anches of hemlock, and made a fragrant and spicy bed; and
then, too tired to do more than say their prayers, they both were asleep
in a few moments.

It seemed to Laura that she had not been long asleep when something
wakened her. What it was she knew not. There was a soft stir in the
tree-tops, as if a light breeze were blowing--an occasional chirp from
some bird which had been disturbed, perhaps by a dream that its eggs
were broken; but otherwise all was still. Kathie was sleeping soundly,
and Laura closed her own eyes again, but again was aroused, and this
time by a cold something poking in her hand.

CHAPTER X.

The cold little nose of an animal it seemed; for it was followed by the
lapping of a warm little tongue, and the cuddling of a muffy, furry
little body against Laura. Still Kathie slept soundly, and Laura was too
frightened to waken her. Every moment she expected to hear a growl, and
have an angry bite from a set of savage teeth; but no bite or growl
coming, and the cuddling of the little creature seeming to be kindly,
she became less fearful, and her heart stopped its hurried beating.

"Kathie!" she whispered--"Kathie!" But Kathie slept, and would not
waken.

[Illustration: "KATHIE GAZED AT LAURA, SLEEPING WITH ONE HAND ON THE
NECK OF A YOUNG BEAR CUB."]

An owl hooted dismally, and Laura shivered, which only made the little
furry creature crowd nearer, as if for protection. She put out her
hand and felt of the soft warm fur; again the warm tongue touched her
hand, and reminded her of her spaniel Fido. She patted the head,
wondering if it were a dog. Fido she knew it could not be, for his head
was smaller, and he was every way more slender than this strange
creature. As her fears abated, and she became more reconciled to the
presence of this new-comer, she became drowsy again, and before long
fell as soundly asleep as was Kathie; and when morning came, with its
bird-calls and tender flush of dawn, Kathie was the first to waken; and
she gazed with astonishment, not unmixed with fear, at Laura, sleeping
with one hand resting on the neck of a young bear cub.

Kathie had witnessed such strange and novel things in Laura's company
that she began to think Laura too was a fairy, and had something in
common with all the inhabitants of the woods; but so lovely was she in
Kathie's eyes, and so welcome had been her kindness and gentle sympathy,
that Kathie was disposed to think all that was good of Laur