He placed the bundle on a chair beside the bed, leaned the gun up in one corner, deposited the other articles upon the table, and then pulled out of his pocket a note which he handed to Arthur.
"Now take yourself off," commanded that young gentleman.
Pedro vanished, and Arthur heard him laughing to himself as he passed through the hall.
"What does the rascal mean, I wonder; and who can be writing to me so early in the morning ?" Arthur looked at the bundle, which lay on the chair beside him, felt of it with his fingers, and then turned his attention to the note, which ran as follows: "Frank, Archie, and Johnny present their compliments to Colonel Vane, and beg leave to inform him that, after a struggle unequaled in the annals of hunting, they succeeded in dispatching the monster by which they were attacked yesterday.

They are, also, happy to announce that the dogs, which were so badly cut up during the fight, have so far recovered as to be out, and to take their regular rations.

They request the Colonel to accept the accompanying articles, including the skin of the grizzly bear, and to preserve them as mementoes of the most exciting event of his life.

They sincerely hope that the Colonel sustained no injury during his ride on his runaway horse." Arthur read this letter over twice, and, although he made no comments upon it, it was easy enough to see that he was highly enraged.

He sat up in the bed, and, with trembling hands, tore off the covering of the bundle, and discovered the skin of the gray wolf.
"By gracious!" exclaimed Arthur, jumping out on the floor.