nimal. It might be wolves,
thought they; but the dog Marengo, who did not mind the wolves, showed
symptoms of terror, growling savagely it intervals, but all the while
keeping in by the camp. The mule Jeanette, too, came close up to the
fire--as near as her rope would allow her--and our adventurers could see
that she trembled, as if in fear of some well-known enemy! Several
times they could distinguish, amidst the howling of the wolves, a
strange sound, differing altogether from the voices of the latter. It
was a kind of continued snort, uttered in a low and querulous tone; and
when uttered, it always caused Jeanette to start, and Marengo to crouch
closer to them. Could it be the voice of the cougar? or, more fearful
thought still, the snort of the grizzly bear? The latter was not
unlikely. They were now in a region where these fierce animals are to
be met with; and just in such a spot as one or more of them would choose
for their abode.

It was a fearful apprehension, and it would have banished sleep from the
eyes of the young hunters had they been certain that grizzly bears were
in their neighbourhood. They were not certain, however; still they
resolved not to sleep all at one time, but to keep watch in turns. The
fire was replenished with fresh wood, so that the blaze would enable
them to see for a good distance around; and then two of them lay down to
sleep again, while the third watched, sitting up with his piece in
readiness for any sudden attack. Each took a two-hours' turn as
sentinel until the morning broke, which put an end to their fears, as no
enemy appeared to be near them.

They now bestirred themselves, let loose their horses upon the grass,
performed their ablutions in the crystal water of the spring, and made
ready their breakfast. They did not fail to observe, that their stock
of the jerked meat could serve them but a day or two longer; for the
wolves at their last camp had carried off a considerable portion of it.
They were not without fears as to their future subsistence, as there
seemed to be no game in that part of the country except antelopes; and
their experience already taught them how little chance they had of
capturing these. Should they not fall in with the buffalo, therefore,
they might starve with hunger.

These thoughts occupied them while engaged in preparing and eating
breakfast; and they resolved to go on half rations of the bear-meat, and
economise the little of it that