looked back he saw that the colossal beast was so close that it seemed
that one sweep of his paw would smite the terrified fugitive from the face
of the earth.

It was a critical moment indeed, and the crack of the rifle from the wood,
which the pursuer and pursued had just left, was not a breath of time too
soon. Aimed by one who knew the vulnerable points of such a creature, and
by someone whose skill was unsurpassed, the leaden messenger crashed its
way through bone and muscle to the seat of life. The brute, which was
ready to fall upon and devour the young fugitive, pitched heavily forward
and rolled upon the ground in the throes of death.

Fred did not realize his delivery until he had gone some distance further
and looked back and saw the black mass motionless upon the ground. After
some hesitation, he then turned and walked distrustfully back to where it
lay.

He found the beast stone-dead, a rill of blood from beneath the fore-leg
showing where some one's bullet had done the business. The lad recalled
the sound of the gun which had reached his ear.

"That was the best shot for me that Mickey ever made," he muttered,
looking around for his friend.

But he was nowhere to be seen.

"Mickey must always have his fun," added Fred after failing to detect him.
"Instead of coming out at once and letting me know how he came to do it,
he fires the lucky shot, and then waits to see how I will act. My
gracious! he is a bouncer!"