educed to
its shining and silky fineness.

Still another curious custom was observed; but this was further on, and
higher up the sides of the mountains. Their observation of it was
attended with some degree of danger, and therefore came very close on
being an "adventure." For this reason it found a place among the events
recorded in their journal.

It should be remarked, that all three were mounted--Alexis and Ivan upon
stout, active ponies, of that race for which the Pyrenees,--especially
the western section of them,--are celebrated. Pouchskin's mount was not
of the genus _equus_, nor yet an _asinus_, but a hybrid of both
genera,--in short, a mule.

It was a French mule, and a very large one: for it required a good-sized
quadruped of the kind to make an appropriate roadster for the
ex-grenadier of the Imperial guard. It was not a very fat mule,
however, but raw-boned and gaunt as a Pyrenean wolf.

Of course these animals were all hired ones--obtained at Eaux Bonnes,
and engaged for the trip across the Pyrenees to the Spanish side--as
also to be used in any deviations that the hunters should think proper
to make, while engaged in the pursuit of the bear.

From the nearest village on the Spanish side, the animals were to be
sent back to their owner; for it was not the intention of our travellers
to return to the French territory.

Having crossed the mountains, and accomplishing the object for which
they had visited them, their course would then be continued southward,
through Spain.

Along with them--also mounted on muleback--was a fourth individual,
whose services they had secured. His _metier_ was manifold--on this
occasion combining in his single person at least three purposes. First,
he was to serve them as guide; secondly, he was to bring back the hired
horses; and, thirdly, he was to aid them in the "chasse" of the bear:
for it so happened that this man-of-all-work was one of the most noted
"izzard-hunters" of the Pyrenees. It is scarcely correct to say it
_happened_ so. Rather was it a thing of design than chance; for it was
on account of his fame as a hunter, that he had been engaged for the
triple duty he was now called upon to fulfil.

The four travellers, then, all mounted as we have described, were
ascending a very steep declivity. They had left the last hamlet--and
even the last house--behind them; and were now climbing one of the
outlying spurs that project many miles from the main axis o