With the cooperation of the stricken cub, they succeeded in their mission. They had a bear cub on the boat! There was no time to celebrate, though. For this whole time, the other cub had stayed stranded out in the water.
It was either too weak or too suspicious to make it to the boat. The men were exhausted from their efforts, but they were still only halfway done. It was time to turn their attention to the other bear.