"Why, I thought that was a wild animal--that is, a bear, in the path in
front of me; what is it?"
The man laughed heartily.
"The path makes a little bend right there, so it is not in, but beside
the path; it is an oak stump on which you have been wasting your lead."
"But those glaring eyes--"
"That is fox-fire, which does look odd in the night-time."
"But I heard it growling."
"Be assured it was all imagination, my young friend; there is no bear or
wild animal near us--at least he hasn't shown himself yet."
"Well, I'm blamed glad to hear it, for there isn't much fun in hunting
wild beasts when it is too dark to aim well: may I ask how it is you
happen along here without a gun?"
"I live only a little ways off, and, if you will go back with me, I will
be glad to entertain you over night."
"I'm obliged to you, but I have two friends who are expecting me, up by
the rock yonder."
"I judged you belonged to the party, but there is only one of them
there, unless the other has come since I left. The one named Harper, who
called at my house this afternoon, is there, and has started his camp
fire. He is impatient for the others to come in, and asked me to tell
you, if we met, that he particularly wished you to 'hurry up your
cakes'--I suppose you know what that means."
"I do, and will bid you good-night."
They exchanged pleasant greetings, and separated, each to pursue his own
way.
Herbert was anxious to join his friends; for the fact that he had fired
into a stump, under the belief that it was a bear, was no proof that the
dreaded quadruped was not somewhere in the neighborhood.
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