had thought of the bears.
"I am not afraid of the bears," he said.
"They run when they see me with fire. I am going to sleep at the foot
of this tree."
Then Sharptooth was troubled.
She was anxious about Bodo.
She had taught him the best that she could.
But now he seemed to be risking his life.
She wondered how he could do it.
As it grew dark she climbed into a neighboring tree.
She was afraid to sleep in the old oak that night.
Bodo stayed on the ground beside the fire.
Sharptooth did not close her eyes.
She kept watch from a branch of the tree.
She knew the wild animals were out of their dens.
She saw their shadows among the trees.
When they saw the fire they turned and ran.
But Bodo stayed by the fire.
He was a brave boy, yet he could not sleep.
As long as he was awake he felt safe.
But he was afraid of what might happen if he went to sleep.
So he kept awake and fed the fire.
Sharptooth still kept watch from the tree.
At last she came down.
"Let me feed the fire, Bodo, while you sleep," she said.
Bodo had been yawning for some time.
He was glad to have a chance to rest.
So he slept while Sharptooth took his place.
She watched the fire cautiously at first.
Then she fed it and found that it did not hurt her.

[Illustration: "_They lived by fire at the foot of the tree_"]

She liked the warmth that it gave.
She enjoyed the pleasant firelight.
She saw that it was their friend.
After that Sharptooth and Bodo did not sleep in trees.
They lived by the fire at the foot of a tree.
Sometimes their home was by the old oak.
Sometimes it was in other places.
But it was always where they carried the fire.

THINGS TO DO

_Tell how to make a fire._
_What does a fire need in order to burn?_
_Put a tumbler over a lighted candle and watch to see what happens._
_Why does the light go out?_
_Light the candle again and see if you can find out what it is that
burns._

XXIV.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

What do you think the other Tree-dwellers did when they heard of the
fire Sharptooth and Bodo had?
Does fire ever do any harm nowadays? Why do we need to be careful in
using fire?

_How the Tree-dwellers Formed a Clan_

The next night One-Ear stayed with Sharptooth and Bodo at the foot of
the old oak.
Then other Tree-dwellers came.
At first they were afraid just as Sharptooth had been.
But they