160 THE EASTERN HUNTERS. 



or rather the parties for they were ordered not to 

 go singly could be arranged, the bear was again 

 on the move. Norman saw it in the jungle, 

 and fired a long shot in the vain hope of endea- 

 vouring to make it break towards Hawkes ; but 

 it sneaked away below him, and gave no chance. 

 Some of the men next viewed it as it turned 

 into a nullah which fed the ravine, and make 

 up it as if with the intention of crossing another 

 ridge. 



This gave Mackenzie a chance of intercepting it, 

 as he had taken up a position on the other side 

 of the ravine to that occupied by Norman and 

 Hawkes. 



The hard work had told on all, Mackenzie espe- 

 cially, but still he persevered, while the others rested 

 where they were till they could hear something 

 certain of the beast's new line. 



Mackenzie managed to get some way up the hill, 

 and, as he thought, considerably above the game. 

 He then sat down, while some of the shikarees en- 

 deavoured to ascertain the present position of the 

 bear. 



He was seated on a rock enjoying his rest, and 

 by chance took up a stone and tossed it into a 

 little clump of bushes lower down the hill-side, 

 in front of him. To his astonishment, out dashed 



