mmitted
burglary, and robbed the eagles of their eggs or young, could not be
told. If he had done so, he could not have received greater objurgation
from the infuriated birds, that continued their noisy demonstrations,
until a shot fired from below admonished them of the presence of that
biped enemy far more dreaded than the bear. Then did they only widen
the circle of their flight, still continuing to swoop down over the nest
at intervals, and uttering their mingled cries of rage and lamentation.

The shot was from the gun of the izzard-hunter; but it was not till
after he had been some time upon the ground that he had fired it. All
four had previously dismounted and fastened their animals to the
surrounding trees. They knew that the bear was in the nest; but
although his retreat was now cut off, it was still not so certain that
they should succeed in making a capture. Had the bear taken refuge in a
fork, or even among thick branches, where their bullets might have
reached him, it would have been a very different thing. They might then
have brought him down at their pleasure, for if killed, or severely
wounded, he must have fallen to the ground; but now--ah, now! what was
to be done? The broad platform of the nest not only gave him a surface
on which he could recline at his ease, but its thick mass formed a
rampart through which not even a bullet would be likely to penetrate to
his body!

How were they to reach him with their bullets? That was the next
question that came under consideration. The odd shot had been fired as
an experiment. It was fired in the hope that it might startle the bear,
and cause him to shift his quarters--if only a little--so that some part
of his body might be exposed; and while the izzard-hunter was
discharging his piece, the others had stood watching for a chance. None
was given to them, however. The bullet was heard striking the sticks,
and caused the dust to puff out, but it produced no further effect--not
a move was made by the occupant of that elevated eyrie.

Two or three more shots were fired with like effect; and the fusil of
Pouchskin was next called into requisition, and brought to bear upon the
nest. The large bullet crashed up among the dry sticks, scattering the
fragments on all sides, and raising a cloud of dust that enveloped the
whole top of the tree. But not a sign came from Bruin, to tell that it
had disturbed him; not even a growl, to reward Pouchskin for the