So other benches were placed against them in a way to brace them, and when all in the room were used, a tolerably steady wall was made, though of course there were plenty of openings between the benches through which they could see and be seen. "If he tries to push them down," said Miss Brown with white lips, "we must all throw ourselves against these braces to keep them firm. I think we can keep him till help comes." The question of help was a serious one. The schoolhouse was placed on the edge of a bluff where the ground dropped suddenly many feet, and strangely enough, all the windows were on that side, so that no one could climb out of a window, and, what was worse, those inside could not attract attention if any one should pass. The windows looked only into the deep woods. All this became plain to Miss Brown, as she looked around to see what were their chances of escape. The only hope was that the bear would get enough to eat and go out of his own accord. In this hope she calmed down, and tried to reduce her pupils to order. Order, however, was not to be thought of. To the terror of the children was soon added their dismay at the havoc the bear was making. One after another basket was turned over and its contents rolled out on the floor, while he contentedly feasted himself on the food. The children could not take their eyes from him, and every time he turned his eyes towards them, they screamed and tried to hide behind Miss Brown. When at last Bruin had emptied the baskets, and evidently filled himself with the good country lunches, he prepared to take a nap, and rolling his great body over in the small space he hit the open door, and, to the horror of Miss Brown, pushed it shut with a bang that latched it, and made him a prisoner as well as themselves! Now indeed the stoutest heart turned weak. "Good Heavens, boys!" said Miss Brown to the two or three older pupils, "what can we do?" "I don't see as we can do anything except keep him out of here till men come to look for us," said the oldest boy, who was about fourteen, and used to the ways of the country. "And that won't be," said Miss Brown, "till they are alarmed because we don't get home." "Yes," said the boy; "not before five or six o'clock. We're often that late getting home." This was a dreary prospect, indeed, and wails and cries began again to fill the room. Miss Brown saw that she must rouse herself and quell the panic before it got beyond bounds. She thought quickly, then said, quietly as she could, though her voice trembled at first:-- "Children, shall I tell you a story?" Story is a magic word to a child, and in a moment the smaller ones were camped down on the floor around her--having no benches to sit on--while Miss Brown racked her brain to think of stirring incidents to keep them interested.