AINS.]

CHAPTER IX.

WE CONTINUE OUR JOURNEY OVER THE MOUNTAINS, AND ENCAMP IN A
FERTILE VALLEY--HUNT ELK IN COMPANY WITH A PANTHER--I SPOIL THE
SPORT OF THE LATTER--UNCLE JEFF WOUNDS AN ELK, WHICH IS LOST
DOWN A PRECIPICE--MORE FORTUNATE AFTERWARDS--UNCLE JEFF
RESOLVES TO REMAIN WITH CLARICE, RACHEL, AND PAT, WHILE MANLEY,
THE SERGEANT, AND I PUSH ON--DIFFICULTIES IN CROSSING THE
MOUNTAINS--MANLEY IN FEARFUL DANGER--HE ESCAPES--DESCEND
TOWARDS A BROAD VALLEY--ITS WONDERFUL APPEARANCE--WE
ENCAMP--THE SERGEANT NEARLY SCALDS HIS FINGERS IN A TEMPTING
SPRING--CURIOUS PHENOMENON--DREADFUL NOISES OF WILD BEASTS
DISTURB OUR SLUMBERS.

The next day, at an early hour, we were again on the move, Clarice and
Rachel trudging on bravely with the help of long thin poles, the points
hardened in the fire. Onwards and upwards we went, sometimes passing
through dense forests, and climbing over the trunks of fallen trees; at
others making our way through glades, where, sheltered from the sun, the
walking was comparatively easy. On emerging into the more open ground,
we searched for some canon or cleft in the mountains through which we
might find a passage. As for going over the summits of the mountains,
that was evidently impossible. They consisted of jagged pinnacles, or
precipitous rocks covered with snow; and even the most experienced
mountaineers, supplied with ropes and all other appliances, could not
hope to surmount them.

At length, after traversing for some distance the mountain-side, we saw
before us a deep gorge, at the bottom of which rushed a torrent towards
the east.

"If we can find holding ground for our feet, we may get through there,"
said Manley.

Uncle Jeff agreed with him, so we made towards it. For ourselves we had
no fears, but we naturally felt very anxious for Clarice, who must
suffer from fatigue with such rough and dangerous climbing as lay before
us; although, in reality, with her correct eye and active feet, she was
as secure on the giddy heights and snowy ledges over which we passed as
any one of us.

Poor Rachel felt the cold greatly, and was less able to get along than
her young mistress. Still she persevered. "If you go I go, Missee
Clarice; never mind where," said the faithful creature; although very
often she crept along on her hands and knees rather than trust herself
to an upright position.

Thus, climbing along the side of the