Chamba into Kashmir 127 



We saw the back of the other bundling away as 

 fast as he could move. The old bear had an unusually 

 fine skin, nearly white, the hair being about eight 

 inches long ; he measured two inches short of seven 

 feet from snout to tail ; his arms and claws were 

 admirably adapted for digging, enormously muscular, 

 the claws being very strong, slightly curved, and three 

 or four inches long. We left him below to be fetched 

 to our camp, and toiled up towards the cave once 

 more to look at M.'s "bag." 



We had just reached the top when a large form 

 loomed over the edge, and the resurrected bear charged 

 right down upon us ! ... There was absolutely no 

 time to act ! no time to think ! Though severely 

 wounded, she sprang at M., who was nearest her, was 

 on her hind feet in a second, making for M.'s face 

 and striking at it with her strong arms. My blood 

 froze ! it was a horrible sight, and so totally un- 

 expected ! Thank Heaven ! the chota shikari was a 

 plucky man and rose to the occasion. He dashed 

 forward, and thrust M.'s rifle into her hands and 

 into the bear's face. Which of them pulled the trigger 

 it would be hard to say ; the great body fell forward 

 almost upon them dead as a stone. No one had 

 the heart to shoot the mother and cubs, or I do not 

 think it would have been difficult to have followed 

 them up. 



After these thrilling moments, feeling the need of 

 breakfast, we called up our tiffin coolie, f who had been 

 valiantly watching our movements from the branches 



