192 WILD MEN AND WILD BEASTS. 



again with great celerity on the least alarm. Had I pounded 

 the bear on the head with my rifle as she came on, I might 

 have turned her ; but the rifle was a new Sam. Smith, and I 

 suppose I was afraid of smashing it. I had reason to be 

 thankful to Bappoo for his cool and plucky conduct, as, with 

 her murdered offspring lying between us, the bear would not 

 have been easily driven off, and would probably have killed 

 me. Mounting the elephant, which had been brought out with 

 us, we went back to the tent, and I remarked to the jemadar 

 that I feared I should not require his assistance in bear- 

 shooting for some time to come. 



I had in my camp a native dresser from the dispensary at 

 Maunpore, and by him my wound was artistically bound up. 

 Both bones of the arm were smashed ; the ulna was broken 

 about one inch from the joint, and the ends protruded. The 

 radius was also broken. I had on the third finger of my 

 left hand a ring which had not been off for many years, and 

 could not be removed. Knowing that my hand would pro- 

 bably swell up, I lost no time in filing this off. Meanwhile, 

 food had been got ready ; and, after partaking of refreshment, 

 I mounted on a litter, borne on men's shoulders, and set off 

 for Mundlaisir, distant thirty miles, hoping there to obtain 

 good surgical treatment. A horseman was sent off before 

 me, with a note to Colonel Keatinge, the political agent, ex- 

 plaining matters. 



The Bheels turned out at various places along the road, 

 and carried me to Mheysur by daylight next morning. 

 Thence, Colonel Keatinge's riding cart took me the remaining 

 four miles into Mundlaisir. I had with me a leathern water- 

 bag or " chagul " having a tin spout, and with it I kept the 

 wound constantly wet. By this the inflammation was com- 

 pletely kept under. Soon after my arrival my clothes were 



