The three companions went across the east side of the cone, right down into the center 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 two miles round Fort Providence.
After gazing at these traces for some minutes, the hunters looked at each other silently, then the Doctor exclaimed:
"Well, these are plain enough, 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.
"Too much of it"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean this–there are distinct traces of five bears."
"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 what we're about, and not be foolhardy, for these animals are starving after the severe winter, and they might be extremely dangerous 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 reconnoiter the coast."
"You're right," said the Doctor, "and, what's more, it is certain that they have been here last night."
"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 tempest, and were on their way down to the bay, intending to catch seals, when they scented us."
