ad been constantly dripping as he trotted onward in his flight;
and this could easily be seen upon the herbage over which he had passed.

They determined, therefore, to follow this trail as far as they could;
and when it should give out, it would be time enough to send for the
dogs.

They had not proceeded more than a hundred yards; when all at once the
trail trended up to the bottom of a big tree. They might have examined
the ground further, but there was no need; for, on looking up to the
trunk, they perceived large blotches of mud, and several scratches upon
the bark, evidently made by the claws of a bear. These scratches were,
most of them, of old date; but there were one or two of them quite
freshly done; besides, the wet mud was of itself sufficient proof that
the bear had gone up the tree, and must still be somewhere in its top.
The tree was a sycamore, and therefore only sparsely covered with
leaves; but from its branches hung long festoons of Spanish moss
(_tillandsia usneoides_), that grew in large bunches in the forks--in
several of which it was possible even for a bear to have stowed himself
away in concealment.

After going round the tree, however, and viewing it from all sides, our
hunters perceived that the bear was not anywhere among the moss; but
must have taken refuge in a hollow in the trunk--the mouth of which
could be seen only from one particular place; since it was hidden on all
other sides by two great limbs that led out from it, and between which
the cavity had been formed by the decaying of the heart-wood.

There could be no doubt that Bruin had entered this tree-cave; for all
around the aperture the bark was scraped and worn; and the wet mud,
lately deposited there, was visible from below.

CHAPTER FORTY ONE.

CUTTING OUT THE BEAR.

The question was, how he was to be got out? Perhaps by making a noise
he might issue forth?

This plan was at once tried, but without success. While the negro
rasped the bark with a pole, and struck the stick at intervals against
the trunk, the hunters stood, with guns cocked, watching the hole, and
ready to give the bear a reception, the moment he should show himself
outside.

It was all to no purpose. Bruin was too cunning for them, and did not
protrude even the tip of his snout out of his secure cavity.

After continuing the rasping, and repeating the blows, till the woods
echoed the sonorous concussions, they became convinced that this plan