CHAPTER IX 



BEAR, BISON, SAMBHUR, AND DISAPPOINTMENTS 



By C. W. G. Morris 



During April 1896 I was doing some road-tracing 

 with a chum of mine, Francis F., and we had 

 a very jolly time together, not unmixed with 

 excitement. 



On the evening of the 3rd of April, after a hot 

 day's tracing, we decided to have a look round 

 for sambhur, as the hills, especially on the east 

 side of the road, were favourite resorts. There 

 was a long range of mountains stretching north 

 and south, which meant very stiff climbing to 

 reach the best haunts. We climbed up together 

 about half the distance, when, by mutual agree- 

 ment, he went to the right and I held to the left. 

 I had just reached a nullah where the jungle from 

 the top gradually tapered to about the width of 

 the ravine. My Sholaga had selected a narrow 

 part where the crossing would be easier, and 

 we were pausing to hear if any animal was on 

 the move, as elephants were always wandering 

 about here ; we had listened barely a breath- 

 ing space, when I heard a great noise of 

 some animal shuffling down towards us, inside 

 the jungle. I at once exclaimed " elephants " 



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