g to capture the fish--some
of them greedily devouring those they had already taken, and others
wandering restlessly about, or eagerly observing the movements of the
fish in the water. One and all of them looked fierce and famished,
their bodies showing gaunt and flaky, and their enormous limbs having a
lank angular appearance, that gave them a still greater resemblance to
heifers--only heifers that had been half starved!

CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR.

A SLEDGE-CHASE.

I have said that our hunters were for some time irresolute about how to
act. The Kurilski was inclined to withdraw from the spot and leave the
bears alone; and this of course was his advice to the others. He said
there might be danger in disturbing them--so many clustered together,
and in such a mood as they appeared to be. He had known them to attack
a large party of men under such circumstances, and give chase to them.
They might do the same now?

Our hunters, however, did not give full credit to this story of their
guide--thinking it might have its origin in the fears of the Kurilski,
whom they knew to be of a timid race; and therefore they determined not
to back out. The chance was too tempting to be surrendered for so
slight a reason, and without a struggle. There were several bears
within easy shot of the ground where they were kneeling!

It would never do to let such an opportunity pass. They might not meet
with so good a chance again; or, at all events, they might be delayed a
good long time before another would turn up; and a residence in
Petropaulouski, even in the "isba" of the governor--who was himself only
a sergeant of Cossacks, and his dwelling a mere hut--was not so pleasant
as that they should wish to prolong it. They had now been a great while
journeying through countries covered with frost and snow; and they were
longing to reach those tropical isles--famed for their spices and their
loveliness--which were to be the next stage in their grand tour round
the globe.

Influenced by these thoughts, then, they resolved to run all hazard, and
try a shot at the bears.

The Kurilski, seeing them determined, gave in; and, joining his gun to
theirs, a volley of four shots was simultaneously discharged through the
bushes.

Two bears were seen to drop over and lie kicking upon the snow; but
whether they continued their kicking for any considerable length of
time, was a question about which our hunters could give no definite
information