In and out among the rocks Baree sought swiftly for a way of escape.  In a moment more he had come to the “box,” or cup of the canyon.  This was a break in the wall, fifty or sixty feet wide, which opened into a natural prison about an acre in extent.  It was a beautiful spot.  On all sides but that leading into the coulee it was shut in by walls of rock.  At the far end a waterfall broke down in a series of rippling cascades.  The grass was thick underfoot and strewn with flowers.  In this trap Pierrot had got more than one fine haunch of venison.  From it there was no escape, except in the face of his rifle.  He called to Nepeese as he saw Baree entering it, and together they climbed the slope.

Baree had almost reached the edge of the little prison meadow when suddenly he stopped himself so quickly that he fell back on his haunches and his heart jumped up into his throat.

Full in his path stood Wakayoo, the huge black bear!

For perhaps a half-minute Baree hesitated between the two perils.  He heard the voices of Nepeese and Pierrot.  He caught the rattle of stones under their feet.  And he was filled with a great dread.  Then he looked at Wakayoo.  The big bear had not moved an inch.  He, too, was listening.  But to him there was a thing more disturbing than the sounds he heard.  It was the scent which he caught in the air—­the man scent.

Baree, watching him, saw his head swing slowly even as the footsteps of Nepeese and Pierrot became more and more distinct.  It was the first time Baree had ever stood face to face with the big bear.  He had watched him fish; he had fattened on Wakayoo’s prowess; he had held him in splendid awe.  Now there was something about the bear that took away his fear and gave him in its place a new and thrilling confidence.  Wakayoo, big and powerful as he was, would not run from the two-legged creatures who pursued him!  If Baree could only get past Wakayoo he was safe!

Baree darted to one side and ran for the open meadow.  Wakayoo did not stir as Baree sped past him—­no more than if he had been a bird or a rabbit.  Then came another breath of air, heavy with the scent of man.  This, at last, put life into him.  He turned and began lumbering after Baree into the meadow trap.  Baree, looking back, saw him coming—­and thought it was pursuit.  Nepeese and Pierrot came over the slope, and at the same instant they saw both Wakayoo and Baree.

Where they entered into the grassy dip under the rock walls, Baree turned sharply to the right.  Here was a great boulder, one end of it tilted up off the earth.  It looked like a splendid hiding place, and Baree crawled under it.

But Wakayoo kept straight ahead into the meadow.

From where he lay Baree could see what happened.  Scarcely had he crawled under the rock when Nepeese and Pierrot appeared through the break in the dip, and stopped.  The fact that they stopped thrilled Baree.  They were afraid of Wakayoo!  The big bear was two thirds of the way across the meadow.  The sun fell on him, so that his coat shone like black satin.  Pierrot stared at him for a moment.  Pierrot did not kill for the love of killing.  Necessity made him a conservationist.  But he saw that in spite of the lateness of the season, Wakayoo’s coat was splendid—­and he raised his rifle.