He saw that the swimmer was
headed straight for the canoe, and he surmised the plan in an instant.
"Good old Dick and Tom," he exulted to himself. "They're two pals in a
thousand. I knew they'd get me out of this or die in the trying."
But the bear, too, seemed to realize that something was happening. His
scent was phenomenally keen, and the wind was blowing directly toward
him from the lake. He sniffed the air for a moment and then, with a
threatening growl, looked toward the water. Then he rose slowly and
backed in that direction, still keeping an eye on Bert.
The latter took alarm at once. Here was a new complication. If the bear
should discover the swimmer, who was now nearing the shore, it might be
fatal. At all events his attention must be distracted.
With Bert, to think was to act. He grasped the branch tightly and swung
himself down at full length, so that his dangling feet were almost within
the bear's reach. The grizzly, with an exultant "whuff," galloped
clumsily back to the tree and made a ferocious swipe at his enemy, who
pulled himself up just in time.
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