uch a move, and
unable to get the grip with his knees that a cowboy always secures, went
toppling over his head.

Frank, looking over his shoulder as he was borne rapidly away by his own
alarmed steed, saw Jerry scramble to his knees. At any rate, he thought
with relief, the other had escaped a broken neck in his ugly tumble.

Still, with that enraged grizzly bearing swiftly down upon him, in
spite of the one rope that still held taut, the position of poor Jerry
was not the most pleasant in the world.

Frank's first and only inspiration was to turn his horse around and rush
back to the assistance of his chum. It never occurred to him that being
without his own rifle, he would only be adding to the trouble by
offering Bruin a double sacrifice.

His pony, however, offered serious objections to facing that roaring
hurricane of a beast. Despite Frank's most strenuous efforts, he could
only twist the animal's head around, but not a step would the frightened
beast approach. Dancing there, he snorted his distrust and alarm.

But Frank plucked up new hope. He at the same time saw something else
that gave another aspect to the case. Jerry was not to be left alone to
his fate.

"Hurrah for Mr. Mabie!"

In his excitement Frank let out this shout. It was caused by seeing the
ranchman leap from the back of his own horse and rapidly run back toward
the spot where Jerry crouched, apparently too winded to get to his feet
and try flight.

Now Mr. Mabie had reached the boy, and the barrier of his heavy
repeating rifle would be between Jerry and the grizzly. Frank expected
to see the stockman drop on one knee and take aim at the bear, now very
close to the two dismounted ones. Nothing of the kind occurred. On the
contrary, he saw Mr. Mabie thrust the rifle into the hands of the boy,
who seemed to seize it eagerly.

Jerry had declined to shoot the grizzly when the beast was held by a
cordon of riatas. The conditions were now considerably altered, for the
huge animal was rapidly bearing down upon him, with the fire of
destruction in his small, blazing eyes. It was a case of bringing his
advance to a speedy stop, or suffering the consequences.

Frank's heart thrilled with pride as he saw his chum throw the rifle up
to his shoulder and glance along the glistening barrel. Mr. Mabie had
shown wonderful confidence in the boy's nerve to thus place the solution
of the problem in Jerry's hands.

Holding his breath, as he still tugged