“Good old Dick and Tom,” he exulted to himself.  “They’re two pals in a thousand.  I knew they’d get me out of this or die in the trying.”

But the bear, too, seemed to realize that something was happening.  His scent was phenomenally keen, and the wind was blowing directly toward him from the lake.  He sniffed the air for a moment and then, with a threatening growl, looked toward the water.  Then he rose slowly and backed in that direction, still keeping an eye on Bert.

The latter took alarm at once.  Here was a new complication.  If the bear should discover the swimmer, who was now nearing the shore, it might be fatal.  At all events his attention must be distracted.

With Bert, to think was to act.  He grasped the branch tightly and swung himself down at full length, so that his dangling feet were almost within the bear’s reach.  The grizzly, with an exultant “whuff,” galloped clumsily back to the tree and made a ferocious swipe at his enemy, who pulled himself up just in time.  Snarling and mouthing horribly, the bear once more moved toward the lake, torn between the desire to investigate and the fear that his victim might escape.  Once more Bert worked the same maneuver and again the bear “fell” for it.

But the crisis was past.  There was no need now to repeat.  Tom had reached the canoe, climbed into it, and with powerful strokes of the paddle sent it flying toward the mainland.  Not, however, till his heart had been thrilled with joy by Bert’s yell that rang far out on the water.

“I’m up a tree, old man,” called the voice that Tom had feared he might never hear again, “but I’m all right.”

“Thank God,” answered Tom, and tried to add something else, but couldn’t.

Once more on shore he jubilantly reported to Dick, whose delight at the news of Bert’s present safety passed all bounds.

The first rejoicing over, they hastily laid their plans.

“Are the guns ready?” asked Tom as he got into his clothes.

“They’re all right,” answered Dick.  “To make sure, I unloaded and filled them up with new cartridges.  Everything’s in perfect shape.”

They did not underestimate the task before them.  They were taking their lives in their hands in attacking this monster of the wilds.  But had he been ten times as big or ten times as savage they would not have hesitated an instant, with Bert’s life as the stake.

Knowing that the wind was blowing toward the bear from where they were, they deemed it wise, as a plan of campaign, to paddle to the other side of the island and come upon the foe from the rear.  If they could take him unawares, and pump a bullet or two into his great carcass before he had time to charge, their chances of success would be immensely greater.

Moving as warily as Indians, they dipped their paddles in the water and made for the upper end of the supposed island.  They rounded the point and disembarked.  Clutching their guns firmly and straining their eyes, as they gazed into the dark green recesses of the woods, they advanced, scarcely daring to breathe.