HOEACE "COMES BACK" 161 



eloquent than a torrent of thanks, grasped his hand 

 and wrung it fervently. 



We heard all about the episode in camp that night. 

 Later we examined the carcass of the slain bear and 

 speculated on whose trap it was from which he had 

 so nearly escaped. We refought the fight all over 

 again a dozen times, comparing and criticising the 

 versions of the three envied participants. 



Horace's courageous part in the affair did not 

 lack spirited and enthusiastic chroniclers in Con- 

 way and Wallace. He became a hero over night, 

 and from this moment could be dated Wetherby's 

 complete rehabilitation in the eyes of the camp. We 

 remembered now that since "the renaissance," as 

 we dubbed the altered attitude first observed in him 

 after that night alone in the forest, Horace had been 

 a different person. Indeed, this encounter with the 

 bear was not entirely responsible for our change of 

 heart toward him. But it needed some such con- 

 clusive evidence of nerve to finally crystallise the 

 camp's changing opinion of the once despised axe- 

 man. He proved himself by this exploit, as Conway 

 put it, a "regular fellow." 



We moved to Diamond Creek on Thursday morn- 

 ing, the first of September. For a night or so be- 

 fore leaving we had missed old man Reed. We 

 could not understand why he had so abruptly ceased 

 his evening visits. I wondered if perhaps it might 

 not be in some way connected with his partner, Jake. 



