CHAPTER XXIX 



A GOOD BAG 



A TUG at my arm awakens me out of a sweet sleep. 



" Balu," whispers Sultana. 



Not more than a hundred and fifty yards above 

 our resting-place a bear is slouching slowly along. 

 In a second I have seized my loaded rifle, and take 

 aim in a kneeling position. 



" He will stand still in a minute. Sahib." 



I go with him. But as a target he becomes less 

 and less clear, and eventually disappears behind a tree. 

 I put down my gun and look at the shikaris for 

 instructions. They make excited signs. 



Sure enough, the bear is again visible ; there he 

 stands in all his majesty beneath a tree, hunting for 

 berries. Crack ! 



" A good shot, I think. Have I hit him ? Or 

 has he got off?" 



" We had better wait a bit," says Sultana. Then 

 he arms himself with both my rifles, whilst Samdu 

 and Unkar draw their hunting-knives. Cautiously 

 we make towards the spot at which I aimed, I in 

 the middle. 



" We've got him," calls Sultana. 



What a pity ! His skin is useless. The sun 



has already deprived him of his winter coat. 



87 



