“Then,” Malchus said firmly, “we must dispose of the bear; we must have the cave.  We shall be safe there from their arrows, while, lying at the entrance, we could shoot any that should venture past the corner.  First, though, I will blow my horn.  Some of our men may be within hearing.”

Malchus pulled forth the horn which he carried.  It was useless, being completely flattened with the blow that the bear had struck him.

“That hope is gone, Nessus,” he said.  “Now let us get the bear to come out as soon as possible, and finish with her.  Do you stand at the corner with your arrow ready, in case the natives should try to surprise us, and be ready to aid me when she rushes out.”

Malchus went to the mouth of the den, struck his spear against the side, and threw in some pieces of stone; but, although the growling was deep and continuous, the bear showed no signs of an intention of coming out.

The Arab was an old hunter, and he now asked Malchus to take his place with the bow while he drove the bear out.  He first took off his bernous, cut off several strips from the bottom, knotted them together, and then twisted the strip into a rope.  Growing out from a crevice in the rock, some three feet above the top of the cave, was a young tree; and round this, close to the root, Nessus fastened one end of his rope, the other he formed into a slip-knot and let the noose fall in front of the cave, keeping it open with two twigs placed across it.  Then he gathered some brushwood and placed it at the entrance, put a bunch of dried twigs and dead leaves among it, and, striking a light with his flint and steel on some dried fungus, placed this in the middle of the sticks and blew upon it.  In a minute a flame leaped up.  “Now, my lord,” he said, “be ready with your sword and spear.  The beast will be out in a minute; she cannot stand the smoke.”

Malchus ran to the corner and looked round.  The natives were at a distance along the ledge, evidently with no intention of attacking a foe of whom they felt sure.  A taunting shout was raised and an arrow flew towards him, but he instantly withdrew his head and ran back to the platform.

A minute later there was a fierce growl and the bear rushed out.  The brushwood was scattered as, checked suddenly in its rush by the noose, the animal rose on its hind legs.  In an instant the spear of Nessus was plunged deeply into it on one side, while Malchus buried his sword to the hilt in its body under the fore shoulder of the other.  Stabbed to the heart, the beast fell prostrate.  Nessus repeated his blow, but the animal was dead.  Five young bears rushed out after their mother, growling and snapping; but as these were only about a quarter grown they were easily despatched.

“There is a supply of food for a long time,” Malchus said cheerfully; “and as there is a drip of water coming down in this angle we shall be able to quench our thirst.  Ah! we are just in time.”