Bruin was after him without loss of time. Reaching the lower deck, Steve dropped the fresh meat in the big loop of rope that he had spread out on the deck, and quickly darted behind a hatch.
The bear seized the meat with an ugly growl. Steve gave the rope, one end of which was in his hands, a violent jerk and the next second the bear was floundering about the deck, fighting, pawing and uttering fierce growls, with the noose of Steve's rope drawn down tight over one of the animal's fore-legs.
Steve took a twist around a stanchion.
"The tarpaulin!" he shouted.
Not a man made a move to do the lad's bidding.
"Bob! Come down here. I want you! Quick!"
"I'm coming."
Jarvis was down the ladder in short order.
"What shall we do now?"