CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

CHILDREN'S FOOTSTEPS AND BEARS' TRACKS--CHILDREN IN THE CUSTODY OF THE
BEARS--THE PLAN OF RESCUE--THE BOYS' PART--THE BIRD CALL--SUCCESS.

This was terrible news; and only Indians that have such perfect control
over themselves could have heard it without making an outcry. As it
was, Mustagan had to utter some warning words to maintain the perfect
silence that was desired. In a few sentences he quietly stated that the
children were not then running, and, judging by their footsteps, and the
broken branches of berry-bushes, from which they had been picking the
fruit, they were not frightened. He judged, also, from the tracks that
there were four bears, two large ones and two that were quite small.
What astonished him most of all was that the tracks were so numerous,
and seemed to say to him that both the bears and the children had
crossed and recrossed the place several times. When he made this
discovery he hid himself at once, for fear his presence might anger the
bears and cause them to destroy the children; he listened, but could
hear no sound.

After waiting quietly for a time he returned to the trail and followed
it until it entered among the dense bushes and great rocks. If the
light had not so quickly faded he could have easily followed them; as it
was, he was perplexed to know what to do. If he should come up to them
in such company, he was not sure how he would be received. So he
thought the best thing he could do was not to anger the bears, who were
evidently not disposed to hurt the children, and so he quietly withdrew
and came back to the camp.

Old hunters as they were, here was a new experience to almost every one
of them. Big Tom was the first to speak.

"My words are," said he, "that we go and tell the master and mistress at
once. It will comfort them to know the little ones are alive, even if
they are in such company. We shall yet get the children. As the bears
did not kill them at first, and there are plenty of berries, they will
not kill them soon."

To this suggestion of Big Tom's they all agreed, and immediately after
returned to the camp fire, where Mustagan, in his simple yet picturesque
way, told the story of his discovery.

The poor mother could only say:

"Thank God! He will yet restore to me my children."

Mr Ross's lips quivered, but crushing down his own fears he said, as he
comforted his sorrow-stricken wife:

"Yes, thank God! Perhaps he has made e