Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/324

 a huge piece of pork just tickled her nose she became desperate and with a strong push shoved her head through the opening and deep into the kettle.

But if the beans on the surface had cooled a bit, those beneath were steaming hot and with a roar of pain the bear opened her mouth and frantically tried to free herself. Her sensitive nose was being cruelly burned and the kettle fitted tight. Had she worked gradually, using one of her intelligent paws, and above all things had kept her mouth closed, the triangle of a face would have been drawn forth.

Being crazed by her burns and now thoroughly convinced it was a trap—as she should have known from the man-smell—she lost all idea of cunning and rearing on her hind legs began a mad dance about the opening.

“She’s going into the fire!” cried Bub, his eyes distending at the unusual spectacle.

His voice, coupled with her imprisonment, now caused the bear to lose what little sense she possessed after first being trapped, and with a mighty spring she fulfilled Bub’s prophecy and landed in the smouldering embers. Her muffled roar was changed to a scream of anguish as she danced clear of the coals. With a frenzied effort she jumped to