[Illustration: WHIRLING ABOUT HE TOOK QUICK AIM.]

The grizzly bear, as found in his native wilds, is killed with extreme
difficulty, and the only thing that seemed to affect the monster in the
present instance was the flash of the pistol in his eyes. He paused, and,
rearing on his hind legs, snorted, snuffed, and pawed his nose as if the
bullets were splinters which he was seeking to displace. Then, with an
angry growl, he dropped on all fours and resumed his pursuit of the author
of his confusion and hurts. The wounds incensed the brute, and he plunged
along at a faster rate than before, gaining so rapidly that there could be
no doubt as to the result.

Being without any weapon at all, there seemed but one hope for Fred, and
that was to reach his mustang in time to mount and avail himself of his
speed. For a hundred feet or so he ran down a rapid slope, between the
trees and rocks, until he reached the camping site, where he had a run of
a couple of hundred yards across a comparatively level plain to reach the
point where his animal was awaiting him.

In going down this wooded slope, the smaller size of the boy gave him
considerable advantage. Yet, so well did the grizzly succeed that he
reached the spot less than twenty feet in his rear, and, heading directly
for him, at once proceeded to decrease the distance still further. This
placed the question of escape by superior speed upon the part of the lad
as among the impossibilities, and it began to look very much as if his
race were run.

At this juncture, as if all the fates had combined against him, Fred,
while glancing backward over his shoulder, stumbled and fell. He sprang up
as hastily as possible, but the loss of ground was irreparable. As he