My companion, too, did not want to surround the bear now, and advised waiting.
But I said:
"What is the use of discussing the matter? Do as you please, but I will go with Demyán along the track. If we overtake him, so much is gained; if not,—I have nothing else to do to-day anyway, and it is not yet late."
And so we did.
My companions went to the sleigh, and back to the village, but Demyán and I took bread with us, and remained in the woods.
When all had left us, Demyán and I examined our guns, tucked our fur coats over our belts, and followed the track.
It was fine weather, chilly and calm. But walking on snow-shoes was a hard matter: the snow was deep and powdery.
The snow had not settled in the forest, and, besides, fresh snow had fallen on the day before, so that the snow-shoes sunk half a foot in the snow, and in places even deeper.
The bear track could be seen a distance away. We could see the way the bear had walked, for in spots he had fallen in the snow to his belly and had swept the snow aside. At first we walked in plain sight of the track, through a forest of large trees; then, when the track went into a small pine wood, Demyán stopped.