us tree, with its
superincumbent load of logs. The monster had been caught by the small
of the back--if such a back can be said to have possessed a small of any
kind--and its rage, mingled as it must have been with surprise, was
awful to witness.

The whole framework of the ponderous trap trembled and shook under the
influence of the animal's writhings. Heavy though it was, the bear
shook it so powerfully at each spasm of rage, that it was plainly too
weak to hold him long. In the event of his breaking out, death to the
trapper was inevitable.

Ian did not hesitate an instant. His chief fear at the moment was that
his comrades at the camp might have heard the roaring--distant though
they were from the spot--and might arrive in time to spoil, by sharing,
his victory.

Victory? Another struggle such as that, and victory would have rested
with the bear! Ian resolved to make sure work. He would put missing
out of the question. The tremendous claws that had already worked a
small pit in the earth reminded him of the collar and of Elsie. Leaping
forward, he thrust the point of his gun into the ear of the infuriated
animal and pulled the trigger. He was almost stunned by the report and
roar, together with an unwonted shock that sent him reeling backward.

We know not how a good twist-barrelled gun would behave if its muzzle
were thus stopped, but the common Indian gun used on this occasion was
not meant to be thus treated. It was blown to pieces, and Ian stood
gazing in speechless surprise at the fragment of wood remaining in his
hand. How far it had injured the bear he could not tell, but the shot
had not apparently abated its power one jot, for it still heaved upwards
in a paroxysm of rage, and with such force as nearly to overthrow the
complex erection that held it down. Evidently there was no time to
lose.

Ian drew his axe, grasped it with both hands, raised himself on tiptoe,
and brought it down with all his might on the bear's neck.

The grizzly bear is noted for tenacity of life. Ian had not hit the
neck-bone. Instead of succumbing to the tremendous blow, it gave the
handle of the axe a vicious twist with its paw, which jerked the hunter
violently to the ground. Before he could recover himself, the claws
which he coveted so much were deep in his right thigh. His presence of
mind did not forsake him even then. Drawing his scalping-knife, he
wrenched himself round, and twice buried the keen weapo