Priscilla's father willingly complied. He evidently shared his sons' pride
in his daughter's achievement.

"'HUNTER RANCH, WYOMING,
"'July 26, 19--.

"'Dear Folks at Home:

"'I am covered with dust and dirt and just dead tired, but I can't
wash or dress, or even rest until I tell you the most thrilling
experience of my whole life! I, Priscilla Winthrop of Boston,
Massachusetts, have helped to trap and kill a bear! I know shivers
are running down your back as you read this. Imagine then what it
must have been to live through the _real thing!_ To ride up the
trail all eagerness and excitement; to visit the empty traps and turn
away disappointed; to see your horse as you neared the third suddenly
prick up his ears and rear----'"

"Dear me!" cried Mrs. Winthrop. "I'm sure, John, those horses out there
aren't well-broken!"

Mr. Winthrop nodded reassuringly, and continued:

"'To hear Dick call back that there must surely be a bear; and, at
last, to come upon the infuriated monster, dragging his trap about,
gnashing his teeth, and trying to reach you!'"

"Oh, dear!" moaned poor Mrs. Winthrop.

"Go ahead!" cried the boys.

"'I trust you are now in the atmosphere to appreciate my story.

"'I wrote you this morning about the lovely getting-acquainted trip
to Lone Mountain. Well, I had just come back from walking down to the
main road and giving my letter to the carrier, who drives in a funny
little canvas house on wheels, when Dick and William rode up to the
door and asked if we girls didn't want to ride up into the mountains
back of Bear Canyon and visit the bear-traps. Mr. Hunter and the
three boys had gone to Willow Creek, but it's a fifty mile ride over
there and back, and he thought it was too much for Mary and Vivian
and me--much as we wanted to go.'"

"Fifty miles on horseback!" murmured Mrs. Winthrop. "I should hope so!"

"'Virginia had insisted on staying with us, and Aunt Nan (we all call
her that now) had gone to Mystic Lake with Donald's brother, so we
four girls were all alone. Virginia said "Yes" on the spot, and Mary
and I were wild at the prospect. Vivian's eyes got big when Dick said
"bear-traps," but she wouldn't let us know she was afraid. Really,
you'd be surprised at what a good sport Vivian's getting to be.

"'We said we'd be ready in a