238 SPORT IN NORTH AMERICA. 



perpendicularity from the plain which surrounded 

 them. They looked liked an army of Titans, 

 several lines deep — the shorter ones being in the 

 front rank, and the taller ones behind, until the 

 hindmost seemed to hide their lofty heads in the 

 clouds. These mountains were separated from each 

 other by vast and deep valleys, into which we pene- 

 trated as we advanced. We were marching on in 

 silence, absorbed in the contemplation of the magni- 

 ficent scenery, when suddenly our attention was 

 attracted by the loud cries and hallooings of our 

 little friend. 



" Come on," cried he, " come on ! Here they are. 

 I'll be in the middle of them!" and with that he 

 galloped forward brandishing his spear, and urging 

 on his pony to the top of its speed. Not a little 

 surprised, I looked round and found my companions 

 galloping after the little fellow with a half-serious, 

 half -joking expression upon their faces. Three or 

 four hundred yards before us were several huge 

 dark-colom-ed objects moving about among the grass 

 at the foot of the mountain nearest to us, and as 

 one of these animals lifted up its head, I could see 

 that they were gigantic bears, and I heard the voice 

 of Captain Sharpe encouraging us to come on and 

 thank, as he said, the bears for their politeness in 

 coming out to receive us. 



The majority of the party were galloping after 

 their leader like so many madmen ; for my part, I 



