CHAPTER VII.
SMITHY DID IT.
"Oh! would you look at him waltzing!" cried Giraffe.
"He's turning around and around, like a real dancing bear!" echoedStep-hen; and then, still feeling a little malicious toward poor Bumpus,whom he really believed was hiding his precious compass, just to annoyhim, he could not help adding: "he feels so good, because he sees hisdinner all ready for him under the flap of that tent there."
That brought out another whoop from Bumpus, who felt impelled to raisehis head once more, even though it gave him renewed pain.
"Oh! now I know what it all means!"
It was Smithy who uttered this cry, and drew the attention of all hischums toward the tree where the boy in the borrowed pajamas sat astridea limb, just like all the rest, and which he had certainly never stoppedto brush off with his handkerchief before occupying, either.
"Have you seen the beast before, Smithy?" asked the scout-master,ceasing his little racketty waltz; which caused the bear to once morestand at attention, waiting for the piece of bread that usually cameafter he had performed his little trick; and still sniffing hungrilyaround this way and that.
"That's what I have, Thad," replied the other, eagerly. "Why he camepast our house only a few days ago, and gave us quite a performance. Imade friends with him too, and the man let me even give him some bread Ibrought out."
"Sure he did, and glad in the bargain to have some fellow help keep hisshow bear," Allan remarked, half laughing still.
"Hey, Smithy, suppose you climb down right now then, and renew youracquaintance with the ugly old pirate!" sang out Davy Jones.
"And there's half a loaf of that stale bread wrapped in a newspaper,left right where you c'n put your hand on it, inside the tent whereBumpus is kicking his last. You're welcome to feed it to the bear,Smithy."
It was Step-hen who made this magnificent announcement; how easy it wasto think up things for some one else to do, while he clung to his safeanchorage up there among the branches of the beech tree.
"Only half a loaf, remember," put in the cautious and always hungryGiraffe; "we don't want to run short too early in the game; and there'sa lot of meals to be looked after yet."
"Somebody's got to do something, that's sure," remarked Bob White. "Thisnight air is some cool to a fellow with my warm Southern blood; and Igive you my word, suh, I'm beginning to shiver right now."
"And if we don't think up some way to coax the beast to get out,"declared Step-hen, gravely; "why, just as like as not he'll eat upeverything we've got, and then go to sleep in our blankets, with ushanging around here like a lot of ripe plums."
"Let Davy do it," remarked Thad; for that was an expression often usedamong the boys, Davy being such a spry chap, and usually so willing.
But he at once set up a determined protest.
"Now, I would, believe me, boys, if I only knew the gentleman, which Idon't, never having been properly introduced. Must have been out of townwhen he gave his little show the other day. So I respectfully but firmlydecline the honor you want to pay me. Now, it's sure up to Smithy to getbusy, and make up with his old chum again. Here's his chance to winimmortal glory, and the thanks of the whole Silver Fox Patrol as well.Smithy, it's your move."
The delicate boy was pale before, but he turned even whiter now, as helooked in the direction of Thad.
"Perhaps I _might_ coax him to be good; and get a chance to whip the endof that long chain around a tree," he said, in a voice he tried in vainto keep from trembling.
Thad hardly knew what to say. He understood that animals never forget anenemy, or one who has been good to them. An elephant in captivity hasbeen known to bear a grudge for several years, until a good chance cameto pay his debt.
Now Smithy said he had fed the traveling bear at the time it danced forhis amusement. Doubtless, then, it might recollect him, and would beless inclined to show any vicious temper if he approached, than should astranger try to take hold of the trailing chain.
"You said you had fed him, didn't you, Smithy?" he asked.
"Yes, with half a loaf of good bread; and I would have gone after moreonly just at that minute my mother happened to come to the window, andbecame so frightened at seeing me near the bear, she called to me tocome in the house. But I shook hands with him before I went," the lastproudly, as though he wanted the boys to know he was not the milksopthey sometimes had imagined in the past.
"And do you think he would remember you?" continued Thad, only halfconvinced that he ought to let the other take the risk; though therereally seemed no other way out of the difficulty that promised one-halfas good chances.
"Oh! I'm sure he would, he acted so very friendly. Please let me tryit, Thad. I really want to; and see, I'm not afraid at all; only I dowish I had my shoes on, for the hard ground hurts my feet. I never wentbarefooted before in all my life."
"Oh! let him try the trick, Thad," called out Davy; "I'm getting cold,too. This here private box is full of draughts you see; and my attire isso very airy. Blankets are what I want most right now. Give Smithy achance to show what he can do in the wild beast taming line."
"It'll sure be the making of him," echoed Step-hen cheerfully, from hisperch.
"But perhaps a quarter of a loaf would do just as well; I'd try it onhim if I was you, Smithy," suggested Giraffe; who groaned to think ofall that good food being wasted on a miserable traveling show bear thathad strayed into camp.
"All right, if you feel confident, Smithy;" said Thad; "but watch himclose; and if he makes a move as if he wanted to grab you, shin out forthe tree again. We'll all stand by, ready to give a yell, so as to scarehim off."
Bumpus was staring at all this amazing procedure. Slowly the fact hadbegun to filter through the rather sluggish brain of the fat boy thatafter all fate had not decided to offer him as a tempting bait to whetthe appetite of a bear. He even began to pluck up a little bit of hopethat Smithy might succeed in chaining the ugly old terror to a tree,and thus saving his, Bumpus' life.
When the delicate boy started to scramble down out of his leafy bowerthe others tried to encourage him in various ways.
"Good boy, Smithy!" cooed Step-hen.
"You've certainly got more grit than any fellow in the bunch; and I takeoff my hat to you, suh!" cried the Southern boy, making a movement withhis hand as if in salute.
"Try the quarter loaf, Smithy; you'll find it just where Step-hen said,inside the tent where Bumpus is hanging out," Giraffe called.
"Only half-way out," corrected that party; and then ducked his head ashe saw that his voice had attracted the attention of the bear.
So Smithy dropped to the ground. Thad saw that he was fearfully whiteabout the face, and was half tempted to recall him; but had an ideaSmithy would refuse to obey, now that he had resolved to prove hisvalor, which must have been more or less doubted in the past.
The tall, slim boy started walking toward the tent where Bumpus wasconfined, unable to go or come, so tightly had he become wedged underthe canvas.
They saw the bear had become greatly interested. Watching the movementsof the boy in the borrowed pajamas he made some sort of pitiful soundthat was not unlike a groan. Evidently mealtimes had been a long waysapart lately for Bruin; but he seemed to understand that the boy hadgone to secure him something.
The short forelegs began to beat imaginary time, and the bear started toagain tread that queer measure, turning slowly around and around as hecontinued to follow out the line of discipline to which he had beenbrought up.
He was really begging for something to stay the pangs of hunger.
Meanwhile Smithy, though doubtless shivering like a leaf, had reachedthe open flap of the tent. Passing inside his eyes quickly found thehalf loaf of bread wrapped in a newspaper. And seizing it he tore thecover away, after which he once more appeared in view.
As he now advanced, slowly yet eagerly, in the direction of the dancingbear, he held out the bait, and began to softly call, just as he hadheard one of the two keepe
rs of the bear do:
"Bumpus! Bumpus, good boy! here supper for Bumpus!"
"Hey, quit calling him by my name," said the fat boy, indignation evenmaking him forget his recent fear.
But Smithy paid not the least attention to him. He was advancing,repeating the name over and over; and trying the best he knew how tospeak in tones resembling the thick voice of the man who had held thechain at the time the animal danced for him.
So he presently came close to the bear, which had now ceased dancing,and was thrusting out his nose toward the coveted bread, while making aqueer noise. Not a fellow among the scouts moved so much as a littlefinger. Every eye was glued on the form of Smithy, and doubtless morethan one of them really wondered while thus holding his breath insuspense, if the starving beast would actually seize upon the boy whocame offering gifts.
"Oh! he took it!" gasped Step-hen.
"And it was the whole of that half loaf too," added Giraffe, with a sighof regret.
"The chain, quick! Smithy; there's a small tree right by you that oughtto hold him! That's the way! Hurrah for you, Smithy; he's done it, boys;and you can drop down now without being afraid," and Thad followed thewords by allowing himself to leave the branches of his tree, landingsoftly on the ground.
Loud shouts attested to the delight of the other prisoners, when thedelicate and pampered boy snatched up the end of the long and strongchain, bringing it around the tree Thad mentioned, and apparentlylocking it securely. After which Smithy staggered away from the spot,and sank down upon the ground, trembling and weak from the great nervousstrain under which he had been laboring.
The shouts turned into cheers, and Smithy's name was given three and atiger; so that the racket made even the hungry bear look wonderingly atthe fantastic group that took hold of hands, and danced around the heroof the hour.