The baroness, sitting by the bedside, heard from the doctor that her
husband's wounds were serious, but that his life was not in danger, and
that he might even be allowed to smoke a cigar if he liked. Then Mr.
Gerzson related how it had happened: "Only imagine, your ladyship! This
irrepressible friend of ours, not content with pursuing game all day
through the thickets, learns, late in the evening, that a gigantic old
bear was trotting towards the ice valley, and, without saying a word to
anybody, must needs leave the company and set off alone, late at night,
on the track, with only a double-barrelled musket and not so much as a
dog to keep him company. The bear enticed Leonard further and further.
At last down he squats before him in the bright moonlight and begins
licking his paws; then suddenly quits the path and disappears. Leonard
thought at first that the bear had returned within the deadly circle
drawn for him by our beaters, till, all at once, on reaching a steep
slope covered with reeds, he again heard a growling and perceived the
savage beast trying to scale the slope. The place was too steep for a
man to climb, but a bear with the help of his long strong claws can
scale it like a fly climbing up a wall. Leonard soon saw that he would
be unable to get a close shot at the bear, so he resolved to fire down
from where he was at random. But the experienced old brute, guessing
this good idea, instantly executed one of those surprising feats which
only fall within the observation of veteran hunters.
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