68 CAMP-FIRES OF A NATURALIST. 



tain broke from its place and came down into the 

 canon. The first stone started hundreds of others, 

 and these hundreds started thousands more, and they 

 came down with a terrible noise. Dust and smoke 

 arose and a smell as of the infernal regions came from 

 the bottom. When it was over the deer were gone 

 and I came back to camp." 



As Dyche proceeded with his story and ended in 

 almost the very words of Brown, the latter stopped 

 eating, his jaw dropped, and when the story was 

 finished his only comment was : 



"Well, I'll be darned!" 



Satisfying themselves that no bears were to be 

 found in this part of the mountain, they started for 

 old Camp Bear Trail next morning, and late in the 

 evening they pitched their tent in the familiar spot. 

 The bear-trap was again set in the canon, but several 

 days passed without special incident. Dyche and 

 Brown made a long trip to the west and returned late 

 in the evening, tired from their exertions. While 

 Brown took the burros to water, Dyche set about 

 getting supper, and had it well under way when 

 Brown rushed into camp, calling : 



"What is that roaring in the canon?" 



An answer was unnecessary, for the sound was so 

 plain that both shouted at once : 



"A bear! a bear!" 



Brown seized the shot-gun without waiting to 

 see whether it was loaded or not, while Dyche 

 got the rifle and a handful of cartridges, and away 

 they went down the canon. The roaring continued 

 and grew louder and louder, and the two men 



