over the ground at his right hand. He could not find it. Undoubtedly
it had fallen underneath the bear.

Tad determined to mate a desperate effort to escape. He felt as if
his hair were standing on end.

With a cry that he could not keep back, the lad whirled over and
sprang to his feet. As he did so he leaped away, running with all
his might until he had put some distance between himself and the
prostrate animal.

Realizing that he was not being followed, Tad brought up sharply and
dodged behind a tree. There he stood listening intently for several
minutes.

Not a sound disturbed the stillness of the night. The leaves of the
trees hung limp and lifeless, for no breeze was stirring.

"I wonder if he's dead," whispered the lad, almost afraid to trust
his voice out loud. "Maybe that shot finished him. I must find out
somehow."

Tad searched his clothes for matches, finally finding his match
safe. Next he sought to gather some sticks with which to make a
torch, but the only wood he was able to find was of oak and so green
that it would not burn.

"That's too bad," he muttered. "I'll have to try it with the
matches."