“You take the charm and hold it on your lips while you pray seven times that I may kill the bear. Do that seven times for seven nights, and on the last night I’ll get the charm, and Polly, Limpey, and I will go out and kill the bear, just as sure as you’re alive.”
The plan brought comfort to the boy and girl.
Soon Liney’s eyes became heavy, and she fell asleep; and as Balser looked upon her innocent beauty, he felt in his heart that if seven times seven prayers from Liney’s lips could not make a charm which would give him strength from on high to kill the bear, there was no strength sufficient for that task to be had any place.
Late in the night—nine o’clock—the parents of the children came home. The sleepers were aroused, and all of them tried to tell the story of the Fire Bear at one and the same time.
“Tell me about it, Balser,” said Mr. Fox, seriously; for he, too, was beginning to believe in the story of the Fire Bear. Then Balser told the story, assisted by Polly, and the strange event was discussed until late into the night, without, however, the slightest reference to the charm by either Balser or Liney. That was to remain their secret.
Mr. and Mrs. Fox remained with the Brents all night, and before they left next morning, Liney whispered to Balser:—
“I’ll begin to-night, as you told me to do, with the charm. Seven nights from this the charm will be ready—if I can make it.”
“And so will I be ready,” answered Balser, and both felt that the fate of the Fire Bear was sealed.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE BLACK GULLY.
Note.—The author, fearing that the account of fire springing from the earth, given in the following story, may be considered by the reader too improbable for any book but one of Arabian fables, wishes to say that the fire and the explosion occurred in the place and manner described.