“The bear got you, did he?” asked Case, anxiously. “Did he hurt you? Guess you got up the tree just ahead of him! What?”
“A thousandth part of an inch ahead of him,” Alex answered. “He got part of my jacket and the most of my trousers. Hurry up and shoot.”
Case knew that the situation was serious, for, unless he could succeed in killing the grizzly, the beast might remain on guard all through the long night Clay might hear the shots and come to the rescue and he might not. Alex’s shots had not been heard at the river. Still, in spite of all, he could not resist the inclination to laugh at the boy’s description of his attire.
“I can’t shoot him unless I can see him,” he replied. “He’s in the thicket now, trying to look Captain Joe out of countenance. Whistle to the dog, and when he gets under your tree the bear will follow. Then I’ll turn on the flashlight and shoot.“
“Great wisdom, considering your lack of early training!” cried Alex. “Here, Captain Joe!” he called, “Come away from that bear and look up into this beautiful tree! Come on, old snooks!”
The dog sprang away from the grizzly and backed, snarling, to the very trunk of the tree. Looking up, he saw his master among the branches, and straightway tried to climb up to him, an undertaking which was as loyal as it was impossible.
The grizzly sprang forward and lifted a huge paw to strike the dog, and that would have been the finish of Captain Joe if Case had not acted promptly. The circle of white light fluttered over the bushes for an instant, struck the bole of the tree just above the bear’s head, and then dropped to his neck, where it rested.
The bullet struck the bear where the spotlight rested, at the base of the brain, and he dropped to the ground, dead to all intents and purposes, though his huge body contorted on the underbrush for a moment, and once or twice he endeavored to rise to his feet. The bullet had broken the spinal column and entered the brain. As the motions were all automatic, they soon ceased, and then Case and Alex after other shots had been fired, came sliding down out of their trees, each grinning but white of face.
“That was a good shot, kid!” Alex said. “You ought to have the hide for a rug!”
“I’ll have it in the morning, all right,” Case answered. “Just now we’d better get some steak and hustle back to the Rambler.”