It was an exciting moment, but a singular discovery came to young Starr—the shot that slew the bear was fired neither by himself nor Tim!
Without waiting to investigate, he dashed to where his panting friend was looking down at the fallen monster, as if uncertain what to do.
"Gracious, Tim!" called Warren, as he came up, "that was the closest call you ever had."
"It's qu'ar," replied the other, "that after we had pumped about a ton of lead into him without hurting the spalpeen, he should dhrop down from a single shot."
"That's because it was aimed right."
"But ye had no bitter chance than meself, nor what ye also was given a few minutes ago."
"But it was not I, Tim, who fired the last shot."
"What are ye talking about?" demanded the other. "I had no chance to shoot me rifle, and who ilse could have done the same?"
"But I tell you I did not fire; I was about to do so, when someone else saved me the trouble; I am sure I couldn't have done any better than I did before."
"Thin who was the mon?"