128 A COOLIE STRUCK DOWN. 



knocked the coolie head over heels. I 

 halloed for my rifle, and ran to where I 

 thought I had the best chance for a shot, 

 but he made good his retreat, and we never 

 found him again. 



Returning to look after the wounded 

 coolie, I found him rather more frightened 

 than hurt, but a good deal damaged too : the 

 bear had missed his mark to a certain 

 extent, but had sent one claw right into the 

 skull in the forehead, his intention having 

 been to put his paw on the fellow's head 

 and scalp him, which they do very cleverly 

 at times ; a bear striking almost invariably 

 at the head and face, and stripping off 

 scalp, nose, cheeks, and lips at a single 

 stroke. Thus ended my morning's work. 



Helping our wounded man along, we 

 returned home, five or six miles, to breakfast, 

 where we found Wilson and Master Charley 

 just come in, having seen nothing, the 

 morning being a bad time for bears, as they 

 feed all night, and retire very early. They 

 were much vexed at not havmg accompanied 



