ar must be killed by one of
themselves; and, therefore, after a little explanation, the Quan
resigned his intention and stepped aside. His post, however, was
supplied by the ex-guardsman, who, poising his ponderous axe, stood
ready to deal a far heavier, and deadlier, blow than could be given by
any woodcutter in Scandinavia. Alexis took charge of Pouchskin's gun,
determined to fire it as soon as he had discharged his own rifle; and as
Ivan had one barrel loaded with ball and the other with slugs, it was
not likely, against such a formidable battery as was thus prepared for
him, that Bruin could manage to live much longer.

It now became a question whether they should wait patiently till the
bear came out, or whether they might not adopt some mode of tempting him
forth, that would act upon him more rapidly than the cravings of his
stomach.

There could be no harm in trying to reach and stir him up with a pole;
and for this purpose the woodcutter stepped aside to find one.

He very soon succeeded in procuring a long birch sapling--as long as an
ordinary fishing-rod; and having cleared this of its spray, he inserted
it into the cave. To the gratification of the party it was found long
enough for the purpose; for by the muffled feel it could only be Bruin's
fur that its point was buried in. It was just as far, however, as the
pole would reach; and as it was a slender sapling without any stiffness
in it, they were unable to do anything in the way of giving him a poke.
No doubt, had the entrance to his den been wider, even the tickling of
the pole would have caused him to "turn out;" for a bear, unless badly
wounded, will not stand much badgering. It was possible, in this case,
that Bruin suspected there was some trap set for him outside--indeed,
the noises he had been listening to for more than an hour, must have
admonished him that all was not as it ought to be; and this perhaps
rendered him more wary than was his wont. He might not yet be aware
that his door was open; for the roofed enclosure still kept out the
light as much as the _stalagmite_ had done; and although he might have
heard the icy mass giving way before the axe and spear, he might not
understand all that. It was necessary, therefore, to coax him as far as
the threshold--so that he might discover that the door of his chamber
had been opened for him.

The tickling of the pole, however, proved of no service; for, although
it drew from the huge brute