"I move we rest and have something to eat," announced Ben, and this suggestion was quickly seconded by the others. Then, when the sun was well down in the west, they decided to turn back toward the bungalows. It was a tramp of over a mile and a half, and as the footing in many places was uncertain, they had to proceed with great care. "Such a hunt!" grumbled Ben. "It's been all hunting and no shooting." "Which puts me in mind of a story!" cried Shadow. "Oh, this is a short one, so you needn't frown at it," he went on quickly, glancing around. "It's about a fellow who came along and saw an old man fishing in a lake. 'How's fishing?' he asked of the old man. 'Couldn't be better,' was the answer. 'Catch anything?' 'No.' 'Then what do you mean by saying the fishing is good?' 'So it is. I didn't say anything about the catching.'" And at this a grin went around. "We ought to be getting in sight of the bungalows soon," remarked Roger, after they had climbed over some rough rocks and were walking through a dense patch of the forest. "Say, this is a fine place to get lost in," remarked Phil. "It will be all right as long as the sunlight lasts," answered Dave. "I am using that for a compass." Soon they came to the edge of a clearing, on the other side of which were a series of rocks with vines and brushwood. The boys were about to advance across the clearing when suddenly Shadow's arms went up into the air. "St--st--stop!" he spluttered, in a low tone. "Dr--dr--drop down, all of you!" The others saw that he was much in earnest, and immediately sank down behind the trees and rocks. Then all gazed inquiringly at the former story-teller of Oak Hall. "It's the be--be--bear!" spluttered Shadow. "Sa--say, don't you think we had be--be--better run for it?" "The bear! Where is it?" demanded Dave. "I saw him just lift his head up among the rocks yonder," returned Shadow. "Say, he looked like an awful big fellow!" "Well, if he is there, you bet we are not going to run away from him!" declared Phil. "Come on, let's see if we can't shoot him." "Wait a minute, Phil," advised Dave. "If the bear is among yonder rocks, as Shadow says, we had better spread out a little, and thus get a better chance at him." Seeing that his companions were not frightened, Shadow regained some of his composure and followed them, although keeping a little to the rear. With great caution, and holding their firearms ready for use, the whole crowd of boys crossed the clearing and gained the first of the rocks beyond. Fortunately, the breeze was coming from ahead of them, thus carrying their scent away from where the bear was supposed to be.