forests--quite 10,000 feet above sea level.

Perhaps bees? There might be a nest of wild bees somewhere near--why
not in the cedar itself--and if so, the horses might be attacked by
them? That would account for the capers they were cutting!

They had almost settled it in their mind that this was the true
explanation; when an object came before their eyes that gave a very
different solution to the mystery.

One of the horses appeared more frightened than the other two--at least
he was squealing and curveting in a much more violent manner. As he
danced around, his eyes appeared to be directed upwards--the great
eye-balls sparkling, and protruded as if about to start from their
sockets. This guided the glances of the hunters; and, looking among the
branches of the cedar, they now perceived a large black mass, of an
oblong shape--extended along one of the lower limbs, and just over the
spot where the horse was tied.

They had hardly time to make out the shape of this dark object, and
become convinced that it was the body of a bear, when the huge creature
was seen to launch itself down from the limb; and then drop like a cat,
all-fours, upon the back of the horse!

The latter uttered a scream of affright; and as if terror had added to
his strength, he now succeeded in breaking the branch--around which the
rein was looped--and bounded off through the forest, the bear still
squatted upon his back!

The trees that stood around were nearly all of slender growth; but, as
their stems grew thickly together, the horse, with his strange rider,
could make but slow way among them; and every now and then the former,
half blind with affright, dashed his sides against the trunks, causing
them to crackle and shiver at each concussion.

All at once the horse was seen coming to a halt, as if brought up by the
power of a Mameluke bit! The spectators saw this with wondering eyes--
enable for the moment to explain it. As they were very near the spot
where the halt had been made, they soon perceived the nature of the
interruption. The bear had thrown one of his great forearms around a
tree; while, with the other, he still clutched the horse, holding him
fast! The design of Bruin was perfectly clear: he had seized the tree
in order to bring the steed to a stand!

In this for a time he was successful. With one arm he was enabled to
retain the tree in his powerful hug; while with the other he held the
horse--his huge paw, with i