Onthank was not in general an unreasonable man, but danger makes men selfish.
"Give it to me," he said, in a tone of authority, and he tried to wrest it from Tom's hands.
"You shall not have it," exclaimed Tom, indignantly. "Take away your hand, or I'll shoot you!"
Of course Tom was excited, and would not have carried out his threat, but he was fully resolved to stand up for his rights.
Whether Ebenezer would have yielded the point, being stronger than Tom, is uncertain; but our hero shouted "Look out for the bear!" and the Yankee, in alarm, released his hold, and the two entered upon a race, in which the Yankee's superior length of limb enabled him to keep the first place.
Bruin was now on terra firma, and was on his way, wagging his great head, developing an alarming rate of speed. Tom was somewhat hampered by the weapon which he carried, and he was getting out of breath. Onthank was three or four rods ahead of him. The situation had changed, and it was now Tom that was in the greater peril.
"Don't give out, Tom!" called out Ebenezer, encouragingly.
"I won't," gasped Tom, "if I can help it."
"Is he gaining on us?"
"Yes," returned our hero.