Part 8 (1/2)

The sloth-bear is long-haired and shaggy, of a deep black colour, except under the throat, where there is a white e as the black bear of America, and its habits in a state of nature are very similar to this species It will not attack man unless closely pressed or wounded; and had Karl been able to get out of her way, the old she would not have followed hi shot at by Caspar

No doubt the ”pickle” had helped hi into the eyes of the bear quite confounded her, and caused her to turn tail But for that Karland a sharp scratch or two, and he ht well be thankful--as he was-- that he had escaped with no e than the loss of his precious peppers

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

OSSAROO IN TROUBLE

Fritz had scarce finished his battle with the young bears, with Karl and Caspar standing over hi drew the attention of all to another quarter The shouting evidently proceeded frouish his voice The shi+karree was in trouble--as they could easily understand by his shrill continued screams--and the words ”Help! Sahibs, help!” which he repeatedly uttered

What could be the matter with Ossaroo? Had another bear attacked hier? No matter what it was, both Karl and Caspar felt it to be their duty to hasten to his assistance; and without more ado both of them started off in the direction whence caot possession of his rifle, and Caspar hastily raht-hand barrel, so that both were in readiness to offer good help to the guide, if it should turn out to be a wild beast that was his assailant

In a few reat relief, saw that no anier, appeared upon the spot Ossaroo, however still continued his noisy cries for help; and, to the astonishround, now stooping his head doards, now leaping up several feet, his ar out as if at soinary eneone mad? Or had he become suddenly afflicted with the ether of a comical nature; no ility; and, but for the earnestness of his cries, evidently forced from him by fear, both Karl and Caspar would have burst out into a fit of laughter They saever, that the shi+karree was in soer--from what, they could not tell; but they very naturally suspected that he had been attacked by a venoht still be attacking him, _perhaps under his clothes_, and that hy they could not perceive it

This idea restrained thehter, for, if their conjecture proved correct, it would be no laughing matter for poor Ossaroo; and, with fear in their hearts, both the boys rushed forward to the spot

On getting nearer, however, the odd behaviour of the shi+karree was explained, and the ene, and which had hitherto remained invisible, came under their view Around the head of Ossaroo there appeared a sort of lory; which, on closer view, the boys perceived was neither more nor less than a _swarm of bees_!

The whole matter was cleared up Ossaroo had been assailed by bees; and it was they that werehis arms about in so wild aas they believed their guide to be in real danger; but now that they sahat it was, they could no more restrain their mirth, and both simultaneously broke out into a fit of cachinnation, that caused the woods to ring again

On seeing how his young companions sympathised with his distress, Ossaroo was by no s of the bees had nettled the Hindoo's tehter of the boys exasperated him still more He resolved, therefore, that they should both have a taste of the sa another word, he rushed between the two; of course, carrying the swar with hiuide, at once put, an end to the merriment of his coh at Ossaroo's expense, both of themselves exhibited a spectacle equally ludicrous The bees, on perceiving these new enemies, at once separated into three distinct swar its victim; so that not only Ossaroo, but Karl and Caspar as well, now danced over the ground like acrobats Even Fritz was attacked by a few--enough to s as if he had suddenly gone mad!

Karl and Caspar soon learnt, that what had so lately a to be as to be exceedingly virulent and painful Besides, the number of their assailants rendered the affair one of considerable danger They began to feel that there was peril as well as pain

Where was it to end? All their demonstrations failed to drive off the bees Run where they would, the enraged insects followed the whenever an opportunity offered Where was it to end?

It was difficult to tell when and how the scene would have been brought to a ter Hindoo had bethought hi to the others to follow hih the woods

Karl and Caspar started after, in hopes of finding relief from their tormentors

In a few minutes, Ossaroo approached the bank of the stream, at a place where it was dammed up, and for adown their guns, imitated his example; and all three stood side by side, neck-deep in the pool They now co their heads under, and continued this, at intervals; until at length the bees, finding theave up the attack, and, one after another, winged their way back into the woods

After reh in the pool, to one quite away, the three s upon the bank They would have laughed at the whole adventure, but the pain of the stings put the a joke; and, out of sorts altogether, they quietly wended their way back to the place of their temporary encampment

On their way, Ossaroo explained how he had chanced to provoke the attack of the bees On hearing the report of Caspar's gun, and the noise of the conflict between Fritz and the bears, he had started in great haste to get up to the spot, and give assistance In running forward, he scarce looked before hi trees, when his head cae bees' nest, which was suspended upon a vine that stretched across the path The nest was constructed out of agglutinated htly to the vine; and Ossaroo, having becoled in the latter, shook it so violently that the nest fell down, broke into pieces, and set the whole swarry bees about his ears It was just then that he had been heard crying out, and that Karl and Caspar had run to his rescue; which act both of theretted They were hardly in earnest, however; and Ossaroo, having procured an herb from the woods, the sap of which soon alleviated the pain of the stings, in a short time the tempers of all three were restored to their usual equanimity

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

THE AXIS AND PANTHER

Theto carry her young out of danger, had quite won the admiration of the plant-hunters; and now that the excites of regret at having killed the creature