diff options
Diffstat (limited to '16472.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 16472.txt | 7699 |
1 files changed, 7699 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/16472.txt b/16472.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9cd6af7 --- /dev/null +++ b/16472.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7699 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Through Forest and Fire, by Edward Ellis + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Through Forest and Fire + Wild-Woods Series No. 1 + +Author: Edward Ellis + +Release Date: August 8, 2005 [EBook #16472] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THROUGH FOREST AND FIRE *** + + + + +Produced by Bethanne M. Simms, Janet Blenkinship and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +[Illustration: Book Cover] + + + +_WILD-WOODS SERIES--No. 1._ + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: "Heavenly Father! please take care of me," prayed +Nellie.] + + +THROUGH FOREST AND FIRE + + +BY + +EDWARD S. ELLIS, + +AUTHOR OF "YOUNG PIONEER SERIES," "LOG CABIN +SERIES," "DEERFOOT SERIES," "WYOMING +SERIES," ETC., ETC. + + +[Illustration] + + +PHILADELPHIA: +PORTER & COATES. + + +COPYRIGHT, 1891, + +BY + +PORTER & COATES. + + + + +CONTENTS. + +CHAPTER PAGE + + I.--NICK, 5 + + II.--SCHOOL DAYS, 14 + + III.--A MATHEMATICAL DISCUSSION, 21 + + IV.--LOST, 29 + + V.--THE PARTY OF SEARCH, 37 + + VI.--GROPING IN DARKNESS, 47 + + VII.--AN ALARMING DISCOVERY, 55 + + VIII.--STARTLING FOOTPRINTS, 63 + + IX.--THE LITTLE WANDERER, 69 + + X.--IN GREAT DANGER, 79 + + XI.--"GOTT SEI DANK!" 88 + + XII.--OMINOUS PREPARATIONS, 96 + + XIII.--THE BEAR HUNTERS, 103 + + XIV.--A RECRUIT, 113 + + XV.--A SURPRISE, 119 + + XVI.--THE DINNER IN THE WOODS, 126 + + XVII.--A TEST OF MARKSMANSHIP, 132 + +XVIII.--A QUAIL, 139 + + XIX.--AN UNEXPECTED LESSON, 145 + + XX.--BOWSER PROVES HIMSELF OF SOME USE, 152 + + XXI.--FACE TO FACE, 158 + + XXII.--THE "VACANT CHAIR," 165 + + XXIII.--HUNTING A BUCK, 171 + + XXIV.--HUNTED BY A BUCK, 176 + + XXV.--THE CAMP FIRE, 183 + + XXVI.--AN UNEXPECTED ATTACK, 190 + + XXVII.--WAS IT A JOKE? 196 + + XXVIII.--THE TRAIL OF THE BEAR, 205 + + XXIX.--"HELP! HELP!" 209 + + XXX.--A FRIEND IN NEED, 216 + + XXXI.--THE "DARK DAY" OF SEPTEMBER, 1881, 222 + + XXXII.--THE BURNING FOREST, 231 + + XXXIII.--THROUGH THE FIRE, 246 + + XXXIV.--CALLING IN VAIN, 248 + + XXXV.--WHAT FRIGHTENED NELLIE, 257 + + XXXVI.--AN UNWELCOME PASSENGER, 266 + + XXXVII.--A BRAVE STRUGGLE, 275 + +XXXVIII.--BEAR AND FORBEAR, 283 + + XXXIX.--CONCLUSION, 292 + + +THROUGH FOREST AND FIRE; + +OR, + +"God Helps Them that Help Themselves." + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +NICK. + + +Nicholas Ribsam was a comical fellow from his earliest babyhood, and had +an original way of doing almost everything he undertook. + +When he became big enough to sit on the porch of the humble little home, +where he was born, and stare with his great round eyes at the world as +it went by, that world, whether on horseback, in carriage, or on foot, +was sure to smile at the funny-looking baby. + +Nick, although born in western Pennsylvania, was as thoroughly Dutch as +if he had first opened his eyes on the banks of the Zuyder Zee, in the +lowlands of Holland. His parents had come from that part of the world +which has produced so many fine scholars and done so much for science +and literature. They talked the language of the Fatherland, although +they occasionally ventured on very broken English for the instruction of +the boy and girl which heaven had given them. + +When Nick was a year old, he seemed as broad as he was long, and his +round, red cheeks, big, honest eyes, and scanty hair, which stood out in +every direction, always brought a smile to whomsoever looked at him. + +"That's the Dutchest baby I ever saw!" exclaimed a young man, who, as he +threw back his head and laughed, expressed the opinion of about every +one that stopped to admire the youngster. + +When we add that Nick was remarkably good natured, his popularity will +be understood. Days and weeks passed without so much as a whimper being +heard from him. If his mother forgot she was the owner of such a prize, +and allowed him to remain on the porch until he was chilled through or +half famished, she was pretty sure to find him smiling, when she +suddenly awakened to her duties respecting the little fellow. + +Several times he tipped over and rolled off the porch, bumping his head +against the stones. A hoarse cry instantly made known the calamity but +by the time he was snatched up (often head downward) his face was +illumined again by his enormous grin, even though the big teardrops +stood on his cheeks. + +When he grew so as to be able to stand with the help of something which +he could grasp, a board about a foot and a half high was placed across +the lower part of the open door to prevent him getting outside. + +The first day fat little Nick was confronted with this obstruction he +fell over it, out upon the porch. How he managed to do such a wonderful +thing puzzled father and mother, who half believed some person or animal +must have "boosted" him over; but, as there was no other person in sight +and they did not own a dog, the explanation was not satisfactory. + +True, they had a big Maltese cat, but he was hardly strong enough, even +if he had the disposition, to hoist a plump baby over such a gate, out +of pure mischief. + +But the most remarkable thing took place the next week, when Nick not +only fell out of the door and over the obstruction, but a few minutes +later fell in again. In fact, it looked as if from that time forward +Nick Ribsam's position was inverted almost as often as it was upright. + +"There's one thing I want my little boy to learn," said the father, as +he took him on his knee and talked in the language of his Fatherland +"and that is, 'God helps them that help themselves.' Don't ever forget +it!" + +"Yaw, I ish not forgots him," replied the youngster, staring in the +broad face of his parent, and essaying to make use of the little English +he had picked up. + +The good father and mother acted on this principle from the beginning. +When Nick lost his balance he was left to help himself up again; when he +went bumping all the way down the front steps, halting a moment on each +one, his father complacently smoked his long pipe and waited to see how +the boy was going to get back, while the mother did not think it worth +while to leave her household duties to look at the misfortunes of the +lad. + +"God helps them that help themselves." + +There is a great deal in this expression, and the father of Master +Nicholas Ribsam seemed to take in the whole far-reaching truth. "You +must do everything you possibly can," he said, many a time; "you must +use your teeth, your hands, and your feet to hang on; you must never let +go; you must hammer away; you must always keep your powder dry; you must +fight to the last breath, and all the time ask God to help you pull +through, and _He'll do it!_" + +This was the creed of Gustav Ribsam and his wife, and it was the creed +which the children drew in with their breath, as may be said; it was +such a grand faith that caused Nick to develop into a sturdy, +self-reliant, brave lad, who expected to take his own part in the battle +of life without asking odds from any one. + +The parents of our hero and heroine proved their faith by their works. +By hard, honest toil and economy, they had laid up a competence which +was regularly invested each year, and of which the children were not +allowed to know anything, lest it might make them lazy and unambitious. + +The little house and fifty acres were paid for, and the property was +more than sufficient to meet the wants of the family, even after the +youngsters became large enough to go to school. + +The morning on which young Nick Ribsam started for the country school, a +half mile away, was one which he can never forget. He was six years old, +and had picked up enough of the English language to make himself +understood, though his accent was of that nature that it was sure to +excite ridicule on the part of the thoughtless. + +As Nick had a large head, he wore of necessity a large cap, with a long +frontispiece and with a button on the top. His coat was what is called a +"roundabout," scarcely reaching to his waist, but it abounded with +pockets, as did the vest which it partly inclosed. His trousers were +coarse, thick, and comfortable, and his large boots were never touched +by blacking, Nick's father having no belief in such nonsense, but +sticking to tallow all the time. + +Nick carried a spelling book and slate under his arm, and, as he started +off, any one looking at him would have been struck by his bright eyes, +ruddy cheeks, and generally clean appearance. As he was so very good +natured, he was certain to become quite an acquisition to the school. + +There are no more cruel, or perhaps thoughtless people in the world than +a number of school-boys, under certain conditions. The peculiar dress +and the broken language of little Nick excited laughter at once, and +this soon turned into ridicule. + +Nick was beset continually at recess and at noon by the boys, who +immediately christened him "Dutchy." He laughed and did not seem to mind +it, for his philosophy was that no words applied to him could injure +him, and so long as the boys kept their hands off he did not care. + +Among the pupils was Herbert Watrous, a spruce young gentleman from the +city, who dressed better than the others, and who threw out hints about +the sparring lessons he had taken at home, and his wish that he might +soon have a chance to show his playmates how easily he could vanquish an +opponent, much larger than himself, by reason of his "science." + +He was fully four years older than Nick, and much taller--a fact which +Herbert regretted as the Pennsylvania Hollander was too insignificant +for him to pick a quarrel with. + +But that was no reason, as he looked at his privileges in this life, why +he should not play the tyrant and bully over the honest little fellow +and he proceeded at once to make life unbearable to Nicholas. + +He began the cry of "Dutchy," and, finding that it did not disturb the +serenity of the lad, he resorted to more active measures on the way home +from school. + +He began by knocking off his hat, and when Nick looked at him in a +surprised way and asked why he did it, the city youth assumed a +pugilistic attitude and answered, "Greens; what are you going to do +about it, Dutchy?" + +"Be careful of him," whispered one of the boys, who felt some sympathy +for Nick in his persecutions; "he's _science_." + +"I don't care vat he ain't," replied Nick, beginning to lose his temper; +"if he don't lets me be, he'll got into trouble." + +Just then Nick started to overtake a lad, who tapped him on the back and +invited him to play a game of tag. As he passed close to Herbert, that +boy threw out his foot and Nick went sprawling headlong, his book and +slate flying from under his arm, while his cap shot a dozen-feet in +another direction. + +The other boys broke into laughter, while several of the girls cried out +that it was a shame. + +Nick picked himself up, and putting on his cap, turned about to ask +Herbert what he meant by such cruelty, when he was confronted by the +bully, who had thrown himself into his fancy pugilistic posture, and +with one eye shut and his tongue thrust out, said: + +"What are you going to do about it, Dutchy?" + +"I'll show you vot I do!" + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +SCHOOL DAYS. + + +Nicholas Ribsam proceeded to show Master Herbert Watrous what he meant +to do about it. + +Paying no heed to the formidable attitude of the city youth, Nick rushed +straight upon him, and embracing him about the waist so as to pinion his +arms, he threw him flat upon the ground with great emphasis. Then, while +Herbert lay on his face, vainly struggling to rise, Nick sat down +heavily on his back. Although he could have used his fists with great +effect, Nick declined to do so; but, rising some six or eight inches, he +sat down on him again, and then repeated the performance very fast, +bounding up and down as a man is sometimes seen to do when a horse is +trotting; descending each time on the back of Herbert with such vigor +that the breath was almost forced from his body. + +"Let me up!" shouted the victim, in a jerky, spasmodic manner, as the +words were helped out; "that ain't the right way to fight: that isn't +fair." + +"It suits me better as nefer vas," replied the grinning Nick, banging +himself down on the back of the struggling Herbert, until the latter +began to cry and ask the boys to pull Nick off. + +No one interfered, however, and when the conqueror thought he had +flattened out the city youth to that extent that he would never acquire +any plumpness again, he rose from his seat and allowed Herbert to climb +upon his feet. + +Never was a boy more completely cowed than was this vaunting youth, on +whom all the others had looked with such admiration and awe. He meekly +picked up his hat, brushed off the dirt, and looking reproachfully at +Nick said: + +"Do you know you broke two of my ribs?" + +"I dinks I brokes dem _all_: dat's what I meant to do; I will try him +agin." + +"No, you won't!" exclaimed Herbert, darting off in a run too rapid for +the short legs of Nick to equal. + +Nick Ribsam had conquered a peace, and from that time forth he suffered +no persecution at school. Master Herbert soon after went back to his +city home, wondering how it was that a small, dumpy lad, four years +younger than he, was able to vanquish him so completely when all the +science was on the side of the elder youth. + +Young as was Nick Ribsam, there was not a boy in the school who dared +attempt to play the bully over him. The display he had given of his +prowess won the respect of all. + +Besides this he proved to be an unusually bright scholar. He dropped his +faulty accent with astonishing rapidity, and gained knowledge with great +facility. His teacher liked him, as did all the boys and girls, and when +he was occasionally absent he was missed more than half a dozen other +lads would have been. + +The next year Nick brought his sister Nellie to school. He came down the +road, holding her fat little hand in his, while her bright eyes peered +out from under her plain but odd-looking hat in a timid way, which +showed at the same time how great her confidence was in her big brother. + +Nellie looked as much like Nick as a sister can look like a brother. +There were the same ruddy cheeks, bright eyes, sturdy health, and +cleanly appearance. Her gingham pantalettes came a little nearer the +tops of her shoes, perhaps than was necessary, but the dress, with the +waist directly under the arms, would have been considered in the height +of fashion in late years. + +One daring lad ventured to laugh at Nellie, and ask her whether she had +on her father's or mother's shoes, but when Nick heard of it he told the +boy that he would "sit down" on any one that said anything wrong to +Nellie. Nothing of the kind was ever hinted to the girl again. No one +wished to be "sat down" on by the Pennsylvania Hollander who banged the +breath so utterly from the body of the city youth who had aroused his +wrath. + +The common sense, sturdy frame, sound health, and mental strength of the +parents were inherited in as marked a degree by the daughter Nellie as +by Nick. She showed a quickness of perception greater than that of her +brother; but, as is generally the case, the boy was more profound and +far-reaching in his thoughts. + +After Nick had done his chores in the evening and Nellie was through +helping her mother, Gustav, the father, was accustomed to light his +long-handled pipe, and, as he slowly puffed it while sitting in his +chair by the hearth, he looked across to his boy, who sat with his slate +and pencil in hand, preparing for the morrow. Carefully watching the +studious lad for a few minutes, he generally asked a series of +questions: + +"Nicholas, did you knowed your lessons to-day?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Did you know efery one dot you knowed?" + +"Yes, sir,--every one," answered Nick respectfully, with a quiet smile +over his father's odd questions and sentences. The old gentleman could +never correct or improve his accent, while Nick, at the age of ten, +spoke so accurately that his looks were all that showed he was the child +of German parents. + +"Did nopody gif you helps on der lessons?" + +"Nobody at all." + +"Dot is right; did you help anypodies?" + +"Yes, sir,--three or four of the girls and some of the boys asked me to +give them a lift--" + +"Gif dem _vat_?" + +"A lift--that is, I helped them." + +"Dot ish all right, but don't let me hears dot nopody vos efer helping +_you_; if I does--" + +And taking his pipe from his mouth, Mr. Ribsam shook his head in a way +which threatened dreadful things. + +Then the old gentleman would continue smoking a while longer, and more +than likely, just as Nick was in the midst of some intricate problem, he +would suddenly pronounce his name. The boy would look up instantly, all +attention. + +"Hef you been into any fights mit nopodies to-day?" + +"I have not, sir; I have not had any trouble like that for a long +while." + +"Dot is right--dot is right; but, Nick, if you does get into such bad +tings as fightin', don't ax nopodies to help you; _takes care mit +yorself!_" + +The lad modestly answered that he did not remember when he had failed to +take care of himself under such circumstances, and the father resumed +his pipe and brown study. + +The honest German may not have been right in every point of his creed, +but in the main he was correct, his purpose being to implant in his +children a sturdy self-reliance. They could not hope to get along at all +times without leaning upon others, but that boy who never forgets that +God has given him a mind, a body, certain faculties and infinite powers, +with the intention that he should cultivate and use them to the highest +point, is the one who is sure to win in the great battle of life. + +Then, too, every person is liable to be overtaken by some great +emergency which calls out all the capacities of his nature, and it is +then that false teaching and training prove fatal, while he who has +learned to develop the divine capacities within him comes off more than +conqueror. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +A MATHEMATICAL DISCUSSION. + + +The elder Ribsam took several puffs from his pipe, his eyes fixed +dreamily on the fire, as though in deep meditation. His wife sat in her +chair on the other side, and was busy with her knitting, while perhaps +her thoughts were wandering away to that loved Fatherland which she had +left so many years before, never to see again. Nellie had grown sleepy +and gone to bed. + +Mr. Ribsam turned his head and looked at Nick. The boy was seated close +to the lamp on the table, and the scratching of his pencil on his slate +and his glances at the slip of paper lying on the stand, with the +problems written upon it, told plainly enough what occupied his +thoughts. + +"Nicholas," said the father. + +"Just one minute, please," replied the lad, glancing hastily up: "I am +on the last of the problems that Mr. Layton gave us for this week, and +I have it almost finished." + +The protest of the boy was so respectful that the father resumed his +smoking and waited until Nick laid his slate on the table and wheeled +his chair around. + +"There, father, I am through." + +"Read owed loud dot sum von you shoost don't do." + +"Mr. Layton gave a dozen original problems as he called them, to our +class to-day, and we have a week in which to solve them. I like that +kind of work, and so I kept at it this evening until I finished them +all." + +"You vos sure dot you ain't right, Nicholas, eh?" + +"I have proved every one of them. Oh, you asked me to read the last one! +When Mr. Layton read that we all laughed because it was so simple, but +when you come to study it it isn't so simple as you would think. It is +this: If New York has fifty per cent. more population than Philadelphia, +what per cent. has Philadelphia less than New York?" + +Mr. Ribsam's shoulders went up and down, and he shook like a bowl of +jelly. He seemed to be overcome by the simplicity of the problem over +which his son had been racking his brains. + +"Dot makes me laughs. Yaw, yaw, yaw!" + +"If you will sit down and figure on it you won't laugh quite so hard," +said Nick, amused by the jollity of his father, which brought a smile to +his mother; "what is your answer?" + +"If I hafs feefty tollar more don you hafs, how mooch less tollar don't +you hafs don I hafs? Yaw, yaw, yaw!" + +"_That_ is plain enough," said Nick sturdily "but if you mean to say +that the answer to the problem I gave you is fifty per cent., you are +wrong." + +"Oxplains how dot ain't," said Mr. Ribsam, suddenly becoming serious. + +The mother was also interested, and looked smilingly toward her bright +son. Like every mother, her sympathies went out to him. When Nick told +his father that he was in error, the mother felt a thrill of delight; +she wanted Nick to get the better of her husband, much as she loved +both, and you and I can't blame her. + +Nick leaned back in his chair, shoved his hands into his pockets, and +looked smilingly at his father and his pipe as he said: + +"Suppose, to illustrate, that Philadelphia has just one hundred people. +Then, if New York has fifty per cent. more, it must have one hundred and +fifty people as its population; that is correct, is it not, father?" + +Mr. Ribsam took another puff or two, as if to make sure that his boy was +not leading him into a trap, and then he solemnly nodded his head. + +"Dot ish so,--dot am,--yaw." + +"Then if Philadelphia has one hundred people for its population, New +York has one hundred and fifty?" + +"Yaw, and Pheelatelphy has feefty per cent. less--yaw, yaw, yaw!" + +"Hold on, father,--not so fast. I'm teacher just now, and you mustn't +run ahead of me. If you will notice in this problem the per cent. in the +first part is based on Philadelphia's population, while in the second +part it is based on the population of New York, and since the +population of the two cities is different, the per cent. cannot be the +same." + +"How dot is?" asked Mr. Ribsam, showing eager interest in the reasoning +of the boy. + +"We have agreed, to begin with, that the population of Philadelphia is +one hundred and of New York one hundred and fifty. Now, how many people +will have to be subtracted from New York's population to make it the +same as Philadelphia?" + +"Feefty,--vot I says." + +"And fifty is what part of one hundred and fifty,--that is, what part of +the population of New York?" + +"It vos one thirds." + +"And one third of anything is thirty-three and one third per cent. of +it, which is the correct answer to the problem." + +Mr. Ribsam held his pipe suspended in one hand while he stared with open +mouth into the smiling face of his son, as though he did not quite grasp +his reasoning. + +"Vot you don't laughs at?" he said, turning sharply toward his wife, who +had resumed her knitting and was dropping many a stitch because of the +mirth, which shook her as vigorously as it stirred her husband a few +minutes before. + +"I laughs ven some folks dinks dey ain't shmarter don dey vosn't all te +vile, don't it?" + +And stopping her knitting she threw back her head and laughed +unrestrainedly. Her husband hastily shoved the stem of his pipe between +his lips, sunk lower down in the chair, and smoked so hard that his head +soon became almost invisible in the vapor. + +By-and-by he roused himself and asked Nick to begin with the first +problem and reason out the result he obtained with each one in turn. + +Nick did so, and on the last but one his parent tripped him. A few +pointed questions showed the boy that he was wrong. Then the hearty +"Yaw, yaw, yaw!" of the father rang out, and looking at the solemn +visage of his wife, he asked: + +"Vy you don't laughs now, eh? Yaw, yaw, yaw!" + +The wife meekly answered that she did not see anything to cause mirth, +though Nick proved that he did. + +Not only that, but the son became satisfied from the quickness with +which his father detected his error, and the keen reasoning he gave, +that he purposely went wrong on the first problem read to him with the +object of testing the youngster. + +Finally, he asked him whether such was not the case. Many persons in the +place of Mr. Ribsam would have been tempted to fib, because almost every +one will admit any charge sooner than that of ignorance; but the +Dutchman considered lying one of the meanest vices of which a man can be +guilty. Like all of his countrymen, he had received a good school +education at home, besides which his mind possessed a natural +mathematical bent. He said he caught the answer to the question the +minute it was asked him, and, although Mr. Layton may not have seen it +before, Mr. Ribsam had met and conquered similar ones when he was a boy. + +While he persistently refused to show Nick how to solve some of the +intricate problems brought home, yet when the son, after hours of +labor, was still all abroad, his father would ask him a question or two +so skillfully framed that the bright boy was quick to detect their +bearing on the subject over which he was puzzling his brain. The +parent's query was like the lantern's flash which shows the ladder for +which a man is groping. + +The task of the evening being finished, Mr. Ribsam tested his boy with a +number of problems that were new to him. Most of them were in the nature +of puzzles, with a "catch" hidden somewhere. Nick could not give the +right answer in every instance, but he did so in a majority of cases; so +often, indeed, that his father did a rare thing,--he complimented his +skill and ability. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +LOST. + + +It was two miles from the home of Mr. Ribsam to the little stone +school-house where his children were receiving their education. A short +distance from the dwelling a branch road turned off to the left, which, +being followed nine miles or so, mostly through woods, brought one to +the little country town of Dunbarton. + +Between the home of Gustav Ribsam and the school-house were only two +dwellings. The first, on the left, belonged to Mr. Marston, whose land +adjoined that of the Hollander, while the second was beyond the fork of +the roads and was owned by Mr. Kilgore, who lived a long distance back +from the highway. + +Nick Ribsam, as he grew in years and strength, became more valuable to +his father, who found it necessary, now and then, to keep him home from +school. This, however, did not happen frequently, for the parents were +anxious that their children should receive a good school education, and +Nick's readiness enabled him to recover, very quickly, the ground thus +lost. + +There was not so much need of Nellie, and, when at the age of six she +began her attendance, she rarely missed a day. If it was stormy she was +bundled up warmly, and, occasionally, she was taken in the carriage when +the weather was too severe for walking. + +The summer was gone when Nick helped harness the roan mare to the +carriage, and, driving down to the forks, let Nellie out, and kept on +toward Dunbarton, while the little girl continued ahead in the direction +of the school-house. + +"I've got to stay there so long," said Nick, in bidding his sister +good-by, "that I won't be here much before four o'clock, so I will look +out for you and you can look out for me and I'll take you home." + +Nellie said she would not forget, and walked cheerfully up the road, +singing a school song to herself. + +The little girl, when early enough, stopped at the house of Mr. +Marston, whose girl Lizzie attended school. This morning, however, when +Nick called from the road, he was told that Lizzie had been gone some +time, so he drove on without her. + +The dwelling of Mr. Kilgore stood so far back that Nellie never could +spare the time to walk up the long lane and back again, but she +contented herself with peering up the tree-lined avenue in quest of +Sallie and Bobby Kilgore. + +However, they were also invisible, and so it was that Nellie made the +rest of the journey alone. + +The distance being so considerable, Nellie and Nick always carried their +dinners with them, so that, after their departure in the morning, the +parents did not expect to see them again until between four and five in +the afternoon. + +The roan mare was young and spirited, but not vicious, and the boy had +no trouble in controlling her. + +When half way through the stretch of woods they crossed a bridge, whose +planks rattled so loudly under the wheels and hoofs that the animal +showed a disposition to rear and plunge over the narrow railing at the +side. + +But the boy used his whip so vigorously that he quickly tamed the beast, +which was not slow to understand that her master was holding the reins. + +When Nick was on such journeys as these, he generally carried his +father's watch, so as to "make his connections" better. The timepiece +was of great size and thickness, having been made somewhere in England a +good many years before. It ticked so loudly that it sounded like a +cricket, and would have betrayed any person in an ordinary sized room, +when there was no unusual noise. Nick's own handsome watch was too +valuable for him to carry. + +The former was so heavy that it seemed to Nick, when walking with it, +that he went in a one-sided fashion. However, the lad was quite proud of +it, and perhaps took it out oftener than was necessary, especially when +he saw the eyes of others upon him. + +Nick was kept in Dunbarton so long by the many errands he had to +perform, that he was fully an hour late in starting. The mare was +spirited enough to make up this time, if urged, but there was no need of +doing so, and the boy knew his father would prefer him not to push the +animal when no urgency existed. + +Thus it came about that when Nick re-entered the main highway that +afternoon, and looked in the direction of the school-house, he saw +nothing of Nellie, nor indeed of any one coming from the school. + +"She has gone home long ago," was his conclusion, as he allowed the mare +to drop into a brisk trot, which speedily took him to his house. + +When Nick had put away the horse and rendered up his account of the +errands done, he was surprised to learn that Nellie had not yet +appeared. + +"I cannot understand what keeps her," said the father, in his native +tongue; "she was never so late before." + +It was plain from the mother's face and manner that she also was +anxious, for she frequently went to the gate, and, shading her eyes, +looked long and anxiously down the road, hoping that the figure of the +little girl would come to view, with some explanation of the cause for +her delay. + +But the sun was low in the west, and its slanting rays brought to light +the figure of no child hurrying homeward. The single object that was +mistaken for the loved one proved to be a man on horseback, who turned +off at the forks and vanished. + +"Nick, go look for your sister," said his mother, as she came back from +one of these visits to the gate; "something has happened." + +The boy was glad of the order, for he was on the point of asking +permission to hunt for Nellie. + +"I'll stay till I find out something," said Nick, as he donned his hat +and took a general look over himself to see that he was in shape, "so +don't worry about _me_." + +"But you ought not to be gone so long," said the father, whose anxious +face showed that he was debating whether he should not join his boy in +the search, "for it won't take long to find out where Nellie is." + +"I think she has been taken sick and has stopped with some of the +neighbors," ventured the mother, "but it is strange they do not send me +word." + +And it was the very fact that such word was not sent that prevented the +husband and son from believing in the theory of the distressed mother. + +But Nick did not let the grass grow under his feet. His worriment was as +great as that of his parents, and as soon as he was in the road he broke +into a trot, which he kept up until beyond sight, both father and mother +standing at the gate and watching him until he faded from view in the +gathering twilight. + +The point where he disappeared was beyond the house of Mr. Marston, so +it was safe to conclude he had learned nothing of his sister there, +where he was seen to halt. + +There is nothing more wearisome than waiting in such suspense as came to +the hearts of the father and mother, while they sat watching and +listening for the sound of the childish footsteps and voices whose music +would have been the sweetest on earth to them. + +The supper on the table remained untasted, and the only sounds heard +were the solemn ticking of the old clock, the soft rustling of the +kettle on the stove, and now and then a long drawn sigh from father or +mother, as one strove to utter a comforting word to the other. + +All at once the gate was opened and shut hastily. Then a hurried step +sounded along the short walk and upon the porch. + +"There they are! there they are!" exclaimed the mother, starting to her +feet, as did the father. + +Almost on the same instant the door was thrown open, and, panting and +excited, Nick Ribsam entered. + +But he was alone, and the expression of his face showed that he had +brought bad news. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE PARTY OF SEARCH. + + +When Nick Ribsam set out to find his missing sister Nellie, he made the +search as thorough as possible. + +The first house at which he stopped was that of Mr. Marston, which, it +will be remembered, was only a short distance away from his own home. +There, to his disappointment, he learned that their little girl had not +been at school that day, and consequently they could tell him nothing. + +Without waiting longer than to give a few words of explanation he +resumed his trot, and soon after turned into the lane leading to the +home of Mr. Kilgore. He found that both Bobby and Sallie had been to +school, but they had nothing to tell. When we are more than usually +anxious to learn something, it seems that every one whom we meet is +stupid beyond endurance. If we are in a strange place and apply for +information, the ignorance of nearly every person is exasperating. + +Bobby and Sallie remembered seeing Nellie in school during the forenoon +and afternoon, but, while the boy insisted that she came along the road +with them after dismissal, Sallie was just as positive that the missing +girl was not with them. + +The party of school children which usually went over the highway was so +small in number that it is hard to understand how such a mistake could +be made, but the difference between Bobby and Sallie was irreconcilable. + +"I _know_ she didn't come home with us," said Sallie, stamping her foot +to give emphasis to the words. + +"And I _know_ she did," declared Bobby, equally emphatically, "for me +and her played tag." + +"Why don't you say she and I played tag?" asked Nick, impatient with +both the children. + +"'Cause it was me and her," insisted Bobby. + +"What a dunce-head!" exclaimed his sister; "that was _last_ night when +you played tag, and you tumbled over into the ditch and bellered like +the big baby you are." + +"I remember that he did that last night," said Nick, hoping to help the +two to settle the dispute. + +"I know I done that last night, but this afternoon I done it too. I fall +into the ditch every night and beller; I do it on purpose to fool them +that are chasing me." + +Nick found he could gain nothing; but he believed the sister was right +and the brother wrong, as afterward proved to be the case. + +There were no more houses between his own home and the school building, +and Nick resumed his dog trot, never halting until he came in front of a +little whitewashed cottage just beyond the stone school-house. + +The latter stood at the cross roads, and the cottage to the left was +where the teacher, Mr. Layton, an old bachelor, lived with his two +maiden sisters. + +Mr. Layton, although strict to severity in the school-room, was a +kind-hearted man and was fond of the Ribsam children, for they were +bright, cheerful, and obedient, and never gave him any trouble, as did +some of his other pupils. He listened to Nick's story, and his sympathy +was aroused at once. + +"I am very sorry," said he, "that your good father and mother, not to +mention yourself, should be so sorely troubled; but I hope this is not +serious. Nellie came to me about three o'clock and asked whether I would +let her go home." + +"Was she sick?" asked the distressed brother. + +"Not at all; but she said you had gone to Dunbarton in your carriage and +she wanted to meet you coming back. She knew her lessons perfectly, and +Nellie is such a good girl that I felt that I could not refuse so simple +a request. So I told her she could go. I saw her start homeward with her +lunch-basket in one hand and her two school-books in the other. She +stepped off so briskly and was in such cheerful spirits that I stood at +the window and watched her until she passed around the bend in the +road." + +Nick felt his heart sink within him, for the words of the teacher had +let in a great deal of alarming truth upon him. + +Nellie had reached the forks two hours ahead of him, and then, not +wishing to sit down and wait, she had started up the road in the +direction of Dunbarton to meet him. She must have entered the eight mile +stretch of woods from the south about the same time Nick himself drove +into it on his return from Dunbarton. + +The two should have met near Shark Creek, but neither had seen the +other. Nick, as a matter of course, had kept to the road, but what had +become of Nellie? + +This was the question the lad put to himself, and which caused him to +feel so faint that he sank down in a chair unable to speak for a minute +or two. Then, when he tried to do so, he had to stop, and was kept busy +swallowing the lump that would rise in his throat, until finally the +tears suddenly appeared, and, putting his hands to his eyes, he gave way +to his grief. + +"There, there," said Mr. Layton soothingly, "don't cry, Nick, for it +will do no good. Nellie has strayed off in the woods to gather flowers +or perhaps wild grapes and has missed her way." + +"She--is--lost--poor--Nellie!" said the lad as best he could between his +sobs; "we'll never see her again." + +"Oh, it isn't as bad as that! I suppose she has grown weary, and, +sitting down to rest, has fallen asleep." + +If the good teacher meant this to soothe the lad, it had the contrary +effect, for the picture of his little sister wandering alone in the +woods was one of the most dreadful that could be imagined, and it took +all the manhood of his nature to keep from breaking down again. + +While the interview was under way, Mr. Layton was busy changing his +slippers for his boots, his wrapper for his coat, and his hat was donned +just as he spoke the last words. + +His sympathy did not expend itself in talk, but the instant he saw what +the trouble was he was eager to do all he could to help his suffering +friends. He even reproached himself for having given Nellie permission +to meet her brother, though no matter what harm may have befallen her, +no one could blame her instructor therefor. + +"We must hunt for her," said Mr. Layton, when he was ready to go out; "I +will tell my sisters they need not be alarmed over my absence, and I +guess I will take the lantern with me." + +Nick passed out to the front gate, where he waited a minute for the +teacher, until he should speak with his friends and get the lantern +ready. When he came forth, the boy felt much like the patient who sees +the surgeon take out his instruments and try their edge to make sure +they are in condition before using upon him. + +The sight of the lantern in the hand of Mr. Layton gave such emphasis to +the danger that it caused another quick throb of Nick's heart, but he +forced it down as the two started back over the road, toward the +school-house. + +"There is no need of lighting the lantern until we get to the woods," +said the teacher, "for we don't need it, and I hope we won't need it +after we reach the forest. Poor Nellie! she will feel dreadfully +frightened, when she wakes up in the dark forest." + +He regretted the words, for the two or three sobs that escaped the +brother, before he could master himself, showed that his heart was +swelled nigh to bursting. + +The night was mild and pleasant, although a little too chilly for any +one to sleep out of doors. The moon was gibbous, and only a few white, +feathery clouds now and then drifted across its face. Where there was no +shadow, one could see for a hundred yards or so with considerable +distinctness--that is, enough to recognize the figure of a man in +motion. + +Opposite the lane leading to the house of Mr. Kilgore, the teacher +stopped. + +"I will go in and get him to join us," said Mr. Layton; "and you had +better hurry home for your father. On your way back, stop for Mr. +Marston; that will give us a pretty large party. If when you reach the +forks you do not find us there, don't wait, but hurry on toward +Dunbarton; you will meet us before you reach the bridge over Shark +Creek." + +Nick did as told, and, still on a rapid trot, reached home panting and +excited, with the story which the reader has just learned. + +Mr. Ribsam threw down his pipe, donned his hat and coat, and started out +the door. With his hand on the latch, he paused, and, looking back, +commanded his voice so as to say: + +"Katrina, you and Nick needn't wait up for me." + +"Oh, father," pleaded the lad, moving toward him: "would you make me +stay at home when Nellie is lost?" + +"No, no--I did not think," answered the parent, in a confused way; "I +feel so bad I do not know what I do and say. Katrina, don't feel too +bad; we will come back as soon as we can." + +Again the half distracted father placed his hand on the latch, and he +had drawn the door partly open, when his wife, pale and trembling, +called out in a voice of touching pathos: + +"Gustav, my heart would break should I try to stay here, when no one but +God knows where my darling Nellie is; but, wherever she may be, no +sorrow or pain or suffering can come to her that her mother will not +share, and may our Heavenly Father let her mother take it all upon her +own shoulders!" + +"Come on, Katrina; come on and bring the lantern with you." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +GROPING IN DARKNESS. + + +When the parents and brother of Nellie Ribsam reached the forks a few +minutes later, they saw nothing of the three parties whom they expected +to meet there. + +"They have gone on to the woods to look for Nellie," said the father. + +"They cannot be far off," suggested Nick, turning to the left. + +All were too anxious to lose a minute, and they started after their +friends on a rapid walk, Nick taking the lead, and now and then dropping +into a loping trot, which he would have increased had he been alone. + +A chill seemed to settle over all as they reached the deep shadow of the +woods, which was one of the largest tracts of forest in that section of +the country. + +The road which bisected them was fully eight miles in length, as has +already been stated, while the forest was much greater in extent in the +other direction. + +Being of such large area, there were necessarily many portions which +rarely if ever were visited by hunters. Years before an occasional deer +had been shot, and a few of the old settlers told of the thrilling bear +hunts they had enjoyed when they were not so very much younger than now. + +Those who were capable of judging were certain that if the gloomy depths +were explored these dreaded animals would be met; but if such were the +fact, the beasts were so few in number that no one gave them a thought. + +It was now four miles to Shark Creek, and, by common consent, it was +agreed that the missing Nellie must be found, if found at all, before +reaching the stream. + +As this creek was deep enough to drown any person who could not swim, +not to mention the large pond into which it emptied, every one of the +searchers felt a vague, awful dread that poor Nellie had fallen into the +water. + +No one spoke of it, but the thought was there all the same. + +Shortly after entering the wood, Nick called attention to two star-like +points of light twinkling ahead of them. + +"They are the lanterns of Mr. Layton and Kilgore," said Nick, who +immediately added, "we forgot to stop and get Mr. Marston." + +"That is too bad, but it isn't worth while to go back now," replied his +father, hardly slackening his gait. + +As the lantern which Mrs. Ribsam had handed to her husband was lighted +before leaving home, the men in advance detected it immediately after +they were seen themselves, and the halloo of the teacher was answered by +Nick. + +"Have you found anything of Nellie?" asked the mother, in broken +English, as soon as the parties came together. + +"It could scarcely be expected," answered the instructor, in a kindly +voice; "we have just got here, and have only looked along the road. I +have little doubt that she is soundly sleeping somewhere not far off." + +While all stood still, the father lifted up his voice, and in clear, +penetrating tones called the name of his missing child: + +"Nellie!" + +The ticking of the big watch in the pocket of Nick was plainly heard as +the little company awaited the answering call of the child. + +But it came not, and three times more was the name of the missing girl +repeated by the father, who broke down completely the last time. + +Nick now joined his thumb and finger against the end of his tongue, and +emitted a blast like that of a steam whistle. It resounded among the +trees, and then followed the same oppressive stillness as before. + +It was useless to remain where they were any longer, and, without a +word, the five moved on. The three lamps were swung above their heads, +and they peered into the gloomy depths on the right and left. + +Nick, as might have been expected, kept the advance, and his father +allowed him to carry the lantern. As the other lights were behind the +lad, the latter saw his huge shadow continually dancing in front and +taking all manner of grotesque shapes, while, if the others had looked +to the rear, they would have seen the same spectacle, as it affected +their own figures. + +"Wait!" suddenly called out the father, who was now obliged to use his +broken English, "mebbe my Nellie she does hears me." + +Thereupon he called to her as before, Nick ending the appeal with an +ear-splitting whistle, which must have been heard several miles on such +a still night. + +Not the slightest result followed, and with heavy hearts the little +company moved on again. + +"I think," said Mr. Layton, "that she has turned aside, where, possibly, +some faint path has caught her eye, and it may be that we may discover +the spot." + +"Let's look here!" + +It was the mother who spoke this time, and, as they turned toward her, +she was seen bending over the ground at the side of the highway, where +something had arrested her attention. + +Instantly all the lanterns were clustered about the spot, and it was +seen that the eyes of affection had detected just such a place as that +named by the teacher. Persons who walked along the road were accustomed +to turn aside into the woods, and the five now did the same, moving +slowly, with the lanterns held close to the earth, and then swung aloft, +while all eyes were peering into the portions penetrated by the yellow +rays. + +The path was followed some fifty yards, when, to the disappointment of +all, it came back to the road: it was one of those whimsical footways +often met in the country, the person who started it having left the +highway without any real reason for doing so. + +Again the name of the missing Nellie was repeated, and again the woods +sent back nothing but the echo. + +"Hark!" + +It was the quick-eared Nick who spoke, just as the hum of conversation +began, and all listened. + +As they did so the rattle of wheels was heard coming from the direction +of Dunbarton. The peculiar noise enabled the friends to recognize it as +made by a heavy, lumbering farmer's wagon. The team was proceeding on a +walk. + +A few minutes later some one shouted: + +"Halloo, there! what's the matter?" + +The voice was recognized as that of Mr. Marston, whom they intended to +ask to join them. + +Instantly a hope was aroused that he might be able to tell them +something of Nellie. Mr. Layton called back, saying they were friends, +and asking whether the farmer had seen anything of Nellie Ribsam. + +At this Mr. Marston whipped up his horses, which were showing some fear +of the twinkling lanterns, and halted when opposite to the party of +searchers. + +"My gracious! is she lost?" asked the good man, forgetting the anguish +of his friends in his own curiosity. + +"Yes, she started up this road this afternoon toward Dunbarton to meet +her brother, who was returning, but, somehow or other, missed him, and +we are all anxious about her." + +"My gracious alive! I should think you would be: it would drive my wife +and me crazy if our Lizzie should be lost in the woods." + +"I suppose, from the way you talk," continued the teacher, "that you +have seen nothing of her?" + +"No, I wish I had, for I tell you these woods are a bad place for a +little girl to get lost in. Last March, when we had an inch of snow on +the ground, I seen tracks that I knowed was made by a bear, and a mighty +big one, too, and--" + +But just then a half-smothered moan from the mother warned the +thoughtless neighbor that he was giving anything but comfort to the +afflicted parents. + +"I beg pardon," he hastened to say, in an awkward attempt to apologize; +"come to think, I am sure that it wasn't a bear, but some big dog; you +know a large dog makes tracks which can be mistook very easy for those +of a bear. I'll hurry on home and put up my team and git the lantern and +come back and help you." + +And Mr. Marston, who meant well, whipped up his horses, and his wagon +rattled down the road as he hastened homeward. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +AN ALARMING DISCOVERY. + + +By this time the searching party began to realize the difficulties in +the path of their success. + +If, as was believed, or rather hoped, Nellie had fallen asleep in the +woods, they were liable to pass within a dozen feet of where she lay +without discovering the fact. Should they call to her, or should Nick +emit his resounding signal whistle, she might be awakened, provided only +such a brief space separated them, but the chances were scarcely one in +a thousand that they would be so fortunate. + +This view, at the worst, was a favorable one, and behind it rose the +phantoms that caused all to shudder with a dread which they dared not +utter. + +Only a short distance farther they came upon another path which diverged +from the side of the road, returning a little ways beyond. There, an +unusually careful search was made, and Nick almost split his cheeks in +his efforts to send his penetrating whistle throughout the surrounding +country. The three men also called out the name of Nellie in their +loudest tones, but nothing except the hollow echoes came back to them. + +Nick examined the face of his father's watch by the light of the lantern +he carried, and saw that it lacked but a few minutes of nine. They had +been searching for the lost child, as this proved, for nearly two hours. + +"It seems to me," said Mr. Layton, as the party came to a halt, "that we +are not likely to accomplish anything by hunting in this aimless +fashion." + +"What better can we do?" asked Mr. Kilgore. + +"Thus far we have been forced to confine ourselves to the road, +excepting when we diverge a few feet: this renders our work about the +same as if done by a single person. What I propose, therefore, is that +we separate." + +"How will that help us?" + +"It may not, but we shall cover three or four times the amount of space +(I judge Mrs. Ribsam would prefer to remain with her husband and son on +account of the single lantern), and it follows that some one of us must +pass closer to the spot where Nellie is lying." + +This seemed a sensible suggestion, and the two men turned to the +afflicted father to learn what he thought of it. + +He shook his head. + +"Not yet,--not yet; we goes a leetle furder." + +Nothing was added by way of explanation, and yet even little Nick knew +why he had protested: he wished that all might keep together until they +reached the creek. If nothing was learned of his child there, then he +would follow the plan of the teacher. + +But something seemed to whisper to the parent that the place where they +would gain tidings of little Nellie was near that dark, flowing water, +which, like such streams, seemed to be always reaching out for some one +to strangle in its depths. + +"Perhaps Mr. Ribsam is right," said the teacher, after a silence which +was oppressive even though brief; "we will keep each other's company, +for it is lonely work tramping through the woods, where there is no +beaten path to follow." + +Thereupon the strange procession resumed its march toward the distant +town of Dunbarton, pausing at short intervals to call and signal to the +missing one. + +It was a vast relief to all that the weather continued so mild and +pleasant. In the earlier part of the day there were some signs of an +approaching storm, but the signs had vanished and the night was one of +the most pleasant seen in September. + +Had the rain begun to fall, or had the temperature lowered, the mother +would have been distracted, for nothing could have lessened the pangs +caused by her knowledge that her darling one was suffering. The true +mother lives for her children, and their joys and sorrows are hers. + +Whenever the wind rustled among the branches around them she shuddered +and instinctively drew her own shawl closer about her shoulder; she +would have given a year's toil could she have wrapped the thick woolen +garment about the tiny form of her loved one, who never seemed so dear +to her as then. + +"Gustav," she whispered, twitching his elbow, "I want to speak one word +to you." + +"Speak out; they cannot understand us," he answered, alluding to the +fact that they were using their own language. + +"Yes, but I don't want Nick to know what I say." + +The husband thereupon fell back beside her, and in a tremulous voice she +said: + +"Do you remember when Nellie was three years old?" + +"Of course I remember further back than that: why do you ask?" + +"When she had the fever and was getting well?" + +"Yes, I cannot forget it; poor girl, her cheeks were so hot I could +almost light a match by them; but, thank God, she got over it." + +"You remember, Gustav, how cross she was and how hard it was to please +her?" + +"But that was because she was sick; when she was well, then she laughed +all the time, just like Nick when he don't feel bad." + +"But--but," and there was an unmistakable tremor in the voice, "one day +when she was cross she asked for a drink of water; Nick was sitting in +the room and jumped up and brought it to her, but she was so out of +humor she shook her head and would not take it from him; she was +determined I should hand it to her. I thought she was unreasonable and I +told Nick to set it on the bureau, and I let Nellie know she shouldn't +have it unless she took it from him; I meant that I wouldn't hand it to +her and thereby humor her impatience. She cried, but she was too +stubborn to give in, and I refused to hand her the water. Nick felt so +bad he left the room, and I was sorry; but Nellie was getting well, and +I was resolved to be firm with her. She was very thirsty, for her fever +was a terrible one. I was tired and dropped into a doze. By-and-by I +heard Nellie's bare feet pattering on the floor, and softly opening my +eyes, without stirring I saw her walk hastily to the bureau, catch hold +of the tumbler and she drank every drop of water in it. She was so weak +and dizzy that she staggered back and threw herself on the bed like one +almost dead. The next day she was worse, and we thought we were going to +lose her. You saw how hard I cried, but most of my tears were caused by +the remembrance of my cruelty to her the night before." + +"But, Katrina, you did right," said the father, who heard the affecting +incident for the first time. "It won't do to humor children so much: it +will spoil them." + +"That may be, but I cannot help thinking of that all the time; it would +have done no harm to humor Nellie that time, for she was a good girl." + +"You speak truth, but--" + +The poor father, who tried so bravely to keep up, broke down and was +unable to speak. The story touched him as much as it did the mother. + +"Never mind, Katrina--" + +At that moment Nick called out: + +"Here's the bridge!" + +The structure loomed through the gloom as it was dimly lighted by the +lanterns, and all walked rapidly forward until they stood upon the rough +planking. + +Suddenly the mother uttered a cry, and stooping down snatched up +something from the ground close to the planks. + +The startled friends looked affrightedly toward her, and saw that she +held the lunch basket of her little daughter in her hand. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +STARTLING FOOTPRINTS. + + +On the very edge of the bridge over Shark Creek, the mother of Nellie +Ribsam picked up the lunch basket which her daughter had taken to school +that morning. It lay on its side, with the snowy napkin partly out, and +within it was a piece of brown bread which the parent had spread with +golden butter, and which was partly eaten. + +No wonder the afflicted woman uttered a half-suppressed scream when she +picked up what seemed a memento of her dead child. + +While the lanterns were held in a circle around the basket, which the +father took from his wife, Mr. Ribsam lifted the piece of bread in his +hand. There were the prints made by the strong white teeth of little +Nellie, and there was not a dry eye when all gazed upon the food, which +the father softly returned to the basket and reverently covered with the +napkin. + +No one ventured to speak, but the thoughts of all were the same. + +Stepping to the railing at the side of the bridge Mr. Layton held his +lantern over, Nick and Mr. Kilgore immediately doing the same. The rays +extended right and left and far enough downward to reach the stream, +which could be seen, dark and quiet, flowing beneath and away through +the woods to the big pond, a quarter of a mile below. + +In the oppressive stillness the soft rustling of the water was heard as +it eddied about a small root which grew out from the shore, and a tiny +fish, which may have been attracted by the yellow rays, leaped a few +inches above the surface and fell back with a splash which startled +those who were peering over the railing of the structure. + +The trees grew close to the water's edge, and as the trunks were dimly +revealed they looked as if they were keeping watch over the deep creek +that flowed between. + +The five were now searching for that which they did not wish to find; +they dreaded, with an unspeakable dread, the sight of the white face +turned upward, with the abundant hair floating about the dimpled +shoulders. + +Thank heaven, that sight was spared them; nothing of the kind was seen, +and a sigh escaped from each. + +"We are all tortured by the thought that Nellie has fallen into the +creek and been drowned," said the teacher; "but I cannot see any grounds +for such fear." + +The yearning looks of the parents and brother caused the teacher to +explain more fully. + +"No child, unless a very stupid one, would stumble from this bridge, and +there could have been no circumstances which in my judgment would have +brought such a mishap to Nellie." + +This sounded reasonable enough, but: + +"De basket,--vot of dot?" asked the father. + +"She has dropped that from some cause; but that of itself is a favorable +sign, for had she fallen accidentally into the water she would have +taken it with her." + +This sounded as if true, but it did not remove the fears of any one. +Even he who uttered the words could not bring himself fully to believe +in their truth, for none knew better than he that the evil one himself +seems to conspire with guns and pistols that appear to be unloaded, and +with water which is thought to be harmless. + +All wanted to place faith in the declaration, and no protest was +uttered. As nothing was to be seen or learned where they stood, they +crossed the bridge and descended the wooded slope until they reached the +edge of the stream, which wound its way through the woods to the big +pond. + +Every heart was throbbing painfully and no one spoke: there was no need +of it, for no comfort could be gained therefrom. + +Mr. Layton and Kilgore moved carefully up the creek, while Nick and his +parents walked toward the pond, which lay to the left. + +The two wished to be apart from the others that they might consult +without danger of being overheard by those whose hearts were suffering +so much anguish. + +"It's very strange," said Mr. Kilgore, "that the basket should be found +on the bridge: what do you make of it, Mr. Layton?" + +The teacher shook his head. + +"It is strange, indeed; had there been no water in the creek you could +have set it down as certain that the child had not fallen from it, but, +as she could not have done so without drowning, I am inclined to +think--" + +The instructor hesitated, as if afraid to pronounce the dreadful words. + +"You think she is drowned?" said his friend, supplying the answer with +his own question. + +Mr. Layton nodded his head by way of reply, and, holding the lanterns in +front, they began groping their way along the margin of the creek. + +By raising the lights above their heads the rays reached the opposite +bank, lighting up the water between. This was unusually clear, and they +could see the bottom some distance from shore. + +Both felt that if the body was floating anywhere they could not fail to +see it, though the probabilities were that it was already far below +them, and would be first discovered by the parents and brother. + +"Halloa!" suddenly exclaimed Mr. Layton, lowering his lantern close to +the ground, "I don't like _that_." + +By way of explanation, he pointed to the damp soil where no vegetation +grew: it was directly in front and close to the water, being that +portion which was frequently swept by the creek when above its present +level. + +Parallel to the stream, for a distance of several rods or so, were a +number of imprints in the yielding earth, which the first glance showed +were made by some large animal. + +"It must have been a dog," ventured the teacher, who had little +practical knowledge of the animals of the wood. + +Mr. Kilgore shook his head. + +"It was a bear; there can be no mistake about it. Mr. Marston was right; +it was the track of a similar animal which he saw last March." + +"You are not mistaken, Mr. Kilgore?" + +The farmer answered impatiently: + +"I have hunted bears too often to be mistaken; I can tell their trail +among a hundred others, and the one which went along here a little while +ago was one of the largest of his kind." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE LITTLE WANDERER. + + +Although Nellie Ribsam was only eight years old at the time she was lost +in the big woods, yet the results of the training received from her +sensible father and mother showed themselves in a marked degree on that +memorable occasion. + +She had been taught, as was her brother, that under heaven she must rely +upon herself to get forward in the world. Nick was rarely if ever +allowed to extend her a helping hand in her lessons, and she was given +to understand that whatever was possible for her to do must be done +without the aid of any one. + +As for sitting down and crying when in trouble, without making any +effort to help herself, she knew better than to try that when either her +father or mother were likely to find it out. + +Her intention, when she left school that afternoon before the session +closed, was to keep on in the direction of Dunbarton until she met Nick +returning. + +She turned off at the forks, and did not lessen her gait until she +reached the woods. Her rapid walking caused her to feel quite warm, and +the cool shade of the woods was refreshing. + +She began wandering aimlessly forward, swinging her hat in her hand, +singing snatches of school songs, and feeling just as happy as a little +girl can feel who is in bounding health, high spirits, and without an +accusing conscience. + +It was not the time of year for flowers, and Nellie knew better than to +look for any. They had drooped and died long ago; but some of the leaves +were turning on the trees, and they gave a peculiar beauty to the +autumnal forest. + +At intervals she caught sight of the cleanly, symmetrical maple, with +some of its leaves turning a fiery red and looking like flecks of flame +through the intervening vegetation. At the least rustling of the wind +some of the leaves came fluttering downward as lightly as flakes of +snow; the little brown squirrel scampered up the shaggy trunks and out +upon the limbs, where, perching on his hind legs, he peeped +mischievously down at the girl, as if inviting her to play hide-and-seek +with him; now and then a rabbit, fat and awkward from his gluttony on +the richness around him, jumped softly a few steps, then munched rapidly +with his jaws, flapped his long silken ears, looked slyly around with +his big, pretty eyes, and, as the girl made a rush toward him, he was +off like a shot. + +The woods were fragrant with ripening grapes and decaying vegetation, +and were putting on a garb whose flaming splendor surpassed the hues of +spring. + +Indeed, everything conspired to win a boy or girl away from study or +work, and to cause the wish on the part of both that they might be a +bird or squirrel, with no thought of the responsibilities of life. + +Nellie Ribsam forgot for the time everything else except her own +enjoyment; but by-and-by the woods took on such tempting looks that she +turned off from the highway she had been following, with the intention +of taking a stroll, which she meant should not lead her out of sight of +the road. + +The first view which stopped her was that of a large vine of wild +grapes. + +Some of them were green, some turning, while others were a dark purple, +showing they were fully ripe: the last, as a matter of course, were at +the top. + +These wild grapes were small and tart, inferior to those which grew in +the yard of Nellie at home; but they seemed to be trying to hide in the +woods, and they were hard to get, therefore they were more to be desired +than the choicest Catawba, Isabella, or Concord. + +The main vine, where it started from the ground, was as thick as a man's +wrist, and it twisted and wound about an oak sapling as if it were a +great African constrictor seeking to strangle the young tree. Other +vines branched out from the sides until not only was the particular +sapling enfolded and smothered, but the greedy vine reached out and +grasped others growing near it. + +Nellie felt like the fox who found the grapes more tempting the longer +he looked at them. + +"I'm going to have some of them," she said, and straightway proceeded to +help herself. + +She climbed as readily as Nick himself could have done, and never +stopped until she was so high that the sapling bent far over with her +weight. Then she reached out her chubby hand and plucked a cluster of +the wild fruit. They were about the size of buckshot, and when her sound +teeth shut down on them, the juice was so sour that she shut both eyes +and felt a twinge at the crown of her head as though she had taken a +sniff of the spirits of ammonia. + +But the grapes were none the less delicious for all that; the fact that +there seemed to be something forbidden about them added a flavor that +nothing else could give. + +Nellie had managed to crush a handful of the vinegar-like globules, when +she caught sight of another vine deeper in the woods. It was much larger +and climbed fully a dozen yards from the ground, winding in and out +among the limbs of a ridgy beech, which seemed to be forever struggling +upward to get away from the smothering embrace of the vegetable python. + +Five minutes later, Nellie was clambering upward like a monkey, never +pausing until the bending tree-top warned her that if she went any +higher it would yield to her weight. + +Nellie disposed of one bunch and that was enough: she concluded that she +was not very hungry for grapes and, without eating or even gathering +more, she devoted herself to another kind of enjoyment. + +Standing with one foot on a limb and the other on one near it, she +grasped a branch above her and began swaying back and forth, with the +vim and abandon of a child in a patent swing. + +The tree bent far over as she swung outward, then straightened up and +inclined the other way as her weight passed over to that side. Any one +looking at the picture would have said that a general smash and giving +away were certain, in which case the girl was sure to go spinning +through the limbs and branches, as though driven forth by the springs +within the big gun which fling the young lady outward just as the +showman touches off some powder. + +But a green sapling is very elastic, and, although the one climbed by +Nellie bent back and forth like a bow, it did not give way. Her hair +streamed from her head, and there was a thrilling feeling as the wind +whistled by her ears, and she seemed to be shooting like a bird through +space. + +All this was well enough, and it was no more than natural that Nellie +should have forgotten several important facts: she was so far from the +highway that she could not see any one passing over it; the rush of the +wind in her ears shut out sounds that otherwise would have been noticed, +and she had gone so far and had lingered so long by the way that it was +time to look for Nick on his return from Dunbarton, even though he was +later than he expected to be. + +It was while she was swinging in this wild fashion that her brother +drove by on his way home, without either suspecting how close they were +to each other. + +Nellie displayed a natural, childish thoughtlessness by keeping up this +sport for a half hour longer, when she came down to the ground, simply +because she was tired of the amusement. + +Although out of sight of the road she managed to find her way back to it +without trouble. With her lunch basket in hand, she continued in the +direction of Dunbarton, taking several mouthfuls of the bread which had +been left over at noon. + +In this aimless manner she strolled forward, stopping now and then to +look at the squirrel or rabbit or the yellow-hued warbler, the noisy and +swift-flying finch, the russet-coated thrush, or dark brown and mottled +woodpecker, as his head rattled against the bark of the tree trunks, +into which he bored in quest of worms. + +The first real surprise of the girl came when she reached the bridge. +This proved that she was more than four miles from home, a distance much +greater than she had suspected. + +"Where can Nick be?" she asked herself, never once thinking that they +might have missed each other when she was swinging in the tree-top. It +struck her that the day was nearly gone, for she noticed the gathering +twilight diffusing itself through the forest. + +"I don't think I will go any farther," she said; "Nick will be along +pretty soon, and I'll wait here for him." + +Standing on the bridge and looking down the road and listening for the +sound of the carriage wheels were tiresome to one of Nellie's active +habits, and it was not long before she broke off some of the bread, set +down her lunch basket, and then dropped some crumbs into the water. + +As they struck the surface, sending out little rings toward the shore, +several tiny fish came up after the food. Nellie laughed outright, and, +in her eagerness, was careless of how she threw the crumbs, most of +which fell upon the bank. + +It occurred to her that she could do better by going down to the edge of +the stream, where she would not mistake her aim. + +Childlike, she did not pause to think of the wrong of so doing, for she +ought to have known that her parents never would have consented to such +an act. + +Just there, Nellie, like many another little girl, made a great mistake. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +IN GREAT DANGER. + + +A little child is like a butterfly, thinking only of the pleasures of +the moment. Nellie Ribsam came down close to the edge of the creek and +threw some crumbs out upon the surface. In the clear water she could see +the shadowy figures of the minnows, as they glided upward and snapped at +the morsels. + +She became so interested in the sport that she kept walking down the +bank of the stream, flinging out the crumbs until there was none left in +her hand; then she debated whether she should go back after her lunch +basket or wait where she was until Nick appeared on the bridge. + +"It's a bother to carry the basket with me," she said to herself; "I had +to leave it on the ground when I was after grapes, so I'll wait till +Nick comes, and then I'll call to him. Won't he be scared when he sees +me down here!" + +From where she stood, she observed the bridge above her head, and +consequently Nick could look directly down upon her whenever he should +reach the structure. + +Nellie felt that she would like to go on down the creek to the big pond +into which it emptied; but she knew better than to do that, for she +would be certain to miss her big brother, and it was already beginning +to grow dark around her. + +"I wonder what makes Nick so long," she said to herself, as she sat down +on a fallen tree; "I'm so tired that I never can walk the four miles +home." + +She had sat thus only a brief while, when her head began to droop; her +bright eyes grew dull, then closed, and leaning against a limb which put +out from the fallen tree, on which she was sitting, she sank into the +sweet, dreamless sleep of childhood and health. + +Had she not been disturbed she would not have wakened until the sun +rose, but at the end of an hour, an involuntary movement of the head +caused it to slip off the limb against which it was resting with such a +shock that instantly she was as wide awake as though it was mid-day. + +Ah, but when she sprang to her feet and stared about her in the gloom +she was dreadfully alarmed! + +She was quick-witted enough to understand where she was and how it had +all come about. The gibbous moon was directly overhead, and shone down +upon her with unobstructed fullness. + +"Nick has gone over the bridge while I was asleep," was her instant +conclusion; "and father and mother will be worried about me." + +Her decision as to what she should do could not but be the one +thing--that was to climb back up the bank to the bridge, cross it, and +hurry homeward. + +There was a little throbbing of the heart, when she reflected that she +had several miles to travel, most of which was through the gloomy woods; +but there was no hesitation on the part of Nellie, who, but for the +sturdy teaching of her parents, would have crouched down beside the log +and sobbed in terror until she sank into slumber through sheer +exhaustion. + +"I have been a bad girl," she said to herself, as she reflected on her +thoughtlessness; "and mother will whip me, for I know she ought to; and +mother always does what she ought to do." + +There was no room for doubt in the mind of the child, for she understood +the nature of her parents as well as any child could understand that of +its guardian. + +Nellie was some distance below the point where the bridge spanned the +creek, but she could see the dim outlines of the structure as she +started toward it. It seemed higher than usual, but that was because the +circumstances were different from any in which she had ever been placed. + +The little one was making her way as best she could along the stream in +the direction of the bridge, when she was frightened almost out of her +senses by hearing a loud, sniffing growl from some point just ahead of +her. + +It was a sound that would have startled the bravest man, and Nellie was +transfixed for the moment. She did not turn and run, nor did she sink in +a swoon to the ground, but she stood just where she had stopped, until +she could find out what it meant. + +She was not kept long in waiting, for in less than a minute the noise +was repeated, and at the same moment she caught the outlines of a huge +black bear swinging along toward her. He was coming down the bed of the +creek, with his awkward, ponderous tread, and when seen by Nellie was +within fifty feet of her. + +When it is remembered that he was of unusual size and proceeding +straight toward the child, it seems impossible that she should have done +anything at all to help herself. The sight was enough to deprive her of +the power of motion and speech. + +But it was in such a crisis as this that little Nellie Ribsam showed +that she had not forgotten the teaching of her parents: "God helps them +that help themselves." + +With scarcely a second's pause, she whirled on her heel and dashed down +the stream with the utmost speed at her command. + +The bear could not have failed to see her, though it is not to be +supposed that he was looking for the little girl when he first came +that way. Furthermore, had the chase lasted several minutes Nellie must +have fallen a victim to the savage animal. + +It required no instruction to teach her that there was but one way in +which she could escape, and that was by climbing a tree. Had there been +a large one near at hand she would have ascended that as quickly as +possible; but, fortunately, the first one to which she fled was a +sapling, no larger than those she had climbed during the afternoon, and +no one could have clambered to the highest point attainable quicker than +did the frightened little girl. + +Had she been a veteran hunter, Nellie could not have made a better +selection, for she was fully twenty feet from the ground, and as much +beyond the reach of the bear as though she were in her trundle-bed at +home. + +But the position was a frightful one to her, and for several minutes she +believed the animal would tear the tree down and destroy her. + +"I have done all I can for myself," she murmured, recalling the +instruction of her parents, "and now God will do the rest." + +Beautiful, trusting faith of childhood! Of such, indeed, is the kingdom +of heaven. + +The huge bear, which from some cause or other had ventured from the +recesses of the wood, was but a short distance behind the little +wanderer when she climbed so hastily beyond his reach. He acted as +though he was somewhat bewildered by the unusual scene of a small child +fleeing from him, but nothing is so tempting to pursuit as the sight of +some one running from us, and the brute galloped after Nellie with an +evident determination to capture her, if the thing could be done. + +When he found the child had eluded him for the time, he sat down on his +haunches and looked upward, as though he intended to wait till she would +be compelled to descend and surrender herself. + +The small tree in which Nellie had taken refuge was several yards from +the edge of the stream, the bank sloping so steeply that the water never +reached the base, excepting during a freshet. + +It was a chestnut, whose smooth bark rendered it all the more difficult +to climb, but Nellie went up it as rapidly as a man ascends telegraph +poles with the spikes strapped to his boots. + +The bear clawed the bark a little while, as a cat is sometimes seen to +do when "stretching" herself, and it was during these few minutes that +the girl thought nothing could save her from falling into his clutches. + +When he ceased, she peered downward through the branches, and could just +see the massy animal near the base of the tree, as if asking himself +what was the next best thing to do. + +It will be admitted that the situation of Nellie Ribsam was one in which +few children of her tender years are ever placed. Happy it is, indeed, +that it is so, for what one in a thousand would have retained her +self-possession? + +In explanation, it may be doubted indeed whether Nellie fully +comprehended her peril. Had she been older, her consternation, +doubtless, would have been greater, as the emotion she showed some years +later, when placed in great danger, would seem to prove. + +But there was one fact of which she was firmly convinced: she had +complied with her father's instructions, for, as has been shown, she put +forth every possible exertion to save herself, and now she called on +Heaven to assist her. + +Perched in the top of the tree, with the enormous bear sitting beneath +and looking hungrily upward, she prayed: + +"Heavenly Father, please take care of me and don't let that big bear +catch me; don't let papa and mamma feel too bad, and please make the bad +bear go away and let me alone." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +"GOTT SEI DANK!" + + +The prayer of little Nellie Ribsam--so far as it related to herself--was +answered. + +She secured her seat, as best she could, in the branches of the chestnut +sapling, and, by arranging her dress and the yielding limbs with +considerable skill, she made herself quite comfortable. + +The trying situation in which she was placed, it would be thought, was +enough to drive away all disposition to sleep, but at the end of less +than half an hour the little head was nodding again, and, forgetful of +her peril, her senses soon left her. + +It will be understood that the danger of the young wanderer was rendered +all the greater by this loss of consciousness, for her muscles would +relax in slumber, and, unless her position was unusually secure, she was +certain to fall. + +But that gracious Father in whom she so implicitly trusted watched over +the little one, and she remained as though seated in the broad +rocking-chair at home. + +When at last she moved slightly and was on the point of losing her +balance, she awoke so quickly that she saved herself just in the nick of +time. + +She was shocked and startled, but regaining her breath she held fast +with one hand while she parted the branches with the other and carefully +peered down among the limbs. + +"He is gone!" was her joyous exclamation; "I knew the Lord would make +him go away, because I asked him to." + +She was right: the bear had vanished, and all danger from that source +for the time had passed. + +The brute probably found enough to eat without waiting for little girls +to fall into his clutches. As he had never been known to trouble any one +in the neighborhood, it was reasonable to believe that he got all he +wanted without venturing away from the depths of the woods, and rousing +an ill-will against himself that would speedily result in his +destruction. + +Nellie did not feel surprised at all, for, as I have shown, she had the +faith to believe that her prayer would be answered. + +"Now I will go down to the ground and start for home. I guess the bear +isn't far off, but the Lord will not let him hurt me." + +She carefully descended the tree and stood on the ground a minute later. +She found that her dress was torn and she had lost part of the ribbon +from her hat. This troubled her more than anything else, for her frugal +mother had told her many a time that she must take the best care of her +clothing. + +"I was so scared that I forgot to look out," she said to herself, after +taking an inventory of the damages; "but I guess mother will excuse me +for losing the ribbon, though I know she won't for coming so far into +the woods without permission." + +She now set out resolutely for the bridge, determined to lose no more +time in reaching home. As is the rule, the brief space she had passed in +sleep seemed three times as long as was actually the case, and she +thought it must be near morning. + +She had gone but a short distance when she stopped with another shock of +affright. + +"My gracious! what can that be?" + +A point of light appeared between her and the bridge, flickering about +like an _ignis-fatuus_ or jack-o'-lantern. Nellie felt like taking to +the tree again, but she bravely stood her ground until she could satisfy +her curiosity as to its nature. + +Watching it closely she observed shadowy figures flitting around the +light in a curious and grotesque way. She was in greater doubt than +ever, when she heard voices. + +"I think I saw her tracks, but I couldn't be sure; Nellie knows too much +to walk or fall into the deep water." + +"I hope so, but my heart misgives me sorely. God be merciful, for if she +is lost I can never recover!" + +The first speaker was Nick Ribsam, and the second was the father, the +mother immediately adding: + +"Why the poor child came here is more than I can understand, but He +doeth all things well." + +_"Oh, mother! Oh, father! Oh, Nick! It is I, Nellie! I am so glad to see +you!"_ + +And the little wanderer flew like the wind along the bank of the creek. +The mother was the first to recognize the voice, and rushing forward she +caught her child in her arms, murmuring in her own language: + +"Mein Kind! Mein Kind! Gott sei Dank!" (My child! My child! God be +thanked!) + +"Mein lieber Nellie! Komm an mein Herz! Kannst du es sein?" (My dear +Nellie! Come to my heart! Can it be you?) exclaimed the overjoyed +father. + +"O meine abtruennige Schwester! Wie du uns erschreckt hast! Wie es mich +freut dich zu finden!" (Oh, my truant sister! What a scare you have +given us! How glad I am to find you!) shouted Nick. + +And the child that was lost and was found was hugged first by mother, +then by father, and then by Nick, and then all strove to get hold of her +at the same time, till the brother ceased, through fear that she would +be torn apart. + +Nellie was laughing and crying, and wondering why it was such commotion +was caused by her return to her folks. + +Mr. Layton and Kilgore heard the tumult, and knew what it meant. A few +minutes brought them to the spot, and, though their greeting was less +demonstrative, their eyes filled with tears over the exceeding joy of +the reunited family. + +When the excitement had subsided somewhat, the group listened to the +story of Nellie. She told it in her childish, straightforward manner, +and it was all the more impressive on that account. + +The listeners were greatly touched; but the probability that a large +bear was in the neighborhood hastened their footsteps and they lost no +time in hurrying away. + +When they reached the highway above, crossed the bridge, and had gone +some distance on their way home, they began to feel there was nothing to +be feared from the animal. Mr. Layton referred to the tracks of the +beast which they had noticed when hunting for Nellie, but said he would +never have mentioned it until the fate of the girl became known; for the +suggestions which must have followed were too dreadful. + +Nothing was seen of the animal, however, and, as the distance from the +bridge was increased the party finally gave up all thought and +conversation respecting it. + +There was a grateful household that night, when, at a late hour, they +gathered about the family altar and the head returned thanks to Him who +had been so merciful to them and theirs. + +The happy mother held the daughter in her arms all night, while they +both slept; and when the parent awoke, now and then, through the +darkness, she shuddered, pressed the little one closer to her and kissed +the chubby cheek, on which her former tears had not yet dried. + +But Katrina Ribsam was none the less an affectionate mother when, +several days later, she called Nellie to her knee and told her how +wrongly she had acted in venturing on such a dangerous tramp without +asking permission from her parents. + +Nellie said she knew it, and wondered why it was her mother delayed the +punishment so long. She was ready, and loved and respected her mother +the more for administering it. + +But truth compels me to say that the chastisement was given with such a +gentle hand that it was hardly worth the name, and the mother herself +suffered far more than did the child, who to this day is not conscious +that she received anything like physical pain. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +OMINOUS PREPARATIONS. + + +Happily there are few little girls in this favored land who are called +upon to go through such trials as fell to the lot of little Nellie +Ribsam when she was but eight years old. + +It created much talk in the neighborhood, and she was complimented on +the bravery she had shown, while the glad father became more confirmed +than ever in his favorite belief that God helps them that help +themselves. + +"'Spose dot she didn't try to helps herself some," he said, in talking +the matter over with Mr. Marston, "don't you not sees dot she would get +eat up doo, dree times by dot bear dot vos bigger as nefer vos?" + +"It is a good thing for one, even though he be a child, to be able to do +his utmost when overtaken by danger--there can be no question about +_that_; but it would require a great deal of training to bring some +children to that point, even when they are double the years of your +little girl." + +"Dot's becos dere folks don't not begins right; we starts mit Nick and +Nellie when dey was so small dot dey didn't know nuffin, which is why it +happens dey knows so much now." + +Great as was the interest excited by the adventure of Nellie, it was not +long before it was thrown in the shade by another fact which was brought +to light by that same experience: that was the existence of a large bear +in the woods which lay to the east and west of the road leading to +Dunbarton. + +This forest, as has already been intimated, covered a large tract of +country, in which, a few years previous, bears, deer, and wolves had +been hunted by many of those dwelling on the outskirts. Large inroads +had been made on the woodland, and here and there the cabin of a settler +or squatter was found by those who penetrated any distance. + +There were clearings extending over several acres, while, again, a man +might wander for hours without emerging from the timber, which included +the common varieties found in the Middle States--oak, beech, maple, +birch, hickory, hemlock, black walnut, American poplar or whitewood, +gum, elm, persimmon, and others less important. + +The pine resembled the famous white pine of the Allegheny mountains, and +predominated. Where there was such a large area covered with timber, +about every variety of surface was known. In some places were rocks, +ravines, hollows, and gulches; in others there were marshy swamps +through which a hunter would find it hard work to force his way. + +Shark Creek entered from the east and was of considerable volume. In +many places it was deep, while elsewhere it widened into broad and +shallow expansions. It wound its way through the woods in the sinuous +course always taken by such streams, and, crossing the road, where it +was spanned by a bridge, it continued onward a quarter of a mile, when +it reached Shark Pond, the overflow of which ultimately found its way +into the Susquehanna and so to the Atlantic. + +Why the waters were called Shark Creek and Pond was more than any one +could explain. Most likely it was because no such fish as the shark had +ever been seen near them, the circumstances of the case rendering it +impossible that such a voracious creature ever should have sported in +their depths. + +From what has been said, it will be seen that the woods offered a most +inviting home for a few wild bears, and there was the best reason for +the belief of many of the neighbors that if the tract was well hunted +over several of the animals would be found. + +The universal opinion was that they should be exterminated, for so long +as they were in the woods, so long were they a standing menace to all +the men, women, and children who dwelt in the section. The children, +especially, were considered in great peril, and several timid mothers +refused to let their girls and boys go to school, which stood at no +great distance from the woods. + +There was more than one farmer who contended that, if the few bears were +left alone they would multiply to that degree that they would sally +forth from the forest, like the Delaware Indians of the last century, +and carry death and destruction before them. + +A few individuals, like Gustav Ribsam, said there was nothing to fear, +for when the bears showed any marked increase they would be killed, and +it would be no very difficult job, either. + +But no one could dispute the desirability of ridding the country of the +brute which came so near eating little Nellie Ribsam; and, where there +was so much talk, something was done, or at least attempted. + +A hunting party of six men was organized in the month of October, and +they tramped through the woods for days, with a couple of dogs, but the +trail of the animal could not be found. They finally gave up the hunt, +the most tired and disgusted not hesitating to declare they did not +believe a bear had been seen in the forest for half a century. + +The opinion of those best qualified to judge, was that bruin obtained +all the food he wanted with such little trouble that he did not care to +molest any persons, and therefore kept out of the way of the hunters. + +Nick Ribsam, like all boys, was fond of a gun and dog, and he did not +own either. His father had brought from Holland an old musket, used +before the country was erected into a kingdom for Louis Bonaparte, more +than eighty years ago; but when Nick rammed a charge down its dusty +throat one day, forgetful that one had been resting there for months, +and pulled trigger, it hung fire a long time; but, when it did go off, +it did so in an overwhelming fashion, bursting into a dozen pieces and +narrowly missing killing the astounded lad who discharged it. + +But Nick was so anxious to own a gun, that his father bought him one on +the day he reached the age of ten years, which was shortly after +Nellie's adventure with the bear. Although the farmer was frugal in all +things, he believed it was the cheapest to buy the best, and the gun +which was placed in the hands of Nick was a breech-loader with double +barrels. It was a shot-gun, as a matter of course, for little use could +be found for a rifle in that neighborhood. + +But Nick had practiced with this piece only a few weeks, when his +ambition was turned in another direction by a large, strong boy, who +hired himself out upon the farm of Mr. Marston. He was sixteen years of +age, and was named Sam Harper. His father had been a soldier in the late +war, and gave to Sam a fine breech-loading rifle, which he brought with +him when he hired out to Mr. Marston. + +The lad had owned it two years, and, under the tutelage of his father, +who was wounded and living upon a pension, he became very skillful for +one of his age. + +Beside this, Mr. Marston himself, as I have shown, was fond of hunting +in his early manhood, and was the owner of an excellent muzzle-loading +rifle, which was as good as when his keen eye glanced along the brown +barrel and the bullet was buried in the unsuspicious deer, so far away +as to be scarcely visible to the ordinary vision. + +"If you and Sam want to hunt the bear," said the kind owner, "you are +welcome to my rifle, for you know a shot-gun ain't exactly the thing to +go hunting bears with." + +"That's just what I want it for," said Nick, with sparkling eyes. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE BEAR HUNTERS. + + +Nothing is impossible to pluck and perseverance. That boy who is +determined to become brilliant in his studies, no matter what their +nature, or to master a difficult profession, or to attain any point +possible of attainment, is sure to win, if he will but _stick to it_. + +Nick Ribsam was resolved to become skillful with the rifle, and he gave +all the time he could spare to practice with the gun which belonged to +Mr. Marston. He was desirous of starting after the bear with Sam, as +soon as he could use the gun, but his sensible father shook his head. + +"No, Nicholas, that would be doing wrong, for you do not know how to +handle the rifle; God does not step in and help the lazy and careless; +first learn how to use the weapon, so you will never miss; then you may +go hunt bears." + +Although a lusty lad, Nick found the heavy gun was quite a burden, and +he preferred to rest the barrel on the fence, or in the crotch of a +tree, when aiming, but Sam Harper told him he could never amount to +anything unless he used his weapon off-hand, and was ready to do so +effectively, no matter how sudden the call. + +Nick applied all his energies, and in the course of a few weeks won the +praise of Sam, who had become very fond of the bright and good-natured +"Pennsylvania Dutchman," who, in return, helped him in his efforts to +improve his knowledge in arithmetic, which he studied in a desultory way +on the long autumn evenings, having promised his father to do so. + +Mr. Marston owned a dog which was not of much account, but the boys +trained him with rare patience, and were confident he would prove +valuable when they took him on the hunt. + +By the time they were ready to start autumn was advanced, and Nick, who +had carefully studied up the peculiarities of the animal, said he was +afraid the bear had gone into some hollow tree or cave to take his +winter's sleep. + +"I don't think they do that till the weather gets colder," said Sam, who +had once helped hunt bruin in the wilds of Tennessee, "and even in very +cold weather I have seen their tracks in the snow; but if we can only +find the tree or cave where he is hiding, why, that will just be +splendid." + +"Why so?" + +"He is fat, lazy, and so sleepy that he don't fight much; but in the +spring-time he is lean, hungry, and fierce, and then everybody must look +out. There are so many chestnuts and hickory nuts in the woods now that +he can get all he wants to eat without scaring the farmers by visiting +them." + +"The bear eats almost everything," said Nick, "but I don't believe he +can make much of a meal off hickory nuts." + +"Well, he has got a good thing of it anyway, here, there is so much food +around him, and if he had only been smart enough to keep out of sight +and never show himself he might have died of old age without being once +disturbed by hunters." + +"I ain't sure he won't die of old age as it is," said Nick, with a +laugh; "for every one who went after him came back without the first +glimpse. I guess they have all given up hope of shooting him, and I +shouldn't wonder if we had to do the same." + +But whether such was to be the result or not remained to be seen, and +the boys were sure of plenty of sport in an all-day ramble through the +woods. + +During all this time Nick and Nellie were attending school, and they +maintained their places in their studies, and were surpassed by none in +the excellence of their deportment. + +Nick rose early and helped his father with his work, and at night did +his chores. With all this, he found opportunity to practice with the +rifle and to prepare his lessons for the morrow, so that it need not be +said he had little idle time on his hands. + +On a bright Saturday morning in November, when the smoky haze of the +delicious Indian summer overspread forest, stream, and country, Sam +Harper came to the house of Nick Ribsam according to appointment. + +His rifle was slung over his shoulder, and the dog, which they had +christened Bowser, was at his heels. There was no school that day, and +Mr. Ribsam, having satisfied himself of the ability of Nick to handle +the rifle of his neighbor, had given him permission to go on a hunt for +the bear which had so frightened Nellie a couple of months before. + +The mother and daughter were a little anxious when the rosy-cheeked boy +donned his heavy boots, pushed his trousers down the legs, and taking +the long-barreled rifle from where it rested in the corner turned to +kiss them good-by. + +Mr. Ribsam seemed as cool and stolid as ever; but any one looking +closely at him would have observed that he puffed his pipe a little +oftener than was his wont, while his eye beamed more kindly upon his +brave little boy. + +"Look out, Nick, and don't be too venturesome," said the mother, as she +pressed her lips to those of her only son. + +"And remember that the bear is an awful big animal," said Nellie, "for +I _seen_ him." + +The brother, who was in the act of leaning over his sister to kiss her, +drew back with a reproving look. + +"Why is it a girl can't talk without saying 'awful' in every sentence? I +wish for variety's sake, Nellie, you and the rest of the girls would +leave 'awful' out of one sentence in a hundred, and don't say 'I _seen_ +him,' for you know better than that, sister." + +She hung her head and her eyes were growing misty, when Nick took the +kiss with a laugh and moved to the door. + +"There, there, good-by; you all act as if I was going to Africa to hunt +lions and tigers." + +Nellie snapped him up in a flash: + +"There ain't any tigers in Africa, smarty!" + +"You got me that time," laughed Nick; "where is father?" + +"He went out of the door a minute ago; he is standing by the gate," said +the mother, after a quick glance through the window. + +Mr. Ribsam was leaning on the gate-post, as was a favorite custom of +his, and the tobacco smoke ascended in clouds and rings, as though he +was a locomotive tugging hard at a train, with the wheels continually +slipping. + +He looked at the boys without stirring or speaking, as they passed out +the gate and gently closed it, so as not to jar the old gentleman +leaning upon it. + +When they had gone a rod or so, Mr. Ribsam called out: + +"Nicholas!" + +"Yes, sir!" answered the son, wheeling instantly. + +The father took the long stem of his pipe from his mouth, emitted a +blast of vapor, and then shut his eyes and flung his head backward with +a quick flirt, which meant that his boy should come to him. + +Nick obeyed with his usual promptness, and paused immediately in front +of his parent, while Sam Harper stopped short and looked backward at the +two, with the purpose of waiting until the interview ended. + +The old gentleman meant his words for both, and he therefore used the +English tongue as best he could, and spoke loud: + +"Nicholas, bears ish shtrong amimals as nefer vos: they can squeeze in +der ribs of a ox of dey tried, I dinks, so looks out dot de bears don't +not squeeze mit you." + +"I will take good care, you may depend." + +"His claws am sharp and he has big jaws; look outs for dem, Nicholas!" + +"You may be sure I will." + +"And, Nicholas, ven you goes for to hunt bears _you must helps one +anoder; you hears_?" + +This was the all-important sentence the father had prepared himself to +utter. It will be observed that it was in violation of his oft repeated +creed, for it clearly called upon the boys to render mutual support +should danger arise; and they would have been zanies had they not done +so. + +The father expected them to show that much sense, but he was impelled to +impress the necessity of it: he meant them to understand that his +declarations were subject to amendment under certain conditions. + +Nick gave the pledge and stepped briskly up the road with Sam, while +Bowser frolicked in the fields and road until they were fairly in the +woods, when he frisked among the trees, sometimes starting up a squirrel +or rabbit, which had no trouble in skurrying out of his reach. + +As the bear when seen by Nellie was near Shark Creek, the boys agreed to +follow the road to the bridge, descend into the bed of the stream, and +then go downward toward the pond and finally off into the woods, where +they intended to pass that day and probably the night and following day. + +They had reached and passed the tree in which Nellie Ribsam took refuge +two months before, when Nick suddenly exclaimed: + +"Hallo, there is some one ahead of us!" + +"It's the season for game and we shall find plenty of hunters in the +wood," said Sam Harper, who, nevertheless, scanned the person with much +interest. + +The fact that the boys were following precisely in his footsteps raised +the suggestion that perhaps he was engaged on the same business or +sport, as it might be termed. + +Our friends hastened their pace so as to overtake him, for his company +might be desirable, or possibly it might be otherwise. + +"Hallo, there!" called out Nick; "wait a minute!" + +The individual thus hailed turned about, and looked back to see who it +was that called. + +As he did so his face was seen, and Nick Ribsam gave utterance to an +expression of astonishment. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +A RECRUIT. + + +The stranger ahead of the two boys was Herbert Watrous, the city youth +upon whom Nick had sat down so hard three years before. + +He was unusually tall when visiting the country school, and during the +intervening time he had continued to grow upward, until his height +equaled that of an ordinary man. He was scarce fourteen years old, but +he lacked very little of six feet in altitude. + +He was correspondingly slim, so that he looked as if a smart blow on the +back would snap him in two. He was arrayed in a most gorgeous hunting +suit of green, with all the paraphernalia which the hunter from the city +thinks necessary when he honors the country with a tramp for game. + +Herbert, beyond question, was fitted out in fine style, and there was +nothing lacking, except perhaps skill. He carried one of the finest of +breech-loading rifles, which would have been very effective in the hands +of a party who knew how to use it. + +The face of the lad had not changed in expression to any extent since +Nick Ribsam drove him into the earth, but there was some downy furze on +his upper lip and chin, while his voice was of that squeaky and +uncertain tone heard when "changing." + +"Hallo! is that you?" was the rather superfluous question of Herbert, as +he waited for the two boys to come up. He recognized Nick, but of course +was a stranger to Sam Harper, to whom Nick introduced him, and there was +a general shaking of hands all around. + +Young Watrous glanced rather askance at his old school-mate, but there +was such a cordial welcome on the part of the young "American of Dutch +descent" that all reserve vanished. + +A certain loftiness of manner and conceit of expression, however, were +natural to Herbert, and he did not fail to look down, in a literal and +figurative sense, upon the two hunters. + +"That's a fine gun you have there, Herbert," said Nick, venturing to +reach out his hand for it. + +"Yes," answered Herbert, passing it to him rather gingerly, "be careful +not to drop it." + +The gun was a beautiful weapon, known as the long range "Creedmoor." It +was a Remington, highly finished, and cost $125. It had a front sight, +known as the wind-gauge, with the spirit-level, and with the vernier +sight on the stock, which is raised from its flat position when the +hunter wishes to shoot a long distance, and is graduated up to a +thousand yards, carrying a 44 cartridge. + +"That isn't of much account in this part of the world," said Sam Harper, +passing the weapon back; "it's light enough, for I don't suppose it +weighs more than six or seven pounds." + +"It's just the thing for these woods," said Herbert, in his important +manner, "for I calculate to bring down game a half mile away, if I +happen to see it." + +"And provided it will stand still and you can know the exact distance." + +"I can tell that by my eye easily enough." + +"You can't guess within two hundred yards of it, if your life depended +on it." + +"That remains to be seen." + +"The first time you try it will prove it. I have seen them shoot with +the telescopes, globe, and peep sights and all the new fangled notions, +and they're good only for fancy shooting. You've got to use that +breech-loader off-hand, just as I do, or it won't be worth a cent to +you." + +"I understand that a big black bear has been seen in the woods," said +Herbert, in his loftiest style; "I've come to kill him." + +Nick and Sam looked significantly at each other, and Nick said: + +"That is what we are after; won't you join us?" + +Instead of responding promptly, Herbert said: + +"Well, I don't know as I have any objection to letting you go with me, +though you must promise to do as I say." + +Without giving this pledge, the two said they would render all the help +they could, and the party moved on down the creek toward the pond. + +"Have you a dog?" asked Nick of their new recruit. + +"No, what do I want of a dog? He would only be a bother; you ought to +send back that pumpkin of yours." + +"We don't expect him to be of much help, except to find the track of the +bear, if he is anywhere in the neighborhood--_there!_ do you hear that?" + +At that moment Bowser, who had trotted into the woods ahead, gave +utterance to a hoarse, resounding bay, which sounded as though his voice +had also changed, for it ended in a dismal squeaking howl that made all +laugh. + +"He is on the track of something," said Nick in some excitement. + +"A rabbit, I am sure," remarked Herbert, with a sneer. + +The three started off at a rapid walk, which occasionally broke into a +trot, and following the baying of the hound they turned to the right +before reaching the big pond, and struck into the very heart of the +woods. + +Herbert was so much taller and lighter than his companions that he drew +away from them once or twice, but was obliging enough to stop and wait. + +Hurrying along in this headlong fashion they soon stopped, all pretty +well out of breath. + +Although Herbert had laughed at their tardiness, he was the most +exhausted and the first one to wish to rest. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +A SURPRISE. + + +All this time the baying of the hound continued, the sounds showing that +he had circled and was approaching the boys, who were not a little +astonished at the unexpected turn of affairs. + +"That's a pretty dog," laughed Herbert; "he is making fools of us all." + +"There isn't any need of that so far as _you_ are concerned," retorted +Nick, losing patience with the slurs of their companion. "You had better +wait till you find out what it means before you condemn Bowser." + +Herbert made no answer, for the dog was now so close that the interest +of all was centered on his actions. + +"My gracious, what a terrible racket he makes!" exclaimed Nick; "there +must be something unusual to excite Bowser like that." + +The dog was not heard for several minutes, but the crashing through the +undergrowth sounded nearer and nearer, and, as Sam declared, showed that +Bowser had steam up and was going for something. + +Suddenly the bushes parted only a short ways from where the three +wondering lads stood, and, instead of the hound, some kind of a wild +animal came toward them on a dead run. + +The group were too amazed to think of the guns they held, and only +stared in mute wonder. + +The game did not see them until within a hundred feet, when he whirled +at right angles and plunged away with arrowy speed. + +As he did so, he exposed his flank to the young hunters, who could not +have been given a better opportunity to bring him down, for the throwing +forward of the foreleg, opened his most vulnerable part to the bullet. + +But none was sent after him; at that instant he was recognized as a fine +buck deer, with branching antlers thrown back so that they seemed to +rest on his spine, while his legs were flung straight in front and then +backward, as he took his long graceful leaps. + +The boys had set out to hunt a bear, and were astounded that, when they +dared not hope they were anywhere in his vicinity, a splendid deer +should spring up and dash by them. + +Before they could give utterance to their amazement, Bowser came along +with his nose to the ground and baying hoarsely. + +Just as he turned to follow the deer, Herbert Watrous raised his +breech-loader to his shoulder and fired point blank at him. + +"What did you do that for?" demanded Sam Harper, striding threateningly +toward him with his fist raised. + +"Why--why--I declare! I thought it was the bear!" exclaimed the abashed +Herbert; "I never dreamed it was the dog." + +Sam was not disposed to believe this story, and he stood irresolute, +strongly inclined to punish the city youth who had fired at his hound; +but Nick compelled his angry friend to laugh by saying: + +"You shouldn't be mad, Sam, for Bowser is safe so long as Herbert aims +at him. I don't think he came within twenty feet. If he should hit him +you can make up your mind it is an accident." + +Herbert hardly knew how to answer this remark, for he saw that he had +not done a very creditable thing, view it as he might, so he made a +radical turn in the conversation. + +"Who would have thought it, boys? We've got not only a bear, but a deer +to hunt, and I say, may the best fellow win!" + +And with this manly sentiment on his lips he broke into a rapid run +after the buck and hound, the others following, forgetful of the little +flurry a few minutes before. + +It was not in the order of things that the lads should be able to make +their way through the woods and undergrowth with anything like the speed +of the fallow deer or dog. Hunters don't expect to overtake their game +in anything like a fair chase when all are on foot, but resort to +stratagem. + +By stationing themselves so as to head off a deer, they secure the one +shot which is all-sufficient. It would be counted an extremely good +piece of fortune could they obtain such a fair target as has already +been given the young hunters; and, having let it pass unimproved, they +scarcely would have expected to be so favored again. + +It was natural, therefore, that they should make a pell-mell rush after +the deer and hound, and that they should keep going until, once more, +they were forced to stop from exhaustion. + +By this time the baying of Bowser came to them so faintly that it was +plain he was a mile distant at the least, while there could be little +doubt that the buck was much farther off. + +"Well!" exclaimed the panting Herbert Watrous, "I can't say I see much +fun in this; it's too much like chasing a railroad train." + +"No," added Nick, "I don't see that there is any hope of running down +the deer, who is more used to traveling than we are." + +"Maybe he'll come round in a circle again," said Sam, "and we may have +another chance to see him sail by, while not one of us raises his gun." + +"I suppose we ought to understand something more about the habits of +the deer, so that we would know what course he would be likely to take. +We could then get there ahead of him and fire as soon as he gave us a +chance." + +"Well," added Sam, with a sigh, "he seems to have taken the route we +were going to follow to hunt the bear, so we may as well tramp along. We +may get a glimpse of a buffalo or elephant next." + +The baying of the hound had ceased, and, though the boys often stopped +and listened, they heard nothing more of it. + +"I guess he has caught the deer," said Herbert, who showed a desire to +speak well of Bowser since he had failed to shoot him, "and is waiting +for us." + +But Sam shook his head; he knew the canine too well to believe him +capable of such an exploit as that. + +"I don't think he ever ran down anything yet, unless it was a chicken or +cat--hallo!" + +At that moment the subject of their conversation appeared on the scene, +approaching as quietly as though the boys were sheep that he wished to +surprise. + +He slouched along with a lazy, tired gait, his tongue out, and dripping +with perspiration, while he panted as though he had been on the severest +chase of his life, which most likely was the fact. + +He lay down at the feet of Sam Harper, and, stretching out his paws, +rested his head between them as much as to say, "Gentlemen, I have had +enough of this sport, and resign; you will now carry it on without my +assistance." + +"He is tired out, and I don't wonder," said Sam, stooping over and +patting the head of the hound; "he ain't used to deer hunting, and don't +know much more about it than do we." + +"Then he don't know anything," was the truthful observation of Nick +Ribsam. + +"It's my opinion that it's best to give up hunting that particular deer +until we learn a little more about the right way to do it." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE DINNER IN THE WOODS. + + +By this time it was close to the hour of noon, and the young hunters +were hungry. They had brought no lunch with them, for that would have +been an admission that they doubted their own ability to provide food +for themselves in a country abounding with game. + +Nick Ribsam had a paper of salt and pepper mixed, with which to season +their dinner as soon as it should be secured. + +The common red squirrels, or chickarees, were so plentiful that they +were nearly always in sight, and, without moving from where they stood, +the lads descried several running along the limbs of the trees. + +"Let each of us shoot one," said Sam, walking forth to get a better aim +at a fellow perched high on the branch of a large oak. + +Slowly bringing his gun to his shoulder, he took careful aim, and the +game came tumbling through the leaves to the ground, his head punctured +by the cruel bullet. Bowser started at a lazy walk to bring the body in, +but Sam stopped him and picked it up himself. + +"I think I will take _that_ one," said Herbert, indicating a squirrel +which was nearer than the others. It was sitting in the crotch of a +tree, nigh enough to be struck with a stone flung by a skillful thrower. + +The other two watched his actions with some interest as he raised the +handsome breech-loader. He took a long and deliberate aim, and gave a +grunt the instant he pulled the trigger, and the sharp report broke the +stillness of the woods. + +Nick and Sam laughed, for the frightened rodent scampered up the tree +and ran out upon a heavy branch, where he whisked from sight and then +back again, chattering in such a lively fashion that it was plain he had +suffered no inconvenience from the bullet sent after him. + +"Well, I'll be hanged!" exclaimed the chagrined Herbert, "I don't +understand how that came about." + +"The squirrel doesn't seem to understand it, either," said Sam; "let's +see whether you can do any worse, Nick." + +"I'm going to try and bark him," remarked Nick, cocking his rifle and +sighting at the little animal. + +Before he could make his aim sure, the chickaree started to run along +the limb, which was large and covered with thick, shaggy bark; but the +muzzle of the weapon swerved slowly in a corresponding direction, and +just as the game gathered itself to make a leap, the explosion came. + +The others, who were watching the squirrel to note the result, saw +several pieces of bark suddenly fly upward with such force that the +rodent was hurled fully a foot above the limb, dropping like a wet rag +at the feet of the lad, killed, without its skin being broken. + +"That was a good shot!" exclaimed Sam Harper admiringly; "no hunter in +the land could have barked him better than did you." + +"What do you mean by barking a squirrel?" asked Herbert, who had never +seen anything of the kind before. + +"It is easy enough; all you have to do is to cut the bark right under +the squirrel's body, so that the pieces fly upward with such force as to +knock the life from him." + +"That's the way I'm going to kill them after this." + +"It is best to practice hitting them with the ball first," Nick +suggested. + +Herbert solemnly removed the shell of the cartridge from his +breech-loader and replaced it with a fresh one, pretending not to hear +the remark of Nick. + +As the two squirrels were large and in excellent condition, it was +thought they would afford enough dinner for the boys, who went some +distance farther until they reached a small stream of clear, icy water, +where they decided to make their fire. + +While Nick and Herbert busied themselves gathering some dry twigs and +sticks, Sam Harper, with his keen knife, skillfully skinned the +chickarees, dressed them, and then holding them over the flame on +green, forked sticks, they were soon cooked to a turn. + +For a few minutes before they were ready, the odor of the broiling game +so sharpened the appetites of the boys that Nick sprang up, and, +hurrying out in the woods, shot another for Sam to dress and cook. + +"Two ain't enough," he said in explanation, as he threw the last to his +friend; "I can eat a couple myself, and Bowser looks sort of faint." + +"The waste parts ought to be enough for him," said Sam, glancing at the +hound, who had gulped down everything thrown him and was gazing +wistfully for the next tid-bits that should fall to his share. + +The clear, pure air, the vigorous exercise, and the rugged health of the +boys gave them appetites scarcely less forceful than that of Bowser; and +when Nick had carefully sprinkled the seasoning over the juicy, crisp +flesh, and each, taking one of the squirrels in hand, began wrenching +off the tender meat, he was sure he had never tasted such a delicious +dinner in all his life. + +Even Herbert Watrous, accustomed as he was to the delicacies and +refinements of a city home, admitted that there was something about the +meal which, washed down with clear, pure water, had a flavor surpassing +anything of the kind he had ever known. + +The causes why it tasted thus I have already stated. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +A TEST OF MARKSMANSHIP. + + +The boys were so tired from their severe tramp, and the rest was so +grateful after finishing their dinner, that they stayed where they were +an hour longer. Then, realizing that nothing could be done by idleness, +they slung their reloaded rifles over their shoulders, took another +drink of water, and lazily made their way to higher ground. + +"I have been thinking," said Nick, when they paused again, "that we will +be more likely to learn something of the bear if we separate." + +"For how long?" Herbert asked. + +"Until night, or until we find him." + +"But how can we find each other at night?" + +"That can be fixed easily enough; if necessary, we can signal to each +other, or we can pick out some landmark that can be seen a long ways +off and gradually approach that as the sun goes down." + +There was nothing brilliant in this proposition, but after some +discussion it was agreed to by the others, and they began looking around +for something which might serve them as a guide. + +Directly to the north, the woods rose in a series of hills of no great +elevation, but among them were numerous large rocks of limestone +formation, some of them of such a light color that they could be seen a +long distance. + +"Right yonder," said Nick, pointing toward the largest, "is one which we +cannot mistake; let's agree to meet there at nightfall and go into camp. +If either one of us loses his reckoning he will fire his gun and the +others will answer him, so there need be no danger at all." + +"I don't see as there would be any danger if we failed to find each +other before morning," said Sam; "we are not in a wild country where +Indians will hunt for us." + +"There ain't any danger," said Herbert, "only it will be a great deal +more pleasant to spend the night together; you will feel safer by +knowing that I am with you with my patent breech-loader." + +"Yes," said Nick, "for by keeping close to you there won't be half as +much likelihood of being hit when you fire at something else." + +"I haven't tried yet," said Herbert; "my gun is a long-distance shooter: +there's where I get my work in. Show me a mark a good long distance off +and you'll open your eyes." + +"Well, I declare, if that doesn't beat all!" + +It was Sam Harper who uttered this exclamation. He had been gazing +steadily at a broad, flat rock about a quarter of a mile distant to the +northwest of them, and his words announced that he had made some +important discovery. + +The peculiar tone in which he spoke caused the others to turn toward him +and ask the cause. + +"Look at that yellowish white rock," he answered, pointing toward it, +"and tell me whether that isn't a little ahead of anything yet." + +One brief searching glance showed that the young man had sufficient +cause for his excitement. + +[Illustration: "Now I'll show you what my Creedmoor will do," said +Herbert Watrous.] + +Standing on the top of the rock, so that his figure was thrown in clear +relief against the tinted sky behind him, was the very buck they had +been vainly chasing. He seemed to be looking back at the young hunters +as though he disdained their prowess and defied them to renew their +attempt to bring him down. + +"_That's my chance!_" exclaimed Herbert, in excitement; "that's just my +distance; get out of my way! give me room! now I'll show you what my +Creedmoor will do, when aimed by a master of the art." + +With great display and ceremony the youth prepared to give an exhibition +of shooting like that shown at the international matches. The others +stepped back, so as not to impede his movements, and he deliberately +threw off his cap, got down on his back, raised the rear sight, crossed +his feet and drew them half way up to his body, then rested the barrel +of his gun on the support thus furnished between the knees, and with his +left hand beneath his head, and turned so as to rest against the stock +of his gun, while his right was crooked around with the finger lightly +pressing the trigger, he was in the proper position to make a "crack +shot." + +The others watched his actions with the closest attention, only fearful +that the deer would not keep his position long enough for Herbert to +obtain the aim he wished. + +The conditions could not have been more favorable; the buck being to the +northwest, while the sun was high in the heavens, there was no confusion +of vision from that cause. The smokiness of the atmosphere was so slight +that it was scarcely perceptible at so brief a distance, while there was +not the least breath of air stirring. + +"I am afraid he will lose his chance if he waits too long," said Nick +impatiently, in an undertone to Sam, who whispered back: + +"The buck understands him and will wait." + +It was evident that Mr. Herbert Watrous did not mean to spoil his aim by +haste. Shutting one eye, he squinted carefully through his sights, +lowering or raising the stock or barrel so as to shift the aim, until +at last he had it elevated and pointed to suit him. + +Sam watched the buck, while Nick kept his eye on the marksman, who was +holding his breath, with his finger crowding the trigger harder and +harder until the explosion came. + +As before, Herbert uttered a grunt the instant the piece was discharged, +and then, hastily clambering to his feet, he put on his cap and said +with the utmost assurance: + +"That bullet struck him in the chest and will be found buried in his +body." + +"He doesn't know you fired at him," said Sam Harper, as the buck, a +moment later, turned about and walked out of sight. + +"The deer doesn't fall at once, even if you drive the bullet through his +heart. That buck may go a hundred yards or so, but he will then drop as +if struck by lightning." + +The confidence with which these words were uttered puzzled Nick and +caused him to think that possibly the boaster was right after all, and +he had made the shot he claimed. + +The truth would probably be learned during the afternoon, for Nick +meant to learn it for himself. + +Now that they agreed to separate, it was decided that Herbert should +keep straight along the route they had been following. Sam should +diverge to the right, while Nick would swerve far enough to the left to +pass the rock whereupon the buck stood at the time he was shot or rather +shot at. + +"I am bound to find out the truth," said Nick, with a shake of the head. + +And so he did; but little did he dream of what was to happen to him +during this search for the truth. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +A QUAIL. + + +As the hound belonged to Sam Harper and showed a disposition to go with +him, he was allowed to do so, the lad moving off to the right and Nick +Ribsam to the left, as was agreed upon. + +Nick had not his father's watch with him, but Herbert Watrous carried a +handsome gold hunting-piece, which was now consulted and showed it was +nearly two o'clock. + +"The days are getting short," said Sam Harper, with a doubtful shake of +the head; "that doesn't leave us more than three hours of daylight, and +it is hardly worth while to part company." + +"What's the odds?" laughed Nick, who was anxious to look for the deer; +"we won't be far apart, as we may be to-morrow." + +And, without waiting to discuss the question, he struck to the left with +his strong step, the others following the courses already mentioned. + +No afternoon could have been more charming, with the summer lingering +and mellowing the approaching winter. + +The faint, smoky haze of the atmosphere, the clear sky, the warm sun, +the brilliant-hued vegetation in the woods, the faint cawing of crows in +the distance, and the flight of birds overhead, looking like +mathematical figures in India-ink gliding across the blue heavens, the +delicious languor everywhere: all these were at their best, and he who +was wandering through the rainbow-tinted forest, where the sleepy waters +flowed, could well understand why it was the pioneers, like Daniel +Boone, Simon Kenton, and others, turned their backs on civilization, +and, plunging into the wilderness, buried themselves for months from the +sight of their fellow-men. + +Sam Harper was moving quietly toward the north, when it seemed to him +that a large leaf suddenly blew forward from beneath his feet and was +carried swiftly over the ground, straight ahead and away from him. + +Looking closely, he discovered that it was a plump quail which he had +startled, and which was speeding from him. Although the bird has short +legs it runs very swiftly, and it was gone almost before Sam identified +it. + +"Ah, if I could only get a shot at you," said the lad, his mouth fairly +watering, "what a splendid supper you would make!" + +The words were yet in his mouth, when a sudden whirring sound broke the +air, and he caught a glimpse of a second quail flying like an arrow +below the principal limbs. + +Sam raised his rifle as quick as a flash, took aim as best he could, and +fired. Even the great Dr. Carver would have missed under such +circumstances, and the lad came nowhere near hitting the game. + +So swift was the flight of the bird, that as soon as the trigger was +pulled and Sam looked for it it had vanished. That man who handles the +rifle must be wonderfully skillful to bring down one of those birds on +the wing. + +It is curious how the name of the common quail is disputed and varied. +There are plenty who will insist that I should have called this bird a +partridge, when, in point of fact, there is no true representative of +the partridge in America. + +The spruce partridge is the Canada grouse; the partridge of New England +is the ruffed grouse; the partridge of the Middle and Southern States is +the quail, of which several varieties are called partridges; while in +Europe the birds which are called quails are in reality partridges. + +Without tiring my readers by attempting anything like a scientific +discussion of the question, I may say there are a dozen species of +quails found in North and Central America and the West Indies, and Mr. +Baird proposes that, as neither the name quail, partridge, nor pheasant +is properly given to any American bird, the species to which I refer +should be called the Bob White. + +If this should be done, the smallest urchin will be able to recognize +the species from its peculiar call. + +Sam Harper would have been glad indeed if he could have secured one of +these delicious birds for supper, but there was little prospect of +doing so. The game looks so much like the brown and mottled leaves among +which it searches for food, that a hunter would almost place his foot +upon one without observing it, while the nest of the quail or partridge +is almost as impossible to find as the remains of an elephant in Ceylon, +where it is said no such remains have ever been discovered. + +One of the lessons Sam had learned from his father was to reload his gun +immediately after firing it, so as to be ready for any emergency. +Accordingly, before stirring from his place, he threw out the shell from +his breech-loader and replaced it with a new cartridge. + +Just as he did so, he heard the report of a gun only a short distance to +the left, at a point where Herbert Watrous should have been. + +"He's scared up something," was the natural conclusion of Sam, who +smiled as he added; "I wonder whether he could hit a bear a dozen feet +off with that wonderful Remington of his. It's a good weapon, and I wish +I owned one; but I wouldn't start out to hunt big game until I learned +something about it." + +The boy waited a minute, listening for some signal from his companion, +but none was heard and he moved on again. + +Sam, like many an amateur hunter, began to appreciate the value of a +trained hunting dog. Bowser was not a pure-blooded hound; he was fat and +he was faultily trained. He had stumbled upon the trail of the buck by +accident and had plunged ahead in pursuit, until "pumped," when he +seemed to lose all interest in the sport. + +He now stayed close to Sam, continually looking up in his face as if to +ask him when he was going to stop the nonsense and go back home. + +He scarcely pricked his ears when the quail ran ahead of him, and paid +no attention to the whirring made by the other. He had had all he wanted +of that kind of amusement and showed no disposition to tire himself any +further. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +AN UNEXPECTED LESSON. + + +As it was the height of the hunting season, the reports of guns were +heard at varying distances through the woods, so that Sam could only +judge when they were fired by his friends from their nearness to him. + +He was well satisfied that the last shot was from the Remington of +Herbert, while the one that preceded it a few minutes, he was convinced +came from the muzzle-loader of Nick Ribsam, owned by Mr. Marston. + +"The boys seem to have found something too do, but I don't believe they +have seen anything of the bear--hallo!" + +His last exclamation was caused by his unexpected arrival at a clearing, +in the center of which stood a log cabin, while the half acre +surrounding it showed that it had been cultivated during the season to +the highest extent. + +There was that air of thrift and cleanliness about the place which told +the lad that whoever lived within was industrious, frugal, and neat. + +"That's a queer place to build a house," said Sam, as he surveyed the +scene; "no one can earn a living there, and it must make a long walk to +reach the neighborhood where work is to be had." + +Prompted by a natural curiosity, Sam walked over the faintly marked path +until he stepped upon the piece of hewed log, which answered for a +porch, directly in front of the door. + +Although the latch string hung invitingly out, he did not pull it, but +knocked rather gently. + +"Come in!" was called out in a female voice, and the boy immediately +opened the door. + +A pleasing, neatly-clad young woman was working with her dishes at a +table, while a fat chub of a boy, about two years old, was playing on +the floor with a couple of kittens. + +The mother, as she evidently was, turned her head so as to face the +visitor, nodded cheerily, bade him good afternoon, and told him to help +himself to one of the chairs, whose bottoms were made of white mountain +ash, as fine and pliable as silken ribbons. + +Sam was naturally courteous, and, thanking the lady for her invitation, +he sat down, placing his cap on his knee. He said he was out on a hunt +with some friends, and coming upon the cabin thought he would make a +call, and learn whether he could be of any service to the lady and her +child. + +The mother thanked him, and said that fortunately she was not in need of +any help, as her husband was well and able to provide her with all she +needed. + +Without giving the conversation in detail, it may be said that Sam +Harper learned a lesson, during his brief stay in that humble cabin, +which will go with him through life: it was a lesson of cheerfulness and +contentment, to which he often refers, and which makes him thankful that +he was led to turn aside from his sport even for a short while. + +The husband of the woman worked for a farmer who lived fully four miles +away, on the northern edge of the woods, and who paid only scant wages. +The employee walked the four miles out so as to reach the farm by seven +o'clock in the morning, and he did not leave until six in the evening. +He did this summer and winter, through storm and sunshine, and was +happy. + +He lived in the lonely log cabin, because his employer owned it and gave +him the rent free. It had been erected by some wood-choppers several +years before, and was left by them when through with their contract, so +that it was nothing to any one who did not occupy it. + +The young man, although now the embodiment of rugged health and +strength, had lain on a bed of sickness for six months, during which he +hovered between life and death. His wife never left his side during that +time for more than a few minutes, and the physician was scarcely less +faithful. At last the wasting fever vanished, and the husband and father +came back to health and strength again. + +But he was in debt to the extent of $200, and he and his wife determined +on the most rigid economy until the last penny should be paid. + +"If Fred keeps his health," said the cheery woman, "we shall be out of +debt at the end of two years more. Won't you bring your friends and stay +with us to-night?" + +This invitation was given with great cordiality, and Sam would have been +glad to accept it, but he declined, through consideration for the brave +couple, who would certainly be put to inconvenience by entertaining +three visitors. + +Sam thanked her for her kindness, and, rising to go, drew back the door +and remarked: + +"I notice you have a good rifle over the mantle; I don't see how your +husband can get much time to use it." + +"He doesn't; it is I who shoot the game, which saves half the cost of +food; but," added the plucky little woman, "there is one game which I am +very anxious to bring down." + +"What is that?" + +"_A bear._" + +"Do you know whether there are any in the woods?" + +"There is one, and I think more. My husband has seen it twice, and he +took the gun with him when going to work, in the hope of gaining a +chance to shoot it; but, when I caught sight of it on the edge of the +clearing, he thought it best to leave the rifle for me to use." + +"Why are you so anxious to shoot the bear?" asked Sam. + +"Well, it isn't a very pleasant neighbor, and I have to keep little +Tommy in the house all the time for fear the brute will seize him. Then, +beside that, the bear has carried off some of Mr. Bailey's (that's the +man my husband works for) pigs, and has so frightened his family that +Mr. Bailey said he would give us twenty dollars for the hide of every +bear we brought him." + +"I hope it may be your fortune to shoot all in the woods," said Sam, as +he bade her good-day again, and passed out and across the clearing into +the forest. + +"That's about the bravest woman I ever saw," said the lad to himself, as +he moved thoughtfully in the direction of the limestone-rock, where it +was agreed the three should meet to spend the night; "she ought to win, +and if this crowd of bear hunters succeed in bagging the old fellow we +will present him to her." + +The thought was a pleasing one to Sam, who walked a short way farther, +when he added, with a grim smile, "But I don't think that bear will lose +any night's sleep on account of being disturbed by _this_ crowd." + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +BOWSER PROVES HIMSELF OF SOME USE. + + +Sam Harper saw, from the position of the sun in the heavens, that he had +stayed longer than he intended to in the cabin, and the short afternoon +was drawing to a close. + +He therefore moved at a brisk walk for a quarter of a mile, Bowser +trotting at his heels as though he thought such a laborious gait +uncalled for; but, as the lad then observed that the large limestone was +not far away, he slackened his pace, and sat down on a fallen tree to +rest. + +"This is a queer sort of a hunt," he said to himself, "and I don't see +what chance there is of any one of us three doing anything at all. +Bowser isn't worth a copper to hunt with; all there was in him expended +itself when he chased the buck and let it get away from him--hallo, +Bowser, what's the matter with you?" + +The hound just then began acting as though he felt the slighting +remarks of his master, and meant to make him sorry therefor. + +He uttered several sharp yelps and began circling around the fallen tree +on which Sam was sitting. He went with what might be called a nervous +gallop, frequently turning about and circumnavigating the lad and the +log in the opposite direction. + +All the time he kept up his barking and demonstrations, now and then +running up to Sam, galloping several paces away, and then looking toward +him and barking again with great vigor. + +Sam watched his antics with amusement and interest. + +"He acts as though he wanted me to follow him from this spot, though I +cannot understand why he wants me to do that, since he is so lazy he +would be glad to lie down and stay here till morning." + +Studying the maneuvers of the hound, Sam became satisfied that the brute +was seeking to draw him away from the fallen tree on which he was +sitting. + +The dog became more excited every minute. He trotted back and forth, +running up to his young master and then darting off again, looking +appealingly toward Sam, who finally saw that his actions meant something +serious. + +"I don't know why he wishes me to leave, but he has some reason for it, +and I will try to find out." + +Sam slowly rose from the fallen oak tree on which he was sitting, and as +he did so his cap fairly lifted from his head with terror. + +He caught the glint and scintillation in the sunlight of something on +the ground on the other side of the trunk, and separated from him only +by the breadth thereof, at the same instant that his ear detected the +whirring rattle which told the fact that an immense rattlesnake had +coiled itself therefor, and had just given its warning signal that it +meant to strike. + +Sam Harper never made such a quick leap in all his life as he did, when +he bounded several feet from the log, with a yell as if the ground +beneath him had become suddenly red-hot. + +There is nothing on the broad earth which is held in such universal +abhorrence as a snake, the sight of which sends a shiver of disgust and +dread over nearly every one that looks upon it. + +When Sam sat down on the fallen tree, he was probably almost near enough +for the coiled _crotalus_ to bury its fangs in him. It reared its head, +and, without uttering its customary warning, most likely measured the +intervening space with the purpose of striking. + +The instinct of Bowser at this juncture told him of the peril of his +master, and he began his demonstrations, intended to draw him away from +the spot. At the same time, his barking, and trotting back and forth, +diverted the attention of the rattlesnake to the hound, and thereby +prevented him striking the unsuspicious boy. + +It must have been, also, that during these few minutes the serpent +vibrated his tail more than once, for the nature of the reptile leads +him to do so; but the sound could not have been very loud, as it failed +to attract the attention of Sam until he rose from the log and turned +partly about. + +The boy moved around the head of the fallen tree, so as to place +himself on the same side with the rattlesnake, and then he spent a +minute or two in contemplating him at that safe distance. + +He was a large one, with sixteen rattles and a button. He lay coiled in +several perfect rings, with his tail softly vibrating and his head +thrown back, as if he expected his enemy to come nigh enough for him to +bury his curved needle-like fangs in some portion of his body, injecting +his poison, so deadly that nothing could have saved the boy from dying +within a few minutes. + +The first natural feeling which comes over one when he sees a crawling +snake is to kill it, and Sam Harper did not wait long before yielding to +his inclination. + +Standing less than a rod distant, he brought his gun to his shoulder, +and sighted at the head of the venomous reptile, which was held almost +stationary, while the crimson tongue darted in and out as if it were a +tiny spray of blood. + +The aim was true, and the head was shattered as though the cartridge +had exploded within it. The body made a few furious writhings and +struggles, and then became still. + +Sam viewed the ruin he had wrought for a minute or so, and then, +appreciating the service his dog had wrought him, he turned and patted +the animal. + +"You're a fine dog, Bowser, and I forgive you for being good for +nothing." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +FACE TO FACE. + + +Herbert Watrous, when he separated from his companions on that balmy +afternoon in Indian summer, assumed a loftiness of bearing which was far +from genuine. + +The fact was, he felt dissatisfied with himself, or rather with the +rifle which his indulgent father had presented to him only a few weeks +before. + +"I don't like the way the thing behaves," he said, as he stopped to +examine it; "father paid one hundred and twenty-five dollars for it, and +it was warranted the best. It's pretty hard to hit a deer a quarter of a +mile off, but I ought to have brought down that squirrel which was only +a hundred feet distant." + +He turned the weapon over and over in his hand, looked down the barrel, +tried the hammer and trigger, carefully examined the wind-gauge and +vernier rear-sights, but could not see that anything was out of order. + +"I'm afraid it was my fault," he said, with a sigh, "but it will never +do to let the boys know it. I'll insist that I struck the buck, though +I'm afraid I didn't." + +After going a little ways he noticed he was walking over a path which +was not marked very distinctly; it was, in fact, the route which Mr. +Fred Fowler, the industrious dweller in the log cabin, had worn for +himself in going to and from his work. + +"That's lucky," said the lad, "for it's much easier traveling over a +path like that than tramping among the trees, where you have to walk +twice as far as there is any need of--confound it!" + +This impatient remark was caused by a protruding branch, which just then +caught Herbert under the chin and almost lifted him off his feet. + +The boy was sensible enough to understand that his failure to display +any good marksmanship was due to his own want of practice rather than to +any fault of his piece. + +"That Nick Ribsam can beat me out of my boots; I never heard of such a +thing as 'barking' a squirrel till he showed me how it is done, and he +used a gun that is older than himself. Well, Nick was always smarter +than other boys; he is younger than I, and I have taken sparring lessons +of the best teachers in the country, while he never heard of such a +thing as science in using his fists; but he just sailed into me that +day, and the first thing I knew he had me down, and was banging himself +on me so hard that I have never got over the flattening out--hallo!" + +A gray squirrel, flirting its bushy tail, whisked across the path in +front of him that moment, scampered up a hickory and perched itself near +the top, where it offered the best chance for a shot that one could +wish. + +"Now I'll see what I can do," muttered Herbert, sighting at the saucy +little fellow, who seemed to be ridiculing his purpose of reaching it +with a bullet at such a height. + +The young hunter aimed with great care, pressed the trigger, and, as the +sharp report rang through the woods, the squirrel came tumbling to the +ground, with its skull shattered. + +Herbert Watrous was surprised and delighted, scarcely believing in his +own success. He picked up the slain rodent and saw that its destruction +had been caused by the bullet he fired. + +"That's business," he exclaimed, with a thrill of pride; "but why +couldn't I shoot that way when Nick and Sam were looking at me? I know +how the thing is done now, and when we get together I'll give them some +lessons in marksmanship." + +He left the squirrel on the ground, but had not gone far when a new idea +struck him and he came back, picked it up, and put it in his game-bag. + +"If I show them a squirrel, they can't help believing that I shot him." + +The serious question which Herbert had been discussing with himself, +ever since being alone, was what he would do if he should happen to come +upon the bear. He had not quite so much confidence in his gun as he had +when he started out, though the shooting of the squirrel brought back +considerable of his natural assurance. + +The conclusion he reached was that it would be just as well if he and +bruin did not meet. Excellent as was his Remington, it was not a +repeating rifle, and he was afraid that one shot, even if well aimed, +would not be enough. + +"If I had a Henry, which shoots sixteen shots in sixteen seconds, I +could fill him so full of lead that he couldn't run fast enough to +overtake me if I didn't happen to kill him." + +But the Henry, which he desired so much, was beyond his reach, and it +was idle to wish for it. + +Accordingly, he slung his gun over his shoulder in true sportsman style, +and strode along the path until the greater part of the distance was +passed, when, like his friends, he found a fallen tree at a convenient +spot and sat down for a rest. + +Herbert, in his luxurious home in the city, had become accustomed to +irregular hours, so that it was now the most natural thing in the world +for him to fall asleep and not open his eyes until he shivered with +cold and it was growing dark around him. + +He started up in no little surprise, and, recalling where he was, +hastened along the path toward the camp. + +"They'll be worried almost to death about me," was his thought, "and I +shouldn't wonder if they start out to hunt me up. Ah!" + +The reverberating report of a rifle came from the direction of the +limestone rock, and he felt no doubt that it was meant as a signal to +direct him. + +Herbert replied by firing his own gun in the air and shouting that he +was coming. He did not forget to place another cartridge in his rifle, +for, truth to tell, he was a little nervous over this lonely tramp +through the woods at such a late hour. + +He listened, and heard the answering shout of Sam Harper, and, +communication being thus established, Herbert held his peace and +hastened forward as best he could in the faint moonlight. + +"I hope I won't meet any sort of game now," was the wish of the lad, +"for I am in a hurry to join the boys--" + +Could he believe his eyes! + +He had hardly given expression to the wish, when a dark mass loomed up +to sight directly ahead of him, and he plainly saw the gleam and glow of +a pair of frightful eyes fixed upon him. He was sure, too, that he had +heard the threatening growl of the monster, which might well believe he +had the youngster in his power. + +"It's the bear, as sure as I'm alive!" gasped Herbert. "There's no +getting away from him! Heaven save me from missing, for if my gun fails +me now, it is all over! He won't give me time to climb a tree, and I +_must_ shoot!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE "VACANT CHAIR." + + +It is hard to imagine a more trying situation than that of Master +Herbert Watrous, who, while walking along a path in the woods, saw by +the faint moonlight what he believed to be the figure of an enormous +black bear, sitting on its haunches, and waiting for him to move either +forward or backward before springing upon him. + +He shuddered with fear, but, with a courage hardly to be expected in his +case, he drew up his rifle, sighted as best he could, and fired +point-blank at the brute, when no more than a rod separated the two. + +It was impossible to miss, even with such an unsteady aim, and the lad +had not a particle of doubt that he had hit him; but had he inflicted a +mortal wound? + +Without waiting an unnecessary second, Herbert flung out the shell of +the cartridge and placed a new one in the breech. His hands trembled so +that he could hardly keep from dropping it, but he succeeded better than +would have been supposed. + +Once more the gun was raised, and the leaden missile was buried in the +dark object. + +But it did not stir, and the amazed lad was transfixed. What did it +mean? + +"I'll give him another, and if that don't answer--" + +From out the gloom in front he discerned a figure advancing upon him, +but a second glance showed that it was a man instead of a wild animal. + +"Hallo, my friend? what are you firing at?" + +The voice was such a cheery one that the courage of Herbert instantly +came back, and it may be said that he was never gladder in all his life +to see a person. + +"Why, I thought that was a wild animal--that is, a bear, in the path in +front of me; what is it?" + +The man laughed heartily. + +"The path makes a little bend right there, so it is not in, but beside +the path; it is an oak stump on which you have been wasting your lead." + +"But those glaring eyes--" + +"That is fox-fire, which does look odd in the night-time." + +"But I heard it growling." + +"Be assured it was all imagination, my young friend; there is no bear or +wild animal near us--at least he hasn't shown himself yet." + +"Well, I'm blamed glad to hear it, for there isn't much fun in hunting +wild beasts when it is too dark to aim well: may I ask how it is you +happen along here without a gun?" + +"I live only a little ways off, and, if you will go back with me, I will +be glad to entertain you over night." + +"I'm obliged to you, but I have two friends who are expecting me, up by +the rock yonder." + +"I judged you belonged to the party, but there is only one of them +there, unless the other has come since I left. The one named Harper, who +called at my house this afternoon, is there, and has started his camp +fire. He is impatient for the others to come in, and asked me to tell +you, if we met, that he particularly wished you to 'hurry up your +cakes'--I suppose you know what that means." + +"I do, and will bid you good-night." + +They exchanged pleasant greetings, and separated, each to pursue his own +way. + +Herbert was anxious to join his friends; for the fact that he had fired +into a stump, under the belief that it was a bear, was no proof that the +dreaded quadruped was not somewhere in the neighborhood. + +As the path, which he was able to keep without difficulty, led by the +rock where the three lads were to meet, he had not gone far when he +caught the starlike twinkle of a point of light, which told him he was +not far from camp. + +"Hallo, Sam, are you there?" called out Herbert, while yet a +considerable distance off. + +"Yes. What makes you so late?" was the impatient response and question. + +Without pausing to reply, Herbert hurried forward and a few minutes +later joined Sam Harper, who had a large fire going, and had broiled a +squirrel and a rabbit, both of which were in fine condition. + +"Where's Nick?" asked Sam, as soon as he saw the youth was alone. + +"How should I know anything about him? I haven't seen him since we +parted." + +"It's mighty queer, any way you may look at it; Nick is always the most +prompt to keep any bargain he made, and I haven't seen anything of him +for hours. He ought to have been here the very first." + +"Have you signaled to him?" + +"I have fired off my gun, and shouted and whistled till my cheeks ache, +and I haven't had the first show of an answer." + +The manner in which these disheartening words were uttered showed that +Sam Harper was ill at ease, not so much over the continued absence of +Nick, as from his utter silence. It was fully understood by all, that, +if anything happened to either one, he was to signal immediately to the +others. + +Neither Herbert nor Sam had heard Nick's rifle, though it might have +been discharged without recognition by them. + +Herbert had been asleep so long that he could have missed the report +very readily, while Sam was so far from Nick that the sound of his gun +could have been mistaken for that fired by some wandering hunter, +unknown to either. + +Every few minutes, Sam halloed or whistled, after Nick's favorite manner +of signaling, and then the two bent their heads and listened for the +answer, which came not. + +The broiled game remained untasted, for Sam's appetite was suspended, +and Herbert refused to eat while his companion was in such mental +trouble. + +"There's no use of talking," finally exclaimed Sam, unable to repress +his uneasiness, "something has gone wrong with Nick, and I'm bound to +find out what it is." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +HUNTING A BUCK. + + +It will be remembered that when Nick Ribsam left his companions, early +in the afternoon, it was with the resolution to find out whether the +showy shot made by Herbert Watrous at the buck, had done the execution +he claimed for it. + +This forced him to make a much longer detour than did Sam Harper, and, +as he was obliged to move with great caution, he found no time to sit +down and rest or sleep. + +The more he reflected on the exploit which Herbert attempted, the more +did he doubt it. + +"I suppose they hit a target a mile off, as Sam told me; but that is +when they know the exact distance. No person can hit a deer a quarter of +a mile away, unless he does it by chance. Herbert proved he can't shoot +anything close to him, and it isn't likely he hit the deer by accident, +for such accidents don't happen unless it's a person that you don't +want to hurt." + +But he had started out to find the truth of the matter, and it was in +accordance with his disposition to do so, if it was possible. + +Nick knew that if the buck which they had seen was anywhere in the +neighborhood, it was necessary to proceed with extreme caution to avoid +giving alarm. The wonder was that it had shown itself after the fright +caused by the dog. + +The drowsy autumn afternoon was well advanced when the boy saw, from his +surroundings, that he was close to the spot where the deer stood when +Herbert fired at it with his long-range rifle. There was the rock, but +the animal was invisible. + +Just beyond was an oak which had been upturned by some wrenching tornado +or storm. The roots protruded upward and from the sides, the dirt still +clinging to them, so that the bottom spread out like a fan. + +The base of the trunk lay flat on the ground, but the branching limbs +supported the top to that extent that it was raised five or six feet +from the earth. Consequently, it sloped away in an incline from the +crested summit to the base. + +Such a sight is not unusual in any forest, for it is the general fashion +of trees to fall that way; but Nick was struck by the evident fact that, +although the oak was uprooted, as it is termed, yet enough connection +with the ground remained to afford nourishment, and to keep life within +it. + +He started toward it, but had moved only a few steps when a slight +rustling in the undergrowth arrested his attention. Stopping short he +looked about him, and, with an amazement which can hardly be imagined, +saw the buck within fifty feet of him. + +He was in a clump of undergrowth, and was browsing on some tender +shoots. His position was such that his side was toward Nick, who first +caught sight of his antlers above the bushes: and it was a remarkable +thing that he did not detect the approach of the young hunter, despite +the caution he used. + +The sight was so unexpected that Nick was taken aback, and had a spasm +of that nervous affection which sometimes seizes the inexperienced +hunter, and is known as "buck fever." + +Knowing that the game would bound away with the speed of the wind the +instant he scented danger, the lad brought up his rifle and pointed at +him. + +Poor Nick shook as if he had a chill; it was impossible to control his +nerves; but, aiming as best he could, he fired. The deer was "hit hard," +though not so hard as young Ribsam meant and most ardently desired. + +Dropping the breech of his gun, Nick looked to see the result of his +shot, and found it amazing to a startling degree. + +The buck, which was a noble fellow, stopped browsing, and, with his head +thrown high in air, looked around to learn where his assailant was. +Catching sight of the staring lad, the animal emitted a furious sniff +and charged upon him at full speed. + +This is a most unusual thing for a deer to do, though many a hunter has +been killed by a wounded buck or moose, who has turned upon and attacked +him with the fury of a tiger. + +[Illustration: "He turned on his heel and ran with might and main for +the fallen tree."] + +Nick Ribsam thought it very singular, but he thought it very alarming +as well, and, without waiting to watch matters further, he turned on his +heel and ran with might and main for the fallen tree. + +The lusty youngster was a good runner, but the buck made three times as +much speed as he "went for him," with head lowered like a charging bull. + +Nick had to think fast, but fast as he thought he couldn't see how the +fallen oak was to offer him refuge against the fury of the animal, and, +unless it did so, he was in a bad predicament. + +It was impossible to reach any tree in time to climb out of reach, as +Nellie did when pursued by the bear, and the highest portion of the +prostrate trunk would not protect him from the antlers of the savage +buck. + +There was no use for the empty rifle as it seemed, and Nick was on the +point of throwing it away, when it occurred to him that it might still +serve as a weapon of defense. + +"I will club it and see what can be done." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +HUNTED BY A BUCK. + + +Glancing over his shoulder, Nick Ribsam kept informed of the movements +of his fierce foe, who was certainly carrying things with a hurricane +rush. + +Finding there was no getting away from him, Nick, just as he reached the +fallen tree, whirled around and, grasping his rifle by the barrel, swung +the stock back over his shoulder and poised himself for the blow, which +he believed must decide his own fate. + +The boy made a formidable-looking picture; but it was all lost on the +buck, which did not halt nor slacken his pace. + +It was a terrifying sight as he plunged toward the lad with lowered head +and glowering front, for the deer was an exceptionally large and +powerful one, and he meant to kill the individual that had sent the +bullet into his side, and from which the red blood was already +streaming. + +It may be said just here, that Nick Ribsam no longer doubted the +failure of the long-range shot of Herbert Watrous. + +The imperiled lad drew a deep respiration, poised himself on his +advanced foot, and, swinging to one side, with a view of avoiding the +full force of the charge, he brought down the stock of his gun with the +utmost strength he could command. + +It descended with great power--so far as a ten-year-old boy is +concerned--but it was not sufficient to throw the buck off his base nor +to interfere with his plan of procedure. + +He struck the lad with tremendous force, sending the gun flying from his +grasp and knocking Nick fully a dozen feet. Never in all his life had +the boy received such a terrific shock, which drove the breath from his +body and sent him spinning, as it seemed, through twenty yards of space. + +Poor Nick believed half his bones were broken and that he was mortally +hurt; but the result of the charge was most extraordinary. + +As the antlers of the buck struck him he was thrown like a limp dummy +toward the fallen tree, and, in reality, his greatest peril was +therefrom. Had he been driven with full momentum against the solid +trunk, he would have been killed as if smitten by a lightning stroke. + +But his feet were entangled in some way and he fell headlong, his +forehead within a few inches of the bark, and his head itself was driven +under the trunk, which at that point was perhaps a foot above the +ground. + +Instinctively the nearly senseless lad did the only thing that could +save him. He crawled under the trunk, so that it stood like a roof over +him. + +His head was toward the base, and he pushed along until the lessening +space would not permit him to go further. + +Thus he lay parallel with the uprooted tree, his feet at a point where +the bark almost touched his heels, the space growing less and less +toward his shoulders, until the back of his head rested against the +shaggy bark and his nose touched the leaves. + +He had scarcely done this when he heard a thud at his elbow: it was +made by the knife-like hoofs of the buck, who, rearing on his hind +legs, gathered his two front ones close together and brought them down +with such force that, had they fallen on the body of the lad, as was +intended, they would have cut into him like the edge of a powerfully +driven ax. + +As it was, the shielding tree trunk prevented it, and, grazing the bark, +they were driven into the yielding earth half a foot deep. + +The buck immediately reared and repeated the terrible blow several +times, missing the body of the lad by what may be called a hair's +breadth. + +The animal was in a fury, and, believing his foe was at his mercy, he +showed him none. + +Nick heard the first thump of the sharp hoofs as they cut their way into +the earth, and then his head seemed to spin, as though he had been +whirled around with inconceivable velocity; innumerable stars danced +before his eyes, he felt as if shooting through space, and then +consciousness left him. + +The buck could know nothing of this, and, had he known it, his actions +would not have been affected. He continued his rearing and plunging +until he saw he was inflicting no injury. Then he stopped, backed off +several paces, and, lowering his head, tried to dislodge the lad from +his place of refuge. + +But the breadth of his antlers prevented success, which would have +placed Nick just where he could finish him. The oak barred his progress, +stopping the head and horns when they were almost against the body. + +Then the buck reared and struck again, trying all manner of maneuvers +which his instinct suggested, but providentially none of them succeeded. + +All this time Nick Ribsam, who had been so badly bruised, was oblivious +of the efforts against his life. Had he possessed his faculties, he +could not have done anything more for his protection than he did, by +lying motionless, extended along and below the trunk of the oak. + +But the lusty, rugged nature of the lad soon asserted itself, and he +began rallying from the shock. A reaction gradually set in, and slowly +his senses returned. + +It was a considerable time, however, before he realized where he was +and what had befallen him. His head was still ringing, as though the +clangor of a hundred anvils were sounding in his ears, and, when he drew +a deep breath, a pain, as if made by a knife, was in his side. + +He listened, but heard nothing of his enemy. Then, with a great labor +and more suffering, he pushed himself a few inches backward, so as to +give some freedom to his body and to enable him to move his head. + +Turning his face, he peered out on his right: the buck was not visible +in that direction. + +Then he did the same toward the left: his enemy was invisible on that +side also. + +"He is gone," said the lad to himself, still afraid to venture from the +shielding trunk that had been the means of saving him from the fury of +the enraged deer. + +Nick believed he was close at hand, waiting for him to make a move that +would give another chance to assault him. + +After several more minutes, the lad hitched farther backward, so that he +was able to raise his head a few inches. This extended his field of +observation, and, with a feeling of inexpressible relief, he still +failed to catch sight of the game. + +"I guess he got discouraged and left," said Nick, startled at the +evidences of the buck's wrath so near him. + +Finally the lad backed clear out from under the tree, and climbed to his +feet; it was climbing in every sense, for he nearly cried with pain +several times, and, still fearful that he had been seriously injured, he +examined himself as best he could. + +A few minutes convinced him that none of his bones was broken, although +he afterward declared that he suspected his head had been fractured. + +He now looked about for his gun and found it within a short distance, +much scratched by the hard treatment it had received, but without any +real injury. + +Throwing the weapon over his shoulder, he started in the direction of +the appointed rendezvous, and, as he did so, observed that it was +already grown dark in the woods. Night had come, and he had quite a long +distance to walk. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +THE CAMP FIRE. + + +But Nick Ribsam was full of grit, and, though every step he took caused +him pain, he persevered with that grim resolution that was a part of his +nature from his very birth. + +After walking some distance he found the soreness and stiffness leaving +him, and he straightened up with something of his natural vim and +elasticity of spirits. + +"There's one thing certain," he added, recalling his encounter with the +buck, "I didn't have any one to help me out of that scrape, except the +One who always helps him that helps himself; but I never wanted a friend +more than then, and, if it hadn't been for that oak, it would have been +the last of Nicholas Ribsam." + +"There is another thing I have learned," he added, with that glimmer of +humor which was sure to show itself, "I know considerable more than I +did yesterday; I have a good idea of how it feels when a wounded buck +_raises_ you, and, after this, I won't shoot one of the creatures unless +I'm sure of making a better shot than I did a while ago--hallo!" + +Well might he utter the last exclamation, for at that moment he came +upon the dead body of the buck, lying as he had fallen on the earth, +when at last he succumbed to the wound received at the hands of Nick +himself. + +The boy stopped to examine it, for he was much impressed by the +discovery. + +"That came very near ending in the death of us both: nothing but the oak +saved me. I wonder whether I am going right." + +He raised his head from his examination, and looked about him, but he +was without the means of judging whether he was following the proper +direction or not. When leaving the scene of his encounter with the deer, +he had taken the course that seemed to be right, without pausing until +he could make himself certain in the matter. + +This is pretty sure, in a majority of cases, to lead one astray, but it +so happened with Nick that he headed in a bee-line for the camp, where +the impatient Sam Harper was awaiting him. + +But the error came afterward: he toiled forward without any guide, and +soon began to turn to the left, so that he was in reality moving on the +circumference of a large circle, without suspecting how much he wandered +from the true course. + +This peculiar mistake is made by many who are lost in the wilderness, +and is supposed to be due to the fact that everybody is either right or +left handed, instead of being ambidextrous as we all ought to be. + +One side of the body being stronger than the other, we unconsciously +exert the limb on that side the most, and swerve from a straight line, +unless we have something to direct in the shape of a landmark or +guiding-post. + +It was not until Nick had gone a long ways out of the right course that +he suspected his error: the appearance of the camp fire which Sam Harper +had kindled, was what led him to stop and make the best investigation he +could. + +There was little else he could appeal to, and he was in doubt as to +whether that had not been kindled by some other party; but fortunately, +while he was debating the matter, he caught the faint but distinct +signal of his friend, who was on the point of starting out to look for +him. + +Nick replied, and in the course of half an hour had joined Sam and +Herbert by the fire. + +They were relieved beyond expression to see the figure of the sturdy +little fellow, as he emerged from the gloom, and took his seat around +the camp fire. + +They noticed that he limped, and knew something unusual must have taken +place to delay him. He had the most attentive of listeners when he +related his dangerous encounter with the buck, which came so nigh ending +his life. + +But, happily, he had come out without any serious injury, and the lads +attacked their supper with the keenest of appetites. + +"The reason the buck did not kill you," said Herbert, "was because he +was disabled by the wound I gave him." + +"He was struck by one bullet only, and that one was mine," said Nick, +who saw no sense in deferring to the absurd claims of the youth. + +"Possibly not, but we shall have to examine his carcass to make sure of +that." + +"I don't believe we shall have much time to look after dead deer," said +Sam, "for I believe we are in the neighborhood of the very bear we're +looking for." + +His friends turned toward him for an explanation of this remark, which +was uttered with all seriousness. + +"Bowser has been acting very queer for the last half-hour." + +"I think he has acted queer all day," observed Nick. + +"I did not consider him of much account until he saved me from the +rattlesnake this afternoon; after that, I'm ready to believe he's got a +good deal more sense than you are willing to think." + +Then Sam told his story, and added that the hound had left the vicinity +of the fire several times, and, going some distance in the woods, had +come back, giving utterance to a peculiar whine. At the same time he +looked up in the face of his master with much the same expression as he +did when seeking to warn him of his danger from the poisonous serpent. + +"There he goes now!" suddenly exclaimed Sam; "just watch him!" + +Bowser had been stretched out near enough to the fire to receive much of +its warmth, and appeared to be asleep. All at once he threw up his head +and sniffed the air, as though he scented something; then he rose, with +a low whine, and trotted straight out in the gloom. + +The lads listened attentively for some sound from him, but all remained +still. At the end of ten minutes he came trotting to view again, and +walked straight up to his master, looked up in his face, wagging his +tail, and whined again. + +"You can depend on it," said Sam, "he has made some discovery, though I +have no idea what it is." + +"Let's follow him and find out." + +It was Nick Ribsam who made the proposal; the others were inclined to +hold back, but the plucky little fellow insisted, and it was agreed that +Bowser's secret should be learned by keeping him company to the spot +which he visited. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +AN UNEXPECTED ATTACK. + + +The three boys had scarcely agreed to the proposition to follow the +hound, when Bowser, as if he understood their intention, rose from the +ground where he had been lying, close to the camp fire, looked sharply +out in the gloom of the surrounding woods, and then moved along the same +course he had taken several times before. + +He did not trot, but walked with a deliberate gait, as if he felt the +importance of being the leader of such a party. + +"It must be a wild animal," said Sam, in an undertone, "or Bowser +wouldn't act that way." + +"It's the bear, of course; see that your guns are ready, and when you +fire be sure you don't miss," warned Herbert. + +An idea suddenly occurred to Nick Ribsam. + +"All wild animals are afraid of fire: let's each take a torch to keep +him off." + +The others eagerly caught up a blazing brand and strode forward with +more confidence than ever. + +Herbert Watrous, who was sensible that he had not made such an +exhibition before the others as he desired, placed himself at the head +of the little company. + +He hardly would have done this, had he not been certain that the flaming +brands would act as a shield to keep away the wild animal, whatever its +nature. + +Each lad found it a little awkward to carry his loaded and cocked rifle +in one hand and the flaming stick of wood in the other. It cannot be +said there was any special difficulty in the task itself, but if a +crisis came the boy would have to surrender one of his weapons. + +The young hunters formed a picturesque group as they moved forward in +Indian file, each holding a burning torch above his head and swinging it +so as to keep the blaze going, while his gun was trailed in the other +hand. + +The hound Bowser was at the head, Herbert Watrous next, Sam Harper +followed, and Nick Ribsam, who still limped slightly, brought up the +rear. + +The hound showed an intelligence which would have been surprising but +for his action respecting the rattlesnake. He kept on a slow walk, so as +not to leave his friends, and now and then looked at them, as if to make +sure they were not trying to shrink from an important duty. + +"Keep your torches going," called out Herbert, in a husky whisper, as he +swung his own so vigorously that a large piece dropped off, and, falling +on his foot, caused him to leap up with an exclamation of affright. + +The fact was, they had gone no more than a hundred feet from the camp +fire when Herbert began to feel that he had not shown enough care in +picking out his torch, for the blaze was feeble, and, in spite of +continued nursing, showed a tendency to collapse altogether. + +"Keep close to me, boys," he said, waiting for Sam to come still nearer, +"for I don't like the way this torch is behaving; I believe it is going +out altogether, and I think I'll get a better--" + +"_Look out! there he is now!_" exclaimed Sam, in no little excitement. + +As he uttered the warning words, Bowser turned squarely about and ran +back to where his master had halted with the smoking torch, and crouched +at his feet, whining and appealing for protection against some enemy. + +Just then a savage sniff was heard, followed instantly by the sound of +hoofs, as the unknown animal charged upon Herbert Watrous, who was +whirling his half-expired torch around his head with such swiftness that +it made a ring of fire, similar to those which all boys delight to look +upon during the pyrotechnic displays on the Fourth of July. + +Herbert was so impressed with the importance of this action, that he +threw all his energy in it, stooping down and rising on his tip-toes +with the motion of the torch, and grunting hard and with much +regularity, as he always did when exerting himself with unusual vigor. + +He caught the warning cry of Sam and the rattle of the hoofs at the same +instant. + +"_Shoot him! Shoot him!_" he shouted to his friends, who could not gain +the view of the beast necessary to make the shot safe for Herbert +himself. + +The savage creature, from some reason, probably because the torch was +less formidable, made for the city youth, who was not aware of his +danger until too late. + +The brute went directly between his outspread feet, and, lifting him on +his back, carried him several paces, when Herbert, his gun, torch, and +himself, mixed up in great confusion, rolled off backward, turning a +partial somersault and landing solidly on his head, his gun going off in +the confusion and adding to it. + +Sam Harper threw down his torch, so as to use his rifle, but he saw +Herbert's dilemma and waited the chance to shoot without danger of +harming him; but the partial extinguishment of his own torch, and the +total blotting out of Herbert's, rendered the risk still greater. + +While he stood, with gun partly raised and hand on the trigger, Herbert +rolled off, but Sam had not time to catch the fact when the beast shot +between his legs, and he felt himself lifted off his feet and fairly +whizzing through the air. + +Nick Ribsam's torch was burning brightly and illuminated the whole +scene. He was in a stooping position, holding his flaming brand so he +could see everything, and he was laughing so hard that he could hardly +keep from falling to the ground from weakness. + +He had recognized the animal, which they had held in such terror, as a +large hog that had doubtless wandered in the woods so long with his +mates, eating the acorns and nuts fallen from the trees, that he was +half wild and ready to attack any one who came near him. + +The hog was a lank, bony fellow, with great strength and swiftness of +gait, and, like his fiercer brother the wild boar of Europe, he +possessed undoubted courage. + +"Well, if that ain't the funniest sight I ever saw!" roared Nick, +bending himself almost double with laughter; "we thought it was a bear, +and I guess Herbert and Sam are sure it is a royal Bengal tiger or mad +elephant--" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +WAS IT A JOKE? + + +At that instant, Nick Ribsam felt himself suddenly lifted in air and +spinning forward with great speed on the back of the vigorous hog, which +plunged between his rather short legs. + +The astounded lad instantly stopped laughing, and, dropping his gun and +torch, grasped at something to sustain himself against the peril, the +nature of which he could hardly guess. + +The hog had struck him from the front, so that Nick was seated in +reverse position on his back. The object which he grasped was the spiral +tail of the animal, but, before he could make his grip certain, the +porker swerved so suddenly to one side that Nick rolled off and bumped +against a tree. + +His body was not hurt to one half the extent that his feelings were, for +he heard Sam Harper roaring with mirth, loud enough to be heard half a +mile; and as Nick hastily clambered upon his feet, he was certain +Herbert's cracked laugh was also rending the night air. + +The porker, having made the round and paid his tribute to each member of +the company in turn, whisked off into the woods, with a triumphant +grunt, as if to say, "I guess you folks and your dog will let me alone +now." + +As soon as the boys found their guns, and restored two of the torches to +a blaze, they looked at each other and gave way to their unrestrained +mirth for several minutes before they could speak so as to be +understood. + +Never had a pompous expedition ended more ignobly: they had started out +to attack a fierce black bear, and unexpectedly were overturned by a +large-sized pig, which resented the interference with his slumber. + +Some naturalists maintain that many animals possess a sense of the +humorous, and it looked as though the sluggish Bowser enjoyed the joke +as much as did the victims; for, when the latter made their way back to +the camp fire, they saw the hound stretched out close to the warm blaze +with his head between his paws and apparently asleep; but, watching him +closely, he was seen to open one of his eyes, just a little ways, and, +surveying them a minute, he closed it to open again a minute later. + +No animal could have said more plainly: + +"I've got the joke on you this time, boys, and I'm laughing so hard that +I can't keep my eyes open." + +"I tell you there is a good deal more in the heads of brutes than many +of us think," said Nick Ribsam, after he had studied the actions of the +hound; "I believe he wanted to make us believe there was some sort of +game out there so as to play the fool with us." + +"Do you think he foresaw the trick of the hog?" asked Herbert, who was +rubbing his bruised elbows and knees. + +"That would have been impossible, for we could not have foreseen it +ourselves if we had arranged the joke; he simply meant to mislead us, +and then we acted the fool for _his_ amusement." + +It looked very much as if Nick Ribsam was correct in his supposition, +and that Bowser enjoyed even more than they the shrewd trick he had +played on them. + +"I suppose there are several hundred hogs wandering through the woods," +said Nick, "picking up acorns and nuts that have fallen off the trees, +and making a good living at it." + +"Yes, lots of them have been running wild for weeks and months," added +Sam, "and when their owners try to gather them in, there will be +trouble, for it doesn't take hogs long to become savage." + +"It didn't take that hog very long, I'm sure," observed Herbert, sitting +down with care upon the ground. + +"But how was it there was but _one_?" asked Sam. + +"There wasn't need of any more than one," said Nick; "he had no trouble +in doing as he pleased with us." + +"But hogs go in droves, and you wouldn't be apt to find one of them by +himself in the woods." + +"There were others close by, for I am sure I heard them; but it is a +little curious that they didn't attack us, for hogs don't know as much +as dogs, and they had no reason to feel that one of their number was +more than enough for us." + +"I don't see the use in talking about it," remarked Herbert, who gently +tipped his body to the other side, so as to rest differently on the +ground; "I am sure I never was so upset in all my life." + +"Nor were we," added Nick; "hogs are queer creatures; if a drove finds +it is going to be attacked by an enemy, the boars will place themselves +on the outside, with the sows and younger ones within, so as to offer +the best resistance to the bear or whatever it is, and they will fight +with great fury. In a wild state, they can run fast, and when the tusks +of the boars get to be six or eight inches long, as they do in time, +they are afraid of no animal in the woods." + +"How is that?" asked Herbert, again shifting his position with great +care, but feeling interested in what the lad was telling. + +"I suppose because they haven't any reason to be afraid. With those +frightful tusks curving upward from the lower jaw, and with a strength +like Sampson in their necks, they can rip up a bear, a tiger, or any +animal that dare attack them." + +"I s'pose they're very strong, Nick?" continued Herbert. + +"So strong, indeed, that one of the wild boars in Germany has run under +the horse of a hunter, and, lifting both clear from the ground, trotted +fifty yards with them, before the struggling animal could get himself +loose." + +Herbert looked fixedly at the narrator for a moment, then solemnly +reached out his hand to Sam, for him to shake over the last astounding +statement, which was altogether too much for him to credit. + +Sam Harper grasped the hand and wabbled it once or twice, but said: + +"It's as true as gospel, Herbert; I don't know anything about it myself, +but when Nick Ribsam tells you anything for truth, you can make up your +mind it is the truth and nothing else." + +The friends lay for a long time by the camp fire, talking over the +events of the day, while Nick Ribsam gave them many wonderful facts +concerning the various wild animals found in different parts of the +world. The lad read everything he could obtain relating to natural +history, and his strong memory retained nearly all the facts. + +But, as the night wore on, all three began to feel drowsy, and they made +ready to sleep. + +The arrangements for doing this were not so perfect as they could wish. +Not one of them had anything like a blanket, and, though it was the time +of the balmy Indian summer, the nights were quite cold. + +There was an abundance of wood around them, and they gathered all they +could possibly need. Then they heaped up a big lot of leaves and lay +down as close to each other as possible. + +This was the best that could be done; but it gave a great advantage to +the one who lay in the middle, as the warmth of the others kept him +comfortable, while they were forced to turn one side to the cold air. + +By changing about, however, they got along quite well until past +midnight, when the pile of leaves caught fire and caused them to leap to +their feet with so much vigor that the outside ones got sufficiently +warm to last till daylight. + +The friends were glad enough when it began growing red in the east. They +rose early, washed their hands and faces in the clear brook, which +flowed near at hand, using their handkerchiefs for towels. Then a rabbit +and couple of squirrels were shot, and, with the same wolf-like +appetites, they made a nourishing and substantial meal. + +The brook, from which they took a draught of clear, strengthening water, +lay a short distance to the south of their camp, that is, between it and +Shark Pond, which they passed the day before. + +The three were standing by this stream, considering the best thing to be +done to get on the track of the bear, when Sam Harper suddenly stopped +talking and looked fixedly at a point a few yards away. Then he walked +slowly to it, without removing his gaze, stooped down, and attentively +scrutinized the ground. + +Without speaking, he turned and beckoned to the others to approach. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +THE TRAIL OF THE BEAR. + + +The boys did as directed, and, also stooping down, saw in the soft earth +near the water the prints of the feet of a large animal, such tracks +indeed as could have been made only by the bear. + +All agreed that it was that much desired and yet dreaded animal, and +that it was more than likely he had moved to the southward, so that in +point of fact the hunters and hunted had exchanged relative positions. + +Sam sternly directed the attention of Bowser to the trail, and ordered +him to "look into the matter." + +The hound sniffed the ground, ran back and forth several times, and then +gazed up at his master, as if awaiting further orders. + +"I won't stand any such nonsense as that," said his impatient master, +grasping him by the baggy skin at the back of the neck and giving him +several sharp blows with a switch. + +Bowser yelped and kicked lustily, and, when released, placed his nose to +the ground, emitted several more cries, and then trotted off, taking a +direction leading almost directly back over the path Herbert had +followed the day before. + +"He's on the trail _this_ time," said Sam, with restored admiration for +the hound, "and if he does well, I'll consider him a great deal better +hunting dog than he has shown himself yet." + +In fact, Bowser acted as if anxious to redeem his tainted reputation, +and, trotting quite briskly, was soon out of sight among the trees, the +lads hurrying after him. + +A few minutes later, the yelping of the hound ceased, but the young +hunters kept up their pursuit, the fresh trail made by the dog being +easily followed, as he turned over and rumpled the abundant leaves on +the ground, so that it was plainly discernible. + +"I wonder why he has stopped barking," said Sam. + +"I guess he has got tired," was the rather original reply of Herbert, +who was ready to give information, whether reliable or not. + +"Bowser seems to have a way of doing things which is different from +other dogs--hallo! there he goes again." + +The resounding cries of the hound echoed through the woods, seemingly at +a distance of a half mile, and a little to the east of south. + +"I guess he has treed him!" said Herbert, striking into a trot, the +others doing the same, and very much doubting whether the odd dog had +ever treed anything in his life. + +A short run only was necessary, when, by stopping and listening, they +learned that the hound was standing instead of running. If he had been a +regular hunting dog, this fact would have proven that he had brought the +game to bay. + +As respecting Bowser, it was uncertain what it signified. + +It did not take the lads long to hurry over the intervening space, when +they came upon the hound, who was standing under a large red oak, +looking up and barking with all the vigor he possessed. + +"He has treed the bear, I do believe!" exclaimed Sam Harper, breaking +ahead of the others in his excitement. + +Nick Ribsam also thought the indications pointed that way. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +"HELP! HELP!" + + +The belief that they were close upon the bear threw the boys into a +flutter of excitement, and they walked slowly as they approached the +tree, up which the hound was barking. + +As has been stated, it was what was known as the red oak, very large, +with branching limbs at no great distance from the ground. + +"_I see him!--I see him!_" whispered Herbert, just as he caught his foot +in a root and pitched forward. + +"Where?" + +Herbert picked up his hat, muttered something impatient, and then looked +upward again, and found he was mistaken. + +"I thought that big knot up there was the bear," replied the city youth, +in meeker tones. + +The boys slowly circled about the tree again and again, back and forth, +scrutinizing trunk, limbs, and twigs so closely that a cat could not +have concealed itself from view. + +The result was disheartening: there was no bear in sight. + +"May be the trunk is hollow," suggested Sam, "and he has gone into a +hole." + +They struck against the bark, but the sound showed that the wood beneath +was solid. Besides, an examination of the bark itself failed to bring to +view the scratching and abrasion that would have been made by a bear in +going up, and especially in coming down, the trunk. + +Bowser, beyond all question, had been "barking up the wrong tree." + +"You're a pretty hunting dog, ain't you?" sneered Sam Harper, addressing +the canine; "come here, that I may give you another switching." + +But Bowser wheeled about, and, taking the trail again, trotted to the +southward, his nose close to the ground, while he bayed at intervals of +a few seconds. + +"The bear ain't far off, you can make up your mind to that," said +Herbert, still all excitement; "if we keep close to the dog, we'll run +upon the other pretty soon." + +In fact, the youthful Watrous showed such an interest in the sport that +he forgot the danger which always accompanies it. Had he stopped a +minute or so to reflect, he would have seen that now was the time for +the three to stick together, for never was there likely to be an +occasion which would demonstrate more certainly that in union there is +strength. + +Forgetful of this, Herbert sped forward so fast that in a brief while he +vanished from view. + +Nick shouted to him not to hasten so fast, but the young gentleman was +not to be checked in that style, and he kept up his flight with +undiminished speed. + +"Let him go, then," said Nick, dropping down to a rapid walk, in which +Sam joined him; "his legs are so long that he can outrun us both." + +"Which is a good thing." + +"Why so?" + +"As soon as he catches sight of the bear, he will turn about and run +with might and main." + +"I'm not so sure of that," remarked Nick, who began to think there was +more in Herbert than they had suspected. + +"He is so anxious to get the animal that he doesn't know the risk he is +running. The fight you had with the buck yesterday shows what a more +harmless animal will do when he turns to fight the hunter." + +"But Herbert will be likely to wait till we come up to him if he sees +the bear." + +"There's no telling what such a fellow will do when he loses his head; +the only chance for him is that we may be so close that we can turn in +and help him." + +"Then we had better hurry." + +Thereupon the two broke into a run again, which they kept up till pretty +well tired out. + +They could hear Bowser baying at no great distance, and, consequently, +were sure that Herbert himself was not far off. + +"If we three come upon him we ought to be able to kill him without much +risk to ourselves--that is, if we use any sort of care in taking aim." + +"We must try and do that--hark!" + +At that instant they were startled by the sharp report of a rifle, the +distance and direction leaving no doubt that it was fired by Herbert +Watrous. + +Sam and Nick fairly turned pale, and something like a feeling of envy +came over them at the belief that Herbert, after all his boasting, had +succeeded in bringing down the royal game without their help. + +The shot was fired so close that, as they hastened forward again, they +expected to come upon the hunter and his game every minute. + +"Hallo! what does that mean?" + +The question was caused by the sudden appearance of Bowser, who was +limping toward them in a panic of terror. At every leap he uttered a +yelp, which was of pain and fear. + +The boys stopped, and the hound, running up, crouched down at their +feet, whining and moaning. + +"He is hurt!" said Sam, who noticed that he was bleeding from a wound in +the shoulder, where the claws of some animal had struck him with great +force. + +"It was done by the bear," said Nick, "and he hit Bowser a hard blow; I +shouldn't wonder if it kills him." + +Sam stooped over the dog and tried to soothe him by patting and speaking +kind words. + +"He is badly hurt, but I hope he isn't going to die. Poor fellow! we +have been unjust to him; he's a good deal braver dog than we gave him +credit for." + +They were still patting and soothing the wounded hound, when the report +of Herbert's rifle was heard again. Sam and Nick started up and stared +in the direction whence the sound came. + +"He has got the bear--" + +Just then the voice of Herbert was heard ringing through the forest +arches: + +"Quick! quick! help! help! the bear has got me! Hurry up, boys, or I'm a +goner!" + +The lads dashed forward, excited and fearful they would be too late. + +The voice of the imperiled hunter rang out again. + +"Quick! quick! the bear has got me sure! Hurry boys, hurry, for pity's +sake!" + +The next instant Sam and Nick came upon an extraordinary scene. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +A FRIEND IN NEED. + + +Herbert Watrous had been set upon by a huge bear, and, throwing aside +his Creedmoor, had run with might and main for a large stump, behind +which he took refuge. Had he climbed a sapling, he would have been safe, +but he was too flustered to think of that. + +Dodging behind this shelter he squatted down, hoping that his enemy did +not notice where he had gone; but, when he heard the brute lumbering +after him, he hastily shifted his quarters to the other side of the +stump. While doing so, he emitted the ringing cries for help which +brought his friends in such haste to his rescue. + +The situation would have been laughable but for its element of peril. +Darting to the side of the stump opposite to that of the bear, Herbert +would drop his head, and then instantly pop up again, like a +jack-in-the-box, to see what the brute was doing. The latter, it may be +said, kept things moving. + +When Herbert lowered his head and yelled, his voice had a muffled sound, +as though it came from a distance, but when he shot up in sight, his +cries were clear and distinct. + +The beast, although heavy and awkward of movement, managed to move +around the stump and to reverse his course with such facility that there +can be little doubt that he would have caught the lad, had not his +friends been so prompt to rush to his help. + +Sam and Nick felt no disposition to laugh; indeed, they were so +impressed by the danger that, without exercising the care they would +have done any other time, and which they meant to show when talking of +the matter a few minutes before, they raised their guns together and +fired. + +Although the aim was not as deliberate as it should have been, yet both +bullets struck the bear, though neither inflicted a mortal wound. + +The brute stopped short in his circular pursuit, looked confusedly +about him for a second or two, and then made straight for the lads who +had fired upon him, just as the buck did in the case of Nick Ribsam. + +"Scatter and climb a tree!" called out Nick, who saw they had no chance +to reload. + +Now was the time for Herbert to recover, and reload his gun and to take +another shot at the brute, so as to draw him off from his hot pursuit of +the others; but the panic-stricken youth could not realize that the +danger was removed, and that his terrible foe was bestowing his +attention elsewhere. He continued calling for help in a louder voice +than before, believing that every minute would be his last. + +Sam Harper whirled about to make for a sapling, but caught his foot in +an obstruction and fell violently to the ground. Nick was so alarmed +that he stopped to help him up. + +"I'm all right," said Sam, "look out for yourself!" + +But Nick could not desert him, until assured he was not mangled by the +fall, and by that time the bear was too close for them to escape by +climbing a tree. + +It looked as if it would go ill with one at least (for no gun in the +party was loaded, and the brute was almost upon them), when most +providentially, but unexpectedly, the report of another rifle broke upon +their ear, and the bullet reached the heart of the monstrous beast, who +reared himself on his haunches and used his paws as though trying to +draw out the splinters which he imagined were thrust into his body. + +Then he swerved to one side, sagged heavily to the ground, and then it +was plain that all was over. + +"Are any of you hurt?" + +It was the voice of the plucky Mrs. Fowler, who hurried forward with +anxious face, the smoking rifle in her hands. + +Herbert was still peering from behind the stump and shouting himself +hoarse, with no thought of what had taken place within the last few +minutes. By and by, however, after he had been called to, he +comprehended the facts and came forth, when a general explanation +followed. + +Although Herbert would not admit it, there was no doubt that of the two +shots which he fired at the bear only one touched him, and that only to +a sufficient extent to graze his body and to draw his attention to the +young hunter. + +Herbert then dropped his gun and made for the stump, which was not a +secure refuge. + +This took place so near the cabin-home of Mrs. Fowler that she heard the +cries for help, and, taking down her rifle, hurried to the spot, +arriving just in time to save the other lads from serious danger, if not +from death. + +The boys overwhelmed the brave woman with thanks, and though she +modestly disclaimed her right to the bear--expressing her belief that +the two shots they had fired were fatal--they would not listen to it, +but they turned to, skinned the animal, and presented the hide to her, +regretting that they had not several others, that her husband might +collect twenty dollars apiece from Mr. Bailey, his employer. + +"This isn't the only bear in the woods," said she, thanking them for +their kindness; "and some of you will see another before long. But this +will do for to-day." + +They thought so, too; and, swinging their hats in the air, bade her +good-by and started homeward. + +Sam Harper proposed that they should go out of their path to examine the +carcass of the deer, so as to learn whether the shot of Herbert took +effect; but that young gentleman was frank enough to admit, after his +experience, that it was impossible he had come anywhere near hitting the +buck. Accordingly, they continued homeward, Herbert going back to the +city a few days afterward to find out, if he could, why his gun so often +failed to hit the object he aimed at. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +THE "DARK DAY" OF SEPTEMBER, 1881. + + +The summer during which Nicholas Ribsam attained the age of twelve years +was viewed with dismal forebodings by many people, for the reason that a +celebrated weather prophet had foretold that it would be unusually +rainy, cold, and wet. + +As a consequence, it proved to be the driest known in years. Days, +weeks, and even months passed without a drop of rain falling from the +brassy sky, and the fine powdery dust permeated everywhere. The weather +prophet lost caste, but he persisted in announcing rain, knowing that he +had only to stick to it long enough to hit it in the course of time. + +As the autumn approached and the drought continued over a vast extent of +territory, the forest fires raged in different parts of the country. All +day and night immense volumes of smoke and vapor hung over the land, and +the appearance of the sun was so peculiar as to cause alarm on the part +of those who were superstitious. + +There came a "dark day," like that of the 19th of May, 1780, which +overspread New England, and was most marked in Massachusetts. The +Connecticut Legislature was in session, and the belief was so universal +that the last awful day had come that the motion was made to adjourn. +Then, as the graphic Quaker poet says: + + All eyes were turned to Abraham Davenport. + He rose, slow cleaving with his steady voice + The intolerable hush. "This well may be + The Day of Judgment which the world awaits; + But be it so or not, I only know + My present duty, and my Lord's command + To occupy till He come. So at the post + Where He has set me in His providence, + I choose, for one, to meet Him face to face-- + No faithless servant frightened from my task, + But ready when the Lord of the harvest calls; + And, therefore, with all reverence, I would say, + Let God do His work, we will see to ours. + Bring in the candles." And they brought them in. + +Tuesday, September 7, 1881, was a day very similar to the memorable one +of a century ago. A strange, greenish-yellow pall overspread the +heavens, and so darkened the light of the sun that lamps and gas were +lighted, schools and factories closed, and multitudes of the ignorant +and superstitious believed that the Day of Judgment had come. + +Everything looked changed and unnatural. The faces of people on the +streets were ghastly, the gas jets in the stores, instead of showing +yellow, were as white and clear as the electric lights, and thousands of +the sect known as Second Adventists gathered in their places of worship +and confidently awaited the appearing of the Lord. + +The "dark day" was more wonderful in the country. The leaves and +withering foliage assumed a most singular tint of green, changing, like +that of the grass, to a brownish hue; fowls went to roost, and the +animal creation must have been greatly mystified by a phenomenon such as +they had never witnessed before. + +A curious feature of this luminous haze was that it cast no shadow. It +was as light under the trees as away from them, the whole unnatural +appearance of things most likely being due to the immense forest fires +which were raging in many parts of the country. + +It was during the summer, I repeat, in which Nick Ribsam reached the age +of twelve years, that so many forest fires raged, and it was in the +autumn of the same year that he saw the famous dark day, so similar to +that of September, 1881; in fact, it could not have resembled it more +closely, for I may as well state it was that very day to which I refer. + +"Nick," said his father, on that September morning, addressing his boy +in Dutch, "I promised to pay James Bradley one hundred dollars to-day +before three o'clock." + +"Yes, sir," responded the boy, who knew that the debt would be paid on +time. + +"He was to come here to our house to get it, but he sent me word last +night that he would be much obliged if I would send it to him at +Martin's store in Dunbarton, as he is obliged to be there all day. I +like to accommodate any one, and I will therefore send you to take it to +him." + +"Yes, sir; I am ready to go whenever you want me to do so." + +Dunbarton, as has been stated, was a village nine miles away, and the +principal grocery store in the place was kept by Jacob Martin. It was +there that Nick was to take the one hundred dollars which was to be +handed to James Bradley, to whom his father owed it. + +It was like a holiday for Nick to take such a drive, and he was glad +when his father made known his wishes. + +"Harness up the mare to the fall-top and drive over; you ought to be +back early in the afternoon." + +"I will, if nothing happens to prevent." + +Just then rosy-faced Nellie came out to feed the chickens. As the fowls +flocked toward her, some perching on her shoulders, head, and wherever +they could find a resting-place, she scattered the golden grains of corn +with a deft and lavish hand. + +Her father looked at the cheeks as red as apples and the eyes glowing +with health, and, dropping into English, said with a sigh and shake of +the head: + +"I dinks dot Nellie looks some bale." + +He meant to say pale, and Nick laughed. + +"I don't think she is very sick; she ate more breakfast than I did this +morning." + +"Dot ish so, but I dinks dot I leafes her go mit you to Dunbarton, if +she can shpare her moder." + +Mr. Ribsam meant all right, and when his wishes were made known to +Nellie she was delighted; her mother was glad to give her the privilege +of an excursion, for she was an industrious little girl, and, +furthermore, there were some purchases to be made both for the mother +and daughter, which Nellie could attend to better than could any boy, no +matter how intelligent. + +The famous "dark day" of 1881 prevailed principally in New England and +the State of New York; but it was noticed further south, especially in +some of the wooded portions of Pennsylvania, though in the larger part +of the commonwealth it attracted no great attention. + +It was between seven and eight o'clock when the four-wheeled carriage +with the single seat, and which vehicle is known as a "fall top" in +some sections of the country, was driven from the humble home of the +Ribsams, with the brother and sister seated in it. + +As they approached the scene of Nellie's adventure with the bear, they +naturally talked about it, while Nick again related his own thrilling +experience, when the animal was shot by Mrs. Fowler, just in the nick of +time. + +Shark Creek had suffered so much from the long continued drought that it +was no more than one fourth its usual volume; but the pond below was not +much diminished in size, as it did not flow off except when at a certain +height. + +The brother and sister did not speak of the peculiar appearance of the +atmosphere until nearly to the bridge. There had been a great deal of +smoke floating over the country for several days, but there was nothing +to cause any fear on the part of those who lived near the large +stretches of timber. + +As the darkness increased, however, Nick said: + +"It must be caused by the thick smoke; but I don't think it will last, +and when we reach Dunbarton that will be the end of it." + +"It won't make any difference," said Nellie, "unless it gets so dark we +can't see the way." + +"No fear of that." + +But when at last they emerged from the woods, and shortly after entered +the village, the impressive gloom was deeper than ever. The villagers +were awed by the unnatural appearance of nature, and were standing in +groups looking at the sky and talking in undertones. + +Many were frightened, and not a few hurried to their homes, terrified +with the belief that the last awful day, when the heavens shall be +burned up as a scroll and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, was +at hand. + +Ah, had it been the final Judgment Day, how many of us would have had +our houses in order for the coming of the angel of the Lord? + +Nick Ribsam sprang out of the carriage, helped Nellie to alight, and +went into the store of Mr. Martin, where James Bradley was found +awaiting him. The money was handed over, a receipt taken, the horse +fed, during which Nellie attended to the errand on which she was sent, +and, an hour later, the mare was given water, and brother and sister +started homeward, little dreaming of what awaited them. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +THE BURNING FOREST. + + +"It is growing darker all the time." + +"So it seems; I never saw anything like it." + +"Maybe it is really night, Nick, and we have lost our reckoning. Isn't +there any way by which the world might swing out of its--what do you +call it?" + +"Orbit, I suppose, you mean; there may be such a way, but from what I +have studied, when it does do that there will be more of a disturbance +than simple darkness like this." + +These words were exchanged between brother and sister after they had +penetrated the woods a considerable distance on their return home. It +had become like night around them, except that, as has been shown, the +gloom was of that peculiar lurid nature which can hardly be described, +and can never be forgotten by those who saw it. + +Even Nick Ribsam was impressed. It could not have been otherwise, for +any one would have been lacking in natural sensibility had he failed to +be awed by the singular sight. It can scarcely be said that the lad was +frightened, although there came over him a yearning feeling that he +might hurry home so the family could all be together, if the awful +calamity--whatever it might be--should descend. + +It was different with the sister Nellie; her nature was more +impressible, and it was only by a strong effort that she kept her +self-control so long. As she peeped furtively out from the carriage, she +looked at the woods, penetrated by the strange haze, which perhaps took +on a more striking appearance in an autumnal forest like that, than +anywhere else. + +"Nick, I believe it's the Last Day that has come." + +The lad turned toward his sister, who was sitting far back in her seat, +as though trying to shut out the scene which had such a fascination for +her. + +The face of the girl wore such a ghastly color, that Nick could not +wonder at her fright, but he shook his head. He felt he was the man now, +and it would not do for him to show any weakness. + +"It isn't the Judgment Day, Nellie; for, according to the Bible, it will +come in a different way than this. There are a good many things which +are not understood by folks, and I suppose this must be one of them." + +"I can smell burning wood," broke in the sister, leaning forward and +snuffing the smoky air. + +"I am sure I do, and that's what is making all this trouble." + +"But suppose, Nick, these woods are on fire? How far is it back to where +we entered them?" + +"About three miles, and it is five to the open country ahead, where we +leave them; but there is the creek, less than a mile ahead, so if we +should find the woods burning, we can stop there till it is over." + +The sister, however, had suggested a danger to the brother which alarmed +him. The mare had been walking slowly, for it seemed more in harmony +with the scene that she should do so. The driver now jerked the lines so +sharply that she pricked up her ears and started off at a rapid gait, +that is as the mare herself doubtless looked upon traveling. + +The first real thrill of alarm came to the lad, when he recalled that if +a fire should appear, he and his sister were in the worst possible +position: there were three miles of forest behind and five in front. + +The mare seemed to awaken to a sense of danger, for she threw up her +head with unusual sprightliness, struck into a trot so rapid that Nick +was a little frightened, lest in the gloom the carriage should come in +contact with some obstruction which he could not detect in time. + +"See there!" + +As Nellie uttered the exclamation, she caught the arm of her brother and +pointed ahead, but there was no need of her doing so, for he had seen +the peril. The road immediately in front was filled with heavy smoke, +which, as it rolled forward, caused them to cough almost to the +strangulation point. At the same time, a crimson streak of flame shot +in and out of the murky vapor, like the flashing of lightning: the fire +was burning immediately in front and it would not do to go further. + +Nick stopped the horse, and, half rising and bending forward, peered +into the suffocating vapor. Then he turned and looked behind him, in +which direction Nellie was also gazing. + +"How is it there?" he asked. + +"There is plenty of smoke, but I see no fire." + +"Then we must go back." + +The road was quite narrow, though there was room for two teams to pass +each other, and Nick turned the frightened mare as quickly as he could; +she was so nervous and fidgety that it was hard work to control her, but +she was headed toward Dunbarton, after some difficulty, and as soon as +the rein was given her, away she went at a spanking trot. + +But neither the brother nor sister was relieved of fear, for the smoke +grew denser every minute, and Nick might well ask himself whether he +would be able to pass the three miles before he could reach the safety +of the open country. + +The question was answered much sooner than he anticipated. The sharp +crackling was heard, and they caught glimpses of the fiery tongues +leaping in and out among the dried leaves and vegetation on either hand. +Suddenly the flames seemed to meet in front in such a rushing, roaring +volume that it was vain to think of pushing any further in the face of +it. + +"Oh, Nick," moaned Nellie, shrinking close to him, "we are going to be +burned alive!" + +"It does look bad, Nellie, but we mustn't give up yet; one thing is +certain, it won't do to try to reach Dunbarton to-day." + +"But we can't go homeward." + +"It doesn't look so bad that way as it does toward Dunbarton: we must +try one of the roads, and I would rather work toward home than away from +it." + +Nick was busy while talking; he saw that the mare was becoming +panic-stricken, and it required all his strength and firmness to keep +her from breaking away from him. + +[Illustration: "O Nick," moaned Nellie, "we are going to be burned +alive."] + +By using the whip, he managed to turn her again in the road, and then he +struck her sharply with the lash. + +"Nellie, catch hold of my arm," he said to her, feeling that even if +everything came out in the best form, a severe struggle was before them. + +The mare sniffed, and, glancing to her right and left, gave a whinny of +terror as she dropped into her swiftest trot, which, a minute after, she +changed to a gallop; but Nick brought her down instantly to her more +natural gait. + +Nellie slipped her arm under the elbow of her brother, and then clasped +her two hands, so as to hold fast for the shock which she believed would +soon come. + +A large branch had fallen across the road, and Nick did not catch sight +of it until too late to check the flying mare. The carriage seemed to +bound fully a foot into the air, and an ominous wrench told the driver +that it had suffered material damage. + +But there was no time to stop and examine; the terrified horse sprang +into a gallop again, and this time Nick did not restrain her. + +There was smoke all around them; the air was hot and suffocating; they +could hear the crackling of flames, and now and then the crimson flash +through the murky vapor showed that a frightful forest fire was raging +on every hand. + +Still the mare kept forward at the same swift gallop, and Nick knew that +more than once she felt the blistering heat on her haunches. It is a +strange peculiarity of the horse, which often shows a wonderful degree +of intelligence, that he generally loses his wits when caught in a +conflagration. Instead of running away from the flames he often charges +among them, and there remains, fighting those who are trying to save +him. + +Very probably the mare would have acted similarly in the instance of +which I am speaking had the circumstances permitted it; but there was +fire all about her, and the temptation was as strong, therefore, in one +direction as another. + +Nick kept his self-possession. He knew by the desperate energy with +which Nellie clung to his arm that she was helpless, and that every +minute they were likely to plunge headlong into and among the roaring +flames. + +He could not guide the mare, which was now controlled by her own +instinctive desire to escape a danger which was on every hand. He merely +sought to direct her, so far as possible, in the hope that he might save +the carriage from being dashed to pieces. + +When he saw the flames meeting across the road he shouted to Nellie to +hold her breath, and he did the same, until they had swept through the +fiery, strangling ring, and were able to catch a mouthful of the smoky +and scorching atmosphere beyond. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +THROUGH THE FIRE. + + +It was hard to remain cool when surrounded by such peril as were Nick +and Nellie Ribsam but the sturdy lad acquitted himself like a hero. + +His belief was that all the woods were not on fire--that is, the entire +tract was not burning at once, and that, as a consequence, if he could +break through the flaming circle in which he was caught, he could place +himself and sister in front of the danger, so to speak, and then they +would be able to run away from it altogether. + +If such were the case, it followed that just then speed was the most +important of all things, and for that reason he kept the mare on her +sweeping gallop, at the imminent risk of dashing the carriage to pieces +every minute. + +He was glad that he did not meet any vehicles, for it not only showed +that no one else in the neighborhood was placed in the same extremity +as were he and his sister, but it lessened the danger of collision. + +Nick thought it was all over with them, when a fiery serpent, as it +seemed, darted across from one side of the road to the other, directly +in front. It was at the height of five or six feet, and coiling itself +about a dry pine it shot horizontally toward another pine, wrapped with +a flaming girdle, which sent out a line of fire to meet it, like the +intense blaze seen when a blow-pipe is used. + +It was a curious manifestation, and it would be hard to explain it, for, +though a strong wind was blowing, that would not account for the fact +that the two tongues of fire, as they really were, met each other in +this fashion across the road, for of a necessity they extended +themselves in opposite directions. + +They did not burn steadily, but whisked back and forth, just as it may +be imagined two serpents would have done who saw the fugitives coming, +and, making ready, said by their actions, "Thus far, but no farther." + +To Nick Ribsam it looked like the flaming sword of Hazael, sweeping +across the highway; but it would never do to hesitate, and the mare +galloped straight on. The fiery serpents darted angrily at each other, +but the head of the horse glided beneath and the boy caught a hot blast +as he shot by. + +"Where is the bridge?" shouted Nellie, who could see nothing, and who +clung more desperately than ever to the supporting arm of her brother. + +"It must be close at hand--there it is!" + +So it was, indeed, but the fire was ahead of them; the whole structure +was one mass of flames, roaring and crackling with fury. + +The scene that followed was a dreadful one: the sight of the +furnace-like structure set the mare wild, and she broke into a dead run +toward the blazing mass of kindling wood, determined to plunge headlong +into it. + +Nick Ribsam rose to his feet, and bent back with might and main, but he +might as well have tried to check a runaway locomotive: the mare took +the bit in her teeth and was beyond control. + +With a presence of mind which did him credit, Nick wrenched her to one +side, while she was at the height of this mad flight, so that the hub of +the fore wheel struck a tree at the side of the road, checking the +vehicle so abruptly that both traces snapped as if they were ribbons, +and the mare continued her gallop in the direction of the bridge. + +The momentum of Nellie threw her violently against the dashboard, while +Nick, before he could let go the reins, was jerked out the carriage, +and, lighting on his feet, ran a dozen steps ere he could check himself +and free his hands from the reins. + +He stopped almost on the edge of the creek, and caught one glimpse of +the mare as she bounded out of sight into the smoke and flames, and was +gone forever. + +The lad felt a pang of sorrow for the foolish beast, who stood as good a +chance of saving herself as he, had she but used a tithe of common +sense; but there was no time for mourning, and he ran back to the +vehicle, where Nellie was crouching, and crying violently. + +"Why, Nellie, I am ashamed of you!" said her brother, reprovingly. "Is +it going to mend matters to sit down and cry?" + +"But how can I help it, Nick?" she asked, rubbing her red eyes with her +apron and trying to check herself; "I don't see how you can keep from +crying yourself!" + +"I'm glad I ain't such a ninny as you, and when I get home I am going to +tell father and mother." + +"You needn't be so smart," said Nellie, beginning to fire up under the +reproof of her brother; "you haven't got home yet." + +"And mighty little chance I would stand of ever getting there if I +should sit down like you and begin to blubber. Come out of the carriage +and go with me." + +Nellie's face was very red and there were tears on her cheeks, her +countenance wearing a strange appearance in the lurid haze around them. + +The girl did not make any objection, for she could not do otherwise than +lean on the strong arm of her brother, who never seemed to lose his head +over anything. Every minute or so a distressing feeling came over +them--such a feeling as we can imagine would be ours were we suddenly to +find ourselves shut in a room where the air was so impure we could not +breathe it. + +There was a gasping, hurried inhalation of the strangling hot smoke--a +coughing and filling of the eyes with tears, and then a frantic rush of +several steps, during which the breath was held until a chance to get a +mouthful of fresh air was gained. + +It was useless to turn back. The children were in the very heart of the +wood, and the conflagration was raging so furiously on both sides, and +in front and rear, that it was impossible to escape in either direction. + +But for the timely arrival at the edge of the creek they must have +perished a few minutes later, and they could not feel certain as yet +that even water would save them. + +The creek was so low, that when they hurriedly picked their way down the +bank to it, Nick could have taken Nellie on his back and carried her +across without wetting her feet; but there was nothing to be gained by +doing so, as the fire was burning as fiercely on one side as on the +other. + +The conflagration must stop when it should reach the margin of the +stream, and Nick drew a sigh of relief, feeling that they were safe. + +"We will wait here till the fire is done burning," said he, standing +with the hand of his sister in his own, while he gazed about him on the +extraordinary scene. + +The day had been quite warm, and Nick and Nellie, pausing on the bank of +the shrunken creek, began to find themselves exceedingly uncomfortable; +for not only was there a great increase of heat, but the smoke was too +heavy to be breathed without great pain and irritation to the lungs. + +"It looks as if we are to be strangled to death, after all," Nick said, +"for it is hard to breathe now, and it is growing worse every minute." + +"Let's go up by the pond: it isn't far away." + +"It must be as bad there as anywhere else, but we shall die if we stay +here." + +There seemed little choice in the matter, but one of the impossibilities +is for a boy or girl to stand still when suffering, and the suggestion +of Nellie was acted upon at once. + +She had released the arm of Nick, who started up the right bank, she +following close behind him. The walking was easy, for the creek had +receded from the greater portion of the bed it usually occupied, and +that had become hardened by long exposure to the heat of the sun. + +It was not far to the pond of which I have spoken, and which occupied an +extent of an acre, or perhaps more. The place was a favorite with the +boys of the neighborhood, and some of the most delightful swims Nick +Ribsam had ever enjoyed were in that sheet of water. + +The water was cold, clear, and deep in many places. What more tempting +resort for a tired, thirsty and overheated lad can be imagined +especially when he knows that it will be a piece of disobedience for him +to go there? + +"That's the place," he exclaimed, hastening his footsteps; "when we get +there, we'll have a chance to breathe." + +"Hurry up, then, Nick, for I can't stand this much longer." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +CALLING IN VAIN. + + +The distress of the brother and sister became greater every minute. They +walked hurriedly along the bank of the creek, their path through the +gloom illuminated now and then by the flashes of fire which shot through +the strangling volumes of vapor. Nick, more than likely, would have gone +astray but for his familiarity with the neighborhood. + +It seemed to him as if the smoke, heavy, dense, sulphurous and +suffocating, caused by the burning forest, was driven toward the bed of +the stream, where it was pressed down by the weight from above, until it +was the utmost he and Nellie could do to inhale enough of the +contaminated air to sustain life. + +They hurried and struggled forward as best they could, and at last +caught the glimmer of the broad expanse of water, which presented +itself in the light of a haven of refuge to them. + +It was a most welcome relief indeed, for they were now assured of one +thing--they could not die the frightful death that overtook the poor +mare. This broad expanse of cool, refreshing water could not burn up, no +matter how fervent the heat that might envelop its shores. Its cool +depths offered a refreshing refuge, such as can hardly be understood by +one who is not suffering similarly. + +But it was rather curious that the boy and girl had endured more from +the suffocating vapor than from the fire itself. Looking down at their +garments, they were surprised to find them scorched in several places, +and Nellie gave just the faintest scream when a pungent odor directed +her gaze to a large hole burning in her dress. + +Nick glanced around, and, understanding what the matter was, called +rather sharply: + +"Pinch it out!" + +She was already doing so, and she asked: + +"Why don't you pinch out that fire on your coat?" + +Just then her brother jumped into the air and shouted, "Oh--ouch!" for +the burning sleeve had gone through the shirt and reached the bare skin. +He whipped off his coat in a twinkling, dipped it hastily into the +water, doing the same with his right elbow, the element which +extinguished the smoking garment being very grateful to the scorched +limb. + +"Nellie," said he, "just cast your eye over me, and let me know whether +there are any more fires going." + +He made up his mind that if she reported other conflagrations breaking +out, he would subdue them in a lump by taking a header in the pond, +whose shore they reached at that moment. But Nellie said he was in no +danger so far as she could see, of immediate combustion and when she +came to examine her own garments they were also free from the same +peril. + +"Now, what shall we do that we have got here?" she asked, as, after +walking a few steps, he came to a stop. + +"Wait, and see how things are coming out," he answered. "I begin to +feel tired, so suppose we sit down and rest ourselves." + +The moment this was done, both uttered an exclamation of pleasure; for +the relief from the distressing smoke was so great that it was as if +they had emerged into the open country, where there was none of it at +all. + +"Why did we not think of this before?" said Nick; "we ought to have +known that smoke doesn't keep close to the ground." + +The atmosphere was not clear by any means, but the change was so marked +that it appeared more than pure, and they sat several minutes gratefully +inhaling that from which it seemed they had been shut off for many +hours. + +But their rejoicing was too soon; for, though it may be true that in a +burning building the surest place in which to gain enough air to support +life is close to the floor, yet there can be so much of the strangling +vapor that it will penetrate everywhere. + +Less than five minutes had passed, when a volume of smoke swept over and +enveloped them, so dense that it was like the darkness of Egypt, that +could be felt, and the suffering of the brother and sister was pitiful. + +"Put your face close to the water," called out Nick, as well as he could +do from coughing and strangling. + +At the same moment, their fevered cheeks touched the cold, refreshing +surface, and something of relief was experienced. + +"It won't do to stay here," said Nick, a moment later. + +"But where can we go?" + +"Out in the pond; there's a better chance to breathe there than along +shore." + +"But I can't swim, Nick." + +"What of that? I can, and I'll take care of you; but there is plenty of +wood and we can make a raft. That reminds me that there _was_ a raft +here last week, when Sam Harper and I had a swim: I wonder where it can +be. Help me to look for it." + +They moved slowly along the margin of the pond, peering through the +gloom as best they could, but seeing nothing of the support on which +they now placed so much hope. + +Nick Ribsam, however, did not fail to notice one thing--it was becoming +hotter every minute and they could not wait much longer before entering +the water in very self-defense. + +They pushed bravely on, and when the circuit of Shark Pond was half +completed, reached a point where the thick vapor lifted, or, more +properly, it had not yet descended, and they stopped to rest themselves +again. + +"Well," exclaimed Nick, with a sigh, "some folks would call this fun, +but I don't see where it comes in." + +"I don't see how any one could find fun in such suffering; but, Nick, +you will have to make a raft." + +"I believe you are right; there isn't much chance to fasten these dry +logs together, and I haven't time to build one that will hold us both." + +"What will you do?" + +"I will place you on it, and I'll swim along-side----" + +"There's the raft! I see it! I see it!" + +Nellie sprang to her feet and pointed out on the pond where, through the +smoky gloom, the outlines of the half dozen logs, which Nick and +several of his playmates had bound together with withes, when frolicking +in the water, were seen. + +The lad threw off his hat, vest, shoes, and stockings, so that only his +shirt and trousers remained, and then took a header, his whole being +thrilling with pleasure as the cold water closed around him. + +"Take care of my clothes!" he called to Nellie, "and I'll bring the raft +over to you." + +As there was no immediate hurry, the situation of his sister being quite +comfortable, the lad could not resist the temptation to disport himself +awhile in the cool, refreshing element. He sank until his bare feet +touched the pebbly bottom, and then shot upward with a bound; then he +went over backward, floundered, and tumbled about like a porpoise. + +"Nick," called his sister, "you had better hurry and get that raft, for +I cannot see it now." + +This startled the lad, but when he found he could not see Nellie either, +he understood that it was on account of the overshadowing gloom that had +fallen still lower; at the same time the disturbance of the atmosphere +had caused a strong wind to blow across the pond, and it was doubtless +this which had started the mass of pine logs from the land, and was now +bearing it away from where it lay when discovered by the girl. + +"Are you comfortable there?" called out Nick to his sister. + +"Yes, but don't wait too long, for it is growing warm, and I think the +fire is close to me." + +The lad felt he had done wrong in idling his time, and he bent all his +energies toward swimming to the raft, which, under any circumstances +could not be far off. + +As it was, Nick was amazed to find it necessary to go a considerable +ways before he caught sight of the familiar pile of logs floating +buoyantly on the water, but he speedily reached them, and, drawing +himself on top, hunted for the long pole that he had used so many times +in navigating the pond. + +But it was not there, and he sank back into the water, and, holding on +with his hands, used his feet vigorously to propel the raft toward the +bank, where he had left his loved sister but a short time before. + +"I'll soon be there, Nellie," he called; "are you all right?" + +This was a curious question to ask, though it was natural, perhaps, for +any boy, under similar circumstances, but Nick felt a pang of fear when +he repeated the call and did not receive any answer. + +He put forth all the energy at his command, and steadily pushed the +float toward land. Now and then, while doing so, he shouted to his +sister, without hearing any reply. + +"Can it be anything has happened to her?" he asked himself several times +as he peered through the gloom, unable to catch the outlines of brave +little Nellie. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +WHAT FRIGHTENED NELLIE. + + +Nick Ribsam thought not of himself, in his anxiety for his sister. He +had left her but a few brief minutes before, sitting on the shore of the +lake, and now when he returned she was missing. + +He had called to her repeatedly without receiving any answer, and when +he looked about him in the smoke and gloom, he could see nothing of her +loved figure. + +He noticed that it was very hot where he stood, and there could be no +doubt that the flames were advancing in that direction. His dread was +that Nellie had lost her wits in the presence of the new danger, and had +run blindly into the burning woods where there could be no escape for +her. + +"Nellie! Nellie!" he shouted in agonized tones; "Where are you? Why +don't you answer me?" + +He thought he heard something like a faint response, but it was not +repeated, and poor Nick was half distracted. For the first time since +entering the burning forest he lost his self-control, and not doubting +that his sister was somewhere close at hand, he dashed among the trees, +still calling to her at the height of his voice. + +He had gone but a short distance when he was brought face to face with +such a fierce blast of flame that he was forced to turn and run back to +the water's edge, where he stopped for a minute or two gasping for +breath. + +This repulse served to give him time to collect his wits, and he tried +hard to decide what was best to do, for he was resolved never to leave +that place until he learned the fate of Nellie. + +"She had good sense," he added to himself, "and she would not have done +such a foolish thing. She has gone to some other spot along the shore +and is waiting for me." + +Possibly this was so, but it did not explain the curious fact that all +the calls of Nick remained unanswered. The space inclosing the pond was +so slight that his voice must have penetrated every portion of it, and +it did seem that if she were in any place safe for her to be, she could +not fail to hear him. + +Nick found a long branch, which answered for a pole with which to guide +the raft, and stepping on it he began pushing it along shore as rapidly +as he could, looking into the gloom about him and often pronouncing the +name of his sister. His heart sank within him when this continued +several minutes, and half the circuit of the pond was completed without +bringing him the first evidence of the whereabouts of Nellie. + +Finally he paused, wearied and distressed beyond description. + +The darkness of night rested on Shark Pond and the surrounding woods. +The murky volumes of smoke seemed to shut out all light, excepting when +the tongues of fire shot through them. The wind blew a gale, stirring +the water into tiny waves, and the roaring of the fire through the +woods, the sound of trees crashing to the earth, and the millions of +sparks, with blazing bits of wood, were carried a great distance +through the air. Some of these flaming brands fell on the raft on which +Nick Ribsam stood, and they continually dropped hissing into the water +around him. + +The problem was, how the children had escaped thus far; and as the +sturdy lad stood out on the pond with the long limb grasped in his hand, +staring around him, he could not but wonder how it was he had been +preserved after driving directly into the forest when it was literally +aflame from one end to the other. + +But these thoughts were only for the moment; he had left Nellie, not +expecting to be out of her sight, much less beyond her hearing, and she +had vanished as mysteriously as if the earth had opened and swallowed +her up. + +And yet he could not believe she was lost. She had proven that she was +not the weak girl to do anything rashly, or to sit down and fold her +hands and make no attempt to save herself. Something more than the +general danger which impended over both must have arisen, during that +brief period, to drive her from her post. + +"Nellie! Nellie!" he called again, shoving the pole vigorously against +the bottom of the pond. + +He was sure he heard the faint response this time, and so distinctly +that he caught the direction; it was from a point on the shore very +nearly opposite where he had left her. + +"I hear you," he called back, working the unwieldy float toward the +spot; "I'll soon be there." + +The distance was not great and it took but a few minutes to approach +quite close to the land, where, with a delight which can scarcely be +imagined, he saw Nellie standing close to the water's edge, beckoning +him to make all haste. + +"Are you hurt?" he asked, as he forced the craft close to her. + +"No," she answered, with a strange laugh, "but I thought my last moment +had come." + +"Didn't you hear me call you?" + +"Of course I did; any one within a mile could hear you." + +"Why then didn't you answer me?" + +"I was afraid to." + +"Afraid of what?" + +"Didn't you see him?" was the puzzling question of Nellie in return, as +she stepped carefully upon the raft, helped by the extended hand of her +brother. + +"Nellie, stop talking in puzzles," said Nick; "I was so scared about you +that I won't get over it for a week; I called to, and hunted for you, +and you say you heard me; you must have known how frightened I was, and +yet you stood still and never made any answer, except a minute ago, when +I just managed to hear you. If you think it is right, I don't--that's +all." + +He turned away offended, when she said: + +"Forgive me, Nick; but I was afraid to answer you." + +"Afraid of _what_?" + +"Of that _bear_--you must have seen him," was the astonishing answer of +the girl. + +Nellie then told her story: she was standing on the shore awaiting the +return of her brother, when she was terrified almost out of senses by +the appearance of a large black bear, which was evidently driven out of +the burning forest by the flames. + +He did not seem to notice the girl, but when he began lumbering toward +her, as if seeking a good spot where he might enter the pond, Nellie did +not stay on the order of her going, but fled from the new peril, hardly +conscious of what direction she took. She knew better than to venture +among the blazing trees from which she and her brother had had such a +narrow escape, and she sped forward around the lake until she reached a +point nearly opposite. On the way she never looked behind her once, +certain as she was that the creature was ready to seize and devour her. + +She was sure she heard him crashing almost upon her heels; but when she +paused, and finally turned her frightened looks backward, nothing of the +brute was to be seen, and she did not know what had become of him. + +"That's the other bear which Mrs. Fowler saw, and which she told Sam +Harper, Herbert Watrous, and me, we would see some time or other." + +"But that was almost two years ago." + +"I know that; don't you suppose a bear will keep that long? This one has +known enough to stay out of sight until the fire has forced him from +his hiding-place." + +After Nellie had heard her brother call to her, she was fearful that if +she answered she would betray herself to the brute, who would instantly +make for her; so she held her peace, even though she saw nothing of the +bear, and venturing on a rather feeble answer when the tones of Nick +told how much apprehension he was suffering over his failure to find +her. + +Now that the two were on the raft, which was shoved out in the deep +water, something like confidence came back to her, and she was willing +to talk about the beast. + +"I can't imagine what has become of him," said the brother, after her +story was told; "from what I have heard and read, the bear is not afraid +of water, and they often go in to bathe, just like us boys, for the fun +of the thing. I don't see why he should have waited when he had the fire +to urge him on." + +"Maybe he is swimming around the lake now," whispered Nellie, looking +over as much of the surface as was visible through the hot smoke. + +"I shouldn't be surprised, though it is odd that I did not see him," +said Nick, pressing his pole against the bottom; "he is not far off, you +may depend." + +"There! didn't you hear him?" asked Nellie, a moment later, as something +like the grunt of a huge hog alarmed both brother and sister. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +AN UNWELCOME PASSENGER. + + +A second time a loud snort was heard, as though some large animal were +blowing the water from his nostrils, and at the same instant Nick and +Nellie caught sight of the huge snout of the bear coming through the +water toward them. + +He was making directly for the raft beyond all question. + +"By jingo, this raft wasn't built to carry bears!" exclaimed the +startled lad, who used the pole with all the strength of which he was +master; but, unfortunately, the bottom of the pond was composed of +slippery rocks in many places, and the blunt end of the crooked limb +slid along the upper surface of one of these so quickly that Nick +dropped on his side and came within a hair's breadth of rolling +overboard. + +But he was up again like a flash, and toiling with might and main. + +Rafts as generally constructed, are not capable of much speed, and +though Nick Ribsam got out all there was in the one which he had +managed, it was not to be expected that he could compare with the +velocity of a strong, healthy bear. + +"He's coming, Nick! Oh, he will catch us sure!" exclaimed the sorely +frightened Nellie, edging so far away that she, too, was in danger of +going over. + +"I know he is," replied the sturdy lad, working hard with the guiding +pole, "and I think he can beat us. Do you stay where you are, and don't +try to get any further off or you will be drowned. I'll bang him over +the head if he tries to climb on here and ride with us." + +Such was the purpose of the beast, beyond question; and, approaching +fast, only a brief time elapsed ere his huge snout was shoved against +the logs, his big paws, dripping with wet, flapped out from below the +surface and both rested on the raft, which sank so low that Nellie +screamed and Nick turned pale. + +Determined to keep off such an undesirable passenger, the lad raised +the stick in his hand and brought it down with all his strength on the +head of the bear, which acted as though unaware that he was struck. + +Nick repeated the blows, that would have settled the business for a less +formidable animal but it was plain that brain did not consider the +matter a serious one. Having secured a rest for his paws, his whole body +was supported in the water, and the beast, which was no doubt very +tired, simply ceased all effort, and floated with the wind. + +"Why don't you knock him off?" asked Nellie, impatiently. + +"Because I ain't strong enough, I suppose; he's the toughest customer I +ever got hold of, or seemed to have a good chance to get hold of me." + +"I've a great notion to dig out his eyes myself." + +"If you try it, it will be the last bear you ever scratch; look at those +paws! did you ever see such nails? didn't you hear them rattle against +the logs when he struck them?" + +"Suppose he tries to climb upon the raft," ventured Nellie, trying to +edge still further away, "what will become of us?" + +"The raft won't hold him; he'll sink it, and we'll have to get along as +best we can; but, Nellie, he acts to me as though he is satisfied with +being where he is, and he won't disturb us so long as we let him alone." + +"But you struck him several hard blows." + +"He's forgotten all about it, if he ever knew it. I guess he has had a +pretty lively run to reach the pond in time to save his hide, and now +that he is in the water, he will stay there a good while." + +There was a likelihood that Nick was right, and that the bear wanted +nothing more than a rest; and yet the possibility that he would soon try +to draw his entire body upon the raft prevented the brother and sister +from having any peace of mind. + +When this singular tableau had lasted several minutes, it was discovered +that the wind was carrying the raft, with its incubus, toward the +western shore again, and Nick, afraid that if they all landed together, +the bear might seize the occasion to make a supper off of them, reached +the pole over the side, and began working the logs to the middle of the +pond. + +During this performance the brute never stirred. His head, shoulders and +paws were out of the water, the principal bulk of his body being +beneath, and he seemed contented to be navigated about the small lake in +any fashion the proprietor of the raft deemed best. + +When considerable time had passed without his offering to destroy them, +the boy and girl were able to view the beast with feelings of less +alarm. They looked at the large head, pig-like snout, round, dark eyes, +and could well understand the terror which an unarmed person feels on +meeting one of them in the woods. + +But so long as bruin remained there, so long was he a threat; and Nick +was trying hard to think of some plan by which to get rid of him. + +He had tested beating him, but with no success, while he ran the risk of +exciting him to a dangerous degree of savagery if he should persist in +it. The boy had no weapon about him, unless his jack-knife should be +counted as such, and nothing could be accomplished with that. He asked +himself whether it were possible to dive under the raft and give him two +or three vigorous thrusts with the implement; but, fortunately, the lad +had too much sense to undertake anything of that sort, which, more than +likely, would have resulted in the destruction of himself and sister. + +There really seemed no way open for the young hero to do anything at +all, except to follow the advice of his father: "Do all you can for +yourself and then leave the rest to Providence." + +"If I could think of anything," said he to Nellie, "I would do it, but +we shall have to wait." + +"Maybe when he is rested he will swim off and go ashore." + +"I wish he would; but it seems to me that he has got a look in his eye, +which says that pretty soon he will try to enjoy a little more of the +raft than he now does: and when he undertakes it, you can make up your +mind, Nellie, that there will be a row." + +"Why not let the raft drift close to land, so as to give him a chance to +get off?" she asked. + +"Suppose he doesn't take the chance, which he has now; no, we'll wait +awhile and see what he thinks about it." + +So soon as they could feel anything like relief from watching the +passenger, the brother and sister looked at the scene around them, which +was enough to strike any one with awe. + +The murky vapor was pouring across the water; burning leaves, sticks, +and large branches of wood seemed to be carried almost horizontally on +the wind, while the blazing forest roared like the ocean when swept by +the monsoon. + +Whether the memorable dark day of 1881 still overspread the earth +beyond, the two had no means of knowing; but they did know and feel that +they were enveloped in an awful night, illumined only by the burning +forests about them. + +Should the bear fail to harm them, they might well ask themselves the +question, when would they be able to leave the water, in which they had +taken refuge. It was not likely they would be forced to keep to the raft +itself very long, but, after stepping foot on shore, they would be +surrounded, if not by the burning forest itself, by its embers, which +would render traveling perilous for days to come. + +Altogether, it will be seen that the situation of the two was as +unpleasant--if, not absolutely dangerous--as it could well be. + +Nick was on the point, more than once, of following the advice of his +sister,--to allow the raft to be carried by the wind against the shore, +with the hope that the bear, when his hind legs should touch bottom, +would take himself off; but he was afraid to do so, for it seemed to him +that when the brute should be relieved of the necessity of looking after +himself, he would turn and look after the boy and girl too closely for +their safety. + +The very danger, however, that was dreaded more than all others, came +when least expected. + +Nick had worked the unwieldy craft out in the pond again and had sat +down beside Nellie, when, with one of his startling sniffs, the bear +made a plunge, which heaved half of his body out of the water and lifted +it upon the raft. + +As Nick Ribsam had previously remarked, the structure was not built for +the accommodation of such passengers, and it began sinking, as the +unwonted weight bore it down. + +"Don't be scared," said he to his sister; "maybe it's the best thing +that could happen; put your hands on my shoulders and keep cool, and +we'll swim out yet." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +A BRAVE STRUGGLE. + + +It was a trying ordeal for little Nellie Ribsam; but she met it with the +courage and coolness of her brother. She could not swim a stroke, and, +under heaven, everything depended on him. If she should lose her +self-control, as would be the case with nine tenths of the girls of her +age placed in a similar situation she was likely to drown both herself +and her brother. + +But so long as she obeyed instructions, and the bear did not interfere, +they were safe. She placed her hands on the shoulders of Nick, as he +told her to do, and he struck out with his powerful stroke, which he +could keep up for an hour if need be. + +The difficulty of the situation was deepened tenfold by the anxiety to +know what the bear meant to do. He had it in his power to overtake both, +and it would have been a trifling matter for him to "dispose" of them +in a twinkling: one or two strokes of his immense paw were sufficient. + +It was the aim of Nick, therefore, to get away as speedily as possible; +and he exerted himself to the utmost, glancing continually over his +shoulder, as did the sorely frightened Nellie, who could not avoid a +half gasping scream as the waters closed about her to her chin. + +But bruin seemed to be absorbed in the management of the raft, which, in +fact, was more than he could manage. It was all well enough, so long as +it only half supported him; but when he came to lift his huge bulk out +of the water the buoyancy of the float was overcome, and it went down. + +The bear did not seem to understand it: a moment before he was resting +upon a mass of logs, and now, when he looked around, they were +invisible, and he was compelled to swim to support himself. He therefore +struck out with a loud splash, and had scarcely done so when the light +pine logs popped up again like so much cork. + +The brute turned around and dropped both paws upon them. Finding they +kept afloat, he was too foolish to be content, but repeated his +performance, and, as a consequence, speedily found himself pawing the +water again to keep his own head above the surface. + +This second failure seemed to disgust him, and he paid no further +attention to the logs, but headed for the shore, which was so close at +hand that he reached it in a minute or two. + +This proceeding on the part of the bear, it will be understood, was of +great benefit to the brother and sister, who improved it to the utmost. +It occupied a brief time, during which Nick swam strongly and steadily, +and before the brute was master of the situation Nick's feet touched +bottom, and, taking the hand of Nellie in his own, they walked ashore. + +"Where is he?" asked the girl, the moment their feet rested on dry land. + +"He isn't far off," replied Nick, "and I don't think he cares to disturb +us, but I would rather keep him at a distance." + +It may be set down as certain that Nick and Nellie were never in such +serious peril from the beast as they believed. The bear was of the +ordinary black kind, found in the Middle States, which is not +particularly savage, and often passes a person without offering him +harm. + +It is only when the hunter and his dogs assail the brute, or when he is +driven by hunger, that he will boldly attack a person. + +Besides this, the animal of which I am speaking, had, no doubt, been +routed out of his lair in the woods by the approach of the fire, and it +was the most he could do to reach the pond in time to save himself. This +accounted for his excessive fatigue, which made him loth to enter the +water, where he knew he must swim, and which caused him, after entering +it, immediately to make for the raft, that he might avail himself of its +support. + +He had no purpose of molesting the children, and was too indolent to +resent the insignificant attack made upon him by Nick with the stick. + +But it was not to be supposed that the boy and girl could feel any +assurance on this point, and their fright was such as would have come +to any older person placed as they were. + +It was only through the protection of a wonderful Providence that they +had escaped thus far from the fate of hundreds who, in different parts +of the country, fell victims to the innumerable forest fires. + +When the two emerged from the water, they saw nothing of the bear that +had caused them so much disquietude. He had probably headed for the +other side of the pond, and was now shut out from view by the volume of +smoke which intervened. + +"He'll be here after us," said the alarmed Nellie, whose nervousness was +excusable; "and I wish you would hurry away." + +"I don't think there is any need to be scared, after all," replied her +brother; "the bear has all he can do to look after himself, without +bothering us." + +The fugitives were in a pitiable plight. Nellie's garments were soaked +by the water through which she had passed, but the heavy heat of the air +prevented her suffering from cold, though the clinging garments caused +her to feel ill at ease; and, like her tidy mother, she longed to be at +home, that she might change them for clean, dry ones. + +When Nick found they had to leave the raft, he caught up his shoes, with +the stockings stuffed in them, and, hastily tying the strings together, +slung them around his neck. He did not forget, in the excitement of the +moment, that they were indispensable. + +But there was no way of saving coat, vest and hat, without running more +risk than any one ought to run, and the lad let them go, hoping that, +possibly, he might recover them after a time. + +He had scarcely set his feet upon the ground, when he took them off +again. The earth was baking hot to the water's edge, and a live ember, +which the ashes concealed from sight, was revealed when the bare foot +was placed upon it. + +Nick cooled his blistering toes, and then, as quick as possible, drew on +his wet shoes and stockings. + +"I would be in a pretty fix if barefoot," said he, "I wouldn't have been +able to walk home through these woods for a week or less." + +It was plain to be seen that the fury of the conflagration had spent +itself, so far as it affected this portion of the wood. That tornado of +the flame, which swept everything before it, had leaped across the pond, +and was speeding onward until it should die out from want of fuel. + +In its path was the blackness of desolation. The trees were still +burning, but it was in a smoldering, smoking way, with blazing branches +here and there, dropping piecemeal to the ground. The flames, which +charged forward as they do through the dry prairie grass, had passed by, +and the brother and sister had now the opportunity to attempt to reach +home. + +But it would be hard to overestimate the distress caused by the +atmosphere which the forest fires left behind them. There are many gases +and vapors which we cannot breathe; but the trouble about smoke is that +although we can manage to get along with it when it is not too dense, it +is excessively irritating to the lungs. + +Several minutes passed, during which little trouble was experienced, +and then the two were forced to cough and gasp until they almost sank to +the ground from exhaustion. Occasionally the vapor would lift, and, +floating away, leave the air below comparatively pure, and then the +black and blue atmosphere, heavy with impurities, would descend and wrap +them about as with a garment. + +"There's one thing sure," said Nick, when he found himself able to speak +with some degree of comfort. + +"What is that?" asked his sister. + +"This will gradually get better and better." + +"I don't see how it can get any worse," was the truthful answer of +Nellie, who felt as though she had stood all she could bear. + +Since the danger of being caught in the flames was gone, the two were at +liberty to venture in any direction they chose. + +"We'll make the start, any way!" said Nick, with his old resolution of +manner; "keep close to me, and, if you see any new bears, don't run into +the woods to hide without saying something to me." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +BEAR AND FORBEAR. + + +"See here," said Nick Ribsam, stopping suddenly, after taking only a few +steps, "I don't like this idea of going home and leaving so many of my +clothes behind. That's a good coat and vest, and the hat is my Sunday +one." + +"You ain't going back to get them, Nick, when the bear is waiting for +you!" exclaimed the sister; "if you do, I just think you haven't got any +sense at all--now there! that's all there is about _that_." + +This was a severe denunciation, but it did not deter the lad from +turning directly about and hurrying to the spot where he had landed, +when forced to help Nellie ashore. + +A strong breeze was still blowing, so that the craft, whether the bear +was clinging to it or not, would be sure to come to land again. Nick did +not know that the animal had left it, and he was not foolish enough to +invite the beast to assail him. + +The logs, relieved from their burden, were floating over the surface, +and the lad caught sight of them but a short distance off, steadily +approaching the shore. + +"The raft must have gone under with the coat, vest, and hat," he said, +watching the floating mass, "and I should think my clothes would have +been lost; but there is something on the logs that looks like my coat +and vest. It would be odd if they had kept their place." + +Naturally, the whole attention of Nick was absorbed in this matter; and, +when he found that the wind was carrying the raft and its freight toward +another point, he moved along the margin so as to anticipate its +arrival. + +As he did so, like the renowned Captain John Smith when pursued by +Powhatan's warriors, he paid no attention to where his feet led him. He +was studying the raft, as best he could through the smoky darkness, and, +knowing the shore as well as he did, he saw no need of looking downward. + +All at once his feet struck a large, soft mass, and, before he could +check himself, he pitched headlong over it, as though it were a bale of +cloth in his path. The nimble boy was on his feet like a flash, and, +quick as he was, he was not a moment too soon. + +He had caught the ominous growl, and he knew the bear had got in his way +again, as it had persisted in doing before. + +It did seem singular that the boy and bruin should meet so often, and it +may be that the animal, that was resting himself, lost patience over +such persecution, for he raised his huge body and made for the +frightened boy. + +It was an alarming situation for the latter, who did not lose his +presence of mind. He knew much of the nature of the animal, though he +had never before been brought face to face in this fashion with a wild +one. + +Desperate as was the haste with which Nick Ribsam fled, he did not +forget to run directly away from his sister, so as to prevent her +becoming involved in this new danger. + +Nor did the lad make any outcry, that could only have resulted in +frightening her, but he simply devoted all his energy to getting away +from his pursuer, whose whole savage nature seemed to have been aroused +by the last disturbance. + +Who shall not say that bruin did not identify the youngster as the one +that had rapped him so smartly over the snout when he was seeking a +resting-place on the raft? If such were the fact, it cannot be wondered +that the beast pursued the fellow with such persistency. + +Nick Ribsam was considered a rapid runner by his playmates, but it took +only a minute or two for him to find out he was no match for his +pursuer, who, starting only a short distance to the rear, was +overhauling him "hand-over-hand." + +The boy hoped that the scorching earth would keep the beast from chasing +him with too much ardor, but it did not; and, as there was no other +recourse, he ran to a sapling, up which he climbed with the celerity of +a monkey. + +Even as it was, it was within a second of being too late. The bear was +so close that, rising on his haunches, he reached his paws and grasped +the lowermost foot of Nick, whose hair fairly rose on end, as he thought +for the moment that he was going to be dragged down into the crushing +embrace of the dreaded animal. + +But, fortunately, the shoe pulled off, and, before the bear could +understand it, the supple lad was perched above his reach and looking +down upon him. + +"Well," said Nick, with a sigh, "this is considerably more than I +counted on. I didn't think, from the way you acted in the water, that +you were anything but a big coward; but I'm thankful enough you didn't +get your claws on me." + +The huge creature examined the shoe carefully and, finding there was no +boy in it, dropped it to the ground, and, sitting on his haunches, again +looked longingly upward at the fellow perched just above his reach, as +though he understood what a choice dinner he would afford a bruin of his +size. + +When he ran out his red tongue and licked his inky snout, Nick could not +help laughing. + +"Not just yet, old fellow; I'd rather stay here two or three days than +come down to you." + +When some minutes had passed, Nick began to feel that the situation had +nothing funny in it at all. What more likely than that the beast, having +made up his mind to take the next meal off a plump boy, would stay there +until that same boy would be unable to keep his perch any longer, and +would drop of his own accord, like a ripe apple. + +The question was a serious one indeed, and while the lad was trying hard +to determine what was best to do, he heard Nellie calling to him. She, +too, was becoming impatient over the long separation and was coming to +find out what it meant. + +Nick shouted back for her not to approach, explaining that he was up a +tree with a bear watching him, and that if she came any nearer the +animal would be sure to change his attention to her. + +This was enough to keep any one at a respectful distance, but, when +Nellie Ribsam heard the alarming announcement, she was determined on +one thing: she would see for herself what sort of a picture was made by +a boy up a tree with a black bear watching him as the one watched her +two years before. + +Nick having warned her against coming any nigher, it followed that the +temptation to do so was irresistible. + +The lifting of the smoke had let in some sunlight, and it did not take +her long to reach a position from which she could look on the +interesting scene. + +"Nick! Nick!" she called, in a guarded voice, not intended for the ears +of the bear. + +The boy, alarmed for his sister's safety, turned toward the quarter +whence it came, and saw the white face peering from behind the trunk of +a tree no more than a hundred feet distant. He instantly gesticulated +for her to keep out of sight. + +"You have done a silly thing, Nellie," said he, impatiently; "the bear +is sure to see you, and if he does, it will be the last of you." + +"But I don't mean he shall see me," said the brave but not very prudent +girl; "if he looks around, why I'll dodge my head back--My gracious! +he's looking now!" + +And Nellie threw her head so far from the side around which she was +peeping, that, if the bear had looked sharp, he would have detected the +somewhat bedraggled hat on the other side of the charred trunk. + +Nick called to her to be more careful, as he plainly discerned her hat, +and the head-gear vanished. + +The lad's fear was now on account of his sister, for he knew that so +long as he himself could maintain his position in the tree, so long was +he safe. The bear species cannot climb trees whose trunks are so small +that their claws meet around them, and although this brute scratched at +the sapling as though he meditated an attempt, yet he made none, but sat +still, looking wistfully upward, and probably hopeful that the boy +perched there would soon come down. + +"Keep yourself out of sight!" called Nick to Nellie, "for you can't do +anything to help me." + +The girl understood this, and she began to believe, with Nick, that she +had done an exceedingly foolish thing in venturing into the bear's field +of vision in this fashion. + +And what was to be the end of this singular and most uncomfortable +condition of affairs? + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +CONCLUSION. + + +For a half hour the situation remained unchanged. Nick Ribsam kept his +perch in the branches of the sapling, and, before the end of the time +named, he found the seat becoming so uncomfortable that he was sure he +could not bear it much longer. + +The narrow limb on which he rested, while he held himself in place by +grasping the sapling itself, seemed to grow narrower and sharper, while +his own weight increased, until he believed it would be preferable to +let go and hang on with his hands. + +It was not much better with Nellie, who had awakened to such a sense of +her position that she did not dare to do more than peep out from where +she stood, at rare intervals, quickly drawing back her head lest the +savage animal should see her. + +The bear himself showed a patience which was astonishing, and was like +that of the Esquimau, who never stirs a muscle for hour after hour, +while sitting beside the air-hole in the ice, waiting for the seal to +show his nose above the surface. + +Bruin moved more slightly now and then, but went no more than a dozen +yards from the tree, and seemed never to take his eyes from his victim +for more than a second or two. + +During these trying minutes, the smoke sometimes filled the air scarcely +less than before and the eyes of the brother and sister smarted and +stung and shed tears, and their lungs became sore from continual +coughing, rendered the more distressing in the case of Nellie, who was +obliged to suppress the noise by cramming her handkerchief in her mouth. + +But during the same period, the wits of Nick Ribsam were not idle. He +had thought of sending Nellie home to bring her father to his +assistance, but he was restrained by the fear that the bear would detect +her, and, even if she should get away, he doubted whether she would be +able to find her way through the woods to the open country beyond. + +Here and there the trees were burning, and the dry limbs lay on the +ground, giving out the red glow of smoldering embers, or sending out +little twists of smoke to join the enormous mass of vapor which hung +like a pall over so many square miles of country. + +Nellie, for the twentieth time, leaned her head forward and looked out +from behind the tree trunk that sheltered her. She saw the bear sitting +on his haunches some twenty feet away, looking steadily upward, as +though he were a charred stump, which could never change its posture or +position. Nick rested uneasily on the narrow limb, when he made a +movement which the quick-witted girl knew at once meant that he had +resolved on trying to do something for himself. + +Carefully freeing his legs from the branch, he lowered himself so that +he hung by his hands, within ten feet of the ground. Hanging only a +second or two, he let go and dropped lightly upon his feet. + +The whole thing took less than a minute, but the bear had observed it +almost as quickly as did Nellie, and the minute the lad struck the +ground the beast was lumbering toward him. + +Poor, terrified Nellie screamed and ran from behind the tree, certain +that it was all over with her brave brother; but the latter did not +despair by any means. With astonishing celerity, he dashed to where a +large pine branch lay on the ground, burned in two; and catching up one +of the pieces, which was so hot that it scorched his fingers, he whirled +it about with such quickness that the glowing end made one steady, even +wheel of fire about his head. He recalled his experience in the woods +two years before when hunting the other bear. + +While doing this, bruin was advancing rapidly on the boy, who kept +circling the torch until the beast was within ten feet, by which time +the stick was blazing as though it were a pine knot. + +Then, with a boyish shout, Nick extended his arm at full length, +pointing the flaming torch straight at the head of his foe, as though he +held a Damascus sword of needle-like sharpness which he meant to drive +through the iron skull, and he strode directly at the beast with the +step of a conqueror. + +Every animal, wild or domestic, dreads fire, and this strange attack was +more than the bear could stand. Without the least attention to dignity, +he turned about and swung off toward the lake, doubtless of the opinion +that there alone he could find safety from the element that drove him +thither in the first place. + +Nick shouted and broke into a run, and the bear did the same! Just under +the tree, the lad stopped and put on his shoe, which had been somewhat +damaged by the claws of the brute. Then, being well shod and in no +further danger from the animal, on which he had turned the tables so +unexpectedly, Nick joined his sister, still carrying his torch as a +precaution in the event of bruin's changing his mind and making after +him. + +But there was no danger of anything of the kind, and the bear was not +seen to look behind him, even to learn whether the pursuit was kept up. + +"I guess I will give over my hunt for the rest of my clothes till some +better time," said Nick, once more taking the hand of Nellie and +starting up the bank of the stream which fed the pond, toward the bridge +that had burned some time before. + +By carefully picking their path they reached it without mishap, being on +the southern side, so that it was not necessary to ford it in order to +continue the road homeward. + +The structure was an ordinary one, consisting of a single uncovered +span, so that its loss was not serious, except on account of the +inconvenience it would cause. + +The two stood several minutes looking upon the ruins, that were not very +extensive, but their chief interest centered around the carcass of the +mare lying at the bottom of the creek, where it had floated against the +shore. + +The children were naturally attached to the animal, and there were tears +in their eyes, when, with a deep sigh, they turned away and climbed up +the steep bank to the level of the road and started for home. + +They had reason to doubt their ability to force their way through the +several miles of forest remaining between them and the open country +beyond, but they were resolved to do their utmost, for they dreaded +staying any longer in the section where they had suffered and escaped so +much. + +As has been stated, the fury of the conflagration had expended itself, +and there was nothing to be feared from the scorching flames, which had +confronted and endangered them shortly after they entered the woods, on +their return. + +The road was strewn with burning debris, and many a time they were +forced to stop, in doubt whether they could get by the obstruction but +some way always opened: they would find a point where it could be +leaped, or they would flank it by a little circuit through the woods +themselves. + +In this manner they toiled on until half the distance was passed, when +they were brought to a stand-still by a discovery which took away their +breath for the time. + +They saw the ruins of something which they did not recognize until they +drew near, when they discovered that an ordinary farmer's wagon, with +its two horses, had been burned. Little more than the iron work of the +body was left, and the animals seemed to have gone down side by side, +where they lay burned and burst open by the flames, that were less +merciful to them than to the brother and sister who had made such a +gallant fight for life. + +The sight was sad enough, but it was rendered tenfold more so by the +figure of the driver, only a few rods distant. When his team gave out he +had probably leaped to the ground and started to run from the fire, but +was overtaken and perished miserably. + +"How thankful we ought to be!" said Nellie, in a subdued voice, as they +moved forward again. + +"So I am," was the fervent response of Nick, whose heart was melted with +pity for the unfortunate stranger, and with thankfulness that he and +Nellie had been selected by Heaven for such a signal display of mercy. + +They were in constant dread of coming upon similar scenes, but they +were spared the sight, and, at the end of about an hour from the time of +leaving the bridge, they emerged into the open country, where they were +near their own home. + +The afternoon was pretty well gone, and the sky still wore that +impressive appearance which we all remember well; but it was not so +marked as a short time before, and was rapidly passing away. + +There was a great deal of smoke drifting and floating through the air, +but it caused less inconvenience and annoyance than it did when they +fled to the pond for safety. + +The children gave another expression of their gratitude, and then +hastened toward the humble home, which was, indeed, the dearest spot on +earth to them. + +The parents were full of anxiety, though they hoped that Nick had seen +the danger, and had stayed in Dunbarton with horse and carriage. + +But the couple stood at the gate, shading their eyes, and looking +yearningly down the road, in the hope of catching sight of the loved +forms of the brave children. + +When they saw and recognized the figures, they rushed forth to meet +them, with swelling hearts. Father and mother pressed them to their +breasts, and the eyes of all were streaming with tears, for of Nick and +Nellie might it not be said--"For these, my children, were dead, and are +alive again: they were lost, and they are found?" + +When Nick had told the whole wonderful story, the father took his hand +and said in his native tongue: + +"My boy, I have taught you that God helps them that help themselves. I +am glad that at no time, so far as I can gather, did you despair. You +and Nellie have been tried by fire, and have come out as pure gold. +Heaven be praised for its mercies. The lesson you have learned will go +with you through life. Never despair, but press onward and upward, and +the reward shall be yours at last." + +And what did the good man say but that which our own beloved and mourned +poet has so beautifully limned in lines that shall be as immortal as +his own fragrant deeds and revered memory? + + Footprints, that perhaps another, + Sailing o'er life's solemn main, + A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, + Seeing, shall take heart again. + Let us then be up and doing, + With a heart for any fate, + Still achieving, still pursuing, + Learn to labor and to wait. + + + + +THE END. + + + + +_The second volume of the Wild-Woods Series will be_ "On the Trail +of the Moose." + + + + +==THE FAMOUS CASTLEMON BOOKS.== + +==BY== + +==HARRY CASTLEMON.== + + +[Illustration: Specimen Cover of the Gunboat Series.] + +No author of the present day has become a greater favorite with boys +than "Harry Castlemon:" every book by him is sure to meet with hearty +reception by young readers generally. His naturalness and vivacity lead +his readers from page to page with breathless interest, and when one +volume is finished the fascinated reader, like Oliver Twist, asks "for +more." + +*** Any volume sold separately. + + * * * * * + +==GUNBOAT SERIES.== By Harry Castlemon. 6 +vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed +in colors. In box ==$7 50== + +==Frank, the Young Naturalist== ==1 25== + +==Frank in the Woods== ==1 25== + +==Frank on the Prairie== ==1 25== + +==Frank on a Gunboat== ==1 25== + +==Frank before Vicksburg== ==1 25== + +==Frank on the Lower Mississippi== ==1 25== + +==GO AHEAD SERIES.== By Harry Castlemon. 3 +vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed +in colors. In box ==$3 75== + +==Go Ahead;== or, The Fisher Boy's Motto ==1 25== + +==No Moss;== or, The Career of a Rolling Stone ==1 25== + +==Tom Newcombe;== or, The Boy of Bad Habits ==1 25== + +==ROCKY MOUNTAIN SERIES.== By Harry +Castlemon. 3 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, +extra, printed in colors. In box ==$3 75== + +==Frank at Don Carlos' Rancho== ==1 25== + +==Frank among the Rancheros== ==1 25== + +==Frank in the Mountains== ==1 25== + +==SPORTSMAN'S CLUB SERIES.== By Harry +Castlemon. 3 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, +extra, printed in colors. In box ==$3 75== + +==The Sportsman's Club in the Saddle== ==1 25== + +==The Sportsman's Club Afloat== ==1 25== + +==The Sportsman's Club among the Trappers== ==1 25== + +==FRANK NELSON SERIES.== By Harry Castlemon +3 vols. 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, +printed in colors. In box ==$3 75== + +==Snowed Up;== or, The Sportsman's Club in the Mts. ==1 25== + +==Frank Nelson in the Forecastle;== or, The Sportsman's +Club among the Whalers ==1 25== + +==The Boy Traders;== or, The Sportsman's Club among +the Boers ==1 25== + +==BOY TRAPPER SERIES.== By Harry Castlemon. +3 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed +in colors. In box ==$3 75== + +==The Buried Treasure;== or, Old Jordan's "Haunt" ==1 25== + +==The Boy Trapper;== or, How Dave Filled the Order ==1 25== + +==The Mail Carrier== ==1 25== + +==ROUGHING IT SERIES.== By Harry Castlemon. +3 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed +in colors. In box ==$3 75== + +==George in Camp;== or, Life on the Plains ==1 25== + +==George at the Wheel;== or, Life in a Pilot House. ==1 25== + +==George at the Fort;== or, Life Among the Soldiers. ==1 25== + +==ROD AND GUN SERIES.== By Harry Castlemon. +3 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed +in colors. In box ==$3 75== + +==Don Gordon's Shooting Box== ==1 25== + +==Rod and Gun== ==1 25== + +==The Young Wild Fowlers== ==1 25== + +==FOREST AND STREAM SERIES.== By Harry +Castlemon. 3 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, +extra, printed in colors. In box ==$3 75== + +==Joe Wayring at Home;== or, Story of a Fly Rod ==1 25== + +==Snagged and Sunk;== or, The Adventures of a Canvas +Canoe ==1 25== + +==Steel Horse;== or, The Rambles of a Bicycle ==1 25== + +==WAR SERIES.== By Harry Castlemon. 3 vols., +12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed in +colors. In box ==$3 75== + +==True to his Colors== ==1 25== + +==Rodney, the Partisan== ==1 25== + +==OUR FELLOWS;== or, Skirmishes with the Swamp +Dragoons. By Harry Castlemon. 16mo. Fully illustrated +Cloth, extra, printed in colors. In box ==1 25== + +==Marcy, the Blockade Runner== ==1 25== + + + + +==Alger's +Renowned +Books.== + +==BY== + +==Horatio +Alger, Jr.== + +[Illustration: Specimen Cover of the Ragged Dick Series.] + +Horatio Alger, Jr., has attained distinction as one of the most popular +writers of books for boys, and the following list comprises all of his +best books. + +*** Any volume sold separately. + + * * * * * + +==RAGGED DICK SERIES.== By Horatio Alger, +Jr. 6 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, +printed in colors. In box ==$7 50== + +==Ragged Dick;== or, Street Life in New York ==1 25== + +==Fame and Fortune;== or, The Progress of Richard +Hunter ==1 25== + +==Mark, the Match Boy;== or, Richard Hunter's Ward ==1 25== + +==Rough and Ready;== or, Life among the New York +Newsboys ==1 25== + +==Ben, the Luggage Boy;== or, Among the Wharves ==1 25== + +==Rufus and Rose;== or, the Fortunes of Rough and +Ready ==1 25== + +==TATTERED TOM SERIES.== (FIRST SERIES.) +By Horatio Alger, Jr. 4 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated +Cloth, extra, printed in colors. In box ==5 00== + +==Tattered Tom;== or, The Story of a Street Arab ==1 25== + +==Paul, the Peddler;== or, The Adventures of a Young +Street Merchant ==1 25== + +==Phil, the Fiddler;== or, The Young Street Musician ==1 25== + +==Slow and Sure;== or, From the Sidewalk to the Shop ==1 25== + +==TATTERED TOM SERIES.== (SECOND SERIES.) +4 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed +in colors. In box ==$5 00== + +==Julius;== or the Street Boy Out West ==1 25== + +==The Young Outlaw;== or, Adrift in the World ==1 25== + +==Sam's Chance and How He Improved It== ==1 25== + +==The Telegraph Boy== ==1 25== + +==LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES.== (FIRST SERIES.) +By Horatio Alger, Jr. 4 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated +Cloth, extra, printed in colors. In box ==$5 00== + +==Luck and Pluck;== or John Oakley's Inheritance ==1 25== + +==Sink or Swim;== or, Harry Raymond's Resolve ==1 25== + +==Strong and Steady;== or, Paddle Your Own Canoe. ==1 25== + +==Strive and Succeed;== or, The Progress of Walter +Conrad ==1 25== + +==LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES.== (Second +Series.) By Horatio Alger, Jr. 3 vols., 12mo. +Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed in colors. In +box ==$5 00== + +==Try and Trust;== or, The Story of a Bound Boy ==1 25== + +==Bound to Rise;== or Harry Walton's Motto ==1 25== + +==Risen from the Ranks;== or, Harry Walton's Success ==1 25== + +==Herbert Carter's Legacy;== or, The Inventor's Son. ==1 25== + +==CAMPAIGN SERIES.== By Horatio Alger, Jr. 3 +vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed +in colors. In box ==$3 75== + +==Frank's Campaign;== or, The Farm and the Camp ==1 25== + +==Paul Prescott's Charge== ==1 25== + +==Charlie Codman's Cruise== ==1 25== + +==BRAVE AND BOLD SERIES.== By Horatio +Alger, Jr. 4 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, +extra, printed in colors. In box ==$5 00== + +==Brave and Bold;== or, The Story of a Factory Boy ==1 25== + +==Jack's Ward;== or, The Boy Guardian ==1 25== + +==Shifting for Himself;== or, Gilbert Greyson's +Fortunes ==1 25== + +==Wait and Hope;== or, Ben Bradford's Motto ==1 25== + +==PACIFIC SERIES.== By Horatio Alger, Jr. 4 +vols. 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed +in colors. In box ==$5 00== + +==The Young Adventurer;== or, Tom's Trip Across +the Plains ==1 25== + +==The Young Miner;== or, Tom Nelson in California ==1 25== + +==The Young Explorer;== or, Among the Sierras ==1 25== + +==Ben's Nugget;== or, A Boy's Search for Fortune. A +Story of the Pacific Coast ==1 25== + +==ATLANTIC SERIES.== By Horatio Alger, Jr. 4 +vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed +in colors. In box ==$5 00== + +==The Young Circus Rider;== or, The Mystery of +Robert Rudd ==1 25== + +==Do and Dare;== or, A Brave Boy's Fight for Fortune ==1 25== + +==Hector's Inheritance;== or, Boys of Smith Institute ==1 25== + +==Helping Himself;== or, Grant Thornton's Ambition ==1 25== + +==WAY TO SUCCESS SERIES.== By Horatio +Alger, Jr. 4 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, +extra, printed in colors. In box ==$5 00== + +==Bob Burton== ==1 25== + +==The Store Boy== ==1 25== + +==Luke Walton== ==1 25== + +==Struggling Upward== ==1 25== + +==Five Hundred Dollars Legacy.== By Horatio +Alger, Jr. 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, +printed in colors ==1 25== + +==A +New Series +of Books.== + + * * * * * + +==Indian Life +and +Character +Founded on +Historical +Facts.== + +[Illustration: Specimen Cover of the Wyoming Series.] + +==By Edward T. Ellis.== + +*** Any volume sold separately. + + * * * * * + +==BOY PIONEER SERIES.== By Edward S. Ellis. +3 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed +in colors. In box ==$3 75== + +==Ned in the Block House;== or, Life on the Frontier ==1 25== + +==Ned in the Woods.== A Tale of the Early Days in +the West ==1 25== + +==Ned on the River== ==1 25== + +==DEERFOOT SERIES.== By Edward S. Ellis. In +box containing the following. 3 vols., 12mo. +Illustrated ==$3 75== + +==Hunters of the Ozark== ==1 25== + +==Camp in the Mountains== ==1 25== + +==The Last War Trail== ==1 25== + +==LOG CABIN SERIES.== By Edward S. Ellis. +3 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed +in colors. In box ==$3 75== + +==Lost Trail== ==$1 25== + +==Camp-Fire and Wigwam== ==1 25== + +==Footprints in the Forest== ==1 25== + +==WYOMING SERIES.== By Edward S. Ellis. 3 +vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed +in colors. In box ==$3 75== + +==Wyoming== ==1 25== + +==Storm Mountain== ==1 25== + +==Cabin in the Clearing== ==1 25== + +==Through Forest and Fire.== By Edward S. Ellis. +12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed in +colors ==1 25== + + * * * * * + +==By C.A. Stephens.== + + * * * * * + +==Rare books for boys--bright, breezy, wholesome and instructive; full of +adventure and incident, and information upon natural history. They blend +instruction with amusement--contain much useful and valuable information +upon the habits of animals, and plenty of adventure, fun and jollity.== + +==CAMPING OUT SERIES.== By C.A. Stephens. +6 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed +in colors. In box ==$7 50== + +==Camping Out.== As recorded by "Kit" ==1 25== + +==Left on Labrador==; or The Cruise of the Schooner +Yacht "Curfew." As recorded by "Wash" ==1 25== + +==Off to the Geysers==; or, The Young Yachters in Iceland +As recorded by "Wade" ==1 25== + +==Lynx Hunting.== From Notes by the author of +"Camping Out" ==1 25== + +==Fox Hunting.== As recorded by "Raed" ==1 25== + +==On the Amazon==; or, The Cruise of the "Rambler." +As recorded by "Wash" ==1 25== + + * * * * * + +==By J.T. Trowbridge.== + + * * * * * + +==These stories will rank among the best of Mr. Trowbridge's books for the +young--and he has written some of the best of our juvenile literature.== + +==JACK HAZARD SERIES.== By J.T. Trowbridge. +6 vols., 12mo. Fully Illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed +in colors. In box ==$7 50== + +==Jack Hazard and His Fortunes== ==$1 25== + +==A Chance for Himself;== or, Jack Hazard and his +Treasure ==1 25== + + +=Doing His Best== ==1 25== + +==Fast Friends== ==1 25== + +==The Young Surveyor;== or, Jack on the Prairies ==1 25== + +==Lawrence's Adventures Among the Ice Cutters== +Glass Makers, Coal Miners, Iron Men and Ship Builders ==1 25== + + * * * * * + +==--GOOD BOOKS--== + +==Suitable for Girls between the Ages of 12 and 15.== + +==Ways and Means.== A Story for girls. By Margaret +Vandegrift. With four illustrations. 12mo. +Cloth, extra ==1 50== + +==The Queen's Body-Guard.== A Story for Girls. By +Margaret Vandegrift. With four illustrations. 12mo. +Cloth, extra ==1 50== + +==Rose Raymond's Wards.== A Story for Girls. By +Margaret Vandegrift. Illustrated with four engravings +on wood. 12mo. Cloth, extra ==1 50== + +==Doris and Theodora.== A Story for Girls. By Margaret +Vandegrift. Illustrated with four engravings on +wood. 12mo. Cloth, extra ==1 50== + +==Dr. Gilbert's Daughters.== A Story for Girls. By +Margaret Harriet Mathews. Illustrated with four engravings +on wood. 12mo. Cloth, extra ==1 50== + +==Esther's Fortune.== A Romance for Girls. By Lucy +C. Lillie. Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth, extra, brown +and gold ==1 50== + +==Helen Glenn;== or, My Mother's Enemy. A Story for +Girls. By Lucy C. Lillie. Illustrated with eight illustrations +12mo. Cloth, extra ==1 50== + +==The Squire's Daughter.== By Lucy C. Lillie. 12mo. +Illustrated. Cloth, extra ==1 50== + +==For Honor's Sake.== By Lucy C. Lillie. 12mo. +Illustrated. Cloth, extra ==1 50== + +==Marion Berkley.== A Story for Girls. By Lizzie B. +Comins (Laura Caxton). 12mo. Illustrated. Cloth, +extra, brown and gold ==1 25== + +==Hartwell Farm.== A Story for Girls. By Lizzie B. +Comins (Laura Caxton). 12mo. Illustrated. Cloth, +extra, brown and gold ==1 25== + +==THE HANDSOMEST AND CHEAPEST GIFT BOOKS.== + +==The "Bells" Series.== + + * * * * * + +The "BELLS" Series has been undertaken by the publishers with a view to +issue original illustrated poems of a high character, at a price within +the reach of all classes. + +Small 4to. Cloth, gilt edges $1 50 +Ivory surface 1 50 +Embossed calf, gilt edges 1 50 + +==GEMS FROM TENNYSON.== + +By ALFRED TENNYSON. Elegantly illustrated by Hammatt Billings. + +==BEAUTIES OF TENNYSON.== + +By ALFRED TENNYSON. Elegantly illustrated with twenty +engravings, from original drawings by Frederic B. Schell. Beautifully +printed on the finest plate paper. + +==FROM GREENLAND'S ICY MOUNTAINS.== + +By BISHOP HEBER. Elegantly illustrated with twenty-two +engravings, from original drawings by Frederic B. Schell. Beautifully +printed on the finest plate paper. + +==LADY CLARE.== + +By ALFRED TENNYSON. Elegantly illustrated with twenty-two +engravings, from original drawings by Alfred Fredericks, F.S. Church, +Harry Fenn, F.B. Schell, E.P. Garret and Granville Perkins. Beautifully +printed on the finest plate paper. + +==THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.== + +By CLEMENT C. MOORE. Never before has this popular poem--a +favorite with both the old and the young--been presented in such a +beautiful dress. It is elegantly illustrated with twenty-two engravings, +from original drawings by F.B. Schell, W.T. Smedley, A. Fredericks and +H.R. Poore. + +==BINGEN ON THE RHINE.== + +By CAROLINE E. NORTON. Elegantly illustrated with twenty-two +engravings, from original drawings by W.T. Smedley, F.B. Schell, A. +Fredericks, Granville Perkins and E.P. Garrett. + +==THE BELLS.== + +By EDGAR ALLAN POE. Elegantly illustrated with twenty-two +engravings, from original drawings by F.O.C. Darley, A. Fredericks, +Granville Perkins and others. + +==THE DESERTED VILLAGE.== + +By OLIVER GOLDSMITH. Elegantly illustrated with thirty-five +engravings, from drawings by Hammatt Billings. + +==THE COTTER'S SATURDAY NIGHT.== + +By ROBERT BURNS. Elegantly illustrated with fifty engravings, +from drawings by Chapman. + + + + +==Standard Histories.== + + * * * * * + +==History of England, from the Accession of +James the Second.== By Thomas Babington +Macaulay. _Standard edition._ With a steel portrait +of the author. Printed from new electrotype plates +from the last English edition. Being by far the most +correct edition in the American market. 5 vols., +12mo. Cloth, extra, per set ==$5 00== + +Sheep, marbled edges, per set ==7 50== + +Half Russia (imitation), marbled edges ==7 50== + +Half calf, gilt ==10 00== + + +==History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman +Empire.== By Edward Gibbon. With notes by Rev. +H.H. Milman. _Standard edition._ To which is +added a complete Index of the work. A new edition +from entirely new stereotype plates. With portrait on +steel. 5 vols., 12mo. Cloth, extra, per set ==5 00== + +Sheep, marbled edges, per set ==7 50== + +Half Russia (imitation), marbled edges, ==7 50== + +Half calf, gilt, per set ==10 00== + + +==History of England, from the Invasion of +Julius Caesar to the Abdication of James the +Second, 1688.== By David Hume. _Standard +edition._ With the author's last corrections and +improvements to which is prefixed a short +account of his life, written by himself. With a +portrait on steel. A new edition from entirely +new stereotype plates. 5 vols., 12mo. Cloth, extra, +per set ==5 00== + +Sheep, marbled edges, per set ==7 50== + +Half Russia (imitation), marbled edges ==7 50== + +Half calf, gilt ==10 00== + + + + +==Miscellaneous.== + + * * * * * + +==A Dictionary of the Bible.== Comprising its Antiquities +Biography, Geography, Natural History and +Literature. Edited by William Smith, LL.D. Revised +and adapted to the present use of Sunday-school +Teachers and Bible Students by Revs. F.N. and +M.A. Peloubet. With eight Colored maps and 440 +engravings on wood. 8vo. Cloth, extra ==$2 00== + +Sheep, marbled edges ==3 00== + +Half morocco, gilt top ==3 50== + +==History of the Civil War in America.== By the +Comte de Paris. Translated with the approval of the +author. With maps faithfully engraved from the originals +and printed in three colors. 8vo. + +Cloth, extra, per vol. ==3 50== + +Red cloth, extra, Roxburgh style, uncut edges, per vol. ==3 50== + +Sheep, library style, per vol. ==4 50== + +Half Turkey morocco, per vol. ==6 00== + +Volumes I, II, III and IV now ready, put up in a neat +box, or any volume sold separately. + +==The Battle of Gettysburg.== By the Comte de Paris. +With maps. 8vo. Cloth, extra ==1 50== + +==Comprehensive Biographical Dictionary.== Embracing +accounts of the most eminent persons of all +ages, nations and professions. By E.A. Thomas. +Crown 8vo. + +Cloth, extra, gilt top ==2 50== + +Sheep, marbled edges ==3 00== + +Half morocco, gilt top ==3 50== + +Half Russia, gilt top ==4 50== + +==The Amateur Photographer.== A manual of photographic +manipulations intended especially for beginners +and amateurs, with suggestions as to the choice of +apparatus and of processes. By Ellerslie Wallace, +Jr., M.D. New edition, with two new chapters on +paper negatives and microscopic photography. 12mo. +Limp morocco, sprinkled edges ==1 00== + +==Interest Tables.== Containing accurate calculations of +interest at 1/2, 1, 2, 3, 3-1/2, 4, 4-1/2, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 +per cent. per annum, both simple and compound, on +all sums from $1.00 to $10.00, and from one day to six +years. Also some very valuable tables, calculated by +John E. Coffin. 8vo. Cloth, extra ==$1 00== + +==England, Picturesque and Descriptive.== A +Reminiscence of Travel. By Joel Cook, author of +"A Holiday Tour in Europe," "Brief Summer Rambles" +etc. Elegantly illustrated with 487 engravings +on wood. 4to. Cloth, extra ==7 50== + +Half calf, gilt, marbled edges ==10 00== + +Half Morocco, full gilt edges ==10 00== + +Full Turkey morocco, gilt edges ==15 00== + + +==The Waverley Novels.== By Sir Walter Scott, Bart. +23 vols. + +_Household Edition._ Illustrated. 12mo. + Cloth, extra, per set ==23 00== + Half calf, gilt, per set ==46 00== + Half morocco, gilt top ==46 00== + +_Universe Edition._ Printed on thin paper, and containing +one illustration to the volume. 25 vols., 12mo. + +Cloth, extra, per vol. ==75== + +_World Edition._ 12 vols., thick 12mo. + +(Sold in sets only.) Cloth, extra ==18 00== + +Half im't. Russia, marbled edges ==24 00== + +==Captain Jack the Scout;== or, The Indian Wars +about Old Fort Duquesne. An Historical Novel, with +copious notes. By Charles McKnight. With eight +engravings. 12mo. Cloth, extra ==1 50== + +==Ladies' and Gentlemen's Etiquette.== A Complete +Manual of the Manners and Dress of American +Society. Containing forms of Letters, Invitations, Acceptances +and Regrets. By E.B. Duffey. 12mo. + +Cloth, extra ==1 50== + +==The Count of Monte Cristo.== By Alexandre +Dumas. Complete in one volume, with two illustrations +by George G. White. 12mo. Cloth, extra ==1 25== + +==The Iliad of Homer Rendered into English +Blank Verse.== By Edward, Earl of Derby. With +a biographical sketch of Lord Derby by R. Shelton +Mackenzie, D.C.L. Popular edition. Two vols. in +one. 12mo. + +Cloth, extra ==$1 50== + +==Ten Nights in a Bar Room and What I Saw +There.== By T.S. Arthur. Entirely new edition from +new electrotype plates. Illustrated. 12mo. + +Cloth, extra ==1 25== + + +==Jane Eyre.== By Charlotte Bronte (Currer Bell). New +Library Edition. With five illustrations by E.M. +Wimperis. 12mo. Cloth, extra ==1 00== + +==Shirley.== By Charlotte Bronte (Currer Bell). New +Library Edition. With five illustrations by E.M. +Wimperis. 12mo. Cloth, extra ==1 00== + +==Villette.== By Charlotte Bronte (Currer Bell). New +Library Edition. With five illustrations by E.M. +Wimperis. 12mo. Cloth, extra ==1 00== + +==The Professor==, ==Emma== and ==Poems==. By Charlotte +Bronte (Currer Bell). New Library Edition. With +five illustrations by E.M. Wimperis. 12mo. + +Cloth, extra, black and gold ==1 00== + +The four volumes, forming the complete works of Charlotte +Bronte, in a neat box. + +Cloth, extra, black and gold, per set ==4 00== + +Fancy cloth, paper label, gilt top, uncut edges ==5 00== + +Half calf, gilt, per set ==8 00== + +==History of Scotland.== (Tales of a Grandfather.) +By Sir Walter Scott. 3 vols., 12mo. Cloth, plain ==3 00== + +Half calf, gilt tops ==6 00== + +Half morocco, gilt tops ==6 00== + + +==Tales of a Grandfather.== By Sir Walter Scott, Bart. +4 vols. Uniform with the Waverley Novels. + + +==Household Edition.== Illustrated. 12mo. + +Cloth, extra, per vol. ==1 00== + +Sheep, marbled edges, per vol. ==1 50== + +Half calf, gilt, marbled edges, per vol. ==3 00== + +==Ten Thousand a Year.== By Samuel C. Warren, +author of "The Diary of a London Physician." A +new edition, carefully revised, with three illustrations +by George G. White. 12mo. Cloth, extra ==$1 50== + +==The Works of Flavius Josephus.== Comprising the +Antiquities of the Jews; a History of the Jewish Wars +and a Life of Flavius Josephus, written by himself. +Translated from the original Greek by William +Whiston, A.M. 8vo. Cloth, plain ==2 00== + +Sheep, marbled edges, library style ==3 00== + +Embossed leather, "new style" ==3 50== + +Morocco, gilt edges ==5 00== + +This is the largest type one volume edition published. + +==Stanley and the Congo.==--Explorations and Achievements +in the Wilds of Africa of Henry M. Stanley. +Also, a full description of his perilous descent, thrilling +adventures and late labors on the Congo River. Together +with an account of the expedition to the Central +Lake Regions, by Sir Samuel W. Baker, and the journey +across Africa in 1874-75, and the discoveries made by +Lieut. V.S. Cameron. By J.F. Packard, author of +"Young Folks' History of the United States," etc., etc. +Fully illustrated. 12mo. + +Cloth, extra, black and gold ==1 50== + +==Cookery from Experience.== A Practical Guide for +Housekeepers in the Preparation of Every-day Meals, +containing more than One Thousand Domestic Recipes, +mostly tested by Personal Experience, with Suggestions +for Meals, List of Meats and Vegetables in +Season, etc. By Mrs. Sara T. Paul. 12mo. + +Cloth, extra ==1 50== + +==The Imitation of Christ.== By Thomas a Kempis. +New and best edition, from entirely new electrotype +plates, single column, large, clear type. 18mo. + +PLAIN EDITION, ROUND CORNERS. + +1. Cloth, extra, red edges ==50== +2. French seal, limp, gilt edges ==75== +3. Russia, limp, inlaid cross, red and gold edges ==2 00== +E. French morocco, padded, gilt edges ==1 25== +G. Polished, Persian calf, limp, red and gold edges ==1 25== +L. Persian calf, line pattern, limp, red and gold edges ==1 50== + + + + +==THE== + +==Fireside Encyclopaedia of Poetry== + +COLLECTED AND ARRANGED + +==By HENRY T. COATES.== + + * * * * * + +27th edition, enlarged and thoroughly revised, and containing portraits +of prominent American poets, with facsimiles of their handwriting. + + * * * * * + +Imperial 8vo., cloth, extra, gilt side and edges ==$5 00== +Half calf, gilt ==7 50== +Half morocco, antique, gilt edges ==7 50== +Turkey morocco, antique, full gilt edges ==10 00== +Tree calf ==12 00== +Plush, padded sides, nickel lettering ==14 00== + +The remarkable success that has attended the publication of "The +Fireside Encyclopaedia of Poetry"--26 editions having been printed--has +induced the author to thoroughly revise it, and to make it in every way +worthy of the high place it has attained. About one hundred and fifty +new poems have been inserted, and the work now contains nearly fourteen +hundred poems, representing four hundred and fifty authors, English and +American. The work is now illustrated by finely-engraved portraits of +many prominent poets, with their signatures and facsimiles of their +handwriting. + + * * * * * + +==The Children's Book of Poetry.== + +Compiled by HENRY T. COATES. + +With nearly 200 illustrations. The most complete collection of poetry +for children ever published. 4to. + +Cloth, extra, gilt edges ==3 00== +Full Turkey morocco, gilt edges ==7 50== + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Through Forest and Fire, by Edward Ellis + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THROUGH FOREST AND FIRE *** + +***** This file should be named 16472.txt or 16472.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/4/7/16472/ + +Produced by Bethanne M. Simms, Janet Blenkinship and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |