hackneyed phrase--not the world of towns and great
cities, with their empty shows and vices--but the _world of Nature_;
and, in order that they should have the opportunity of becoming
thoroughly acquainted with this sort of world, he had traced out for
them a route that would lead them into its very wildest scenes, and
disclose to them its rarest and most primitive forms.

"By my word, brother!" exclaimed Ivan as soon as Alexis had finished
reading the letter, "we shall have travelling to our hearts' content.
Certainly, papa has adopted a strange plan to keep us out of the walls
of great cities."

"Yes," quietly answered Alexis; "there are not many cities where bears
abound."

"Such strange conditions!" added Ivan, "I wonder what father can mean by
imposing them upon us."

"Indeed, I hardly know myself. One thing only seems to explain it."

"What is that, brother?"

"You are aware, Ivan, of the interest that papa takes in all matters
relating to bears. As people say, it is almost a mania with him."

"Oh! the great picture in the gallery will account for that," said Ivan,
laughing. "But for a _bear_, you know, our papa would never have been a
_baron_."

"True: that may have been what first led him to take an interest in
these animals."

"And yet to impose upon us these queer conditions!" continued Ivan; "it
certainly does seem a little eccentric?"

"No doubt papa has his purpose," said Alexis. "Who knows that he may
not be intending to write a _monograph_ of the bears; and it is for this
he wishes to have full set of their skins--the complete costume of each
individual member of Monsieur Bruin's family? Well, we must do our
best, and procure them for him. It is not for us to inquire into the
motives of our dear father. It is our duty to obey his orders--even
though the task be ever so irksome or difficult."

"Oh, certainly, brother! I admit that; and I am ready to yield
obedience and perform any task dear papa may think proper to impose on
us."

Certainly there was some reason for the surprise with which the youths
had read the letter. Its contents might have appeared still more
whimsical to them, had it not been their father that had written it;
and, but for the fact that he had already given them a thorough training
in the natural sciences, they would have found it difficult, if not
altogether impossible, to carry out his instructions. A bear of every
known variety was to be killed and skinne