There was undoubtedly going to be a very much astonished bear racing for the tops of the Rocky Mountains in another moment or two, and between this thought and the picture of Bruce's long lank figure snaking its way upward foot by foot the humour of the situation fell upon Langdon.

Finally Bruce reached the rock.
The long knife-blade gleamed in the sun; then it shot forward and a half inch of steel buried itself in the bear's rump.

What followed in the next thirty seconds Langdon would never forget.

The bear made no movement.

Bruce jabbed again.