“It’s the biggest bear brought down, so far as I know.”
“After this I think we may as well start right for home.”
“I am willing.”
At the top of the hill they found a long and sweeping pine branch, and of this made the best drag they could, and then fastened the bear on top with withes.
“Now for a long and hard pull,” said Joe. “We must get him home to-night. If we don’t the wolves may steal him from us.”
“What about the deer?”
“We can come back for them to-morrow.”
“But if some wildcats come at them in the meanwhile?”
“We’ve got to stand the risk of that.”
And then, after a lunch in the open, they started for home, dragging their splendid prize after them.