"We might as well eat, I guess," said Tom at length.
The embers of the fire were still alive and fresh wood was piled on till there was a cheerful blaze. The boys warmed their salmon above it and fell to on what was the gloomiest meal they had ever eaten. In the middle of his supper, Jack got up and went to the peephole. He turned from it with a face full of alarm.
"The wind has carried the smoke down toward the bears and they are sniffing at it suspiciously," he announced.
"Maybe it'll drive 'em away," suggested Sandy.
"They're not mosquitoes," scoffed Jack.
"Wow! they are coming this way, Tom! What in the world shall we do now?"
"Sit tight. I don't know what else to do."
"But suppose they claw down the door?"
"In that case, our troubles will soon be over," was the brief reply.
What Jack had said was correct. The smoke drifting down on the bears had caused them to sniff suspiciously. Hunters came to Kadiak Island frequently, and doubtless they knew that smoke betokened the presence of human beings. The big bear's fur bristled angrily. He gave a low growl, which was echoed by his mate.