Page:They who walk in the wilds, (IA theywhowalkinwil00robe).pdf/213

 escape, at the least alarm, back to the protection of its mother and the gigantic bull. As he could see by the violent rocking of the poplar the calf was very busy and engrossed. He worked his way stealthily a little to one side, still shielded by the dense fir bush, till he was within five or six feet of the unsuspecting calf. Then, gathering beneath him all the force of his mighty haunches, he hurled himself forwards and burst into the deep pathway. From the corner of its eye the calf glimpsed a huge and dreadful black form looming over it, and with a squeal of terror turned to flee. But in the same fraction of a second it was struck down, with its frail back broken at a single blow.

Famished as he was, the bear could not resist the temptation to delay for one brief instant, while he tore a throbbing mouthful from the victim's throat and gulped it down. Then he dragged his prize back behind the shelter of the fir bush, and went floundering off with it in desperate haste through the snow, hoping that he had not been seen.

But the hope was a vain one. The bull and the cow had been lying down. At the calf's cry they had shot to their feet. Their furious eyes had marked the slaughter. In deadly silence, ignoring the paths and breasting down the barriers of snow irresistibly, they came charging to the ven-