134 



THE FOREST AND THE FIELD. 



offering splendid shots. We let drive almost 

 simultaneously, and both shots were effective, for 

 the male dropped vs^ithout a movement, whilst the 

 female, rearing up on her hind legs, with a grunt 

 betokening surprise, fell sprawling on her back in 

 the last agony. We rushed up to give the coup de 

 grace, but it was not required — both were dead. 

 Having reloaded our rifles, we continued our route 

 towards the camp, leaving the operation of skin- 

 ning until the morrow, as we did not care to lose 

 our dinners and pass the night in the bush — the 

 natural consequence of being overtaken by dark- 

 ness in these regions. As it Avas, we arrived late, 

 for " Five Minutes," fearful lest the dinner should 

 be spoiled by waiting, was heard some time before 

 we arrived at the tents venting his spleen upon 

 the " unchaste janwars " (beasts) that caused our 

 delay. Such being the case, little unnecessary 

 time was now lost, and with appetites sharpened 

 by our fag, we did ample justice to the good 

 cheer. After having talked over our sport, and 

 given directions that some of the people should go 

 and fetch the skins of the bears in the morning, 



