d generosity."

They were soon on the way, straight down to the river and then up that
stream. John Barrow was in the lead, with Sam following. Jasper came
next, and Tom and Dick brought up the rear. As far as possible the guide
sought out a trail along the timber, where the snow was not so deep.
Here and there were bare spots, but at other places were deep drifts,
where they frequently got in up to their armpits.

"This is no joke!" gasped Sam, after floundering through an extra deep
drift. "I thought I was going out of sight that time."

"I trust we haven't much further to go," was Jasper Grinder's comment.
"I would give a hundred dollars to be back at Timber Run."

"It's your own fault you are here," retorted Sam.

"I might say the same of you," returned the former teacher sharply.

By noon John Barrow calculated they had covered half the distance to
Bear Pond. A sheltered nook was found between some rocks and trees, and
here they set fire to a mass of brushwood, that they might get warm
while they rested, and ate the last of the food on hand. There was no
wind, and the sun, shining as brightly as ever, made the surface of the
snow glitter like diamonds.

"I hope we find our stores at the cache undisturbed," said Dick, while
resting. "I am hungry for a change of diet. As soon as we get there I'm
going to make some biscuits and boil some beans."

"Gosh, but a plateful of beans would be fine!" cried Tom. "I can tell
you what," he added reflectively; "you want to do without things to
learn their real value."

On they went once more, this time slower than before, because both Sam
and Jasper Grinder showed great signs of weariness. They had to move
around a long bend of the stream, and for fear of getting into a deep
drift the guide did not dare to make a short cut. They passed the pole
set up by John Barrow and Dick at the forks of the stream, and then
headed directly for where the cache was located.

"When we get settled we can put up a regular hut," said John Barrow.
"Then we can be as comfortable, almost, as at home."

"I'm anxious to locate the treasure," said Tom, "We can--Gracious me!
Look there!"

They had come in sight of the cache, and now beheld two great black
bears standing over the loose stones, doing their best to scratch them
away and get at the party's stores!

CHAPTER XXVII.

BRINGING DOWN TWO BEARS.

"Bears!" burst out Sam, and started back in alarm.

"Bears!" shrieked Jasper