THE LAST DAY AT CHEE-IIA. 



pond on a knoll, that, piercing the swamp to the 

 distance of one hundred and fifty yards, was flanked 

 on either side by deep morasses, aifording very 

 thick cover. Standing among some dwarf trees 

 that crowned the summit of this knoll, and which 

 served as a partial screen, with my bridle reins 

 thrown carelessly over nay arm, I was listening to 

 the cry of the hounds, as, at great distance, and at 

 slow intervals, they challenged on a trail, when I 

 caught a glimpse of a large dark object moving on 

 my right ; a second object was perceived, but still 

 indistinct, and covered by the thicket. Presently a 

 third and fourth were seen, and as they emerged 

 from the dense cover, I perceived, to my great sur- 

 prise, that they were bears. They were crossing 

 the foot of the knoll on which I stood, from the 

 right to the left. I leaped into the saddle, and as 

 the ground in front was favorable to a horse, dashed 

 at them to cut them off, if possible, before they had 

 gained the cover on the left. I had not run more 

 than half my career, when I reined in my horse ; 

 for I perceived that two of the bears had changed 

 their course, and were coming toward me. Their 

 object, I presume, was not attack, but escape from 

 the hounds, whose distant baying they had heard. 

 They ran straight for me, however, until they had 

 approached within twenty yards ; when the leading 



