But suffice it to say that Jennie Adams, the teacher, was a young woman who, if given a little time to think, could tell you, without using a paper or pencil, how much six pounds of butter would cost at twelve cents a pound.

Also, that the girl pupils, of whom there were four,--those who rode the mules double,--had a habit of tittering, also of leaning over close to each and making whispered remarks about Whitey.
A week of this did not add to Whitey's thirst for knowledge, which was not very strong at best, and it was just a week from this first day that he was again riding toward the schoolhouse, and something happened.

It was another bright morning, and Whitey had reached a spot where the road branched up into the foothills to avoid a marsh, when he noticed signs of excitement in his pony, Monty.

These signs would have been stronger had the wind been blowing the other way, and had Monty's nose made him aware of the exact danger that lurked near.

As it was, his ears, which were much keener than Whitey's, caught sounds of some disturbing presence, and Whitey had difficulty in keeping him in the road.
At a sharp turn, Whitey and Monty were greeted by a roar that was deeper than that of any automobile horn you ever heard, a roar that had menace behind it, and that came from a large brown bear which had risen on its hind legs and was advancing into the road with both front paws extended wide, as though with the intent of embracing both Whitey and Monty.
[Illustration: ADVANCING INTO THE ROAD WITH BOTH FRONT PAWS EXTENDED] Monty did not wait for any guiding rein to turn him.