ADVENTURES IN CAMP AND JUNGLE. 205 



only the marks of the four fangs in the neck were to be seen. 

 I took up my position about sunset, and soon after a fine 

 panther came bounding out into the open. The light, how- 

 ever, was bad, and I could not be certain of my aim, for the 

 moon was obscured by thin clouds. The panther commenced, 

 as they always do, by tearing away the softer skin inside the 

 thigh. At length I fired, but the beast bounded off unscathed. 

 About two hours after it returned, and again I fired with the 

 same result. I was much disgusted, and, rolling myself in my 

 blanket, I went to sleep. 



Just below where I sat was a jungle-path, and about day- 

 break I spied a bear coming leisurely along it. I fired, and 

 he rolled over, but picked himself up, and went off. Presently 

 Munnoo appeared, and we took up the track, but soon lost it 

 among some ravines, and I returned to the village. After 

 breakfast we proceeded to a jungle some miles off, passing 

 on our way round the edge of a fine artificial lake, along 

 the shores of which we found tracks of tigers, panthers, bears, 

 wild-pigs, and deer. Farther on, we beat out a very likely- 

 looking covert, in which we found the fresh track of a tiger ; 

 and in the moist sand of a small stream, well sheltered by 

 overhanging bushes, I came on the spot where he had lain, as 

 was evident by hairs from his coat lying on the ground. 



We then beat a rocky ravine, taking up positions on trees. 

 Soon a bear came out, and fell to my shot, but rose again and 

 made off up the hill behind me. Bushes intervened, and I 

 was unable to put in my second barrel. At that moment a 

 police-horseman, who- was on his way to join us, met him on 

 the face of the hill. The bear charged, and, wild with fright, 

 the horse reared up, and then suddenly swerving round, 

 threw his rider. Ludicrous as the affair was, it might have 

 proved serious for the man, but, most fortunately, the bear 



