10 SHIKAR SKETCHES. 



dead dropped actually in her tracks a little 

 crimson stain trickling down the sand and dyeing 

 the water of the pool. I want to go down and 

 examine my prize at once, for it is my first bear, 

 but Lutchman puts his veto on this proceeding, 

 saying other bears will probably come ere long, 

 so I acquiesce, and, again seating myself, am pre- 

 pared to watch. How long I did so I know not, 

 but it seemed an age, and I had again dropped off 

 to sleep, only shortly to be awoke by Lutchman 

 in the same silent fashion. 



On looking out I saw two well-grown bear- 

 cubs coming across to the water. Suddenly they 

 pulled up and began to sniff about and look in 

 my direction. Whether they had scented me or 

 the dead bear, I know not (the wind had changed 

 slightly), but anyhow they seemed to think there 

 was something uncanny about the spot, and made 

 up their minds to decamp. I had one of them 

 covered with my rifle as they stood some forty 

 yards off. The piece of white cotton wool I had 

 pasted on my foresight stood out clear against 

 the black shaggy hide, and as they turned to go 

 I fired. Almost simultaneously with the flash of 

 my rifle, I saw, as it were, a circle of fire on the 

 cub's shoulder (I was using a percussion-shell, 

 which I conclude burst on his shoulder-blade and 

 ignited the long hair of his coat), something like 



