“Wolves, and they are at some game,” returned Whopper.  “I do believe it is our bear!

“That’s just what it is,” put in Giant.  “What gall!  Let us open fire on ’em!”

The wolves were at least a dozen in number, all big and powerful fellows.  They had just come on the bear, that was dead, and were quarreling among themselves over the carcass.

With great care the four boy hunters took, aim at the wolves, and at a command from Snap, let drive.  As the reports died away two of the beasts were seen to be dead and two others were wounded.  The other wolves turned and retreated a few paces, then paused and glared at those who had molested them.

“They are coming for us!” shouted Whopper, and the statement proved true.  With wild yelps and snarls the wolves leaped forward.

It was a moment of great peril and the young hunters fully realized their critical condition.

“Shoot and jump for the nearest trees!” yelled Snap, and then let drive again.  The others discharged the remaining loads in their shotguns, and three more of the wolves were hit, and one killed.  Then one after another the young hunters scrambled up into the nearest trees.

The boys thought they would have a hard fight with the remaining wolves, but evidently the pack had had enough of the encounter, for those that were wounded limped off growling savagely and the others followed, leaving the dead where they had fallen.

“We came up in the nick of time,” said Snap, as he reloaded and leaped to the ground, followed by his chums.  “A few minutes later and those beasts would have torn this bear limb from limb.  I suppose they thought they were going to have the feast of their lives.”

The body of the bear was cold and stiff, showing that it had died shortly after being shot.  It was a good-sized creature, and the young hunters felt justly proud of their quarry.

“I knew we’d get plenty of small game, but I was afraid we wouldn’t get a bear,” said Whopper.

“A bear always tops off a hunt,” said Snap.  “That or a moose,” put in Giant.  “I’d like to get a crack at a good, big moose.”

“I am afraid you want too much in this life,” answered Snap, with a laugh.

The problem of how to get the carcass down to their camp was a serious one.  They did not want to cut the bear up just yet, nor did they want to spoil the skin by dragging it over the rocks.

“Let us make a good, strong drag of tree limbs,” suggested Whopper.  “We can bind the limbs together closely, so the skin of the beast won’t touch the ground after we have tied the bear on top.  Then we can all haul it down between the trees.”

“Maybe the bear will go down quicker than we anticipate,” said Snap.  “But I reckon your suggestion is as good as anything.”

It took the best part of the morning to make a drag that was satisfactory and pry the big bear on it then the carcass was bound down with vines and cords.