et 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.

"I guess you'd have run, too, if he'd been after you," he said.

"I guess I should. Bears are all very well in their place, but I'd
rather not mingle with 'em socially. They're very affectionate and
fond of hugging, but if I'm going to be hugged I wouldn't choose a
bear."

"You seem to think I was a coward for runnin' from the bear."

"No, I don't. How do I know you was runnin' from the bear? Maybe
you was only takin' a little exercise to get up an appetite for
dinner."

"I am faint and weak," said Hogan. "I haven't had anything to eat
for twelve hours."

"You shall have some food," said Joe. "Joshua, where a