TIGERLAND 



to some extent, gained its confidence, it was still apt, at 

 times, to show temper to its " syce." 



One morning this man, much excited and evidently in 

 deadly fear, reported that the horse had suddenly gone 

 mad and begged that I would come at once. 



I followed him to where the horses were all picketed and 

 had little difficulty in finding it among the crowd. For 

 there, apart from all the rest, with ears laid back and eyes 

 flashing fire, it stood, a picture of savage fury. 



As the syce approached, it ground its teeth, then, 

 screaming with rage, made for him open mouthed. I put 

 out my hand to try and stop the brute, but seizing my 

 outstretched thumb between his teeth, it snapped them 

 like a vice, and finding I could not pull my hand away, I 

 threw my right arm round its neck and there I clung with 

 both feet off the ground. 



A terrible struggle now began. Swinging its head from 

 side to side the horse shook me as a terrier would a rat, but, 

 accustomed as I was to clinging on to yards and ropes, its 

 efforts to shake me off were useless. 



At last, tired with its exertions, ik stood still for a while, 

 then plunging madly forward was brought up by the 

 picket rope and fell over on to its side. 



Falling with the horse I lay between its legs, expecting 

 every moment to have my brains dashed out in its violent 

 struggles to regain its feet. 



At length it got on to its knees but before it had time 

 to rise, I placed my foot against its side and pushed with 

 all my strength. The horse fell back again. I was con- 

 scious of a sudden fearful wrench and then felt that my 

 left hand was free. 



Rolling quickly away from between the horse's legs, I 

 scrambled to my feet and dazed and bewildered with all I 

 had undergone, I stood for some moments trying to collect 

 my thoughts and recall to mind the events of the past 

 half hour. 



The horse meanwhile had also risen to its feet and was 

 now standing quietly by. But glancing at its head I 

 noticed it held something in its mouth. 



Wondering what this could be, I looked again when, 

 suddenly a wave of recollection came surging through my 

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