THE BLACK BEAK. 241 



him, I saw the little man get down from the tree 

 and attack the bear valiantly with his lance, for the 

 brute, although severely wounded, was not yet 

 dead. 



The scene now became very animated, for the 

 whole party divided itself into four groups, each of 

 which started in pursuit of one of the four bears. 

 These found the pursuit growing so hot, that, in 

 despair of being able to reach the rocks before 

 they were overtaken, they fled up the deep narrow 

 valleys, of which mention has been made already. 



It so chanced that a young Virginian and myself 

 pursued the same bear ; and following it up one of 

 these gorges, we soon found ourselves separated 

 from the rest of the party, — all of them being dis- 

 persed in different directions. It struck me all at 

 once that my horse was becoming less and less 

 manageable, for as soon as he perceived the scent 

 of the bears he pricked up his ears, neighed, 

 snorted, and manifested every sign of the greatest 

 terror. Besides this, he began shying from side to 

 side in such a manner as to render my seat very 

 imcertain. The horse which the Virginian was 

 riding seemed also in great terror, but he was more 

 docile, and his master, being an excellent horse- 

 man, could keep him well in hand. 



Whilst I was struggling with my horse, the bear 

 had gained on us, and was fast approaching the 

 mountain. My companion pursued him, and pre- 



