lear of the
fire upon his face.

"The pears--the pears!" he groaned. "What shall she to?" But he did
not stir, neither did he see that the piece of hot meat had been
literally snatched off the fire, and a crunching sound told him that a
pair of strong jaws, with great, white teeth that in imagination he
could see gleaming, were grinding up the biscuits that were to form the
_finale_ of his meal.

"The pear always hugs her pefore she eats her oop," thought Watty, as he
lay there shivering with dread, this being the only movement he could
contrive, feeling as he did that if he attempted to escape the great
animal would seize him. Then he recollected reading about a traveller
pretending to be dead, and lying face downward till a bear in pursuit
overtook him, smelled him over, and then went away.

"She lie as tet as a toornail," thought Watty; and he tried to hold his
breath as he waited for the bear to come. But it was evidently too busy
with the food, crunching up the biscuits and finishing the meat.

"Oh, if she could only lie still an' not preathe a pit!" said the lad to
himself. "She can't, an' it makes a noise. She wishes the pear would
come an' smell her an' go."

But the new arrival was too busy, and made Watty, as he lay there on his
face, moist with perspiration, wonder how so big a beast could be so
long eating so small a quantity of food.

At last the boy felt as if he could endure no more, and that he must
make a leap to his feet and run for his life. He knew that the thing to
do would be to draw a very deep breath, make a sudden effort, and run,
for the suffering from lying there those brief minutes, which seemed to
be like hours, was more than he could endure.

He had made up his mind to try, but his heart sank, and he lay a little
longer. A second time he tried to screw himself up to the
sticking-point, but failed, and lay panting, till all at once, just as
he was saying to himself, "She must to it ta third time," the bear
uttered a low "Ah-ah-ah!" and the lad sprang to his feet.

"That's right, Watty; get me a drink of water."

"Meester Stevey!" exclaimed the lad. "Oh! oh! oh!" he half sobbed, and,
throwing himself again upon the ground, he buried his face in his hands,
and lay gently rolling from side to side, trying to stifle the
hysterical fit which had attacked him; for it was mingled with relief
from what he had looked upon as certain death, anger with himself for
making such a blun