The huge creature examined the shoe carefully and, finding there was no boy in it, dropped it to the ground, and, sitting on his haunches, again looked longingly upward at the fellow perched just above his reach, as though he understood what a choice dinner he would afford a bruin of his size.
When he ran out his red tongue and licked his inky snout, Nick could not help laughing.
"Not just yet, old fellow; I'd rather stay here two or three days than come down to you."
When some minutes had passed, Nick began to feel that the situation had nothing funny in it at all. What more likely than that the beast, having made up his mind to take the next meal off a plump boy, would stay there until that same boy would be unable to keep his perch any longer, and would drop of his own accord, like a ripe apple.
The question was a serious one indeed, and while the lad was trying hard to determine what was best to do, he heard Nellie calling to him. She, too, was becoming impatient over the long separation and was coming to find out what it meant.
Nick shouted back for her not to approach, explaining that he was up a tree with a bear watching him, and that if she came any nearer the animal would be sure to change his attention to her.
This was enough to keep any one at a respectful distance, but, when Nellie Ribsam heard the alarming announcement, she was determined on one thing: she would see for herself what sort of a picture was made by a boy up a tree with a black bear watching him as the one watched her two years before.
Nick having warned her against coming any nigher, it followed that the temptation to do so was irresistible.
The lifting of the smoke had let in some sunlight, and it did not take her long to reach a position from which she could look on the interesting scene.
"Nick! Nick!" she called, in a guarded voice, not intended for the ears of the bear.