ontaining crackers and cheese, and close by it was a portion of rabbit,
left over from the morning repast.

"Just what we want!" cried Tom. "Now, if we only had a gun----"

He broke off short, as a crashing outside greeted their ears. The noise
continued several seconds, then ceased abruptly.

"What do you suppose that was?" questioned Sam. "It can't be our enemies
returning."

"No, I think it was some wild animal--perhaps a wildcat."

Both looked around for some weapon with which to defend themselves, and
Sam caught sight of a double-barreled shotgun standing in a corner of the
cave. He ran for this, and as he did so the crashing outside was
continued.

"I see something under the brushwood!" whispered Tom, peeping out.
"Something big and black."

"It's a bear!" cried Sam, a minute later. "A black bear! And he is
coming this way!"

Both boys were astonished and bewildered, for they had not been looking
for such a big beast as this. Sam clutched the shotgun tightly, while
Tom ran to the fire and picked up the biggest brand he could hold.

The bear advanced to the center of the gully and looked up and down
suspiciously. Then he sniffed the air.

"He smells the carcass of the fox that lies outside," whispered Tom.

"Well, he must smell us, too, Tom. It's a wonder he doesn't run. Mr.
Barrow said bears up here were generally shy."

"I reckon he is pretty hungry. Here he comes for the fox meat now."

Tom was right. The bear was advancing with great care, sniffing the
snow-covered ground at every step. Once or twice he raised his head, as
if preparing to run at the first sign of alarm.

"I'd like to bring him down!" whispered Sam.

"You can't do it with the shotgun, Sam. Be quiet! We can be thankful if
he takes the fox meat and leaves us alone."

At last the bear reached the carcass. The two boys expected he would
snatch it up instantly and run away, but they were mistaken. The bear
sniffed it from end to end, and walked all around it.

"He's afraid of a trap, or something like that," whispered Tom. "They
are pretty cute."

At last the bear seemed satisfied, and he took the carcass up in his
mouth and started to walk off with it. But, instead of turning up or
down the gully, he came closer to the cave!

"My gracious, he's coming this way!" cried Sam. "Look out, Tom!"

His voice was so loud that the black bear heard it plainly. The beast
immediately dropped the fox meat and stood up on his hind legs. The