That night the wild things of the woods came out to hunt for food. A
cave bear came by and smelled the meat. He went to get it and fell
through the branches into the hole beneath.

The next day when Strongarm went to the hole, he found the great cave
bear in it. He killed the bear and carried the meat home to eat, and
the skin to sleep on.

Burr took the bear skin from him and laid it out on the ground. She
drove sticks down through the edges, all the while pulling the skin
tight. Then with her stone scraper, she scraped off all the meat and
fat. She left the skin stretched on the ground, and thought, "It will
dry there, and another day I will scrape it again. Then it will be
good and soft to sleep on."

[Illustration: She scraped off all the meat and fat]

She looked up as a man came running toward the cave.

"Oho, Hickory!" called Strongarm, "what is it?"

"A lion hunt!" shouted Hickory, and shook his spear.

Strongarm's bold face lighted up.

"Tell about it," he said.

"A lion has come among the caves by the river. He kills the people and
carries off the children. The women dare not go to the river for
water. The men are afraid to go alone to hunt. So they want help to