CHAPTER XV.
HANGING A BEAR.

M

EANWHILE what has happened to little Archie Stark ? Bears, as well as other wild beasts, were prowling about in the forests, often coming very near to the scattered dwellings of the pioneers, and at that season of the year were inclined to be ugly. If Archie had met one there was small chance that his father and friends would find him alive. This was the more certain from the fact that fully half an hour had elapsed since Lige Bitlock had returned to the clearing, and they would have a mile to go before reaching the scene of his peril, according to the frightened youth's incoherent report.

The boys had made the journey to Mr. Perham's in safety, and, getting the rope, started on their return with as little delay as possible. As the long line of deer thong was quite heavy, they took turns in carrying it, Lige having the first task at lugging.

No sooner had Archie taken the rope than, notwithstanding his repeated promises to his father about getting " right back," Lige began to leave the road at intervals, to make detours into the adjoining forest, always led in these wanderings by his dog, Pluck. Archie remonstrated with him in vain, trying to frighten him by declaring that he would start up a wildcat or a bear.

"I sh'u'd jes' like to scare up a cat an' see Pluck pull its fur! Dad says there is one on th' island an' — hark! thet dorg has scart up sumthin'! When thet dorg barks it means sumthin'! " and he bounded in the direction of the sound.

But Lige Bitlock had not fairly vanished from sight before he reappeared with redoubled speed, the yelping dog close beside him. At the same time was heard the crashing of a huge body lumbering through the undergrowth at their heels.

" A b'ar ! " yelled Lige, " a b'ar ! Run fer yer life, Arch !"

It proved that the dog had run upon a couple of cubs in the woods, but it had scarcely begun to bark at them before the old mother bear appeared. Now a bear is not the most ferocious creature in the world if not aroused by some unusual action. But a mother bear, filled with the idea that harm is threatening her cubs, is about as ugly a customer as any one could wish to meddle with. Lige Bitlock was prudent to flee, but he was a coward to leave his younger friend to the mercy of the enraged beast.

In order to carry the rope with as much ease as possible, Archie had coiled it about his shoulders. When he saw the brute rushing toward him he found it difficult to free himself from his burden without stopping in his flight. So he was obliged to flee, his speed greatly retarded by the coil of deer thong. He called to his companion, but Lige, looking back over his shoulder, and seeing the bear close on Archie, sped away faster than before, while his dog, Pluck, proved itself anything but true to its name.

Archie quickly realised that he could not outrun the bear, though he was favoured in his flight by the fact that one of the cubs, which kept beside its mother, was continually getting in the clumsy creature's way, thus checking her pursuit. He was a brave boy, and determined to fight for his life when he found that further flight was useless. Seeing a chestnut-tree standing a short distance back from the road, and with branches coming down within easy reach, he resolved to try and climb it before the bear should overtake him.

Accordingly he plunged through the brushwood, and, quickly reaching the tree, seized one of the lower limbs, and swung himself up just as the brute snapped at his bare feet. It was a narrow escape, but, having fairly got into the chestnut, he ascended like a squirrel to the top. There he paused for his first breathing spell, and to see what the bear would do next.

Not to be cheated of its prey, the aroused creature, after giving a furious growl, began to climb the tree with a celerity wonderful for one so clumsy in its movements on the ground. As she mounted higher and higher, Archie began to tremble lest she should reach him. So up he went, until the branches became so slender and pliant as almost to refuse to bear his weight. Surely the bear could not reach him there.

After gaining a perch as high as she could very well get, the bear stopped, glaring up fiercely at him and renewing her savage grunts and growls. She was within eight or ten feet of him, and Archie was desperate. He felt that he must surely be caught, as she soon began to ascend still higher, the chestnut swaying far over on one side, as her ponderous body rose.

But Mistress Bruin had really climbed as high as she could. After a few futile attempts to reach her victim, she settled back into her resting-place, and resumed her threatening cries.

Thinking that at the worst he would only be compelled to remain there until friends should come to his rescue, Archie was beginning to feel hopeful, when the bear began new tactics, which were to prove more dangerous than any before.

She began to shake the tree vigorously, and the whole top of the chestnut shook as if assailed by a September gale. At the outset Archie was nearly flung from his precarious perch. Soon succeeding in getting a firmer hold, he held on for dear life, until the bear stopped, grunting and threatening to renew her attacks.

He was so high in the air that he knew a fall to the ground meant broken limbs, if not instant death. He could not pass the bear, so that escape was cut off. During the brief respite allowed him his mind was very active, until he believed he had hit upon a plan which might enable him to escape. He could not be any worse off if it failed.

He still carried the rope coiled about his shoulders, and he at once began to remove it, the bear watching his work with evident curiosity, growling occasionally, and trying to reach the line with one of her fore paws. He wasn't a great while in getting the line free, and, calculating on the length needed for his purpose, he proceeded to fasten that part to the trunk of the chestnut, as far below him as he could without getting in reach of the watchful brute. Then he made a running noose in the opposite end of the thong, being careful to see that the loop would slip freely.

With an earnestness a human being might have exhibited the bear continued to watch him, abandoning for the time her attacks on the tree. As Archie lowered the noose toward her she snapped at it furiously, and, missing it, snarled and tried to hit it with her paw.

Anxiously Archie waited his opportunity, allowing the line to dangle above her head, though careful to keep it just out of her reach. By and by she seemed to lose interest in it, and renewed her assaults on the chestnut, more determined than ever, it seemed, to accomplish her intentions.

The critical moment for the brave boy had come, and, not without many misgivings as to the result, and holding to his precarious perch with one hand, as she began her vigorous shaking Archie improved his opportunity to drop the noose over her head. So adroitly did he perform this act that the stout line fell fairly above her big neck.

The moment she felt the line straighten she stopped her attack, and tried to free herself from the entangling rope. Finding herself unable to do that, the brute became enraged, and loosened one paw from the tree to seize on the offending object. The movement was fatal to her. Archie, watching his time, gave the tree a vigorous shake, feeling that it was his turn. The result surprised even him. The huge beast suddenly lost her hold, and, with a furious growl, went crashing down through the thick branches.

At first Archie's heart was filled with fear. He thought he had miscalculated the length of the rope, and that the bear would fall to the ground before reaching its limit. Then he was frightened lest the rope should break. These thoughts flew rapidly through his mind. Then there came a shock which nearly threw him from the tree. As soon as it had passed he looked anxiously downward, to see a dark form struggling in mid-air a few feet above the ground. It was the bear, which soon became quite motionless. He could hardly credit his eyes, but upon looking a second time he found the huge carcass still there, helpless now.

The danger over, Archie felt very weak from reaction after the excitement, and as he descended the tree he came near losing his hold several times. But that was really no evidence of fear. He had shown himself extremely courageous in the moment of great peril, and had acted with wonderful fortitude and forethought.

The dead bear's cubs were whining piteously under the tree, trying in vain to reach the lifeless form of their mother dangling above their heads. Archie watched his opportunity to drop to the ground beyond their clutch, not knowing but they might make him trouble in their distracted state.

A minute later he was running up the road as fast as he could go, though with different feelings stirring his bosom from those which had caused Lige Bitlock to use his long legs in covering the ground. After running a short distance he slackened his speed to a walk, and he was pursuing his way in this deliberate manner when he was discovered by his father and the others. At sight of him Mr. Stark ran forward and clasped him in his arms, with terms of endearment.

Showing considerable surprise at this greeting, Archie broke loose, saying :

" Did you get tired of waiting for the rope, father ? I had to leave it in the chestnut, but if you will let me have your stout knife I can soon get it for you."

" My bonnie boy ! what has happened ? The bear — where is it ? "

" Hanging high and dry, father, in the old chestnut in the hollow. Hilloa, Lige! I see you got home all right ! "

Then, upon being questioned, Archie told his story in a modest way, and was at once the hero of the hour. Around the Stark hearthstone that evening bear stories were the one absorbing topic of conversation. The skin of Mistress Bruin was kept for many years in the family, as a memento of her youthful conqueror.

Mr. Stark had been so wrought up over the affair that he declared no more work should be done that day. But, as it was then half past five, Norman did not feel that he was losing very much time. As Rilma came daily to recite her lessons, he waited as usual to go home with her. No sister could have been dearer to him than she, and those walks were never forgotten, when in later life they were both called into the midst of more exciting scenes. She delighted to go over with him her studies, gathering new light and interest from his kindly suggestions, while he told her whatever of interest had happened to him during the day. And dull and dreary as were those hours of toil in the stump-field, he found many an incident which pleased her.

One evening he had to tell her that Gunwad had been seen in the neighbourhood of Christo's lone cabin, but they felt easier when they found that he had not been at their home.

" Perhaps he will not try to harm us again," she said.

" We will hope not," he replied, though he knew only too well that such a hope was vain. The unprincipled deer reeve was not one to give up so easily.

His worst fears were realised a week later, when, as he and Rilma were returning from Mr. Stark's, they heard the sound of angry voices, as they approached their home. There was no mistaking the speakers. The first was their grandfather, whose tone, as well as words, showed that he was in a raging passion :

" Out o' ma house, ye uncanny fule, afore I brak' this staff ower yer thick heid ! "

The reply was Gunwad's, lower, and with an aggravating inflection in the speech :

" Lay so much as a finger on me ef ye dare, ye ol" Scot refugee. I say, strike me ef ye dare, ye cowardly furriner! "

" I must get there before grandfather strikes him, or it will fare ill with us," cried Norman, rushing toward the house at the top of his speed.