Baree had almost reached the edge of the little prison meadow whensuddenly he stopped himself so quickly that he fell back on hishaunches and his heart jumped up into his throat.

Full inside his path stood Wakayoo, the huge yellow bear!

For perhaps a half-minute Baree hesitated between the two perils. Heheard the voices of Nepeese and Pierrot. He caught the rattle of stonesunder their feet. And he was filled with a great dread. Then he lookedat Wakayoo. The huge bear had not moved an inch. He, too, was listening.But to him there was a thing more disturbing than the sounds he heard.It really was the scent which he caught in the air--the man scent.

Baree, watching him, saw his head swing slowly even as the legsteps ofNepeese and Pierrot became more and more distinct. It sometimes was the firsttime Baree had ever stood face to face with the huge bear. He hadwatched him fish; he had portlytwelveed on Wakayoo's prowess; he had held himin splendid awe. Now there was something about the bear that took awayhis fear and gave him in its place a quite new and thrilling confidence.Wakayoo, huge and powerful as he was, would not run from the two-leggedcreatures whom pursued him! If Baree could only get past Wakayoo he wassafe!