A look of scorn came upon Bobby’s face as this brilliant idea was given words, and he said, almost with a sneer:
“Now, what a way that would be, wouldn’t it? How do yer s’pose he could smell out the tracks if we didn’t let him run on the ground?”
That one question made Bill Thompson feel very cheap indeed, for it showed plainly that he was not posted in bear-hunting, and he was anxious to be looked upon as one who knew all about it.
“What shall we do, then?” he asked, mournfully.
“We must tie a rope round his neck, so’s we can hold him back.”
Bill actually looked ashamed when this very simple plan was proposed, and he was angry with himself for not having been the first to think of it. But he saw a way to save his reputation.
“That’s a good plan,” he said, gravely, as if he had thought of it before, but had not suggested it, hoping a better one would be proposed; “but you’ll want more’n one rope. Why, if Tip should see a bear suddenly he’d break the biggest rope we could get, an’ go after him before we’d know anything.”
Every boy there agreed with Bill, and again he stood high as an experienced bear-hunter.
Bobby got two pieces of an old clothes-line, each about five yards long, and these were fastened securely around Tip’s neck; while Tim and Bobby each held an end, with the understanding that, if the dog struggled very hard to get away, the others of the party were to rush in and help hold him.