once more placing my torch in a niche I walked on,
waving my stick in front of me. I had gone twenty paces or so, though
it seemed five times that distance, when to my great delight I observed
a bright glare reflected on the wall on the right, which, as I supposed,
was opposite the arch I was in search of. So eager was I to ascertain
this that I did not go back for my torch, but pushed on, believing that
I should have light enough when I got near the fire. On I went; in my
eagerness I should have broken my nose by tumbling over bits of stone,
had I not brought myself up with my stick. As it was, I got an ugly
tumble, and hurt my knee not a little. I picked myself up and on I
went. My fall taught me the prudence of caution, and once more I went
forward not quite so rapidly as before. To my great joy I at last saw
my fire still blazing up, and rather more than I had expected too; but a
moment afterwards my joy was turned into dismay, for there, seated
before the fire, and munching the remainder of the birds I had kept for
my breakfast, I saw a huge bear. His back was towards me, and I had
approached so silently over the soft ground that he had not heard me.
His olfactory nerves also were too well occupied with the fragrant smell
of the roast pea-fowl and pigeon to scent me out, which he might
otherwise probably have done. He was evidently enjoying his unexpected
repast, and daintily picking the bones. Had I left my spirit flask, I
suspect that he would have taken a pull at that to wash down his meal.
If I had but had my rifle in my hand I should have had no cause to fear
him, but as it was, I need not say that I did not feel at all happy
about the matter. My weapon was leaning against the wall not two yards
from him, and I could not hope to get at it without being discovered. I
had already had sufficient experience of the savage nature of Ceylon
bears to know the necessity of approaching him with the greatest
caution. I bethought me that my safest plan would be to go back for the
end of my torch, and by keeping that before me dazzle his eyes, so that
I might get hold of my rifle. I instantly hurried back to put the plan
in execution. The torch was still burning, that I could see by the
glare it sent forth across the gallery. In my eagerness I stumbled
twice, and hurt my shins very much. I picked myself up and went on. I
was afraid of my torch burning out, I had already got well within its
light when I tho