"Why shouldn't I come over to you?" asked the bear. "Of course, I'm coming. Watch me."
And with that he stood up on his head, and walked on his front paws and in that way he quickly came to where Jacko and Jumpo were standing.
"I never saw a bear walk that way before," said the red monkey, surprised like.
"Perhaps he is a crazy bear?" suggested Jumpo. "That kind is very savage. Oh, I know he'll eat us. Poor teacher, too!"
By this time the bear was close to the monkeys.
"I am very pleased to see you," he said in a growlery voice, and he turned a somersault, and stood on his left hind leg. Then he took off his blue cap in his claws, made a low bow, and began to dance around Jacko and Jumpo, at the same time humming a tune.
"How's this?" asked the bear, as he stood on the end of his stubby tail, and opened his mouth real wide. "I call that a right clever trick myself, but what do you think of it?"
"It—it is very pretty," said Jumpo. "But when—when are you going to eat us?"
"Eat you! Why, bless my huckleberry pie appetite!" cried the bear kindly. "I never eat anything but popcorn balls. You haven't one about you I suppose?" and he stood on one ear and made a funny face, by twisting his tongue like a merry-go-round.
"No, we have no popcorn balls," spoke Jacko. "But aren't you a savage bear?"