upor of many, many hours, for the fire was
very low, shedding merely a soft warm glow through the place.

He was stupefied, and felt unable to move, but the fancy upon which he
had fallen asleep was there still in a strange confused way, and he felt
that the dog was not in the spot where he had left it.

He lay with his eyes half-closed, conscious now of some sound which had
awakened him. For there beyond the glowing embers, where all was made
indistinct and strange, the dog was hard at work tearing a way out of
the hut. The wood snapped and grated as it was torn away; then there
was silence, and he was half disposed as he lay there helpless to think
it was all a dream.

But as this fancy came the noise began once more, and at last he caught
sight of the great dog, strong and sturdy now, crawling through a hole
it had made into the hut--what for he could not make out in his feverish
state. Why should it have done this to get at him when already there?

He knew it was all wrong, and that his brain was touched; but one thing
was plain reality: There was the great beast, magnified by the light of
the fire, creeping forward while he lay paralysed and unable to stir.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

DAL'S WELCOME BACK.

And yet it was strange, for just then the embers fell together, a soft,
lambent, bluish flame flickered up, making the interior of the hut
light, and he saw that the dog still lay in its old place, fast asleep.
What was it then--bear, wolf--which had torn a way through or half under
the wall of the place?

A bear, for it suddenly raised itself up on its hind-legs, and as he lay
stupefied with horror, Abel could make out its shaggy hide.

Still, he could not move to reach for the rifle which stood ready loaded
in the corner close by, but lay half paralysed in the strange dazed
state into which he had fallen, till the object which reared up, looking
huge, moved a little, and seemed listening.

Just then there was a bright gleam.

Eyes--teeth? Impossible, for it was low down, and Abel shook off his
lethargy and uttered a low, hoarse cry, as he made an effort to spring
up and reach a weapon.

But he was tight in the skin-lined sleeping-bag, and this fettered him
so that he fell back, and the next moment his nocturnal visitant sprang
forward, coming down heavily upon him, at the same moment making a
deadly blow at him.

The strange feeling of helplessness was gone. Something to call forth
the young