104 IN AN AWKWARD POSITION. 



of them. Soon, however, we find another a monster that 

 looks like an ox as he grazes on a small grassy flat beside 

 the stream that runs down the glen. He is in a good 

 place for a stalk, and this time the wind is right. Under 

 cover of some detached blocks of stone strewn here and 

 there about the ground in his vicinity, we easily approach 

 him within twenty yards or so. The first shot, which is 

 aimed, as I imagine, well behind the shoulder, strikes, prob- 

 ably, too low, for it only sends him off with a loud angry 

 wugh. The second, catching him in rear, has merely the 

 effect of accelerating his flight and making him grunt again. 

 Away he shambles across the stream, and then takes straight 

 up a steep-sloping snow-field, dyeing it with blood, until 

 presently he begins to show decided signs of distress. 

 Without waiting to reload, as I should have done, Kamzan 

 and I start in pursuit with the other rifle he is carrying. 

 Under cover of a depression in the snow-bed, running up 

 parallel to his course, we soon overhaul him, when I ply 

 him with a third bullet. Loss of blood now begins to tell, 

 for this time he only makes a whining remonstrance, and 

 after moving on a few places again pulls up. The contents 

 of the remaining barrel elicit another testy reply, as he 

 slowly turns round and stands glowering about him in a 

 manner that seems to bode mischief. Luckily for us, he 

 has as yet neither seen nor got wind of us as we crouch low 

 behind the snow-bank. The business now begins to get 

 awkward, for we are very close to the brute, and below him ; 

 both rifles are empty, and I have stupidly left the ammuni- 

 tion with the other shikaree, who has considered it prudent 

 to remain below, and with whom we dare not communicate 

 lest the bear may detect us and judging from the surly 

 glances he casts around, he is quite prepared to make him- 

 self exceedingly disagreeable should he catch sight of us. 

 Eamzan, in a smothered whisper, suggests that as the beast 

 looks " bobbery," as he expresses it, we should make our- 

 selves as small as possible behind our cover, and thus await 



