BHOOTING, ETC. 169 



not bad in the fore-hand, cat-hammed as a rule, big- 

 headed, and nasty-tempered, standing generally about 

 fourteen hands. 



I was cantering along across the country one day in 

 June, making for a river about twenty miles distant, 

 where I knew sea-trout abounded. We had done over 

 half the distance, and I was enjoying in my mind the 

 delight of playing a fine big trout, with a light rod and 

 line, when the horse of my Japanese interpreter rushed 

 up from behind, and, seizing my leg above the knee, 

 pulled me off my pony, and shook me just as a terrier 

 would a rat. I never felt more utterly helpless. The 

 native on the brute's back had not the presence of mind 

 or nerve to haul violently on his reins, or hit the beast 

 over the head, either of which operations would have 

 probably lessened the nip the creature had. When he 

 thought proper to let go, my leg was like a pulp. 

 Fortunately for me the animal got such a good mouth- 

 ful, otherwise he would probably have taken the piece 

 out. As it was, I had to be carried back by some 

 natives we luckily picked up, and was hors de covibat 

 for a month. The scars are still, and always will be, 

 on my leg. Thus ended my fishing excursion, and I 

 never afterwards had the opportunity or time to try my 

 luck once more. The owner was most anxious to shoot 



