SHOOTING UNDER DIFFICULTIES. 179 



side and a steady pull at the arm on the other, had the 

 desu'ed effect, for I could again move the limb ; and on 

 examination, Hatlia, with a grin of satisfaction, pronounced 

 it to be all riglit. 



At the camping-place I found the Nawab and his 

 brother, who were carrying out the rites of hospitality to 

 their fullest extent, by escorting me as far as the confines 

 of their property. Their apparent concern, on hearing of 

 my mishap, was almost as great as that of the shikarees, 

 and many were the remedies suggested, which were about 

 as useless as they were well meant, 

 ■i I had considerable difficulty in getting out of my upper 

 garments that night, and still more in getting into them 

 again next morning; but as the Nawabs were bent on 

 showing me a drive for game, I was determined to try and 

 go out, even although I might be unable to use a gun, 

 rather than disappoint them. Fortunately, the place where 

 Gamoo, as the Nawab's head gamekeeper, planted me, was 

 not far distant ; so I sat down at the root of a pine-tree, 

 there to await the advent of anything that might turn up. 

 The only animal that put in an appearance was a half- 

 grown black bear, at which I was able to " loose off " by 

 supporting the rifle against the trunk of the tree beside me. 

 I almost think I must have hit the beast, for with a loud 

 " yeeough " it staggered back and disappeared down the 

 hill. The Nawab and his brother, who were with the 

 beaters, had seen two musk-deer, but nothing was bagged. 

 My hospitable friends took their departure next morning, 

 ■ and I proceeded on my way ; but, from my shoulder being 

 stiff and painful to move, I was forced to take matters 

 pretty easily for a day or two, until we reached our first 

 hunting-ground. 



During our short stay here I shot a young buck, one of 

 a herd of five that we found feeding on a very steep and 

 bare slope of short slippery grass. Down this declivity the 

 stricken animal went tumblinf? and slidino; at a most fear- 



II 



