xi THE BEAR 235 



shot with the Paradox gun ; the elephant, most fortunately, not 

 having observed the animal. 



The effect was most extraordinary ; I never heard such a noise ; 

 there was a combination of roars and howls, as though a dozen 

 tigers and lions were engaged in a Salvation Army chorus. Away 

 went Hurri Ram, rendering it impossible for me to fire, as a large 

 bear came straight at us, charging from the deep gloom of a 

 bamboo clump, and growling, as it ran with the speed of a dog, 

 direct at the elephant. 



I thought we must be knocked to pieces ; two or three smaller 

 trees fortunately gave way before the terrified rush of Hurri Earn, 

 but the power of the driving-hook was gone ; although the mahout 

 alternately drove the spike deep into his skull and hooked the 

 sharp crook into the tender base of the ears, the elephant crashed 

 along, threatening us with destruction, as he swept through 

 bamboos, and appeared determined to run for miles. 



I had been accustomed to feed this animal daily with all kinds 

 of nice delicacies beloved by elephants, and at such times I always 

 spoke to him in a peculiar phraseology. Although I was in the 

 worst possible humour, and considerably anxious regarding our 

 safety, when rushing through forest at 15 miles an hour, I ad- 

 dressed Hurri Ram in most endearing terms " Poor old fellow, 

 poor old Hurri Ram, where are the sugar-canes 1 where are the 

 chupatties, poor old boy?" etc. etc. I believe thoroughly that 

 the well-known tones of my voice restored his confidence far more 

 than the torture of the driving-hook, and after a race of about 

 150 yards he stopped. "Now turn him round, give him the 

 point sharp, and drive him straight for the bear." The mahout 

 obeyed the order, and we soon approached the spot, where the 

 roars and howls still continued. My men were up the trees j the 

 shikari had thrown a mighty spear upon the ground, and had 

 gone up the branches like a squirrel, as he did not see the fun of 

 meeting the bear's charge. 



Before we had time to examine the actual condition of affairs, 

 the big bear suddenly dashed out again straight at the elephant, 

 and once more in a disgraceful panic he took to flight, without the 

 possibility, on my part, of taking a shot, when the bear thus 

 daringly exposed itself. Again I had to comfort Hurri Ram, and 

 by degrees we stopped his mad career, and once more returned to 

 the scene of his discomfiture. There was a slight depression in 

 an open hollow, where high grass in swampy ground intervened 

 between two sections of the forest. As we advanced, the elephant 

 being severely punished by the driving-hook and scolded by the 



