SYMPATHY WITH MOTHERLY FEELING. 223 



have been so considerate. The excitement of close 

 quarters might have proved too strong for their 

 feelings of sympathy ; but as the circumstance 

 happened, they did find that a disinclination to pull 

 upon the poor beast, which had shown such tender 

 regard for its young, overcame for a moment their 

 thirst for slaughter. Wounded as it was, the kinder 

 course to pursue would have been to endeavour to 

 put an end to its pain ; but this did not immediately 

 occur to them. So, growling and squeaking in 

 concert, the two made good their escape. 



The active look-outs were soon darting from 

 eminence to eminence, intent on distinguishing the 

 line of flight of the game ; and, if possible, again 

 marking them down. 



After a considerable time, it was announced to the 

 hunters, that- they had been seen to enter a ravine 

 a mile or two off, and had not emerged from it. 



With some grunting and grumbling on the part 

 of Mackenzie, the three were soon threading their 

 tortuous way up and down the steep ravines, and 

 among the rocks and jungle which were thickly 

 scattered over the other side of the range of hills ; 

 for in that direction the bears had ultimately gone. 

 The ravine was at last reached ; but the bears had 

 moved, and a distant glimpse or two was obtained 

 of them labouring slowly along towards avast unin- 



