Across the Roof of the World. 



cartridge and had a shot at the black one, though he was^in a bad 

 position below a lot of furze bushes and I could only j ust see the top 

 of his back. At the second shot both pulled themselves together 

 and with much ominous growhng charged straight towards us. 

 The Kalmuk with a piercing yell took safety in precipitate flight, 

 leaving me to face the music, which I made some attempt to do. 

 Unfortunately, I had that day only brought five cartridges, 

 hardly sufficient for the job in hand. It is difficult to describe 

 one's feelings at such a moment as this. The sight of two large 

 and ferocious bears sweeping down intent on tearing one to 

 pieces, and the critical situation thus engendered cannot be 

 depicted in mere words. There was no time to lose. I 

 mentally resolved to do the best and account for, at any rate, 

 one of the gigantic creatures with the three rounds now left to 

 me, in the lingering hope of being able to settle for the other 

 with the butt end of my rifle, truly a desperate chance. Both 

 shots at the charging Bruins were misses, though perhaps the 

 firing had the desired effect, for, remarkable to relate, when within 

 less than ten yards they suddenly turned off and went up hill. I 

 sped the parting brutes with a shot at the black fellow's stern 

 which got him in the leg. The shikari now returned and loud 

 were his lamentations when he learnt the ammunition had run out. 

 It was indeed a bitter moment for me to see those fine great bears 

 legging it for all they were worth, and unable to stop them for 

 lack of cartridges. The red one was certainly a very big animal 

 and his black companion much larger than the Himalayan species. 



I returned to camp sad and silent, not unmixed with disgust, 

 at the brilliant opportunity I had missed of securing a unique bag. 



I moved lower down the valley that day and turning into 

 a side nullah, which led off from the right bank, camped in a 

 forest of pines, as this part was said by the Kalmuk to be a 

 likely one for ibex. The ground looked promising, and in the 

 afternoon I went out and saw some on the high ground across 

 the stream to the north. I could not, however, make out any 

 good heads, so left them in peace. 



