"I lost two hens," said Joachim Jones.
"I lost a ram," said Bill Bond.
"Don't say so!" said Zeke. "Well, that is a loss. There's a bear about,—that's certain; and it's just as certain that we are the boys to kill him. I should like to see a bear get out of the way of my rifle!"
"Or mine"—
"Or mine," said they all.
Well, they agreed to start the next morning, by daylight, to hunt up the bear. They fixed their rifles the night before, and in the morning got up bright and early, and got into their great boots, and buttoned up their coats and strided off, with provisions in their pouches, for they were determined not to come back without him.
On they tramped, over bush and bog and briar; the dogs running before and scenting round among the bushes. All day, no luck. Night came on, and still no luck; so they "camped out," and started fresh again the next morning.
About dark the dogs scented the bear, sure enough,—and what a monstrous fellow he was—black as Topsy, too! Never mind, his time had come now. He ran up an old stub, and sat perched on the top. They pointed their rifles—took aim—not a rifle went off! and Bruin sat grinning at them.
Wern't they furious? I wouldn't undertake to repeat what they said, 'cause it wouldn't answer. The bear came down from the stub, and ran off into a swamp; so they had the hunt all over again. They primed their guns anew and picked the flints (for percussion locks had not then been invented,) so that their rifles would be sure to go off; for you may be certain that they wouldn't have that story told in "the settlement," for a barrel of their best cider. So taking their newly-primed rifles, off they started again, with their teeth set together, looking as fierce as so many Hospidars. If Bruin had understood what stuff a disappointed backwoodsman is made of, he would have kept out of their way—but he didn't; and as their rifles this time had the genuine "stand and deliver" in 'em, there was nothing left for him to do, but to cross his paws and surrender.
Didn't they drink cider and crack nuts over the old fellow's remains? Certainly; they never would have showed their heads at "a raising" again, I can tell you, hadn't they captured him.