litary Jack-in-the-box, but, in all likelihood, he was under
the huge body of the savage monster, in the act of being torn to pieces
by his teeth, or perhaps drowned in the _subnivean_ stream. Whether the
bear had sprung voluntarily after him, or, in the impetus of charging,
had been himself precipitated into the snow chasm without the power of
preventing it, could not for the moment be known. The young hunters
suspected that the bear had fallen in rather against his will; for
certainly he had been seen to go down in rather an awkward and
blundering manner, his hind legs pitching upwards as he broke through.

Whether the plunge had been voluntary or against his will could matter
but little. He must be now upon top of the ex-guardsman; and, knowing
the implacable fury of these animals when roused to resentment, his
young masters had no other idea but that their attendant would be either
drowned or torn to pieces.

As a last hope, however, Alexis rushed on over the snow, holding his
ride before him, and prepared to fire its contents into the bear the
moment he should get sight of the animal.

As he advanced, he could hear a plunging and splashing of water, with
other noises,--as the snorting and growling of the bear, and the
crashing of frozen snow, all mixed up in confusion of sounds.
Concluding that these noises were caused by the struggle still going on
between the man and the bear, he hurried forward. Strange! there came
no voice from Pouchskin!

When within about three paces of the broken edge, an object came under
his eyes, that caused him to halt in his track. That object was the
snout of the bear, that was projected upward above the surface of the
snow. The eyes of the animal were not visible, nor any other part of
it, except the aforesaid snout, and about six inches of the muzzle.

The thought instantly occurred to Alexis, that the bear had reared upon
his hind feet, and was endeavouring to clamber out; and this was true
enough, for the instant after, he was seen to spring perpendicularly
upward, until his whole head and part of his neck became visible. Only
for an instant, however; for Bruin, who now appeared to be playing
Jack-in-the-box, sank once more out of sight, snout and all.

The young hunter was just regretting that he had not taken a snap shot
at the animal's head; but before ten seconds of time had elapsed, the
snout was again popped up by the edge of the hole. In all probability
the bea