he
was climbing steadily up, with the bough swinging to and fro beneath his
weight.

It was a question now of the toughness of the fibres by which the bough
hung; and the stress upon the minds of the watchers was terrible, as
they crouched there, gazing over the edge of the awful precipice,
momentarily expecting to see branch and man go headlong down as the
bears had fallen before them.

But Sam climbed steadily up during what seemed to be a long time, but
which was only a few moments, reaching at last the jagged points where
the branch was broken, when there came an ominous crack, and Sam paused,
as if irresolute.

"Keep it up," panted Bart, and his words seemed to electrify the man,
who made one or two more clutches at the branch, and then he was in
safety beside his companions, staring stupidly from one to the other.

"I didn't think I was going to get back," he said at last. "It was you
cutting the branch did it. I shouldn't have moved else."

There was no show of resentment--no annoyance at having been treated in
this terrible manner. Sam only seemed very thankful for his escape, and
trotting off to where he had dropped his rifle when pursued by the
bears, he rejoined his companions, and proceeded with them back towards
the camp; for they had not the least idea where to find a way down into
the plain, even if they had entertained any desire to try and get the
skins and some steaks off the bears.

As they journeyed on, Sam related how he had suddenly come upon one of
the bears feeding upon the fruit of a clump of bushes, and as the animal
seemed tame and little disposed to fly from him he had refrained from
firing, but had picked up a lump of rock and thrown it at the beast.

The stone hit its mark, and uttering a loud grunting yell, the bear
charged its assailant, Sam to his horror finding that the cry had
brought a second enemy into the field, when he dropped his rifle, fled
for his life, and took refuge from the following danger in the way and
with the result that we have seen.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

BLACK BOY AMUSES HIMSELF.

Upon learning the fact that they had so nearly crossed the ridge of
mountains, the Doctor resolved next day to proceed as far as the point
where the adventure with the bears had taken place, and there endeavour,
by the aid of his glass, to determine which direction to take: whether
to find a ravine by which they might descend into the plain, or whether
it would be better t