“We must keep him away!” announced Lieutenant Beverly.  “It would mean death to us all if he got to tumbling around and smashed some of the parts of the machine.”

As he said this he fumbled about his person, producing the automatic pistol with which he usually went on his flights; and without which few air pilots venture to enter into combat with enemy fliers.

Tom duplicated his act immediately, while Jack, at the same time, secured his weapon from the place where he kept it when in his seat.  So, after all, things did not seem to be altogether favorable to Bruin; and had the bear only known what he was up against possibly he would have found it discreet to back off and let the three strange creatures alone.

“Be sure to hold your fire, boys!” Lieutenant Beverly ordered, taking command.  “We must be like old Put at the battle of Bunker Hill, and wait till we can see his eyes clearly.  It’s going to be hard to drive off that big rascal with only pistols!  Aim for the spot back of his foreleg if you can; that may reach his heart!”

There was not much time for preparation, since the bear kept advancing at the same shuffling gait.  Tom tried shouting at him, hoping the sound of a human voice might cause the beast to alter his intention, and turn back.

The bear did stop, and thrust his muzzle further out as though to get a better whiff of the queer animals against which he found himself pitted.

“Didn’t go, Tom, for he’s coming on again!” cried Jack.

“Get ready to give him a volley,” the lieutenant ordered.  “Tom, move off a bit to the right, and I’ll go to the left.  That may upset his calculations some; and besides, we’ll have a better chance to bore in back of his forelegs.  Jack, stand where you are, and shoot when we do!”

“I’m game!” came the steady reply.

Both the others made a quick move, and the bear found himself facing three separate points of peril.  He growled fiercely, and came on again, straight toward the plane, which seemed to have aroused his curiosity.  Perhaps he fancied it was some monster bird that would afford him more than one good meal.

“Give it to him, everybody!” suddenly shouted Lieutenant Beverly.

Hardly had he uttered the last word than there was a rattle of firearms as the three of them discharged their weapons.  There arose a mighty roar of anger as the bear felt the sudden pain of bullets entering his flesh.

“Again!  He’s staggering, but full of fight yet!”

Once more the pistol shots rang out.  The bear was moving, but seemed to be growing quite weak and confused, for once he fell half over, though managing to recover and push on.

It took several more rounds before the huge bulk rolled over, gave a few spasmodic kicks, and then expired.

“Bully work, boys!” shouted Jack, as he hurried forward to take a close-up view of their victim.  “Gee whiz! but isn’t he a buster though?  Never did I dream I’d help bring down a real Arctic white bear!  And just to think of the queer conditions of this hunt, too, will you?  I wager, now, there never was one like it—­by airplane at that!”