214 A Sportswoman in India 



and we, straining our eyes, saw the ground kick 

 up just over the bear's back. Bang ! again, and the 

 brown earth scattered just behind him this time. Still 

 he ambled along, getting farther and farther out of 

 shot ; and two more bullets were as useless as the 

 first. S. sat down, bewailing his luck. 



We both had a drink of cold tea. It was poor 

 comfort that even a miss is better than no shot at 

 all ; but at any rate, one sees and feels, which is a 

 step out of the dead level. 



With hope still in our breasts, we went off in a 

 different direction for the fourth honk. Another good 

 tramp, hotter this time, another long wait, until the 

 coolies gave tongue, and an interval of deep excitement 

 resolved itself into doubt ; doubt turned to disappoint- 

 ment ; disappointment read Blank. 



By this time we were beginning to feel that we 

 had had a good deal of exercise ; and the beaters 

 apparently thought the same, for without question or 

 word of any sort, they lay down, Lalla with them, 

 and went to sleep under the trees ; some sat murmuring 

 together. We had more cold tea, and stretched our- 

 selves on our backs on the fir-pins looking up into 

 the thick branches. An hour in the middle of the 

 day having passed, we set to work again. 



It would be tedious to describe the four honks that 

 afternoon. Each one only resulted in a blank. Once, 

 as we climbed a hill, we suddenly came on a pair of 

 pine-martens up in a tree, but for fear of disturbing 

 the place S. would not shoot. 



