"If you recall, we took a more southerly course when we left the West River on our overland trip, and found much better traveling."
The Professor's words recalled the incident, and the result was a change to the southeast. This was now the sixth day after leaving home in the No. 3. During the day at least twenty miles was made. Shortly before night, George, who was in the lead, stopped, and then moved forward, gazing at the ground intently.
Harry saw the movement and was at his side in an instant. "What is it?" It was not necessary to continue his inquiry. Directly ahead was a slightly cleared space, with a blackened space in the center, where a fire undoubtedly had been made, and a few bones were still scattered about as mute evidences of occupation.
The Professor looked at it a moment, and then smiled. "Don't you remember our own camp fire?" This was the case. While they could not remember the particular spot, they knew the old trail had been crossed, and it was a comfortable, homelike feeling to come across the spot.
"Let us camp here again," said Harry, as he threw down his pack. On this occasion they did not have the wagon and the yaks, but they had an ample supply of food and there was no difficulty in making a fire.
Their first adventure came about noon of the seventh day. Plenty of evidences of animals had been found, but they were not eager to hunt. The trail for home had far more fascination than all the animals on the island. It was the custom to stop at intervals for rest. During one of these stops the cracking of bushes was heard, as though produced by a cautious tread. The boys were alert at once and, with their guns in hand, moved in the direction of the noises.
Not two hundred feet away was an immense bear, of the same species they had shot near that place nine months before. The boys separated, as they approached, under the guiding direction of the Professor, and when within seventy-five feet, Harry asked whether or not he should shoot.
Bruin was slowly moving away, not directly ahead, but as though crossing Harry's path. When the word was given, Harry took deliberate aim. George reserved his shot, as advised. The moment the shot struck, the animal turned, thus exposing a fair mark for George, who now fired. With a howl at the second shot, the bear turned toward George, who immediately ran to the right, and on the call of the Professor, circled to the right.
This brought the animal within range of the Professor's gun, and he fired. It did not in the least check his pursuit of George, and the Professor now became alarmed at his safety. Call after call was made to advise him to turn to the right.
Harry followed as fast as he could run, and while keeping the animal in sight, could not approach closely enough to get another shot. While running, it occurred to him that he had not reloaded, and it would be impossible to reload while running.