172 The Hunting Grounds 



I posted B on a rock which commanded the two 



entrances of the largest cave, and D by another. 



The other two I guarded by some of the villagers 

 who were armed with matchlocks, and I despatched 

 half-a-dozen others to different elevated peaks, from 

 which they could survey all the surrounding country. 



When all were in their places I went with Goo- 

 gooloo to the Mulliarry, who was watching the two 

 bears, and he pointed them out to me in the same 

 place we had first seen them. 



Accompanied by Googooloo, carrying my second 

 gun (an eight smooth-bore), I stole down the hill 

 as gently as I could, making for a large rock which 

 appeared to me to be within a short distance of the 

 place where I had seen the bears. 



I was some time before I could make my way to 

 it, as the bush and underwood were thick, and we 

 had to make our way through dense masses of en- 

 tangled creepers. At last we gained the rock, and 

 Googooloo's quick eye soon discovered our friends 

 still hard at work scraping up the earth of the ant- 

 hill. 



We stole gently up, seeking the cover of rocks 

 and bushes, until I got within fifteen paces of them, 

 still undiscovered. Watching their movements until 

 I got a fair opportunity, I planted a rifle-ball behind 

 the shoulder of one, which rolled over and over on 

 the ground in the agonies of death, and then gave 



