3S0 THE HUNTING GEOUNDS 



After about three hours' riding we came to a 

 large log cattle-shed, used only in the summer 

 months, -when the best pasturage is to be found on 

 the lower spurs of the mountains ; and here we had 

 to leave the horses under the charge of a guard, as 

 the track became impracticable for them. 



The Illori chief described this bear to be a terrible 

 animal, standing as high as a pony ; but, as I had a 

 double-gun and rifle, and a brace of revolvers, I con- 

 sidered myself more than a match for him. 



The herdsman now led the way, and under his 

 guidance we climbed, in Indian file, a steep rocky 

 hill, which caused us to puff and blow, and made 

 our knees tremble before we got to the top ; where, 

 by dint of scrambling on our hands and knees, creep- 

 ing along the edges of break-neck presipices, and 

 hanging on to perilous ledges, we managed to work 

 our way along the crest until we came to a deep 

 rocky ravine on the other side, which appeared to 

 have been denuded of the dense bush that generally 

 covered the face of the country, by the violence of 

 numerous mountain-torrents, which, when swollen 

 by the rains, or the melting of the snow, dashed 

 down the steep descent with immense force, and 

 swept away all the underwood in their course. 

 Here our guide assured us the lair was, and, in- 

 deed, it looked a likely place to meet with queer 

 customers, for in all my peregrinations I never saw 

 wilder country. 



After an hour's careful investigation, during 



