herb which they had come so far to seek, and John, clambering beside
him, bent curiously to peer into the cave. Suddenly a sound from
within made him start. The Hermit paused in his task, and both stared
motionless into the blackness of the cave. Presently the sound came
again,--a deep growl ending in a whine.

"Some animal in pain," whispered the Hermit to John. "Stay you here,
my son. I will discover what it may be."

"Nay, father!" pleaded the boy. "It may be some fierce creature; it
may hurt you. Do not go!"

The old man turned beaming eyes upon him. "Never yet have I been hurt
by an animal," he said gently. "My body bears only the scars of human
hands. I am not afraid. But do you stay here, my son. You have not
yet quite learned the language of dumb things."

"I shall go with you!" said John to himself. He seized the staff which
the Hermit had dropped, and followed close upon his heels.

Soon their eyes became more used to the darkness of the cave, with
which the Hermit was already familiar. Presently out of the shadows in
a far corner they spied two red eyes glaring upon them. Behind the
eyes bulked a huge, apparently shapeless form. It half rose as they
drew near, and again they heard the growl of anger. But as the
creature made a sudden movement, the growl turned into a howl of agony,
and it rolled back into the corner, whimpering.

John plucked the Hermit by his robe. "It is a bear!" he said. "I have
met them sometimes upon the highways, traveling with mountebanks. And