"The same," said Master. "Help yourself." The Emperor obeyed him without a word. "How's that?" inquired the young man. "S-sassy," Strong answered, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Fall to," said Master, putting the platter of trout in front of him. "Here's f-fishin'," said Strong, as he lifted a large trout by the tail. "Good place to anchor. Anything new?" "B-bear," Strong stammered, with a little shake of his head. "Where?" The Emperor crushed a potato' and filled' his mouth. He chewed thoughtfully before he answered, "Up t-trail." "How far?" Strong pointed with his fork. He stopped chewing and turned and listened for a breath. "B-bout mile." He sighed and shook his head sorrowfully. "What's the matter?" "F-feelin's!" Strong answered, pointing the fork towards his bosom. "No gun?" Strong nodded. It was a moment of moral danger. He knew that Satan would lay hold of his tongue unless it were guarded with great caution. He sat back and whistled for half a moment. "S-safe!" he exclaimed, presently, with a sigh, as he went on eating. "Which way was he travelling?" "Th-this way--limpin'," said Strong. "Limping?" "W-wownded," Strong, added, softly, gently, as if he were still on dangerous ground. They finished their meal in silence and drew up to the fire and filled their pipes. He rose and lighted his pipe and returned to the table as soon as he had begun smoking. He took out his worn memorandum-book and thoughtfully wrote these words: _"July the 6 "See a bear--best way to kepe the ten commandments is to kepe yer mouth shet."_ Strong resumed his chair at the camp-fire. Suddenly he raised his hand. They could hear the cracking of dead brush across the cove. "S-suthin'," Strong whispered. Again the sound came to their ears out of the silent forest. "Hearn it d-dozen times," said the Emperor. They listened a moment longer. Then Strong rose. "B-bear!" he whispered. "Light an' rifle." Master tiptoed to the shanty. He lighted the dark lantern--a relic of deer-stalking days--with which he had found his way to Catamount the night before. He adjusted the leathern helmet so its lantern rested 'above his forehead. He raised his rifle and opened the small box of light. A beam burst out of it and shot across the darkness and fell on a thicket. The spire of a little fir, some forty feet away, seemed to be bathed in sunlight. The beam glowed along the top of his rifle-barrel, and he stood a moment aiming to see if he could catch the sights. Strong beckoned to him. The young man came close to the side of the hunter and suggested, "Maybe it's a deer." "'T-'tain' no deer," Strong whispered. "S-suthin' dif'er'nt." He listened again. "It's over on th-that air cove."