"And I'll be with you," agreed Soldier Hal. "But wait a second. I've a box of blazer matches with me. First, slip all your cartridges into your magazine." Both soldiers did this. Then Hal, striking a blazer match, led the way back into the cave. "Poor little beggars," he muttered suddenly. "I thought so." "What?" asked Noll, stepping forward. "Look." "Cubs!" "No wonder the old she bear was savage," glowed Noll. On a rude bed of dried leaves and twigs tumbled five furry, fuzzy, whining little bear cubs. "We've broken up a family's happiness this night," muttered Hal, looking down. "Well, it was their family, or two bunkies," retorted Noll, nevertheless feeling almost ashamed as he bent down over the innocent, harmless, bereaved little cubs. "Shall we put 'em out of their misery?" asked Hal. "I--I haven't the heart to." "Well, I'm afraid I haven't that kind of heart, either. But, see here, Noll!" "Well?" "We're in the heart of the enemy's country. If one of C Company's scouting detachments comes this way I don't want them to find the two dead bears and take 'em away in triumph. It would be treason to our own B Company to let C Company come in for an unearned feast on nice, juicy bear steaks." "That's so," agreed Noll. "Help me, and we'll drag both carcasses back into the extreme inner end of the cave. Then, if Captain Cortland approves, he can send men here and it will be B Company that'll feast on bear steaks." Both bunkies worked industriously until this task had been accomplished. "Speaking of bear steaks," announced Hal, "makes me realize that I'm famished myself. Now, as we're clear off the trail of B Company--and that's no dream--we'll have to put in the night finding our comrades. So a few minutes spent munching hardtack won't count." "And not forgetting the salted almonds we bought in the village this afternoon," rejoined the other young soldier. Down on the floor of the cave the bunkies squatted themselves. The work of eating absorbed both for the next few minutes. Then, of a sudden, they halted, astonished. Human footsteps sounded on the rocks outside. Privates Overton and Terry stopped their eating, neither venturing to speak, for a voice outside was saying: "Sergeant, instruct the men not to light fires. They'll have to sup on hard tack alone to-night. Fires would betray us to the enemy." Then Hal placed his mouth close to Noll's ear and whispered: "Bunkie, we're pickled!" Noll pressed his comrade's arm understandingly. "Pickled and sealed in jars," Hal's whisper continued. "C Company is camping here, and we'll be prisoners inside of a minute. And, great Scott--C Company eats the bear steaks!" CHAPTER VIII IN THE MIDST OF THE "HOSTILES" It was a pretty fix, indeed! "Confound that lying old hunter down at the cabin!" ground Noll wrathfully behind his teeth. Then both bunkies from B Company held their very breath.