s confident. The canyon had narrowed. Baree could not get
past them unseen. Three minutes later Baree came to the blind end of
the canyon--a wall of rock that rose straight up like the curve of a
dish. Feasting on fish and long hours of sleep had fattened him, and he
was half winded as he sought vainly for an exit. He was at the far end
of the dishlike curve of rock, without a bush or a clump of grass to
hide him, when Pierrot and Nepeese saw him again. Nepeese made straight
toward him. Pierrot, foreseeing what Baree would do, hurried to the
left, at right angles to the end of the canyon.

In and out among the rocks Baree sought swiftly for a way of escape. In
a moment more he had come to the "box," or cup of the canyon. This was
a break in the wall, fifty or sixty feet wide, which opened into a
natural prison about an acre in extent. It was a beautiful spot. On all
sides but that leading into the coulee it was shut in by walls of rock.
At the far end a waterfall broke down in a series of rippling cascades.
The grass was thick underfoot and strewn with flowers. In this trap
Pierrot had got more than one fine haunch of venison. From it there was
no escape, except in the face of his rifle. He called to Nepeese as he
saw Baree entering it, and together they climbed the slope.

Baree had almost reached the edge of the little prison meadow when
suddenly he stopped himself so quickly that he fell back on his
haunches and his heart jumped up into his throat.

Full in his path stood Wakayoo, the huge black bear!

For perhaps a half-minute Baree hesitated between the two perils. He
heard the voices of Nepeese and Pierrot. He caught the rattle of stones
under their feet. And he was filled with a great dread. Then he looked
at Wakayoo. The big bear had not moved an inch. He, too, was listening.
But to him there was a thing more disturbing than the sounds he heard.
It was the scent which he caught in the air--the man scent.

Baree, watching him, saw his head swing slowly even as the footsteps of
Nepeese and Pierrot became more and more distinct. It was the first
time Baree had ever stood face to face with the big bear. He had
watched him fish; he had fattened on Wakayoo's prowess; he had held him
in splendid awe. Now there was something about the bear that took away
his fear and gave him in its place a new and thrilling confidence.
Wakayoo, big and powerful as he was, would not run from the two-legged
creatures who pursued him!