if he deplored the loss of an opportunity
to embellish his album of the camping-out trip with more fetching views.

"Well, perhaps you could hardly call it that, seeing that he came looking
for me, trying to push into the hollow tree where I had sought shelter
from the storm."

"That sounds mighty interesting--trying to get in, too, was he? And I
suppose you objected vigorously?" suggested Frank, falling down by the
fire and assuming a listening attitude.

"I knew I hadn't lost any bear, you see; and, besides, there wasn't room
for two in that old stump. So I asked him to please go away," said Jerry,
with a wink.

"Of course he did just that?" queried Will.

"After I had shouted, and fired my gun through the hole. He was somewhat
surprised at such a rude reception, for I guess that stump was one of his
dens, and he thought he had the first claim on it."

"Well, start in now with your getting over at the camp of Jesse, and give
us all the thrills you want. You've got proof about the deer and the
wild dogs; but perhaps we'll have to consider the story about the bear,"
laughed Frank.

"And Andy Lasher's repentance; that is the most surprising of all,"
declared Bluff, shaking his head as though he could not understand
it at all.

They sat there spellbound while Jerry skimmed over the entire account of
his adventures since quitting the camp. As the reader already knows what
befell him, it would be useless repeating the story. The three chums,
however, listened and exchanged looks with one another as some
particularly thrilling incident came along, as though they could imagine
Jerry facing that big yellow brute that chased him round and round the
tree until he was dizzy enough to drop ere he remembered that he had a
gun in his hand.

"I move we go out there right after lunch and get the balance of the
venison. We may not have another chance to lay in a stock of fresh meat
all the time we're up here," proposed Will, finally.

"Oh! I can see that you're doubting my story about the dogs, and
wondering where under the sun I ran across these four tails. All right,
fellows, I'll do the best I can to take you to the place. Perhaps if we
went to old Jesse he could guide us there much better," declared the
mighty hunter, calmly.

"He talks as though he courts an investigation," remarked Frank; "and
in justice to his reputation, I think we ought to settle this matter
without delay. So I'm in favor of going, for one; besid