They were climbing to the top of an ice-hillock and then sliding down
again.

As soon as they saw Teddy and the Counterpane Fairy they began to call:
"Oh, Father Bear! Father Bear! Just come look at these funny things
floating in to shore on a block of ice."

In a moment from behind the ice-hill came a great white father bear
galloping up as fast as he could to see what the matter was. He came
over toward Teddy growling, "Gur-r-r! gur-r-r-r! Who are you, coming and
frightening my little bears this way?" But as soon as he saw the
Counterpane Fairy he grew quite humble. "Oh, excuse me," he said. "I
didn't know it was a friend of yours."

"Yes, it is," said the fairy, "and I have brought him here to stay
awhile. Will you take good care of him?"

"Yes, I will," said Father Bear. "He shall sleep in the cave with us
and have part of our meat if he will, and I will be as careful of him as
though he were one of my own cubs."

"Very well," said the fairy; "mind you do." Then turning to Teddy she
bade him step on shore.

"But aren't you coming too?" asked Teddy.

"No," said the Counterpane Fairy, "I can't come, but Father Bear will
take good care of you." So Teddy stepped onto the shore, and the fairy
pushed the block of ice out into the water, and waving her hand to him
she drifted away across the open sea.