Page:Castlemon--Joe Wayring at Home.djvu/178

 forced to conclude that he really was a bear, and that he was in search of his breakfast. They didn't know whether to be afraid of him or not; but when they saw how anxious Joe and his two friends were to bring themselves within shooting distance of him, they lost no time in pulling up their own anchors and falling in behind them. The bear, however, was not to be taken unawares. He did not appear to notice their approach, but he had his eyes on them nevertheless, and when he thought they had come close enough, he left the beach and lumbered off into the bushes.

"There!" said Tom, who was glad to see the last of him. "He has taken himself safely off."

"We expected it," said Roy, redoubling his exertions at the paddle. "If we only had Mars with us we could see more fun with him in half an hour than we could in a week's fishing. He begged hard to be allowed to come, but Joe made him stay behind. You see, he won't sit anywhere but in the bow, and he is so heavy that he makes a canoe hard to manage in rough water."

"He wouldn't trail the bear, would he?"