ame upon the largest stream seen since leaving
the mountains east of the Susquehanna. It was a dozen feet in width,
quite deep, rapid, and clear.

"Here is enough drink for us all," said Ben, and they proceeded to help
themselves in the primitive fashion described elsewhere.

"That must contain fish," observed the mother; "but we are without the
means of catching them."

"Unless Linna will jump in and haul them out for us. But if we are to
continue our journey, we must find some way of getting to the other
side; it is too deep and wide to ford or jump."

"It must be narrower in other places."

"Oh! look mamma!"

It was Alice who first saw a terrifying sight. An immense black bear,
the largest any of the party had ever seen, swung from among the trees
and came to the water's edge on the other side.

He was so enormous that all started and recoiled a step, even Linna
uttering an exclamation in her own tongue. Ben grasped his rifle, and
held it ready to use the instant it became necessary.

But Bruin was in a gracious mood that morning. He looked at the party
with stupid curiosity, then reared on his hind legs, and swung his
beam-.like paws in an odd way.

"He is inviting us to come over and be hugged to death," laughed Ben.

"He will come over and eat us all up," said Alice, clinging to the dress
of her mother.

"No," replied the parent, soothingly patting her head; "Ben won't let
him do that. Do not be frightened."

"Climb tree," suggested Linna; "not big tree, 'cause bear climb dat
too--climb little tree, den he can't climb it."

"You are right, but we will wait and see what he does. I don't want to
fire my gun unless I have to, and if he will let us alone we won't hurt
him. There! he is going to drink."

The huge creature bent his head down to the water and helped himself.
When he had had enough, he raised his snout and again looked at the
party, who were closely watching him.

This was the critical moment. If he meant to attack them, he would
plunge into the water and either swim or wade across. Ben raised the
hammer of his rifle and awaited his action.

Had Bruin been hungry, he would not have dallied so long; but he did not
seem to see anything specially tempting in the group, and lumbered off
among the trees.

"A lucky move for you." remarked Ben.

"And just as lucky for us," added the mother; "for though you might have
slain him, as I have no doubt you would, the report of the gun must have