252 BIVOUAC ON THE GOOMTEE. 



and yet I did plenty of work with it, both 

 amongst bu'ds and beasts. At the time of 

 which I am writing, one of the cocks had 

 been broken by an accident, and I was 

 obliged to do what I could, with one barrel. 



You will please to imagine me, warming 

 myself at the fire, early one morning, after a 

 bivouac with the shepherds, on one of the 

 summer pasture-grounds. Below us, roaring 

 and foaming, ran the Goomtee river, over 

 which were several snow-bridges, and a mile 

 up the opposite hill-side, which was studded 

 with birch trees, a brown-bear and her two 

 cubs, were descried feeding. 



Two men formed my party, and we were 

 soon off in pursuit. A little spaniel dog of 

 mine, was left with the shepherds, but as it 

 commenced to howl, I made signs to them 

 to let it go, and it joined us. Crossing 

 the river by one of the snow-bridges, we 

 ascended the hill, and soon came in sight of 

 Bruin and her progeny. Leaving the two 

 men, and the little dog held by one of them, 

 I crept cautiously along, behind a ridge, till 



