110 SPEAK EXEECISE. 



the point, wliilst his own spear hit his assail- 

 ant in the breast ; and this he did repeatedly." 

 '' That is all very fine, Hiikeem Sahib," said I, 

 " but you are wrong in your estimate of 

 English Lancers, for there was a trial of skill a 

 few years ago at Bombay between some men of 

 the 1st Bombay Lancers trained like the Euro- 

 pean Lancers, and some of the Nizam's Irregular 

 Cavalry, and the latter were beaten in every en- 

 counter." " Well," said the Hukeem, '^ you will 

 adhere to your opinion, but I shall stick to mine." 

 The Hukeem was himself a fine rider and a 

 capital judge of a horse, for though nominally 

 a doctor, he was in reality a gallant soldier, 

 who in early life had seen much rough service 

 in Rajahpootana. " On one occasion," said he, 

 " I was sent with one hundred horse after a 

 desperate villain who had been burning, slay- 

 ing, and plundering, and had got clear off with 

 his booty. The robbers had a considerable 

 start ahead of us, but I pushed on with my 

 party as rapidly as possible, and, after a long 

 pursuit, Ave on the evening of the third day 

 learned at a village where we halted for the 

 night that the enemy were bivouacked about 

 three miles ahead, and that both men and 



