When Snythergen woke up, Sancho Wing was sorry to have to tell him that the bear had resumed his midnight prowlings and might call upon them at any time.
“We must prepare to defend ourselves,” said Sancho wisely, as he perched on Snythergen’s ear.
“How can a pig defend himself from a bear?” asked Squeaky, absent-mindedly biting one of Snythergen’s toes.
“Simple,” said Sancho. “Give him what he wants. You flatter yourself if you think he wants you. He is after food, that is all.”
“Well, let us give it to him,” said Snythergen, “as long as he doesn’t share Squeaky’s weakness for toes.”
“Just what I was thinking,” said Sancho. “Let us set a bear lunch every night, and to make sure he will find it we must spread it in a circle around the house. Then, no matter from what direction the bear approaches, he will find something to eat across his path.”
“I’ve heard that round foods make people fat,” said Snythergen. “Maybe food served on a round table will make the bear fat.”
“That wouldn’t help us any,” said Sancho Wing, “for fat bears are as dangerous as lean ones.”
“Won’t it be pretty expensive boarding a bear?” asked Squeaky.
“Of course,” said Sancho Wing, “but if we find we can’t afford to feed him we can build an airplane and journey to a land where there are no bears. We may have to travel to the end of the sky to find such a place, but who cares?”