[Illustration: "Oh, you old humpty-humps"]

"I know that a promise is a promise," agreed Little
Bear promptly and sorrowfully. "You wait here until
I run home after it and I shall give you my little bowl!"

And he did. As the Piper took the bowl and turned
away, Father and Mother Bear came into the clearing.

"What are you doing with Little Bear's bowl?" they
demanded, and would have followed the Pied Piper, but
he put the pipe to his lips and began to play a little tune
-a soft little tune, sweet and strange. And the music
made Father Bear and Mother Bear stand still as if their
feet had been tied to the ground.

"Oh, Little Bear!" they cried in terror. "It is the
Pied Piper! Oh, Little Bear, do not follow him!"

"Indeed I could not if I wished to do so," answered
Little Bear, "because my feet will not go! The music
has made me stand still too, and I hear voices singing,
'Stay home with your father! Stay home with your
mother! Stay home, Little Bear!'"

As the music grew faint in the distance, the Three
Bears were once more able to walk about, and then Little
Bear explained that he had promised to give his bowl to
the Pied Piper if he would take away the caterpillars,