2 14 Leaves from an Indian Jungle. 



It must have been about 2 a.m. that, lying back with 

 eyes half closed, I became aware of a black object approach- 

 ing once more. I raised myself quietly. On it came in the 

 bright moon's rays, its whitish snout protruding from a 

 mass of shaggy black hair. A bear ! On he waddled until 

 ten seven five yards separated us ; and down went his 

 head to the very heap of plums we had specially arranged 

 for his delectation. There he sucked and slobbered. Oh, 

 such a smacking of lips long prehensile lips! Oh, so 

 busy ; blowing himself out at lightning speed ; crunching up 

 the jdmdns, stones and all j sniffing, sighing, gobbling, 

 grunting! 



In my hand I held a borrowed rifle, my own trusty 

 friend not being just at that time available. As I raised 

 the hammer, humouring it with pressure on trigger, it 

 gave out a soft click. Bhalu paused an instant. Then 

 he slobbered again. Yes ; I had him fair. Making allow- 

 ance for the hair on his back, the night-sight, clear white 

 under the moon, lay straight on his shoulder. I never 

 felt more confident of bagging my beast ; and I took 

 special pains this time, for the tribe of Bhalu had not 

 long since put me in their debt I owed a fatal grudge. 

 Very slowly I pressed that trigger. Bang! 



A lot of nasty white smoke hung in the way, as I lower- 

 ed the weapon to gloat over my prey. There was a 

 shuffling noise. The bear was not there! A black shadow 

 shot away into the trees with a "gurr whirr burr:" there 

 came the sound of stampeding in the leaves ; then a 

 "Whoof !" as he struck against something hard in his 

 hurry. The bear was gone ; and, as he went, more bears 

 rushed away in various directions from the farjdmun trees. 

 A couple of humping backs went bumping away in the 

 moonlight. All had gone .'and they never returned. 



