Getting a Thrashing Instead of Giving tine

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 4426, 19 July 1884, Page 3

Getting a Thrashing Instead of Giving tine

Arrived in Dinapore, Crawley began, of course, like all second lieutenants, by purchasing a horse—all the officers rode, and he must ride too. A horse necessitated a groom, and for a groom Crawley hired a big mountaineer, who happened then to be in Dinapore in want of service, and who had previously served the deputy-governor of Bengal.

I One day he had been out to dinner, and returned somewhat earlier than usual, vexed and annoyed at the jokes which had been passed upon him. When he arrived, therefore, at the'stables, it was in no pleasant mood,andasMarro,thegroom,didnothappen to bo there at the exact moment when he was wanted, the young officer was still more vexed at having to call for him two or three times. At length Marro came running to the spot j he had not expected his master home so soon, and was standing in the immediate neighbourhood chatting with a friend or two who had come into the cantonments to see him, when Crawley rode up. A few trees had prevented the swarthy groom from seeing his master, but he recognised the well - known voice at once, and sprang forward to seize the bridle.

"Why weren't you here, sir," asked Crawley, sternly, " when I rode up?" " Master came home plenty soon to-day," urged Marro, meekly. "I not see master come in."

" Well, sir, another time look sharper," said Crawley, who now stood on the ground, having dismounted, "nnd this, perhaps, will make you remember to do so." So saying, he brought his riding-whip down upon the bare shoulders of the groom with all his might. ■

" Master not hitme,"saidMarro,standiag erect, his fine form swelling with indignation, whilst the blood mantled deeply in his cheeks.

"What, sir, are you going to boinsolent?" asked Crawley, coming up again. "Take that, and that, and that." And so saying, he brought his whip again and again into contact with tho quivering flesh of the tall Hindoo.

Marro, however, offered no opposition ; he stood motionless and silent, not the less determined, however, to be revenged. His friends witnessed the assault from tho parade ground, and the colonel of Crawley's regiment—a humane man, bent«;i putting an end to such scenes—saw the wholo transaction from his window above.

Tho colonel sent for Marro next morning. " Go before the magistrate, my man," said ho to the groom, "and state your case. Don't be afraid. I'll getyou another place, and I'll be a witness." This was precisely what Marro had intended to do. He went to the magistrate; Crawley was duly summond,the witnesses attended, and the young officer was fined fifty rupees (£5) for the assault. He returned to nis quarters vowing vengance against all Hindoos in general, and against Marro in particular.

" It's ashame —a thundering shame," said Captain Basin? whom Crawley nod met in the verandah, and to whom he detailed the transaction.

" It's a thundering shame; we shall be at the mercy of these niggers at this rate.' "It'sinfamous," saidLieutenantSpooner, joiningthepair; "I never heard of anything more disgraceful. Why, you didn't' get half the worth of your money." "I did not," said Crawley; "I certainly did not." " I should like to see any of my fellows hauling me over the coals—l should," continued Spooner. " Why, what would you do ?" asked Crawley eagerly, " What would Ido I" repeated Spooner; "why, I'll tell you what I'd do. I'd take him back into my service, and catch him some time when he had no witnesses, and I'd give him such a flogging that he shouldn't forget in a hurry—l would." "An excellent idea, 'pon my life," eaid Basin, taking a cigar out of his mouth, and examining it leisurely as he held it at arm's length between the two first fingers of his left hand.

" A capital idea," ejaculated Crawley, rubbing his hands together; " that's just what 111 do."

A servant was forthwith despatched for Marro, who came, unconscious of the trap that was laid for him.

"I am not at all offended with you, Marro,"said Crawley soothingly, "and I don't want you to leave my service on that account. You will stay with me, won't you ?" "If master like, I stop," said Marro, wondering, at the young officer's clemency, and making a profound salaam. "Oh yes, of course you will; you're a very excellent groom, aud I don't think a bit the worse of you for what you have done," said Crawley.

" There now, that'll do; go to the stable." Marro, thrown off the scent by this unexpected kindness of manner, had no idea his master had determined that a notable example should be made of him—an example all the more striking and impressive from his size and strength. The opportunity for this notable example was at length fouDd. Marro was .working in the stable; the other servants were o ,t of the way. Crawley resolved forthwith to have his revenge, whilst his two comrades were to assist by keeping everybody out of the way, and leaving the coast clear for their friend. Whip in hand, Crawley advanced into the stable, and shut thedoor behind vim

"Now-," said he, advancing in athrertening attitude to Marro, " now, you scouncrel, there are no witnesses, and I'll take the worth of my fifty rupees." He shook the riding-whip ominously as he spoke, bringing it now and then into contact with his boot.

Marro joined his hands before him, after the manner of his class, and bent his body in a deprecating way to the wrathful Crawley. "Master, forgive all," urged Marro. "Masternot hit his slave now?" " Yes, I forgave all till I had an opportunity to revenge—nolonger,"said Crawley, bringing his horsewhip down upon the bare shoulders of the big groom. " But now," he continued, " I've taken care you shall have no witnesses; and I'll pay you off thoroughly." Blow after blow descended upon the naked shoulders of the muscular Hindoo; but there is a limit to human endurance, and even a Hindoo will sometimes rebel. Without saying a word more, Marro sprung upon his assailant suddenly, and, seizing the horsewhip, speedily disarmed his master; for there was no comparison between the physical force of the two combatants. It was now Marro's turn. Holding Crawley with one hand, he brought down the other with the horsewhip in it vigorously upon the shoulders and legs of tho tyrant-master. An Englishman, nowover, even of Crawley's stamp, will not quietly suffer himself to be flogged by any Hindoo, big or little. There was a struggle, and Crawley foil beneath Marro, who, holding his master down, plied the whip more vigorously ths.n ever, making it resound as he brought it rapidly ana repeatedly into contact with the body of his prostrate foe. The friends of the defeated officer heard the sounds of a struggle and even the words of Crawley, as he swore energetically at the labouring Morro j and they congratulated themselves on the punishment which the obstinate groom was receiving for having dared to bring his master before ..the magistrate. At length, having left the riding-whip in the stable, Marro made his appearance, flying away from the scene of conflict as fast as his legs could carry him. "He has learnt a useful lesson," said Basin, as he watched the retreating groom. " Crawley has to thank me for giving him that idea," said Spooner, congratulating himself on his acuteness. They advanced together towards the stable, from which Crawley emerged, looking most unlike a conqueror—looking, in. fact, most like a man who had been thrown down upon dirty straw and a dirtier floor, and who, instead of punishing his antagonist, had been punished himself. " Why, what has been the matter"" asked Basin. " The scoundrel has assaulted you," said Spooner. "I slipped," replied the crest-fallen Crawley, smarting with pain and indignation, "and the villain took advantage of it." It was all that Basin could do to restrain his laughter— it was all that Spooner could do to preserve his gravity. That evening, at the mess, there was no other theme "of conversation but Crawley and Marro, whilst tho Colonel could not refrain, when he heard of the transaction, from giving "Marro" as a toast after dinner. Crawley had learnt a lesson that he did not soon after forget, and for a long time he took heed not to use his horse-whip for any other than its legitimate purpose. As for Marro, he was never heard of again at Dinapore.—"Prize Tit Bit." " ■-