In spite of the milk, he was still filled with a desire to escape, though his efforts were not as frantic and unreasoning as they had been.  Experience had taught him that it was futile to jump and tug at the end of his leash, and now he fell to chewing at the rope.  Had he gnawed in one place he would probably have won freedom before morning, but when his jaws became tired he rested, and when he resumed his work it was usually at a fresh place in the rope.  By midnight his gums were sore, and he gave up his exertions entirely.

Humped close to the tree, ready to climb up it at the first sign of danger, the cub waited for morning.  Not a wink did he sleep.  Even though he was less afraid than he had been, he was terribly lonesome.  He missed Thor, and he whimpered so softly that the men a few yards away could not have heard him had they been awake.  If Pipoonaskoos had come into the camp then he would have welcomed him joyfully.

Morning came, and Metoosin was the first out of his blankets.  He built a fire, and this roused Bruce and Langdon.  The latter, after he had dressed himself, paid a visit to Muskwa, and when he found the basin licked clean he showed his pleasure by calling the others’ attention to what had happened.

Muskwa had climbed to his crotch in the tree, and again he tolerated the stroking touch of Langdon’s hand.  Then Langdon brought forth another can from a cowhide pannier and opened it directly under Muskwa, so that he could see the creamy white fluid as it was turned into the basin.  He held the basin up to Muskwa, so close that the milk touched the cub’s nose, and for the life of him Muskwa could not keep his tongue in his mouth.  Inside of five minutes he was eating from the basin in Langdon’s hand!  But when Bruce came up to watch the proceedings the cub bared all his teeth and snarled.

“Bears make better pets than dogs,” affirmed Bruce a little later, when they were eating breakfast.  “He’ll be following you around like a puppy in a few days, Jimmy.”

“I’m getting fond of the little cuss already,” replied Langdon.  “What was that you were telling me about Jameson’s bears, Bruce?”

“Jameson lived up in the Kootenay country,” said Bruce.  “Reg’lar hermit, I guess you’d call him.  Came out of the mountains only twice a year to get grub.  He made pets of grizzlies.  For years he had one as big as this fellow we’re chasing.  He got ’im when a cub, an ’when I saw him he weighed a thousand pounds an’ followed Jameson wherever he went like a dog.  Even went on his hunts with him, an ’they slept beside the same campfire.  Jameson loved bears, an’ he’d never kill one.”