Part 45 (1/2)

”I ular medical attention”

”I shan't et that brushwood now, father”

”No, do not attempt it”

There was a spell of silence after that, and then Dave raised his pistol

”Do you knohat I ae four shots at the bears Even at this distance I ought to be able to do soe”

”Well, you can try it, Dave But I don't think you'll accoh”

Dave brushed the snow from the rocks in front of him, knelt down, and rested his arm with care Then he took careful aim at the bear that had first appeared Crack! went the pistol four tiave a leap, clawed at its face several ti the firs and out of sight

”Hurrah! that did soe!” cried the youth, as he started to reload ”Now I'll see if I can hit the other bear---- hello, he's gone, too!”

The boy was right, the larger beast was also luhtened by the way its mate had been treated Soon it, too, had disappeared fro time, but neither animal came back

”They may possibly return, but I doubt it,” said Dave ”Anyway, I don't think they'll coive us a chance to escape”

”Not if we h that patch of ti the base of the cliff We are bound to strike some sort of a ot that you can't walk Well, maybe I can carry you”

”No, it will be too much of a load, Dave We had better wait awhile”

And so they sat down and waited, after Dave had brought in the brushwood he had previously broken off A roaring fire cheered thereatly, and once more each related his experiences Mr Porter told how he had traveled in many parts of the world, and said that Dave must some day do the same He asked the youth about his education, and when Dave related how he had won the medal of honor at Oak Hall his face beamed with pleasure

”I certainly owe Professor Potts and Mr Wadsworth a good deal,” he said ”And I shall not forget the better friends”

”I believe that,” answered Dave, warmly ”Professor Potts and all of the Wadsworths have been just as good as they could be to me”

Alht in ed over soh provisions for several meals, and they proceeded to make themselves as comfortable as possible in the hollow of the cliff They ate slowly, talking the while and each s warood to be true,” said Mr Porter, not once but several times

”And, oh, I am so thankful!” responded Dave

Mr Porter was so weak he needed sleep, so Dave told his parent to lie down on some of the brushwood, which he spread out as a couch next to the rocky wall

”But ill you do, uard--so those bears don't get a chance to surprise us”

”But aren't you sleepy?”

”No--I'm so happy I don't think I'll be able to sleep for a week”

Mr Porter lay down and closed his eyes, but it was a good hour before he dropped into a doze Dave sat by the fire, where he could look at his father's face It see at those features, so like his Uncle Dunston's