"IT NEVER RAINS" 



179 



he'll soon locate them. Step by step from one 

 branch to another he climbed to the very top 

 of a good-sized tree, but no bears were to be 

 seen. When he came down he was angry, non- 

 plussed and mystified. We hurried along un- 

 til we came to their tracks, and one glance at 

 those told the whole story, for by the tracks we 

 saw where they had started for the tall tim- 

 ber with a rush. The wind had undoubtedly 

 turned just enough for the keen-scented mother 

 bear to detect danger to herself and her of]f- 

 spring, and she had not stood on "the order 

 of her going." 



What a sudden transition it was from the 

 calm confidence that possessed us of bagging 

 the three to the despair of finding them gone! 

 Oh, for a bear dog just now to follow their 

 trail, and bring them to a halt! He would be 

 worth his weight in gold. Such a dog we had, 

 but she was in no condition to hunt and there- 

 fore had been left to travel with the pack out- 

 fit, which was miles away from us at this 

 critical time when so much needed. 



There was no need in moralizing; it would 

 do no good. 



We went back after Charley and Billie, and 

 wended our way to the next camping place, 

 which we did not reach until late in the night. 



