"Now, fellers," added Yardsley, "I'll expect the hull crowd of yer ter come over here to-morrer night, an' pertake of the finest feast yer ever hearn tell of."
A unanimous chorus of assent immediately came from his hearers.
CHAPTER XXX
BURYING THE HATCHET
Early on the following morning, the boys, accompanied by Yardsley, set out with a couple of sleds to get Bob Somers' bear.
The carcass was found undisturbed, and the trapper immediately set to work to skin it, the "cap'n" assisting to the best of his ability. Yardsley cut up the meat, which the boys then placed upon the sleds.
The clouds were still edged with the tints of sunset when Piper and his companions arrived, and shortly before dusk three dark figures were seen slowly approaching, Bowser giving evidence of his presence by his usual doleful bark.
"Evenin', people!" greeted Billy Musgrove. "Hello, Wackett,—bear meat? H'm, smells good, don't it? Me an' Tim hasn't eaten nothin' all day—gittin' ready fur this."
"An' yer done well," said Yardsley. "It's pitch in an' help yerself, 'til natur' cries enough."