The path had evidently been frequently used by the animal.
"Look out, my lord!" Nessus exclaimed as Malchus hurried along.

"These bears of the Pyrenees are savage brutes.

See that he does not take you unawares." The rocks were exceedingly steep; and Malchus, with his bow in his hand and the arrow fitted and ready to draw, climbed on, keeping his eyes on every clump of bush lest the bear should be lurking there.

At last he paused.

They had reached a spot now but a short distance from the top.
The cliff here fell almost perpendicularly down, and along its face was a narrow ledge scarcely a foot wide.