Part 44 (2/2)

”Here is a s between the rocks,--let us back into it, if the bears press us too closely,” said he

He had scarcely spoken when the wounded bear advanced, followed closely by its mate Dave waited until the foremost beast ithin a dozen paces of hirowl of pain and the bear tuainst its mate

”Good!” cried Mr Porter ”Look out!” he added, a second later ”The other one is coer bear of the two ca almost at Dave's feet Crack! crack! went Mr Porter's pistol, and the huge animal was hit twice, in the breast and in the neck The bear uttered a sound that was half growl and half yelp and then caain Crack! went Dave's pistol, and the bullet hit the beast directly in the teeth, knocking one of them down the animal's throat Wounded and alarain the boy fired, and then the bear turned and lumbered away into the brushwood, wounded just sufficiently to reeable The other bear followed; and the battle, for the tierous to stay out here,” said Mr Porter ”Let us go back into the hollow, and bring that fire with you if you can”

Mr Porter crawled back and the youth followed, dragging the burning brushwood behind him Then Dave took both pistols and reloaded the empty chambers with all possible speed

”I see you have learned the first rule of hunting,” said his father, with a smile

”What is that?”

”Never to carry around an empty or partly e as I had any cartridges left”

”I wish I had some more brushwood to put on the fire--that would keep the beasts off Wonder if I can't break soerous,” pleaded Mr Porter

”I'll keep my eyes on the bears, never fear,” was the reply

With caution the youth crawled over to the nearest patch of brushwood, a distance of fifty feet As he broke off sorowl reached his ears But he kept at the task until he had as ot the brushhere he wanted it, for as he co-place and one landed almost on top of him Crack! crack! went his pistol, and the weapon Mr Porter possessed sounded out three tiain, but Dave received a blow fro He rolled over and over in the snow, and then leaped for the shelter, and his father dragged hi on the bears started to retreat This time they left the brushwood entirely and stationed themselves behind the nearest belt of firs, about fifty yards away

[Illustration: Dave received a blow froe 267_]

”I told you to be careful,” said Mr Porter, as Dave got up and faced about ”Are you seriously hurt?”

”N--no, bu--but that bear knocked asped Dave ”Phew! but they are powerful!”

”If he hadn't been wounded he ht have killed you You must take no more chances Proht after finding you!” And Mr Porter turned an appealing look into the lad's eyes

”I'll be on guard, father And don't you take any chances either,”

added Dave, gazing at his father in a manner which spoke volumes

They found the hollow under the cliff to be less than two yards deep and of about the sa down so that they touched Dave's head In front was a s over which father and son could just round between the firs The beasts did considerable growling and did what they could to take care of their wounds, yet they showed no disposition to leave that vicinity

”They ry,” was Mr Porter's co punished so badly;” and he was right: the anih starved, hence their recklessness

Half an hour went by, and Dave and his parent remained under the cliff

Without a fire it was extremely cold, and they had to stamp around to keep warm At times Mr Porter felt rather faint from his wounds, but he kept this from Dave as much as possible Yet presently the boy noticed it