138 A BEAE'S HUG. 



thrown to the ground in an instant, and the 

 bear passed on its way ; but that one short 

 hug had mauled the poor fellow in such a 

 manner, that death would have almost been 

 preferable. His face was completely torn 

 away, cheeks, nose, and lips, and he crawled 

 to the village a sickening spectacle, with 

 the blood streaming in torrents from his 

 mangled countenance. Where the bear had 

 come from, or in what manner it had 

 approached him unseen, he could form no 

 idea, as it took place in the open fields, 

 where the green barley was only a few 

 inches high, and there was neither bush 

 nor jungle near. He is still ahve, and 

 Wilson often sees him, but it is so painful to 

 talk to, or even to look at him, that he 

 never questioned him as to the exact parti- 

 culars of the encounter, which he learnt, as 

 I have given above, from the sufferer's 

 fellow villagers. 



I have myself met with two or three 

 Puharries who will carry with them to the 

 grave the marks of Bruin's embi-aces. One 



