“Indeed it does,” Stern admitted. “But never mind that. Where is the bear now?”
“I don’t know.”
Thorsen and Chris Hanson were already starting down into the ravine, rifles ported for action. Stem dismounted and followed them. Cautiously the men made their way through the trees. Before they reached the far side of the ravine the boys lost sight of them.
After several minutes of complete silence, Sandy began to get anxious.
“Maybe that old bear was hiding behind a tree,” Jerry suggested, “and clobbered each one of them as they went by him, like the Indians used to do.”
Finally they heard Stern’s voice calling to them. “You guys can come down now.”
Sandy was puzzled. “That’s funny. I guess the bear got away after all.” He slid hurriedly to the ground.
When they emerged from the birch grove, both boys stopped dead. Sandy shut his eyes tight, opened them, shut them, and opened them again. He couldn’t believe what he saw. The three men were standing at the bottom of the slope, all flashing broad grins. At their feet was the mountainous carcass of the bear.
“You—you sure he’s dead?” Sandy stammered.
“Yeah,” Jerry said. “He’s a tricky one.”