258 BEUIN'S CHAEGE. 



have heard me also, for she came rushing 

 to the month of the cave, but did not come 

 out. Making a bound back, I tlien sprung 

 on to the flat rocli, and the two men came 

 up to me. They had somehow or other 

 contrived to change the guns, for the 

 shikaree had my rifle, and the lad his 

 musket. Taking the rifle, I sat down on 

 the rock, and shouted for the other party 

 to come with the dogs. The shikaree had 

 got up a tree to make signs to them, and 

 the lad was seated a few paces in my rear. 

 My shouting I suppose enraged the bear, 

 for out she came growling and gnashmg her 

 teeth ; I allowed her to come quite close 

 the same way as I had got on the rock 

 myself, and as she rose up on her hind legs 

 to make a dash at me, I put the rifle to 

 my shoulder and fired, or rather made an 

 attempt to do so, for it only snapped. The 

 powder, injured by the steam arising from 

 the stack of green grain, whereon I had 

 laid the rifle, whilst breakfasting at the 

 village, had become too damp to ignite. 



