"Bears hate that. Look out!"
The bear had now started to come around the other way. At once the boys
shifted again, until they occupied the position where they had stood
when the beast was first discovered. Then the bear dropped down once
more, and eyed them in a meditative way.
"He is making up his mind about the next move," said Tom. "I'll try him
with something new." And at the risk of burning his hand, he picked up
some small brushwood which was blazing fiercely and threw it at their
enemy.
The effect was as surprising as it was gratifying. The burning brands
struck the beast fairly on the nose, causing him to leap back in terror.
Then he uttered a grunt of dissatisfaction, turned, and sped, with
clumsy swiftness, up the gully and into the forest beyond.
"He is retreating!" cried Sam joyfully.
"Wait--don't be too sure," returned Tom, and, firebrands still in hand,
they watched until the bear was out of sight and they could hear nothing
more of him.
"My, but aint I glad he's gone!" said the youngest Rover, with a sigh of
relief.
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