ered, in a low tone. "Dr--dr--drop down, all of
you!"

The others saw that he was much in earnest, and immediately sank down
behind the trees and rocks. Then all gazed inquiringly at the former
story-teller of Oak Hall.

"It's the be--be--bear!" spluttered Shadow. "Sa--say, don't you think we
had be--be--better run for it?"

"The bear! Where is it?" demanded Dave.

"I saw him just lift his head up among the rocks yonder," returned
Shadow. "Say, he looked like an awful big fellow!"

"Well, if he is there, you bet we are not going to run away from him!"
declared Phil. "Come on, let's see if we can't shoot him."

"Wait a minute, Phil," advised Dave. "If the bear is among yonder rocks,
as Shadow says, we had better spread out a little, and thus get a better
chance at him."

Seeing that his companions were not frightened, Shadow regained some of
his composure and followed them, although keeping a little to the rear.
With great caution, and holding their firearms ready for use, the whole
crowd of boys crossed the clearing and gained the first of the rocks
beyond. Fortunately, the breeze was coming from ahead of them, thus
carrying their scent away from where the bear was supposed to be.

It had been agreed that when necessary Dave should give the signal to
fire. He was slightly in advance, and now with great caution he looked
over some rocks just ahead of him. The sight that met his gaze was an
interesting one. There was a slight depression there, partly filled with
brushwood, and in the midst of this stood a big bear. He had his head
down in a hole, and was digging out various things with his forepaws,
flinging them to one side and behind him. Out came a kettle, a
frying-pan, some knives and forks, cups, saucers, a pie-plate, a
dishpan, and numerous other articles, which clattered over the rocks.

"Great hambones, Dave! what kind of a noise is that?" asked Phil, who
was beside our hero.

"It's our stolen stuff, that's what it is, Phil!" cried Dave. "Those
burglars must have thrown the stuff in that hole!"

"But what would the bear be doing among that stuff?" questioned Luke.

"He's after grub," answered our hero. "They must have thrown some of the
food in there with the other stuff. Come on, boys, get ready to fire!"

Fortunately for the lads, the bear was so interested in what he was
trying to accomplish that he did not notice their approach. The noise of
the flying kettles and pans drowned out the voices.