TIGERS, LEOPARDS, AND BEARS 277 



season there was always plenty, for during the winter 

 Mussoorie was nearly deserted. 



The bears would, however, also prowl round houses 

 in which there were residents ; and of this I once 

 had experience. It was in the month of February. 

 I was at Mussoorie on leave ; I occupied a house near 

 the extreme end of the station, very lonely, and with 

 woods all around. It must have been near midnight ; 

 I was in bed and asleep. I was awakened by a noise 

 in the verandah, a heavy, shuffling sound accompanied 

 by a grunting snuffle. Not a little to my dismay, I 

 recognized the grunt as that of a bear ; and then, still 

 more to my dismay, I became aware that there was not 

 only one bear, but two, and further that one of the two 

 was pushing against the door. 



I now became really alarmed. I had no gun by me, 

 and the servants were all on the other side of the house ; 

 and, moreover, if the bears wanted to enter, I was very 

 sure that the door would not prevent them. I was con- 

 sidering what to do, when, much to my relief, the bears 

 moved off. But it was only as far as the other door. 

 There in a minute or two I again heard their grunting 

 and shuffling ; but it soon ceased, and as it did not 

 recommence, I presumed that the bears had finally 

 departed, and I fell again asleep. 



In the morning I discovered that as to the final 

 departure of the bears I had been mistaken. On leaving 

 my door they had continued their prowl round the 

 house till they discovered the larder. The door of 

 this they smashed open ; that done, they entered, and 

 devoured a cheese. 



