CHAPTER X.

A Castle on Brandywine 238

ILLUSTRATIONS.

“Balser was more fortunate in his aim, and gave the bear a mortal wound” _Frontispiece_

PAGE

Bass and sunfish and big-mouthed redeye 4

“A wildcat almost as big as a cow” 14

“Little Balser noticed fresh bear tracks, and his breath began to come quickly” 15

“Fresh bear tracks” 17

“Imagine ... his consternation when he saw upon the bank, quietly watching him, a huge black bear” 19

“The bear had a peculiar, determined expression about him” 21

“When the bear got within a few feet of Balser ... the boy grew desperate with fear, and struck at the beast with the only weapon he had—his string of fish” 25

“The bear had caught the fish, and again had climbed upon the log” 29

“He could hear the bear growling right at his heels, and it made him just fly” _facing_ 44

“Tige was told to go into the cave” _facing_ 48

“Each with a saucy little bear cub” _facing_ 52

“Down came Tom and Jerry from the roof” _facing_ 60

Tige and Prince swimming about the canoe _facing_ 74

“’Lordy, Balser! It’s the one-eared bear’” _facing_ 88

“’Let’s get out of here’” _facing_ 94

“Balser rushed into the fight” _facing_ 102

“Mischief! they never thought of anything else” 108

“Balser turned in time to see a great, lank, gray wolf emerge from the water, carrying a gander by the neck” 109

“Bang! went Balser’s gun, and the wolf ... paid for his feast with his life” 117

“Caught them by the back of the neck” 123

“The boys tied together the legs of the old wolves and swung them over the pole ... and started home leading the pups” 127

“These hives were called ‘gums’” 135

“The cubs went every way but the right way” _facing_ 146

“The bear rose to climb after the boy” _facing_ 160

“Liney thrust the burning torch into the bear’s face and held it there despite its rage and growls” _facing_ 168

“’Help! help!’ came the cry” _facing_ 176

“’Now, hold up the torch, Polly’” _facing_ 204

“Polly continued slowly toward the bear” _facing_ 212

“Imagine his consternation when he recognized the forms of Liney Fox and her brother Tom” 229

“He fell a distance of ten or twelve feet, ... and lay half stunned” 233

En route for the castle 244

The castle on the Brandywine 252

“Balser hesitated to fire, fearing that he might kill Tom or one of the dogs” 263

“Espied a doe and a fawn, standing upon the opposite side of the creek” 273

I.

THE BIG BEAR.

THE BEARS OF BLUE RIVER.