off his coat. The bear's claws had penetrated through the skin,
and had scored three gashes on his shoulder. But these, Luka said, were
of no great depth, and beyond making his arm stiff for paddling for a
day or two would matter little.

They at once set about skinning the two bears, put the four hams
carefully aside, cut off most of the meat, gave Jack another hearty
meal, and then retired again to their shelter.

"My heart was in my mouth when I saw him rushing at the tent; if he had
struck the boat, or thrown his weight upon it, it would have been a
terrible business."

"I was afraid too," Luka said. "I was just going to shoot again when you
struck him on the nose, and so gave me a chance of hitting him in a
vital spot. If it hadn't been for your blow I should hardly have stopped
him; he was so close that even if I wounded him mortally he would have
come down on the boat."

"Well, it is fortunate it has ended so, Luka; it will be a lesson to me
when I shoot a bear next to look out for its mate, and also not to leave
my spear behind me, or to advance towards a bear I think dead until I
have loaded my gun again."

For two days longer they had to remain in their shelter; but the third
morning when they awoke the wind had died away, and the sun was shining
brightly. As there was still some sea on, Godfrey determined to stay
another day and explore the coast a little. Leaving Luka to look after
the boats and goods in case any more bears might be in the
neighbourhood, he started with Jack. He was amazed at the quantity of
birds that he met with--thrushes, wagtails, warblers, chifchaffs,
fieldfares, and red-poles rose at every step. The air quivered with the
song of innumerable larks, which mingled with those of the
willow-warblers; snipe in considerable numbers sprang up and darted off
with a sharp cry from almost under his feet; plovers circled round and
round; ducks of various kinds passed between the shore, and, as Godfrey
supposed, inland swamps or lakes; martins in great numbers darted hither
and thither hawking for insects. Occasionally birds, which he supposed
to be grouse, rose with a loud whirr.

Short as was the time since the snow had cleared off the ground, spring
had come in with marvellous rapidity. The grass was already well-nigh
knee-deep, and flowers of various kinds were in full bloom. Where the
ground was comparatively bare of grass, it was studded with the yellow
blossoms of wild heart's-ease,