It was then that the Overland Riders saw what had so frightened her, for
a black bear ambled out from under the table and began gulping down the
venison from Emma's overturned plate. To the eyes of the girls he
appeared to be a huge animal, and his growls, as he swallowed choice
morsels of venison, were far from reassuring.

"Don't be skeert! It's only Henry," cried the forest woman. "Set down!"

No one heeded her advice. Elfreda Briggs was standing on a chair, Anne
Nesbit had run into the garden which she had reached by a short cut
through an open window. Tom and Hippy, having sprung back, were gazing
on the intruder in startled amazement, while Nora Wingate, standing on
the table with one foot in the platter of venison, was screaming.

Grace, who had backed into a corner, was trying to subdue her own
individual panic sufficiently to reason out the situation. Joe Shafto's
words, when Grace finally absorbed them, brought enlightenment.

"Will he bite, Mrs. Shafto?" she called.

"Won't bite nothin' if ye don't bother him."

Grace ran to Emma and bathed her face with water.

"Get down!" commanded Lieutenant Wingate, holding up a hand to Nora.
"Don't you see you're spoiling a perfectly good lot of venison? I never
saw such a parcel of 'fraid cats in all my life."

"Neither did I," grumbled Mrs. Shafto. "I didn't know Henry was down
there or I'd a shooed him out before ye set down."

"I won't get down until that beast is out of the house," declared Nora.
"Whoever heard of such a thing. Don't!"

Hippy pulled her down without ceremony and placed Nora in a chair.

"Behave yourself! You will see more bears, and then some, before you
finish this journey."

Joe took a broom and shooed Henry out into the yard. A scream out there
followed almost instantly, for Henry had ambled around the house to make
the acquaintance of Anne Nesbit.

"The beast is chasing me!" she panted, as she ran back into the house.

No one gave heed to her, so she ran to Nora and the two consoled each
other. In the meantime, Grace had revived Emma.

"Ha--as he gone?" she wailed weakly.

"Yes. That is Mrs. Shafto's tame bear, you silly."

"Merely a voice of nature that you heard, Emma," reminded Hippy. "By the
way, what message did Henry convey to you?"

"Henry is the name of Mrs. Shafto's pet," explained Grace.

"Fright!" moaned Emma in answer to Hippy's question.

"Mrs. Shafto, if you don't mind, I believe I will have another piece of