14 SPORT AND TRAVEL PAPERS 



obeyed, and that reeking pipe found its way to my lips. After 

 the first valorous draw a feeling altogether indescribable passed 

 through me, through every part of my body, an intensely 

 vivifying current, the late horrible sense of utter exhaustion 

 changing swiftly to a most exhilarating sense of returning 

 strength and spirits. The time but a few moments seemed 

 to me like a beautiful dream during which new life had been 

 given me. I was a man once more, well able to share the 

 fatigues and discomforts of my fellow-soldiers. An extra- 

 ordinary case, difficult to believe, of nerve stimulation and 

 responsive muscular system. No doubt it was fortunate that 

 I had not been a smoker. 



Not very long after this dysentery and a severe attack of 

 jungle fever brought me into the -officers' hospital in Fort 

 William, where I was taken from an hotel in a state of coma. 

 After a long illness, and as a last chance when almost given up, 

 they carried me on board a steamer bound for England. Far 

 too weak to do anything for myself, I was at once put into a 

 bunk and found myself alone in the cabin. My attention was 

 presently called to a conversation evidently between a passenger 

 and the chief steward in the saloon. The former had not 

 a berth apparently, but reiterated the remark that he must 

 have one, while the latter assured him that there was not 

 one vacant, the ship being absolutely full. The passenger 

 still insisting, the steward at last said I felt convinced point- 

 ing to my door "Well, then, you can have that in a day 

 or two, for the present inmate cannot last much longer." 

 I there and then made up my mind to keep that passenger 

 out, and selfishly did so, very thankful to him and to my 

 friend the steward for the stimulant administered and given 

 in a full dose. 



