For the moment poor Sandy was incapable of making a single sound. He trembled violently, gasping for breath, and could only give his brother a wan smile in exchange for his warm greeting; such was the nervous effect the crisis had upon the excitable lad.
But presently Sandy became himself, and was bubbling over with joy because fortune had been so kind to them.
“Oh! look!” he shouted a little later, “what can that be on the big log out yonder? It seems to me like a black bear.”
“And that is just what it is,” replied his brother, after a careful survey.
“Yes, as sure as anything, it must be, for I saw him move his head then,” Sandy went on. “It makes me think of that panther in the tree that was floating down the river once, when we had our adventure with him. But how in the wide world do you suppose he came there; and why doesn’t he swim ashore? Bears can swim, all right, Bob; isn’t that so?”
“To be sure they can,” replied the other; “but I imagine that bear must have been in a treetop, and changed his location to the log, as being better to his liking. He is pretty far out, you see, and perhaps the swift current scares the poor old fellow; so that he thinks he had better hug close to his craft, and let it carry him along where it will.”
“Just to think how he takes that voyage into the unknown world without a single care,” remarked Sandy; “and why should pioneers be afraid to accept the dangers of the wilderness boldly, when they are in force? Think of him getting ashore, hundreds of miles it may be from his starting place, which he will never see again. I suppose that is one of the ways different kinds of wild animals are given a start in new sections of the country.”
“I have been told that by Daniel Boone, who has looked upon so many strange things in his day,” Bob went on. “See, the bear is looking toward us now, as if he wonders what sort of creatures these two-legged things can be. But he is safe from our guns out there, and can keep on his ride in peace.”
“Where is Mr. Armstrong?”
This question was asked by a neighbor, who had his small son by the arm; and Bob could not but notice that Mr. Wayne looked somewhat concerned.