u get here
to help me."

Bruin was snarling and plunging, throwing himself this way and that in
his vain efforts to free himself, but the hair rope held. Mere bear
strength was not equal to breaking a woven hair rope, and, when Hippy
threw his weight on the end of it with Grace, they hauled the animal
up towards the tree little by little, Bruin fighting every inch of the
way.

"Watch him," warned the lieutenant.

As he neared the tree, the animal showed fight but Grace and Hippy made
the rope fast when the bear was a yard or so from the tree, fearing to
draw him any closer to themselves.

"How is Elfreda?" called Grace, fanning herself with her hat.

"Sadly mussed," answered Nora.

"Well, now that you have him, what do you propose to do with him?"
demanded Grace, walking over and gazing down at Miss Briggs, who lay on
the ground breathing hard.

"I--I have done all I ca--an," groaned Elfreda.

"I should say you had. What happened, Elfreda?"

"Mostly myself. You ought to know that by looking at me." Miss Briggs'
face was scratched from contact with the bushes; her hair was down and
in a tangle, and her clothing was torn. She was a much mussed-up young
woman.

"Watch him, Hippy," called Grace. "J. Elfreda, if you are feeling able
please tell us what occurred. I know that you roped the animal, but that
is all."

Miss Briggs briefly related her experience up to the time the
Overlanders appeared on the scene.

"You win the blue ribbon," laughed Grace. "As I asked before, now that
you have the beast, what do you propose to do with him?"

"Let him go," replied Elfreda a little petulantly.

"Yes, but how? You roped him. It seems up to you to untie him."

"Oh, cut the rope," suggested Emma.

"Indeed, you will not," objected Grace. "You must think of some better
plan."

"Leave it to the bear. He will have the rope gnawed in two very soon at
the present rate," called Hippy. "Come, Emma. Get busy and
'con-centrate' on the difficulty."

The animal was on its back when the girls gathered about him, keeping a
safe distance from him, however. He was clawing and biting and snarling
savagely, and Grace was much concerned for her rope, which was one of
her prized possessions.

"What do you suggest, Hippy?" she asked.

"Either cut the rope or shoot him, or else let him liberate himself."

"He will have to be shot. I am sorry, but it seems the only way,"
decided Grace. "Will you do it, Hippy?"

"Sure I will. M