he usual amount of water came down and some of it
hit the torch, extinguishing it instantly.

"Confound the luck," he murmured, and felt in his pocket for a match.

While he was searching for the article, he heard a strange noise
overhead, close to the waterfall.

He listened and the noise was followed by the unmistakable growl of a
wild beast.

A wolverine had strayed close to the waterfall and had slipped on the
rocks to a shelf below.

For a few seconds the ferocious beast clung to the ledge, then slipped
again and landed at Noel's feet!

The wolverine is one of the most ferocious beasts to be met with
anywhere. It is not unlike the bear in general make-up, but has a more
pointed head and a bushy tail. It is said that, generally speaking, a
wolverine will not eat anything else if it can get meat.

As soon as the wolverine smelled the presence of a human being he let
out a growl that seemed to strike to Noel's very backbone.

Letting the match he had pulled from his pocket drop, the young man felt
for his pistol and brought forth the weapon with all possible speed.

Bang! The weapon was discharged and the bullet clipped the wolverine on
the left side of the head. Then with a snarl that was almost a scream,
the ferocious animal hurled itself upon Noel.

"Help! help!" cried the young man.

He felt that he was in an exceedingly perilous position and that
assistance was absolutely necessary. In the darkness he thought he had
been attacked by a mountain bear.

The wolverine managed to reach his shoulder, but Noel made a quick twist
and freed himself. Then the young man fired a second shot.

The wolverine was now hit in the side, but the wound was far from fatal
or even serious, and it only made the creature scream louder. With
blazing eyes and gleaming teeth, it crouched low and prepared to spring
for Noel's throat.

The young man knew that almost all wild beasts are fearful of fire but
he did not know how the beast before him regarded water. Yet as he fired
a third shot he stepped close up to the rocks, so that the water from
the fall might pour over his person.

The third report echoed throughout the cavern as loudly as had the
others, while the bullet flew a foot over the wolverine's head. Then the
savage beast made a second leap at Noel and caught the young man by the
arm. The weight of the animal made Noel lose his balance, and man and
wolverine rolled over on the cavern floor together.

CHAP