eturn with a fresh supply of provisions,
especially for the dogs. The night after the sledge had left, the dogs
barked fiercely for some time. They slept in the tent. Some of the
Ostjaks made pillows of them, others allowed them to lie upon them, and
they helped to keep the tent warm; the din when they began barking was
prodigious.

"What is it all about?" Godfrey shouted in Luka's ear.

"I think it must be a bear," Luka shouted back.

"Why don't they let the dogs out?"

"They would drive the bears away, and it is too dark to see to shoot
them. In the morning they will follow their track."

The dogs presently ceased barking and with low growls lay down again. As
soon as it was light the Ostjaks turned out and found great footmarks
round the tent. Before starting from the huts Godfrey had exchanged the
heads of their fishing-spears for the iron spear-heads they had
purchased. Loading his gun with ball, Godfrey with Luka and four of the
Ostjaks started in pursuit, taking six of the dogs, and a sledge, with
them. On his long runners he would soon have left the Ostjaks behind;
but Luka translated their warning that they must all keep together, for
as there were two bears it would be dangerous to attack them in lesser
numbers.

In about an hour they arrived at a dense thicket, and it was evident
that this was the lair of the bears until they took up their permanent
winter quarters in a hollow tree. The dogs were urged to attack them,
but could not be persuaded to enter far, confining themselves to barking
fiercely. "How are we going to get at them?" Godfrey asked.

The Ostjaks consulted together, and then they collected some dry pine
needles and twigs, and two of them went to the windward side of the
thicket and made a fire, upon which, as soon as it was fairly alight,
they threw some dead leaves mixed with snow.

"If they were to light the bushes themselves, it would drive them out
quicker than that smoke," Godfrey said.

"Not good, not good," Luka said earnestly. "Once catch fire, big flame
run through forest, burn miles and miles."

"I did not think of that," Godfrey said. "That would be a foolish
trick."

However, the smoke had the desired effect, and in a minute or two, two
bears burst out on the other side, growling angrily. The dogs rushed at
them, barking loudly but taking care to keep at a safe distance from
their paws. The bears both raised themselves on their haunches. The
Ostjak bows twanged and God