Amos kept busy snapping him off in various postures. He evidently meant to make sure of having some extra fine pictures to show.
Perk meanwhile began to grow a little uneasy, and even plucked at the sleeve of Elmer as he managed to say excitedly:
“What if he’d feel mad and start to tackle the bunch? We haven’t got even a club or a hatchet along, come to think of it. Are black bears inclined to be vicious, Elmer; will they bite and scratch like a wildcat?”
“Don’t worry about that, Perk,” chuckled the other. “They are most harmless animals as a rule, hardly more dangerous than so many hogs in the pasture. Besides, this is only a youngster; chances are he’ll run for all that’s out as soon as he hits solid ground.”
“I’ll give a whoop, and help scare him off then,” suggested Perk, picking up his courage again.
“Just as you please; and Amos here can snap him off while on the gallop!” Elmer concluded.
The bear was now almost at the foot of the tree. Amos stepped out so as to command a better position for covering the spot. He had just one more exposure left, when the half dozen would be complete; and he wanted to make sure this last would not be wasted.
Perk was waiting, getting redder than ever in the face with suspended breath and no sooner did he discover that the young bear had reached the ground than he let out a yell that might easily have shamed a Comanche Indian. Of course, this started the timid beast off at a wild pace, while Amos clicked his camera to prove that he had taken advantage of the opportunity.
The last they heard of Bruin was the clatter amidst the brushes and thickets as he scrambled madly through every obstacle to his progress, only wild to get away from that point of danger.
Elmer and Wee Willie exchanged looks, and laughed good and hard.