208 SPORTING AND 



ladder, it would have been too hard if I 

 had been obliged to leave on account of 

 bad health or delicate constitution. I had 

 felt very anxious when the doctors not 

 only hinted, but spoke very plainly their 

 opinion that unless there was a great im- 

 provement in my health, and unless my 

 constitution gained strength I should not 

 be wise to continue in the army, a life 

 that would constantly expose me to the 

 vicissitudes of various climates, with per- 

 haps a good deal of nightwork and ex- 

 posure to rain and dampness ; but, I 

 trusted, with God's blessing, the bracing 

 air of the Himalaya mountains would 

 renovate me speedily. 



I sent a servant to the library to get a 

 few amusing books, for I knew the mind 

 was as much impaired as the body, and 

 thought if I could find some amusement 



