"The answer," said Bert.

"Prove it," challenged Dick.

"I'm from Missouri," said Tom skeptically.

"Why, it's this way," hurried on Bert, too engrossed in his solution to
retort in kind. "Sandy was telling me a little while ago about the habits
of grizzlies, and he mentioned especially the trick they have of standing
on their hind legs and clawing at trees as high as they could reach. But
I remember he said they did this only in the spring. They've just come
out of winter quarters and they feel the need of stretching their muscles
that have got cramped during their long sleep. In the spring, the early
spring. Don't you see?"

"Not exactly," confessed Dick.

"No, Sherlock," murmured Tom, "I don't follow you."

"Why," said Bert impatiently, "don't you boobs realize that up in the
mountains here the snow is often four or five feet deep in the early
spring? How could the grizzly reach that high? _Because he stood on a
snowbank._"

"By Jove," exclaimed Tom, all his self-assurance vanishing, "I believe
you're right."

"You've hit the bull's-eye," cried Dick. "Bert, old man, you're a
wonder."