"We never got a better," answered Snap. "Oh, this is certainly prime luck!"
"We'll have to take some more pictures—-of our game," said Shep, and without delay they took several plates and films—-the two cameras being of each kind. All the boys were in the pictures, and of these photographs they were justly proud.
"Now, the question is, what are we going to do with the bear?" said Snap. "We can't drag such a load to our camp."
"We'll have to skin the animal and take what meat we want," answered the doctor's son. "It's too bad to leave so much behind, but it can't be helped. It won't keep in this weather, anyway."
"If only Jed Sanborn was here—-he might take some of it home."
"I'll tell you what we can do," said Giant. "Try to drag the carcass—-or a big part of it—-up to the lion's pit. It will help to feed that beast until the circus folks come."
"That's an idea," said Shep. "And if we keep the lion well fed he won't try so hard to get away. Menagerie animals are always lazy when well fed—-one of the keepers told me that. They only get restless when they are hungry."
It took the boys some time to skin the dead bear and cut away such meat as they thought they could tote along. The rest of the meat they hung in a tree, thinking they might possibly come back for it later. Then they started once more for camp.
"I hope the Spink crowd hasn't been bothering Whopper and Tommy since we have been away," said Snap. "If they have——-"
"Don't borrow trouble," interrupted the doctor's son. "Wait till it comes."