I do not know, but I do not think a bear always occupies the same winter home, so we will not have to fight over our place." It was a really wonderful valley, where the decaying stone had made a rich assortment of small caves, many of them showing signs of former occupancy by large wild animals, and, after long searching, they found one that they could make habitable for themselves.

Its entrance was several feet above the floor of the valley, so that neither storm nor winter flood could send water into it, and its own floor was fairly smooth, with a roof eight or ten feet high.

It could be easily defended with their three rifles, the aperture being narrow, and they expected, with skins and pelts, to make it warm.
It was but a cold and bleak refuge for all save the hardiest, and for a little while Robert had to use his last ounce of will to save himself from discouragement.

But vigorous exertion and keen interest in the future brought back his optimism.

The hide of the deer they had slain was spread at once upon the cave floor and made a serviceable rug.