Quick to make the most of their advantage, the boys sent the canoe close up to the struggling animal, fully determined to secure their prize, although they had no clear idea as to how they would accomplish it.
"Give him another shot, Ray," cried Jack, anxiously, for he was beginning to feel nervous lest the violent motions of the animal might imperil the stability of the canoe.
Ray hastened to comply; but being greatly flurried, went too hurriedly about getting the air-gun again ready for action, with the result that he disarranged its machinery, and rendered it unfit for further use.
"I've broken something, Jack!" he exclaimed, in a tone of keen regret, "and I can't fire it again."
"Then hit the brute over the head with the butt," suggested Jack, eagerly.
Excited as he was, Ray had too much regard for his gun to risk smashing it beyond all repair by turning it into a club. Instead of so doing he flung it into the bottom of the canoe and seized his paddle. It had a broad heavy blade, sharp at the edges, and being made of the best white maple, could be relied upon not to break easily. Swinging it high over his head, he brought it down with all his might upon the animal. His intention had been that the blow should fall just behind the ears, and if his aim had been true the struggle would have been at once ended. But the combined motion of the canoe and the plunging creature threw him out altogether, and the paddle, instead of inflicting a fatal stroke, came down on the side of the furry head, and glanced off without even stunning its intended victim.
"Botheration!" cried Ray, disgustedly; and he was about to swing the paddle up for another attempt, when the animal suddenly changed its tactics.
Hitherto it had acted entirely on the defensive; but now, doubly enraged, no doubt, by the stinging blow of the sharp-edged paddle, it rushed to the attack. Flinging itself upon the canoe, it got both paws over the gunwale and buried its teeth in the thin wood, growling horribly, and glaring at Ray with its one remaining eye in a most terrifying manner.
Jack thought that it was now full time for him to take a hand in the conflict. "Keep the canoe steady, Ray," he shouted. "I'll fix the beast."
So saying, he rose from his seat and put all his strength into a swing of his paddle, that had it taken effect would surely have decapitated the animal.