Yes! Cuffy Bear was floating down the river on a cake of ice! How he wished he had been a good little bear and stayed at home, instead of running away to the river all alone! He was up in a little black heap in the center of the cake, and crying as if his heart would break. For Cuffy thought he would never see his mother and father and Silkie again. If only he knew how to swim, like his father! But he didn't; and there he was, being swept away down the valley, right toward Farmer Green's house. It certainly was enough to make anybody weep.  
When Cuffy thought about Farmer Green he was more frightened than ever and he began to scream. He remembered all the things he had heard about men and the things they do to little bears.
 
Pretty soon Cuffy saw something move up on the bank ahead of him. And he stopped screaming. He was afraid that it was Farmer Green himself and he thought he had better keep still. Then perhaps Farmer Green wouldn't see him. But to his the big black thing began to slide down the steep bank right toward the river.
 
Cuffy's heart seemed to stand still. He shut his eyes tight and tried to make himself as small as he could. And he hardly breathed.
 
Then somebody called his name. Cuffy was so surprised that he looked up, and there was his father on the edge of the stream. Cuffy was so glad to see him!
 
Mr. Bear seemed very cross, but Cuffy did not mind that, he was so glad to see his father.
 
"Oh, Father! What shall I do?" Cuffy cried.
 
Mr. Bear said just one word. It was "Jump!"
 
Cuffy could hardly believe his ears.
 
"Jump!" said Mr. Bear again.
 
"I don't know how to swim,&qu............