climbed up on the little hillock between the two trees, and
began to pound it lustily with the butt-end of his gun. He listened
for a moment tremulously, and heard distinctly long, heavy sighs from
within.

His heart stood still. The bear was awake! Soon he would have to face
it! A minute more elapsed; Lars's heart shot up into his throat. He
leaped down, placed himself in front of the entrance to the den, and
cocked his rifle. Three long minutes passed. Bruin had evidently gone to
sleep again. Wild with excitement, the boy rushed forward and drove his
skee-staff straight into the den with all his might. A sullen growl was
heard, like a deep and menacing thunder. There could be no doubt that
now the monster would take him to task for his impertinence.

Again the boy seized his rifle; and his nerves, though tense as
stretched bow-strings, seemed suddenly calm and steady. He lifted the
rifle to his cheek, and resolved not to shoot until he had a clear aim
at heart or brain. Bruin, though Lars could hear him rummaging within,
was in no hurry to come out, But he sighed and growled uproariously,
and presently showed a terrible, long-clawed paw, which he thrust out
through his door and then again withdrew. But apparently it took him a
long while to get his mind clear as to the cause of the disturbance;
for fully five minutes had elapsed when suddenly a big tuft of moss
was tossed out upon the snow, followed by a cloud of dust and an angry
creaking of the tree-roots.

Great masses of snow were shaken from the swaying tops of the firs, and
fell with light thuds upon the ground. In the face of this unexpected
shower, which entirely hid the entrance to the den, Lars was obliged to
fall back a dozen paces; but, as the glittering drizzle cleared away,
he saw an enormous brown beast standing upon its hind legs, with widely
distended jaws. He was conscious of no fear, but of a curious numbness
in his limbs, and strange noises, as of warning shouts and cries,
filling his ears.

Fortunately, the great glare of the sun-smitten snow dazzled Bruin; he
advanced slowly, roaring savagely, but staring rather blindly before
him out of his small, evil-looking eyes. Suddenly, when he was but a few
yards distant, he raised his great paw, as if to rub away the cobwebs
that obscured his sight.

It was the moment for which the boy had waited. Now he had a clear aim!
Quickly he pulled the trigger; the shot reverberated from mountain to
mountai