They retreated some yards, but recovered and advanced again to the attack.
This time they manifested less fear to the whistle, standing their ground.
Pomp saw that the crisis had come, and he picked up his repeating rifle.
With quick aim he pulled the trigger. One of the bears received a bullet in the shoulder.
But the wound only brought a maddened roar from the brute.
Rearing upon its hind legs it made an attempt to rush upon the Steam Man.
Throwing its arms about the Man the bear proceeded to give him a hug.
But it was not of long duration.
The bear’s teeth failed to penetrate the Man’s iron armor, and the hot iron burned into the bear’s flesh.
The air was instantly filled with the smoke and aroma of burning hair and bear meat.