A Scion of the Kumpani Bahadur*

Hastings Standard, Issue 223, 18 January 1897, Page 4

A Scion of the Kumpani Bahadur*

A TALE OF INDIAN SPORT. [Specially written for the Hastings Standard, j By F. D'A. C. De Lisle. /AH n't/his rmrrrnl hi/ the author./ Chapter I.—The New Sub The 28th Bengal Lancers were quartered at Rawal Pindi in the Presidency of the Punjab. In all the cavalry regiments of the Bengal Contingent there was no finer body of fighting men, for the 28th organised after the mutiny, consisted of the cream of the Irregulars of the cavalry service, who during all that terrible and trying time of rebellion, bloodshed and massacre had remained true to their salt. In the ranks of the 28th v.'ere the stalwart veterans of Murray's Jilt Horse, the champion swordsmen of Cureton's Mooltani Cavalry, the warriors of Hodson's Horse, and the loyal troopers of the Irregular Sikh Cavalry. Gathered together in one regiment these glorious veterans and their descendants formed a splendid addition to the many superb regiments of the Indian Army. Every non-rum. was a veteran of '-">7. The three Ressaldars each wore distinguished service medals; the HesLfiklars had medals and clasps of the Jowaki-Afridis Expedition of '77, and of the Egyptian campaign of 'B2 ; The Woouie Major, the sole remaining non-row. of Murray's J;lt Horse after Luckuow, had his breast covered with the Khedive's Star, the medal and clasp of the Ilazara Coinpaign of '6B, the Zawa medal and two claps of the Zaimusth Expedition, the Jumrood medal of the Bazar Valley "Expedition of '79 and the Musjid Medal and Clasp of the Afghan War ; every Jemadar wore the Mutiny medal, the clasps of the Mashood Waziri Expedition, and of the Looshai field operations of '7l and '72 ; the Kote Kulfadars were the pick of the Irregular Sikh Cavalry, each man of high caste and a nobleman in his own country ; the Duffadars of the regiment could show scars and bullet wounds innumerable, grim mementoes of hard fighting at Delhi, Benares, Sherpore, the Peiwar Kotal and the relief of Cabul; and even the trumpeters and troopers could muster medals and clasps by the score amongst them. Little wonder then that their British leaders took pride in the regiment, and looked with admiration on these heroes of a hundred fights, who sat their horses like bronze statues ablaze in dark blue and scarlet uniforms, with a forest of gleaming and glittering lance shafts and gaily fluttering scarlet and white pennons above them. Col. C'leeve, Y.C., their commander, was a Crimean veteran who had also seen active service in the Mutiny ; and squadron commanders and squadron officers alike had all seen service in the wars, with hillmen and abroad, since the ever memorable Mutiny of '57. To this swagger Cavalry Regiment was gazetted Lieutenant Agustus Fitzherbert Brangwyne Mountcalm CarrJones vice Lieutenant Haldimund Chisholm promoted. He was the latest joined sub, and he came with a reputation that rang through the regiment. A reputation I founded on his forebears only. For Carr-.Jones was a scion of the great " luunpani-Bahadur," and a descendant of the foremost European family to settle in Bengal. Many of the troopers of the 28th had served under his father Col. Carr-Jones and most of them had seen him die at the head of his regiment in the Bolan Pass. And some there were who had shouted out their earth stirring war-cry while charging down like lightning on the enemy, behind the stalwart greyhaired veteran general, his grandfather, who had led the Irregular Sikh Cavalry into action in the old days, with sword arms bare, and their revolvers between their teeth. These last were mere boys in those days, when the heat and lust of war had enticed them from their homes in the hill-: to serve under the Uriah VuUun >„/,//, (English soldier). And now, grizzled, gaunt, and grey, they peered eagerly from their shining sloes of eyes upon the boy descendant of their old /;,■/ (Lord), longing once more to lling their war cry to the breeze and to (lash down under his leadership, upon the cursed hn/iirs of the "West. It is an ordeal that many a good man has llinched under, that of facing a whole regiment, drawn up on the parade ground, for the first time in his military career. I 'tit coolly and nonchalantly the " -iiib " took his plaee, the cynosuro of every eye in the regiment. He was a small man, but there his disadvantage ended. From the tip of his thin sandy moustache to his spurred heel he looked like a soldier all over ; and the native troopers of his regiment exchanged an approving glance together as they looked upon his splendid seat and the simple ease with which he handled a somewhat fractious wal« r ( Australian charger). His hair was of a straw color, and iiis complexion had already turned scarlet under the tierce Indian sun. His eyes were blue and honest, and when he smiled the pearly whiteness of his teeth rivalled the teeth of the natives, who without exception have the finest teeth in the world. He was not long in becoming a favorite with both orticers and men, and the 2Hth felt that they had every reason to be proud of the newest " sub." I'n, man in the army has at the initi'itivi i>eriod of his military career to go thnniL'ii a certain amount of baiting and chaff. The junior officers of the r« '.'iuu ut test the nerve and tamper of every new man, by standard old jokes, handed down from generation to generation ami traditionally cherished as the stock-in-trade of every practical joker. •*old East India Company.

Carr-Jones went though the whole gamut unflinchingly, and was voted a jolly good fellow with nerves of teel. The more they tired him he cooler he seemed to get, until the better natured ones ceased from worrying him altogether. But Major Bruce, who was the one blot in this otherwise splendid regiment, took a dislike to the new " sub " from his first day in the regiment. And his dislike was turned into positive hatred when Carr-Jones outwitted him in an attempt at practical joking, very much to the Major's discomforture. Every man, on first starting for India, provides himself with a suitable outfit. Many men very much over do it, and appear in India in strange and marvellous apparel. And the "griffen " is always known by his English clothes and English fashions. Although Carr-Jones came of old Anglo-Indian stock, he had never been in India before going out to join. Therefore to a great extent he was very English in all his ways. But he differed vastly from the proverbial British bounder, in that he always dressed quietly and in a very simple style. He only had one weakness in dress and that was in his riding costume. Being a superb horseman, a dashing rider after hounds and over steeplechase courses, and a marvellous polo player, he took especial pains with his riding gear, and turned out immaculate when on horseback. To this end, he brought to India with him many pairs of top boots. They were of every class and fashion, and, without exaggeration, he had nearly a dozen pairs of beautiful top-boots ranged upon the bootshelves in his quarters. This swagger array of foot gear caught the Major's eye one morning on passing Jones's door, and he m mediately recalled an ancient joke which was passed off on him years ago in his " griffinage." He walked smartly back to his own quarters and yelled for his bearer. " (>ui hi " ? he roared (anybody there). " SnJ.il> " ! (sir) answered the bearer from the compound, and in another minute a stalwart oorya bearer entered the doorless room with a deep salaam The Major blurted out " Burra saanj), mar dalio our juhli /«<> " (kill a big snake and bring it hear quickly) Snno (listen) Carr-Jones sahib ha hurra hunt men ruk ilr (put it in Mr Jones's top boot\ Ateha Sahit " (very well sir) and with a saleam the bearer disappeared. The Major went on to parade w r ith a light heart, and a really elastic swagger. He felt quite elated with his little scheme, and was unconscious of the " devil " in his march as he rolled past the left half battalion of the Blankshire Regiment standing easy on the parade ground. "Look at him!" sneered Private Billy Hawkins, his gall rising at the 'orty native cavary officer - man ; " thinks he's the son o'Gawd 'e does. Strike me fat! but I'd like to see 'im doin' pack drill fur a month, I would!" " Twig 'is gold spurs, Billy ?" whispered his right-hand man, " 'is pore 'ookey (troop servant) did four to six on 'em this mornin'. Split me ! but I'd like to stick'em through 'is bloomin' witals the yellow snor (pig) !" " Silence in the ranks !" roared the nnn-nnn. on duty, and Major Bruce with an appreciative nod marched on towards his regiment. The Major was a thorough soldier, but an awful martinet. He was, without a doubt, too strict in his enforcement of discipline, and therefore he was not liked in his, or rather by his regiment. His troopers respected him, and feared him, but they did not love him, and they felt none of that camaradarie towards him, which is so essential between the trooper and his leader. The 28th would have 'followed Colonel Cleeve ; or Captain Fraser, and Polhill Carew ; or little Jones to the mouth of hell, aye, into the remotest interior of it; but their faith in Major Brace would not permit them to go to such lengths with him. They would fear his inability to light out of the infernal regions, once he got into them ! As the Major reached the parade ground of the 28th, his orderly brought up his charger, and he jumped up and started work at once. It was his turn

at squadron duty, and the regiment were all on the qui rive, their appearance being as usual faultless. Strange to say, Lieutenant CarrJones was not at his post, and did not show up for fully five minutes after the squadron had been going through their facings. Then a flying cloud of dust, lancer uniform, and chestnut charger burst upon the scene, and Lieutenant Carr-Jones took up his station in his usual place. " Late Lieut. Jones !" said Major Bruce. " Sorry sir," answered Jones. " Excused," said the Major quietly. To say the squadron was flabbergasted would but feebly convey their surprise. The usual thing with Major Bruce when a junior officer dared to be so late, was a fifteen minutes hurricane of swearing and reprimanding and damning the service which was going to the dogs, and so on, for the whole parade nearly. But the change this morning was so marked that the other juniors shivered in their boots for poor Jones whom they fully expected to be driven out of the regiment later on, For that was the construction they put upon the unnatural calm assumed by Major Bruce. Then imagine their helpless, speechless astonishment when, parade over, Major Bruce and Lieutenant CarrJones rode away to barracks together, chatting polo and polo ponies like two "pals" over a football match at school. At the barrack stables the syces led away the chargers, and Major Bruce accompanied Lieutenant Carr-Jones to his quarters to examine some splendid Malacca canes which the latter had imported from Surinam for polo sticks. Captain Polhill-Carew and Lieut. Somerset watched them from the billiard-room window. They saw Jones draw aside the pur J ah (curtain) of his quarters, the Major passed in and •Jones followed him and disappeared from view. " By George, I never knew Bruce to be so chummy with a ' sub ' before," said Somerset." " I wonder what's in the wind now '?" " Hanged if I know," replied PolhillCarew. " It's the queerest turn up we've had in the regiment since old Mogul got religion and sent in his papers." " P'raps he wants to borrow some money from Jones. The little beggar is splendidly 'heeled' I believe. His old Nabob of a father got heaps of loot in the early days. Beg'lar Pirate they called him. Bled old Rani Jhopal out of lakhs (millions) during the mutiny." Chirped the senior lieutenant. " All r/up (gossip), replied Captain Carew." Some hchecoity (idiot) invented all that. Old Carr-.Jones was one of the finest commanders the 28th ever had, he was as honest as the day, and as straight as a gun-barrel. No, little Jones has got to thank Jones yrandpere for his lakhs. The grandfather was one of the original John Company; and that's where the family money was made. By Jingo ! What's the row: ? " They saw Major Bruce dash aside the purdah of Jones's quarters, and plunge headlong along the verandah with purple face, and puyyaree flying in the breeze. Behind him - came Carr-Jones also legging it like a good 'un. In his hand he held a beautiful fowling-piece into which he was cramming two cartridges. They came to a stop ten yards up the verandah, and turned undecidedly back. Captain Polhill - Carew, Captain Fraser, Lieutenant Somerset, Lieutenant Prinsep, and a few "Noncoms." were rapidly hurrying to the scene. Major Bruce and Carr-Jones crept stealthily back to the latter's quarters. " Now look out," yelled Jones " When I give the word, you pull back the purdah and I'll pour in a volley! " " No, no," shouted Major Bruce, who was just a step in advance. " Don't shoot, don't shoot! You'll ruin your tops. Let the troopers at him with httix (sticks) " " Hang the tops " roared Jones excitedly, " They're an old pair, and a cobra is too bally dangerous waltzing round a fellow's quarters. Now stand by the purdah !" Major Bruce slyly winked at the assembled crowd and gingerly grabbed hold of the end of the purdah. Jones,

stepped right in front of it and carmly gave the old pigeon shooting command "Pull!" With a whisk the Major ripped down the curtain. Up went Jones' fowling-pieee. Bang ! Bang ! There were two deafening reports, and Jones' voice rang out jubilantly. " I've bagged him ! I've bagged him I Hooray ! I'll swear it's a full-grown cobra!" [To be continued.]