Part 11 (2/2)

It required no little courage for a boy alone in the mountains to walk up to a bear, not knowing whether the animal were dead or alive. Yet when Tad Butler made up his mind to do a certain thing, he persisted until he had accomplished it.

He reached the side of the animal, that is, close enough so that he could get a good view of it.

The bear never moved and Tad drew closer, walking on his toes that he might make no sound. There seemed no other way to make certain except to stir the animal.

”I'll do it,” whispered Tad.

Cautiously lighting another match he drew back his left foot and administered a sound kick to the beast's side.

Thinking that the bear had moved under the blow, Tad whirled and ran t.i.ttering a loud ”Oh!”

He waited, but could hear no sound.

”I believe I am afraid of myself. That bear hasn't stirred at all. I'm going back this time and make sure.”

He did. But this time, steeling himself to the task, Tad stood still after he had prodded the beast with his foot again. There was no movement other than a slight tremor caused by the impact of the kick.

”Hurrah, I've shot a bear!” cried the lad in the excess of his excitement. ”I wonder what the boys will say. The next question is how am I going to get him back to camp?”

Tad pondered over this problem some moments.

”I know,” he cried. ”I'll hitch a rope to him and make Pink-eye tow him out. But where is that pony?”

All at once the realization came to him that the pony had thrown him off. That was the last he had seen of Pink-eye.

Tad whistled and called, listening after each attempt without the slightest result.

”He's gone. I've got to find my way back as best I can. The worst of it is I may be a long way from camp, but I guess I can find my way with the compa.s.s all right.”

The compa.s.s, however, was nowhere to be found. The lad went through his pockets twice in search of it.

”Pshaw! Just my luck. I'm as bad at losing things as Chunky is in falling in. I'll get the gun anyway, for the Professor will be provoked if I go back without it. Ah, there it is.”

Tad picked up the weapon joyfully.

”I've got something to defend myself with, at least,” he told himself. A moment later when he discovered that the weapon held nothing but empty sh.e.l.ls, the keen edge of his joy was dulled.

”Well, it's better to pack back an empty gun than no gun at all,” he decided philosophically. ”Let me see, I think we came up that way.

They'll build a big fire so I can see it and I ought to be there within half an hour at least.”

The lad struck out confidently. He had been lost in the wilderness before, and though he felt a slight uneasiness he had no doubt of his ability to find the camp eventually.

He walked vigorously for half an hour. Then he halted. The same impressive silence surrounded him.

”I think I have been going a little too far to the left,” he decided. He changed his course and plodded on methodically again.

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