-which way, then?"

"Ah! that has yet to be determined. I cannot tell myself; and it will
take me some time before I can make quite sure as to what direction we
are to take on starting out--whether east, west, north, or south. It
will be necessary for me to examine a map of the world, and trace out
the boundaries of the different countries in which King Bruin holds
sovereignty."

"Ah! that will be an interesting lesson for me. Here is the map; let me
spread it out, and do what I can to assist you in finding our way."

As Ivan said this, he drew a large travelling map of the world from its
case, and opening it out, laid it upon the table. Both the youths sat
down; and, running their eyes over the chart, proceeded to discuss the
direction which, by the conditions imposed upon them, they must
necessarily take.

CHAPTER FIVE.

TRACING THE ROUTE.

"In the first place," said Alexis, "there is the brown bear (_ursus
arctos_). Him we might find in many parts of our own country--since he
is emphatically our `Russian bear'; but there is also a black bear,
which some naturalists say is a variety of the _ursus arctos_, while
others believe it to be a separate species, having given to it the
specific name of _ursus niger_--_ursus ator_ it is sometimes called.
Now, whether it be a species or only a variety, we must get a skin of it
all the same--since papa has definitely expressed it so."

"This black bear is to be found in our own northern forests, is it not?"

"Yes; it has been observed there; but more frequently in the mountains
of Scandinavia: and, as we might wander through all the north of Russia
without finding one, our best plan will be to proceed at once to Norway
or Lapland. There we shall be certain also of finding the brown bear,
and thus kill two birds with one stone."

"Say Lapland: I should like to see the little Laps, but where next? To
North America, I suppose?"

"By no means. There is a bear in the Pyrenees, and other mountains of
Spain--in the Asturias especially. It is also deemed by most
naturalists to be only a variety of the _ursus arctos_, but it is
certainly a distinct species; and papa thinks so. Some naturalists
would have it that there are only three or four distinct species in the
whole world. They might just as well say there was but _one_. I think
it better to follow papa's views upon this subject, and regard all those
bears which have permanent marks of distinction--whether