but
in something very different. It was in the contingency, that, while up
in the branches, and before he could effect his purpose, the bear might
take a fancy to come down. Should he do so, then, indeed, would the
life of the venturesome hunter be in deadly peril.

He made light of the matter, however, and, warning the others to get
their guns ready and stand upon their guard, he sprang forward to the
trunk, and commenced "swarming" upward.

Almost as rapidly as a bear itself could have ascended, the
izzard-hunter glided up the tree, swinging himself from branch to
branch, and resting his naked feet--for he had thrown off his shoes--on
knots and other inequalities, where no branch offered. In this way he
at length got so close to the nest, that he could without difficulty
thrust his hand into the bottom of it.

He was now seen drawing forth a number of the dry sticks, and forming a
cavity near the lower part of the huge mass. He operated with great
silence and circumspection--taking all the care he could not to make his
presence known to the bear, nor in any way disturb whatever dreams or
reflections Bruin might then be indulging in.

In a short time he had hollowed out a little chamber among the sticks--
just large enough for his purpose,--and, taking the ball of dry grass
out of his pouch, he loosened it a little, and then placed it within the
cavity.

It was but the work of another minute to light a lucifer-match, and set
fire to the long strips of tinder rag that hung downwards from the
grass.

This done, the izzard-hunter swung himself to the next branch below;
and, even faster than he had gone up, he came scrambling down the trunk.

Just as he reached the ground, the grass was seen catching; and amidst
the blue smoke that was oozing thickly out of the little chamber, and
slowly curling up around the edges of the nest, a red blaze could be
distinguished--accompanied with that crackling noise that announces the
kindling of a fire.

The four hunters stood ready, watching the progress of the little
flame--at the same time directing their glances around the rim of the
nest.

They had not long to wait for the _denouement_. The smoke had already
caught the attention of the bear; and the snapping of the dry faggots,
as they came in contact with the blazing grass, had awakened him to a
sense of his dangerous situation.

Long before the blaze had mounted near him, he was seen craning his neck
over the e