CHAPTER XXI.
A WISE OLD OWL "What's the trouble, Tom?
Oh, stop them!" cried Grace.
"Let her finish it," answered Tom briefly.
"Sick 'em, Henry!" shouted Hippy Wingate, who saw the black bear humping himself across the camp, not yet having discovered what the uproar was about.

"What's this?
What's this ?" he cried, suddenly comprehending.
Tobe Skinner, with streaming face which Joe Shafto had hit with a pot of hot coffee, was sprinting for the timber, after having taken a shot at the bear with his revolver.

Following him came Chet Ainsworth puffing and raging, with Henry on his hind legs in close pursuit, making frequent swings with his powerful arms and soundly boxing the head of the fleeing man, and Joe Shafto prodding the bear to urge him on to further effort.
Neither Tom nor Hippy made a move to interfere, but Grace sped forward and placed a firm hand on the forest woman's arm.
"Stop him!" commanded Grace sternly.

"Stop him, I say! He will kill the man." "Serve the houn' right if the bear did.

I'll larn 'em to mind their business, the sarpints! Henry!" A sharp rap over the bear's shoulder slowed the animal down.