COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 419 



sibly parry it, and that unless I got out of the mess some- 

 how I was done for. Dick Bernard's hint about the horse 

 luckily occurred to me at the critical moment, and I gave 

 the little holloa he spoke of ' Cantharides ' jumped at once, 

 and down went both Russian and his horse. Meantime he 

 had got his lance into my chest, but as the point hit on one 

 of my ribs it only went in a very short way, and, in fact, I 

 didn't suffer any inconvenience from it till the next day. 

 After this performance the remaining Russians left me 

 alone. 



" If you think this long story about myself will bore 

 the Colonel, pray don't read it to him, but put it quietly in 

 the fire. 



" With our very kind remembrances, 

 " Believe me, 



" Sincerely yours, 



'■ Percy Smith." 



END OF VOL. I. 



THE ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY PRESS LIMITED 



27 



