incredulity,
with a mighty crash it tumbled in upon them, bringing one door-jamb
with it, and fell with a bang upon the floor.

But the most astonishing thing of all was the figure that stood drawn
up to its full height in the doorway.

The man and woman sat as though petrified, amazement and fear written
upon their pale faces, for there in the doorway, eyeing them intently,
and with no thought of retreat, was a large black bear.

As the bear stood there, arms akimbo, bear fashion, her great white
teeth showing through half-parted lips, and the strong claws suggesting
what execution could be done by a well-directed blow, she was anything
but a reassuring visitor.

The young farmer, feeling that something must be done to scare off this
hair-raising intruder, leaped to his feet in sudden desperation, and,
shouting at the top of his voice, seized the door and slammed it back
into the casing with all his strength, bumping the bear's nose
severely. Then he set his shoulder against it, and braced with all his
might.

But his move was a bad one, for there was a short angry growl on the
outside and the next instant the door, farmer and all went spinning
across the room, the man falling heavily and striking against the stove
in the fall, and the great shaggy monster at once followed up her
advantage by shambling awkwardly into the room.

The woman screamed and fainted, and then a gust of wind from the open
doorway blew out the light, leaving the kitchen in darkness.

For a few moments the only sounds heard in the room were the ticking of
the clock, the humming of the teakettle, and the shambling steps of the
bear as she prowled about. But both of the figures on the floor were
unconscious of what was going on, while a bright stream of blood
trickled from a deep cut in the man's forehead.

Finally he was aroused by a cold draft of air upon his head. He put
his hand to his forehead and saw that it was dripping with a warm
fluid. He then put his fingers into his mouth and tasted and knew that
it was blood. Then full consciousness surged into his throbbing head
and he remembered.

There was no animate sound in the room and a terrible foreboding
chilled his heart. He listened for his wife's breathing, but no such
sound reached his ears.

"Mary," he called in a whisper, "are you here?" But there was only the
ticking of the clock and the hum of the kettle.

With an unspeakable fear he sprang to his feet, throwing of