Norm Boody came up from the barn with two steaming pails of milk. Roy Starr was getting dressed in the kitchen, close to the stove. He was muttering threats against his brother, Glenn. "Never let a guy sleep," he groaned. "Always the first guy up and the only man on earth who can't let other people stay in bed when they want to." Glenn Starr and Marjorie were already at the breakfast table. The others drifted in and sat down. A girl and a husky, sleepy-eyed man came down from upstairs. Roy Starr greeted the girl by chasing her around the stove and left her alone only after she picked up the poker and threatened to use it on him. Robinson introduced the fifth member of the hunting party at the breakfast table. "Pete Larson hasn't hunted before," he said. "Pete, you know our own bunch. You know Norm and Mrs. Boody now. The tall, fair damsel holding the coffee pot is Norma, Mrs. Boody's best assistant housekeeper and daughter. The sleepy eyed creature at her side is her husband, Floyd." Larson himself was heavy set, and a slightly ponderous man who wore light rimmed glasses and a rather awed look on his face. "I guess I've let myself in for some rugged country and some heavy eating," he said. "Anyhow, I always did like a fifth cup of coffee and the supply looks adequate." "It _was_ rugged last night, all right," Roy Starr said. Instantly there was silence. Norma, the tall, slim girl, looked at her mother questioningly. Robinson broke in before she had time to speak. "We found a dead man on the road last night. Nobody we knew." He heard Norma and her husband catch their breaths quickly. Then the telephone rang and he was on his feet. Norm Boody was closer to the phone and answered it. The remainder of the group went on eating, but every ear was tuned to the conversation. "Yes?" He listened for a time, then said: "I got a party of hunters who came in last night. They saw him on the road. We tried to call you but the wires were dead." Then: "Oh? So that was it. Okay, we'll keep an eye open. Haven't seen Bill, have you? He's coming in behind the plough? Good. We were worried about him." "Telephone linemen came through this morning," he explained. "They picked up the body. That was Sheriff Walt Beardsly calling. He ain't blaming you boys. Says your tracks went right around the body. Says a bear must have mauled the guy. They found his gun in the ditch." Earl Robinson said: "Yea, that's what happened all right. Bill's okay, isn't he?" Boody nodded. "Spent the night at the sheriff's house. Couldn't drive in. He's coming in a couple of hours." Mrs. Boody went out for some more coffee. Larson, managing a smile, said: "Guess we can go hunting without worrying about anything--except bear." Norma tickled her husband between well padded ribs. "Take Floyd along. He'll chase all the bears to the other side of the mountain." Floyd grinned. "Guess you boys can take care of yourselves."