And away they went. Little Bear was so happy when the three jolly companions finally reached the Enchanted Land that he went to bed at sunset so that he might be up early in the morning to explore a country where rocks were painted in all colors of the rainbow, where springs of hot water bubbled through the earth, and where crystal-clear waterfalls filled his little heart with wonder.
Sure enough, Little Bear awoke in the early dawn, gave his father a friendly poke in the side, gave his mother's nose a friendly tweak, and thus merrily the day began.
"Let us take a walk before breakfast," suggested
Little Bear.
[Illustration: He lifted the cover and peeped in]
"Very well," agreed Father Bear, "and let us catch fish for breakfast in a mountain stream!"
"And we shall cook the fish in the first hot spring along the way," added Mother Bear.
On through the glorious dawn went the Three Bears, crooning an old song and joyfully sniffing the air, when suddenly they came upon a sleeping camp, where the tents of the campers formed a big circle. In the center of the circle were the ashes of a campfire, and not far away was a cookstove standing near a covered wagon.
On that stove was a kettle. Over to that kettle pranced Little Bear. He lifted the cover and peeped in.
The kettle was full of something Little Bear had never seen before. Over walked Father Bear, over walked Mother Bear. They peeped in the kettle and shook their heads.
"It is something the cook forgot to put away!" remarked Father Bear in pompous tones.