“This is certainly a lonely spot,” was Snap’s comment.  “A hermit wouldn’t wish for a more choice location.”

“And he could get plenty of fish and game,” added Whopper.  “And berries too, when they were in season.”

“And wild grapes, and honey,” came from Giant.  “But with all that, who would want to be a hermit?”

“Not I,” answered Snap.  “An outing like this is all well enough, but when our vacation is at an end I’ll be glad enough to get back home.”

A few drops of rain were now coming down, but to these the young hunters paid no attention.  Having gotten back their wind, they moved along with caution, their eyes wide open for another sight of the bears.  Each wished for the honor of discovering the big game.

Presently little Giant held up his hand for the party to halt.  He pointed to a spot a little below, and to the right of them.  There, on a flat rock, rested one of the bears, gnawing on a bone he held in his forefeet.

“Where is the other?” asked Whopper, in a whisper.

All looked around, but the second bear was nowhere in sight.

“Might as well get one, while we have the chance,” said Snap.  “Let us all fire at him at once.  We’ll be sure to lay him low.  Then load up as quickly as you can, and we’ll see if we can’t stir up the second bear.”

So it was arranged, and the four young hunters took careful aim at the creature on the rocks.  It must be admitted that they were somewhat excited, for a bear is no mean creature to tackle and will sometimes put up a fierce fight to defend itself.  But they steadied their nerves as much as possible, and Snap gave the order to fire.

Crack! bang! went the rifle and the shotguns, almost together, and as the smoke cleared away they saw the bear leap up, turn over and over on the rock, and then tumble down the mountainside.

“We’ve got him!  We’ve got him!” yelled Giant, enthusiastically.

“Don’t be so sure of it,” said Snap.

“Oh, I am sure we hit him,” said Whopper.  “Why, I aimed right for his head.”

“I know we hit him, but that isn’t saying he is killed,” said Shep.  “Although by the way he rolled over I guess he was pretty badly wounded.”

Having reloaded, they began to climb down the mountainside in the direction the bear had disappeared.  They had gone less than two rods when Shep, who was in advance, let up a yell: 

“Look out for the hole!”

“Where?” asked the others, but before the doctor’s son could reply the others saw him sinking down.  Then they felt themselves going down also.

“It must be the bears’ den!” gasped Giant.

“If it is, we had better beware of the other bear,” came from Whopper.

Down and down slid the four young hunters, until they landed on a pile of tree limbs and dead leaves.  They had gone down in a hole a dozen feet in diameter and fifteen or more feet deep.  This hole opened into a sort of cave and from the cave came a growl that fairly made their hair raise on end.