en the shutter, but it was immovable. Looking round, he saw
another candle on the window-sill opposite. He lighted it also, and
mechanically tried to force the shutters of the window, but they were
tight also.

Going to the door, which opened into the farmyard, he found it securely
fastened. Although he turned the lock, the door would not open.

Presently his attention was drawn by the glitter of something upon
one of the crosspieces of timber halfway up the wall. Going over,
he examined it, and found it to be a broken bayonet--left there by a
careless rebel. Placing the steel again upon the ledge, he began walking
up and down thoughtfully.

Presently he was seized with a fit of coughing. The paroxysm lasted a
minute or more, and he placed his arm upon the window-sill, leaning his
head upon it. Presently, as the paroxysm lessened, he thought he heard
the click of a lock. He raised his head, but his eyes were misty, and,
seeing nothing, he leaned his head on his arm again.

Suddenly he felt something near him. He swung round swiftly, and saw
Vanne Castine's bear not fifteen-feet away from him! It raised itself on
its hind legs, its red eyes rolling, and started towards him. He picked
up the candle from the window-sill, threw it in the animal's face, and
dashed towards the door.

It was locked. He swung round. The huge beast, with a loud snarl, was
coming down upon him.

Here he was, shut within four solid walls, with a wild beast hungry for
his life. All his instincts were alive. He had little hope of saving
himself, but he was determined to do what lay in his power.

His first impulse was to blow out the other candle. That would leave him
in the dark, and it struck him that his advantage would be greater if
there were no light. He came straight towards the bear, then suddenly
made a swift movement to the left, trusting to his greater quickness of
movement. The beast was nearly as quick as he, and as he dashed along
the wall towards the candle, he could hear its breath just behind him.

As he passed the window, he caught the candle in his hands, and was
about to throw it on the floor or in the bear's face, when he remembered
that, in the dark, the bear's sense of smell would be as effective as
eyesight, while he himself would be no better off.

He ran suddenly to the centre of the room, the candle still in his hand,
and turned to meet his foe. It came savagely at him. He dodged, ran past
it, turned, doubled on