22 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SHIKAR 



until it was hidden behind them. Then he and 

 Punchi waited and watched until the bear, out of 

 pure curiosity, stood up on his hind legs and peeped 

 over a rock at them. Will could just see his head 

 and that was all ; but he got a bullet into that, and 

 there was again cause for ginger brandy. 



Some weeks of our leave passed during which we 

 had bad weather and no luck. Several times we saw 

 bear, and once ibex, in the far distance, and each of 

 us fired a shot or two with no result. A bear was 

 badly wounded, but got away in the forest and could 

 not be found. Rum John was very sympathetic, and 

 one day, when we were talking matters over with 

 him, he said : 



" If the sahib will let me come out with him, he 

 will certainly shoot something : good luck comes 

 with me." 



The sahib said doubtfully : 



" But shall I get my dinner all the same when I 

 get back? " 



Ramzan Khan smiled rather scornfully at the 

 sahib's extraordinary want of knowledge of his 

 character. 



" I am not an idle man/' 



Nor was he. 



They started off together and Will brought home 

 rather a fine bear. 



Another day, when we were going out together to 

 look for ibex, Rum John asked if he might come too. 

 So, armed with his black umbrella, water-bottle and 

 bag, that went with him everywhere, he started with 

 us. 



