64 TRUE BEAR STORIES.

carefully in a heap, that nothing might roll
off into the water, he walked, or rather
danced on out to where the further end
of the great fallen tree lay lodged on a
huge boulder in the middle of the swift
and surging river. His legs dangled down
and he patted his plump thighs with great
satisfaction. Then he leaned over and saw
some gold and silver trout, then he flopped
over and lay down on his breast to get a
better look at them. Then he thought he
heard something behind him on the other
end of the log! He pulled himself together
quickly and stood erect, face about. There
was a bear! It was one of those mean,
sneaking, long-nosed, ant-eating little fel-
lows, it is true, but it was a bear! Anda
bear is a bear to a boy, no matter about
his size, age or character. The boy stood
high up. The boy’s bear stood up. And
the boy’s hair stood up!

The bear had evidently not seen the boy
yet. But it had smelled his boots and
clothes, and had got upon his dignity. But