"Sure," exclaimed Tommy, "such a life as that must have been miserable and dreadful indeed." "Why so?" said Mr Barlow. _Tommy._--Because, being always in danger of being devoured by wild beasts, those men must have been always unhappy. _Mr B._--And yet they never were devoured. _T._--No, sir; because they made weapons to defend themselves. _Mr B._--Perhaps, then, a person is not unhappy merely because he is exposed to danger, for he may escape from it, but because he does not know how to defend himself. _T._--I do not exactly understand you, sir. _Mr B._--I will give you an instance. Were you not very unhappy when the snake coiled itself round your leg, because you imagined it would bite you? _T._--Yes, sir. _Mr B._--But Harry was not unhappy. _T._--That is very true, sir. _Mr B._--And yet he was in more danger of being bitten than yourself, because he took hold of it. _T._--Indeed he did. _Mr B._--But he knew that by boldly seizing it, and flinging it away, he was in very little danger; had you, therefore, known the same, you probably would neither have feared so much nor have been so unhappy as you were. _T._--Indeed, sir, that is true; and, were such an accident to happen again, I think I should have courage enough to do the same. _Mr B._--Should you then be as unhappy now as you were the first time? _T._--By no means, because I have a great deal more courage. _Mr B._--Why, then, persons that have courage are not so unhappy as those that are cowardly when they are exposed to danger. _T._--Certainly not, sir. _Mr B._--And that must be equally true in every kind of danger. _T._--Indeed, it must; for I have sometimes heard my mother shriek out when she was passing in a coach through a small stream of water, while my father only laughed at her. _Mr B._--Why, then, if she had possessed as much courage, perhaps she would have laughed too. _T._--Indeed, I believe she might; for I have sometimes seen her laugh at herself, when it was over, for being so cowardly. _Mr B._--Why, then, it is possible that when these men found they were so well able to defend themselves against the bears, they might no longer be afraid of them; and, not being afraid, they would not be unhappy. _T._--Indeed, I believe so. _Mr B._--Let us now continue.