"Oh, yum! Yum!" growled the bear, smiling so that he showed his red tongue and white teeth. "I can see where my dinner is," said the bear.
Toodle looked around, but he could see nothing good to eat. He said so to Noodle.
"I—I guess he means—us!" exclaimed Noodle, sadly like.
"Oh, dear!" cried Toodle. "Now we are in trouble! I guess we had better not come to any islands after this."
"I'll fix you for shooting your Indian arrows at me!" growled the bear.
"We—we thought you were a stump!" said Noodle.
"Worse and worse! Calling me a stump!" cried the bear. "Now I shall certainly frizzle you in buttermilk for my lunch."
Then the bear picked up Toodle in one paw, and Noodle in the other, and off he started with them.
"Where are you taking us, if you please?" asked Noodle, politely. His mamma had taught him to be polite, even to a bear.
"I am going to take you to my den," said the bear. "Then my wife will cook my lunch for me."