in rivers; and no
doubt there was a torrent there at times; but just then the channel was
dry, and not a drop of water appeared anywhere. There was no snow
either; as the place was below the line of snow; and they had only
traced the bear into it on information given them by some shepherds, who
had seen the animal recently enter it.

Belying upon this information, they kept up the defile, making their way
with difficulty over the loose pebbles. They had a hope that the bear
was still somewhere within the gorge; and that they might find him in
some crevice or cave. On each side rose high cliffs that almost met
over head; and our hunters, as they scrambled up the steep, examined
these cliffs carefully--expecting to perceive the mouth of a cavern.
The place was likely enough, for at every few yards they saw crevices
and deep cavities; but in none of them could they find any traces of
Bruin.

They had got about halfway through the ravine--and were still scrambling
upward--when a loud sniff drew their attention; and, looking in the
direction whence it appeared to have proceeded, there, sure enough, was
the identical animal they were after--Master Bruin himself. They saw
only his snout; which was projected out from the face of the cliff,
about twenty feet above the bed of the ravine. His whole head was
shortly after poked forth, and seen _en profile_ from below, it looked
as if there was a bear's head glued against the flat surface of the
rock, just as stags' heads are seen ornamenting the halls of grand
country mansions. Our hunters, however, knew there must be a cave
behind--in which was the body of the bear, though it was concealed from
their eyes.

The bear, after glancing at the intruders who had disturbed him, drew
back his head so suddenly, that not a shot could be fired in time. The
hunters, in order to get into a better position, hurried past under the
cave; and took stand several paces above it--where they were able to
command a better view of the entrance.

They were now on a level with the hole out of which the head had shown
itself; and without speaking a word, only in whispers, they waited for
the reappearance of the snout.

It was not long before they had the satisfaction of seeing it. Whether
from curiosity to know if they were gone--or with the design of sallying
forth in pursuit of them--the bear once more protruded his muzzle from
the hole. Fearing that he might draw it back again, and not gi