STALK TWO BEARS 113 



which the coolies would presently be coming. One was a 



splendid animal with very bright-coloured fur, and I set 



my heart on him at once. I watched them for some time 



through the large telescope : they were very hungry and 



also very playful; after industrious grubbing for a time, 



they would set to and have a friendly wrestle, then, as the 



sun was getting high and hot, they would rush off to the 



shade of a rock and sit there panting ; I could see their 



lolling tongues quite distinctly through the telescope. 



After getting cool, they would come out again and have 



another feed until they could bear the sun no longer ; 



their winter coats were certainly heavy wear for this 



weather. We had to retrace our steps before we could 



cross the stream safely. I went over on a coolie's back, 



and then began a very trying ascent up the hillside to get 



above the bears before attempting the stalk, I had to go 



half a mile straight up with the sun blazing on my back, 



and I did not wonder that the bears should feel it. After 



cfoing high enough, we went along the hillside till we were 



above the place where our game had been marked down, 



when we had some anxious moments, as we could not make 



certain of their exact whereabouts after losing sight of 



them for so long ; but we knew they had not left the spot, 



as the coolie left below to watch them signalled that they 



were still there. We crawled on to a large rock that 



jutted out of the hillside in a sharp point, giving us a 



capital look-out station, which commanded the ground all 



round, and determined to remain here till we had again 



sighted our game ; and after some anxious watching, both 



the bears turned a swell in the hillside and came slowly 



towards the rock on which we lay. This was luck, for 



once. They were grubbing up roots and feeding on the 



grass, and took their time over it, so I had ample time to 



examine their coats and admire their fine proportions. 



8 



