and his
up-reaching claw had torn the bark in a vain attempt to clutch the leg
that he only missed by inches.

But he was balked. He could not climb, and the tree was too big for him
to tear down, as he might have done had it been slenderer or younger. By
the narrowest of margins he had failed to add one more victim to those
who had already fallen before his ferocity.

Not that he had relinquished hope. He had lost in the open attack, but he
still had the resource of a siege. Soon or late he was sure his victim
would have to descend. His victory was only deferred. Back and forth and
round and round the tree he paced, growling fiercely, at times rearing
himself on his hind legs and tearing savagely at the trunk. His open
jaws, slavering with foam and showing his great yellow fangs, were full
of fearful menace, and his wicked eyes glowed like a furnace. His temper,
evil at all times, had been rendered worse by the fury of the chase and
disappointment at his failure. Baffled rage bristled in every hair of his
shaggy hide. At that moment he would have charged a regiment.

Bert settled himself in the crotch of the tree and gazed at his thwarted
enemy with a sensation of indescribable relief. He was drenched with
sweat, his clothes were torn by that wild race through the brush, his
breath came in gasps that were almost sobs, and his heart was beating
like a triphammer. He had looked into the very eyes of death and almost
by a miracle had escaped. For the present, at least, he was safe. His
giant adversary could not reach him.

Had he been entirely alone in this wild section of the mountains, or had
his whereabouts been unknown, his situation would have been hopeless.
The bear might settle down to a siege of many days, and he had powerful
allies in sleep and hunger. If wearied nature should assert her rights
and Bert in a moment of drowsiness topple from his perch, or if, driven
by starvation, he should make a last despairing effort to escape, the
chances would be all against him. The instinct of the grizzly told him
that, if not interfered with, time alone was all that was necessary to
bring his foe within his grasp.

But there were Dick and Tom to be reckoned with, and beyond them was
Melton, who would surely organize a party and come to his aid. He knew
that his comrades would not leave him in the lurch and that they would
risk their lives to save him from his perilous position. No doubt but at
that moment they were w