ard toward the man.

It took Mike but a moment to dodge into the children's cabin and shut
the door. No, not quite!

The bear wheeled as soon as Mike dodged, and came after him. The time
lost in turning the door-knob and getting inside gave the bear time to
get to the door. The door was almost closed upon the catch when the
nose of the beast came plump up against the wooden obstacle. The door
was pushed halfway open, but Mike exerted all of his strength to shove
it back again, and dragged the bureau up against it. Before he could
turn the lock to make the catch hold better the bear threw his entire
weight up against the outside and forced the door in again.

While he held his shoulder against the door to keep the bear out, he
used his rifle to smash in the glass of the little square window near
the door.

The moment this was done, Mike jumped from his post behind the door and
managed to squeeze his body through the window, while the bear, feeling
resistance give way from inside, forced himself in to devour his enemy.

Mike got out and immediately caught hold of the door from the outside
and banged it shut, caging the bear in the little room.

The bear's face appeared at the window whence his intended victim had
escaped, and he tried to get out. He could barely push his large head
through but his shoulders stuck fast in the opening.

Mike looked about for help and found every window about the clearing
with a face pressed against it. He yelled for the cook.

"Cookee! Him make Mike's lil' gun ready!--in cabin!"

The cook, seeing that the wild beast was safely shut up for the time
being, ran out of his kitchen and hurried over to Mike's aid. Mike made
him understand that a revolver was to be found in his cabin. Cookee ran
and loaded it, coming back to Mike's side, just as the bear, snarling
and chewing at the inner sill in his rage to get out, poked his head
through the opening.

"Cookee, hol' fas' door--Mike put gun in him head!" said Mike, as he
motioned the cook to take his place at the door.

At that moment, Don came out and shouted to Mike.

"Hi, there, Mike! Let's leave him in there and keep him caged up until
we go home. Dot and I'll sleep in the office if you'll let the bear live
there."

"Yes, Mike, please do," added Dot.

"Whaf'fer?" asked Mike.

"To sell to the Central Park Menagerie!" shouted Don.

"The big father bear and his two children will be fine for everyone to
come and see, and Dot an