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Rh son. "More than likely he's half a mile away by this time and he'll be so shy he won't let us get anywhere near him."

"If only we could have gotten a shot at him!" said Giant, wistfully. "Think of bringing a bear down first lick! " And his eyes glistened.

"We might have crawled up on him, only I thought he saw us," explained Whopper. "That's the reason I called for my gun."

"I guess he kind of scared you," said Snap.

"Well, I admit I was startled. I didn't think we'd find a bear along here—I thought they hung up in the mountains."

"They may come down to gather some stuff that grows in this water," answered Snap. "They love to eat certain roots, so Jed Sanborn told me, and sometimes they travel a long distance to get them."

After a little more talk the journey was resumed, and nothing out of the ordinary came to their notice until late in the afternoon. Then Shep, who was in the bow looking forward, held up his hand for silence.

"What is it?" whispered Giant, who was next to him.

"Some small animals squatting on yonder rocks," replied the doctor's son. "I don't know what they are."