224 THE LAST DAY AT CHEE-lIAi 



We clieered on the hounds, but they would not 

 respond. In vain the drivers brought them to the 

 trail they would follow the horsemen, but would 

 not advance a step before them such was the 

 instinctive dread they entertained of the bears, 

 which none of them had seen before that day. Oh, 

 for a bull terrier, or some other dog of bolder 

 nature ! even a cur of low degree, would have 

 yelped in pursuit, and enabled us to add two more 

 bears, perhaps, to the list of slain ! But it was use- 

 less, and we gave it up when we had tracked them 

 to "Sandy Run," feeling assured that, by this time, 

 they had crossed the Ashepoo, and gained their 

 fastnesses in the hammocks beyond. 



We reassembled at the spot, where we had left 

 the bears (henceforward known as "The Bear 

 Stand ") ; and sending one of the drivers to the 

 plantation for a cart to take them home, betook 

 ourselves to tracking up the wounded buck, in 

 whose favor the bears had unwittingly made so 

 effectual a diversion. The Laird did not seem alto- 

 gether so confident now, as he had been a few hours 

 before ; some slight misgivings as to the success of 

 his shot appeared to be hanging about him, and 

 Iiis companions began to jeer ! 



" Show us the very spot," said one. 



" There," said he ; " I was standing behind this 



