Four Boy Hunters Part 40

"This has been a long tramp for nothing," was Giant's comment, as they trudged along.

"Oh, I don't think so!" answered Whopper. "I think we have learned a good deal."

On the way back they could not resist the temptation to shoot what game came in their way and thus brought down several rabbits, a squirrel, four quail, and two wild ducks that chanced to show themselves near the end of the lake.

As they neared the cabin they had to pa.s.s the bear trap that had been set so many days. They heard a peculiar grunting.

"Listen!" cried Snap, coming to a halt. "What is that?"

"I am sure I don't know," said Shep. "Sounds like some beast in pain."

"Maybe it is something in the trap!" cried Giant, and moved forward on a run, before anybody could stop him.

As Giant drew in sight of the trap something caught his eyes that brought him stock still in wonder.

There, fast in the trap, lay a small bear, and close at hand was another bear, evidently trying to get the prisoner free!

"Look out there, Giant!" sang out Snap, as he, too, saw the situation.

"Two bears, by all that is lucky!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Whopper.

At the sounds of the boys' voices the free bear turned swiftly.

Evidently he was in a rage, and for a good reason, for the bear in the trap was his mate.

"He is coming for you!" cried Shep. What he said was true; the bear was indeed coming for Giant. He stood up on his hind legs and confronted the young hunter. A moment more and his powerful paw must have knocked Giant down and perhaps have killed the lad.

But Snap had somewhat recovered from his astonishment, and raising his shotgun quickly, he pulled the trigger.

The dose of shot took the bear in the side of the face and stung him so bitterly that he fell back a few steps. But this was only for the moment. Soon he gathered himself once more and then turned upon Snap.

"Shoot him!" cried the young leader of the gun club and a second later came the crack of the rifle that Shep carried. The bullet pierced the bear's side and he rolled over and over in pain.

"Good for you, Shep!" sang out Snap. "Shoot him again, somebody!"

For an answer, both Whopper and Giant fired their shotguns and the bear received both charges in his rump. Again he rolled over and over, uttering a roar that could be heard for a long distance.

He tried to arise and did so once, dragging himself toward Whopper, who lost no time in retreating.

By this time Snap was ready for another shot, and growing bolder, he watched his chance, ran in and let the bear have the buckshot directly between the eyes. Then Shep took a second shot also, hitting Bruin in the throat. This was too much for the bear, and with a quiver and a gasp he sank in a heap, and a moment later breathed his last.

"Is he---he dead?" gasped Giant, after the bear had been quiet for a full minute.

"I think so," answered Snap. "But don't go near him yet---he may be playing a trick on us."

"I am not going near him."

"The bear in the trap is alive!" called out Whopper, who had just made an examination.

All lost no time in reloading their weapons, and then they peered into the trap. The bear under the logs and stones gave a grunt of pain and rage.

"I'll fix her," said Snap, and, drawing close, let drive at the bear's head. It was a telling shot, and soon the bear stretched out, and then the battle with the two creatures came to an end.

"What a magnificent haul!" cried Giant, after they were certain both bears were dead.

"I wonder what Ham Spink and his crowd would say to this?" came from Snap.

"They wouldn't believe it unless they saw it," returned Whopper.

"Boys, do you know what I think? I think we ought to take those bears home."

"Just what I think, too," said Giant. "I want my mother to see them."

"Well, I am willing," answered Snap. "But I think we ought to visit Lake Cameron first and see if we can't find this Lusher Barrock."

"We can stop at Lake Cameron on the way," answered Whopper.

It was late in the day already, and by the time they had dragged the bears to camp it was night. As they sat around the camp-fire they talked matters over and decided to break camp the very next day. They had had about all the hunting they wished for the present, and getting the two bears "topped matters off," as Snap put it.

The bears were loaded into the boat and anch.o.r.ed out in the lake, and then the boys got supper and went to bed. Snap was soon asleep and so were Giant and Shep, and all slept soundly until about midnight, when the leader of the club awoke a start.

"Hullo! what's up now?" he called out, and this cry aroused Shep and Giant.

"What is it, Snap?"

"Where is Whopper?"

"I don't know where he is," answered Snap. "Listen!"

The three did so, and from a distance heard a groan and then a thrashing around in the bushes back of the cabin.

"Something is wrong, that is sure!" gasped Giant. "Whopper must be in trouble!"

"Come on and see," returned Snap, and catching up his gun he ran from the shelter. Shep and Giant were not slow in following.

When they got outside all had become quiet again, and they knew not in what direction to turn. There was no moon, but the stars shone like so many diamonds in the heavens.

"Where is he?" asked Shep, after a breathless pause.

"I don't know," answered Snap. "Hullo, Whopper!" he called out.

There was no reply to his shout and he moved into the bushes cautiously, with the others at his heels. Then, of a sudden, he came upon Whopper, who stood by a bush tugging away manfully.

"Get back!" murmured Whopper. "Get back, you beast! Say, fellows, this is the worst bear of the lot! Down he goes! That makes four bears for yours truly!"

"I know what's the matter!" shouted Snap, lowering his gun. "He has got the nightmare."

"Yes, and got it bad, too," put in Giant. "My! see him hustle with the bush!"

"Shall we wake him up?" asked Shep.

"No---it may not be good for him," answered Snap.