"Oh, good," cried Oumauk. "I feel so happy. Everything is coming out all right. We will have almost enough money to buy Whitie. Perhaps we can pay what we have and they will let us earn the rest and send it to them. Maybe we can take Whitie back with us."
But Eiseeyou himself had many misgivings about the matter, although he did not confide them to his son. He simply grunted and smiled and said nothing.
Arrived at the park, they made their way hurriedly to the White Czar's den, where they found that a large crowd of men, women, and children were gathered around the den. All were talking and much excited, especially the children with whom the White Czar had become a great favorite. Eiseeyou could not tell what they were saying, so he worked his way close up to the bear's den.
To his great astonishment, he found the door of the den open and the White Czar gone. Oumauk was almost as quick to perceive what had happened as he.
At the sight, a cry of pain escaped Oumauk. He put his hand to his glasses and rubbed them to make sure. Then he turned eagerly to his father.
"Oh, oh," he cried, "is Whitie really gone?"
"Yes," returned Eiseeyou. "He seems to be. Perhaps they have put him in another den."
"No," said the superintendent of the park, who happened to be standing near. He had made the acquaintance of Eiseeyou and his son one day by the cage and learned from them much of the bear's history, so was interested in them.
"No, we have not put him in another den. He is gone, and I guess for good. We found the door open this morning just as you see it now, and the White Czar had disappeared.