Forest Footfalls 271 



just breath enough left to give the informa- 

 tion. 



We could hear some large animal tumbling 

 about our dishes and sniffing hungrily. 



" Don't sound to me exactly like a bear," 

 said Ben in his ordinary tone of voice. 



"Ben, Ben, keep still," I gasped, "we 

 haven't any gun." 



Ben chuckled. " I'm not afraid of bears," 

 he said. " This is a good, kind bear, Harry. 



" Come here, bear," he continued snapping 

 his fingers and uttering a low whistle. 



A great brute as large as a yearling calf 

 came bounding into the tent and with a 

 yell of terror I dove into a corner behind 

 Ben. 



" Now, Harry, stop screeching and let me 

 introduce you to this good, kind bear. His 

 name is Ponto, and he wants to kiss you. 

 What a long tail he has for a bear! " 



I uncovered my eyes and beheld Ponto, a 

 great Newfoundland dog belonging to one of 

 our neighbors. 



" You see you will have to study forest 



