Frank had for weapons only a revolver and a knife.
He drew the revolver and fired point blank at the eyes. Before he could fire again it was struck from his grasp by a huge paw, and he had to fall back on his knife.
Another blow of the paw brought him to his knees, and he was obliged to clinch with his foe.
Meanwhile Randall and Wendel had grasped the situation.
The former tried to drag Frank from the dark passage, and in the struggle both man and bear emerged. This was a better chance for Frank.
The bear was of a monster black species. Frank was driving the knife into its carcass, but it seemed to have no effect.
It was Wendel who saved the day.
He luckily had his rifle with him. Rushing forward he placed it at the bear’s head and fired point blank.
The ball crashed through bruin’s brain and ended the struggle. Frank detached himself from the brute’s embrace.
By a miracle he was comparatively unharmed, having only a few hard scratches to show for his struggle.