232 THE EASTERN HUNTEES. 



him back. Resenting their interference in his plans, 

 he charged at them, knocked one over and passed 

 over his body, luckily without staying to inflict any 

 further injury than that he had already caused. 



When the shout arose that a man was attacked, 

 all three of the hunters ran from their positions 

 towards the spot to which they were directed. They 

 found the man lying on the ground and moaning ; 

 but though the bear had left the impress of his claws 

 on the fellow's chest, making several deep holes in 

 the flesh, they soon saw that he was not dangerously 

 wounded, and indeed more frightened than seriously 

 hurt. Giving orders that he should be conveyed to 

 the gosein's hut and there have the wounds well 

 bathed with cold water, they continued in pursuit 

 of the bear under the guidance of one or two men 

 who exchanged a running fire of questions and 

 answers with the look-outs, now springing along 

 from point to point and marking the bear's course. 

 Dubious though the directions and signals thus 

 given might appear to the uninitiated, they were 

 quite understood by the men who accompanied the 

 hunters. 



Stopping now and then for guidance as to their 

 further course, the party went along at a fast walk 

 or jog trot. They had been told to make a short 

 cut across to a large ravine, which they reached ; 



