Just then he saw a dark object drop directly behind the bear from the ledge above.
It was Jack.
He held in his hand the hatchet, and Will saw him creep behind the bear until he had reached the animal.
The bear seemed about to spring upon Will when Jack lifted the hatchet.
Its sharp edge came down on the hind foot of the animal with terrific force, almost severing it from its body.
At the same moment a gun was fired from the upper ledge, doubtless in the hands of Hugo.
The bear turned with a horrible howl, and then, making a red track in the snow after it, fell down the steep incline.
It seems that Tom had alarmed Jack and Hugo at the ship in time to come to Will’s rescue.
Will reached the ledge again with Jack’s help, and the little party hurried down to the ravine where the bear lay.
They found the animal dead. The shot from the gun and the blow from the hatchet had killed him.