re going to make much of a start to-day, Griggs," said
Chris, with a twinkle in his eyes.

"I know I'm not, squire," said the American. "It seems a shame to
neglect human beings for the sake of horses, but it has to be done.
Here, I meant to have a few birds for a roast this evening, and now it's
only tea and fried bacon. But it might be worse, eh?"

"Ever so much," replied Chris. "But I am hungry."

"I say," said Ned, laughingly, "oughtn't some of us to go again and try
to find the bear, while the others light the fire and boil the kettle?"

"No," said Chris. "We had enough bear last night."

"Yes," said Ned, "but that was live bear; I meant slices of him to
frizzle in the pan. Griggs says bear's ham is good."

"So it is, squire, and if we had a haunch of the brute I'd set you an
example to eat it."

"What does it taste like?" said Chris.

"Well, it's rather hard to say. A good fat bear's ham looks rather like
a bit of a pig salted and dried; but it doesn't taste like it a bit."

"Like what, then?" cried Chris.

"Something like a mutton ham that has been trying to make-believe that
it had grown on a pig's hind-quarters. 'Tain't bad, but don't you two
get letting your mouths water, because you'll get none to-night. It's
tea and cake and a bit o' bacon. That's our tackle this time, and very
glad I shall be to get even that."

In another hour they were quietly enjoying the simple meal, during which
the doctor said--

"An early start in the morning, boys. You'll be able to sleep to-night,
Chris, without dreaming about porcupines and skunks, which were all
consequences of indigestion and the later supper."

"But the bear wasn't, father," said Chris quickly.

"Well, no," said the doctor dryly; "we'll leave out the bear."

"You ought to include it in your lesson on indigestion, though," said
Bourne, giving himself a rub. "I didn't eat too heartily last night,
but I suffered horribly from bear lying heavily upon my chest."

"My watch to-night," said the doctor; and soon after the camp was once
more in a state of repose, but Chris Lee had chosen a different position
for his bed.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

THINKING OF SUPPER.

The party was astir soon after daybreak, nothing having interfered with
the night's repose, and the first thing seen to, was the state of the
horses and baggage animals.

They too were all the better for the rest, but the result of the
examination was a discussion betwee