Chamba into Kashmir 129 



long march back to camp in the dark was hard, and 

 we got in almost beyond a meal ; but a blazing fire 

 outside did wonders, and a long night was a cure for 

 all ills. 



The next day there was the skinning of three bears 

 to superintend. Scraping the thick fat off the hide 

 was a work of time, but at last they were all 

 pegged out in the sun. About midday we struck our 

 camp and made off in a westerly direction to Mougli, 

 which was within reach of the best tahr ground. We 

 sent our kit on early and followed ourselves later. 



As we were crossing a nullah, slowly, for it was 

 ice-bound and very slippery, the inevitable fate which 

 follows sportsmen befell us. There was a roar above 

 our heads, and a shaggy red bear came bundling down 

 the gorge straight to us. With loud growls he pulled 

 up, not thirty yards from where we stood, and remained 

 there broadside on a perfect picture and a perfect 

 mark ! S. rushed for his gun, which he had just 

 handed to a shikari while he steadied M. across a 

 bad place. The man had, of course, walked on ! By 

 the time a couple of bullets were rammed into the rifle, 

 the bear's back and his rough, tawny coat waving and 

 tumbling was the only thing to be seen rapidly dis- 

 appearing down the nullah. S. fired twice at the 

 retreating object ; and then made a solemn vow that 

 he would never let his rifle out of his hands again. 



That night found us at Mougli, and two or three 

 mornings later we had some great expeditions after 

 tahr. 



9 



