d--killed, too, in its own
haunts and by their own hands; which, of course, meant that they were to
visit every country where bears are to be found, and obtain a skin of
each kind. Notwithstanding their youth both boys were skilled hunters,
and excellent marksmen. Himself brought up to the calling, their father
had early initiated them into the hunter's craft; and, in addition to
the knowledge of natural history, which he had imparted, he had taught
them habits of self-reliance--such as are only acquired by ordinary
individuals at the full age of manhood. Both were already inured to
such perils and hardships as are incidental to a hunter's life; both
could endure to go a day or two without food or drink--could sleep in
the open air, with no other tent than the canopy of heaven, and no other
couch than the grassy covering of the earth. All this sort of
experience they had already gone through, in the cold climate of their
own country; and it was not likely they would meet with one much more
rigorous anywhere on the earth. The young Grodonoffs had been submitted
to a training of almost Spartan severity--a perfect _Cyropoedia_--and
dreaded neither hardships nor dangers. They were just the youths to
carry out that singular programme which had been traced for them by the
paternal hand.

Was it possible, however to do so? This was their first query. There
were some very nice points in that brief chapter of instructions.
_Latitudinally_ they might traverse as circumstances required, but not
_longitudinally_. Under these limitations would it be possible to visit
the haunts of all the bears,--to cover, as it were, the whole area of
Bruin's geographical distribution?

That it was possible might be inferred, from the fact of their father
having issued the orders; but it was necessary for the young
expeditionists to set out with caution: else might they take a wrong
route, and be altogether unable to fulfil his injunctions. They must
_not twice cross the same meridian_. It was this quaint condition that
puzzled them, and rendered it necessary to guard against making a false
start.

Lucky it was that Alexis was an accomplished zoologist, and thoroughly
understood the geographical distribution of the genus _ursus_. But for
this knowledge, they would certainly have been puzzled as to the route
they were to take.

"Well, brother Ivan!" said Alexis with a smile, "had these orders been
issued when the great Swede publish