I waited, hesitating for a few minutes, and then I said to myself,
'It is of no use waiting. I could go down and get a bear and be
back again while I am thinking of it;' then to Rahman, 'No, come
along; we will have a look through that wood anyhow.'
"Rahman evidently did not like it. 'Not easy to find bear, sahib.
He very cunning.'
"'Well, very likely we shan't find them,' I said, 'but we can try
anyhow. Bring that bottle with you; the tiffin basket can wait here
till we come back.' In another five minutes I had begun to climb
down the watercourse--the shikaree following me. I took the double
barreled rifle and handed him the shotgun, having first dropped a
bullet down each barrel over the charge. The ravine was steep, but
there were bushes to hold on by, and although it was hot work and
took a good deal longer than I expected, we at last got down to
the place which I had fixed upon as likely to be the bears' home.
"'Sahib, climb up top,' Rahman said; 'come down through wood; no
good fire at bear when he above.'
"I had heard that before; but I was hot, the sun was pouring down,
there was not a breath of wind, and it looked a long way up to the
top of the wood.
"'Give me the claret. It would take too long to search the wood
regularly.
Pages:
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159