lighted Tim, "let him have another
broadside, Billy, and we'll finish him----"

The assault of the pony diverted the attention of the grizzly for a
moment from the youth to the assailant. He was thoroughly roused, and
made for the horse, who showed more sense than his master by dashing
off at full speed. This being beyond the attainment of the bear, it may
be said that Billy's escape was absolute.

The sudden check in Tim's words was caused by bruin, who had passed but
a few paces beyond the youth, when, seeing how useless it was to pursue
the pony, he wheeled and once more charged upon the master.

The moment had arrived for the young rancher to call his legs into
service. He was willing to run when the necessity was apparent, and none
could excel him as a sprinter--that is, none of his kind.

He assuredly would have been overtaken before he could climb any of the
bowlders or rocks, or get out of the path, had not a bullet bored its
way directly through the brain of the grizzly, and brought him to earth
at the moment when the life of the fugitive hung on a thread.

CHAPTER VIII.

STARCUS.

Warren Starr was terrified for the moment by the peril of his companion.
While running toward him he saw the grizzly rise partly on his haunches
to seize Tim, who was within his grasp, but at that instant the brute
toppled over, and with one or two struggles was dead.

It was an exciting moment, but a singular discovery came to young
Starr--the shot that slew the bear was fired neither by himself nor Tim!

Without waiting to investigate, he dashed to where his panting friend
was looking down at the fallen monster, as if uncertain what to do.

"Gracious, Tim!" called Warren, as he came up, "that was the closest
call you ever had."

"It's qu'ar," replied the other, "that after we had pumped about a ton
of lead into him without hurting the spalpeen, he should dhrop down from
a single shot."

"That's because it was aimed right."

"But ye had no bitter chance than meself, nor what ye also was given a
few minutes ago."

"But it was not I, Tim, who fired the last shot."

"What are ye talking about?" demanded the other. "I had no chance to
shoot me rifle, and who ilse could have done the same?"

"But I tell you I did not fire; I was about to do so, when someone else
saved me the trouble; I am sure I couldn't have done any better than I
did before."

"Thin who was the mon?"

The question naturally caused the cou