I2 4 WILD BROTHER 



His answer to my invitation, "Not on your life !" 

 was emphatic and disappointing. He was willing, 

 however, to assist me in any way that involved no 

 danger to life or limb. To this end he suggested 

 that / stand beside the bear while he tried to take 

 the picture. He admitted freely that he knew 

 nothing about my camera, but he declared that he 

 knew Bruno well enough to keep away from him. 



The details of the episode having been arranged, 

 I took my stand beside the bear and with a gentle 

 voice asked him to stand up. Bruno obeyed in- 

 stantly and did more than I asked of him. He 

 threw his arms joyously about my waist and drew 

 me closely to him. 



"This is all so sudden, Bruno!'* I ejaculated. 

 "Stand off a bit and give me space to breathe." 



With that he hugged me even closer, and as if to 

 make doubly sure of the prize that he held in his 

 arms, he seized me firmly in his mouth, gripping 

 me by the front of my jacket. 



"When shall I take it ?" shouted my friend. 



"When it looks interesting," I panted in reply. 



"It looks pretty good to me right now!" he 

 exclaimed, as he pressed the button. 



I have always wished that he had waited just a 

 moment more, for an instant later my jacket, under 

 the exigency of the occasion, began to split up the 

 back ; nor did it stop until the rent extended to a 



