Part 15 (1/2)
He rose early next , and climbed up to the top of the cone
The wind had shi+fted north, the air was clear, and the snow fir the five coed in clearing the heavy masses of snow off the roof and sides, for the house was no longer distinguishable from the plateau, as the snow had drifted to a depth of full fifteen feet It took two hours to remove the frozen snow, and restore the architectural forranite foundations appeared, and the storehouses and powder azines were once more accessible
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But as, in so uncertain a cliht cut off their supplies any day, they wisely resolved to provide for any such eood stock of provisions to the kitchen; and then Clawbonny, Altaaently felt
The three coht down into the centre of the far-stretching, snow-covered plain beneath, but they did not need to go far, for numerous traces of animals appeared on all sides within a circle of twoattentively at these traces for some minutes, the hunters looked at each other silently, and then the Doctor exclaih, I think!”
”Ay, only too plain,” added Bell, ”bears have been here!”
”First rate game!” said Altamont ”There's only one fault about it”
”And what is that?” asked Bell
”What do you mean?”
”I mean this--there are distinct traces of five bears, and five bears are rather too much for five men”
”Are you sure there are five?” said Clawbonny
”Look and see for yourself Here is one footprint, and there is another quite different These claws are far wider apart than those; and see here, again, that paw belongs to a much smaller bear I tell you, if you look carefully, you will see the marks of all five different bears distinctly”
”You're right,” said Bell, after a close inspection
”If that's the case, then,” said the Doctor, ”we must take care e're about, and not be foolhardy, for these aniht be extreerous to encounter and, since we are sure of their number----”
”And of their intentions, too,” put in Altamont
”You think they have discovered our presence here?”
”No doubt of it, unless we have got into a bear-pass, but then, why should these footprints be in a circle round our fort? Look, these animals have come from the south-east, and stopped at this place, and commenced to reconnoitre the coast”
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”You're right,” said the Doctor, ”and, what's ht”
”And other nights before that,” replied Altamont
”I don't think so,” rejoined Clawbonny ”It is more likely that they waited till the cessation of the te to catch seals, when they scented us”