They were left by a wild animal going back and forth to its den.

It was a large wild animal, else it would not have scraped against the rocks on either side.

It was probably a bear, and if you will hand me the two or three twisted hairs in the crevice at your elbow I will tell you." Robert brought them to him and Tayoga nodded assent.
"Aye, it was a bear," he said, "and a big one." "But how do you know his den is only two or three hundred yards away ?" "That is a matter of looking as far as the eyes can reach.

If you will only lift yours and gaze over the tops of those bushes you will see that the path ends against a high stone face or wall, too steep for climbing.
So the den must be there, and let us hope, Dagaeoga, that it is large enough for us both.

The bear is likely to be away, as this is summer.
Now, lift me up.