"I—I thought I was a goner!" he stammered. "What a big fellow he is!"
"The bar we war arfter last spring," said Jack Blowfen to Dottery as they examined the brute. "See those marks on his side where we tipped him? A good job that he is out of the way."
It was the second grizzly bear the boys had seen since they had lived in that section and they gazed at him curiously. What white teeth he had, and how powerful he looked! Even now that he was still and all was over, Chet hardly cared to touch him.
"I want to see no more of him," he said.
"Well, I reckon he's the last in this neighborhood," said Caleb Dottery. "He's the only one I've seen around in nigh on six years."
It was decided to leave the bear where he was until they returned. Of course, it was possible some wild animal might come up and make a feast in the meanwhile, but this could not be helped. To skin the animal and hang up the meat would take too long.
Leaving Demon Hollow, they pushed along as rapidly as the horses would carry them.
At the creek they stopped to water the animals, and here also partook of the lunch which Blowfen had packed up before starting.
It was nightfall when they at last came in sight of the ranch home. All seemed deserted. Every building was tightly closed and so was the gate to the stockade.
"Maybe he has thought better of it and skipped out," said Chet.