Why should the child be afraid?" asked the bear, speaking in a low,
soft tone that reminded her of the purring of a kitten. "No one ever
heard of a Dancing Bear hurting anybody. We're about the most harmless
things in the world."

"Are you really a Dancing Bear?" asked Twinkle, curiously.

"I am, my dear," he replied, bowing low and then folding his arms
proudly as he leaned against a big rock that was near. "I wish there was
some one here who could tell you what a fine dancer I am. It wouldn't be
modest for me to praise myself, you know."

"I s'pose not," said Twinkle. "But if you're a Dancing Bear, why don't
you dance?"

"There it is again!" cried the Rolling Stone. "This girl Twinkle wants
to keep everybody moving. She wouldn't believe, at first, that I was a
Rolling Stone, because I was lying quiet just then. And now she won't
believe you're a Dancing Bear, because you don't eternally keep
dancing."

"Well, there's some sense in that, after all," declared the Bear. "I'm
only a Dancing Bear while I'm dancing, to speak the exact truth; and
you're only a Rolling Stone while you're rolling."

"I beg to disagree with you," returned the Stone, in a cold voice.

"Well, don't let us quarrel, on any account," said the Bear. "I invite
you both to come to my cave and see me dance. Then Twinkle will be sure
I'm a Dancing Bear."

"I haven't filled my pail yet," said the little girl, "and I've got to
get enough berries for papa's supper."

"I'll help you," replied the Bear, politely; and at once he began to
pick berries and to put them into Twinkle's pail. His big paws looked
very clumsy and awkward, but it was astonishing how many blueberries the
bear could pick with them. Twinkle had hard work to keep up with him,
and almost before she realized how fast they had worked, the little pail
was full and overflowing with fine, plump berries.

"And now," said the Bear, "I will show you the way to my cave."

He took her hand in his soft paw and began leading her along the side of
the steep hill, while the Stone rolled busily along just behind them.
But they had not gone far before Twinkle's foot slipped, and in trying
to save herself from falling she pushed hard against the Stone and
tumbled it from the pathway.

"Now you've done it!" growled the Stone, excitedly, as it whirled
around. "Here I go, for I've lost my balance and I can't help myself!"

Even as he spoke the big round stone was flying down the side of the
gul