At these little Skookum sniffed fearsomely,
and showed by his bristly mane that he was at least much
impressed.
After five hours' travel and work they came to another stream
joining on, and near the angle of the two little valleys they
found a small tree that was chewed and scratched in a remarkable
manner for three to six feet up. "Bear tree," said Quonab, and by
degrees Rolf got the facts about it.
The bears, and indeed most animals, have a way of marking the
range that they consider their own. Usually this is done by
leaving their personal odour at various points, covering the
country claimed, but in some cases visible marks are added. Thus
the beaver leaves a little dab of mud, the wolf scratches with
his hind feet, and the bear tears the signal tree with tooth and
claw. Since this is done from time to time, when the bear
happens to be near the tree, it is kept fresh as long as the
region is claimed. But it is especially done in midsummer when
the bears are pairing, and helps them to find suitable
companions, nor all are then roaming the woods seeking mates; all
call and leave their mark on the sign post, so the next bear,
thanks to his exquisite nose, can tell at once the sex of the
bear that called last and by its track tell which way it
travelled afterward.
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