Lying perfectly still they presently heard a sharp snuffing noise, and a
minute or two later a bear came round a corner of the rock. Astonished
at the sight of the white object, the animal sat up on its haunches.

"Now!" Luka exclaimed, and discharged his arrow at the same moment that
Godfrey had pulled his trigger. The arrow struck the bear in the throat,
and such was the force with which it was sent that the head showed at
the back of the neck. Godfrey's bullet struck it in the chest, and the
bear at once rolled over. Thinking it was killed, he crawled from under
the boat and ran forward, but the animal suddenly rose to its feet;
running up alongside, he placed the muzzle close to its ear and pulled
the other trigger.

[Illustration: LUKA FACES THE BEAR.]

"It is dead now, Luka," he shouted as he bent over it. At the same
moment he heard a cry of warning, and was simultaneously struck a heavy
blow which stretched him on the ground beside the bear. It flashed
through his mind that his assailant was the female bear. He had heard
from the Ostjaks that the best plan, if attacked by an enraged bear, was
to sham death, and he therefore lay without moving a muscle as he was
struck down. He heard the twang of Luka's bow, and Jack's sharp
barking close to his ear. Then with a deep angry growl the bear left him
and rushed towards the tent. Godfrey at once sprang to his feet. He had
not brought his spear with him as he crawled out, but he sprang to the
fire and dragged out a brand. Luka had discharged another arrow, and
Jack was harassing the bear by snapping at its hind-legs. In terror for
the safety of the canoe rather than that of Luka, who could, he knew,
well defend himself, Godfrey leapt forward and struck the bear across
the nose with the brand. With a roar of fury it turned upon him, but as
it did so it exposed its side to Luka, who discharged another arrow
behind its shoulder. It rolled over and over, but again gained its feet.
The pause, however, had given Luka time to emerge from under the boat
with his spear in his hand, and running up he thrust it right through
the body, and the bear fell over dead. Then he ran to Godfrey.

"Are you hurt?" he asked.

"I am hurt a bit, Luka, for I felt a sharp pain as the beast knocked me
over, but I do not think it can be much. It was very lucky that we put
our fur jackets on again; if it hadn't been for that, I expect he would
have regularly laid open my shoulder."

He took