124 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 J stand beside the bear while e 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. 
“Tt 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 
