From the various references to the details of the incident I concluded that the young lady had dashed into the house and had given a full account of everything which had happened in less time than it would have taken me to arrange my ideas for such a recital.
As soon as I could get a chance I thanked them all for their gracious words, and said that as I was in a hurry I must take my leave.
Thereupon arose a hubbub of voices.

"Not at dinner-time!" exclaimed Mr.Larramie.

"We would never listen to such a thing!" "And you need not trouble yourself about your bear," cried my young lady, whose Christian name I soon discovered to be Edith.

"He can live on barks and roots until we have time to attend to him.

He is used to that in his native wilds." [Illustration: "A LITTLE ARMY HAD THROWN ITSELF UPON US."] Now everybody wanted to know everything about the bear, and great was the hilarity which my account occasioned.
"Come in! Come in!" exclaimed Mr.Larramie.