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Our fire was just within the cave, the smoke rising through the apertures
between the rocks that I had piled in such a way that they arched inward toward
the cliff at the top. The opening by means of which we were to reach the outside
was barricaded with a few large fragments which did not by any means close it
entirely; but through the apertures thus left no large animal could gain ingress. I
had depended most, however, upon our fire, feeling that none of the dangerous
nocturnal beasts of prey would venture close to the flames. In this, however, I
was quite evidently in error, for the great bear stood with his nose not a foot from
the blaze, which was now low, owing to the fact that I had been so occupied with
my lesson and my teacher that I had neglected to replenish it.
Ajor whipped out her futile little knife and pointed to my rifle. At the same time
she spoke in a quite level voice entirely devoid of nervousness or any evidence of
fear or panic. I knew she was exhorting me to fire upon the beast; but this I did
not wish to do other than as a last resort, for I was quite sure that even my heavy
bullets would not more than further enrage him--in which case he might easily
force an entrance to our cave.
Instead of firing, I piled some more wood upon the fire, and as the smoke and
blaze arose in the beast's face, it backed away, growling most frightfully; but I still
could see two ugly points of light blazing in the outer darkness and hear its
growls rumbling terrifically without. For some time the creature stood there
watching the entrance to our frail sanctuary while I racked my brains in futile
endeavor to plan some method of defense or escape. I knew full well that should
the bear make a determined effort to get at us, the rocks I had piled as a barrier
would come tumbling down about his giant shoulders like a house of cards, and
that he would walk directly in upon us.
Ajor, having less knowledge of the effectiveness of firearms than I, and therefore
greater confidence in them, entreated me to shoot the beast; but I knew that the
chance that I could stop it with a single shot was most remote, while that I
should but infuriate it was real and present; and so I waited for what seemed an
eternity, watching those devilish points of fire glaring balefully at us, and
listening to the ever-increasing volume of those seismic growls which seemed to
rumble upward from the bowels of the earth, shaking the very cliffs beneath
which we cowered, until at last I saw that the brute was again approaching the
aperture. It availed me nothing that I piled the blaze high with firewood, until
Ajor and I were near to roasting; on came that mighty engine of destruction until
once again the hideous face yawned its fanged yawn directly within the barrier's
opening. It stood thus a moment, and then the head was withdrawn. I breathed
a sigh of relief, the thing had altered its intention and was going on in search of
other and more easily procurable prey; the fire had been too much for it.
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