chimney-top, and the smoke oozing out around him. Now to see how
much the prowler can stand for."

"He peeked out just then, and must have seen us, Hugh, because he
pulled in again," Bud shrilly cried. "Guess he don't think much
of human beings. He must have had some experience with the little
shooting sticks they seem to just point straight at him, and then
with the cough he feels an awful pain. P'raps he's a better
smoker than you think. What if he just declined to run the
gauntlet as long as we stand here."

"It's only a question of time," Hugh assured him. "He can only
stand for so much, and then he'll make the rush, no matter what
happens."

"The smoke's coming out thicker and thicker, let me tell you,"
Bud continued, fairly dancing in his nervous excitement. "If
he can stand that much longer I'll believe he's a regular old
salamander."

"He won't," Hugh assured him. "He's pretty nearly all in right
now. Twice we've seen him peek out as if he wanted to get the lay
of the land, so he could make his rush. The third time he's apt
to come. So everybody get your breath ready to let out a whoop
that'll make him think the end of the world has arrived for keeps."

"Look! there he comes, Hugh!"

Even as Bud said this a bulky object rushed headlong out of the
cabin door. It was the bear, doubtless already half-blinded with
the bitter smoke that smarted his eyes and created a panic in his
mind.

Immediately the two boys and the soldier set up a series of whoops
that made the forest ring. Ralph, too, joined in, and waved his
hat from the roof of the cabin, even as Hugh pressed the button, and
snapped off the lively scene, with the frightened bear in full retreat.

Bud outdid himself in shouting, he was so tickled over the success
of Ralph's plan. Twice he raised the double-barrel shotgun belonging
to Ralph, which the other had placed in his hands for safe-keeping
before starting to evict the unwelcome guest who had taken to using
their shack during their temporary absence. Of course after what
Hugh had said, about not wanting to injure the bear, backed up as
he had been by the third scout, it was far from Bud's intention to
pull either trigger, and wound the poor beast. But just like most
boys he wanted to boast afterwards as to what "terrible things" he
could have done had he cared to take the trouble.

The bear must have received more or less of a shock, what with the
smoke, and that volley of sh