t was now Darry's rifle that spoke up, and the bear was hit
again, this time in the right front knee. He dropped, but quickly arose,
shaking the wounded leg in the air and uttering a tremendous roar of
pain and rage.

[Illustration: "NOW DARRY'S RIFLE SPOKE UP, AND THE BEAR WAS HIT AGAIN"]

Neither horse would now stand still, and both danced around so lively
that each rider had all he could do to keep his saddle. But even while
his steed pranced in this fashion, old Benson managed to draw his
pistol, and two additional shots rang out, both hitting the bear in the
side. The roars of the beast were now incessant, and the horses
threatened to bolt in spite of all the riders could do to stop them.

"Come!" cried the old scout, and turned from the scene. Thinking he
meant to go off to reload, Darry followed. But when at a safe distance
Benson sprang to the ground and tied his horse to a tree.

"I'd rather finish him afoot," explained the old hunter, and slipped
another cartridge into his rifle. "You can stay here if you wish."

"Not much!" murmured Darry, and came down also. In a minute he was
following the old scout. When they came up a second time they found the
bear crawling around, roaring in a lower tone. Evidently he was more
than half exhausted.

"Another good shot will finish him," sang out Joe, from a bottom limb of
the tree. "Why don't you give it to him in the ear?"

"I will," answered the old scout, and circled around, watching his
opportunity. At length it came--the rifle cracked sharply, and Bruin
fell on his side, to rise no more.

"Hurrah! That's a big haul!" cried Darry, much delighted. "I was wishing
we'd get a bear some time while we were out here."

"It's lucky the bear didn't get Joe," remarked Benson. "They generally
come up a tree after their victim."

"I jumped from one tree to the other," answered the youth. "But I had
quite an exciting time, I can assure you."

"How in the world did you get here?" questioned Darry, as Joe leaped to
the ground. "Did you get through to another cave? Benson thought that
might be the case."

"That was the case, Darry. And I've had a wonderful adventure, too,"
added Joe earnestly. Then he told his story, to which the others
listened with close attention. When he came to mention Gilroy, Fetter,
and Potts, old Benson uttered a low whistle.

"So that gang has turned up again, eh?" muttered the old scout. "This
will be news to Colonel Fairfield. I reckon he'l