zzle of my gun, or I shall seek him out in his lair."

Before dawn, on the next day, the young officer, being well armed and
equipped, took the field with his two companions. A servant had arisen to
give him breakfast. Every one else in the house slept. As, however, he
was about to leave the house, Ireneus heard a faint noise on the first
story. He looked up and saw a window. A white figure advanced to the
glass, and then withdrew, as if afraid of being seen. Doubtless this was
Ebba. Under other circumstances, Ireneus would have called to bid her
adieu. Since the conversation of the evening before, however, Ireneus
felt annoyed, when he thought of her, and left without seeming to have
seen her.

His guides led him across hills and ravines to a forest some leagues from
the village. When they had reached it, there was an eager discussion
between them.

Thenceforth they differed about the course to be followed. One wished to
go directly forward, and the other insisted that a detour should be made.
After a long discussion, they resolved to place Ireneus between them, and
advance in three lines, keeping, however, near enough together to be able
to unite against the enemy. They made Ireneus understand them by signs,
and he assented to their plan. One of them took a bottle of brandy from
his pouch, and offered it to the young officer, who, _par complaisance_,
placed it to his lips, and handed it to his companion; he gave it an
embrace, and passed it on to the third, from whom it received equal
attention. Ireneus, who also had brought some provisions, drank a glass
of generous wine to their health.

The three huntsmen then entered the forest. The boughs of the pines were
sufficiently far apart not to impede their passage. The ground, however,
was covered with underwood, and trunks of trees covered with snow on
which his foot slipped every minute. After a short time the peasants
slackened their pace, and sought for the tracks of the bear. Ireneus went
on, without observing that he was in advance. He soon found that he was
far ahead, and halted for them. As he looked round for them, he saw
something at the foot of a tree.

It was the bear, and an immense one. His paws were bent under his body,
his head was concealed in the snow, and he seemed asleep.

Ireneus rejoiced at this discovery, and recalling what Ebba had said,
smiled at the idea of acquiring, in the first attempt, the honor so much
desired in the country, of havi