so trifling that they are unnoticed. Had Jack
Dudley retained his Winchester in his grasp he would have been lost. It
would not have been alone the weight of the weapon, but its interference
with the free use of his hands. As it was, the latter were untrammeled,
and, though his feet missed a firm hold, he instinctively clutched the
craggy projections, and, with a supreme effort, drew himself over the
margin and beyond all danger of falling back into the canyon.

And where, all this time, was old Ephraim?

The remark just made concerning the effect of trifles was shown as
strikingly in his case as in that of the fugitive. Despite his enormous
weight and awkwardness of action, the grizzly without special exertion
could have made the leap that had just been exhibited before his eyes
had he been in his usual condition, but it has been shown that he had
been struck by several bullets. Though most of these inflicted little
more than flesh wounds, which under the circumstances were trifling, yet
others did effective work. This was especially the case with those that
found a lodgment in his head, which, big and tough as it was, lacked the
power of turning aside a rifle-ball, as the indurated back of an
alligator often does.

It is to be supposed that the enraged grizzly did not comprehend the
possible weakening of his colossal power through the effect of these
pellets, and it is quite likely that even with such weakening he would
have accomplished the leap of the canyon, but for the interference of an
incident which cannot be considered in any other light than
providential.

Fred Greenwood's anguish was for his companion, whom it seemed
impossible to help, despite the desperate effort he was making to do so.
He saw the grizzly lumbering after Jack, giving no heed to the shots he
sent after him, but steadily gaining upon the fugitive, whose fate hung
in the passing of the seconds. Fred knew what it meant when his friend
abruptly changed his course and began skirting the canyon in his frantic
hunt for a narrower place. The bear was so close upon him for several
paces that the terrified Fred stopped short, ceased shooting, and held
his breath, expecting the great beast to strike down his comrade. The
younger lad could do no more, and, staring at the two, he asked in agony
that heaven would not desert his friend.

Suddenly Jack Dudley rose like a bird in air. At the instant the monster
was upon him he made the leap, landing o