The boys stopped to get dinner and then hurried back to the cabin with all possible speed.

“This has been a long tramp for nothing,” was Giant’s comment, as they trudged along.

“Oh, I don’t think so!” answered Whopper.  “I think we have learned a good deal.”

On the way back they could not resist the temptation to shoot what game came in their way and thus brought down several rabbits, a squirrel, four quail, and two wild ducks that chanced to show themselves near the end of the lake.

As they neared the cabin they had to pass the bear trap that had been set so many days.  They heard a peculiar grunting.

“Listen!” cried Snap, coming to a halt.  “What is that?”

“I am sure I don’t know,” said Shep.  “Sounds like some beast in pain.”

“Maybe it is something in the trap!” cried Giant, and moved forward on a run, before anybody could stop him.

As Giant drew in sight of the trap something caught his eyes that brought him stock still in wonder.

There, fast in the trap, lay a small bear, and close at hand was another bear, evidently trying to get the prisoner free!

“Look out there, Giant!” sang out Snap, as he, too, saw the situation.

“Two bears, by all that is lucky!” ejaculated Whopper.

At the sounds of the boys’ voices the free bear turned swiftly.  Evidently he was in a rage, and for a good reason, for the bear in the trap was his mate.

“He is coming for you!” cried Shep.  What he said was true; the bear was indeed coming for Giant.  He stood up on his hind legs and confronted the young hunter.  A moment more and his powerful paw must have knocked Giant down and perhaps have killed the lad.

But Snap had somewhat recovered from his astonishment, and raising his shotgun quickly, he pulled the trigger.

The dose of shot took the bear in the side of the face and stung him so bitterly that he fell back a few steps.  But this was only for the moment.  Soon he gathered himself once more and then turned upon Snap.

“Shoot him!” cried the young leader of the gun club and a second later came the crack of the rifle that Shep carried.  The bullet pierced the bear’s side and he rolled over and over in pain.

“Good for you, Shep!” sang out Snap.  “Shoot him again, somebody!”

For an answer, both Whopper and Giant fired their shotguns and the bear received both charges in his rump.  Again he rolled over and over, uttering a roar that could be heard for a long distance.  He tried to arise and did so once, dragging himself toward Whopper, who lost no time in retreating.

By this time Snap was ready for another shot, and growing bolder, he watched his chance, ran in and let the bear have the buckshot directly between the eyes.  Then Shep took a second shot also, hitting Bruin in the throat.  This was too much for the bear, and with a quiver and a gasp he sank in a heap, and a moment later breathed his last.