Now Mr. Mabie had reached the boy, and the barrier of his heavy
repeating rifle would be between Jerry and the grizzly. Frank expected
to see the stockman drop on one knee and take aim at the bear, now very
close to the two dismounted ones. Nothing of the kind occurred. On the
contrary, he saw Mr. Mabie thrust the rifle into the hands of the boy,
who seemed to seize it eagerly.
Jerry had declined to shoot the grizzly when the beast was held by a
cordon of riatas. The conditions were now considerably altered, for the
huge animal was rapidly bearing down upon him, with the fire of
destruction in his small, blazing eyes. It was a case of bringing his
advance to a speedy stop, or suffering the consequences.
Frank's heart thrilled with pride as he saw his chum throw the rifle up
to his shoulder and glance along the glistening barrel. Mr. Mabie had
shown wonderful confidence in the boy's nerve to thus place the solution
of the problem in Jerry's hands.
Holding his breath, as he still tugged at the mouth of his refractory
mount, Frank saw the smoke shoot out from the muzzle of the gun as the
report sounded.
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