MILITARY AD VENTURES. 47 



unless he knows he is thoroughly master 

 of his weapon, and has implicit confidence 

 in his firmness. Being a good shot gives 

 a man great pluck, which is highly 

 necessary in tiger shooting. 



"Well, I was sent off in charge of a 

 small detachment with two guns into the 

 Rajmahal district, and tired enough I 

 became of my own society, for I had not 

 a soul to speak to, nor a white face within 

 miles, my party being all native gunners. 

 One evening I was sitting on a chair, with 

 my legs up on another, in front of my 

 tent, smoking a cheroot and moistening 

 my lips with brandy and soda water, 

 wondering how I should get through the 

 next twenty days of the march, when I heard 

 a beating of tam-tams (native drums) and 

 great chattering and yelling of the natives 

 near a village about half a kos off, but I 



