"Come along this way," proposed Overton. "We'll explore."
Through the gloaming the sore-footed soldier boys plodded on until Noll suddenly halted, gripping Hal stoutly.
Right in front of them, ambling their way, came a huge furry something. It wasn't a grizzly, but it was the next worse thing—an unusually large, dark-brown bear.
"Duck!" counseled Private Overton, promptly wheeling about. "Slip in a ball cartridge as you run!"
Nor did Noll lose any time in following the advice, for the brown bear was now in swift pursuit, growling ominously.
Somehow, it didn't seem easy to slip in a ball cartridge while they were running at top speed.
"There's a ledge. Get in behind it, and I'll follow, Noll!" shouted Hal, crowding his bunkie toward the ledge.
Down behind the ledge dropped both bunkies.
There was an opening in the rock of some sort behind them, but in their haste neither young soldier stopped to look at it.
Hal had succeeded in slipping a cartridge into his rifle. Noll did that, and also fixed his bayonet at the muzzle of his piece.