WATCHING FOR BRUIN 227 



half moon, which at least once in every five minutes 

 was obscured by passing clouds? At best it would 

 have been sort of a gamble, with perhaps a fatal shot, 

 and perhaps only a broken leg, as at such close quarters 

 he must surely have received one or more bullets into 

 him before the fight was over one way or the other. 



The longest night will surely pass if we but wait 

 long enough, and our night was slowly passing. 



After midnight the weather turned very cold indeed, 

 and the discarded sail-cloth was again put in requisi- 

 tion. When the first faint glow appeared in the east- 

 ern sky, a tiny, piping note came from a little water 

 ousel in the willow brush across the river. 



The fish-hawk and the bald eagle both were early 

 risers, and away they started in search of their break- 

 fasts. Some crows, who had roosted in a bunch of 

 Douglas firs, flew slowly down from their wooded 

 heights to the banks of the river to feed on the car- 

 casses of the dead salmon, which lined both banks of 

 the running stream. 



Then we heard a bright, cheerful greeting of " good- 

 morning " from our scientist, who had shown the best 

 judgment of the three, because he had hunted out the 

 warm shelter of the cabin at 9 : 30 the night before 

 and had slept the sleep of the just until five o'clock in 

 the morning. He was accordingly rested and happy. 

 Kibbee was heard from a short time afterward, and his 

 story was soon told. 



