At all events he would try to bring about some change in their painful situation.
Cautioning his brothers to remain silent, he slipped down from his tree; and, with the stealthy tread of a cat, crept over the ground in search of his rifle.

He soon laid hands upon it; and then, returning to his tree, climbed up again.

The shaking of the branches as he did so, awoke the bear; who sprang to his feet, and rushed towards the tree.

Had he been a moment sooner, it would have been ill for Basil, for the snout of the animal, as he reared upward against the trunk, almost touched the boy's feet.

It was an "inch of a miss as good as a mile," and Basil was saved.