powerful embrace
and his hungry maw.

"He is going to climb up," came from Nellie's lips a few seconds later.
She was right. Bruin had attacked the tree trunk and now he was coming
up slowly, as though afraid of moving into some trap.

Dick did not answer, for talking would have done no good. He was
re-loading the pistol with all possible speed.

Crack! Dick had leaned down through the branches of the oak and taken
aim at one of those bloodshot eyes. There was a howl and a roar, and the
bear fell down with a crash that shook the forest. As to whether the
bullet had found that eye or not Dick could not tell, but certain it was
that once on the ground the bear picked himself up in short order and
started to run away.

"You hit him!" cried Nellie. "Oh, Dick, if only he don't come back!"

"He's not going away--very far," answered the boy. The shot had
encouraged him and his blood was up. A moment later Nellie was horrified
to behold him drop to the grass and make off after the beast.

"That bear will kill him sure!" she ejaculated. "Oh, Dick, come back!
please do!" she screamed.

A shot answered her, a shot which was quickly followed by another. A
minute of painful silence; then suddenly the bear staggered into view
with Dick at his heels.

"I've nailed him!" shouted the boy, joyfully, and another shot did the
work. With a groan the bear keeled over, gave a jerk or two, and died.

Nellie was in such a tremble she could scarcely descend from the tree.
When she did come down she found Dick hard at work cutting out a juicy
steak from the bear's flank.

"We'll have a breakfast fit for a king now," he said, with a little
laugh, to scatter his former nervousness. "Just wait till I light a
fire. I must gather the driest available sticks, so as to make as little
smoke as possible."

"Yes, we don't want our enemies to locate us," answered the girl, and
saw to it that every twig which went on the blaze which was kindled was
as dry as a bone.

In less than half an hour the steak had been done to a turn, and they
sat down to eat it. It was certainly a most informal meal, without
plates or platter, and only Dick's pocket knife to cut the steak with.
Yet neither had ever enjoyed a repast more. Having finished, they
procured a drink at a flowing stream behind them, and then Dick cut off
a chunk of the bear meat, wrapped it in a bit of skin and slung it over
his shoulder.

"We may want another meal of it before we reach c