of its desired effect.

Overborne and spent with sheer weariness I must have dropped off
finally; probably I slept for some hours. Shortly before the dawning I
wakened with a start and sat up, then instantly laid myself down again
and at the same time placed my hands on my bosom to stay the rapid
beating of my heart; for I had become instantly aware of the immediate
proximity of some large creature. There was a rustling of the bushes,
the sound drawing ever nearer and nearer; there was a sniffing noise,
frequently increasing to a snort. With my eyes above the upper hem of
my blanket I strained my vision in the direction from which the
disturbance proceeded. To my agitation I perceived in the greyish gloom
a large, slowly shifting black bulk, distant but a few paces from me.
Naturally, I thought of bears.

In this emergency I may say, in all modesty, that I retained my entire
self-possession. Extending wide my arms in a threatening gesture I
uttered the first exclamation that entered my mind. In a tense but
intimidating tone of voice I said, "Shoo! Shoo!" repeating the
ejaculation with emphasis until, to my relief, the creature moved off
into the thickets and came no more, being daunted, doubtless, by my
aggressive and determined mien.

For reasons I deemed amply sufficient I did not rise to hasten the
retreat of the invading beast, nor did I waken my slumbering young
companions. I reflected that, as their guide and protector, it was my
duty to spare them all possible uneasiness. Inspired by this thought,
therefore, I made no subsequent mention of the adventure; but on
undertaking a private investigation some time after daylight I found the
remaining wild strawberries were all gone; the receptacle that had
contained them lay overturned and empty on the ground.

Recalling then that bears are reputed to be excessively fond of sweet
things I put two and two together and by this deductive process I
confirmed my earlier suspicions. It had indeed been a bear! And what,
but for my presence of mind, might have been the dire results? I could
with difficulty repress a shudder. But I anticipate myself by some
hours. We will go back to the time of the nocturnal, or perhaps I should
say prematutinal, visitation.

Made abnormally wakeful by that which had just occurred, I remained for
a considerable time retired well down under the covering as regards my
person, but with my eyes open and every sense on the alert. Eventually,
how