The Berenstain Bear Scouts and the Evil Eye Read Online Free PDF Page A

to sing in zee opera or not?”
    â€œOpra?” said Bigpaw. “What opra?”
    â€œWhat’s opera? What’s opera?” cried McGreed, swirling his cape and jabbing the air with his ivory-headed walking stick. “Opera is zee greatest singing! To sing zee operas of Beartoveen, Bearzart, and Bearcini is to reach zee sublime.” Bigpaw seemed interested.
    â€œAnd look here, big fellow,” said Ralph, opening the portfolio. “Here are pictures of how you’ll look in the different operas. Here you are in William Tell —you know, the bear who had to shoot the apple off his cub’s head. And here you are singing Falstaff, the big fat guy who gets all the laughs.”

    â€œBigpaw like pictures!” said Bigpaw. “Bigpaw look nice singing opra. How I get to sing opra?”
    â€œNothing could be simpler, my dear fellow,” said Ralph. “As soon as the good doctor examines your uvula, we’ll start booking the concert tour.”
    â€œWhat’s that?” asked Bigpaw.
    â€œYou know, that little thing in your throat,” said Ralph. “It will allow Dr. McGreed to decide which operas will be best for you. Now, if you just help the doctor look in your throat.”
    Bigpaw was all for it. “Bigpaw go on concert tour! Goody!” He reached down and, using his Dumpster-size paw as an elevator, lifted the good doctor and his giant tongue depressor up ten stories.

Chapter 12
Familiar Voices!
    â€œWhat in the world do you suppose is going on?” said Sister.
    The scouts were watching from behind some rocks. They had finished their work and climbed the rest of the way to visit Bigpaw. But as they got near Bigpaw’s ledge, they heard voices. Familiar voices. The voices of Ralph Ripoff and the archweasel McGreed.
    â€œI haven’t a clue as to what’s going on,” said Brother. “But whatever it is, it’s not good.”
    â€œOpen your mouth and say, ‘Ah,’” ordered McGreed. Bigpaw did as ordered. Of course, McGreed’s real purpose was to get in position to hypnotize the giant. Once he gained power over the strongest force in Bear Country, control of all Bear Country would be within easy reach.

    McGreed didn’t bother with a watch. He just climbed over Bigpaw’s swollen, mosquito-bitten nose and zapped him with the evil eye. “Listen to the voice of your master, Bigpaw,” said McGreed.
    â€œBigpaw listen,” said Bigpaw, in a sleepy voice.
    â€œYour eyelids are getting heavy,” said McGreed, staring into Bigpaw’s eyes.
    â€œEyelids getting heavy,” said Bigpaw.
    â€œYou feel a deep, deep sleep coming on. . . .”
    That’s when the Bear Scouts caught on to what was happening. “Good grief!” cried Brother. “He’s hypnotizing Bigpaw!”
    â€œOf course!” said Lizzy. “That’s what Ralph must have been reading about in Swindler’s Magazine !”
    â€œHmm,” said Brother. “If Ralph and hypnotism were a dangerous combination, Ralph, McGreed, and hypnotism are a hundred times as dangerous.”
    â€œThat’s right,” said Fred. “If McGreed gets Bigpaw under his control, he could control all of Bear Country in a matter of days!”
    â€œWe’ve got to do something!” cried Lizzy.
    â€œBut what?” cried Sister.
    McGreed had put Bigpaw into a deep sleep. “When you wake up,” said McGreed, “you will be my servant, and I will be your master. You will obey my every command, whatever it may be.”
    â€œYes, master,” said Bigpaw.
    â€œWhen I snap my fingers,” said McGreed, “you will wake up and put me down.”
    McGreed snapped his fingers. Bigpaw woke up and put McGreed down.
    â€œBigpaw,” said McGreed. “Who am I?”
    â€œYou my master,” said Bigpaw.
    â€œAnd who are you?” said McGreed.
    â€œI your servant,” said