"How long will he stay there, do you think?" asked Jack, as the grizzly, grumbling angrily to himself, sat down at the foot of the tree, for all the world like a huge cat patiently watching a mouse hole.
"Dunno," grumbled Pete; "longer than we'll stay here, I guess."
Suddenly the bear seemed to tire of inactivity. With a savage roar he sprang at the tree, which bent like a sapling under his tremendous weight. To Pete's horror he distinctly felt the trunk crack.
"It's all off," he groaned aloud; "one more jump like that will finish us."
"When the tree hits the ground you run," whispered Pete to Jack. The boy nodded his head. He little dreamed what was in Pete's mind.
The acute mind of the grizzly soon perceived that his attack on the tree had been effectual. Roaring with dreadful note that sent a chill to Jack's heart, he charged once more.
There came a dreadful crashing, crackling, rending sound, and the small sapling gave way.
Like a stone from a catapult Jack felt himself strike the ground violently.
"Run, Jack, run!"