r: for when the tigrero at length
halted, and the party got up to the ground, they saw only an immobile
mass of shaggy hair--so coated with dust as to resemble a heap of earth.
It was the bear without a particle of breath in his body; but, lest he
might recover it again, the tigrero leaped from his horse, stepped up to
the prostrate bear, and buried his _machete_ between the ribs of the
unconscious animal.

That, he said, was the way they captured bears in his part of the
country. They did not employ the same plan with the jaguars: because
these animals, crouching, as they do, offered no opportunity for casting
the noose over them; and, besides, the jaguars haunt only among thick
woods, where the lazo could not be used to advantage.

Of course, the skin of this particular bear was not suitable for the
purpose for which one was required; and the tigrero kept it for his own
profit. But that did not signify: another bear was soon discovered
among the tagua trees; and this being despatched by a shot from the
rifle of Alexis,--supplemented, perhaps, by a bullet from the fusil of
the ex-guardsman,--supplied them with a skin according to contract; and
so far as the _ursus frugilegus_ was concerned, their bear-hunting in
that neighbourhood was at an end. To find his cousin with the "goggle
eyes," they would have to journey onward and upward; and adopting for
their motto the spirit-stirring symbol "Excelsior!" they proceeded to
climb the stupendous Cordilleras of the Andes.

In one of the higher valleys, known among Peruvians as the "Sierra,"
they obtained a specimen of the "Hucumari." They chanced upon this
creature while he was engaged in plundering a field of Indian corn--
quite close to a "tambo," or traveller's shed, where they had put up for
the night. It was very early in the morning when the corn-stealer was
discovered; but being caught in the act, and his whole attention taken
up with the sweet milky ears of maize, his "spectacled" eyes did not
avail him. Our hunters, approaching with due caution, were able to get
so near, that the first shot tumbled him over among the stalks.

Having secured his skin, they mounted their mules, and by the great
Cordillera road proceeded onward to the ancient capital of northern
Peru.

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN.

NORTHWARD!

After resting some days in the old capital of Quito, our travellers
proceeded to the small port of Barbacoas, on the west coast of Equador;
and thence