Drawing their keen-edged bowie-knives, they buried them to the hilts in any part of the bear's body they could reach.
Stung by the sharp pains, the monster reared on its hind legs again, lashing about viciously with its paws, emitting savage growls, awful in their fury.
But its raising up was the beast's doom.
Crouching low, dodging the terrible lunges as a prize-fighter dodges the blows of his adversary in the ring, the world-famous desperado watched his chance.
Suddenly he saw the monster's breast unprotected.
With a lightning movement, the bandit-chieftain leaped forward.
In his right hand he clasped his bowie-knife.
His arm, bent close to his body, shot out.
And the force of his spring drove the keen-egded blade to the hilt, straight through the bear's heart.
But so great was the power of resistance of the monster that, despite the steel in its most vital organ, it seized Jesse in a mighty embrace, holding him helpless as it staggered.