Reynolds paid no more attention to the bear than if it had been a gnat, but sprang greedily upon the fish, which was wriggling and beating itself around upon the ground.  It was a young king-salmon, and although not large, Reynolds thought it the finest fish he had ever beheld.  It did not take him long to despatch his prize, and in a few minutes a portion of it was sizzling over a small fire he had lighted.  Never had any food tasted so good, he imagined, and the strength thus gained brought back his normal state of mind.  He felt more like himself, and ready for another effort to free himself from his wilderness prison.  He even smiled as he thought of the bear’s fright and its ignominious retreat.

“Lost your breakfast, old boy, didn’t you?” he called out.  “You weren’t expecting company, were you?  But I am grateful to you, and wish you better luck next time.”

Taking with him the remainder of the fish, Reynolds once more continued his journey.  The high ridge was a long way off, and before it could be reached it would be necessary to cross several smaller hills and a number of valleys.  But with strength renewed, he sped onward.

All through the day the heat had been almost over-powering.  It poured its hot rays full upon him, and not a breath of wind stirred the trees.  He was about half way up the high hill when the weather suddenly changed.  The sky darkened, and the wind began to howl through the forest.  Great black clouds massed in vast battalions overhead, and in less than half an hour the storm burst.

Reynolds had paused on a rocky ledge as the tempest swept upon him.  Never before had he experienced such a storm.  It seemed as if the very windows of heaven had suddenly opened to deluge the earth.  He looked hurriedly around for shelter, and seeing an overhanging portion of rock, he at once made his way thither, and crouched low for protection.  The rain, however, swirled in after him, forcing him to move farther back.  That he was able to do this surprised him, and feeling with his hands, he discovered that there was a big open space to the rear, and that he was at the entrance of a cave, how large he did not know.  Fortunately he was provided with a good supply of matches, so striking one, he examined his new abode.  The brief feeble light showed that the cave was about a foot higher than his head, and much larger than he had supposed.  He had no inclination to explore it just then, for some dry sticks lying at his feet arrested his attention.  He was hungry after his hard tramp, so a piece of salmon would be most acceptable.

It did not take him long to light a small fire as near the mouth of the cave as the rain would permit, and, prepare his meal.  The fire felt good, too, for the air was damp and chilly.

“I might as well spend the night here,” he mused, “for even if the storm does let up, I would only get soaked from the drenched trees.  And, besides, I cannot see anything from the top of the hill until the clouds roll away and the air clears.”