The Boy and the Lynx 
levelled the spear and made a feeble lunge to- 
ward the brute. It sprang at the same moment, 
not at him, as he first thought—the torch and 
the boy’s bold front had had effect—it went 
over his head to drop on the ground beyond 
and at once to slink under the bunk. 
This was only a temporary repulse. Thor 
set the torch on a ledge of the logs, then took 
the spear in both hands. He was fighting for 
his life, and he knew it. He heard the voices 
of the women feebly praying. He saw only the 
glowing eyes under the bed and heard the growl- 
ing in higher pitch as the Beast was nearing ac- 
tion. He steadied himself by a great effort 
and plunged the spear with all the force he 
could give it. 
It struck something softer than the logs: a 
hideous snarl came forth. ‘The boy threw all 
his weight on the weapon; the Beast was strug- 
gling to get at him; he felt its teeth and claws 
grating on the handle, and in spite of himself 
it was coming on; its powerful arms and claws 
were reaching for him now; he could not hold 
out long. He put on all his force, just a little 
more it was than before; the Beast lurched, 
200 
