396 THE EASTERN HUNTERS. 



on to a small boulder, and caught a glimpse of the 

 bear. At the same moment, the beast viewed him. 

 It had been going partly away, but now without the 

 slightest hesitation turned at once, and made at 

 him. 



It received the contents of the first barrel with a 

 growl, and commenced a series of the most ungainly 

 dancing movements imaginable ; jumping about as 

 if indeed, as Koopur observed, it was nautching. 

 The second barrel seived, however, to recall its 

 wandering faculties, and it turned and went 

 lumbering best pace down the steep hill-side. In 

 this it was assisted by Norman, who came up, made 

 a fair running shot, and knocked the retreating 

 beast over. Down it went, bumping about and 

 rolling over and over, till it reached the bottom, 

 where it recovered itself, and crept into a ravine 

 which there intersected the hills. 



The party followed as quickly as they could, 

 half running, half scrambling among the rocks and 

 rolling stones which were plentifully strewn about, 

 and rendered progression both uncertain and un- 

 pleasant. In hopes, however, of overtaking the 

 wounded animal, and bringing it to bay in the 

 nullah, they gave little heed to these difficulties, or the 

 chance of a sprained ancle. But when they reached 

 the bottom, they found that, though blood was 



