d not for the meat!
My people kill for meat alone, and they could live here forever and
the game would still be as thick as ever it was. It's the whites who
destroy the new countries."

"I'm beginning to like this country more and more," said Jesse,
frankly. "Back in the mountains sometimes I was pretty badly scared,
the water roared so much all the time. But here the country looks
easier, and the water isn't so strong. I think we'll have the best
part of our trip now."

At that instant the sound of a rifle-shot rang out from some point
below them on the river. The dugout had just swung out of sight around
the bend. "That's Rob's rifle!" exclaimed John.

"Very likely," said Alex. "Bear, I suppose."

The crew of the _Jaybird_ bent to their paddles and presently passed
in turn about the sharp bend and came up alongside the dugout, which
lay along shore in some slack water. Rob was looking a trifle
shamefaced.

"Did you miss him?" asked John, excitedly.

"Well," said Rob, "I suppose you'd call it a miss--he was running up
the bank there about half a mile away. You can see him going yet, for
that matter."

Sure enough, they could, the animal by this time seeming not larger
than a dog as it scrambled up among the bushes on the top of the steep
precipice which lined the bank of the river.

"He must have been feeding somewhere below," said Rob, "and I suppose
heard us talking. He ran up that bank pretty fast. I didn't know it
was so hard to shoot from a moving boat. Anyhow, I didn't get him."

"He'll was too far off," said Moise. "But those boy she'll shoot right
on his foot all the time. I think she'll hit him there."

"Never mind, Mr. Rob," said Alex. "We've got plenty of river below us,
and we're sure to see more bear. This river is one of the best
countries for black bear there is this side of the Hay or the Liard."

Both boats proceeded at a leisurely pace for the remainder of this
stage, no one being anxious to complete the journey to the Peace River
Landing any earlier than was necessary, for the journey down the river
was of itself interesting and pleasant. All the landscape continued
green, although it was late in the summer. The water, however, was now
less brilliant and clear than it had been in the mountains, and had
taken on a brownish stain.

They encamped that night at a little beach which came down to the
river and offered an ideal place for their bivouac. Tall pines stood
all about, and there w