304 SPORTING ADVENTURES 



time, but I did not know where I was going 1 , for I sometimes 

 found myself back at a point from which I had started half an 

 hour before. I finally reached the bank of a precipice, through 

 which a turbulent stream loudly brawled, and there I heard 

 the welcome notes of an answering horn, seemingly to my left. 

 This joyous sound nerved me amazingly, and gave me the 

 strength of a giant, apparently, for I blew a blast that caused 

 the forest and chasm to resound with it for miles. I then 

 stumbled through the canyon, crossed the stream in some 

 manner that I cannot now recall, for it was deep and swift in 

 places, and, emerging on the other side, I commenced runningat 

 my best speed, halting only long enough to give a loud halloo 

 or to sound the horn. I received answering shouts and blasts 

 at intervals, but they sometimes sounded afar off, and at other 

 times very near. After travelling for an hour I reached a 

 morass, and a small, deep stream, and these I crossed on fallen 

 slippery trees with a dexterity I could not again equal. 



While passing through a part of the foi'est so deep and 

 gloomy that even the stars were not visible, owing to the 

 density of the shrubbery, I started a bear from its lair, and it 

 went growling and tearing through the bushes ahead of me. 

 Nervous and excited as I was, I could notice everything passing 

 about me in the keenest manner possible. The weird hoot of 

 the owl, the whistle of the startled deer, the howl of the wolf, 

 and the loud whirr of alarmed coveys of grouse impressed me 

 at once; and, though uneasy in mind, through fear of getting 

 lost in the untrodden forest, yet I felt a sort of pleasure in 

 the dark and strange scenes, and the wild animals that sur- 

 rounded me. 



Another hour's travelling led me through three chasms > and 

 these I crossed in hot haste ; but finding I was getting no 

 nearer the answering shouts and horn-blasts, I commenced 

 firing my shot-gun. This was responded to by a rattling 

 volley, and then for the first time did I get the true bearings 

 of the sounds of succour. I hastened rapidly towards them, 

 firing as I advanced, to show my position, and finally came to 

 a steep cliff, up which I clambered with the nimbleness of a 

 "oat. "NVhen I reached the summit I heard human voices 



