INDIAN REMINISCENCES 57 



of thunder with a simultaneous flash of Hghtning 

 caused the ponies to jump the obstacle. The pole 

 of the tonga broke, and the body of it turned 

 completely over. My friend gave a scream, and 

 when I had picked myself up, and could view the 

 situation, I found my companion lying senseless. 

 My first impression was that he had been struck 

 by lightning, but fortunately this was not the 

 case, and the native servant and myself managed 

 to tret him home. I would not recall this incident 

 were it not for the tragic result. Exactly a week 

 later I found my friend, whose name I do not 

 wish to mention, writing- letters in his bunoralow. 

 The curious expression on his face drew my at- 

 tention, but I could oret no inkling of what was 

 in his mind. It struck me as strange, however, 

 when he offered to make me a present of his 

 spaniel, a dog I had many times heard him declare 

 he would never part with. We were to dine with 

 the Colonel that night, and during dinner I thought 

 I had never seen the Adjutant in better spirits — 

 in fact, any misgivings I had had as to what might 

 be his intentions vanished. Next morning he 

 was absent from parade, and while we were at 

 breakfast his servant came to summon me to the 

 bungalow. Pointing to the bathroom he said : 



"The Sahib is in there." 



Sure enough, we found him lying full length on 



