324 " EX EVANT ! " 



They rose abruptly, and almost precipitously, in the 

 middle of the plain across which we were journeying. 

 Th.3y seemed like an army of Titans drawn up in close 

 array, several lines deep, the smallest in front, the hugest 

 behind, in a gradual progression whose final stage was lost 

 among the clouds. These mountains were separated from 

 one another by vast, deep ravines, into whose furthest 

 recesses the keenest glance could not penetrate. We 

 marched in silence, absorbed in contemplation of the 

 glorious scene ; when suddenly we were aroused by the 

 little man, whose violent shouts were repeated by every 

 echo. 



" Forward, my friends," he cried, in his loudest voice ; 

 " forward ! I have found them ! I am in the midst of 

 them ! " 



And so saying, he pushed forward his pony at a gallop, 

 brandishing a lance. 



Greatly surprised, I cast a glance around me, and saw 

 all my companions following at full speed in the rear of 

 the pigmy hunter, whom they escorted with a half-serious, 

 half-mocking air. I acted like the rest, and before long 

 could distinguish the object of our wild ride. Three or 

 four hundred yards before us, several enormous objects of 

 a gloomy colour were moving across the grass at the foot 

 of one of the nearest mountains. One of these animals, for 

 they could only be animals, raised his head at the same 

 moment, and I recognized a gigantic bear. I also heard 

 the voice of Captain Shark encouraging his companions and 

 felicitating them on the politeness of the Ursidce, who were 

 coming, he said, to meet and welcome them. 



Most of the soldiers followed closely behind their leader, 

 and galloped like so many madmen. As for myself, 



