AN OFF-DAY 57 



behaviour. In time we arrived at the 

 place where the bear had been, and on 

 looking over, as he had done, saw to our 

 surprise a leopard's body lying on a ledge 

 twenty feet below, with his head smashed 

 to atoms by the stone the bear had dropped 

 on to him. The leopard had evidently 

 been asleep there, and the bear coming 

 across him accidentally, saw his chance, but 

 was very afraid of being caught in the act. 

 So having eventually made up his mind, 

 and having dropped the rock, he fled for 

 fear of having missed; but when no signs of 

 the avenging leopard were seen returned 

 to make sure of his success ; and then went 

 away satisfied." 



I looked incredulously towards Lassoo ; 

 but he answered my look with, "That 

 story is true enough, sahib, for has not 

 Muksooda sworn to it on the Koran, and, 

 besides, he told me about it at the time, 

 and his account was corroborated by five 

 or six others who were out with him. 

 You know bears constantly break open the 



