The out-turning Overlanders came to a sudden halt. Three big, shadowy figures were discovered ambling away from the camp.
“Bears!” screamed Emma Dean.
“Grizzlies,” supplemented the guide.
“Oh, wow!” yelled Chunky, vanishing into his tent. “What’s the shortest route to the railroad station?”
“Keep quiet. Don’t stir them up,” warned Jim Badger. “They are after grub, that’s all.”
“It looks as though we were the ones to get excited, not the bears,” exclaimed Miss Briggs. “Do I understand you to mean that we are the food they are after?”
At this juncture, Stacy Brown was seen to spring from his tent, rifle in hand.
“Stop that!” thundered Hippy.
“Put down that gun!” commanded Tom Gray sternly.
Too late! Badly frightened, Stacy threw the gun to his shoulder; and fired after the barest pretense at aiming. Chunky fully intended to empty the magazine at the retreating bears, but before he could fire a second time Lieutenant Wingate struck up his arm, sending the muzzle of the rifle pointing skyward, just as the fat boy pulled the trigger.