Uncle Dick and Lisa's Old Time Animal Tales

Major Laurie, who fought with Kitchener in the Soudan, says he owes his life to a spider. The spider made a nest in the top of his helmet just before the battle at Athbara. He recognised at once that the spider had chosen to constitute itself his mascot. Accordingly he left the insect undisturbed, and went through the battle without a wound. Grateful for the protection thus clearly given him by the spider, he allowed it to remain in his helmet, and consequently was able to pass through the battle of Omduran without injury. He then shipped helmet and spider home and followed in person to tell the story to his fiance. His prospective mother-in-law was so impressed by it that she made his bride a wedding present of a diamond spider.