Noll held his gun rigidly, though not by calculation. All but frozen with terror he would not have been capable of action.
So the flying bear struck squarely against the bayonet, hurling herself with her whole weight and momentum against the point of the steel.
But the bayonet did not touch a vital spot. There was still a big amount of fight left in the she bear.
As she lurched backward the huge beast almost jerked the rifle out of Noll's hands, for the bayonet was still deeply embedded.
At the instant of clubbing his gun Hal had had his cartridge in one of his hands.
Now young Private Overton loaded faster than ever he had been able to do in drill.
Bang! The sharp report rang almost deafeningly in the narrow confines at the mouth of the cave back of the ledge.
Hal had shot his bear, though he had not inflicted a mortal hurt.
But bruin backed off, snarling, desiring to study the scene for a second or two before deciding on further attack.
That nearly stunning report had the effect of bringing Noll to his senses. He had a cartridge in his chamber. Cocking the piece, he pulled the trigger feverishly.