Just at this moment Harriet struck the bear’s hip with the torch.  There was a sizzle of hair.  Uttering a terrifying growl of fright Bruin suddenly straightened out and took the direct trail for the stream.

“Hold him!  I told ye to hold him!” roared Jasper.

“Oh, listen to the man!” gasped Jane.

Jasper seeing that the beast was going to cross the stream, ran on an oblique line hoping to head the animal off.  In his excitement he hurled his axe through the air, the tool falling short of its mark by several yards.

Harriet Burrell was still on the trail, her slippers left behind her, her bare feet scarcely touching the ground.

“Look out for the creek!” shouted Jasper.

Harriet in her excitement did not heed what he was saying.  The bear, after a brief hesitation on the bank before jumping, landed in the creek with a splash.  Then a few seconds later there came a second splash.  Harriet uttered a little cry of alarm as she felt herself going into the creek and cried out again when the cold water enveloped her.

By this time the bear was scrambling up the opposite bank.  A few seconds later he was leaping into the depths of the forest, his back humped, looking in the half light like a great round black ball.

Jane hearing the splashes knew instantly what had occurred to both the bear and Harriet.  She also knew that she was going to land in the creek, too.  With quick presence of mind Crazy Jane threw herself on her back and went slipping and sliding into the stream feet first.  She landed with a splash, and sat down heavily on the bottom of the stream.

CHAPTER XXIII

HARRIET’S GRAVE MISTAKE

“Is that you, Jane?” cried Harriet, splashing toward the spot where the third splash had been heard.

Jane gazed about her in comical dismay.

“Oh, what a mess!  A frisky gasoline buggy never stirred up so much trouble for a poor girl.  Where is he?” she asked.

“Lost in the woods,” answered Harriet, laughing as she swam toward her companion.  “Get out of the water.”

“I’m going to.  Is it over my head?”

“I guess not unless you lie down flat in it.  Oh, Jasper!  Please lend a hand to Miss McCarthy.  The bank is steep.”

“Girls! are you crazy!” It was the voice of the Chief Guardian that greeted the two as they emerged from the water.

“No, Mrs. Livingston, but the bear is,” chuckled Jane.

“That b’ar never’ll show up around these parts again,” averred Jasper.

“Come to my quarters, girls,” commanded Miss Partridge, suddenly discovering that both girls were wet and shivering.  After dry wrappers had been furnished them, they returned to their own tents, Harriet to resume her outdoor nap which had been interrupted by the visiting bear.  Harriet first entered her tent to get another blanket.  She struck a match to assist her in finding it Patricia lay in bed wide awake.  She was regarding Harriet angrily.