jumping boldly down, was lost to the view of the prince and
nobles, a dull splash alone testifying to his arrival at the bottom.
Fortunately for Jung there was plenty of water--a fact of which most
probably he was well aware--and there were, moreover, many chinks and
crannies in the porous stone of which the well was built; so, having
learnt his lesson, Jung clung dextrously to the side of the well until
midnight, when his friends, who had been previously apprized of the part
they were to perform, came and rescued him from his uncomfortable
position, and secreted him until affairs took such a turn as rendered it
safe for Jung Bahadoor to resuscitate himself. Such was the adventure of
the well, which, marvellous as it may appear, was gravely related to me
by his Excellency, who would have been very much scandalised if I had
doubted it, which of course I did not.

While in a story-telling mood, I may as well relate an account that was
given me of the manner in which Jung distinguished himself on one
occasion with a musk elephant. The story is interesting, as it was by
such daring feats that he won for himself the reputation of being the
most undaunted sportsman in Nepaul. The elephant in question had been
for some time the terror of the neighbourhood, nor was any one found
hardy enough to attempt the capture of the rabid monster. At last, so
notorious became his destruction of life and property that Jung heard of
it, and at once determined to encounter him. The animal was in the habit
of passing along the narrow street of a village in the course of his
nocturnal depredations. One night Jung posted himself on the roof of a
low outhouse, and, as the huge brute walked under the roof, made a
vigorous leap, which landed him on the neck of the elephant, and, in
spite of all the efforts of the infuriated animal, there he maintained
his position until he succeeded in blindfolding him with a cloth, and in
securing him to a tree, amidst the shouts of the populace. Lest this
story should seem too improbable to be credited, it may be remarked that
a musk elephant is often, as was the case in this instance, a tame one,
which at a particular season becomes rabid, and, breaking loose, is the
terror of the neighbourhood until recaptured.

During this eventful period in Jung Bahadoor's life, his uncle, Mahtabar
Singh, continued to administer the affairs of government with tolerable
success; but the Ranee, to whom he was beholden f