early.
They are growling and snarling, and seem to say, `Be quiet and let us
sleep till it is time to get up.' We'll wake you so you will want to
get up in a hurry," added the old man with a chuckle, as he made his
final arrangements.

These were as follows: The men who had been using the shovels were
ordered to exchange them for their heavy axes. With these they were to
at once smash in a place large enough for Mustagan and Sam to step
through. They would each have one of the brightest torches, and so the
old man believed that the sleeping animals would crowd from the
bewildering light to the other side of the den. So the flint and steel
were struck and a light made by one of them, while the axemen now
vigorously broke through the thin glassy wall.

Soon an opening sufficiently large was made, and the old Indian and Sam
fearlessly stepped in, with guns and torches. As anticipated by
Mustagan, the bears, frightened by the brilliant torches, at once
crowded away from the dazzling flames. So he and Sam were safely in,
but it did not take him long to see that they were not altogether safe
in there. My, what a crowd of them! and bears of all sizes too.

"Chop away at the ice," was Mustagan's first command, as he and Sam kept
slowly edging their way around. So numerous were the bears that they
dare not think of letting go their splendid torches that were burning
brightly.

"We are going to try and drive them out," were his next words; and then
the old Indian shouted, "Look out, men, and be ready for them!"

Sam was cool and collected, for he had all confidence in Mustagan, but
he could not help being startled and surprised at the number of the
bears that lay there snarling and growling like a drove of pigs. The
size and beauty of the winter house was also a revelation. As the
winter had advanced the warmth of the bears had caused the icy walls and
roof to keep slowly receding, until now here was a capacious vault-like
room of clearest crystal. As the brilliant light flashed on it, it
seemed like some dream of fairyland. One look, however, at the
startled, growling bears showed that the fierce occupants were anything
but nymphs and fairies. Seeing their numbers, Mustagan quickly called
in a couple more men, with axes and additional torches. Pointing out a
very large one that seemed ready to begin battle at any moment, he said,
"You, Sam, you shoot him fair between the eyes."

Sam at once obeyed. Tremendo