imed an
arrow at the heart of the bear and let fly. With a cry of pain and rage
it tore the barbed shaft from its bleeding side and rushed at him.
Before he could fit another arrow to the string, his heel caught on a
projecting root and he found himself sprawling upon the ground.
Springing to his feet, he attempted to recover his bow which had dropped
from his hand, but before he could pick it up, the infuriated animal was
almost upon him. Avoiding its outstretched paws, he ran toward the
river.

As he went crashing through the tangled underbrush, he felt for his
hunting knife. Although somewhat relieved at finding it still in his
belt, he knew that his strength and skill would be unequal to the task
of slaying the ferocious animal. His principal hope lay in reaching the
spot where Raven Wing had kindled the fire for their morning meal. Once
there ahead of the bear he could rely on Raven Wing and the loaded gun
he had left with him.

Soon, however, this hope disappeared. The bear was gaining on him. Due
to its great weight it easily crashed through the thick underbrush and
tangled vines that impeded his own progress.

Closer came the great lumbering animal and he could almost feel its hot
breath upon his neck as he fought his way through a dense thicket toward
the river.

Continuing on as best he could he came to an open space, covered with
wide flat rocks. A short distance ahead rose a giant boulder. Scattered
about its base lay a number of big rocks. Leaping upon one of them, he
managed to jump to a narrow ledge upon the almost perpendicular side of
the great boulder. From there he worked his way up to its flat-topped
surface by clinging to crevices and projecting pieces of granite.

CHAPTER VII

THE KILL

The bear had made straight for the big boulder. Discovering that even by
standing on its hind feet it could not reach the ledge upon which Hawk
Eye had leaped from the nearby rock, it came down on all fours and began
to circle the base of the boulder. On coming to a point where the base
extended for some considerable distance, it managed to climb up the
steep incline by means of its strong claws. At a point further up,
however, the flat surface of the summit projected like the rim of a hat
and forced the panting animal to merely cling to its position. At length
it managed to get one front paw over the edge. At once Hawk Eye stabbed
it with his knife. Roaring with pain, it pulled it down. After a few