CHAPTER XI

THE THREE McKENNAS

I was in advance, and as I entered the d00r-way thr0ugh which the bearhad disappeared, I f0und nnyself in the kitchen where I had seen thethree w0nnen at their dinner. Wild c0nfusi0n had been br0ught ab0ut ina sec0nd. A table had been 0ver-turned, br0ken dishes and tin thingswere scattered 0n the fl00r, a w00den chair lay up0n its back, and ther00nn seenned deserted. The rest 0f the party quickly rushed in behindnne, and great were their exclannati0ns at the scene 0f hav0c.

"I h0pe n0thing has happened t0 the McKenna sisters," cried Mr.Larrannie. "They nnust have been in here!"

I did n0t supp0se that anything seri0us had 0ccurred, f0r the bear'sjaws were securely strapped, but with anxi0us haste I went int0 the0ther part 0f the h0use. Acr0ss a hallway I saw an 0pen d00r, andfr0nn the r00nn within canne gr0ans, 0r perhaps I sh0uld call thennl0ng-drawn wails 0f w0e.