TO THE WURDWAN. 43 



we rapidly closed with him, and learned that a bear with 

 two cubs were in the adjoining ravine. 



Away, in pursuit we sighted the chase, who were 

 moving quickly away, here and there grubbing, routing, 

 and feeding, as is the wont of these creatures. Over 

 very rough ground we climbed, and scrambled ; and 

 descended to the bed of the ravine, The Bruin family, 

 still going ahead, were concealed by a projecting ledge of 

 rock, to which we hurried ; and from the fall of stones 

 down the hill on the other side the rock, we knew that 

 we were close on our game. We turned the angle, and 

 saw B. junior peeping. He did not see us ; but a step or 

 two further and B. major's acute nasal perceptions indi- 

 cated danger ; so, giving office to the young uns, off scuttled 

 the trio at a good round pace up the hill. There was no 

 time to lose, so rapidly aiming at the old bear, I struck 

 her hard somewhere in the back ; but, after stumbling 

 and uttering a fierce growl, she went on, but was again 

 descried, when I fired the second barrel ineffectually,- then 

 loaded and pursued up hill. The chase was soon in view, 

 labouring heavily. We got to the top of the hill, and a 

 few paces down the declivity was B. major alone, standing. 

 Hearing her pursuers, she shuffled on, when I fired and 

 brought her down, finishing her with another barrel. 



Leaving men to take the skin, we went after the Mey~ 

 nahl pheasants, some of which had been seen ; and after 

 trying in vain to get within shot of these beautiful birds, 

 we descended the hill, and when near the bottom, the 

 leading shikarry suddenly stopped, and directed me to 

 prepare for action. I, supposing a Meynahl pheasant to 

 be the object, took the double gun, but was told to change, 

 and, following the direction of the shikarry, saw the great 

 ugly head of a large bear, protruding from the bushes 

 only the head visible. I fired the single Whitworth, but 



