32 BEARS. 



heap of large boulders and " perched blocks," that curious 

 formation of the Hyderabad country. The bears' caves 

 were situated at this end ; the surrounding jungle consisted 

 of straggling and stunted trees, with occasional rocks. The 

 grass had been burned at the beginning of the hot weather 

 in the usual way, to ensure a growth in the monsoon. Not 

 a green bush of any sort was visible, and it was a desolate 

 and dreary-looking wilderness. The colonel was posted on 

 the top of the ridge at the end remote from the rocks, I 

 being at the foot and to the left front. The beat having 

 commenced from the rocky end, some j an wars were started, 

 which I could not see ; but presently the colonel fired four 

 shots, and the beaters began to recoil clear proof that a 

 beast of some sort was heading towards them. Kistiah 

 now came running down to say " the colonel has killed two 

 bears and wounded a third, which has gone back into a 

 cave come and shoot it." So, sending word to the colonel, 

 off I went. To reach the entrance of the cave, it was 

 necessary to slide down some steep rocks, but a few yards 

 further on, the way was blocked by a large boulder, which 

 formed a sort of platform, shoulder high. The bear was 

 here, and within six feet ; but, owing to the darkness, it 

 was impossible to see either him or the rifle sights. In a 

 minute or so my eyes got more accustomed to the gloom, 

 and his snout was dimly to be seen ; not so the foresight. 

 However, by raising and lowering the muzzle, which 

 alternately obscured and disclosed his snout, sufficient aim 

 was obtained to send a bullet through his brain. One is 

 not so brave when tigers are concerned ! We dragged him 

 out, and found that the colonel's bullet had hit him in the 

 ball of a hind foot as he was galloping away. The beat 

 had not lasted half an hour, and we were back in camp in 

 time for tiffin. During this expedition we were joined by 



