“We didn’t. The bear rolled against it. He’s there now. You can’t open it.”
The good news was quickly carried to the waiting men, and an effort was made to burst in the door, several of the men being provided with guns for their night in the woods.
But Bruin was too heavy for the united efforts, and at last they decided to shoot through the door.
Calling directions to those inside to go close to the wall on the north side so as not to be in danger from any stray bullet, the men began shooting through the door.
It was not long before the bear found it too hot for comfort, and slowly rose to his feet and started for the barricade of benches, now left without a guard.
At that instant the door yielded and burst open, and men and shots and bear and baskets and all came in a mad medley together.
Poor Bruin’s troubles were soon over; he paid for his breakfast with his life.
When all was ended, and the men had a chance to look around and see the barricade, and turned to thank Miss Brown for her heroism in protecting the children, she was found in a dead faint on the floor.
It was weeks before she recovered her strength and her voice, after that terrible night, and the schoolroom—put in fresh order, with a door between it and the passage, a window cut through the side of the building, and a big dinner bell provided to ring when help was needed—was opened again for study.