certain of overtaking their prey after a
time; but, as the slope began to grow more steep, so did the progress of
pursued and pursuers become slow.

As Steve climbed on, forced by the ruggedness of the path to use his
hands more and more frequently, so did the wildness of the defile
increase, till, after hours of toil, the patches of snow which he had
long reached gave place to a slope of pure white crystals, into which
his feet began to sink, making the labour of walking more heavy.

On still, though, plod, plod, till the loose drift was passed as if in a
nightmare, and he felt as if his legs were moving mechanically. How
long this had been going on he could not tell, for at last the horror of
the pursuit had numbed his brain, and he could not think of anything but
that he must go on, and that at last he was out of the ravine and away
to the right of the ridge, so that at any moment he might begin to
descend and get down in another place.

But he could not attempt to descend yet, but must keep on right up into
the regions of this eternal snow, where all was silent--a silence which
would have filled his mind with awe but for the stunned sensation of
utter weariness.

Still there was one flash of hope as he crept on, drawing himself over
the ice crags on hands and knees. He had looked back below him at his
pursuers, and his heart leaped, for there was only one. At first he
could not believe it true, but a second look back confirmed the first
impression. One of the bears had given up the pursuit; but the other
was as persevering as ever. But it was hopeful, and gave Steve fresh
energy; for if one was tired out, it was possible to weary the other.

If he could have begun to descend, he would have done so now; but he
dared not attempt it, for not only was the bear too close, but the
steepness of the ascent had brought it right beneath him.

And now, for the first time, the great animal seemed to see him, and
increased its pace to such an extent that Steve felt all was over. He
looked up, and the way was steeper, his only course being over an
ice-covered face of rock far out of the perpendicular, but so smooth
that the only way up was by taking advantage of the cracks and rifts
which seamed it like a net.

"My last chance," thought Steve, whose mind in this terrible emergency
had suddenly grown clearer. He gave one glance below him, to see that
the bear was not many yards away, and he could even see the gleam