The road to home was barred.

And, again, ancestral instinct and his own alert wit came to his aid.

Turning about, and with no hint of fear in his gait or in the steady dark eyes, he trotted toward the lake.
Already the bear had reached its soothing refuge; and was standing hip deep in the black waters; now and then ducking his head and tossing showers of cold spray over his scorched shoulder-fur.
Lad trotted to the brink.

There, stooping--not fifty feet away from Bruin--he lapped thirstily until he had at last drunk his fill.

Then, looking back once in the direction of the fire-line, he lay down, very daintily indeed, in shallow water; and prepared to enjoy his liberty.
Scourged by none of the hideous fear which had goaded his fellow fugitives, he watched with grave interest the arrival of one after another of the refugees; as they came scurrying wildly down to the water.
Lad was comfortable.