n came the report--a stream of fire was poured into
the very face of the bear--and a crashing sound followed. As the smoke
cleared off, the huge body was seen kicking and sprawling upon the
ground. The leaden messenger had done its work. It had passed through
the brain; and in a few seconds the shaggy monster lay motionless upon
the earth.

The boys now dropped from the trees. Francois and Lucien ran for their
guns, and all three having loaded with care, proceeded toward the
ravine. They stayed not to examine the enemy that had been slain.
Thirst urged them on, and they thought only of getting to the spring
below. They were full of hope that the she-bear and her cub had been
killed by their first fire, and that they would now find the road clear.

What was their disappointment when, on looking down the ravine, they saw
the cub lying doubled up, near the bottom, and the old one standing
sentry over it! The cub was evidently dead. So much the worse--as the
mother would not now leave it for a moment, and both were directly in
the path. The latter was moving backward and forward upon a ledge of
rock, at intervals approaching the cub and tossing its body with her
snout, and then uttering a low querulous moan, that was painful to
listen to!

The hunters saw at once that their situation was as bad as ever. Their
retreat was cut off by the infuriated mother, who might remain where she
was for an indefinite time. Should they fire down upon her, and take
the chances of once more escaping to the trees? This was an alternative
which they had reason to dread. Their painful experience decided them
against it. What then? Remain until after night-fall, and try to steal
past in the darkness? Perhaps the bear might retire to her cave, and
give them an opportunity to do so. But in the meantime they were dying
of thirst!

At this moment a happy idea suggested itself to Lucien. He saw the
cactus plants growing near. There were large globes of the
echinocactus. He remembered having read that these often assuaged the
thirst of the desert traveller. The plants were soon reached, and their
succulent masses laid open by the knives of the hunters. The cool
watery fibres were applied to their lips; and in a few minutes their
thirst was alleviated and almost forgotten. Still the bear occupied the
ravine, and so long as she remained there, there was no possible chance
of their getting back to camp. They saw, however, that