Part 31 (1/2)

”Why, Owen, you are dreaming. You fell asleep.”

”No, I saw it. It was ugly, the ugliest thing I ever saw. Its face was covered with hair. It had large black eyes--I tell you, Martin, there was no dream about it.”

”Sit down and cool off. Why, I never saw you so excited.”

”Have your pistol ready, if it comes after us,” said Owen, as he sat down on a log, and wiped the perspiration from his brow. ”You had scarcely gone,” he continued, ”I was looking at the window, thinking of the night we spent in the cave, thinking of what we said about the ghosts when we were left alone in the dark. Then I saw the window slowly open and this ghost, thing, or bear, or whatever it was, looked at me with its two big eyes. You should have seen me get down that tree. I simply fell down; and away I went, looking back every minute to see whether the thing was following me.”

”I never saw you frightened before. But I tell you what it is, Owen, I am going to crawl into that window and see what is there.”

Owen pleaded with Martin not to go; but the latter was firm in his resolution. As the boys talked Owen's curiosity grew stronger, until finally he consented to stand above the window and keep guard while Martin entered the cave. The rope brought, Martin knotted it in several places, leaving a loop at the end in which to rest his foot, then tied it to a small sapling just above the window.

Martin began his descent slowly, and not without some hesitation. When he reached the end of the rope he gave a scream which made the heart of his companion leap within him. Owen looked over the precipice, and, to his surprise and horror, saw a long, s.h.a.ggy arm and rough claw slowly dragging Martin into the cave; yet he could not shoot for fear of hurting his companion. Martin the while struggled in vain. He felt the claws of an animal sink deep into his flesh; he felt himself being slowly drawn farther and farther into the window, and a sickly, dizzy feeling came over him. Everything around began to swim. He relaxed his hold on the rope. He heard the report of Owen's revolver. Then he was free, and was falling headlong down the side of the precipice. The thick grapevines protected him from the rocks, and somewhat broke the weight of his fall,--for a moment, even entirely checking his perilous descent; and in that instant's pause he wildly clutched a strong branch, and then fell heavily to the ground.

The boy sprang to his feet, surprised to find that he had sustained no injury.

”Run, Owen! run!” he called out to Owen, who was standing at the edge of the cliff, pistol in hand.

Away the two boys went scudding through the woods like frightened rabbits.

”Are you hurt?”

”No.”

”What was it?”

”A bear.”

”That's what I told you. You wouldn't believe me.”

”I believe you now.”

”Was it a big one?”

”As big as an ox.”

”Are you sure it didn't hurt you?”

”I thought it was eating my arm and leg off; but I don't feel it now.”

”I thought you were a dead man when I saw you fall.”

”The grapevines saved me.”

The two boys all the while were saddling their horses and preparing for flight in case the animal followed them. They were suddenly startled by a noise in the opposite direction. It was Mr. Lane, who had finished his work and had come to join them in their sport.

”Halloo, youngsters! tired of the cave?” he asked. ”Why, you look scared. What's the matter?”

”There's a bear in the cave,” muttered Owen.

”Why, there isn't a bear in this here state, boy.”