characters who aspire to the glory of killing a bear. As the ball which has missed the bear must go somewhere, it is most probable that it will go along the line of sportsmen who are placed on the road or track, and this constitutes by far the greatest danger in this style of bearshooting.

Those who have a slight knowledge of the language had better, if they can, buy a ringed bear, and patiently hunt every part of the ring, attended by a peasant or two if they please; by doing so carefully, especially with a dog, they will be nearly sure of lighting upon the bear sooner or later, and have an infinitely better chance of killing one. frequently happens that the peasant knows where the den is, when of course this system of hunting is a certainty.

It

The bear is very tenacious of life, and often carries off shots that would be expected to kill him.

To ring the elk, the same method must be adopted as with the bear; but as he is not dormant during winter, and holds mostly in brushwood when the buds of the mountain-ash, willow, and aspen, afford him sustenance, it is necessary to be much more cautious, and to have a full knowledge of the country; as by indiscriminately cutting off a mile square of the wood, the sportsman may cross the best feedingground in the forest, disturb the elks, and render his chance of ringing them that day very precarious. The elk is found in the immediate neighbourhood of St. Petersburg in tolerable numbers, herds of ten or fifteen being occasionally ringed. A ring for these beasts should not be less than three-quarters of a mile in diameter, as, independent of there seldom being large trees to prevent a ball from traversing the whole circle, and injuring the beaters on the opposite side, the elks would probably force the ring at the onset if they found themselves in such very close quarters; whereas, if they have plenty of room on first being roused, they will steal gently towards the shots, the oldest of the herd leading at a gentle trot. He gradually relaxes into a walk as he approaches the line, which he will wind at a considerable distance, and at last he will stand still to reconnoitre. This is the most favourable shot, perhaps at a hundred, or hundred and fifty yards; but the number of small branches and twigs that intervene in this space, sometimes renders this chance uncertain. If not fired at immediately, ten to one that the herd return to the centre of the ring, and, bewildered by the echoing of a couple of hundred voices, will remain there until again set a-going either by an experienced peasant or a slow fox-hound, when they are obliged again to look for a place to escape.

When an elk-hunt is well managed, and the beaters remain steadily at their places, the elks may be brought half-a-dozen times within reach of the shot; but it is astonishing to see how frequently they are missed at moderate distances by first-rate shots. The only way to account for this is, that the beast is so much larger than what one is in the habit of shooting, that he appears nearer than he really is, and at the same time is going at a much greater speed than is allowed for. It is the general belief, that most shots fall behind him.

As the country adapted for elks is impracticable for horses, it is difficult to estimate the relative speed of the two. Judging, however, from the stride of a full-grown elk in a trot, which is rather over than

under seven English feet, and repeated with tolerable rapidity, it would appear that his speed must be very great. The elk seldom gallops, excepting when very hard pressed, or struck by a ball; his gallop is heavy and awkward, his trot beautiful; the action behind, however, resembles rather too much that of a cow.

My obliging correspondent was present at an elk-hunt, when in consequence of the morass not being frozen under the snow, the elks in passing only presented as much of their bodies as would be seen in swimming. One of them being struck, galloped through this ground, bounding free of the surface of the snow at every leap, till he dropped. A common peasant's horse, being led off the road with nothing but traces attached to him, was so helpless with such a load behind him, as to require being dragged on to the road again instead of being serviceable in leading away the elk. The difference in size will, however, partly account for this apparent superiority in strength; a large elk, standing somewhere about twenty-one hands on the shoulder, and weighing ten or eleven hundredweight.

A shot behind the shoulders will always kill the elk, not however till he has galloped between one and two hundred yards, when he rises on his hind legs, and falls over backwards stone dead.

The elk makes no attempt to injure the beaters, and well is it he does not, as hemming in a dozen beasts of such power and speed would be no joke. If wounded and attacked by a dog, he will defend himself with his fore-feet, and he requires considerable address to avoid injury.

The elk is sometimes so completely blown by running through the deep snow, as at last not to be able to go with any degree of speed; it is then that he is the most obstinate and difficult to turn.

The bear is likewise at times so exhausted by sudden exertion in making his way through deep snow, over windfalls or drifts, as not to be by any means so dangerous as he otherwise might be.

The mustering of the beaters on the morning of a bear or elk-hunt is rather a strange sight as it does not come under the head of labour in the eyes of the Russian peasant; he will, in fact, leave more profitable work to earn one ruble (not quite a shilling) as beater. Old and young men, and even children, go out as beaters, all receiving the same emolument. In case of a scarcity of men, women and girls go out; but this is highly objectionable, as it is out of the power of the strictest disciplinarian to keep order.

The beaters muster either in the woodyard if near enough, or else in some open glade in the forest, standing in a line two deep, to be counted and registered according to their villages. If for bear-shooting, they are armed with pikes and pointed staves,-which, by the way, never prove of the slightest use; and if for elk-shooting without any weapon at all.

The sportsmen are in the meantime loading their guns, frequently the most diverting part of the day's sport. Independently of occasionally finding powder so coarse as not to pass through the cone of the breeching of the gun; balls too large or too small by five numbers; and German copper-caps to English nipples; to hear the execrations and abuse lavished upon some ignorant laquey, for having washed out a rifle with the old charge of powder and ball in it; the powder of

course wet; the ball not to be drawn, in consequence of the coating of rust in the barrel; no nipple-screw of course; together with the various applications for pasteboard, paper, a little tow, &c. &c., and the explosions of copper-caps to ascertain the freedom of the passage through the barrel, give one the idea that all the sporting implements had been raffled for the preceding night, and that the sportsmen had to sort them again for the occasion. Perhaps ants hunting for their eggs in an ant's nest turned up by a schoolboy, would give the best notion of the scene on the morning of a battue in Russia, excepting that perhaps the ants are a little deficient in noise and abuse.

The guns being all at length loaded, each sportsman gets into a separate little country-sledge, drawn by one horse, and proceeds to the glade in the wood, where the beaters are waiting at a convenient distance from the ring, divided into two equal bodies.

Two peasants who know the ring, then lead the beaters in Indian file, one party going to the right, the other to the left. At the tail of each phalanx, follows an experienced sportsman, who, at stated distances, varying according to the thickness or openness of the wood, stops the peasant next in front of him, and thus stopping one at about every fifteen yards, he will, by the time he reaches the opposite point of the circle, have disposed of all his people, and met his brother sportsman who has done the same; and then, by comparing notes, they are enabled to decide where to place the guns, if they are not already placed, or even if they be, they may safely be moved if advisable when the ring is once complete; a halloo is then given, and the sport commences as above described.

Frequently the snow is so deep that it requires two hours or more to lead the beaters their half-way round, and the difficulty of making them move with any degree of order is inconceivable. Those who are in the immediate vicinity of the leading peasant, are of course aware that they will have to wade through the snow, and over the tangled wood to the opposite side of the circle and back again, and only receive the same pay as the more fortunate fellows who get placed on first turning from the road. They will therefore, under some pretence or other, quit the line, and let two or three pass them; or, if an opportunity offer, hide behind a fir-bush, till nearly the whole line be passed, and then take a fresh place. Then the squabbles and noise attendant on these pranks, occasionally distract the game before the circle is complete, and the day's sport is ruined.

THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF CHARLES CHESTERFIELD,

THE YOUTH OF GENIUS.

BY MRS. TROLLOPE.

CHAP. XXV.

CHARLES RECEIVES MANY ASSURANCES OF FRIENDSHIP, AND CONTRIVES TO SETTLE SOME IMPORTANT BUSINESS WITHOUT LOSING ANY TIME ABOUT IT.

If a kind reception from the friends he went to visit could have cured the sorrows he brought with him, Charles Chesterfield would have forgotten all his misfortunes at Brighton. Mrs. Longuéville received him as she had never received him before, for he had been in the room with her for at least ten minutes before it became evident that she had forgotten his presence. Clara was really and truly glad to see him, and testified more interest in her inquiries after his welfare, upon remarking his worried look and clouded eye, than she might have done had he worn the same hopeful and almost triumphant aspect that she had left him with. But all this was nothing in comparison to the warm affection displayed by Sir George. He really could scarcely have appeared more delighted had an only son returned to him after long absence, and he so frequently called the heavens to witness that he was "devilish glad" to see him, that a temper much less disposed to have faith in professions than that of Charles might have been tempted to believe him.

All this was, of course, very soothing and agreeable, and the more so as it rendered easy the task of confession, which he was well aware he must fully perform before he could profit by their advice. Sir George was so inexpressibly amused by the narrative of his adventure with Mrs. Sherbourne, that it was some time before the vehemence of his mirth left him power to speak, and when it did, his first words were not very encouraging.

"The woman is an atrocious animal, Charles, there is no doubt upon that point and as to marrying her, it would be a considerably worse speculation than hanging yourself. But, after all, such a business as this is no joke, I promise you. She may easily get half your fortune from you by way of damages and I am terribly afraid that it will be no easy matter to get out of it. But stay! Egad Charles, I've thought of a way that will do her completely, and neatly, and featly! Hurrah! I have it, I have it!"

Greatly comforted, but exceedingly anxious nevertheless to learn the means by which his kind friend hoped to release him from the threatened danger, he replied―

"Thank Heaven, Sir George, that you see hope for me! The half of all I depend upon for subsistence would be bad enough, but I should hold it as nothing in comparison to the disgrace which would for ever attach to my name were I to become the defendant in such a cause as this. Tell me, dear Sir George, I entreat you to tell me, how you think I may get out of it?"

Sir George Meddows very properly replied to the former part of this speech before he answered the latter.

"You are only too right, my dear fellow," said he; "it is certainly no subject for joking, and I feel heartily ashamed of having for a moment been beguiled into laughing at it. To a fine, promising, talented fellow like you, the loss of a few thousands is nothing, positively nothing by way of misfortune; and I'll lay my life that it would only act as a spur to drive you further and faster on your road to fortune. But the indelible disgrace of having such a story as this tacked to your name for ever, must be guarded against at any risk. A man is never ruined, Charles, till he has lost his good name, and that must be preserved to you, coûte que coûte."

"But speak, dear sir! Tell me, I entreat you, in what way you think I may escape from this dreadful danger?"

"Be satisfied, Charles, when I tell you that I will take the management of this very awkward business entirely upon myself. Some way or other I must get you through it, my poor fellow; but the notion that came into my head just now is not altogether unobjectionable. It might possibly involve my own name in a way I should not like, and therefore I had rather think about it, and see if any thing else can be done before I name it to you. But set your mind at ease, my dear boy; I pledge you my honour that I will not forsake you in this straight, and will get you through it too, somehow or other, whether I involve myself by doing so or not."

Charles seized the hand of his generous benefactor with the most enthusiastic gratitude, and truly declared that he knew no words strong enough to express the feelings such kindness inspired. Altogether the scene became really touching, for Sir George himself, though rarely manifesting any kind of emotion, except gaiety, seemed moved; and as he wrung the hand of Charles in return for his fervent pressure, he turned away his head, as if in some degree overcome by it.

This conversation was, in truth, a great relief to the embarrassed young man; for so heartily did he feel ashamed of the folly which had put him in the power of Mrs. Sherbourne, that he had, more than once since the receipt of her last letter, thought it better to marry her, than let his name reach his native village through the jocose report of a newspaper, upon such a trial as that with which she threatened him! Alas! how far unlike was this to the fame which he had hoped would precede his return!

His mind lightened of this pressing burden, he proceeded to recount his adventure with Mr. Marchmont, and the hostile termination of their intercourse; and here again Sir George showed himself to be a very cordial friend, by the warm indignation he expressed at what he very justly called the Regenerator's rascally conduct.

"But here, Charles," he added, with a very discouraging shake of the head, "I fear I cannot help you. Mr. Marchmont would not care a straw for any thing either you or I could say of him. He is armed both with dagger and shield; and the best advice I can give you is, to let him alone, and take good care to keep out of the way of such dirty doings in future."

To Sir George, notwithstanding all this great kindness, Charles said