In the meantime the man was reloading with all possible speed and soon had his rifle ready for a second shot. Feeling the necessity for doing his best, he ran in close to the bear and blazed away at bruin's head. But just as the rifle was discharged the bear dropped down, and the bullet flew over its mark. "You've missed him!" screamed Si, and then retreated still further, until a low-branched tree barred his progress. Without stopping to think twice, the former farm lad leaped into the nearest branches and mounted out of reach of the bear. Disappointed, the animal slipped around the tree and finally started to come up the somewhat sloping trunk. In his excitement, the boy had dropped his shotgun on the ground, so he had nothing with which to defend himself. "Shoot him, can't you?" he yelled to the man. "Hurry up, quick!" Maybe Dixon was reloading with all speed. But he was nervous and consequently took longer than if he had been cool. Before he was ready to fire again the bear was following Si to a still higher branch of the tree. The former farm lad was badly frightened and with good reason. The loss of one eye had made the bear furious and his one purpose now appeared to be to get hold of the youth and chew him up. "Can't you fire?" sang out the boy, when near the top of the tree. "I don't want to hit you," answered Maybe Dixon. "Tell you what, can't you drop to the ground and leave the bear up there?" "I'll try it," answered Si, and a moment later his body came crashing through the branches. As he passed the bear he hit the animal on the rump. This caused the bear to swing around and lose his balance, and boy and beast came down together on the ground. Maybe Dixon was close at hand, and before the bear could do more than roll over he let drive, this time putting a bullet into the animal's vitals. The bear got up, staggered toward Si, who quickly darted out of reach, and then tumbled in a heap and began to quiver. "I guess you hit him that time," panted Si. His face was as white as the snow. "I guess I did," answered Maybe Dixon. "But don't go near him. He may be shamming." After a few minutes the bear lay still and they approached with caution, and Maybe Dixon plunged a hunting knife into the animal's throat. Then they were certain the battle royal was at an end. "Gracious me, but that was a fight!" ejaculated Si, who was still trembling. "I thought sure the bear was going to eat me up!" "We were lucky that he didn't hug one or tudder to death, Si. He a putty big an' powerful critter, he is!" "We'll have a lot of meat now." "So we will, an' I am glad of it. I am tired of livin' on half rations." "So am I. Fresh meat is just what we need--to help along with the beans and flour." It was no easy task to get the big carcass to the cabin. They cut a tree branch for a drag and rolled the dead bear upon it. Then both took hold of the drag and started over the snow, taking to the smoothest trail they could find.