MR. o'b.'s warning, AND FOREBODINGS. 217 



to start ahead of the party, for the sake of meet- 

 ino- with game, Mr. O'B. warned him to he very 

 careful, advising him to load hoth barrels with ball, 

 and carry his gun on full cock, ready for emergency. 

 Cheadle, however, told him it was necessary to have 

 one barrel loaded with small shot for the feathered 

 game, and marched off laughing, Mr. O'B. looking 

 after him with an expression of pity, and shaking his 

 head ominously. Milton and the rest travelled on 

 nearly the w^hole day, wondering that they did not 

 find Cheadle at mid-day, as usual, w^aiting for them in 

 some convenient camping ground. Cursing his folly 

 for leading them so far, they at last pulled up in 

 despair, and waited, in the belief that he must have 

 lost his way. Mr. O'B., however, took a chfferent 

 view. "My lord," said he to Milton, ''you may 

 depend upon it the Doctor has met those bears. I've 

 w^arned him repeatedly against the rashness of w^alking 

 alone in this w^ay. It was only this very morning, as 

 you heard, I advised him to be careful, and load both 

 barrels with ball. But he only laughed at me, and 

 w^alked off with his gun on half-cock, carelessly thrown 

 over his shoulder. And now^ vou see the terrible con- 

 sequences. There is not the slightest doubt that he 

 has been surprised by those three bears, and torn to 

 pieces, poor fellow !" Mr. O'B.'s prophecies of evil 

 were, however, upset by the appearance of the missing 

 man. He had lost his way in a series of swamps, and 

 with some difficulty retraced his steps to the right 

 track. Then he had a long, stern chase to catch the 

 rest, who had, in the meantime, passed on before him. 



