The two men let loose with their rifles at the feet of the beasts, but in the faint light aim was uncertain, and it was only occasionally that a grunt indicated that an animal had been hit.
Out in the bushes the ponies were snorting in fright. Stacy suddenly uttered a yell as a bear ran between his legs and threw him down. From the way the bear got away from him it was evident that the beast was as badly frightened as was the fat boy. The swift work of White and Hippy was having its effect, too, and here and there a dark form was observed ambling away into the forest.
“Now! All together. We’ve got them going!” cried Ham White. “Be careful that you don’t shoot towards the ponies.”
Stacy ran for his rifle, and a moment later he, too, was firing away, and continued to fire until he was pulling the trigger on empty chambers, but his assistance was no longer needed.
“I think they are all out now,” announced the guide. “I suspect that we shall have some bear meat for breakfast just the same, but we can’t help it. A man has a right to defend himself, though I always try to keep within the law. Lieutenant, keep the camp clear while I build a fire so we can see what we have.”
The coals of the evening fire were still smouldering, and it was the work of but a few moments to start a blaze large enough to light up the camp. The bears had torn and uprooted two tents and worked other havoc. The camp was in a mess.
Hippy circled the camp.
“We got one of the beasts, a small one,” he called. “Sure we’ll have bear meat for breakfast.”
White hurried to him.
“Nice fat fellow, too. We will dress him, and then we shall have to guard the carcass or there will be none of it left by morning.”