is!" whispered the doctor's son excitedly, and pointed
down to the pool at the foot of the falls. The black bear was
there, getting a drink.

"We can't take a picture from here," said Giant disappointedly. "What
shall we do---fire?"

"Oh, we ought to have a picture of him," pleaded Shep. "It would
be just the thing for our collection."

"Let me suggest something," said Snap. "I haven't any camera, so
I'll stay here. You two can make a half circle and come up below
and kind of head the bear off. If he starts to run before you get
ready I'll fire at him."

So it was agreed, and Shep and Giant hurried off without delay,
making a wide detour through the woods and over the rocks. They
could not help making a little noise, but this was, as they rightfully
reasoned, drowned out by the falling of the waters.

In the meantime Snap kept careful watch of the bear. The animal took
his time drinking, raising his head several times to look around him.
But he did not turn his gaze upward, and consequently did not
discover the young hunter, who stood with weapon aimed, ready to fire
at a moment's warning.

Fully five minutes passed, and then the bear stretched himself and
commenced to sniff the air. Then, of a sudden, he arose on his hind
legs to get a better look at his surroundings.

"This is the time they ought to get their pictures," thought Snap.

An instant later he saw something fluttering in the bushes below
the pool. Shep and Giant were there and had their cameras in
action. The bear continued to stand upright, but presently he
dropped on all fours and began to lumber away from the brook at a
good rate of speed.

To have waited longer would have been foolish, and taking careful
aim, Snap fired his shotgun twice. Scarcely had the two reports rung
out than Giant also fired, followed, a few seconds later, by the
doctor's son.

The aims of all three of the young hunters were true, and the bear
received such a peppering of buckshot that he was seriously if not
mortally wounded. He dropped down, dragged himself up again, and
roared with rage and pain.

"Give him another!" yelled Snap as he started to reload.

Giant was the first to run into the opening, and as the bear saw
the youth he snarled viciously and showed his teeth. He tried to
rush at the boy, but Giant discharged the second barrel of his
shotgun and the charge took the bear in the head. Then the doctor's
son fired again, and hit the animal