ight of the three bodies now upon it. "If I
kill him instead it would be a mercy, so here goes."

He raised his rifle, took careful aim, and was about to draw the
trigger, but forbore, as just then the report of Bart's piece rang out,
and the second bear raised itself up on its hind legs, while the
foremost backed a couple of feet, and stood growling savagely with its
head turned towards where it could see the smoke.

That was Bart's opportunity, and throwing himself upon his breast, and
steadying his rifle upon a piece of rock, he fired again, making the
foremost bear utter a savage growl and begin tearing furiously at its
flank.

Then Joses' rifle spoke, and the first bear reared up and fell over
backwards, a second shot striking the hindmost full in the head, and one
after the other the two monsters fell headlong, the first seeming to
dive down, making a swimming motion with its massive paws, the second
turning over back downwards.

They both struck the rock about fifty feet below the branch, and this
seemed to make them glance off and fly through the air at a fearful
rate, spinning over and over till they struck again at an enormous
distance below, and then plunged out of sight, leaving Bart sick with
horror to gaze upon the unfortunate Sam.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

SAM GETS A FRIGHT.

Bart was brought to his senses by Joses, who exclaimed sharply:

"Load, my lad, load; you never know when you may want your piece."

Bart obeyed mechanically as Joses shouted:

"Now then, how long are you going to sit there?"

Sam, who was seated astride the gnarled old limb, holding on tightly
with both hands, turned his head slightly and then turned it back,
staring straight down into the awful depths, as if fascinated by the
scene below.

"Here, hi! Don't sit staring there," cried Joses. "Get back, man."

Sam shook his head and seemed to cling the more tightly.

"Are you hurt, Sam?" cried Bart.

Sam shook his head.

"Why don't you speak?" roared Joses, angrily. "Did the beasts claw
you?"

Sam shook his head, but otherwise he remained motionless, and Bart and
Joses went round to where the tree clung to the rocky soil, and stood
gazing out at their companion and within some fifteen feet of where he
clung.

"What's the matter, Sam; why don't you come back?" asked Bart.

The man responded with a low groan.

"He must be badly hurt, Joses," exclaimed Bart. "What are we to do?"

"Wait a moment till I think,"