before. At the same time, however, he stumbled,
and fell over sideways. Then he tried desperately to scramble back to
his four feet, still full of fight.

Both the boys again put their guns in a firing condition. Even if
tremendously excited at the moment, they seemed to remember what was
necessary to do in order to accomplish this result.

But the bear was apparently unable to get up again. One of the bullets
must have most luckily reached a vital point in the region of his
heart. He was floundering about unevenly, while the little Mexican boy
sat and stared, still gripping that ridiculously small blade in his
hand.

"We got him that time, Frank!" exclaimed Bob just then, though he could
hardly believe his eyes at seeing the monster growing weaker. "He's a
goner, as sure as shooting! Look at him wobble! Wow! there he goes
over, to make his last kick! Frank, just think of me having a hand in
the killing of such royal game! A real grizzly! Oh! I can hardly
believe it!"

They now approached the spot where the little Mexican boy was getting
on his feet again. He was no longer white. The threatening monster
had been placed where he could do no more harm; but the little chap
stared uneasily at the two saddle boys. Evidently he was possessed of
a new cause for alarm in the mere fact of their unexpected presence.

The burro, meanwhile, had somehow managed to effect his release from
the rope that had become fast in the crevice of the rock. Still in a
panic because of the wild animal odor so close at hand, the laden
animal hurried off after the cayuse that had fled along the gully,
heading for where Frank had declared the canyon must undoubtedly lie.

And the boy really looked very much as though he, too, would like to
depart with equally scant ceremony.

"Hi! there goes the burro!" called out Bob. "Head him off, Frank; or
shall I jump on my horse and try to rope him?"

To the astonishment of both the saddle chums the Mexican boy threw out
a detaining hand, crying earnestly:

"Senors, all, there is no need to chase them. They know where to go,
believe me, and surely I must soon overtake them. You have saved my
life, Senors. Lopez, he thanks you both. Before now have I seen such
a bear; but this time I was caught dreaming. He would surely have
killed me if it had not been for the brave Americanos."

Frank was struck with the soft tones of the small chap, who did not
look as if he could be much mo