led to the summit. Underneath this, ran a mountain
stream, swollen by the rains to the size and
velocity of a river. I could now perceive that
the trial was very hazardous; but I had gone too
far to return, and what I dreaded most was the
jeers of my comrades at my unsuccessful
attempt. The only word for me was 'Forward!'
and so I began to scramble aloft, cautiously,
however, and clinging close to the rock, walking
on step by step, looking upwards—I dared not
look down. In this manner I had got about
half way, when I came to an obstacle. About
six feet of the path had given way. I was
now nearly suspended. To return was impossible;
to go forward apparently the same. I
bitterly repented having come on the expedition,
or of having left O'Hallaran, and I would
have given all the world to have been back once
more safe in my tent. What made my situation
seem more terrible was the comparative silence,
and the absence of all human sympathy, for
nothing could be heard but the rushing of the
waters far below. If I could only but clear the
gap, all might yet be well. Above my head and
within reach of my arm, the branch of a small tree
hung temptingly, and I decided at last to swing
myself across by that. I tried it well, too well
perhaps. Then, holding my breath, I made the
spring; my left foot had just touched the opposite
side, and in another moment I should have
been safe, when snap went the twig, and down
I fell, crashing through the roots and shrubs
which partly covered the face of the precipice. I
could not have been more than a few seconds
in falling, yet in that short space of time all the
principal events of my life seemed to pass before
me; I also thought of my body striking the rocks
and bounding from one side to the other, and that
I should be dead before I reached the bottom.
All this and more flashed with inconceivable
rapidity through my brain—when my foot struck
on something. I felt a sharp pain, and then found
myself whirling round and round like an eggshell
among rushing turbulent waters, which
carried me onward with great swiftness. I
had just sense and strength enough to strike
out for the side (luckily I could swim well),
which I reached exhausted. I managed to crawl
out, and then observed that in my right foot
there was a severe cut, from which the blood
flowed plentifully. I felt deeply thankful to a
merciful Providence for having thus saved me
from a violent death, but had only got a few
yards from the water-side when I fainted. Then
for a time all was quite blank, though I fancied
I heard sounds. They may have been the pistols
or the bugles, or, more probably, the noise of
the rushing waters near me.

"I have no idea how long I lay in that
condition. All I know is, that when I came to
myself I found that the rain had ceased, and
that the sun was high. I lay musing for a long
time. At first I had no pain; I was barely
conscious of being awake and having a pleasant
dream-like feeling over me; the sun was shining,
the birds were singing, and the waters ran
merrily past me in their course, and to a tune
which seemed in harmony with the waving
boughs of the trees. But recollection came at
last, and with it pain. I looked at my foot,
and found that the bleeding had stopped (but
the wound was large, deep, and jagged), and
that it was swollen to thrice its proper size.
Fortunately I had got out of the stream at the
side next Khandalla.

"As I lay considering what to do, I was obliged
to come to the conclusion that while I remained
where I was, I should have but a poor chance of
being seen by any one—my only hope—for the
stream had carried me down farther into the
jungle, and far from any track except the tracks
of wild animals, and I could not repress a
shudder when I thought of them. Knowing
that my only safety lay in action, I commenced
crawling in the direction of the village. My
progress, of course, was slow, and being very
weak, I was obliged to stop often to rest
myself; as I was doing so, all at once I
observed an animal creeping crouchingly towards
me; it came nearer and nearer, and its flashing
eyes were fixed on mine. My blood ran
cold as the idea forced itself on me that
it was a tiger, and I gave up hope. I recollected,
however, having heard of men escaping
from those animals by feigning death, and, acting
on the thought, I turned myself flat on the
ground with my face downward. In this way
I lay for a few seconds, which at the time
appeared hours, and this suspense I could not
bear: so, raising my head a little and looking
over my arm, I carefully watched the wary
advance of my antagonist. Closer and closer he
came, frequently halting, and then I perceived
that it was no tiger, but a hyæna. This was a
little relief certainly, but, in my weak state,
I should have been an easy prey to a wild cat.
He was close to me, and his breathing was fearfully
distinct; presently a shiver ran through
my frame, when I felt his nose touch my body,
as he began smelling me all over. I think it
was despair that kept me quiet, as I lay quite still
until he came to my head; but when I felt
his cold nose touch my ear, I sprang up and
gave a yell that might have been heard for a
mile. At this, the brute, as much frightened
as I was, wheeled round, and charging down the
hill, disappeared in the jungle. When he was
out of sight, I breathed freely again; but the
excitement had been too much for me, and, falling
to the ground, I swooned away.

"I lay thus until the following morning, and I
suppose it was the screeching of the parrots and
the chattering of the monkeys, who were swinging
and gambolling in the trees above, that
caused me to awake. I could now find that I
was much weaker than on the previous day, for
what with loss of blood, want of food, and
exposure to the weather for two days and nights,
I could scarcely move. But when I thought of
my fate, 'lost in the jungle,' where, if not found
soon, I must be devoured by wild beasts, or,
failing that, die of hunger, I resolved to struggle
on. So on I went, managing somehow or other
to get along—crawling as before.