Jerry lay down and rolled over twice. “Two hours’ walk,” said Jim. “How shall I find the place?” asked Balser. Tom stood upon his hind legs, and scratched the bark of a tree with his fore paws as high as he could reach. “Of course,” said Balser, “by the bear scratches on the trees. I understand.” Jerry grunted “milk,” so Jim said, and the whole party, boys, bears, and baby, moved off to the milk-house, where the cubs had a great feast. After the milk had disappeared, Jerry grew talkative, and grunted away like the satisfied little pig that he was. Again Jim, with a serious face, acted as interpreter. “Mighty bad bear,” said Jerry. “Soured on the world since mother threw him over. Won’t have anything to do with anybody. He’s as big and strong as a horse, fierce as a lion, and meaner than an Injun. He’s bewitched, too, with an evil spirit, and nobody can ever kill him.” “That’s the name he has among white folks,” remarked Balser. “Better be careful when you hunt him, for he’s killed more men and boys than you have fingers and toes,” said Tom. Then the cubs, being full of milk and drowsy, stretched themselves out in the sun, and no amount of persuasion could induce them to utter another grunt. The bears had told the truth—that is, if they had told anything; for since it had been learned throughout the settlement that it was a one-eared bear which had pursued Liney, many stories had been told of hairbreadth escapes and thrilling adventures with that same fierce prowler of the woods. One hunter said that he had shot at him as many as twenty times, at short range, but for all he knew, had never even wounded him. The one-eared bear could not be caught by any means whatsoever. He had broken many traps, and had stolen bait so frequently from others, that he was considered altogether too knowing for a natural bear; and it was thought that he was inhabited by an evil spirit which gave him supernatural powers. He certainly was a very shrewd old fellow, and very strong and fierce; and even among those of the settlers who were not superstitious enough to believe that he was inhabited by an evil spirit, he was looked upon as a “rogue” bear; that is, a sullen, morose old fellow, who lived by himself, as old bachelors live. The bachelors, though, being men, should know better and act more wisely. Notwithstanding all these evil reports concerning the one-eared bear, Balser clung to his resolution to hunt the bear, to kill him if possible, and to give Liney the remaining ear as a keepsake. Balser’s father knew that it was a perilous undertaking, and tried to persuade the boy to hunt some less dangerous game; but he would not listen to any of the warnings, and day by day longed more ardently for the blood of the one-eared bear. So one morning shortly after the conversation with the cubs, Balser shouldered his gun and set out toward the northwest, accompanied by Limpy Fox and the dogs.