ld hunter kept striding on, and I wondered bow he could go so fast
without running. Presently we came to where the canyon forked. Hiram
started up the right-hand fork, then suddenly stopped, and, turning,
began to go back, carefully examining the ground.

"They've split on us," he explained. "The ole feller with the trap went
up the right-hand draw, an' the mother an' cub took to the left. Now,
youngster, can you keep your nerve?"

"I think so."

"Wal, you go after the ole feller. You can't miss him, an' he won't be
far. You'll hear him bellerin' long before you git to him, though he
might lay low, so you steer clear of big boulders an' thickets. Kill
him, an' then run back an' take up this draw. The she bear is cute an'
may give me the slip, but if she doesn't climb out soon I'll head her
off. Hurry on, now. Keep your eye peeled, an' you'll be safe as if you
were to home."

With that he disappeared round the corner of stone wall where the
canyon divided. I wheeled and went to the right. This wing of the canyon
twisted and turned and was full of stones. A shallow sheet of water
gleamed over its colored bed of gravel. The walls were straight up, and,
in places, bulged outward. I flinched at every turn in the canyon;
but, with rifle cocked and thrust forward, I went on. The cracks in the
walls, the boulders and pieces of cliff that obstructed my path, and the
occasional thickets--all made me halt with careful step and finger on
the trigger. I followed the splashes on the stones, which told me
that the bear had passed that way. As I went cautiously on I felt a
tightening at my throat. The light above grew dimmer. When I stopped to
listen it was so silent that I heard only the pounding of my heart and
my own quick breathing. I pressed on and on, going faster all the time
not that I felt braver, but I longed to end the suspense. Suddenly the
silence was broken by a threatening roar. It swept down on me, swelling
as it continued, and it seemed to fill the canyon. It shook my pulses,
it urged me to flight, but I could not move. Then as suddenly it ceased.

For a long moment I stood still, with no idea of advancing farther.
The clinking of a chain seemed to release my cramped muscles. Very
cautiously I peered around a projecting corner of wall. There sat a huge
black bear on his haunches holding up a great steel trap which clutched
one of his paws. It was such a strange sight that my fear was forgotten.
There was something