"Hi! what's up! Who's shooting!" yelled Whopper, leaping up and then sprawling down in his blanket, which was wrapped completely around him.
"What's attacking us?" came from Giant.
"Did you hit it?" asked Shep.
"It's a bear, I think," answered Snap. "He was at the doorway, trying to get in."
A low growl at this juncture reached the ears of all. The other young hunters ran for their firearms. The growl came from a distance, showing the would-be intruder was retreating.
"I've a good mind to go after him," said Shep.
"Don't you do it—it's too dark outside," warned Whopper. "Wait till daylight."
They waited several minutes, but no further sound came to disturb them. Then, with caution, they pulled the logs of the doorway aside and peered out. The clouds had drifted over the stars and it was dark, so that they could see but little. Snap took a firebrand and gazed down into the snow.
"Blood," he said, pointing to the spots. "I certainly hit him."
"And it must have been a bear, by the big tracks," said Giant. "Very likely the one that attacked me on the ice."