Afterward Frank understood his motive.  Reddy was especially fond of him, though he also liked all of the other chums.  He believed that Jerry had secured enough honors in being given the chance to knock over the other bear, and it was his desire to see Frank even up the score.

Just in the nick of time the cowboy swung his legs up around the limb.  The horrible claws of the grizzly swept through the air not a foot below where he had hung.  Frank shuddered at the consequences had anything happened to bring Reddy within reach of such a powerful beast.

“Now get him, Frank!” gasped the one who hung on with arms and legs.

Neither Bluff nor Jerry thought to shoot a second time.  They seemed to understand that the game had passed them by, and that it was Frank’s turn.

When he saw the right chance the young sportsman pulled the trigger.  He had not made any mistake in judging just where he should aim, for with the report of his rifle the grizzly floundered, and fell over.

“Wow!  That did the business!” shouted Jerry.

“Hold on, boys!  Don’t get down yet!” called Mr. Mabie hastily, as he thought he detected a disposition on the part of either Bluff or Jerry to drop from their secure perches to the ground.

It was well they refrained, for already the monster was once more on his feet, and, roaring with fury, endeavoring to reach the enemies who clung there so tantalizingly, just beyond his extended claws.

“Give him another!” cried Reddy promptly.

Frank did; and wishing to end the beast as quickly as possible, he aimed to send the lead straight to the heart.  But he was compelled to use every bullet in his six-shot repeater before the giant received his quietus, and rolled over, to rise no more.

Frank had a queer feeling as he dropped to the ground and stood over his big game.  Deep down in his heart he envied his chum, because Jerry had been able to kill his grizzly while the beast was charging him.

“It may be all right,” he said to Mr. Mabie, “and it’s a good thing to get rid of these savage animals in any old way, but I hope I don’t take part in another affair like this.  He had no chance, poor old chap.”

The old rancher looked admiringly at the boy.

“Those sentiments do you proud, lad, and I appreciate them, too; but business, in my line, must go ahead of sentiment, and this old Charlie was doing me a bad turn.  My herds will rest easier now that he is gone,” he said feelingly.

Leaving Billy and Reddy to secure the hide of the second grizzly, the others returned to camp.  Restless Jerry tried the fishing again, and as before, success came his way.

“I’d give something to have my little Red Rover here, in that swift water,” sighed Bluff, as he and Frank sat on the edge of the bluff, listening to the rush of the river while it sped on its way to the lower country.