176 THE EASTERN HUNTERS. 



The sportsmen dismounted, and with Rugonauth 

 held a brief council of war. 



The bear was lying in a position not dissimilar to 

 that of the last killed. A densely wooded nullah, 

 from which, on one side, rose the face of the hill 

 less thickly covered with jungle ; on the other, a 

 hill also, but more rugged and precipitous. This 

 latter part it was not deemed necessary to occupy. 



To Hawkes it fell to be stationed highest up. 

 Norman came next ; and Mackenzie was lowest 

 down on the opposite side. He was stationed there, 

 as the nullah narrowed and afforded a likely place 

 whence to get a view of the beast, should he not 

 break towards either of the other two, or escape past 

 them unobserved. 



The beaters commenced from above ; and owing, 

 probably, to the unusual coolness, at once disturbed 

 the bear, who was seen by Hawkes advancing along 

 a narrow path in his direction. He patiently waited, 

 occasionally losing sight of it, till at last the beast 

 appeared at a distance of not more than twenty 

 yards, and Hawkes considered it time to fire. 

 Before it could again become screened by the 

 jungle, he was able to pour in a rapid broadside of 

 four barrels, two of which rolled him over. As 

 luck would have it, he only vacated the quarters he 

 found so hot, to rush into others equally so : for, 



