XI 
THE BEAR 
413 
killed had I had the chance of only one second’s 
quiet. 
My men were not in the least ashamed when 
they descended from the trees, as they considered 
that the better part of valour was discretion. The 
large spear had been manufactured expressly for 
this kind of emergency, by a celebrated native 
cutler, Bhoput of Nagpur. It is always advisable 
that some powerful and plucky shikari should carry 
such a weapon for approaching any wounded 
animal, as accidents generally occur from careless¬ 
ness, when the animal is supposed to be lying 
helpless, at the point of death. Such a spear 
should be 2 feet long, with a blade 3 inches 
wide, and extremely sharp. There should be a 
short cross-bar about 22 inches from the point, 
to prevent the spear from running completely 
through an animal, which could then writhe up 
the handle, and attack. The socket should be large 
and long, to admit a very thick male bamboo, as 
the mistake is too frequently made that the spear is 
strong, but the handle is too weak. It is very im¬ 
portant that a trustworthy attendant should be thus 
armed, as a dying animal can then be approached 
with comparative impunity. 
The risks that are run in following wounded 
animals are far greater than the prime attack. 
Should an animal charge without being wounded, 
it may generally be turned by a steady shot, if 
not absolutely killed; but when badly hurt, the 
onset of a beast is spasmodic, and nothing but 
