n to miss a bear tree. Sooner or
later they would scent it.

Mother Bear thought she might be able to save herself and her cubs. But
what would become of the boy? She loved him too well to let the bear
hunters kill him.

[Illustration]

Just then the porcupine, the Chief of the animals, passed by the bear
tree. Mother Bear saw him. She put her head out the bear-tree window and
called to him. He came and sat under the bear-tree window, and listened
to Mother Bear's story of her fears for the boy.

When she had finished, Chief Porcupine said he would call a council of
the animals, and see if they could not save the boy.

Now the Chief had a big voice. As soon as he raised his voice, even the
animals away on the longest trails heard. They ran at once and gathered
under the council tree. There was a loud roar, and a great flapping of
wings, for the birds came, too.

Chief Porcupine told them about the fears of Mother Bear, and of the
danger to the boy.

"Now," said the Chief, "which one of you will take the boy, and save him
from the bear hunters?"

It happened that some animals were present that were jealous of man.
These animals had held more than one secret council, to plan how they
could do away with him. They said he was becoming too powerful. He knew
all they knew,--and more.

The beaver did not like man, because men could build better houses than
he.

The fox said that man had stolen his cunning, and could now outwit him.

The wolf and the panther objected to man, because he could conceal
himself and spring with greater surety than they.

[Illustration]

The raccoon said that man was more daring, and could climb higher than
he.

The deer complained that man could outrun him.

So when Chief Porcupine asked who would take the boy and care for him,
each of these animals in turn said that he would gladly do so.

Mother Bear sat by and listened as each offered to care for the boy. She
did not say anything, but she was thinking hard,--for a bear. At last
she spoke.

To the beaver she said, "You cannot take the boy; you will drown him on
the way to your lodge."

To the fox she said, "You cannot take him; you would teach him to cheat
and steal, while pretending to be a friend; neither can the wolf or the
panther have him, for they are counting on having something good to eat.

"You, deer, lost your upper teeth for eating human flesh. And, too, you
have no home, you are a tramp.

"And you, raccoon,