170 INDIAN BIG GAME 



We followed till dark. At first there was much 

 blood, but heavy rain all night spoilt any chance 

 next day, and so we lost this fine beast. I had 

 undoubtedly fired too high, and I am sure this 

 is how most bison are lost. The high dorsal 

 hump is misleading. 



My next trip was with B. of tiger -shooting 

 days. We each got a bison. 



I heard bear giving tongue one day ; stalked, 

 and came on the top of them ; there were two 

 of them sitting up, facing each other and howling. 

 I shot one. 



On another day B. and I explored a little hill 

 a couple of miles from our bungalow. We each 

 took one side of the hill. I followed an animal 

 track that ran round the hill, and on looking up 

 a gully saw gleaming eyes and a black mass 

 descending with a loud "Woof, woof! " I threw 

 myself back, and the bear passed over my legs 

 down the hill, while I missed it handsomely. 

 The misguided animal made a circuit of the hill, 

 climbed up to where B. was awaiting it on his side, 

 and was slain. That was bad luck on the bear. 



My last trip, of those days, was alone to the 

 country where H. and I had been. I had one 

 servant with me and Coopoo the old shikari, 

 lent me by C. of Ootacamund. Coopoo was an 

 oldish man and a good and keen shikari, though 

 fond of the bottle on off-days. He had long black 

 hair, a very greasy cap, and features cast almost 

 in the heroic mould. He is dead ; but I can see 

 the old boy now, looking at me with his big 

 stern eyes, forefinger outstretched, saying, " Toch 

 'em op the wind," as some infernal brute, having 



