“O Tally! Shame on you!” cried Julie, furiously.
The scouts now slid down the treetrunks and ran over. Each one had a protest to register against the heartlessness of the Indians. But they were over by the bear, turning him over on his side.
“Him be Devil-Bear!” exclaimed Tally, excitedly.
“Um! Bump on haid, scar on rump!” added Omney.
“What do you mean, boys?” now asked Mrs. Vernon.
The scouts saw a great knob on one side of the bear’s head, and an old scar that cleft his left hind-quarter almost in two.
“Dis ole Devil-Bear come down all time to ranches, kill calf, eat lamb, carry off ennything, an’ nobuddy ketch him. Evehbud’ hunt and shoot, but Devil-Bear quick an’ get away. He climb glacier, go over peaks, live evehwhere.
“Sometime him in Flat Top, nudder time him down in Wyom. One time he run in Denver, kill horse, scare evehbuddy away, den run back to Flat Top.” Tally laughed at the last memory.
“Him steal cattle, even fight ranchers, so big reward out fer him,” added Omney.
“How can you be sure you have killed this demon?” asked Mrs. Vernon, eagerly.