smissed, and turned away to search the woods,--the
constant terror of the village parents.

Happily the little party of prisoners in the schoolroom did not know
this, or they would have despaired.

A search was started in the woods; lanterns flashed through all the
paths and byways between the trees; men called, and women silently
cried, but of course no trace of the lost was found.

All night this was kept up, while, on the floor of the schoolroom, all
but the two or three older ones, with the completely exhausted
teacher, slept in what comfortless attitude they might.

Towards morning a bright thought came to Miss Brown. "They must think
we have left the schoolhouse," she thought; "and we must contrive to
let them know where we are. When the bear wakes up he will be hungry
again,"--with a shudder. Then the bright thought came, "Let us make a
fire in the stove; the smoke will be a sign."

There was no wood, of course, it being too warm for a fire; but there
were some papers and, if need be, books--and it was the first breath
of hope.

"But is there a match in the house?" was the appalling thought that
paralyzed her. She asked the boys. One thought he had some, and after
emptying his pockets of the miscellaneous collection that usually
fills a boy's pocket, succeeded in fishing out two worn and
draggled-looking matches which looked doubtful about lighting.

Miss Brown took them carefully, prepared some torn paper, and drew a
match across the stove; it sputtered--and flashed--and went out. A cry
of horror escaped her lips as, sheltering it in her hand, she tried
the second. It burned and the paper was lighted, and in a moment the
stove was in a glow.

"Miss Brown," whispered one of the older scholars, "I've heard of
bears being driven off by fire; we might light a stick and try it, if
he wakes up," nodding towards the still sleeping Bruin.

"Thank you--that is worth thinking of," said Miss Brown.

Now the smoke began to pour out of the chimney, and one of the tired
men who had been wandering the woods all night saw it.

He uttered a shout, "They're in the schoolhouse!"

Soon fifty men, on their way home in despair at finding no trace, were
about him.

"But the door is locked," said one man. "I tried that the first
thing."

"Well, somebody is there!" said one; "and we better break the door in,
and see who it is."

They went to the door and knocked, and then pounded, while those
inside shouted and cried