his target practice. The tough canvas resisted the bear's efforts,
and the fire was burning slowly. However, the tent seemed to be
ruined and the boys feared their rifles would share a similar fate.

"He's breaking out!" yelled Chunky, who was some distance to the
right of the others, now dancing up and down in his
excitement. "Look out for him!"

With a last desperate effort, the animal had succeeded in forcing
his way through the stubborn canvas.

"Look, look!" yelled Walter Perkins, greatly excited.

The spectacle was one that for the moment held the boys
spellbound. A mass of flame separated itself from the ruins of the
tent. With snarls of pain and rage the mass ambled rapidly away in a
trail of fire.

"The bear's on fire!" shouted Ned Rector.

"Help!" screamed Chunky.

Blinded by the pain and the flames that had gotten into its eyes,
the animal not seeing the lad, lurched heavily against him and Stacy
Brown went down with a howl of terror.

The boy, who had not been harmed, was up like a flash, running from
the fearful thing as fast as his short legs would carry him.

"Oh, that's too bad!" exclaimed Tad.