Then Joses’ rifle spoke, and the first bear reared up and fell over backwards, a second shot striking the hindmost full in the head, and one after the other the two monsters fell headlong, the first seeming to dive down, making a swimming motion with its massive paws, the second turning over back downwards.
They both struck the rock about fifty feet below the branch, and this seemed to make them glance off and fly through the air at a fearful rate, spinning over and over till they struck again at an enormous distance below, and then plunged out of sight, leaving Bart sick with horror to gaze upon the unfortunate Sam.
Chapter Twelve.
Sam gets a Fright.
Bart was brought to his senses by Joses, who exclaimed sharply:
“Load, my lad, load; you never know when you may want your piece.”
Bart obeyed mechanically as Joses shouted:
“Now then, how long are you going to sit there?”