mouth of the bear's
cave, shutting him up, until an entrance can be dug into it from above.

In the summer time the mode is different. Then the hunter lies in
ambush, with his loaded rifle--for the Kamschatdale carries this
weapon--in such places as he expects the bear to pass. These are on the
banks of the streams and lakes that abound in fish; and as the bears
ramble along the edge of the water, or are even seen swimming or wading
into it, the patient hunter is pretty sure of getting a shot. Should he
fail to bring down Bruin at the first fire, the game becomes uncertain;
and sometimes dangerous: since the animal often charges upon the hunter.
Even though the latter may be concealed among the long reeds and
bushes, the sagacious bear, guided by the smoke and blaze of the powder
easily finds out his assailant. The hunter, however, never fires
without taking a deliberate aim. He carries a forked stick, over which
he rests his piece, and never fires off-hand. To miss would not only
endanger his life and the loss of his game, but what is also of
consequence to a Kamschatdale, the loss of his powder and bullet--costly
articles in this remote corner of the earth. In case of missing, he has
still his bear-spear and a long-bladed knife to fall back upon; and with
these he defends himself as well as he can--though not unfrequently
Bruin proves the victor, and the hunter the victim.

There are certain times when the Siberian bears become exceedingly
dangerous to approach. The season of rut--which occurs in the latter
part of the summer--is one of those; but there is another period of
danger--which, however, does not happen every year. When the spring
chances to be late--on account of a prolonged winter--and when the lakes
and streams remain frozen over, after the bears have come forth from
their hiding-places, then "ware Bruin" is a caution which it is prudent
to observe. The fierce animals, half-famished for want of their usual
diet of fish, roam over the country in all directions; and fearlessly
approach the "ostrogs," roaming around the balagans and jourts in search
of something to eat. Woe to the Kamschatdale that gets in their tray at
such a time--for the bear, instead of waiting to be attached, becomes
himself the assailant; and, as great numbers of these quadrupeds often
troop about together, of course the encounter is all the more perilous.

It was just in such a spring that our young hunters had arrived at