gave a roar that seemed to shake the whole island.

Whether the boy took aim or not, I never could tell, but he certainly
fired the rifle, and down dropped Bruin dead, and lay in the snow with
his great tongue hanging out, a marvellous sight to see.

The noise in the cave was fearful, but as soon as the girls had stopped
screaming, Frank told what had happened.

"I tell you what it is, girls," he said more than once, "there wasn't the
least bit of bravery about it. I just held out the gun, and off it went."

"Oh, but you were brave!" said Aralia; "and if you hadn't killed the
awful monster, we should all be dead now.

"No, no," cried Tom, "it was only Flossy that the bear wanted! He just
wanted a bit of seal for supper."

"Wowff!" barked Briton.

"Wiff!" barked Veevee, as much as to say: "No bear shall touch Flossy
while we are alive."

But nobody thought of sleeping any more, and as they were all very
hungry, Tom served out more snow.




CHAPTER V