ould never have believed it--no, never--had anybody else told
him, that Big Waller had actually run away from a bear! He couldn't
bear to hear of it, and would not believe it though Waller himself said
it. As for Bertram, having filled the pages of his sketch-book, back
and front, he was compelled to take to miniature drawing in corners and
blank bits, and in this way began to book the entire region, and to
revel in his loved art.

Several weeks passed away, and during that time of peace and plenty, our
trappers had it all to themselves. They caught and killed numbers of
animals; stripped off, dried, and packed quantities of valuable furs;
ate enormous meals, with the gusto of men who had laboriously earned the
right to do so, and related stories and anecdotes enough to fill a huge
volume. In short, they enjoyed themselves beyond conception, and
Bertram agreed with March Marston in thinking that Bunyan's land of
Beulah could not have surpassed that delightful region.

But one day there came a small cloud on their blue sky of felicity. An
event occurred which rudely dispelled their pleasant dreams, filled
their hearts with anxiety, and finally broke up their camp in a way that
led to disastrous, though not altogether ruinous, consequences.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

BUSINESS UNPLEASANTLY INTERRUPTED--THE MOUNTAIN FORT IN DANGER--TRAPPERS
TO THE RESCUE--A RUDE MEETING WITH FOES IN THE DARK--A WILD RACE--MARCH
MEETS WITH A SEVERE MISFORTUNE.

One morning, just as the trappers were dropping into camp about the
usual breakfast hour, laden with the produce of the trap and the chase,
they were startled by the sudden appearance of a large band of mounted
Indians, who galloped to the top of a neighbouring mound, and, crowding
together, stood still to gaze upon the invaders of their hunting
grounds, for such they deemed the trappers, no doubt.

To snatch up their arms and run to a place of safety was the work of a
moment. It must not be supposed that such experienced men as Redhand
and Bounce were altogether unprepared for a surprise of this sort. On
the day of their arrival at the hunting ground, their first care had
been to select such a place for their camp as lay in close proximity to
some natural stronghold. Not ten paces from the camp fire there was a
sort of hollow in the ground, on the very summit of the mound on which
they were encamped. Here all their valuables had been placed, and round
the edge of the hollo