“Mebbe. Us wait and see,” returned Tally. “But scout get camera ready dis time. Fine picksher pooty soon when an’mals run f’om fire.”
“Verny, get the camera! Hurry up!” exclaimed the scouts, while Tally returned to his cooking.
His indifference to the fire that enveloped the forest tended to allay any fears they might have had. So they sat and watched the consuming flames as they swept across the forest and everywhere destroyed the fine timber. Unfortunately, the fire started at the base of the mountain so it quickly spread upward; had it begun at the top it would have burned itself out slowly for lack of fuel above where the draught always blows it.
Joan now leaned forward, and cried, “Look, quick!”
The scouts turned to gaze in the direction she pointed, and saw a number of beavers crossing a small park in order to reach a stream that flowed through the clearing. Immediately after the colony of beavers came a few deer, stopping now and then to turn and stare wonderingly at the heat that caused them such discomfort.
Then, to the amazement of the scouts, a large bear followed upon the heels of the deer, but he had no thought now of making a meal of venison. He seemed anxious only to reach a place where smoke and fire would not annoy him. Now and then the girls saw him stop, return a few paces and sound a queer growl. Then they saw the cause of this action.
A fat little cub finally ran out from the thick blanket of smoke, and hurried after its mother. When it came up to the old bear, it jumped about gleefully, never dreaming of the danger they were fleeing from. But the she-bear evidently thought this was no time for unseemly play, and gave the cub a smart cuff over the ear. The little fellow rolled over with the force of the slap, but then ran along beside his mother in meek submission to authority.
Tally now joined them again on the crag, and when the scouts had told of the bear, Ruth added, “But there are no birds escaping, Tally.”
“Dem gone long go. Fire drive dem firs’.”
“I’m glad of that, but just think of all the fledglings that can’t fly and escape,” said Betty.