Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-05-27
was Interested in lumber. and - had

ever before known. but they did not
feel it as cold as a zero day at home.
They spent most of their time in the
open air. They had dozen traps set
in different positions not far from the
camp, and made their rounds each
day with much precision, like the gen.
uine trappers.
Sometimes as a reward for their
pains they would find a rabbit or
partridge.
Early one morning in midwinter the
two boys started on their rounds.
Trap after trap was visited with the
same result. the bait was gone and
the trap sprung, but no game.
81 believe" said Pierre. that the
bait was taken away by human be-
ing; it couldn't be SO clean gone IL
taken by any animal. know"
That night the camp was visited
by some mysterious person. or ami
NAL, and big wooden pail of butter
emptied, and cakes of maple sugar
stolen. For three nights the thievery
continued, and the fourth night
watch was kept in the camp. but not
watchers. The traps were sprung and
the bait had disappeared. however,
the next morning when the boys made
their rounds. They had IL traps in
all, and it was not until about noon
that the last was reached. AS they
neared it Pierre's bright eyes discov-
cred that the hard crust of snow had
been broken and that the tracks were
those of some large animal.
'I'm sure we've got him this time"
whispered Stacy. excitedly. "What do
you suppose it can be? His tracks are
as big as-as bear. almost. l wish
Uncle Perry were here. Suppose it
should be bear. Pierre. what would
we do with him?"
Pooh! it isn't bear" said Pierre,
decidedly; you needn't worry"
Pierre's sentence was interrupted
by whine, more like that of a pup
py than any wild animal. and rat
tie of chains from the trap. They
stopped an instant. holding their
breaths, and peering anxiously tow
ard the trap. The whine was re-
peated, and it seemed to say:
Mama, mama. come help me out
of trouble!"
Stacy did not hesitate a minute
longer. He understood that language
as he always understood the dogs
when they whined o. barked or
wagged their tails. and he rushed
forward.
There, caught fast in the trap and
whining and crying like baby, was
the roundest and BLACKLIST little cub
of a bear you have ever seen.
The cub. instead of showing fear of
the boys as they approached, raised
himself on his hind legs and sat
there like a dog begging.
Stacy had gone forward. and much
to his surprise the sociable little cub
put out his front right paw as if to
shake hands, and the boy. always
fond of animals. offered his. They
shook hands like brothers the little
cub fairly laughing with Joy at hav-
ing found a friend.
Hes tame bear" declared Stacy,
"and I'm not bit afraid of him. Help
me to loosen the trap from his foot,
will you, Pierre? Pm going to put
strap round his neck and lead him
back to camp.
Together they loosened the clamp,
the sagacious little cub watching
every movement. and doing his best
to help. In a few minutes he was
free, and the first thing he did was
to hug Stacy-not big bearlike hug,
but gentle. funny. cub-like one. that
made both boys laugh. The cub
danced about on the frozen crust of
snow as well as he could with his
hurt foot, which had been caught in
the trap. turned a series of somer-
saults. stood on his head and walked
on two feet as naturally as a boy,
while Pierre and Stacy, with eyes
wide open in astonishment. stood fas-
cinated by the exhibition.
1t certainly seemed ridiculous to
put strap on an intelligent animal
like this, so they decided to take him
as though he were companion, with
out force.
Indeed the little cub was only too
glad to have company. and he frol-
licked clumsily along with the two
boys. grunting every now and then to
left them know how satisfied he was
with his lot. But at every step his
poor foot grew more painful. and he
soon began to cry like baby.
We've got to get you to camp"
said Stacy. when at last the cub sat
down. whining and crying and ap-
parently unable to walk further,
"and I'm awfully sorroy for you. lit
tie cub You're plucky fellow, any.
way. Say. Pierre. are you willing to
carry him? We can make n chair as
we do at home for Meg and Beth"
Ten minutes later the men in camp
were astonished to see a queer pro-
cession approaching. The two boys
had made chair OF their hands,
and the little cub was sitting on it as
any child might have done. with a
shaggy black arm around each boys
neck and a happy expression on his