It was very loud and very fierce.
"Why did you kill that bird?" he asked. "I have a good mind to eat you
alive." And he gave another fierce growl.
The boys acted like frightened rabbits. They were too astonished to
speak.
The bear picked up the bow and arrows.
"One, attention!" he commanded. "Two, get ready! Three, go!"
The boys took to the path which led toward their homes. But the bear
called them back.
"You don't understand," he said. "Now, go the other way. To-night you
must report to Father Thrift. Gr-r-r-r! And not another word."
This last command must have been a bear joke, for the boys had not
uttered a word.
Then away they all started--the boys as Shaggy's prisoners--for the
cave in the forest.