could get away from this new enemy, the gun in the hands of the boy
on the horse.

Every little while as he found he had gained on his pursuer the bear
would throw himself down, and with snarls and angry growls, take a
few awkward rolls; then be up and off again.

Once more the lad thought he was near enough to take another shot.

Releasing the reins and dropping them to the pony's neck, he
steadied the hand that held the gun with the left and fired.

"Oh, pshaw, I missed him!" he groaned. "That's too bad. I'm only
adding to his misery. Next time I'll get nearer to him before I try
to shoot."

He went at Pink-eye, applying every method with which he was
familiar to increase the pony's speed. Pink-eye responded as best he
could, and began climbing the hill that had now developed into a
fair sized mountain, making even more rapid headway than the bear
himself.

"Good boy," encouraged Tad. "We'll overhaul him if you can keep that
up. Steady now. Don't slip or you'll tumble me down the hill and
yourself, too. Steady, Pink-eye. W-h-o-e-e!"

"Bang!"

The bear was running broadside to him and the lad could not resist
taking another shot at it. Like the previous effort, however, he had