The aperture was at the end of a slanting decline and several feet above his head.
To climb up that would consume time, and bruin, more agile than he, would certainly overtake him ere he had accomplished the exit.
In a flash, Will decided that but one way of escape lay open to him, and that was by dashing past the bear through the main entrance, beyond which a glance revealed Tom Dalton.
The cave narrowed as it came to this spot, and this passage way was almost completely filled by the bear’s enormous body.
The animal seemed ready for a second onslaught on the intruder, when Will, waving the torch so as to cause it to flame still more, again thrust it into the animal’s face.
Bruin roared with pain and rage and showed his horrible fangs, but retreated slowly.
“If I could only drive him to the open air,” murmured Will, tumultuously.
There seemed but little hope of this, however, for the bear at last appeared to make a sullen stand, and half-raised himself, as if to spring on Will.
The latter could see open daylight beyond. A few feet more and he believed he could rush past the bear in safety.
With a last, desperate movement he flung the burning torch square at the head of the bear.