ther danger from the animal, on which he had turned the tables so
unexpectedly, Nick joined his sister, still carrying his torch as a
precaution in the event of bruin's changing his mind and making after
him.

But there was no danger of anything of the kind, and the bear was not
seen to look behind him, even to learn whether the pursuit was kept up.

"I guess I will give over my hunt for the rest of my clothes till some
better time," said Nick, once more taking the hand of Nellie and
starting up the bank of the stream which fed the pond, toward the bridge
that had burned some time before.

By carefully picking their path they reached it without mishap, being on
the southern side, so that it was not necessary to ford it in order to
continue the road homeward.

The structure was an ordinary one, consisting of a single uncovered
span, so that its loss was not serious, except on account of the
inconvenience it would cause.

The two stood several minutes looking upon the ruins, that were not very
extensive, but their chief interest centered around the carcass of the
mare lying at the bottom of the creek, where it had floated against the
shore.

The children were naturally attached to the animal, and there were tears
in their eyes, when, with a deep sigh, they turned away and climbed up
the steep bank to the level of the road and started for home.

They had reason to doubt their ability to force their way through the
several miles of forest remaining between them and the open country
beyond, but they were resolved to do their utmost, for they dreaded
staying any longer in the section where they had suffered and escaped so
much.

As has been stated, the fury of the conflagration had expended itself,
and there was nothing to be feared from the scorching flames, which had
confronted and endangered them shortly after they entered the woods, on
their return.

The road was strewn with burning debris, and many a time they were
forced to stop, in doubt whether they could get by the obstruction but
some way always opened: they would find a point where it could be
leaped, or they would flank it by a little circuit through the woods
themselves.

In this manner they toiled on until half the distance was passed, when
they were brought to a stand-still by a discovery which took away their
breath for the time.

They saw the ruins of something which they did not recognize until they
drew near, when they discovered that an ordi