Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-15
The Truce of the Bear.

To full appreciation or the truce OF
the Bear" it is necessary to remember
that the bear typifies Russia, and that
the truce means the Cars disarmament
proclamation. Stripped of its poetic veil,
Kiplng's warning resolves itself into the
declaration that the time to strike Eng
lands Muscovite enemy is when she is
showing signs of weakness.
Yearly, with tent and rifle, our careless
white men go
BY the pass called Muttlanee, 10 snoot IN
the vale below.
Yearly by Muttianee he follows our white
men in
Matun. the old blind beggar, bandaged
from brow to chin.
Eyeless. noseless, and lipless-toothless,
of broken speech,
Seeking a dole at the doorway he mumbes
his tale to each
Over and over the story, ending as ne
MAKE We no truce with Adam-zad-the
bear that walks like man!
'sThere was a flint in my musket-pricked
and primed was the pan
"Vhen | went hunting Adam-zad-the
bear that stands ike man.
1T looked my last on the timber, looked
my last on the snow
when | went hunting Adam-zad fifty
summers ago!
81 knew his times and seasons as he knew
mine that fed,
"By night in the ripened maizefield and
roDped my house OF bread
Il knew his strength and cunning as ne
knew mine that crept
"At dawn TO the crowded goat-pens and
piundered while L slept.
.TJp from his stony playground-down
from his well-digged lalr-
"Out on the naked ridges ran Adam-Zad
the bear, -
"Groaning, grunting, and roaring, heavy
with stolen meals,
1.-TWO long marches to northward and
was at his heels!
1.-TWO full marches to northward, at the
fall of the second night,
81 came on mine enemy Adam-zau' All
weary from his hight.
'sThere was a charge IN the musket-
pricked and primed was the pan
my finger crooked on the trigger-When
he reared up like man.
Horrible. hairy, human, with paws like
hands in prayer
Making his snpplication rose Adam-zad
the bear! .,,
81 looked at the swaying shoulders, at
the paunch's swag and SWING,
"And nv heart was touched with pity Tor
the monStrouS, pleading thlhs.
Touched with pity and wonder, L did
not fire then ,,..
"I have looked no more on women-l have
walked no more with men.
"Nearer he tottered and nearer, with paws
like hands that pray
"From brow TO jaw the steel-shou paw,
it ripped my face away!
Sudden, silent, and savage, soaring as
flame the bow
"Facniess I fell before his feet fifty sum-
.I heard him grunt and chuckle-I heard
him pass TO his den.
HE left me blind TO the darklying years
and the little mercy OF men.
"Now We go down in the morning with
guns Of the newer style.
THAT load q have felD IN the mddle
and range Il have heard) a mile
Luck TO the white mans rifle, that shoots
SO fast and true.
"But~pay, and / lit my bandage and
show what the bear can do!
1,esh like Stag in the furnace, knobbed
and withered and gray
Matun. the old blind beggar, he gives
good worth for his pay)
"Rouse him at noon In the Dushes' ioiloW
and press him hard
from Adam-zad.
"Rut (pay and / put back the bandage)
this is the time TO fear,
| "When he stands up like a Urea man.
tottering near and near;
"When he stands up as pleading, In mon
strous, man-brute guise,
"When he wells the hate and cunning Oh
the little swinish eyes.
| .sWhen he shows as seeking quarter, with
paws like hands in prayer,
| "That Is the time of peril-the time OF the
Truce of the Bear!
Eyeless. noseless, and lipless, asking a
dole at the door =.
| Matun. the old blind beggar, he tells II
Ger and Ger;
| Fumbling and feeling the rifles, warning
his hands at the flame.
| Hearing our careless white men talk OF
the morrows game;
over and over the story, ending as he be-
gam -
"There is no truce with Adam-zad, the
bear that looks like man!'