66 SHIKAR IN THE WURDWAN. 



fallen in, so that we experienced much difficulty in 

 getting on, the steep inaccessible hill precluding all 

 chance of a route higher up : so, hanging on how we 

 might, we scrambled across the face of the landslip, the 

 rapid river rushing roaring below, and luckily without 

 mishap reached and crossed a bridge, and on to the 

 village, which is prettily situated the bivouac charming. 



A mountain path from Palgham enters the Wurdwan 

 here, but is impracticable now for all but mountaineers. 

 "We rested some hours ; then went off to beat up the 

 quarters of the three bears we had seen from the opposite 

 side when on the march. We sighted our three 

 acquaintances high up on a rock ; prepared to meet them 

 on the slope we supposed they would descend to ; had a 

 difficult, fatiguing climb. At last we gained a ridge from 

 which the game was visible, all three feeding, distance 

 about one hundred yards. I wished to wait for a chance 

 of their coming nearer ; but Subhan urged me to fire at 

 once, and the largest bear, mother of the other two, I 

 suppose, then looking up, I fired and hit her somewhere 

 in front. Great confusion and discomfiture ensued. I 

 fired and hit another, and discharged my other barrels as 

 they slowly retreated ; but, not being able to pursue from 

 the difficulty of the ground, saw my wounded prey 

 gradually disappear up the hill, just able to crawl away. 



I returned to camp, weary and lame. Regretting 

 much wounding poor brutes thus, to escape only to die in 

 agonies, I made some half-resolutions to give up shooting. 



Leg very bad, but not worse, I went to bed lamenting 

 my ill success. 



