"Look there! Did you ever see the like?" cried Tom, as the bear commenced plowing up the earth with its nose and piling it on the man's body.
"He is burying him," said Toney.
"That bear has good principles in his composition," said the Professor. "He buries his dead."
The bear continued to pile the earth over the man until he had raised quite a mound, when he turned round, and, at a shuffling gait, went off in the direction of Mount Diablo, and was soon hidden in the thicket.
Toney and his friends now ran to the spot where the man was buried. The end of his coat was visible. Toney and Tom tugged at the tail of the coat, while the Professor aided in the disinterment by kicking off the earth with his feet.
"By the powers of mud!" was uttered in a hoarse voice, and the man sprang erect.
"Captain Bragg!" exclaimed Toney, in astonishment.
"Great thunder!" cried Tom.
The astonishment of Bragg was equal to that of Toney and Tom. He was covered with dirt, and swore vehemently "by the powers of mud." He eventually became more composed, and, while walking to the boat, accounted for the condition in which he was found. In coming down the river he had quarreled with the captain of the vessel, and challenged him to single combat. The captain had rudely refused to accept the challenge, and put Bragg on shore, where, in wandering about, he had encountered the bear.
"Look!—look!—what's that?" cried Moses, as an agile creature with very long ears sprang up before them.