"Mostly myself. You ought to know that by looking at me." Miss Briggs' face was scratched from contact with the bushes; her hair was down and in a tangle, and her clothing was torn. She was a much mussed-up young woman.
"Watch him, Hippy," called Grace. "J. Elfreda, if you are feeling able please tell us what occurred. I know that you roped the animal, but that is all."
Miss Briggs briefly related her experience up to the time the Overlanders appeared on the scene.
"You win the blue ribbon," laughed Grace. "As I asked before, now that you have the beast, what do you propose to do with him?"
"Let him go," replied Elfreda a little petulantly.
"Yes, but how? You roped him. It seems up to you to untie him."
"Oh, cut the rope," suggested Emma.
"Indeed, you will not," objected Grace. "You must think of some better plan."
"Leave it to the bear. He will have the rope gnawed in two very soon at the present rate," called Hippy. "Come, Emma. Get busy and 'con-centrate' on the difficulty."
The animal was on its back when the girls gathered about him, keeping a safe distance from him, however. He was clawing and biting and snarling savagely, and Grace was much concerned for her rope, which was one of her prized possessions.