across that bare slope that glistens in the sun as if the
rock were granite."

"Yes, I see where you mean--a little higher up than we are."

"That's right. Now, just above it there's a patch of green running up
to the fir-trees, all low bushes sprinkled about with the rocks
between."

"Yes," said Chris, "I can see that too. Well?"

"Look, look, Chris," cried Ned; "I can see it now--there, just crossing
from one lot of bushes to another. There it goes."

"Yes, I see now. Why, you mean wool, Griggs. It's a mountain-sheep.--
No, it isn't," cried Chris excitedly; "it's a bear."

"Yes, all alive, oh! and in his skin coat."

"And quite beyond reach, unless we stalk him. I say, Griggs, how lucky!
Is that a grizzly?"

"Oh, no; they're twice as big. That's only a brown bear."

"But is he coming after our mules?"

"Not he. He's hunting for wild fruit--berries and things of that sort."

"Then it's not a dangerous one?"

"Not if you leave him alone. He'd show fight, though, I dare say, if
you went after him."

"Let's climb higher up and get above him. We can easily get a shot at
him then," said Chris.

"Do you want his skin?" said Griggs.

"No."

"Well, you wouldn't care about eating him, though bear ham isn't bad."

"Oh, we don't want to eat him," cried Ned, watching the movements of the
brute eagerly.

"You don't want his fat to make bear's grease for your hair, do you?"

"Of course not."

"Then I'd leave him alone. We've plenty of ammunition now, but we don't
want to waste any."

"But suppose he had been a grizzly?" said Chris, bringing the glass to
bear on the distant animal.

"If it had been a grizzly I should say the best thing would be to let
him alone, and the same with a cinnamon, for they're very dangerous
beasts. If either of them came smelling after the mules or ponies of
course it would be a different thing. There wouldn't be room enough for
him and us too on the same mountain side. Well! he's gone, hasn't he?"

"Yes, right up amongst the fir-trees."

"Ah, he'll be much safer there," said Griggs. "You fellows would be
tempted to have a shot at him if he came within reach. Now then, lend
me the glass."

The binocular was handed to him, and while the two lads stood watching
the woodland patch where the bear had disappeared, in expectation of its
coming into sight again, the American stood sweeping the horizon and
then bringing the glass to bear upon the wondrous view in ev