s and feet. So.... Do you see?"

"Just like you nailed the raven to the tree with nails in its wings and
feet."

"Yes. But the raven does harm, but those men were good and kind to
people like us. That is all I know about the good folk. To-morrow we
will begin our work."

But the hole was not destined to be dug. The night was bitterly cold.
The howling of the wolves sounded so wild and terrible that Anjuta awoke
suddenly out of her sleep, crying loudly, and still lay awake listening
long after the old man by her side was comfortably snoring. The wind had
risen and drove the dry leaves round the hut. Suddenly the child thought
she heard a distant growling, and soon she was sure of it; heavy
footsteps were stamping outside the hut.

"Grandfather, Grandfather, listen!" cried Anjuta, and shook him by the
arm. "Wake up! I am so frightened!"

An enormous bear, whom the huntsmen had probably roused from his winter
lair, was coming straight towards Ivan's hut. He went round the
shapeless edifice on all sides, sniffing cautiously, as though he meant
to choose it as a new dwelling. Under his heavy tread the pine-needles
crackled, and dry branches snapped. At last he stood still, rubbing his
mighty back against a tree. His every movement was distinctly audible in
the hut.

"Of course it's a bear!" exclaimed Ivan, who had held his breath to
listen. "Well, the fellow shall give us his fur for winter wear.
Meanwhile light the pine-chips, Anjuta."

The old man seized his gun, which was always loaded, and pushed open the
rude door, which was made fast with a stone. Through the mist which hung
thickly round the trees he saw a dark shape retreating slowly into the
forest. That did not suit Ivan's plans; he aimed hastily and fired. The
bear was only grazed, for he attacked the old man, and enveloped him
with his hot evil-smelling breath, hardly giving him time to reload his
gun. The old man started back; the bear rose on its hind-legs and
towered over him like an indistinct, gigantic shadow.

"Where are you going, you blockhead? Stop, I have an account to settle
with you," cried Ivan, and fired right under the beast's jaw. The shot
missed, and suddenly the convict found himself crushed under the
terrible weight of his enraged enemy. He tried to raise himself on his
elbow, but the bear understood his business, pushed his paw under his
body, and pressed him in his close embrace till all his bones cracked.

"Jesus and all the saint