"

As they continued talking, they advanced towards the narrow isthmus that
connected the little peninsula with the mainland.

"What a pity," remarked Ivan, "that that great log is there! But for it
we might have seen his track in the mud crossing over."

Ivan referred to a prostrate trunk that traversed the isthmus
longitudinally--extending from the mainland to the higher ground of the
peninsula, to which it formed a kind of bridge or causeway. Certainly,
had it not been there, either the bear's tracks would have been seen in
the mud or not; and if not, then no bear could have passed over to the
peninsula, and their exploration would have been unnecessary. But,
although they saw no tracks, they had started to examine the wood pile;
and they continued on, climbing up to the log, and walking along its
top.

All at once, Alexis was seen to pause and bend his body forward and
downward.

"What is it?" inquired Ivan, who was behind, on seeing his brother in
the bent attitude, as if he looked at something on the log.

"The bear's tracks!" answered Alexis, in a low but earnest tone.

"Ha! you think so? Where?"

Alexis pointed to the dead-wood under his eyes--upon the bark of which
were visible, not the tracks of a bear, but dabs of mud, that must have
been recently deposited there, either by the feet of a bear, or some
other animal.

"By the Great Peter!" said Ivan, speaking cautiously, notwithstanding
his innocent adjuration; "that must be his tracks? It's the same sort
of mud as that in which we've just been tracing him--black as ink
nearly. It has come off his great paws--not a doubt of it, brother?"

"I think it is likely," assented Alexis, at the same time that both
looked to the locks of their guns, and saw that the caps were on the
nipples.

A little further along the log, the bark was smoother, and there the
track was still more conspicuous. The print was better denned, and
answered well for the footmark of a bear. There was the naked paw, and
the balls of the five toes, all complete. They no longer doubted that
it was the track of a bear.

It was just a question whether the animal had gone over the log and
returned again. But this was set at rest, or nearly so, by a closer
scrutiny. There was no sign of a return track. True, he might have
washed his paws in the interval, or cleaned them on the dead-wood; but
that was scarce probable, and our hunters did not think so. They felt
perfectly su