They had succeeded in tracing a bear up into a rocky ravine--the
entrance into which was not over ten or twelve feet in width. The
ravine itself was a steep descent leading up to the mountains; and its
bottom, or bed, was covered with a conglomeration of large rounded
boulders, that looked as if they had been rolled into this shape by
water. They resembled the round stones sometimes seen in rivers; and no
doubt there was a torrent there at times; but just then the channel was
dry, and not a drop of water appeared anywhere. There was no snow
either; as the place was below the line of snow; and they had only
traced the bear into it on information given them by some shepherds, who
had seen the animal recently enter it.
Belying upon this information, they kept up the defile, making their way
with difficulty over the loose pebbles. They had a hope that the bear
was still somewhere within the gorge; and that they might find him in
some crevice or cave. On each side rose high cliffs that almost met
over head; and our hunters, as they scrambled up the steep, examined
these cliffs carefully--expecting to perceive the mouth of a cavern.
The place was likely enough, for at every few yards they saw crevices
and deep cavities; but in none of them could they find any traces of
Bruin.
They had got about halfway through the ravine--and were still scrambling
upward--when a loud sniff drew their attention; and, looking in the
direction whence it appeared to have proceeded, there, sure enough, was
the identical animal they were after--Master Bruin himself. They saw
only his snout; which was projected out from the face of the cliff,
about twenty feet above the bed of the ravine. His whole head was
shortly after poked forth, and seen _en profile_ from below, it looked
as if there was a bear's head glued against the flat surface of the
rock, just as stags' heads are seen ornamenting the halls of grand
country mansions. Our hunters, however, knew there must be a cave
behind--in which was the body of the bear, though it was concealed from
their eyes.
The bear, after glancing at the intruders who had disturbed him, drew
back his head so suddenly, that not a shot could be fired in time. The
hunters, in order to get into a better position, hurried past under the
cave; and took stand several paces above it--where they were able to
command a better view of the entrance.
They were now on a level with the hole out of which the head had shown
itself; and without speaking a word, only in whispers, they waited for
the reappearance of the snout.
It was not long before they had the satisfaction of seeing it. Whether
from curiosity to know if they were gone--or with the design of sallying
forth in pursuit of them--the bear once more protruded his muzzle from
the hole. Fearing that he might draw it back again, and not give them
another chance, all three fired, and in such haste that two of them
quite missed the object. Only the bullet of Alexis had been properly
aimed; and this was seen striking the bear right in the teeth--several
of which were shot clean out of his jaws!
As the smoke cleared out of their eyes, the great yellow body of the
bear was observed out upon the little ledge that projected in front of
the cave; and uttering loud screams--expressive both of rage and pain--
the angry animal bounded down among the boulders. Instead of making
down the ravine--as our hunters expected--he turned upwards, and rushed
directly towards them.
Again there was no alternative but flight; and up the steep gorge they
must go. To make downward would be to run right upon the claws of the
infuriated animal; and upward was the only way left open to them.
All three started and ran as fast as they were able; and for a while
were in hopes of distancing their pursuer. But further up, the slope
grew steeper; and the loose stones became more difficult to clamber
over. Their breath, too, was by this time quite gone; and all three
were panting like "winded" horses.
It was impossible for them to go a step farther.
In despair, they halted; and turned to face the pursuer--all of them at
the same instant drawing their knives; and bracing their bodies for the
expected struggle. The bear, still growling and screaming, came on--
making way over the stones much faster than they had done. He would
have been certain of overtaking them, had they continued their race: for
he was scarce six paces behind them when they stopped.
No doubt it would have been a dangerous conflict, had it come off; and,
indeed, breathless as they were, they could never have sustained the
attack. Of course, they had no time to reload their guns, and did not
think of such a thing. Their determination was to defend themselves
with their knives; and perhaps they might have succeeded in doing so,
had there been an occasion. But there was not.
Before the bear could get up to them, a better idea had flashed across
the brain of Pouchskin; which he lost not a moment in carrying into
execution. Stooping suddenly, and flinging his knife out of his hands,
he laid hold of a large boulder--big enough to weigh at least half a
hundred--and, raising this to the height of his shoulder, he hurled it
down upon the bear!
The huge stone struck the animal right upon the breast; and what with
the force by which it had been launched from Pouchskin's powerful arm,
and the impetus it had gained in its descent, it acted on Bruin like a
thunderbolt--not only knocking him over on his back, but carrying his
body along with it full ten paces down the gorge!
When the hunters at length reloaded their guns, and went down to where
Bruin lay among the rocks, they found him lying doubled up as dead as
mutton!
Having stripped him of his fulvous skin, they returned to Bischerre; and
next day packing up their _impedimenta_, they crossed through the passes
of Mount Libanus, and proceeded onward to the shores of the
Mediterranean Sea.
Home was now thy word; and right pleasant was the sound of it in their
ears. The grand bear-hunt was ended. They had accomplished the task
imposed upon them--having kept every condition of their covenant.
Of course they expected a grand welcome upon their return; and in this
expectation they were not disappointed; for many days and nights after
the baronial halls of the Palace Grodonoff echoed the sounds of mirth
and revelry.
In the museum our young hunters met their old acquaintances, from, all
parts of the world. They encountered them standing in different
attitudes--all mounted in the most approved fashion. The Syrian bear
was the only one not among them: as they had themselves brought his
skin--all the others having been sent home by "Parcels Delivery." In a
few days, however, the _ursus syriacus_ was set upon his legs; and the
collection was complete.
The news of the "Grand Bear-Hunt," with its curious conditions, soon got
abroad; and travelled all round the social circle of Saint Petersburgh.
Figuratively speaking, our young hunters were transformed into animals
themselves--they became "lions,"--and remained so for that season; but
even at this hour in the _salons_ of the great Russian capital, you may
often hear introduced, as a favourite topic of conversation--
"The Baron and his Bears." THE END.