And small wonder, for with rapid
strides the black bear was making for them, as though to chew them both
up!
CHAPTER XXIV.
TOGETHER AGAIN.
It must be confessed that both Tom and Sam were much alarmed by the
forward move of the black bear. Up to this instant they had trusted the
beast would depart with the fox's carcass, without discovering them. Now
it looked as if they were in for a hot fight, and that without delay.
"Get behind the fire!" cried Tom, as soon as he could collect his
thoughts.
Sam had the shotgun pointed, and as the bear advanced he pulled the
trigger. The charge of shot entered the bear's left shoulder, making a
number of painful, but not dangerous, wounds. At once the beast let out
a snort of commingled pain and rage.
"You've done it now," came from Tom, and whirled his firebrand, to make
it blaze up. "Take a stick, quick!"
Instead of doing this, however, Sam fired a second time, this time
hitting the bear in the left hind leg. The beast dropped on all fours
and came to a halt while yet twenty yards from them.
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