dge of the nest; first on one side, then on another, and
evidently not liking what he saw. Once or twice he came very near
having a bullet sent at his head; but his restlessness hindered them
from getting a good aim, and for the time he was left alone.

Not for long, however: for he did not much longer remain upon his
elevated perch. Whether it was the smoke that he was unable longer to
endure, or whether he knew that the conflagration was at hand, does not
clearly appear; but from his movements it was evident the nest was
getting too hot to hold him.

And no doubt it was too hot at that crisis. Had he remained in it but
two minutes longer, an event would have occurred that would have ruined
everything. The bear would either have been roasted to a cinder; or, at
all events, his skin would have been singed, and, of course, completely
spoilt for the purpose for which it was required!

Up to this moment that thought had never occurred to the young hunters;
and now that it did occur, they stood watching the movements of the bear
with feelings of keen apprehension. A shout of joy was heard both from
Alexis and Ivan as the great quadruped was seen springing out from the
smoke, and clutching to a thick branch that traversed upward near the
nest. Embracing the branch with his paws, he commenced descending stern
foremost along the limb; but a more rapid descent was in store for him.
Out of the four bullets fired into his body, one at least must have
reached a mortal part; for his forearms were seen to relax their hold,
his limbs slipped from the bark, and his huge body came "bump" to the
ground, where it lay motionless as a log and just as lifeless.

Meanwhile the flames enveloped the nest, and in five minutes more the
whole mass was on fire, blazing upward like a beacon. The dry sticks
snapped and crackled--the pitchy branches of the pine hissed and
spurted--the red cinders shot out like stars, and came showering down to
the earth--while high overhead could be heard the vengeful cries of the
vultures, as they saw the destruction of their aerial habitation.

But the hunters took no heed of all this. Their task was accomplished,
or nearly so. It only remained to divest Bruin of his much-coveted
skin; and, having done this in a skilful and proper manner, they mounted
their roadsters, and once more took their route across the mountains.

On reaching the first village on the Spanish side, they parted with the
expert iz