ADVENTURES IN CAMP AND JUNGLE. 61 



Soon after our arrival, and before that of our people, two 

 villagers came in bearing on a pole a dead bear, which they 

 said they had killed. Knowing the weight of a large bear, 

 we were astonished to see them move so easily under their 

 load, but, on closer inspection, we found that the bear had 

 been skinned and rudely stuffed with hay. After some 

 questioning, the men confessed that they had found the bear 

 dying, and had knocked him on the head with their axes ; 

 and from various bullet-holes in the skin, and their descrip- 

 tion of the place where they found it, we had no doubt that 

 it was the same bear which my friend had wounded and lost 

 in his former expedition. We gave them a small reward and 

 dismissed them, and as Shaik Adam had not come in we 

 arranged to have a little sport with the defunct bear. 



I had it carried to some distance from the bungalow to a 

 mass of rocks and bushes on the face of the mountain, where 

 we drew out the pole and partially concealed the bear among 

 some long grass. On the arrival of the Shaik, we told him 

 that a bear had been severely stung in an attack on a bees' 

 nest, and was so blinded as to be unable to make his way 

 through the jungle. 



"We added that he was supposed to be lying up among 

 some rocks not far off, and as my companion was not fit for 

 work I proposed to the Shaik that he and I should go in 

 search of it. He at once acceded, and soon appeared with his 

 own gun. Placing a couple of caps on a rifle, I went out 

 with him, and, directing him to keep close, moved down on 

 the spot where we had placed the bear. When about ten 

 yards off the Shaik caught sight of it, and halting, pointed it 

 out to me. I at once raised my rifle, and exploded the cap. 

 Up went the long gun, and taking a careful aim my friend 

 pressed the trigger, but the only result was a flash in the pan. 



