Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/323

 of this wish was realized and he could find no hope of release from the unexpected intruder. Bub was concerned only with a fear that the bear would sight them and maul them to death. While knowing his fate had been decided by the three men, let alone Big Nick, he was tenacious enough to want to live till the last second.

Only the steaming smell of the kettle saved the boys from being discovered at the outset. But Mrs. Bruin, mindful of her cubs at home, and extremely fond of pork odors had nostrils for the kettle alone. It was hot, but now gingerly tipping it over some of the beans escaped and cooled and with a grunt of joy she gulped them down.

That first taste was so delicious that she cast caution to the winds and juggled the kettle deftly between her big paws in an endeavor to obtain more. But the beans were not so easily dislodged and beyond a few cupfuls she progressed slowly.

With her appetite keen set Mrs. Bruin was not inclined to be annoyed overlong. She announced as much in a deep throated growl as the kettle slipped to the ground. Then her eyes lighted cunningly and she slowly dipped her nose into the kettle. It was not as hot as she feared, that is the beans on the surface, and as