MI LIT A RY AD VENTURES. 229 



his attendant ran off, (probably not having 

 much confidence in his master's shooting 

 powers) and the bear might have injured 

 poor Smith very severely if the shikari 

 had not come to his assistance with his 

 hunting spear without which he never 

 travelled, and thus he was the means of 

 saving Smith's life. One of the men ran 

 up to tell me of this adventure, but I 

 heard a more full account of it afterwards 

 from the shikari. It appears great folly for 

 any one to go after dangerous game, such 

 as tiger and bear, unless he is firm in his 

 nerves and an undeniable shot ; otherwise 

 his servants will not stick to him if he gets 

 into trouble, but will make off with his 

 spare gun at the shortest notice. But I 

 am digressing and must hark back. 



While this encounter with the bear was 

 going on, I had some very pretty quail 



