As Giant drew in sight of the trap something caught his eyes that brought him stock still in wonder.
There, fast in the trap, lay a small bear, and close at hand was another bear, evidently trying to get the prisoner free!
"Look out there, Giant!" sang out Snap, as he, too, saw the situation.
"Two bears, by all that is lucky!" ejaculated Whopper.
At the sounds of the boys' voices the free bear turned swiftly. Evidently he was in a rage, and for a good reason, for the bear in the trap was his mate.
"He is coming for you!" cried Shep. What he said was true; the bear was indeed coming for Giant. He stood up on his hind legs and confronted the young hunter. A moment more and his powerful paw must have knocked Giant down and perhaps have killed the lad.
But Snap had somewhat recovered from his astonishment, and raising his shotgun quickly, he pulled the trigger.
The dose of shot took the bear in the side of the face and stung him so bitterly that he fell back a few steps. But this was only for the moment. Soon he gathered himself once more and then turned upon Snap.
"Shoot him!" cried the young leader of the gun club and a second later came the crack of the rifle that Shep carried. The bullet pierced the bear's side and he rolled over and over in pain.
"Good for you, Shep!" sang out Snap. "Shoot him again, somebody!"