All the time the boy was howling, and holding one hand under his arm, while he danced a hornpipe and protested, that, if I’d save him this time, he’d “niver stale another cint’s worth as long as he lived, sure!”

The whole camp was roused, but no one appeared to understand the cause of Patsey’s outbreak, and Hal finally suggested that he’d been dreaming.

“Dramin’, is it!  I wish it had been dramin’ I wuz.  Boo! hoo!  Didn’t I sae him wid me own eyes, shure?”

After we had partially quieted him he was able to tell us, that, as he was “slapin’ paceably, he all ov a suddint felt somethin’ in bed wid him, that wuz swallowin’ him intirely.  A big black thing wuz lyin’ right by the side ov him, and wuz jest a-suckin’ him in whole, for he had his arrm in his throat clane up to his ilbow!”

“It’s that cub of a bear!” exclaimed Ned, interrupting Patsey’s story.

At the sound of the word “bear,” all of Patsey’s fears returned, with renewed power, and he again commenced calling for “protiction,” in frantic tones.

Going to the wagon under which Patsey had spread his blanket for the night, we found that Hal had tied the bear near it.  Getting rested from the fatigue of his forced journey, the animal had crawled beneath the wagon, and, attracted by the warmth of the blankets, placed himself by the side of the sleeping boy, and, finding his hand uncovered, commenced licking it.

Patsey, thus awakened, had seen the creature’s glaring eyes and shaggy black coat, and, not knowing in his fright what it was, concluded his Satanic Majesty had come for him, on account of his many sins and transgressions.

[Illustration:  Under the Wagon.]

Order was at last restored, and we retired once more, to be awakened some hours later by Jerry’s voice calling the men to prepare for the day’s journey.  Our breakfast was soon cooked and eaten, and Hal having finally induced Jerry, to permit him to tie his bear to the hind wagon, we were on the road an hour before sunrise, encamping that night at Cook’s Springs, and the next afternoon reaching the Membris River about three o’clock, where, with good water, and plenty of grass and wood, we made a very pleasant camp.

Immediately upon our arrival, Hal and Ned went out hunting; and in less than an hour returned with three fine, fat turkeys, which were soon cooking after the most approved style, in one of the large camp-kettles that adorned our fire.

Supper over, Jerry suggested that, as some repairs were necessary to one of the wagons, we should remain in camp, and make them the following day.  This suggestion was received with so much pleasure by the boys, I at once determined to adopt it.

Hal proposed a hunting expedition for the morning, leaving Jerry and myself to attend to the wagon.

This we agreed to; and, about sunrise, the boys started, confident of their ability to furnish us with a fine quantity of game before night.