YOUNG GRUMPY AND THE ONE-EYED GANDER "My gracious! What's that ?" cried the Babe, and nearly jumped out of his boots.

A gray thing had come right at him, with an ugly, scurrying rush.
The bushes and bracken being thick, he had not got a very clear view of it--and he did not stop to try for a better one.

In two seconds he was back at Uncle Andy's side, where the latter sat smoking on his favorite log by the water.
The Babe's eyes were very wide.

He looked a bit startled.
"It ran _straight_ at me!" he declared.

"What could it have been ?" "A bear, I suppose!" said Uncle Andy sarcastically.
"Of course not," answered the Babe in an injured voice.