[Illustration: The bear, having descended from the mast, had fallen upon the two men.]
"Help! help! Herming!" cried the mate.
"Help! Penellan!" cried Louis.
Steps were heard on the stairs. Penellan appeared, loaded his pistol, and discharged it in the bear's ear; he roared; the pain made him relax his paws for a moment, and Louis, exhausted, fell motionless on the deck; but the bear, closing his paws tightly in a supreme agony, fell, dragging down the wretched Vasling, whose body was crushed under him.
Penellan hurried to Louis Cornbutte's assistance. No serious wound endangered his life: he had only lost his breath for a moment.
"Marie!" he said, opening his eyes.
"Saved!" replied Perfellan. "Herming is lying there with a knife-wound in his stomach."
"And the bears--"
"Dead, Louis
