The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-13
THE TRUCE OF THE BEAR.
From Liter dture,

From Liter AZURE.
Copyright, 1898, by Rudysrd Kipling in the United
States Of America.)
Yearly. with tent and rife, our careless white men
go
By the Pass called MuttAnee, to shoot In the vale
below,
Yearly by Muttianee he follows our white men in
Matun. the old blind beRGar. bAndaged from brow to
chin.
speech,
Seeking a dole at the doorway he mumbleS his tale
to each
Over and over the story. ending as he began:
MAKE ye no truce with AdAm-zad-the boar that
walks like a man!
There was q hinti in my m~usket-pricked and prlmed
was the pan
When 1 went hunting Adam-zsd-the bear that
stands like O man.
Hooked my last on the timber. I looked my last on
the snow
When 1 went hunting Adam-zad nifty summers agol
knew his times and seasons as he knew mine that
fed
BY night in the ripened maizeaeld and robbed my
house OF bread
knew his strength and cunning. as he knew mine
that crept
At dawn to the crowded g~oatpens and plumbers
while 1 slept.
up from his stony plAyRround-down from his
well-diRged lair
Out OH tho naked ridges ran Adam-zAd the bear.
Groaning. grunting and roaring. heavy with stolen
meals.
Two long marches to n%orthward and I was at his
heels
1.-TWO full marches to northward, at the fall Of the
second night.
I came on mine enemy. Adam zAd. all weary from
his flight.
There was a charge in the musket-prcked and
prtmed was the pan
My finger crooked on the trigger-when no reared up
like a man.
Horrible. hairy. human. with paws like hands in
prayer
Making his duplication rose AdAm-zad the beari
Hooked at the swaying shoulders, at the pGunoh'B
swag and swing.
And my heart was touched with pity for tho mon
strous, pleading thing.
Touched with pity and wonder. I did not ere
IhAvo looked no moro on women-I have walked no
more with men.
Nearer he tottered and nearer. with PAWS like
hands that pray
From brow to jaw the steel-shod paw, Il ripped my
face away!
Sudden. silent. and savage. soaring rs lame tho
blow
Faceless l fell before his feet nifty summer ago.
Iheard him grunt and ohuckle-I heard him pass
to his den.
He left me blind to the darkline years and the little
mercy of men.
Now ye go down in tho morning with guns of the
newer style.
That load q have felt In tho middle and range II
have HEARD a miller
Luck to the white mans rife. that shoots SO fast
and true.
Rnt-nav and 7 1ift INV handaoa AND ako--k.A.k
bear can DOR
Plesh like Stag in the furnace. knobbed and withered
and gray
MAtun the old blind begRar. he gives good worth for
his pay.)
Rouse him at noon in the bushes. follow and press
him hard
Not for his raging and r~oArngs finch ye from
Adam-zad.
But tpAy and I put back the bandAge, this is the
time to fear.
Whom he stands up like a tired man, tottering near
and near;
When he stands up as pleading, in mopstrous, man.
When he wells the hate and cunning OF the little
swinish eyes.
when he shows as SEEKING quarter. with paws like
That 10 tho time OF peTil-the time OF the Truce of tho
BeAr!'
Eyeless, noSeless and lipiess, asking a dole at tho
door,
Matun' the old blind begEAr. he tells 1t DER and DER;
f%unbling and feeling the rifles. warming his hands
at tho flame,
Hearing onr careless white men talk OF the morroW's
gamei
Over and over tho story. ending A he bsgani
FAfts ~ bAes tPaA 4dsArsqd ~ bsqr Aat IOokt
re AvnHlAD AulEnA