What are you doing, my friend?"
Roldan had dismounted and was on his hands and knees. In a half moment
he stood erect.
"We are saved," he said.
"Ay? What?"
"It is a hole, my friend--large and deep and round. Did you put any meat
in your saddle-bags?"
"Ay, a good piece."
"Raw?"
"Yes."
"Give it to me--quick. Do not unwrap it."
Adan handed over the meat, then dismounted also.
"A bear-trap?" he asked.
"Yes, a natural one. Come this way, before I unwrap the meat."
The boys forced their way to the south of the large hole, dragging the
still terrified horses, who were not disposed to respond to anything
less persuasive than the spur. Roldan approached the edge of the
excavation and shook the meat loose, flinging the paper after it. As the
smell of fresh beef pervaded the air it was greeted by a growl like
rising thunder, and almost simultaneously the huge unwieldy form of the
bear hurled itself down through the brush. The boys held their breath.
Even Roldan felt a singing in his ears. But the grizzly, without pausing
to ascertain his bearings, went down into the hole at a leap. He made
one mouthful of the meat, then appeared to realise that he was in a
trap.
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