CAPTURING A RED BEAR 103 



Scarcely daring to breathe, I lie still, holding my 

 rifle. Sultana puts his puggree on the rock, so that 

 I can rest my arm on it in case of necessity. 



I aim once or twice, and notice that the light is 

 excellent. If only he would come ! 



But no bear appears ! What a bitter disappoint- 

 ment ! 



" The wind is against us. He is certain to have 

 gone back through the defile." 



"Stay! What's that?" And at the same 

 moment Sultana gives my sleeve a tiny tug. I 

 seize my rifle. 



" Is it a wild boar ? " 



No ! A large red bear not 100 yards in front of 

 me ! He's off in big bounds ! I am on the point 

 of pulling the trigger when he suddenly stops at the 

 edge of the ravine, turns round towards me, and 

 sniffs suspiciously. Now ! 



" He's hit ! I heard the bullet strike him." 



But the bear disappears over the edge, out of sight. 



Sultana and I follow him quickly. No signs of 

 blood to be seen where he stood. Very cautiously 

 we peep into every possible hiding-place. We 

 separate, Sultana going over to the opposite bank. 

 Carefully, from bush to bush and from rock to rock, 

 we continue our search. I see the shikari stop with 

 a jerk. He looks through the glasses, raises his 

 rifle, takes aim and shoots, shoots again, and then 

 bursts into a loud shout of joy. 



