"Keep up your spirits, Larry," I cried. "If there's justice in the country, I'll obtain it for you." As I found it would be impossible at that moment to set Larry free, I followed the people out of the show, and endeavoured to explain to them that the bear was no bear at all, but a human being, whom I had known all my life. This, however, I found they were by no means inclined to believe. It was a very strange bear, they acknowledged, but they had no reason to doubt that bears could speak; and the words he had uttered were just such as might be expected to proceed from a bear. Young Pierre had bravely stuck by me all the time, and was more inclined to believe me than any one else. "I have heard say that Jacques Chacot is a great rascal, and if monsieur will take my advice he will go to Monsieur Jules Pontet, the mayor, who will compel him to allow the bear to be properly examined, and if it proves to be a man have him set at liberty," he observed. "You are a sensible little fellow," I answered; "and if you will show me the way to the mayor's house, we will go to him at once. But don't let any one know, or Chacot will take means to hide the bear, or carry him off, or perhaps throw him into the sea and drown him, so that there may be no evidence of his knavery." "That's just what I was thinking, monsieur," said Pierre, as he led the way. We hurried on, for I was very anxious about Larry's safety, fearful that Chacot would play him some trick. In about twenty minutes we reached the most respectable-looking house in the village. "Monsieur the mayor lives here," said Pierre. "He is at home, I know, for he never leaves so early in the day." I knocked at the door, and, being admitted by a neat-looking woman in a high cap, was ushered into a room, where I found Monsieur Jules Pontet, the mayor, seated, with number of papers before him. I explained that, having been induced to go and see a strange animal said to be a bear, I had discovered a countryman, an old acquaintance of my own, who had been compelled by some means or other to play the part, that he was being cruelly treated, and desired to be set free. The mayor listened politely. "I have heard of this strange animal, and suspected that there was some trick," he observed; "I will accompany you forthwith, and if you are right in your conjectures, we will have the man set free." "They are more than conjectures, they are certainties, monsieur," I answered. I then thanked him for his courtesy, when, getting his hat and cane, he immediately set out with me, followed by Pierre, who was eager to see the end. We found a number of people collected round Chacot's cottage, which made me hope that during my absence he had not been able, had he contemplated violence, to carry his intention into effect.