JAUNTS IN THE JUNGLE. 25 



fears were realised. Before I had gone a mile, what 

 should I see standing directly in my way home, but a 

 huge brute of a bear ! half as big as an elephant, and 

 black as the devil himself ! Before I had time to run, 

 or to plan any mode of attack, he was upon me ! I 

 had no weapon of any kind near me except my fists, 

 so I was obliged to grapple him by the snout with 

 one hand, and punch him in the ribs with the other ; 

 but he was too much for me, I felt myself going, and 

 at the very moment that I thought 'twas all up, and 

 tried to remember some of my catechism, (God for- 

 give me !) I recollected the bottle of brandy I had in 

 my coat-pocket, carrying home with me ! 



" By a desperate effort I got one hand free, and ma- 

 naged to extract the bottle; and with the last remain- 

 ing ounce of strength left in my carcass, I smashed 

 it over the head and eyes of the enemy ! By the 

 god of war, boys, you should have seen the fellow hop 

 about as the fiery liquid trickled into its eyeballs ! 



" It saved my life : and saved you, you rascals ! a 

 funeral parade this evening! Claret, messman!" 



" Time to think of one's bier when bruin hops!'* 

 exclaimed the most inveterate, irredeemable punster 

 of the regiment, whose diabolical sallies at wit were 

 invariably greeted with a yell of execration from the 

 auditory; in the present instance particularly loud 

 from the major; of whose story it had utterly de~ 

 stroyed the romance, as well as annihilating all sym- 

 pathy for the narrator. 



