90 SHIKAR 



had a fire, round which we squatted comfortably 

 chatting. 



In due time we moved back towards camp saw a 

 bear, and were about the right place, when getting our 

 wind he fled amain, Continuing our beat carefully through 

 the jungle, Subhan dropped to game, and, following his 

 indicator, I saw a dark coloured animal raise up its head. 

 I said, " it is a bullock " : but no, it was a bear, an un- 

 usually large and dark one, and when he looked up, with 

 his ears pricked up, they looking like short horns gave 

 him the momentary appearance of some species of ' bos/ 

 such as the musk ox. But bear, and nothing else, was he. 



We stalked, and raising our heads saw him im- 

 mediately below us, not half a dozen paces off, in a hollow. 

 I aimed to take him between the shoulders off went the 

 gun, and off went the bear, another shot striking him ; 

 then he disappeared. I pursued with Phuttoo lost all 

 traces, and turned, when we saw Subhan and Mooktoo 

 in hot chase across a snowdrift bridging the stream, on 

 which we soon detected the bloody tracks of the bear. 

 Hopes were raised. The rocky, precipitous mountain 

 side was difficult to surmount, but I had faith in Subhan, 

 especially on a bloody trail. 



Phuttoo and I, reconnoitring from below, espied the 

 chase high up, crossing the side of the hill at a slow walk. 

 We hailed the pursuing hunters, encouraging them in 

 their efforts ; saw them emerge, and enter faithfully on 

 the trail. Then we moved further on, and again I 

 viewed the chase higher up still, slowly making for a 

 pine-clad crag where, from its appearance, I judged he 

 would pull up. Anxiety now became extreme. The 

 ground presented such difficulties, and I had lost sight of 

 the hunters, who I feared might have given up the chase 

 in despair. I sat in suspense, gazing upwards, and 



