n?"

"I should like it well."

"Good--I will show you; but first I must explain the manner of it. When
two Skraelingers see a bear they go up to him with spears. On
approaching him they separate. One settles that he is to kill him, the
other agrees to distract his attention. He who is to kill approaches on
the side next the _heart_. His comrade goes up and pricks the bear on
the _other_ side. The bear turns full on him who wounds, exposes his
heart-side, and is instantly thrust through by him who is to kill. Dost
understand?"

"Perfectly," replied Hake.

"Perhaps you would like to join me in such an adventure, though of
course there is some danger," said Biarne, who was very anxious to
punish Hake for his late advice by giving him a good fright.

Hake smiled in a grim fashion, and taking a short spear from one of his
comrades, looked at Biarne, pointed to the bear, and said:

"Come!"

They advanced together, Biarne also carrying a short spear, while their
comrades stood on the ridge and looked on with much interest.

When Bruin saw the two men approach, he got up and showed himself to be
an uncommonly large bear indeed, insomuch that Biarne glanced at Hake
with some anxiety, and asked if he felt sure of himself, and wasn't
frightened.

Hake laughed lightly, but made no other reply.

"Well, then, have a care, and see that ye be prompt in action. I will
go to the left side and kill, being used to such work. Do you separate
from me here and give him the prick on the right side. Don't get
flurried. We must approach and act together. He seems inclined to meet
us half-way, and must not be trifled with; and, harkee, prick him well,
for methinks his hide will prove a tough one."

Hake nodded, and separated from his companion. Seeing this the bear
stopped. It had been advancing with a rapidly increasing step, growling
all the way, and with an extremely savage aspect, but this movement of
the enemy perplexed it. Looking first on one side, and then on the
other, it remained in a state of uncertainty as to which of the two it
should attack. The enemy took advantage of this--both men ran in upon
it. As they did so the bear rose on its hind-legs, still glancing
savagely from one side to the other, and in this position appearing a
larger monster than it had seemed before.

"Give it him sharply!" cried Biarne, delaying his death-thrust till the
proper time.

Hake stepped close up to the bear, and plung