ious animals given tongue, when Sakalar, through the
thick-falling snow and amid the gloom, saw a dull heavy mass rolling
directly toward the tent. He leveled his gun, and fired, after which
he seized a heavy steel wood-axe, and stood ready. The animal had at
first halted, but next minute he came on growling furiously. Ivan and
Kolina now both fired, when the animal turned and ran. But the dogs
were now round him, and Sakalar behind them. One tremendous blow of
his axe finished the huge beast, and there he lay in the snow. The
dogs then abandoned him, refusing to eat fresh bear's meat, though,
when frozen, they gladly enough accept it.

The party again sought rest, after lighting an oil-lamp with a thick
wick, which, in default of the fire, diffused a tolerable amount
of warmth in a small place occupied by six people. But they did not
sleep; for though one of the bears was killed, the second of the
almost invariable couple was probably near, and the idea of such
vicinity was anything but agreeable. These huge quadrupeds have been
often known to enter a hut and stifle all its inhabitants. The night
was therefore far from refreshing, and at an earlier hour than usual
all were on foot. Every morning the same routine was followed: hot
tea, without sugar or milk, was swallowed to warm the body; then a
meal, which took the place of dinner, was cooked and devoured; then
the dogs were fed, and then the sledges, which had been inclined on
one side, were placed horizontally. This was always done to water
their keel, to use a nautical phrase; for this water freezing they
glided along all the faster. A portion of the now hard-frozen bear was
given to the dogs, and the rest placed on the sledges, after the skin
had been secured toward making a new covering at night.

This day's journey was half on the land, half on the sea, according as
the path served. It was generally very rough, and the sledges made but
slow way. The dogs, too, had coverings put on their feet, and on every
other delicate place, which made them less agile. In ordinary cases,
on a smooth surface, it is not very difficult to guide a team of
dogs, when the leader is a first-rate animal. But this is an essential
point, otherwise it is impossible to get along. Every time the dogs
hit on the track of a bear, or fox, or other animal, their hunting
instincts are developed: away they dart like mad, leaving the line of
march, and in spite of all the efforts of the driver,