“You don’t know him. He’s afraid of nothing on earth, and yet, like other men who are good fighters, he doesn’t fight often. There is a big difference between a man who is always picking a quarrel and one who can put up a good fight.” “I reckon Rat knows that now.” “He surely does, and I don’t think he will want to take the lesson over again either. He won’t have to stay after school to learn the rules of that game.” “The only thing I have heard Kit Carson talk much about of all the things he has done was what he did in his fight with the two grizzlies.” “That’s right,” replied Jack, laughing loudly as he spoke. “I have heard him tell that story a good many times. He almost makes me see that big grizzly swinging and snorting and swaying his head when Kit struck him on the nose with his club. The nose is about as tender a spot for a grizzly as his shins are for a darky.” “It was mighty funny,” laughed Reuben. “I saw both of them. When the first one came down the tree the other one acted just as if he was giving his opinion of a fellow who would back out like that. He would show him how to do it; so up he goes, and Kit Carson gets a good swing on his club and lands it right plumb on the snout of that grizzly. The way that bear snorted and shook his head almost made me laugh.” “I should think it would have made you laugh.” “The only reason I didn’t was because I was afraid the bear would see me, and turn around and come for the tree where I was. I hadn’t any desire to have him know any more about me than he did right then.” “‘Ignorance is bliss,’ they say.” “It was with me when I thought of that bear. Can you see anything of Kit Carson and the horses?” Reuben added as he peered intently in the direction from which the expected approach of the black leader was to be seen. Jack was silent a moment before he said: “I see something moving up yonder.” Instantly Reuben leaped to his feet and gazed long and earnestly in the direction indicated by his companion. Not many minutes had elapsed before both men were convinced that some large animals were approaching. Both were hopeful that the cloud of dust which was now steadily increasing as it drew nearer concealed the black horse and his pursuers. The cloud approached rapidly, but it was long before Reuben was able to discover the outlines of a horse running swiftly and pursued by two riders. “There they come! There they come!” exclaimed the boy excitedly. “The old fellow is making straight for this place where we are.” “We had better hide so that he won’t turn off,” suggested Jack. “Then when he comes a little nearer we’ll take the tin pans and sticks and serenade him.”