“What do you make of it?” asked Alex as the three boys stood out on the bank, Captain Joe capering clumsily about them.
“What do I make of what?” demanded Case. “Talk United States.”
“I guess you are sparring for time!” laughed Alex. “So you don’t know what to make of it? You haven’t a thought in your head?”
“That is the truth of it,” Case returned. “I don’t know why Gran doesn’t say something about his desertion of us. I have given up trying to think that out, so we’ll build up more fire, get a bed of coals, and broil bear steak for breakfast. I’m getting hungry, and I guess Gran will need a little sustenance when he wakes up. Say, wasn’t it a blessing that we came along just as we did? Otherwise, he would have died. Never could have made his way out with that broken leg!”
While Clay and Case broiled bear steak and made coffee Alex whistled to Captain Joe and started away. Taking the course pursued the previous evening, he soon came to the rough shelter which the injured boy had prepared. There he sat down and held a threatening finger up to the nose of the white bulldog.
“Tell me, Captain Joe,” he said, gravely, “did you find a bear here last night, and did you drive him away? Tell me, quick, old fellow.”
The dog turned away with a sniff and circled around the hut. Alex followed, soon coming upon claw tracks in the earth. He turned to Joe.
“I believe you did!” he cried. “Now, if you please, will you go show me where that bear is? I want a short conversation with him. What?” Captain Joe started off in the direction of the high ridges to the east, and finally paused at the opening to a deep cavern in a towering cliff. Alex looked in and sniffed inquiringly, after which he backed out and turned toward the campfire, Joe marching along at his side.
“You’re a wonder, dog!” the boy exclaimed. “You’re a wonder, and no mistake about it! I’ll have you put in a book when we get back to Chi.” Captain did not seem to take kindly to this proposition, for he hastened back to the fire and lay down with his nose cuddled between two rather dirty paws. Alex came in in a moment and told what he had seen.
“I guess the dog did see a grizzly,” Clay decided, “and drove him off. It is a wonder he didn’t get his ears boxed!”