"Go out and see what's the matter!" he cried to Blackie.

But Blackie wouldn't stir. He was afraid to leave the shelter of the
hollow tree.

"It may be a bear that has hold of your tail," he told Fatty. And
somehow, that idea made Fatty tremble all over.

"Oh, dear! oh, dear!" he wailed. "What shall I do? Oh! whatever shall I
do?" He began to cry. And Blackie cried too. How Fatty wished that his
mother was there to tell him what to do!

But he knew of no way to fetch her. Even if she were at home she could
never hear him calling from inside the tree. So Fatty gave up all hope
of her helping.

"Please, Mr. Bear, let go of my tail!" he cried, when he could stand the
pain no longer.

The only answer that came was a low growl, which frightened Fatty and
Blackie more than ever. And then, just as they both began to howl at the
top of their voices Fatty's tail was suddenly freed. He was pulling on
it so hard that he fell all in a heap on the floor of the barber-shop.
And that surprised him.

But he was still more surprised when he heard his mother say--

"Stop crying and come out--both of you!" Fatty and Blackie scrambled out
of the hollow sycamore. Fatty looked all around. But there was no bear
to be seen anywhere--no one but his mother.