making your hair stand up straight. Fact is," added the old Indian, who
had never seen a person with his hair standing up like Sam's, "Indian
thinks you will have to keep killing bears until your hair gets over its
scare and lies down flat again."

This bit of humour from Mustagan amused everybody, and Sam himself
joined heartily in the laugh.

Thus they chatted until the guns and axes arrived. Then the work was
vigorously pursued. The tunnel was dug in further and further, as fast
as the snow could be hauled out. Every time the dogs came in with their
empty sleds they were permitted to remain a few minutes to scent the
bears. As they had quieted down after their first noisy actions it was
decided that they were still a good way off from the bears.

As a precautionary measure Memotas went out and cut a long, slim pole,
which was about twenty feet long. This he pushed in through the snow
ahead of the diggers. By this plan he was able to guard against any
surprise, for he had stated to Mr Ross that, as the snow was so deep,
the den would be found very warm, and he would not be surprised if they
found the bears so wide-awake that they would have a bit of a fight with
them ere they killed them. When this was heard it added much to the
excitement of the whole party, and so while everyone worked with a will
they were all on the alert for some sudden developments.

After Mustagan had pushed in the pole two or three times and found
nothing but the ordinary snow, which was being rapidly dug away, he at
length struck against something hard, which was about fifteen feet in
from the end of the now long tunnel. When the dogs came in for their
last loads Mustagan pulled out the pole and let the dogs put their noses
to the opening. They were simply furious, and at once began most
vigorously to dig into the snow around the hole. Of course, they were
quickly stopped and again fastened to the sleds, which on account of the
narrowness of the tunnel had to be backed in. Cautiously they worked,
and soon were only within four or five feet of the obstruction, whatever
it was, that prevented the pole being pushed along any further.

A consultation was now held, and it was decided to very much enlarge the
end of the tunnel, so that if there was to be much of a fight there
would be room enough for the men to stand up and easily move around.
This enlarging the tunnel and getting out the snow consumed the best
part of an hour. For