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<body class='hmmessage'><div dir='ltr'>The following passage from *Robinson Crusoe* could be one of the seeds of this story: <div><br></div><div>“As the bear is a heavy, clumsy creature, and does not gallop as the wolf does, who is swift </div><div>and light, so he has two particular qualities, which generally are the rule of his actions; first, </div><div>as to men, who are not his proper prey (he does not usually attempt them, except they first </div><div>attack him, unless he be excessively hungry, which it is probable might now be the case, the ground </div><div>being covered with snow), if you do not meddle with him, he will not meddle with you; but then you </div><div>must take care to be very civil to him, and give him the road, for he is a very nice gentleman; he will not </div><div>go a step out of his way for a prince; nay, if you are really afraid, your best way is to look another way </div><div>and keep going on; for sometimes if you stop, and stand still, and look steadfastly at him, he takes it for </div><div>an affront; but if you throw or toss anything at him, though it were but a bit of stick as big as your finger, </div><div>he thinks himself abused, and sets all other business aside to pursue his revenge, and will have satisfaction </div><div>in point of honour - that is his first quality: the next is, if he be once affronted, he will never leave you, </div><div>night or day, till he has his revenge, but follows at a good round rate till he overtakes you.” </div><div>(Defoe, Daniel. *Robinson Crusoe*, Chapter XX, FIGHT BETWEEN FRIDAY AND A BEAR).</div> </div></body>
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