With a lightning glance, his eye swept the grove, in search of a tree into whose branches he might climb.

He saw one at a little distance, and rushed towards it, pursued by both of the monsters growling and gnashing their teeth.

With wonderful agility, he sprang and caught a lower branch, and drew himself up into the tree, just in time to escape the blow which one of the bears struck at him with his terrific claws.

But he had by no means obtained a place of safety.

He had been compelled to drop his rifle in his flight.