When Captain Josh and the bear disappeared over the bank the boys
stared in amazement, which soon changed to fear when they saw what the
animal really was. They crowded together, and it needed but a word to
cause most of them to rush panic-stricken from the place.
It was Rod who saved the situation. No sooner had the captain and the
bear reached the water, than he sprang forward, seized the rifle, and
leaped down the bank. He had much difficulty in keeping his feet, and
several times he thought that he would lose his balance and tumble
head-long into the pool below. He managed, however, to keep from
falling by digging his feet into the gravel, and thus step by step
moved quickly downward.
Rod knew something about the captain's rifle, as on several occasions
he had been shown how it worked, and once, which was a red-letter day
to him, he had been allowed to fire it off. It was quite fortunate
that the boy had this slight knowledge, which now served him in good
stead. Rod saw the bear rise on its hind legs, and he knew from
stories he had read that this was the ordinary method of attack. He
could not afford to lose a moment, he was well aware, if the captain
was to be saved.
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