It was no plan on Terry's part. He did it either instinctively or through sheer luck.
In the meantime the male bear, showing two fearsome rows of teeth, was crawling over the ledge from outside to get at Hal Overton.
Let it be frankly stated, Hal's teeth were almost a-chatter. He was scared all the way through, but he did not lose his head.
Shooting back the bolt of his rifle, he reached for another cartridge.
He had already used one, and only six to a man had been issued on this period of field duty.
There was no time to slip in the cartridge. Overton was compelled to leap up straight and club his gun.
Thump! Down came the butt of the weapon with a force that would have cracked the skull of a man.
But bruin merely stumbled.
Just then another thump sounded, followed instantly by a snarl of pain.
The she bear had sprung straight for Noll, but rifle and bayonet were in the way.