CHAPTER III

A SHADOW OVER THE HOMESTEAD

THERE was no such thing as catching Dick unprepared. No doubt he had before now considered just what should be done in such an emergency.

Even while the excited Roger was speaking, Dick had acted. Of course the only thing that could be done in order to give the descending bear a fright was to fire a shot into his hindquarters at close range. No bear could stand that, Dick felt certain. The only thing that gave the boy cause for concern was that the animal might have pushed into the opening so far that, in his alarm, he would lose his grip above, and come down upon them, crushing both under his weight.

The report of Dick's rifle sounded like a peal of thunder. There was a tremendous clawing noise above, and, for a brief interval, Dick's heart was in his throat.

Then the clawing ceased inside the hollow tree, and, at the same time, Roger's voice rang out.

"He's climbed out in a bigger hurry than he came in, Dick! You gave him a pain that time. He must think hornets have built a nest in his old den, and you won't get that smart bear coming back here in a hurry again. There, I heard him strike the ground! Perhaps you hit him harder than you meant to, Dick, and we might get him for the larder, if we wanted!"

"Not much chance of that when I had only his hindquarters to shoot into," the other declared; "but, all the same, he's skipped out, and taken to the woods. What's a little rain to a furry coat like his, after sleeping all winter? But one thing is sure, Roger, the rain is slackening up."

"Yes," added the other, "and the wind, too; for it doesn't howl as it