The bear stood upon the verge of the precipice growling savagely.
Pomp was in a frenzy of fear and horror. He could not see what was to prevent his beloved master from going down to his death.
He would have rushed to the spot where Frank had stood but the bear was there.
At this moment the stillness of the gorge was broken by the shrill whistle of the Steam Man.
This was enough for Pomp.
In a moment he raised his rifle and fired at the bear.
Ordinarily, he would have been compelled to fire many times, but as chance had it, this single shot proved fatal.
It struck the bear full in the eye and went crashing through his brain.
The big brute went over the edge of the precipice and crashing down into the gorge.
Pomp heard plainly the crash of the bear’s body as it struck the bottom of the pass.