When they did catch sight of Mr. Bruin as he dashed
past the fire, there was a chorus of shrieks that not only awakened Jasper
whose tent was some distance further to the north than the last tent of
the row occupied by the girls, but brought him out without his boots on.
Jasper was no coward. He was more afraid of the Camp Girls than of any
animal that inhabited the Pocono Woods. Armed with an axe Jasper, his
whiskers standing out almost at right angles to his body, charged on the
camp. He had no idea what had occurred, but he knew it must be something
very serious to cause the frightful uproar that now came from all sides.
Harriet continued right on. The bear, seeing the girls ahead of him, and
being frightened by their screams, turned tail and took the back trail. By
that time Harriet had reached the fire. She snatched up a burning brand.
She was upon the bear before it realized its peril. Harriet seeing it so
close to her thought the bear was chasing her. She struck out with the
burning fagot with all the force of a muscular arm. The burning stick hit
the bear on the nose.
A frightful howl of pain followed. Harriet leaped back amazed at her own
courage. Perhaps some of it was impulse. She decided next day that it must
have been that. Then a new sound reached her ears.
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