a bolt at the other side. He must be getting rattled."

"Don't you see, Jerry, they've got him lassoed? He wants to tackle any
one of those three cowboys, but he just can't, with as many ropes
pulling him in three directions."

"Talk to me about that, will you, Frank!" cried Jerry. "I never expected
to see a grizzly bear held up in a rope like a steer. Look at the game
little ponies on their haunches, and holding like fun. They seem
somewhat scared, too, pard. Between you and me, I don't blame 'em a bit.
I'd hate to think that big beast was aiming to get a grip on me."

It was just as Jerry said. The cowboys had headed the grizzly off so
that he was unable to gain the safety of the wild mountain gorges.
Doubtless he had been loth to leave his prey at the approach of the
riders, and this had contributed to his final undoing.

One after another three of them had dropped their ropes over the head of
the grizzly as he reared himself on his hind legs. The lariats stretched
like piano wires under the strain, and as the cowboys had taken up
positions in a sort of triangle they could keep the bear from making any
sort of rush.

"Watch and see the fun," said Mr. Mabie, who had made sure to fetch his
rifle along when coming from the ranch house; but he did not seem in any
hurry to utilize the same.

Will, of course, immediately made good use of his camera.

Meanwhile, wilder grew the exertions of the trapped grizzly. He was
snarling with rage. The foam gathered about his mouth, and Frank
shuddered as he saw the cruel teeth, not to speak of the long, deadly
and poisonous claws.

"Hey, Bluff! If you only had that gentle little knife of yours handy,
now would be a fine chance to rush in and have a tussle with that meek
grizzly! You know you told us all just how you meant to slay the
jabbercock with one straight blow."

Bluff did not make any verbal reply to this unkind thrust on the part of
Jerry, but Frank, looking at him, saw that his face was deadly pale, and
that he was staring at the terrible monster with whom the reckless
cowboys were playing as a cat does with a mouse. He knew Bluff was
feeling a chill at the thought of such a tragedy happening as his having
an encounter with a beast like that.

"What if the ropes should break?" asked Frank as the captive made a more
ferocious rush than usual, and the pony on the other side was dragged
several feet.

"Then there would be somewhat of a mix-up, and a case of every