MILITARY AD VENTURES. 233 



looking round for his second gun, his at- 

 tendant was to be seen scuttling off with 

 it. Smith then retired backwards as fast 

 as he could, keeping an eye on his adver- 

 sary, but a root or some other impediment 

 caught his legs, and down he fell with the 

 bear on top of him, It was at this 

 moment the shikari came forward and 

 drove off bruin by inflicting a severe 

 wound on him with his spear. 



I made Smith promise me that he would 

 not fire any more at tigers or bears till he 

 had gained more experience, for I knew if 

 he continued to do so it would end in his 

 coming to grief some day ; he had plenty 

 of pluck, but was a dreadful muff with a 

 gun. I am writing of many years ago, 

 and have since then heard that he is re- 

 puted to be one of the best and coolest 

 tiger shots in Bengal. 



