human
Well, these are plain enough, I think!
gpt
Ay, only too plain, added Bell,
human
First rate game! said Altamont.
gpt
There's only one fault about it.
human
And what is that?
gpt
What do you mean?
human
I mean this--there are distinct traces of five bears, and five bears are rather too much for five men.
gpt
Are you sure there are five?
human
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.
gpt
You're right,
human
If that's the case, then, said the Doctor,
gpt
And of their intentions, too,
human
You think they have discovered our presence here?
gpt
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.
human
You're right, said the Doctor,
gpt
And other nights before that,
human
I don't think so, rejoined Clawbonny.
gpt
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.
human
Well, we can easily find out if they come tonight,
gpt
How?
human
By effacing all the marks in a given place, and if to-morrow, we find fresh ones, it will be evident that Fort Providence is the goal for which the bears are bound.
gpt
Very good, at any rate we shall know, then, what we have to expect.
human
It is singular, though, said Bell,
gpt
Oh! replied the Doctor,
human
But then, why did they stop here last night?
gpt
Well, that's a question I can't answer, but there is no doubt they will continue narrowing their circles, till they reach Fort Providence.
human
We shall soon see,
gpt
And, meantime, we had best go on, added the Doctor,