A CLEAR VIEW. 233 



and, after a few half intelligible shouts, were assured 

 by their guides that the bear was said to be in the 

 ravine and moving parallel with them. Accordingly 

 they kept along one side of it, hoping for some 

 opportunity of getting a shot. The place was filled 

 with trees, and above their tops on the other side 

 could be discerned the upper part of the cliff which 

 formed its boundary. 



The hunters could now distinctly hear the beast 

 as, having slackened his pace, he made his way 

 apparently along the base of the cliff. The crackling 

 of the dried leaves and sticks plainly indicated his 

 whereabouts, but as yet no view of his body was 

 afforded them. Any attempt to approach him by 

 descending into the ravine would have been useless, 

 and only caused his more rapid flight, leaving them 

 far in the rear before the manoeuvre could be 

 executed. All they could do was to keep on their 

 present course and await some chance of a view. 



Mackenzie had been unable to keep up with his 

 lighter companions, and was now lagging con- 

 siderably in the rear ; when the leaders pulled up to 

 listen, as the sound of the animal's progress had 

 ceased. 



Suddenly Norman cried " There he is ! " and 

 Hawkes in the same instant caught a sight of the 

 bear appearing above the tops of the trees. It was 



