From a wet place, near a spring of water, Gruffo took up some soft mud, and put it on his little brother’s nose.
“Does that make the pain better?” asked Gruffo.
“Lots better, thank you,” answered Dido. For it is true that bears and other animals use mud as we do plaster and poultices. If ever your dog gets stung by a bee on the nose, you watch him hunt for some soft mud to put on the stinging place.
“Well, come on if we’re going swimming,” said Muffo, after a bit.
So the three bears went on through the woods on the mountain, until they came to the lake, where the water was blue and clear and cold. Without stopping to take off any clothes (for of course they did not wear any), the three bears plunged into the water and began swimming about. Bears love to play in the water, and that is why, in parks and other places where they keep tame bears, there is always a pool of water for them to splash in. And sometimes there is a wooden ball in the water for the bears to play with, too, for bears love to play.
“Watch me dive!” cried Dido, and down he went under the water. Up he came, a little later, right near Muffo, and with his paw Dido splashed some water in Muffo’s face.
“Say, you’re cutting up a lot to-day, Dido!” cried Muffo. “What makes you do so many tricks?”
“Oh, I just feel happy!” cried Dido, gayly.
Then he swam about some more, splashing in the water of the lake, and lapping some water with his red tongue.
“I wish we could catch some fish,” said Gruffo, after a bit. “I’m hungry.”
“So am I,” said Muffo. “Let’s go fishing.”
The bears came up out of the water, with their fur dripping wet, and started to go fishing. They did not need poles or lines or hooks. All they had to do was to sit on a log, near the lake, and when, by looking down, they saw a fish swimming along they just put their claws quickly in and pulled the fish out. It was very easy for them, but it would have been hard for you or me.
“Ha! I see a fish!” suddenly cried Dido. “Watch me catch him!”
Down into the water he thrust his paw. But something was wrong. Either Dido did not see the fish, and only thought he did, or he went after it too quickly. For he reached over too far, and the next thing he knew he was splashing in the lake again. He had fallen in.