The bear increased his speed.

“Now let him have it!” said Joe in a sharp, quick whisper.

Mr. Bickford fired, striking the grizzly in the face.

Bruin stood still and roared angrily.  He wagged his large head from one side to the other, seeking by whom this attack was made.

He espied the two friends, and, abandoning his pursuit of Hogan, rolled angrily toward them.

“Give it to him quick, Joe!” exclaimed Bickford.  “He’s making for us.”

Joe held his rifle with steady hand and took deliberate aim.  It was well he did, for had he failed both he and Bickford would have been in great peril.

His faithful rifle did good service.

The bear tumbled to the earth with sudden awkwardness.  The bullet had reached a vital part and the grizzly was destined to do no more mischief.

“Is he dead, or only feigning?” asked Joe prudently.

“He’s a gone coon,” said Joshua.  “Let us go up and look at him.”

They went up and stood over the huge beast.  He was not quite dead.  He opened his glazing eyes, made a convulsive movement with his paws as if he would like to attack his foes, and then his head fell back and he moved no more.

“He’s gone, sure enough,” said Bickford.  “Good-by, old grizzly.  You meant well, but circumstances interfered with your good intentions.”

“Now let us look up Hogan,” said Joe.

The man had sunk to the ground utterly exhausted, and in his weakness and terror had fainted.

Joe got some water and threw it in his face.

He opened his eyes and drew a deep breath.  A sudden recollection blanched his face anew, and he cried: 

“Don’t let him get at me!”

“You’re safe, Mr. Hogan,” said Joe.  “The bear is dead.”

“Dead!  Is he really dead?”

“If you don’t believe it, get up and look at him,” said Bickford.

“I can’t get up—­I’m so weak.”

“Let me help you, then.  There—­do you see the critter?”

Hogan shuddered as he caught sight of the huge beast only twenty-five feet distant from him.

“Was he as near as that?” he gasped.

“He almost had you,” said Bickford.  “If it hadn’t been for Joe and me, he’d have been munchin’ you at this identical minute.  Things have changed a little, and in place of the bear eatin’ you you shall help eat the bear.”

By this time Hogan, realizing that he was safe, began to recover his strength.  As he did so he became angry with the beast that had driven him such a hard race for life.  He ran up to the grizzly and kicked him.

“Take that!” he exclaimed with an oath.  “I wish you wasn’t dead, so that I could stick my knife into you.”

“If he wasn’t dead you’d keep your distance,” said Joshua dryly.  “It don’t require much courage to tackle him now.”

Hogan felt this to be a reflection upon his courage.