FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171  
172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   182   183   184   185   186   187   188   189   190   191   192   193   194   195   196   >>   >|  
ther, knocking the breath out of each as he came up to it, with a single "pat" of his heavy paws. In less than ten seconds the ground was quite cleared of the ravenous wolves. Only the dead ones remained on it; while the others, having got off to a safe distance, halted in straggling groups; and, with their tails drooping upon the grass, stood gazing back with looks of melancholy disappointment. Bruin, meanwhile, having settled his affair with the wounded wolves, ran up to his mate; and, throwing his paws around her neck, appeared to congratulate her upon her escape! And now did our hunters perceive that there were two cubs instead of one--that which still clung fast upon the mother's back, and another which was seen under her belly, and which she had been equally protecting against the crowd of assailants that surrounded her. Both the little fellows--about as large as foxes they were--now perceived that they were out of a danger--which, no doubt, they had perfectly comprehended. That upon the shoulders of the dam leaped down to the earth; while the other crawled out "from under;" and both coming together began tumbling about over the grass, and rolling over one another in play, the parents watching with interest their uncouth gambols. Notwithstanding the well-known ferocity of these animals, there was something so tender in the spectacle, that our hunters hesitated about advancing. Alexis, in particular, whose disposition was a shade more gentle than that of his companions, felt certain qualms of compassion, as he looked upon this exhibition of feelings and affections that appeared almost human. Ivan was even touched; and certainly neither he nor his brother would have slain these creatures out of mere wanton sport. They would not have thought of such a thing under ordinary circumstances; and it was only from the necessity they were under of procuring the skin that they thought of it at all. Perhaps they would even have passed this group; and taken their chances of finding another, that might make a less powerful appeal to their compassion; but in this they were overruled by Pouchskin. The old grenadier was afflicted by no such tender sentiments; and throwing aside all scruple, before his young masters could interfere to prevent him, he advanced a few paces forward, and discharged his fusil, broadside at the biggest of the bears. Whether he hit the bear or not, was not then known. Certain it was that
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171  
172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   182   183   184   185   186   187   188   189   190   191   192   193   194   195   196   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
appeared
 

throwing

 

compassion

 

tender

 

thought

 
hunters
 
wolves
 

Whether

 
feelings
 

affections


exhibition

 

broadside

 
looked
 

touched

 
brother
 

biggest

 
qualms
 
spectacle
 

hesitated

 

advancing


ferocity

 

Certain

 

animals

 

Alexis

 

gentle

 

companions

 

disposition

 

chances

 

finding

 

passed


scruple

 
Perhaps
 

afflicted

 

grenadier

 

Pouchskin

 
overruled
 

sentiments

 
powerful
 

appeal

 
procuring

forward
 

discharged

 
wanton
 
advanced
 

masters

 

necessity

 
interfere
 

prevent

 
ordinary
 

circumstances