A heedless, reckless creature he was, and always in hot water, always in mischief.

An Arkansas passenger brought an enormous bear aboard, one day, and chained him to a life-boat on the hurricane deck.

Thornburgh's 'cub' could not rest till he had gone there and unchained the bear, to 'see what he would do.' He was promptly gratified.

The bear chased him around and around the deck, for miles and miles, with two hundred eager faces grinning through the railings for audience, and finally snatched off the lad's coat-tail and went into the texas to chew it.

The off-watch turned out with alacrity, and left the bear in sole possession.