166 THE FOREST AND THE FIELD. 



that was rooting up herbs on the slope below, and 

 which Fred and I must have passed within fifty yards 

 without perceiving. Bruin was so intent upon his 

 work that he allowed our companion to get within 

 thirty paces before he got wind of him, when 

 leaving off eating the herbage, he cocked his ears 

 back, growled, and made a sudden rush forward as 

 if indignant at being disturbed. The Doctor, in 

 nowise discomposed at this demonstration, which 

 was evidently intended to intimidate, threw up his 

 rifle and took a steady shot, aiming between his 

 eyes, but (the first sight* of his rifle being cut for 

 a hundred yards instead of flush with the barrel) 

 the ball struck too high, and merely grazed the 

 forehead, and ploughed up the skin of the back. 

 This made the bear vicious, and with a savage roar 

 he came straight at his antagonist, who was luckily 

 standing on the higher ground. The charge up 

 hill impeded his movements, so the Doctor had 



* A most stui^id mistake that all gunmakers, who are not them- 

 selves sportsmen, invariably make, and which is often the cause of 

 accidents. In the jungle more game is bagged within fifty yards 

 than above that distance, consequently all rifles ought to have a 

 flush back-sight. 



