“A bear!”
They all gasped the words. Alphonse, seeing them, turned again and faced the huge creature, snarling like a wolf. The bear paused and reared up on its hind legs.
Then, in the dim greenness behind, a small head showed. A cub.
“Hasten!” whispered Evangeline, her voice shaking. “Up the path toward Gabriel while the dog holds her back.”
Rose and Ruth felt the most peculiar sensation in their knees as they turned to follow Evangeline. Through Rose’s head flashed a remembered description: “and his knees were like water.” That was it. But this did not keep them from flying like scared rabbits up the path under the shadowy trees. Behind them a hoarse roar burst out, mixed with indescribable growling, snarling and whining. Ruth glanced back to see dog and bear rolling on the ground together.
At this moment, Gabriel, breathless, reached them. He had heard the sounds as he was returning, and knew something must be wrong.
Quickly he put himself between the girls and the bear. He had drawn a short, broad and sharp knife from his belt, and clutched this tightly.
“Have a care, dear Gabriel,” whispered Evangeline. “It is a horrible great brute and there is a cub with it.”
He nodded. The bear was still rolling on the ground with the dog, but now she rose, snorting and shaking her head. Her small eyes gleamed as she saw the little group crouched together, Gabriel some paces in front. Growling again, she strode forward with a rolling movement.
An icy chill shook the three girls. She was going to attack.