CHAPTER XI.
ARTHUR PLANS REVENGE.
Meanwhile, Arthur Vane continued his mad flight toward the settlement.
His hat was gone, his fine shot-gun had been thrown aside as a useless incumbrance, and his tomahawk and knife had dropped out of his belt; but he was too frightened to stop to pick them up.

No pause he knew until he reached Mr.Harris's rancho, where he reined up his panting horse, and electrified the family by shouting through the open window: "Grizzly bears! Grizzly bears!" "Where ?" breathlessly inquired Mr.Harris, running out on the porch.
Before Arthur could reply, Johnny's mother appeared; and a single glance at the frightened hunter and his dripping steed, was enough to awaken in her mind the most terrible apprehensions.

She knew, instinctively, that something dreadful had happened.
"O, my son!" she screamed, sinking down on the porch, and covering her face with her hands.
Mr.Harris did not stop to ask any questions then.

He knew the route the boys had taken in the morning, and his first thought was to start for the scene of the conflict, although he had little hopes of arriving in time to be of any assistance to the young hunters.
"Jose!" he shouted to one of his Rancheros, who happened to pass by the house at that moment, "call all the men to saddle up at once.

The boys have been attacked by a grizzly in the mountains." The gentleman carried his fainting wife into the house, and presently re-appeared with a brace of revolvers strapped to his waist, and a rifle in his hand.
"Did you see any of the boys hurt ?" He asked this question in a firm voice; but his pale face and quivering lips showed that the news he had just received had not been without its effect upon him.
"No, sir," replied Arthur.