"But it's a worse one on Larry and me," protested Horace. "There's some excuse for you. But the bear wasn't charging us." "Oh, well there's no harm done," returned Larry, pleased at the spirit Horace's words showed. "We can go back and get it. It's a mighty good thing, though, that we thought of It before we reached the ponies. From the looks of the sky and the shadows it won't be long before dusk, and Mr. Wilder told us night comes quickly in the mountains." Ere Larry had finished speaking they had started back to the scene of their encounter. Yet when they reached the spot Tom's rifle was nowhere to be seen. In dismay the boys looked at one another. Already the mountains were turning purple-black in the twilight, the shadows transforming the trees and rocks into weird figures. "Perhaps it's under the bear," hazarded Horace, his low voice evidencing the awe which the silence and the surroundings inspired in him. "Then give a hand while we move him," commanded Larry. "It won't do to stay here long or we may lose our way as well as the rifle." Little relishing the thought of wandering through the woods in the dark, the boys seized one of the paws and pulled with all their might. But, to their surprise, they could move the carcass scarcely at all. "My, but he's a monster!" gasped Larry. "It's only a waste of valuable time to try to lift him or even move him. The only thing we can do is to try to feel under him with our hands." Dropping to their knees, the lads thrust their arms under the shaggy fur, being able to reach far; enough to make sure that the much-wanted rifle was not beneath the body of the bear. "Bet he knocked it over the cliff," declared Horace. "From which side did he strike it, Tom?" "More than I know. All I could see was paws. The air was full of them and they seemed to come from all directions at once." This explanation brought laughter to Larry and Horace, which ceased abruptly, however, as from somewhere on the mountains there suddenly rang out a low wail, more like the howl of a coyote than anything else, yet with a certain difference that even the chums were able to distinguish. "Whatever that is, I don't care to meet it," exclaimed Horace. "Let's go back. We've still got two rifles. If we stick to the plains till we join father we can get along all right." "Suppose we don't meet your father, what then?" returned Larry. "Always looking for more trouble, as if we didn't have enough already," chided Tom. "Of course we'll meet him. Anyhow, this is no place to argue about it. If you and Horace can't protect me, I'll take both your rifles and watch over the two of you." There was a suggestion of mockery in Tom's voice, but taking it good naturedly, Larry replied: