We proceeded to make our way through a border of trees and bushes, that separated us from the rock, that we might examine it, and judge of the difficulties of our undertaking.

Jack preceded us, as usual, after giving Ernest his gun; Fritz followed him, and suddenly turning to me, said,-- "I believe kind Nature has saved us much trouble; the rock appears to be divided from top to bottom; at the foot I see a sort of cave, or grotto, already made." [Illustration: "We saw at the entrance of the cave two large brown bears."] At this moment Jack uttered a piercing cry, and came running to us, his lasso in his hand: "Two monstrous beasts!" cried he.

"Help! help!" We rushed forward, our guns ready, and saw at the entrance of the cave two large brown bears.

The black bear, whose fur is most valued, is only found in cold and mountainous countries; but the brown prefers the south.

It is a carnivorous animal, considered very ferocious.