [(return)]
This is infamous! The learned Parsee appears wholly to ignore the distinction between a fable and a simple lie.—TRANSLATOR.
Footnote B: [(return)]
It is to be wished our author had not laid himself open to the imputation of having perverted, if not actually invented, some of his facts, for the unworthy purpose of bringing a deserving rival into disfavour.—TRANSLATOR.
Footnote C: [(return)]
In the original, "pizen;" which might, perhaps, with equal propriety have been rendered by "caper sauce."—TRANSLATOR.
Footnote D: [(return)]
I confess my inability to translate this word: it may mean "flinders."—TRANSLATOR.
Footnote E: [(return)]
The learned reader will appreciate the motive which has prompted me to give this moral only in the original Persian.—TRANSLATOR.