and hitched
their horses to the branches; others boldly dashed into the cane,
hurrying to the spot, with the hope of having first shot.

Why was Ike's rifle not heard if he saw the bear treed? This puzzled
some. It was explained when we got up. Ike's words were figurative.
The bear had not taken shelter in a tree, but a hollow log, and, of
course, Ike had not yet set eyes on him. But there was the log, a huge
one, some ten or more feet in thickness, and there was the hole, with
the well-beaten track leading into it. It was his den. He was there to
a certainty.

How to get him out? That was the next question.

Several took their stations, guns in hand, commanding the entrance to
the hollow. One went back upon the log, and pounded it with the butt of
his gun. To no purpose. Bruin was not such a fool as to walk out and
be peppered by bullets.

A long pole was next thrust up the hollow. Nothing could be felt. The
den was beyond reach.

Smoking was next tried, but with like success. The bear gave no sign of
being annoyed with it. The axes were now brought from the waggon. It
would be a tough job--for the log (a sycamore) was sound enough except
near the heart. There was no help for it, and Jake and Lanty went to
work as if for a day's rail splitting.

Redwood and the Kentuckian, both good axemen, relieved them, and a deep
notch soon began to make its appearance on each side of the log. The
rest of us kept watch near the entrance, hoping the sound of the axe
might drive out the game. We were disappointed in that hope, and for
full two hours the chopping continued, until the patience and the arms
of those that plied the axe were nearly tired out.

It is no trifling matter to lay open a tree ten feet in diameter. They
had chosen the place for their work guided by the long pole. It could
not be beyond the den, and if upon the near side, of it, the pole would
then be long enough to reach the bear, and either destroy him with a
knife-blade attached to it, or force him out. This was our plan, and
therefore we were encouraged to proceed.

At length the axes broke through the wood and the dark interior lay
open. They had cut in the right place, for the den of the bear was
found directly under, but no bear! Poles were inserted at both
openings, but no bear could be felt either way. The hollow ran up no
farther, so after all there was no bear in the log.

There were some disappointed faces about--and