What more likely than that the beast, having
made up his mind to take the next meal off a plump boy, would stay there
until that same boy would be unable to keep his perch any longer, and
would drop of his own accord, like a ripe apple.
The question was a serious one indeed, and while the lad was trying hard
to determine what was best to do, he heard Nellie calling to him. She,
too, was becoming impatient over the long separation and was coming to
find out what it meant.
Nick shouted back for her not to approach, explaining that he was up a
tree with a bear watching him, and that if she came any nearer the
animal would be sure to change his attention to her.
This was enough to keep any one at a respectful distance, but, when
Nellie Ribsam heard the alarming announcement, she was determined on
one thing: she would see for herself what sort of a picture was made by
a boy up a tree with a black bear watching him as the one watched her
two years before.
Nick having warned her against coming any nigher, it followed that the
temptation to do so was irresistible.
The lifting of the smoke had let in some sunlight, and it did not take
her long to reach a position from which she could look on the
interesting scene.
"Nick! Nick!" she called, in a guarded voice, not intended for the ears
of the bear.
The boy, alarmed for his sister's safety, turned toward the quarter
whence it came, and saw the white face peering from behind the trunk of
a tree no more than a hundred feet distant.
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