e higher part. Still, with a number
together, all heartily assisting each other, we found the task
comparatively easy. When we came to a difficult place, we shoved the
lighter ones up first, and then they let down a rope, and the rest
hauled themselves up by it.

At length we all stood on the top of the cliff, not far from the bear's
cave, and when we looked down into the valley we were indeed surprised
that we had escaped with our lives, and I hope that we all felt truly
thankful for our preservation. Short now told us that he had, when he
had before gone up to the top, caught and killed one of the young bears,
and had cut up its hide to make a line, but that one or more still
remained. I had a great fancy for a young bear, so Obed and I resolved
to try and capture one. Accordingly, while the rest of the party were
cutting some wood to light a fire for the sake of cooking the bear
steaks, Obed and I started away with part of our rope towards the cave.

"I suppose there are no more big bears inside there," said Obed; "they
are mighty ugly customers to beard anywhere, but especially in their own
den."

"No fear," I answered; "if one had been in there, he would have appeared
long ago. We shall only find a cub or two, and there will not be much
difficulty in capturing them." I ought to have said that most of the
party had recovered their fire-arms. Obed and I had left our rifles far
back, away from the snow which had slipped with us over the cliff, so
that we had them now uninjured. The cave was large, and for some
distance there was light enough to enable us to see our way, but it at
length became so dark, that we could not see ahead. All we could do was
therefore to feel our way with our rifles.

"I think we must be near the end," said I at last. We had a tinder-box:
Obed struck a light. The blue glare of the match showed us two hairy
bundles rolled up near the the wall of the cave. While he lighted
another match, I rushed up to one of the bundles, which I found, by
receiving a sharp bite, was a little bear. I soon, however, had the
young gentleman's fore-paws bound tightly together, and was dragging him
out towards the mouth of the cave. Obed seized the other, while the
match was still burning on the ground, and we thus had them both
captives. We brought them in triumph to our friends, who were feasting
on their mother. We did not offer them any of the poor brute, and I
dare say they thought us very