He looked at the party with stupid curiosity, then reared on his hind legs, and swung his beam-.like paws in an odd way.
"He is inviting us to come over and be hugged to death," laughed Ben.
"He will come over and eat us all up," said Alice, clinging to the dress of her mother.
"No," replied the parent, soothingly patting her head; "Ben won't let him do that.

Do not be frightened." "Climb tree," suggested Linna; "not big tree, 'cause bear climb dat too--climb little tree, den he can't climb it." "You are right, but we will wait and see what he does.

I don't want to fire my gun unless I have to, and if he will let us alone we won't hurt him.

There! he is going to drink." The huge creature bent his head down to the water and helped himself.
When he had had enough, he raised his snout and again looked at the party, who were closely watching him.
This was the critical moment.

If he meant to attack them, he would plunge into the water and either swim or wade across.