Chapter 17: Triumphant Chainsaw
“Bear,” said Farley.
Cornelia and Moe followed Farley’s gaze.
“Don’t move,” said Moe, “bears will chase.”
Dixie pointed at the bear and froze.
Aunt Lucinda was unaware of the danger. She continued sawing fallen logs, sending wood chips flying into the air.
“Aunt Lucinda, stop!” Cornelia called out, trying not to alarm the bear.
Aunt Lucinda looked up. Her chainsaw sputtered to a stop. Aunt Lucinda was fearless, and she sprang into action. She revved her chainsaw and stood in front of the kids.
“Stay back, kids!” Aunt Lucinda yelled.
The bear roared and stood on its hind legs. He is not so big as a grizzly, Farley thought. The chainsaw did not scare him. Moe had one bar of Irish Spring left. They threw it at the bear. The bear dropped on all fours to investigate. He sniffed the soap, sneezed, and retreated into the forest. Farley and Cornelia looked at each other. They were grateful they had done their research.
Koko could not help herself, and the opportunity to race a new creature was too exciting. Koko jumped through the river and chased after the bear. Dixie followed.
“Koko no!” Cornelia yelled, but Koko was already disappearing into the trees.
Without a second thought, Farley and Cornelia followed their dogs into the forest. Aunt Lucinda revved up her chain saw.
“Get the boat ready!” Aunt Lucinda yelled to Moe, as she dashed behind the Bear and Koko and Dixie and Farley and Cornelia.
Koko chased the bear right up a tree. Koko and Dixie stood under the tree and barked at the bear.
Aunt Lucinda burst through the trees. She looked up at the bear hiding above.
“Let’s head back to the boat,” Aunt Lucinda said.
Farley noticed something particular about the tree the bear had climbed. There were strange markings carved into the bark, almost like a map.
“Do you have your field bag?” Farley asked Cornelia.
Cornelia stepped closer and took off her field bad. Farley made a copy of the map using a pencil and paper. She put the paper over the map and rubbed the pencil over the paper to capture the markings. Cornelia put the map in her field bag for safe keeping.
“Ahoy!” Moe yelled from the nearby shoreline.
The group boarded the boat. The kids erupted about their adventure.
“Did you see Moe throw the soap!”
“Aunt Lucinda is fearless!”
“We found a map!”
“Keep on!” Aunt Lucinda shouted, raising her chainsaw triumphantly.
“Keep on!” the kids echoed.