tion where they had stood
when the beast was first discovered. Then the bear dropped down once
more, and eyed them in a meditative way.

"He is making up his mind about the next move," said Tom. "I'll try him
with something new." And at the risk of burning his hand, he picked up
some small brushwood which was blazing fiercely and threw it at their
enemy.

The effect was as surprising as it was gratifying. The burning brands
struck the beast fairly on the nose, causing him to leap back in terror.
Then he uttered a grunt of dissatisfaction, turned, and sped, with
clumsy swiftness, up the gully and into the forest beyond.

"He is retreating!" cried Sam joyfully.

"Wait--don't be too sure," returned Tom, and, firebrands still in hand,
they watched until the bear was out of sight and they could hear nothing
more of him.

"My, but aint I glad he's gone!" said the youngest Rover, with a sigh of
relief.

"So am I glad, Sam. I was almost afraid both of us were doomed to be
chewed up."

"What shall we do next?"

"I guess we had better get out--as soon as you've reloaded the gun.
Wonder where the ammunition is?"

Both instituted a search, and soon a box was brought to light,
containing not only ammunition, but also a big hunting knife.

"I'll appropriate the knife," said Tom. "It's not as good as a gun or
pistol, but it is better than nothing."

Thus armed they set forth without further delay, fearful that their
enemies might return at any moment to recapture them. As the bear had
gone up the gully they went down, and they did not come to a halt until
they had placed at least quarter of a mile between themselves and the
caves. For some distance they kept on a series of bare rocks, thus
leaving no trail behind.

"I reckon we are clear of them for the time being," observed Tom, as he
came to a halt. "And that being so, the next question is Where are Dick
and Mr. Barrow?"

"The best we can do is to try to find Perch River, to my way of
thinking," came from Sam. "If we can find that and we stick to it, we'll
be sure to land at Bear Pond, sooner or later."

"It seems to me Bear Pond ought to be close at hand," said Tom. "We've
seen the bear anyway, if not the pond." And at this both Sam and he gave
a short laugh.

An hour later found them tramping along the edge of a cliff overlooking
a broad valley, in the center of which was a winding stream almost
hidden by the woods on either side.

"Now, if we were only sure