That night Mills looked at the sky, sniffed the wind, and announced rain before two days.

“We’ll beat it with an early start,” he said “Everybody ready at seven-thirty. Where are you going to bunk, Joe?”

He had been told about the bear, Joe saw.

“I’m going to bunk where I did last night,” Joe answered.

“In the hammock?”

“No, in the cedars.”

“Good-night, nurse!” said Bob. “No more Big Ben for mine.”

“Are you really?” Lucy asked. “Aren’t you foolish?”

“Maybe,” said Joe, “though it was probably a tame bear. But if I don’t, Mr. Mills will guy me all summer. I’ll stay there this time, if he eats me alive!”

“That’s the right spirit,” said Lucy. “If I were a boy, I’d stay with you!”