336 SANTA CRUZ TO 
and striking on his back. This saved the man from 
injury, and released him from his antagonist’s embrace. 
Lacerated as he was, he arose and prepared to act on 
the defensive, expecting the bear would again give 
battle; but the latter, not feeling very comfortable 
from his wounds and his fall, stood quietly gazing at 
the man, for some moments, and then leisurely turned 
around and walked away. The man was not so badly . 
injured as to prevent his walking ; and, as soon as the 
bear was out of sight, he called to his companions, and 
pointed out the direction taken by the animal. Follow- 
ing the track, they soon discovered him, and dispatch- 
ed him with a couple of well-directed shots. 
We now descended the opposite slope of the moun- 
tain, which, though long and tedious, was not precipi- 
tous. Reaching the base in safety, we stopped on the 
banks of a beautiful little stream, which had its source 
in the mountain. Here it was thought advisable to 
water the animals and make a noon halt, as it was un- 
certain whether we should find water again for many 
miles. After a delay of three hours, which afforded 
us an opportunity to dine, we resumed our journey, 
keeping near the stream for three miles, and then strik- 
ing off into a very broad and level plain from twenty- 
five to thirty miles across, on which not a tree or @ 
bush was to be seen- Low gravelly hills of a conical 
form rose from the plain on our left from fifty to two 
hundred feet in height, covered with grass, but desti- 
tute of trees. On our right, about four miles distant, 
rose a high and isolated mountain with bold rocky 
sides. Opposite this we stopped at nine o’ clock oe 
encamped without water, having travelled twenty miles. 
