never yet failed its blow, {2} and rushed at the Indian. He came
down at full gallop, his own sword making ten thousand gleaming
circles in the air, shrieking his cry of battle.

The contest did not last an instant. With my first blow I cut off
his sword-arm at the wrist; my second I levelled at his head. I
said that he wore a steel cap, with a gilt iron spike of six
inches, and a hood of chain mail. I rose in my stirrups and
delivered "St. George;" my sword caught the spike exactly on the
point, split it sheer in two, cut crashing through the steel cap
and hood, and was only stopped by a ruby which he wore in his back-
plate. His head, cut clean in two between the eyebrows and
nostrils, even between the two front teeth, fell one side on each
shoulder, and he galloped on till his horse was stopped by my men,
who were not a little amused at the feat.

As I had expected, the remaining ruffians fled on seeing their
leader's fate. I took home his helmet by way of curiosity, and we
made a single prisoner, who was instantly carried before old
Jowler.

We asked the prisoner the name of the leader of the troop: he said
it was Chowder Loll.

"Chowder Loll!" shrieked Colonel Jowler. "O Fate! thy hand is
here!" He rushed wildly into his tent--the next day applied for
leave of absence. Gutch took the command of the regiment, and I
saw him no more for some time.

* * *