toned expiration of the breath was the answer, and the boy turned
his head, to find that, not three yards from where he knelt, a huge
bear, whose long fur had quite a pale golden tinge in the sunshine, was
literally towering over him upon its hind legs with fore paws extended
as if to catch him.

Steve's spring over the fireplace was of a kind that, improved by
practice, was sufficiently fine to promise his taking rank as the
greatest standing jumper of his time, while his speed in running
certainly merited praise as he found that the great beast, which must
have stood up some seven feet, had now dropped on all fours and was in
full chase.

For choice Steve would have run toward his friends, but he had no
option. The bear blocked the way in that direction; on his right there
was the rapid rise of the mountain; on the left the ground was broken
and boggy; before him the way open toward the mouth of the valley where
they had left the boat, and naturally this way he ran, hoping that the
bear would soon tire of the pursuit, and believing in his power to run
more swiftly.

The way was not good, for it was encumbered with blocks of stone that
had fallen from above; but Steve felt that they must be as bad for the
bear as for him, and he pressed on, taking off his bonnet to hold it in
one hand as he ran.

He glanced over his shoulder, and there was the bear appearing to
shuffle along clumsily, but getting over the ground at a great rate of
speed, which told the lad that he need do his best; but he consoled
himself with the belief that, unless terribly hungry, the bear would not
follow him for long; on the other hand, if famished, it would keep on
and tire him out, and then--

Steve obstinately refused to let his imagination carry him any farther--
the thoughts were too horrible; and, mentally vowing that if he managed
to get clear away he would never feel any compunction in helping to
shoot a bear again, but would do his best to become the owner of its
rich, whitish fur, he tore on as hard as he could go, fully conscious of
the fact that the bear, though some yards behind, was determined to tire
him out and run him down.

The way now became more open, and as he raced on he just glanced at the
opening to the narrow ravine on his right, for there was no temptation
to leave the broad, open way for a stone-encumbered defile.

No temptation then; but the next moment there was, for he was not far
past enjoying the satisfact