100 SHIKAK 



yesterday, and seeing a bear high up on a hill, at- 

 tempted to get at him but in vain ; scrambled about 

 the heights, but, seeing nothing more, gave up and 

 returned to bivouac. 



15th June. Up ere dawn, a long day in prospect, it 

 having been determined to shift camp to a village on the 

 opposite side of the valley, and we hunters to climb a 

 mountain, from which we should descend to the bridge 

 leading to our new quarters in the afternoon. 



When rather more than half-way up a bear was 

 descried, to which we approached with due caution, but 

 owing to the formation of the ground could not get 

 nearer than some hundred and fifty yards ; so that I 

 fired at that distance, and struck him well in the middle 

 of the shoulder. Recoiling from the blow, he then made 

 straight for our position, and gained a rising ground just 

 over us, when seeing us he paused, looking very ugly, 

 then turned, when trying my other barrel, it missed fire, 

 the cap being bad. We pursued and soon sighted the 

 chase, in pursuit of which Subhan and Mooktoo con- 

 tinued, Phuttoo and I looking on the mountain side, up 

 which Bruin held his limping course, being spread out 

 plainly before us ; and we had the unsatisfactory view of 

 the abortive efforts made to secure the wounded animal. 

 The two hunters, not being able to see the wounded bear as 

 we did, made slow progress, expecting to meet their foe 

 at every step behind some rock ; so Bruin, though slowly 

 dragging along, and' occasionally pausing to look back, 

 made two paces to their one, and so disappeared over the 

 crest of the mountain. Whereupon, Phuttoo and I 

 set off to climb up and rejoin the others. And sharp 

 work we had ; but finally reached our two companions 

 who, not sighting the game, had given up the chase in 

 despair. 



