feathers all
over them."

"I should think you'd be ashamed, 'cause you're so naked," she returned.

"The fact is, Twinkle," said another bird, as he pecked at a blueberry
and swallowed it, "the common things in this world don't amount to much.
There are millions of birds on earth, but only a few of us that have but
one feather. In my opinion, if you had but one hair upon your head you'd
be much prettier."

"I'd be more 'strord'nary, I'm sure," said Twinkle, using the biggest
word she could think of.

"There's no accounting for tastes," remarked the Rolling Stone, which
had just arrived at Twinkle's side after a hard roll up the path. "For
my part, I haven't either hair or feathers, and I'm glad of it."

The birds laughed again, at this, and as they had eaten all the berries
they cared for, they now flew into the air and disappeared.

Chapter IV
The Dancing Bear

"REALLY," said Twinkle, as she began picking the berries and putting them
into her pail, "I didn't know so many things could talk."

"It's because you are in the part of the gulch that's enchanted,"
answered the Rolling Stone. "When you get home again, you'll think this
is all a dream."

"I wonder if it isn't!" she suddenly cried, stopping to look around, and
then feeling of herself carefully. "It's usually the way in all the
fairy stories that papa reads to me. I don't remember going to sleep any
time; but perhaps I did, after all."

"Don't let it worry you," said the Stone, making a queer noise that
Twinkle thought was meant for a laugh. "If you wake up, you'll be sorry
you didn't dream longer; and if you find you haven't been asleep, this
will be a wonderful adventure."

"That's true enough," the girl answered, and again began filling her
pail with the berries. "When I tell mama all this, she won't believe a
word of it. And papa will laugh and pinch my cheek, and say I'm like
Alice in Wonderland, or Dorothy in the Land of Oz."

Just then she noticed something big and black coming around the bushes
from the other side, and her heart beat a good deal faster when she saw
before her a great bear standing upon his rear legs beside her.

He had a little red cap on his head that was kept in place by a band of
rubber elastic. His eyes were small, but round and sparkling, and there
seemed to be a smile upon his face, for his white teeth showed in two
long rows.

"Don't be afraid," called out the Rolling Stone; "it's only the Dancing
Bear."

"