"Now mind, don't let that ghost carry you off," warned Jed, as
he started to paddle away in his canoe.

"I doubt if we even see the ghost," answered Snap. But he was
mistaken, they did see the ghost, and that before very long. And
the meeting led to a tremendous surprise.

CHAPTER XXVII

INTO A BEAR'S DEN

"Boys, I move we go after that bear."

It was Snap who spoke, on the morning of the second day after Jed
Sanborn had left them. He was eating breakfast and so were his
chums.

"You mean the bear we saw up on the mountain, when we were after
those wildcats?" queried Giant.

"Yes. Somehow, I think we can get him, if we try hard enough. And
it would be a feather in our caps to bring back a bear."

"All right, I'm with you," said Shep. "Even if we don't get the
bear we can climb to the top of the mountain and get a good look at
the country for miles around. Maybe we'll be able to see Fairview."

The proposal to go after the bear pleased all the young hunters, and
they decided to lose no time in getting ready for the trip.

"As there is no telling what luck we may have on the mountain, or
when we'll get back, we had better take sufficient food with us to
last all day," suggested the doctor's son.

The sky looked a trifle uncertain to them, but nobody wanted to stay
in camp waiting for it to rain. They started off about nine o'clock,
taking to the trail they had previously pursued. Snap led the way,
with the others following in Indian file. The leader of the club
had a rifle while the others were provided with shotguns. They
carried with them sufficient ammunition to bring down a dozen bears.

Noon found them well up on the mountain and in the vicinity where
the bear had been seen. On the way they had stirred up some quail
and Giant had taken two shots before the others could stop him,
bringing down four of the birds.

"Maybe that shot scared away Mr. Bear," said Whopper. "If it did
we'll have our tramp for nothing."

"I am sorry---I fired before I could think," answered the small
member of the club. "I'll not do it again."

They now advanced in silence, knowing that a bear has sharp ears and
will run at the first intimation of danger. They kept their eyes and
ears on the alert and their firearms ready for immediate use.

"Look!" said Whopper presently, in a strained voice. "Dodge behind
the rocks!" and he literally dragged Snap down, and the others came
after the pair.

"W