When Aralia said, "Yes," so did Pansy, but both looked very quiet.

Soon after this, to their great joy, in bounded Briton himself, and close
behind him waddled Floss. It was clear to all that he had been helping
Flossy along, for Flossy was still little more than a puppy; but, poor
wee beauty, how glad she was to see them all again!

She crawled up to Pansy, and lay down on her back to be scratched, which
was always Flossy's way of showing she was pleased.

Well, after they had all talked till they were tired, Tom said: "Now,
girls, just you lie down to sleep. Frank, here is my ticker." He gave his
cousin his watch as he spoke. "You have to do sentry for three hours.
Then wake me up and I'll let you lie down. See, I'll put my rifle and
belt, with fifty cartridges in it, beside you. Mind, that is only for
show, because you're too little a boy to touch guns. Anybody want a
little more snow? No? Very well."

So the girls curled up with Veevee and Floss, and Tom lay near. But
Briton seemed to say: "No, I won't sleep; I'll lie and watch with Frank."

Frank was not sorry to have the dog beside him for it was terrible to
feel all alone in such a dismal place.

Well, the night wore slowly on--one, two, three, four hours--and Frank
was just looking at the rifle, and pretending to aim at something in the
falling snow, when, all at once, Briton uttered a low warning growl and
sprang to his feet.

Next moment a great shambling bear was right in the mouth of the cave. He