t
him in the eye, and entered his brain.

"Some bear steaks won't be bad things," observed Ned. "Now mates, let's
look after the goat. I had made sure of a cup of milk for Pedro this
morning."

We found the goat a little way off, but Bruin had hugged the breath out
of its body, and it was dead. Pedro and I thereon dragged the goat
close to the hut, while Ned was employed in cutting the proposed steaks
out of the bear.

"You see, mates, it won't do to leave the work for the morning, for
before that time the condors, the jaguars, and the pumas will be down
upon him, and tear every scrap of meat from his bones," he remarked. "I
wish he had been rather farther off, for the beasts will keep up such a
concert that we shan't be able to sleep much more to-night."

When he had finished operating on the bear, he began on his victim,
observing that though goats' flesh was somewhat strong, it would serve
to make a variety in our provisions. We had now more meat than we could
well carry, in addition to which, as the kid could not live without its
mother, we were obliged to sacrifice that also. On re-entering our
abode, Pedro and I employed ourselves in cutting the meat into slips and
drying it before the fire, while Ned again laid down to obtain his share
of rest. Pedro told me that the species of hear we had killed lived
chiefly on fruits and vegetables, and that he often commits great
ravages in the maize-fields of the Indians, by breaking off the green
tops and carrying them away to his hole in the mountains; but when he
cannot obtain that sort of food, he will catch deer and wild boars, and
will even attack the oxen employed in the sugar-mills on the
plantations. He has also been known, when pressed by hunger, to assail
solitary travellers in the mountains.

In the morning, when we went out of our tower, we saw that several
condors had been attracted by the carcase of the bear, and were tearing
it to pieces. They flapped their huge wings, and glared fiercely at us
with their red eyes as we watched them; but did not quit their banquet,
from which we had no wish to disturb them. After a hearty breakfast,
with renewed spirits and confidence we proceeded on our way. I have not
space to recount all our adventures, and must for the future describe
only those which were the most interesting.

We climbed mountains, and traversed glens, and crossed torrents by the
bridges I have often mentioned; and yet, day after day,