though
some bears can ascend trees easily, they are clumsy and slow in
descending. Consequently the captain was high up before his enemy began
to climb. That was of little advantage, however, for in a few moments
the bear would have been up with him, had not Maikar, moved by the
consideration no doubt, that one good turn deserves another, dropped
quickly to the ground, picked up his bow and repeated the captain's
operation, with even more telling effect, for his arrow made the bear so
furious, that he turned round to bite it. In doing so he lost his hold,
and fell to the ground with such a thud, that he drove the arrow further
into him, and a vicious squeal out of him.

At this point little Maikar resolved to vary the plan of action. He
stood his ground manfully, and, when the bear arose with a somewhat
confused expression, he planted another arrow up to the feathers in its
chest. Still the creature was unsubdued. It made a rush, but the
sailor sprang lightly behind a tree, getting ready an arrow as he did
so. When the animal rushed at him again, it received the shaft deep in
the left shoulder, so that, with blood pouring from its many wounds, it
stumbled and fell at its next rush.

Seeing how things were going, you may be sure that Arkal did not remain
an idle spectator. He dropped again from the outer end of the bough he
had reached, and when the bear rose once more to its feet, it found a
foe on either side of it.

"Don't shoot together," panted Maikar, for all this violent action was
beginning to tell on him. "Do you shoot first."

This was said while the bear was in a state of indecision.

The captain obeyed and put another arrow in its neck. The bear turned
savagely on him, thus exposing its side to Maikar, who took swift
advantage of the chance, and, sending an arrow straight to its heart,
turned it over dead!

It must be remarked here, that all this shooting was done at such close
range that, although the two seamen were, as we have said, rather poor
shots, they had little difficulty in hitting so large an object.

"Now, then, out with your knife and off with the claws for the little
woman at home with the black eyes," said Arkal, wiping the perspiration
from his brow, "and be quick about it, so as to have it done before the
troops come up."

The little man was not long in accomplishing the job, and he had just
put the claws in his pouch, and was standing up to wipe his knife, when
the captai