"Out of the log scrambled the bear, and I guess he was as much surprised as I was to find he'd been sleeping in the same hollow-tree-hotel with a man. Away he ran! I could see him running down the hill when I crawled out of the log. Morning had come, the snow had stopped, and I could see to find my way back to the town I had left. But I was glad the bear got in the log with me, for he helped keep me warm. And, all the while, I thought it was another man with a fur coat on like mine.
"There, now that's all the story, and you Curlytops must go to bed! Hello! Trouble's asleep already!"
And so the little fellow was, in Uncle Frank's arms.
"Oh, that was an awful nice story!" said Jan. "Thank you!"
"Yes, it was," added her brother. "I'm awful glad you came to see us," he went on. "I hope you'll stay forever and tell us a story every night. We like stories!"
"Well, one every night would be quite a lot," said his uncle. "But I'll see about it. Anyhow, Aunt Jo and I are glad to be here—at least I am," and Aunt Jo nodded to show that she was also.
"Come, children!" called Mrs. Martin. "Uncle Frank was very good to tell you such a nice, funny story. But now you really must go to bed. To-morrow is another day, and our company will be here then, and for some time longer."
"Did you know they were coming, Mother?" asked Jan, as she slid off her uncle's knee.
"Well, I had an idea," was the smiling answer.
"Is this the surprise daddy was talking about?" Ted queried.