246 
THE BED MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. 
they were to be " glazed," Solomon chuckled, and said 
he'd show 'em before long. 
One morning he announced that no more logs would be 
necessary, in his opinion, for either house. There were 
enough down to build both. As for himself, he guessed 
he would take a holiday. And, with his peculiar chuckle, 
he strolled off, rifle on shoulder. 
Late in the afternoon he returned, staggering under a 
queer burden. It was a large bundle, apparently wrapped 
in dark brown fur. 
" Thar ! " said Solomon, still chuckling. " Thar's your 
glass fer the winders ! " 
Nat would not be satisfied until Solomon explained 
himself. The backwoodsman untied the folds of the fur, 
which proved to be the skin of a good-sized bear, of the 
now familiar brown variety. Inside the skin was a 
rather unsavory-looking mass of flesh from the animal 
himself. This consisted of steaks, skilfully sliced off by 
Solomon, and a pile of intestines. 
"What on earth did you bring that home for? " asked 
Mrs. Button, after one look at his booty. 
" You'll see, ma'am, before night." 
Solomon, with the assistance of the boys, stretched the 
hide of the bear on the inside of one end of the hut, now 
nearly completed. Having no nails, he was obliged to 
drive wooden pegs through the pelt. He then proceeded 
to thoroughly clean out and wash the intestines, which 
he next cut open, and stretched to their utmost across the 
