Scarcely  had  I  set  foot  on  the  shore,  when  I  found  myself assailed  by  a  huge  bear.

"Oh! Oh!"  thought  I,  "You  have  come  in  the  nick  of time."

I  took  his  fore  feet  in  my  two  hands,  and  squeezed  them with  such  cordiality  that  he  began  to  utter  howls  of  despair ;  but I,  without  allowing  myself  to  be  influenced  by  his  lamentations, kept  him  in  that  position  till  he  died  of  hunger.  Thanks  to this  exploit,  I  inspired  all  bears  with  such  respect,  that  not  one of  them  has  ever  since  dared  to  quarrel  with  me.

- Chapter 17