104 THE MARKHOR 



Samdu and Unkar hurry up. I follow. 

 " Lai balu ! " 

 Lai, lal ! " 



And a large red bear rolls down towards me. 



" How did it happen ? What did he do ? Where 

 was he ? Was he going to attack you ? Why did 

 you shoot twice ? " 



"Lal balu, Sahib, lal, lal !" 



A red bear ! What an unusual bit of luck ! 



I can only find one bullet in his beautiful thick 

 coat in at the neck, out at the shoulder. 



These modern rifles are very exact, even at long 

 distances, but they do not cause the game to fall at 

 once when hit. And that is just what one wants in 

 India's and Africa's thick jungles, which make the 

 search so difficult, and where one may need protec- 

 tion against the sudden charge of big game. 



" Where in the world can your bullets be, 

 Sultana ? " 



He hangs his head in embarrassment and raises 

 his hands apologetically. "The bear was already 

 dead, Sahib ; but I thought it best to be on the 

 safe side " 



"When in doubt shoot twice, especially if you 

 miss both times, old chief ! " and, smiling, I shake 

 hands with the good fellow. 



" This time it is really a bara, bara barissimo ! " 



