The bear moved away sullenly, taking an extra swipe at a pair of Buck’s trousers as he did so. He had evidently scented the clothing during a temporary absence of Alex and began work on them.
“What you doing up that tree?” Clay called out, as he approached the spot, from which Alex was now descending. “We left you guarding the clothes.”
“He had to entertain the bear, didn’t he?” put in Case. “Bears just love music.”
“Where was your automatic?” asked Rube, breaking into another fit of laughter at the general appearance of the party.
Buck had succeeded in finding a vest and a pair of drawers, Rube was dressed in an undershirt and a pair of trousers, Clay wore a ruined sweater and a pair of trousers, while Case sported about in a coat and trousers and a soft felt hat.
“The bear made new business for the merchant,” laughed Clay. “How’s your money holding out, Rube? Big contract you took when you set out to supply this bunch with clothes!”
“Don’t you worry about the money,” Rube answered. “I’ve got a roll that would choke a cow yet.”
The man suddenly clapped his hand to his side with an anxious look and brought it away empty.
“Well, I’ll be—”
He never completed the sentence, but dashed off in the direction of the place where the clothes had been.