gone for good," there came a thump on the roof 

 which told the prospectors that the bears were 

 still intent on the hams. The bears began to claw 

 the earth off the roof. If they were allowed to 

 continue, they would soon clear off the earth and 

 would then have a chance to tear out the poles. 

 With a few poles torn out, the bears would tumble 

 into the cabin, or perhaps their combined weight 

 might cause the roof to give way and drop them 

 into the cabin. Something had to be done to stop 

 their clawing and if possible get them off the 

 roof. Bundles of hay were taken out of the bed 

 mattress. From time to time Sullivan would set 

 fire to one of these bundles, lean far out through 

 the window, and throw the blazing hay upon the 

 roof among the bears. So long as he kept these 

 fireworks going, the bears did not dig ; but they 

 stayed on the roof and became furiously angry. 

 The supply of hay did not last long, and as soon 

 as the annoyance from the bundles of fire ceased, 

 the bears attacked the roof again with renewed 



vigor. 



Then it was decided to prod the bears with 

 red-hot drills thrust up between the poles of the 



225 



