The bear was so close upon him for several paces that the terrified Fred stopped short, ceased shooting, and held his breath, expecting the great beast to strike down his comrade.

The younger lad could do no more, and, staring at the two, he asked in agony that heaven would not desert his friend.
Suddenly Jack Dudley rose like a bird in air.

At the instant the monster was upon him he made the leap, landing on the further edge, as has been told, and quickly scrambling upon solid foundation.

Had he been ten seconds later nothing could have saved him, for the grizzly showed no more hesitation than he in making the jump.
At the instant Fred read the brute's intention he brought his rifle to his shoulder.

Unsuspected by himself, the last cartridge in the magazine of his Winchester was in the chamber of the weapon, so that, if it failed to help, the service of the younger lad was at an end for the time, for it would be all over before he could bring into use any cartridges from his belt.
To make the leap to which we have referred the grizzly changed his position.