outs greeting his appearance outside
the cabin; for the way he galloped away was indeed comical.

Hugh laughed heartily, and then as Ralph jumped off the low roof of
the shack to join them, he complimented the one-time trapper on his
knowledge of Bruin's weak spots.

"Oh! that's an old story," Ralph declared. "You never want to
forget that all savage animals, except, perhaps the two-horned
rhinoceros, which of course we don't have in this country, are
afraid of fire. With a blazing torch you can pass safely through
a woods where half a dozen hungry panthers are jumping about through
the trees following you, but nine times out of ten not daring to
make a leap as long as you swing that fire stick around your head."

"Is that so?" Bud remarked; and then quickly added: "But how about
the tenth time, Ralph?"

"Oh! well," said the other, with a chuckle, "I guess they might take
chances of the fire, and get you the tenth time, Bud. But it's the
best thing you can ever do if you're besieged by wolves, or any
wild animals."

"Well," Hugh interrupted, "now that our unwelcome visitor has
taken his departure, and the cabin can be entered, let's get what
truck we have left there together, and be heading for the road."

They found that the bear had made inroads with regard to some of
their provisions, but as they happened to be homeward bound it did
not matter much. The rest of the things they gathered up, and were
again ready for a continuance of their journey home.

Once more they were on the tramp. Having nothing to carry, made
things very easy for all hands. The miles they had to cover before
reaching the road that would take them back to town did not appall
them in the least, for they were used to making long hikes; besides,
they had so much to talk about that almost before realizing it
they had arrived at the first sign of civilization in the shape
of the turnpike.

Half a mile down this road was a farmhouse, where Hugh fancied they
might hire some sort of conveyance to take them home. If this
could not be had, possibly the up-to-date farmer had telephone
connections with town, and over the wire they might influence the
owner of the livery stable to send out a rig to take care of them.

They were spared this long wait, however, because luckily enough
the farmer happened to be going in town for supplies and readily
made terms with the scouts to carry them and their bundles.

So they said good-by to the soldie