der," cried Juan, excitedly. "We'll have
her now, master. She didn't seem hurt a bit."

"Be careful," cried the Doctor. "Maude, help poor Joses. Go forward,
Bart, but mind. She may be fatally wounded now."

Bart was for staying to help the man who had so often been his
companion, but his orders were to go on; he knew that Joses could not be
in better hands; and there was the inducement to slay his slayer to urge
him forward as he ran with his rifle at the trail over the rocks, and
was guided by the savage growling he could hear amidst some bushes to
where the monster was at bay.

It was fast approaching the moment when all would be in gloom, and Bart
knew that it would be impossible for them to camp where they were with a
wounded grizzly anywhere near at hand. Slain the monster must be, and
at once; but though the growling was plain enough, the bear was not
visible, and ammunition is too costly out in the desert for a single
charge to be wasted by a foolish shot.

Juan, Harry, and Sam were all in position, ready to fire, but still the
animal did not show itself, so they went closer to the thicket, and
threw in heavy stones, but without the least effect, till Juan suddenly
exclaimed that he would go right in and drive the brute out.

Bart forbade this, however, and the man contented himself with going a
little closer, and throwing a heavy block in a part where they had not
thrown before.

A savage grunt was the result, and judging where the grizzly lay, Juan,
without waiting for counsel, raised his rifle and fired, dropping his
weapon and running for his life the next moment, for the shot was
succeeded by a savage yell, and the monster came crashing out in a
headlong charge, giving Juan no cause for flight, since his butt made
straight for Bart, open mouthed, fiery-eyed, and panting for revenge.

Bart's first instinct was to turn and run, his second to stand his
ground and fire right at the monster, taking deadly aim.

But in moments of peril like his there is little time for the exercise
of judgment, and ere he could raise his rifle to his shoulder and take
careful aim the bear was upon him, rising up on its hind legs, not to
hug him, as is generally supposed to be the habits of these beasts, but
to strike at him right and left with its hideously armed paws.

Bart did not know how it happened, but as the beast towered up in its
huge proportions, he fired rapidly both barrels of his piece, one loaded
with