MILITAR Y AD VENTURES. 259 



lested, which was fortunate for me as, if 

 I had been attacked, I do not know what 

 I should have done, my gun being un- 

 loaded, and I could not have done much 

 execution with the talwar, my left arm 

 being so entirely powerless. 



" Mortal man was never more pleased 

 to see the returning dawn than I was, and 

 when the first streak of light came to 

 announce the approach of another day, my 

 anxious fears melted away and my full 

 energy returned. As soon as it was broad 

 daylight I shouldered my gun, having first 

 taken the precaution of loading it, and this 

 gave me a feeling of security as I retraced 

 my steps through the jungle. Nothing 

 molested me on my homeward path, and 

 I reached our house just as my family were 

 about to sit down to their breakfast. My 

 aunt was the first to perceive me, and 



