1 258 BRUIN’S CHARGE.
2 have heard me also, for she came rushing
3 to the mouth of the cave, but did not come
4 out. Making a bound back, I then sprung
5 on to the flat rock, and the two men came
6 up to me. They had somehow or other
7 contrived to change the guns, for the
8 shikaree had my rifle, and the lad his
9 musket. Taking the rifle, I sat down on
10 the rock, and shouted for the other party
11 to come with the dogs. The shikaree had
12 got up a tree to make signs to them, and
13 the lad was seated a few paces in my rear.
14 My shouting I suppose enraged the bear,
15 for out she came growling and gnashing her
16 teeth ; I allowed her to come quite close
17 the same way as I had got on the rock
18 myself, and as she rose up on her hind legs
19 to make a dash at me, I put the rifle to
20 my shoulder and fired, or rather made an
21 attempt to do so, for itonly snapped. The
22 powder, injured by the steam arising from
23 the stack of green grain, whereon I had
24 laid the rifle, whilst breakfasting at the
25 village, had become too damp to ignite.