The grizzly uttered an angry growl, and correctly guessing the quarter from which the attack had come, was fired with revenge. He started toward Tom, and our hero would have stood a slender chance had the great beast succeeded in reaching him. But the shot had done its work.
The grizzly had scarcely gone a rod when he staggered and fell in a great floundering mass upon the ground.
Tom was already up in the tree he had selected for a refuge before he ventured to look at his enemy.
His heart was elate with joy and triumph when he saw how effective had been his shot. It was no light thing for a boy not yet seventeen to bring down the monarch of the California forests.
The bear made a few convulsive movements, and then settled into the rigidity of death.
“He’s done for!” exclaimed the stranger joyfully, preparing to descend the tree. “He will never trouble us any more.”
“Then I’ll come down,” said Tom.
Together they met beside the huge beast.
Then the stranger, turning to Tom, said:
“My young friend, you have saved my life. That is a debt I never can pay, but I don’t mean to let it go unacknowledged. What is your name, and where do you live?”