ul howl instantly woke the mountain silence, as Washington let
go and rolled from under. The bear, as much frightened as was Wash,
turned and charged across the camp. He met Emma Dean head on, and she
went down under the onslaught.

"It's a bear! Shoot him!" screamed Emma.

"No!" shouted Grace. "He is dragging Elfreda. Don't shoot!" Grace's
eyes by this time had become adjusted to the uncertain light and her
mind instantly comprehended the situation, so far as the fact that her
companion was being dragged was concerned, though she did not realize
that it was her rope that was around the neck of the frightened animal.

Young Bruin went through Grace's tent, Elfreda following him like a
projectile. Both emerged from the ruins on the other side and headed for
the bush, with the Overland Riders in full pursuit.

"Throw yourself on the rope and grab it!" panted Grace, as Hippy ran
past her.

"Let go!" he shouted to Miss Briggs, but, though Elfreda was willing to
do so, she could not. Neither could she summon enough breath to answer.

"Snub the rope around something," urged Grace.

Hippy reached and passed Elfreda and threw himself on the rope, as he
thought. The bear, having made a sudden turn to get away from him,
caused Hippy to miss the rope by a few feet. The rope tripped Grace who
landed flat on the ground.

It was at this juncture that Anne and Nora reached the scene, and the
next instant they too were tripped by the rope. The entire Overland
party were now floundering about in the bushes, and Washington
Washington was up a tree, clinging to it, wide-eyed, as he listened to
the uproar below him.

Darting this way and that, the bear finally raced around a tree with
Miss Briggs following. The purchase thus given to her served to check
the progress of the animal. Hippy took instant advantage. He threw
himself on the rope, and, this time, succeeded in grasping it with both
hands.

[Illustration: "Get Her Loose."]

"Quick! Get her loose," he panted, holding to the lasso with all his
strength, but feeling it slowly slipping through his hands, for the bear
possessed greater pulling strength than did Hippy.

Grace lost no time in freeing the rope from Elfreda's hands and arm.

"Drag her away. Lively!" she urged.

Anne and Nora gave instant obedience, and the instant Elfreda was free
of the rope, Grace quickly snubbed it about the trunk of the tree.

"Let go, Hippy," she called. "I think I can hold him till yo