ADVENTURE IN THE PYRENEES. 461 



skins paid for the wine we drank. In the midst of our carousal, 

 it was announced that two travellers, who had been belated in 

 crossing the mountains, had arrived. They reported that be- 

 sides contending with the snow and ice, to be expected upon 

 the path, they had encountered a huge bear, and had only es- 

 caped by running with almost incredible swiftness, and sacri- 

 ficing one of their mules. We listened eagerly to their story, ' 

 and were particular to note the exact spot where they had 

 been attacked. Our party agreed to go in pursuit of the beast 

 next morning. The travellers soon retired to rest and we 

 continued our carousal. I drank rather less than my com- 

 panions ; and I was clear-headed enough to perceive that they 

 would, nearly all, go to sleep drunk, and get up late. I 

 thought that I should like to take that bear home to my family 

 as a palpable proof of my success in hunting. I determined 

 to anticipate the rest of my companions, excepting a cousin 

 of mine, named Nino de Cando, who I concluded would prove 

 an efficient aid in the hunt. As the party grew drowsy, I 

 contrived to draw Nino aside, to rouse him to perfect conscious- 

 ness, and explain to him my object and plan. He immediately 

 agreed to go with me. 



" We waited till our companions had fallen asleep upon the 

 benches ; then cleaned and primed our carbines, and prepared 

 ourselves for a speedy departure. At the first peep of day, 

 we left the inn, noiselessly, and hurried up the mountain by 

 the ordinary path. But although we advanced rapidly, we 

 kept our eyes keen for the track of the bear. It was a bitter 

 cold morning ; and we could only keep ourselves comfortably 

 warm, by rapid motion. Before the sun showed his face above 

 the eastern plain, we were far up among the snow and ice of 

 the mountains. We neither saw or heard any indications that 

 our companions of the previous night were in our vicinity. 



"At length in the neighborhood of some stunted pines, I had 

 the satisfaction of catching a glimpse of a bear's foot-mark on 



the gleaming snow. Nino saw it nearly at the same time, and 



39* 



