The party set off in the direction pointed out, the negro following.
After going about half a mile, they were brought to a full stop by a precipice over which the foremost one of the party was near falling.
As they came to the brink they thought they heard a whine and a low growl, as of a wild animal in distress.
Looking into the ravine, a sight met their gaze, which caused them to shrink back with horror.
At the bottom of the ravine lay the body of the man of whom they were in pursuit, but literally torn to pieces.
Beside the body crouched an enormous she bear, apparently dying from wounds she had received from an encounter with the men.
Could his worst enemy have wished him a severe punishment?
"De debble got him now," said Black Bill, and the whole party took their way back to the cave.
On their way back, Billings learned from the negro that Hellena in company with Lightfoot, had left the cave several days previous to their coming. Where they had gone he could not tell.
He was so possessed with the idea they had been spirited away by the devil, or some one of his imps in the shape of an enormous Indian, that they thought he must have been frightened out of his wits.