fallen companion. He
did so as if to convince himself that she was dead. It was only for an
instant; but a precious instant that was to all three of the hunters.
It gave them sufficient time to take to a tree--each springing up to the
one that was most convenient. Alexis and Ivan being young and nimble,
easily accomplished this feat; but it cost Pouchskin an effort; and he
came very near making it in vain. He had got his arms over a branch,
and was drawing his great booted legs after him; but, before he could
raise them to a sufficient height, the bear had arrived upon the ground,
and reared upward to seize him.

Ivan and Alexis uttered a simultaneous shout of alarm. They saw the
shaggy forearms of the quadruped doubled around the legs of their
faithful follower; and were looking to see Pouchskin in another moment
pulled down from the tree. What was their delight, as well as
astonishment, on seeing the bear fall "slap" back to the earth--with one
of the ex-grenadier's great boots fast clutched between his paws--while
Pouchskin himself was seen gliding upward to the top branches of the
tree!

A shout of joy followed the cry of alarm, to which they had just given
utterance; and without another word all three hastened to reload their
guns.

Meanwhile the disappointed bear appeared determined to revenge himself
on the boot; and for some seconds continued to tear it--both with teeth
and claws--till nothing of its original shape remained. Then,
scattering the fragments over the ground, he desisted from this idle
employment; and rushed back to the trunk of the tree up which Pouchskin
had climbed. He knew--from having often made the experiment--that he
could not climb it; nor did he attempt to do so; but seizing the slender
trunk in his powerful grasp, he shook the tree backward and forward, as
if endeavouring to drag it up by the roots or throw it to the ground.

For some time our hunters were not without apprehensions that he might
succeed. The tree was not bigger than an ordinary pear-tree; and its
trunk vibrated from side to side, and bent over to such an extent, that
its roots could be heard cracking beneath the ground.

Pouchskin, far up in the top, was tossed backward and forward--as if he
had been a shuttlecock between two battledores--and it was just as much
as he could do to keep his hold among the branches, much less finish the
loading of his fusil, which he had only half accomplished when the
rocking