"
"Look! there he comes, Hugh!"
Even as Bud said this a bulky object rushed headlong out of the
cabin door. It was the bear, doubtless already half-blinded with
the bitter smoke that smarted his eyes and created a panic in his
mind.
Immediately the two boys and the soldier set up a series of whoops
that made the forest ring. Ralph, too, joined in, and waved his
hat from the roof of the cabin, even as Hugh pressed the button, and
snapped off the lively scene, with the frightened bear in full retreat.
Bud outdid himself in shouting, he was so tickled over the success
of Ralph's plan. Twice he raised the double-barrel shotgun belonging
to Ralph, which the other had placed in his hands for safe-keeping
before starting to evict the unwelcome guest who had taken to using
their shack during their temporary absence. Of course after what
Hugh had said, about not wanting to injure the bear, backed up as
he had been by the third scout, it was far from Bud's intention to
pull either trigger, and wound the poor beast. But just like most
boys he wanted to boast afterwards as to what "terrible things" he
could have done had he cared to take the trouble.
The bear must have received more or less of a shock, what with the
smoke, and that volley of shouts greeting his appearance outside
the cabin; for the way he galloped away was indeed comical.
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