at with
the force by which it had been launched from Pouchskin's powerful arm,
and the impetus it had gained in its descent, it acted on Bruin like a
thunderbolt--not only knocking him over on his back, but carrying his
body along with it full ten paces down the gorge!

When the hunters at length reloaded their guns, and went down to where
Bruin lay among the rocks, they found him lying doubled up as dead as
mutton!

Having stripped him of his fulvous skin, they returned to Bischerre; and
next day packing up their _impedimenta_, they crossed through the passes
of Mount Libanus, and proceeded onward to the shores of the
Mediterranean Sea.

Home was now thy word; and right pleasant was the sound of it in their
ears. The grand bear-hunt was ended. They had accomplished the task
imposed upon them--having kept every condition of their covenant.

Of course they expected a grand welcome upon their return; and in this
expectation they were not disappointed; for many days and nights after
the baronial halls of the Palace Grodonoff echoed the sounds of mirth
and revelry.

In the museum our young hunters met their old acquaintances, from, all
parts of the world. They encountered them standing in different
attitudes--all mounted in the most approved fashion. The Syrian bear
was the only one not among them: as they had themselves brought his
skin--all the others having been sent home by "Parcels Delivery." In a
few days, however, the _ursus syriacus_ was set upon his legs; and the
collection was complete.

The news of the "Grand Bear-Hunt," with its curious conditions, soon got
abroad; and travelled all round the social circle of Saint Petersburgh.
Figuratively speaking, our young hunters were transformed into animals
themselves--they became "lions,"--and remained so for that season; but
even at this hour in the _salons_ of the great Russian capital, you may
often hear introduced, as a favourite topic of conversation--

"The Baron and his Bears." THE END.

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Bruin, by Mayne Reid

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BRUIN ***

***** This file should be named 27993.txt or 27993.zip *****
This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
http://www.gutenberg.org/2/7/9/9/27993/

Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England

Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
will be renamed.

Creating the works from public domain