scene. As Michael reached the tarantass, a huge animal retreated towards
him.

It was a monstrous bear. The tempest had driven it from the woods, and
it had come to seek refuge in this cave, doubtless its habitual retreat,
which Nadia then occupied.

Two of the horses, terrified at the presence of the enormous creature,
breaking their traces, had escaped, and the iemschik, thinking only
of his beasts, leaving Nadia face to face with the bear, had gone in
pursuit of them.

But the brave girl had not lost her presence of mind. The animal, which
had not at first seen her, was attacking the remaining horse. Nadia,
leaving the shelter in which she had been crouching, had run to the
carriage, taken one of Michael's revolvers, and, advancing resolutely
towards the bear, had fired close to it.

The animal, slightly wounded in the shoulder, turned on the girl, who
rushed for protection behind the tarantass, but then, seeing that the
horse was attempting to break its traces, and knowing that if it did so,
and the others were not recovered, their journey could not be continued,
with the most perfect coolness she again approached the bear, and, as it
raised its paws to strike her down, gave it the contents of the second
barrel.

This was the report which Michael had just heard. In an instant he was
on the spot. Another bound and he was between the bear and the girl. His
arm made one movement upwards, and the enormous beast, ripped up by that
terrible knife, fell to the ground a lifeless mass. He had executed in
splendid style the famous blow of the Siberian hunters, who endeavor not
to damage the precious fur of the bear, which fetches a high price.

"You are not wounded, sister?" said Michael, springing to the side of
the young girl.

"No, brother," replied Nadia.

At that moment the two journalists came up. Alcide seized the horse's
head, and, in an instant, his strong wrist mastered it. His companion
and he had seen Michael's rapid stroke. "Bravo!" cried Alcide; "for a
simple merchant, Mr. Korpanoff, you handle the hunter's knife in a most
masterly fashion."

"Most masterly, indeed," added Blount.

"In Siberia," replied Michael, "we are obliged to do a little of
everything."

Alcide regarded him attentively. Seen in the bright glare, his knife
dripping with blood, his tall figure, his foot firm on the huge carcass,
he was indeed worth looking at.

"A formidable fellow," said Alcide to himself. Then advancing
re