mbs
and cannon-balls came upon me, I caught them in my hands like so
many pebbles, and throwing them against the fortress, demolished the
strongest ramparts of the place. I took my mark so direct, that whenever
I aimed a cannon-ball or a shell at any person on the ramparts I was
sure to hit him: and one time perceiving a tremendous piece of artillery
pointed against me, and knowing the ball must be so great it would
certainly stun me, I took a small cannon-ball, and just as I perceived
the engineer going to order them to fire, and opening his mouth to give
the word of command, I took aim and drove my ball precisely down his
throat.

Tippoo, fearing that all would be lost, that a general and successful
storm would ensue if I continued to batter the place, came forth upon
his elephant to fight me; I saluted him, and insisted he should fire
first.

Tippoo, though a barbarian, was not deficient in politeness, and
declined the compliment; upon which I took off my hat, and bowing, told
him it was an advantage Munchausen should never be said to accept from
so gallant a warrior: on which Tippoo instantly discharged his carbine,
the ball from which, hitting my horse's ear, made him plunge with rage
and indignation. In return I discharged my pistol at Tippoo, and shot
off his turban. He had a small field-piece mounted with him on his
elephant, which he then discharged at me, and the grape-shot coming in a
shower, rattled in the laurels that covered and shaded me all over, and
remained pendant like berries on the branches. I then, advancing, took
the proboscis of his elephant, and turning it against the rider, struck
him repeatedly with the extremity of it on either side of the head,
until I at length dismounted him. Nothing could equal the rage of the
barbarian finding himself thrown from his elephant. He rose in a fit of
despair, and rushed against my steed and myself: but I scorned to fight
him at so great a disadvantage on his side, and directly dismounted to
fight him hand to hand. Never did I fight with any man who bore himself
more nobly than this adversary; he parried my blows, and dealt home his
own in return with astonishing precision. The first blow of his sabre
I received upon the bridge of my nose, and but for the bony firmness of
that part of my face, it would have descended to my mouth. I still bear
the mark upon my nose.

He next made a furious blow at my head, but I, parrying, deadened the
force of his sabre,