ROUGHING IT IN SOUTHERN INDIA 87 



time, and walked off with his mate.' It seems the lady 

 bear would always prefer the victor in these combats. 



But F. ran away himself once (as I was never tired of 

 reminding him !), and came staggering into camp one even- 

 ing quite exhausted, saying that he had accidentally dis- 

 turbed a bear feasting on rock-honey, whereupon the animal 

 had turned angrily and made for him. For once he was 

 not carrying a rifle, not having meant to go far from home, 

 so there was nothing to do but to run for it ; and run he did, 

 and his dog to. He said he was sure there was once or 

 twice no more than a yard or two between the bear and 

 himself, and more than once he felt its hot breath upon 

 him, the bear not being impeded by the rough ground 

 as he was. In the end, when his chance of escape was 

 getting uncomfortably doubtful, an inspiration came to him. 

 Turning quickly, and taking his courage ' in both hands,' 

 he pulled his soft, wide-brimmed felt hat off his own head 

 and put it on the bear's, ramming it well down over the 

 eyes, in the certainty of at least arresting his pursuer and 

 gaining for himself a desperately needed breathing space, 

 as well as a moment's start for yet another race for life, for 

 few animals can cover the ground faster than a bear when 

 put to it. The ruse succeeded. Bruin was fairly ' bon- 

 neted ' and blindfold, standing stock-still for an instant, 

 and then running round and round himself aimlessly, 

 having lost his bearings. But it might be only a short 

 respite ; not even to look at so comical a sight as a bear 

 in a hat could F. afford to linger. He gathered himself 

 together for a final, steady run, and got safely into camp. 

 He did not arrive so soon as the dog, however, who was 

 quite composed by now. F. was done up for the moment, 

 but was presently able to congratulate himself on having 

 thought of the trick. The bear had, doubtless, returned 

 to his interrupted feast after getting rid of the hat 

 by rolling. 



