ince at
first sight neither a head nor limbs could be distinguished--only an
immense shapeless mass of brown shaggy hair.

The instant after a huge hairy limb was protruded below, and then
another both terminating in broad ungulated paws, that in succession
griped the rough bark of the tree, causing it to rattle and scale off.

Singular as its shape was there was no mistaking the animal that was
making this retrograde movement. It was Bruin himself, descending the
tree buttocks downward!

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

HAND TO HAND.

Alexis and Ivan, as they started back, simultaneously screamed out a
shout of warning to Pouchskin. Both, almost at the same instant, raised
their guns, and fired into the buttocks of the bear.

Pouchskin had heard their cries, but not the preliminary "sniff" which
the animal had uttered: he had been too eager in _listening inside of
the cave_, to hear aught that was passing without. He heard their
warning cry however, and the reports of their guns; but not in time to
get out of the way. Just as the shots were fired, he had half risen
from his recumbent attitude; but the bear at that moment dropped down
from the tree, and coming "_co-thump_" on the back of the old guardsman,
once more flattened him out upon his face!

Perhaps it would have been as well for Pouchskin, if he had quietly
remained in that attitude: for the bear had already turned from him, and
showed signs of an intention to retreat; but Pouchskin, deeming that he
was in the worst position he could well be in, scrambled suddenly to his
feet, and made a "grab" at his gun.

This show of fight on the part of his antagonist--and the belief,
perhaps, that it was Pouchskin that had so rudely tickled his
posteriors--roused the fury of the bear; and instead of exposing his
hind quarters to a second assault, he charged mouth open upon the
ex-guardsman. By this time, the latter had recovered his gun, and
promptly brought the piece to his shoulder; but, alas! the gun snapped!
The lock had been wetted in the snow-trap. It was a flint lock, and the
priming had got damped.

The failure only increased the fury of the animal; and a charge of
swan-shot, which Ivan at the same instant fired from his second barrel,
still further irritated him.

Pouchskin drew his long-bladed knife. It was the only weapon he could
lay his hand upon, for the axe, which might have served him better, had
been left above on the bank, where he had lopped the