e, may be seen by those at
home, or by D'Arcy, and it will give them assurance of our safety.
However, let us set to work to repair damages while the flame lasts, for
if we once get chilled, it will not be so easy to warm up again."

The fire afforded light enough to enable the three brothers to cut down
a fresh supply of poles and boughs, and well accustomed to the sort of
work, they soon again had a hut raised of sufficient size to afford them
all shelter. The younger brothers were, however, not inclined to sleep,
and they intreated Philip to rest, which he promised to do if they would
undertake to keep awake. At present there seemed no chance of their
getting away. As soon as Philip had lain down, Harry and Charley armed
themselves with long burning sticks with which to receive the bear
should he return, taking care to hang their fish up inside, out of his
way. He was, however, not likely to come back again, after the warm
reception he had received.

"I thought bears always shut themselves up in winter, and lived by
sucking their paws," observed Charley. "As to sucking their paws, I
don't know," said Harry; "but I fancy that the brown bear of this part
of the world shuts himself up for the greater part of the winter, and
only occasionally comes out on a mild day to forage for food. I
conclude that our friend had his nest somewhere near and was disturbed
by the fire, and his olfactories excited by the smell of the broiled
fish. I wish that we had caught him, we might have taken home something
worth having."

"Do you think that he has left the island?" asked Charley. "Couldn't we
hunt him up?"

"Without consulting Philip! and I should not like to awake him," said
Harry. "But, I will tell you what, we will make some spears in the mean
time, and harden their points in the fire, and if we can find him we'll
take him, dead or alive."

There were some tough young saplings growing just outside of sufficient
length for the proposed object; three of these were quickly cut, and
being pointed were hardened in the fire, and then again scraped, till
they became rather formidable weapons.

"Don't you think Phil has slept long enough?" said Charley, who was
anxious to make trial of his spear. "I am afraid Master Bruin will be
sneaking off, and leaving us to whistle for him."

"Very uncivil not to stop and be killed," said Harry; "but we need be in
no hurry; if he didn't go off at first he is safe enough somewhere n