AN ADVENTURE. 



377 



proached me : I had only a pistol, and the rain, 

 pouring in torrents, rendered this but of little 

 use. What was to be done? — there was no 

 time to be lost. I turned my mule's head, 

 and was about to retreat at a round pace^ 

 when one of my peons came up. I asked him 

 what was to be done ? he appeared surprised. 



Have you not heard the roar of a tiger ap- 

 proaching this way V I demanded of him. — 



Oh, master," was the reply, the roaring is 

 only that of a troop of monkies, incommoded 

 by the rain." Such was really the case. The 

 monkies were advancing, roaring in chorus, as 

 they passed from tree to tree. I was glad to 

 get out of hearing of them, and it was some 

 time before I got rid of my fright. I joined 

 my friend, and telling him my adventure, he 

 laughed at me most immoderately ; though, I 

 believe, had he been in my place, he would 

 have acted in precisely the same manner. 



We were now both of us in a miserable 

 plight — drenched to the skin, covered with 

 mud, and wading up to our knees in it; being 

 compelled to dismount, as our mules were un- 

 able to flounder along with us on their backs. 

 Our only amusement was laughing at each 

 other, both appearing in so forlorn a state. 



