The naughty bear had been kept away from his playfellow for some time,
and as the two loved one another so much, it made them both feel very
sad.
One day the Indian mother went out to visit, and baby bear saw her go.
"Now," thought he, "I will see my little friend, and, if I am a very
good little bear, perhaps his mother will let us play together again."
Baby bear crept along very carefully, and when he thought the mother was
not looking he hid behind a bake oven and almost had his first accident,
for TAN-TSI-DAY'S mother had left one of her best jars standing there
with herbs to dry.
[Illustration: HE HID BEHIND A BAKE OVEN.]
When the mother had got out of sight the baby bear marched into the
adobe home of his friend, and then the two companions were glad.
But baby bear and TAN-TSI-DAY saw the jars with all the good things in
them, and then they forgot to try to be good.
They ate the dried berries and sweet roots; tipped the jars and baskets
to see if any goodies were in them; and when they had eaten all they
wanted, sat just as close to each other as possible and went fast
asleep.
After a while the mother came home, and when she saw those two fast
asleep, the jars broken, and all her good things spilled over the floor,
she became very angry and started to whip them.
Baby bear wakened up and ran as fast as his clumsy little legs would let
him; but he didn't reach the top of his pole before the Indian mother
had given him a good switching.
[Illustration: REACH THE TOP OF HIS POLE.]
[Illustration]