“More’n likely, lad, and if it is we had better get out.”
“You think the old she bear will be back?”
“To be sure. She won’t leave her cubs over night. She’d be back before this, only it’s likely the shots made her timid.”
“It’s queer we didn’t hear the cubs before.”
“They have been asleep and just woke up. Hark!”
They listened and heard the scratching on the rocks again. It came closer, but when Raymond made a noise, it sounded fainter and fainter.
“They won’t touch us, that’s sure,” said Dave. “But the old she bear——”
“Something is coming!” interrupted Raymond. “Reckon it’s her!”
He was right—the mother of the cubs—a black bear of good size, was coming slowly along at the foot of the rocks. She sniffed the air and looked from side to side with keen suspicion.
“Hadn’t we better get out without being seen?” whispered the young soldier. “If we kill her, the Indians will hear the shots.”