192 SAVAGE SVANETIA. 



to protect his three Lady friends. Shortly 

 afterwards, Vassili went too, and the rascals 

 were not worth their salt for a couple of days 

 afterwards. Such is the effect of love. On 

 their way up they met a bear at rather close 

 quarters, but being only armed with my 

 revolver, they wisely let him alone. 



There is little doubt in my mind that in 

 spite of the reapers we should have got more 

 bears had we stayed on at Shukachalo, but as 

 he had not been lucky, Frank was tired of the 

 place ; and for my part, having killed a good 

 many bears before, I was more anxious to get 

 on into Svanetia for mountain game, than 

 to stay on here, however successfully. So on 

 September 1 we hauled down our tent, and 

 packing it and our trophies on the old mare, 

 marched up stream for the much talked of pas- 

 tures of Lapur. 



Before I close this chapter, let me say to 

 any one who cares to kill bears and chamois, I 



