I--" the sentence was never finished, for over
the snowy waste rang a voice like a bugle blast:
"Keep quiet, take heart, help is at hand; I am going to shoot the animal
and deliver you," and simultaneously with the voice four shots in rapid
succession rang out upon the early morning air.
There was a wild howl of pain, a terrible roaring bellow, a sudden dash
toward a dark figure hurriedly approaching, two more shots, and the bear
rolled over dying beyond power to harm, his red blood dyeing the white
snow in great pools. Halloran knew no more. His strength and endurance
seemed suddenly to leave him, darkness closed in about him, his hold
loosened and he fell backward down, down through space.
He did not know that a pair of strong arms caught him, thus saving him
from a broken neck. When he opened his eyes a few moments later, to his
intense surprise he found Lester Armstrong bending over him, and the
sight rendered him fairly dumb with amazement.
Before he could ask questions that sprang to his lips, Lester explained
to him that owing to the dampness of the place, the fire Halloran had
kindled had quickly gone out, thus saving the young man from being
burned to death.
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