Gradually the trail ascended until it came to the summit of a huge ridge.

Hardly had Rod reached the top when another trail cut across that of the sledge.
Deeply impressed in the softening snow were the footprints of a big bear! The first warm sunshine, thought Rod, had aroused the beast from his winter sleep, and he was making a short excursion from his den.

From where the bear had crossed the trail the sledge turned abruptly in the direction from which the bear had come.
Without giving a thought to his action, Rod began his descent of the ridge in the trail made by the bear, at the same time keeping his eyes fixed upon the sledge track and the distant forest.

At the foot of the ridge the great trunk of a fallen tree lay in his path, and as he went to climb over it he stopped, a cry of amazement stifling itself in his throat.

Over that tree the bear had scrambled, and upon it, close to the spot where the animal had brushed off the snow in his passage, was the imprint of a human hand! For a full minute Rod stood as motionless as if he had been paralyzed, scarcely breathing in his excitement.