frey fired. One of the bears rolled over, the
other charged at his assailants. Godfrey fired his second barrel, then
dropping his gun and grasping his spear, stood ready to meet the charge.
But the bear did not reach him, for as it rose on its hind-legs the
Ostjaks and Luka again shot their arrows, and the bear rolled over dead.
The two animals were placed on the sledge, the reindeer harnessed, and,
the Ostjaks taking ropes to aid it with its heavy burden, they returned
to the tent.

They had scarcely reached it when one of the other hunters returned with
news that they had come upon the track of an elk. The bears were at once
dragged into the tent, the entrance securely fastened to prevent a
passing wolf or ounce from tearing them; then, taking with them this
time all the dogs and the three sledges, they started, and in half an
hour came to where the chief and his remaining followers were awaiting
them.

"They came along here yesterday afternoon," the chief said to Luka.
"There is one big stag, and one young one, and three females."

After three hours' walking they came to a spot where the snow was much
trampled, and there were marks of animals having lain down.

"That is where they slept," the chief said. "They are travelling south,
but they will probably stop to feed before they have gone far; we may
catch them then." He ordered one of the men to stop with the sledges,
and the rest proceeded onwards.

[Illustration: GODFREY BRINGS DOWN AN ELK.]

Not a word was spoken now, and as they went they took the greatest pains
not to brush against any branch or twig.

The Ostjaks were now walking their fastest, and Godfrey had to exert
himself to keep up with them. Their footfall was so light as to be
scarce audible. After two hours' travelling they saw an opening among
the trees, and here some young pines were growing thickly. The chief
pointed significantly towards them, and Godfrey understood that the
animals would probably be feeding there. They now went slowly, and the
chief whispered orders that they were to make a circle round the opening
and close round on the other side as noiselessly as possible. He himself
would enter the thicket from the side on which he now was. The crackling
of the pine twigs would drive them out on the other side. Very quietly
they worked round and took up their stations, each standing behind a
fir-tree, and then waited.

They could hear the stamping of heavy hoofs and the occasional