ENTER THE JUNGLE. 257 



which the day before, had been brought in 

 from the fields, and this simple act might 

 have cost me my life. One of the villagers 

 had an old musket, and after making him 

 wash it, I loaded it for him myself 



The dogs and men were sent round to the 

 further end of the jungle, whilst I, the man 

 with the musket, and another young fellow, 

 went direct to the spot where the bears had 

 been seen. We found their traces at once, 

 which were very plain, and as it would be 

 some time before the other party could beat 

 towards us, we followed the track a little 

 way into the jungle. I remained behind 

 for a moment, and had given my rifle to 

 the young lad to carry, when they called 

 out to me that they had lost the track ; 

 whilst going up to them I perceived the 

 point where they had left it, and took it up 

 myself. 



I had not proceeded many yards, when 

 the track entered a cave, at the foot of a 

 flat- topped rock. Upon seeing this, I called 

 out to inform them of it, and the bear must 



