"He will come over and eat us all up," said Alice, clinging to the
dress of her mother.

"No," replied the parent, soothingly patting her head; "Ben won't
let him do that. Do not be frightened."

"Climb tree," suggested Linna; "not big tree, 'cause bear climb
dat too--climb little tree, den he can't climb it."

"You are right, but we will wait and see what he does. I don't
want to fire my gun unless I have to, and if he will let us alone
we won't hurt him. There! he is going to drink."

The huge creature bent his head down to the water and helped himself.
When he had had enough, he raised his snout and again looked at
the party, who were closely watching him.

This was the critical moment. If he meant to attack them, he would
plunge into the water and either swim or wade across. Ben raised
the hammer of his rifle and awaited his action.

Had Bruin been hungry, he would not have dallied so long; but he
did not seem to see anything specially tempting in the group, and
lumbered off among the trees.

"A lucky move for you." remarked Ben.

"And just as lucky for us," added the mother; "for though you
might have slain him, as I have no doubt you would, the report of