“I’ll show them that I can catch fish even if I’m no good at deer hunting,” he explained. “Have you seen anything in the shape of game since you came down?” “I saw something that looked like a black bear. But he didn’t come near here.” “A bear? Where?” Fred pointed out the direction, and Joel Runnell started off to see if the report was true. But he could find nothing, and in half an hour he returned. “You must have been mistaken, Fred. Perhaps it was nothing but a shadow.” “Well, I was busy fishing, and didn’t notice particularly,” returned the boy. He said he wanted to catch just two fish more, and would then return to the lodge. “All right, but don’t get frozen stiff doing it,” answered Joel Runnell. “When do you think Joe and Harry will return?” “They ought to be along inside of an hour. They’ll find that load a pretty heavy one.” “I heard some shooting over there a while ago. But it has stopped now.” To warm himself, the old hunter walked briskly in the direction of Snow Lodge. He felt uneasy; why, he could not explain. “Those boys may have gotten into trouble,” he thought. “Perhaps I had better slip after them and find out.” As he came in sight of the lodge an exclamation of astonishment burst from his lips. All of their traps and stores had been tumbled in a heap on the edge of the clearing, and the door was tightly closed, and the broken-out window partly barred. “This is Skeetles’ work!” he muttered. “Stop where you are!” came in the real estate dealer’s voice, as Runnell walked to the door and tried it, to find it locked. “If you attempt to come in you’ll get shot.” “That’s the talk,” was added by Dan Marcy. “Possession is nine points of the law, and we want you to take your stuff and be gone!” “But see here——” began Joel Runnell. “We won’t argy with ye!” snarled Hiram Skeetles, as he appeared at the window, gun in hand. “Clear out, an’ be quick about it.” Joel Runnell was about to say something far from complimentary to the pair, when a yell from the lake shore reached his ears. Fred was running toward him with a face full of fear. “The bear! The bear!” he yelled. “He’s after me!” CHAPTER XII DRIVEN FROM THE LODGE As soon as he heard Fred’s cry, Joel Runnell forgot for the time being his trouble with Hiram Skeetles and Dan Marcy. “A bear?” he repeated. “Where is he?” “He’s coming right after me!” yelled the stout youth. “Shoot him, or we’ll both be chewed up!” The old hunter had his rifle in his hands, and now he ran to meet Fred, who was coming up with his fishing rod and a string of fish. The stout youth was tremendously excited, and, reaching the pile of traps on the ground, he went sprawling headlong, while his catch scattered in all directions.