16 A BEAR- HUNT. 



news was brought in of a bear that had been committing 

 depredations in some corn-fields a few miles oft'. There 

 happened at the time to be several sportsmen at Shore, all 

 eager for shooting of any kind ; so we at once proceeded to 

 beat up Bruin's quarters. 



On reaching a deep, broad ravine filled with thick brush- 

 wood, to which the raider had retired to digest his morning 

 meal, the various guns were quietly posted in the most likely 

 places on each side, and at one extremity of the cover, whilst 

 across the other end were ranged a number of villagers who, 

 on all being ready, were to commence beating through it. 



At last the appointed signal is given, and is immediately 

 followed by a hideous chorus of yells, whoops, and whistles, as 

 the beaters clash into the covert like a pack of fox-hounds. 

 But there is little doubt that this ostentatious display of zeal 

 results more from the idea that the greater row each man 

 makes the less chance will there be of the bear's coming near 

 him, than from eagerness in its pursuit. Presently a loud 

 " wugh," "wugh," is heard above^the clamour, and conflicting 

 exclamations of " Kubberdar ! " (look out), " There he goes ! " 

 " Here he comes ! " are heard from the beaters in every direc- 

 tion; so that, at first, it is difficult to form any idea as to 

 where the brute really is. 



" Crack " at length goes a rifle, and a responding " yeeough " 

 from Bruin sounds as though something more than the report 

 had caused it. Other shots follow, accompanied by cries of 

 "lugga!" "lugga!" (he's hit), "maro!" "maro!" (shoot), 

 uttered by the villagers in their half-frightened excitement. 

 Gradually the rumpus approaches my station near the ex- 

 tremity of the jungle, where each moment I expect the animal 

 to bolt. But he breaks away on the opposite side of the 

 ravine, and fully a hundred yards oft". I take a snap-shot at 

 his great black carcass as he gallops clumsily along between 

 the bushes, its effect being to elicit another grunt and make 

 him roll over. This may perhaps result only from fright, 



