42 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 



course 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 immediately called for his horse, and, with no 

 other weapon than a boar-spear snatched from one of 

 the bystanders, 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 mo- 

 ment 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 part of horse 

 .and rider, almost realizing 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 Ka- 

 lunga. Another horse of his, a favorite black charger, 

 bred at the Cape of Good Hope, and carried by him 

 to India, was, at the sale of his effects, competed for 

 by several officers of his division, and finally knocked 



