THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 45 



of Calcutta during one of the great Hindoo festivals, 

 when many thousands are assembled to witness all 

 sorts of shows, was suddenly alarmed by the shrieks 

 and commotion of the crowd. On being informed 

 that a tiger had escaped from his keepers, he imme- 

 diately called for his horse, and, with no other weapon 

 than a boar-spear snatched from one of the by- 

 standers, he rode to attack this formidable enemy. 

 The tiger was probably amazed at finding himself in 

 the middle of such a number of shrieking beings 

 flying from him in all directions ; but the moment he 

 perceived Sir Robert, he crouched in the attitude of 

 preparing to spring upon him ; and that instant the 

 gallant soldier passed his horse in a leap over the 

 tiger's back, and struck the spear through his spine. 

 It was a feat requiring the utmost conceivable unity 

 of purpose and movement on the p#rt of horse and 

 rider, almost realising for the moment the fable of 

 the centaur. Had either swerved or wavered for a 

 second, both had been lost. But the brave steed 

 knew his rider. The animal was a small grey, and 

 was afterwards sent home as a present to the Prince 

 Regent. 



Sir Robert fell subsequently at the storming of 

 Kalunga. Another horse of his, a favourite black 

 charger, bred at the Cape of Good Hope, and carried 



