g at their head, the scout master keeping step
alongside the column.

Some of the older people had come to see them off. Others hurried to
the open doors and windows at the sound of the horn and the cheers, to
wave their hands and give encouraging smiles.

It was a proud time for those boys. They stood up as straight as
ramrods, and held their heads with the proud consciousness that for the
time being they were the center of attraction.

There were ten in all starting forth. More might have gone, only that
no scout not wearing the khaki could accompany the expedition; and
besides the members of the Black Bear Patrol, Rob Shaefer and Stanley
Ackerman were the only two who could boast of a uniform.

A number of boys accompanied them for a mile or so, to give them a good
send-off; after which they either returned home or else went over the
river fishing.

For the first two miles or so every one seemed to be standing the tramp
well. Then as it began to get warmer, and the pack, somehow, seemed to
increase in weight, several scouts lagged a little.

Seeing this, and understanding that it is always an unwise thing to
push a horse or a human being in the beginning of a long race, Mr.
Witherspoon thought it best to slacken their pace.

They were in no particular hurry to get anywhere; and once heels began
to get sore from the rubbing of their shoes, it would not be easy to
cure them again. The wise scout master was a believer in the motto that
"an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure."

Ahead of them loomed the lofty elevation that possibly from its shape
had long been known as Big Bear Mountain. The boys had tried to learn
just how it came by that name--and naturally this subject interested
them more than ever as they found themselves drawing steadily closer to
its foot.

"It doesn't look so _very_ much like a bear to me," George Kingsley
remarked, as the discussion waxed warmer. Though for that matter George
always did find some reason to object to almost everything.

"I was told by an old settler who ought to know," ventured Tom, "that
long ago numerous bears lived in the rocky dens of the mountain, and
that's how it came to be called as it is."

"Must have been years and years ago then," said Josh, "because I never
remember hearing about a bear being seen hereabouts. I often used to
look for bear tracks when I was out hunting, but of course I never
found one."

"Wouldn't it be a great thing if w