The fact was, that when the ship anchored at Table Bay, Mynheer Von Stroom, who was very partial to honey, had obtained some from the Hottentots.  The honey his careful servant had stowed away in jars, which he had placed at the bottom of the two long boxes, ready for his master’s use during the remainder of the voyage.  That morning, the servant fancying that the wig of the previous night had suffered when his master tumbled over the bear, opened one of the boxes to take out another.  Johannes happened to come near the door, and scented the honey.  Now, partial as Mynheer Von Stroom was to honey, all bears are still more so, and will venture everything to obtain it.  Johannes had yielded to the impulse of his species, and, following the scent, had come into the cabin, and was about to enter the sleeping-berth of Mynheer Stroom, when the servant slammed the door in his face; whereupon Johannes beat in the panels, and found an entrance.  He then attacked the wig-boxes, and, by showing a most formidable set of teeth, proved to the servant, who attempted to drive him off, that he would not be trifled with.  In the meanwhile, Mynheer Von Stroom was in the utmost terror:  not aware of the purport of the bear’s visit, he imagined that the animal’s object was to attack him.  His servant took to his heels after a vain effort to save the last box, and Mynheer Von Stroom, then finding himself alone, at length sprang out of his bed-place, and escaped as we have mentioned to the forecastle, leaving Johannes master of the field, and luxuriating upon the spolia opima.  Mynheer Kloots immediately perceived how the case stood.  He went up to the bear and spoke to him, then kicked him, but the bear would not leave the honey, and growled furiously at the interruption.  “This is a bad job for you, Johannes,” observed Mynheer Kloots; “now you will leave the ship, for the supercargo has just grounds of complaint.  Oh, well! you must eat the honey, because you will.”  So saying, Mynheer Kloots left the cabin, and went to look after the supercargo, who remained on the forecastle, with his bald head and meagre body, haranguing the men in his shirt, which fluttered in the breeze.

“I am very sorry, Mynheer Von Stroom,” said Kloots, “but the bear shall be sent out of the vessel.”

“Yes, yes, Mynheer Kloots, but this is an affair for the most puissant Company—­the lives of their servants are not to be sacrificed to the folly of a sea-captain.  I have nearly been torn to pieces.”

“The animal did not want you; all he wanted was the honey,” replied Kloots.  “He has got it, and I myself cannot take it from him.  There is no altering the nature of an animal.  Will you be pleased to walk down into my cabin until the beast can be secured?  He shall not go loose again.”