AT CLOSE QUARTERS. 23,* 



direction, the other two crept in, and with much 

 difficulty forcing their way through the tangled 

 undergrowth, soon came upon him looking nearly 

 expended. He was evidently awaiting their close 

 approach, and directly he saw them, jumped up, 

 and charged at them. But a couple of bullets at 

 close quarters effectually stopped his onslaught. 

 "Don't fire any more," said Mackenzie. "He's 

 meat :" and meat he proved to be. 



The speedy end to the encounter enabled the 

 sportsmen to get to their tents while the sun was 

 yet high ; and as it was their last beat before leaving 

 Muugaum, Norman raised no objections to the 

 firing of guns in any direction. A raid was there- 

 fore made on the jungle and pea-fowl in the 

 neighbourhood. Several were bagged, and thus 

 ended the sport of the week, which had been 

 pleasantly and profitably spent at Oongc. 



" The man who was boned to-day got oft' cheaply, 

 did he not ? " said Hawkes that evening. " I 

 thought bears seldom let anyone they attacked 

 escape without mauling them a great deal." 



"Nor do they as a rule," replied Norman. " They 

 have aii unpleasant habit of rising on a man, 

 seizing him with their claws, and holding him in 

 their embrace, gnawing at his face all the while. 

 1 have seen some frightful objects who have been 



