Lyttleton cordially hated Clendenin, but endeavored to conceal
his dislike and ill-will under the mask of friendship, haunting
the doctor's office all through the winter and spring with nearly
as great persistency as during the first week of his sojourn in
Chillicothe.
He indulged a like feeling toward Dale, though to a less degree;
hating him as a rival in love, Kenneth as that and something more.
Spring opened early. Bright, warm days with hard frosts at night
made the sap in the sugar maples run freely, and many farmers in the
vicinity of the town were busied in catching and boiling it down.
Then visits to the sugar camps became one of the popular amusements
of the young people.
Dale got up a party to go on horseback to one five or six miles away,
inviting Lyttleton, but taking care first to secure to himself the
honor of playing escort to Miss Lamar.
Lyttleton was very angry when he learned this, but having promised to
go, tried to console himself with the young lady he considered next
to Nell in beauty and fascination.
He managed to conceal his ill humor, the others seemed in high
spirits, and they had a merry time.
In returning they made a circuit through the woods. They were
following the course of a little stream when Dale, who was taking
the lead, suddenly gave a loud "Hurrah!"
"What is it? what is it?" cried the others, hurrying up.
"A bear's stepping place," he answered gleefully, pointing to some
deep indentations in the soft, spongy ground; evidently the tracks of
some large wild animal, and leading off from the water's edge into
the woods.
"A bear!" cried Lyttleton, horrified, "then let us hurry these ladies
home with all speed."
"Not much danger, sir," remarked a young fellow named Bell; "bears
are lazy at this time of year, and we all have our guns. If the
ladies are not afraid, I'd like very much to follow up the track and
see where his bearship lodges."
"So should I," said Dale. "However, we can note the spot and return
to it to-morrow."
"No, lead on; I'm not afraid," cried Nell. "He's likely to be in his
hole any how, isn't he?"
"Yes; unless he's on his way to the water here, for a drink. They
come after that about once in two or three days."
A consultation was held, and a majority being in favor of following
up the track, they did so, finding it led them to a large hollow tree
distant some few hundred yards in the depths of the wood.
Nothing was seen of the bear himself, but the young men, familiar
with his habits, made no doubt that he was inside the tree, and
promised themselves fine sport in hunting him out, and a grand
feast upon his flesh; the fat part of which is said to make a very
luxurious repast when boiled or roasted with turkey or venison.
Bell proposed to climb the tree, which was rough and knotted, and
look into the hole; but to that the ladies objected.
So they turned about and went home, the young men arranging on the
way for the proposed hunt.
The next day, their number augmented by the addition of Major Lamar
and Dr. Clendenin, they returned to the spot.
Bell, armed with a long pole sharpened at one end, climbed the tree,
the others looking on near by, each with his gun loaded and ready for
instant use.
"Here he is," cried Bell, peeping in at the hole in the tree. "Out o'
this, Sir Bruin! out I say!" prodding the creature with his stick as
he spoke.
The beast uttered a low growl, but did not move. But Bell continued
to punch, prick and order him out, until finally he obeyed, moving
heavily to the hole and slowly dragging himself out.
As soon as he was fairly clear of the hole, Dale and the major, who
had been selected for the duty, fired; taking aim so accurately that
the animal fell dead instantly.
Tig, Zeb and Hans were directed to take care of the carcass.
Bell, who upon starting the bear had slipped out on to a large limb
and nonchalantly awaited the shooting, dropped to the ground and with
the rest of the hunters moved on in search of other game.
"You are a daring fellow," observed Lyttleton admiringly, to Bell. "I
was really alarmed for your safety."
"Oh, I didn't feel myself in much danger," returned Bell, with a
light laugh; "for you see I had time to slip aside, after starting
him, before he could get clear of the hole, and I knew Dale and the
major would not miss their mark."
The party had traversed some miles of forest, shooting several deer
and a number of wild turkeys, when they came upon the "stepping
place" of another bear, and then upon bruin himself returning from
the stream where he had been slaking his thirst.
This one was of less amiable disposition, or wider awake than the
first, and when Lyttleton, who happened to be nearest, fired at it,
aiming so carelessly in his haste and excitement that he only wounded
without disabling it, the creature turned, rushed at him in fury and
rose on its hind legs prepared to give him a hug which would have
left no breath in his body.
But there was a sharp report, a bullet whizzed past him, almost
grazing his cheek, entered the creature's eye, penetrating to the
brain, and it dropped dead at his feet.
He staggered back pale and trembling.
"You are not hurt?" asked Kenneth's voice close at his side.
"Yes; no--I--I can hardly tell."
"Well done, doc!" cried the major, running up to them; "he's a big,
powerful fellow," looking down at the bear, "and could have given
a tremendous squeeze, such as would crush a man's bones to bits.
Lyttleton, I think Dr. Clendenin has saved your life."
Lyttleton stammered out some words of thanks, then moved away
muttering to himself, "Confound the thing, he's the last man I'd
willingly owe such a debt to!"