you let that
chance slip. It looks as though our big-game trip might pan out
something worth while, after all," observed Bluff.

"You do everything on a big scale out here in the Northwest, sir. The
fields of wheat are tremendous, the distances immense, the mountains
higher than any in the East, by long odds; and the game the biggest in
the whole country," remarked Frank.

"And in this bracing air we hope to raise the finest crop of boys in the
world. But let's return to the house, lads. It's time we had a bite, for
I'm sure your appetites must be sharpened by this little adventure."

The ranchman cast many a secret admiring glance toward Jerry as they
rode home. He fell back with Frank on purpose to speak his mind, while
the other three galloped on ahead, laughing and shouting, as boys off on
a vacation always do.

"I like that chap, Jerry," he remarked earnestly. "He's a lad after my
own heart. What he said about not wanting to shoot defenceless game gave
me a wrench, for we cherish notions along that same line up here in the
wilderness. Of course, the grizzly, as I said, does not come under that
law, for he's too terrible a customer to be given much rope."

"Sometimes he takes his own rope," laughed Frank, secretly delighted to
hear this honest praise of his chum.

"Which is quite true for you, Frank. That cowboy will not soon get over
the humiliation of having his lariat give way. He feels very sore about
it now," remarked the stockman, casting a side look toward where a
couple of his herders were wrangling over something as they brought up
the rear.

"I'm so glad you gave Jerry that chance. He's the most enthusiastic
sportsman I ever met, and so honorable in his dealings with the wearers
of fin, fur and feather. No danger of the woods ever being depopulated
while he's around," Frank said, with his customary generous view of
anything that concerned his chums.

"It was what you may call an inspiration. My first idea, of course, was
to cover the boy and face the bear. I did not doubt my own ability to
down him, but somehow I was tempted to take chances with the lad. I'm
glad now I did it. He stood the racket like a veteran. I'd be a happy
man if I'd only been left a boy like your chum for my own."

The ranchman spurred on ahead at this, and Frank made no effort to
overtake him, for he felt sure he had seen tears glistening in the
other's eyes, and could appreciate his feelings, for the stockman's only
child