Roger was considerably relieved when he heard his chum say this with so much confidence. A bear might be troublesome, but it was not to be compared with an Indian, for the latter was likely to have allies close at hand who could be summoned by a signal whoop.
“Do you think the beast can move the stump?” he asked Dick, at the same time feeling for his knife, which the other had turned over to Roger on discovering that it was really his property.
“He is trying hard to do so,” replied Dick.
“Just listen how he keeps on sniffing at that crack,” continued the other boy. “He knows that somebody has taken to his hollow tree, and he doesn’t seem to like it at all. How about giving him a shot, Dick? At such close range you could easily knock him over.”
Dick, however, had his own ideas about that. At least, he did not make any preparations for the shot.
“To tell you the truth, Roger,” he finally explained, “I’d rather not waste my powder and ball on the old fellow. He’d be too tough for us to use as food, and besides, the sound of the report might bring some of the Indians down on us.”
“I suppose you are right, Dick,” commented Roger; “but it looks as if we might have to do something to frighten the bear away. There he starts again, trying to thrust the stump aside, and as sure as anything, Dick, the breach is getting a little wider every time he works at it.”
“It seems so,” agreed Dick, “and, as you say, we ought to do something to put a stop to his scratching and dragging. Wait a minute, I’ve an idea I can fix it!”
With these words he put his long rifle behind him so that it was safe in Roger’s hands. In case of actual necessity the latter would know what to do with the fire-arm; but just then he was very curious to learn what Dick had arranged.