128 Leaves from an Indian Jungle. 



crest of a knife-like serrated spur and scanned the slopes 

 and gullies spread out beyond. 



The patel rolled down a boulder or two, but without 

 result, after which I thought I saw the bright rufous coat 

 of a barking deer on an opposite ridge, and took a long 

 shot at it. It turned out to be a bit of ant-hill, and no 

 deer; but at the sound of the shot a black shaggy mass 

 emerged from a thin bamboo clump below me, 200 yards 

 off, and, hurrying along the steep hillside, halted. A '303 

 bullet struck close under him, and sent him off with a star- 

 tled gasp, down-hill of course, in that headlong fashion a 

 frightened bear affects, while another close shave increased 

 his hurry. 



I ran along and down my ridge in time to see him reach 

 the level and, turning sharp to the left, make all haste for 

 the next ravine, his woolly back humping along in comical 

 haste. By this time my haste was also comical ; but I reach- 

 ed the level in about even time, leaving the patel well 

 in the rear. It was a most trying half-mile race, for there 

 were several deep-cut ravines to scramble across, and 

 latterly another climb to be faced ; but, though reduced to 

 a dog-trot on the flat of my feet, I got along, and sat down 

 rather suddenly on reaching the edge of the khora into 

 which old " Bhulu" had disappeared. I then saw, from 

 the configuration of the ground, that the bear would 

 proceed up this narrow glen before slowing down. So rose 

 and wearily trotted upwards to a yet higher point of van- 

 tage. As I sat down again there he was about as nicely 

 " cooked" as myself limping along the opposite slopes. 



His actual progress past or away from me was slow, 

 because of the numerous gullies and little spurs he had to 

 dive into or skirt round, so I had ample time. Raising the 

 200 yards leaf I let drive. Miss ! Try again. 



