102 THREE BEARS MARKED DOWN. 



morning three bears were reported to be marked down, so 

 as soon as we had despatched our breakfast we started off. 

 Our first visit was to a she bear and her three-parts-grown 

 cub ; they had been marked down into a large bush, but had 

 afterwards moved into a cave, to the mouth of which we 

 quietly crept, having taken off our boots to make less noise. 

 The village man with us made signs that he could see the 

 bear ; I peered in and there she was about ten yards from 

 the entrance of the cave, and as I whispered to my com- 

 panion, " I can see her, shall I fire?" out she came, full tilt 

 at me ; I fired, and my companion followed suit immediately, 

 which turned her a little, and as she passed me, I gave her 

 the other barrel, when she only ran a short distance and laid 

 down under a rock, and as she rose I shot her through the 

 head. We then heard the beaters crying out that there 

 was another bear afoot. My companion got the start of me 

 as I had to load, and when I came up to him I found he 

 had wounded the bear, so I left it to him, and after a long 

 chase over very rocky ground, he killed it. We were ■ 

 pretty well blown, and I felt uncommonly sore about the 

 feet, and on looking down I perceived that I had no boots 

 on. My stockings were all in rags and my feet a good deal 

 cut, but in the excitement I had forgotten all about my 

 boots. 



After a rest, we started for number three, and on the way 

 met one of our shikaries, who told us two more bears were 

 marked down — all dog bears, and all in different places. Five 

 bears in one day would be grand. I was, to use an old school 

 phrase, a little bit "too cocky" at having stopped the first bear, 

 and I expressed a hope that No. 3 would be a good fighter ; 

 my wish was fulfilled more to the letter than I anticipated. 



