He pulled himself up with a last effort.

His legs would not support him; he shivered and swayed.

God, would they never get that window open! His senses were abnormally acute.

Another sound attracted him: the opening of the door, and a voice--Vanne Castine's--calling to the bear.
His heart seemed to give a leap, then slowly to roll over with a thud, and he fell to the floor as the bear lunged forwards upon him.
A minute afterwards Vanne Castine was goading the savage beast through the door and out to the hallway into the yard as Nic swung through the open window into the room.
Castine's lantern stood in the middle of the floor, and between it and the window lay Ferrol, the broken bayonet still clutched in his right hand.

Lavilette dropped on his knees beside him and felt his heart.