A Scion of the Kumpani Bahadur*

Hastings Standard, Issue 237, 3 February 1897, Page 4

A Scion of the Kumpani Bahadur*

A TALE OF INDIAN SPORT. [SrrxiALr.Y V.-bitti-:X I-jr THE HASTings SiTANI»\R!».j BY F. DA. C'. Da Lisij:. ' All ri'jbis n.--,rr. J U,j tlx- author.) Chapter Y.—Fiust Blood. •Tones and bis bearer returned to Piii'li with the new pony ; and the subaltern found a magnificent Waler awaiting him in bis stables. It was the full-brother to Monarch which Cook and Co. had sent up to him.

Carr-Jones had the saddle on him in no time, and after a preliminary tussle they cantered down to the racecourse.

The chestnut was fully IG-2, beautifully ribbed up, with an immense rein and a tremendous length. In fact the ground he stood over was a caution. His mouth was perfect and his temper good, and -Jones cantered him on to the course to try his paces and his jumping powers. The Pindi course was an unfenced course on a large open plain about five miles in circumference. On the steeplecalise course were jumps of every variety, and entering at the Grandstand Boad Jones sent the chestnut at the course rails four feet high. Changing his long swinging stride for a few quick, short strokes the horse flew the rails with a bound and, reefing at the bridle, galloped down the steeple-course.

One of the stiffest fences in the regulation course was the six foot mud bank in front of the grand stand. The chestnut charged it at top speed, never for an instant hesitated, rose immediately he felt the touch of the rein on the hit, and cleared the highest part of the jump with ease, landing and jumping off in his stride at one and the same time.

" Oh ! my sainted Aunt Maria ! but you're a dandy and no mistake ! " cried -Tones in raptures as he gave the horse his head and raced down the course over hurdles, gorse fences, water jumps, ha-has, and logs. He had gone about a mile at a good, sound pace, when he saw about two furlongs ahead of him the well-known form of Mrs Bruce mounted on Lieut. Prill sop's beautiful grey chaser Grenadier.

Mrs Jimco was cantering steadily ahead, and Grenadier was sailing over the fences as they came along without an effort. It was evident to Jones that his brother officer had let Mrs Bruce take the chaser out for exercise ; for he knew that Prinsop was orderly officer of the day. Mrs Bruce was a splendid horsewoman, light as a feather, with beautiful hands, and whenever Prinsep was on duty, or unable to take the chaser out himself he always asked Mrs Bruce to take the grey round the course for him. The " sub's " heart leaped within him and he sent the chestnut home, flying over the next fence—a water jump—with a shout of " Up ! over ! ! " The cry attracted the attention of the rider ahead, who looked round quickly. Then sitting firmly down on the grey she gave him a cut with the whip and away they went racing two furlongs ahead.

"Larking!" thought Jones, "she wants a race, I suppose," and he followed fast in her wake.

The second mile was flung behind with no difference in the distance between them. Grenadier was fencing faultlessly, and appeared perfectly fresh. The chesnut was blowing and Jones showed his jeidgment by taking a pull and easing his mount a little. Half a mile further on the chestnut got his wind again and rapidly recovered the ground he had lost. From the commencement of the third mile he gained steadily upon tlie grey until a mile from home he was only six lengths behind. " By jovo ! I'm riding all of lOst 101b." thought Jones. "And I'm beating Grenadier who can't be carrying more than 9st at the most ! What a treasure I have got hold of to be sun.-!" At the turn from the distance post into the straight the leader, instead of turning into the course proper, turned off and headed straight for the cantonments across the plain. '• Ah ! ha ! off home. Now, I wonder what's up," thought Jones as he woke up the chestnut and rode up alongside of Grenadier. They took the racecourse rails side bv side, and, as they landed, CarrJones turned to Mrs Bruce with a cheery. '• Caught you at last !" The words froze on his lips. She had b< -m riding with a thick, h< ;tvy brown veil on, but the rush of th'- wind pa-it her face while racing over t!i»- fences had loosened its fastening-. and it had come undone on one side, and was fluttering behind her. A vivid <carlet cut ran right across In r f t<;• ••. from her left ear to the extremity of her jaw on the light-hand -iile. and one of her eyes was fearfully blackened. A Jones rode up alongside of her -be dripped her In ad and turned it . ,t\. it;.' out : ■•Oh! do go away. Don't look at uw>. I bf-g of yon, don't look at me!" •• Stop!" said Joik-s in a voice he did not n-cogni-e himself ; and lean111do\Mi, he took G reins all i pulled him into a walk. Mrs Bruce was busy fastening up her veil again. *• Now, then, - ' -aid Jones, •• tell me how you got t_*r ——got that?" He knew only too well. •' It vra« an accident," she was comim sii'MiL' in a low voice when Jon. - >]■{« d her, >aymg sharply ; A with a whip across the face and a black eye from an accident ! It i- inrn dibit*." Then the torrent burst. With eyes of lire, fact* pale as death, and trtuubl-

Uid East India Company.

ing in every limb, the man poured out his soul. He spoke like a madman, and she listened, sitting as if turned to stone. At last it was all over. He broke down completely, stammering and faltering and passing into a dead silence with a miserable face of mute anguish, which gazed upon her with eyes filled with unshed tears. She struggled hard with herself, and, failing, took a woman's refuge in weeping. Much as he loved her, -Tones never took her in his arms as his passion - prompted him to do. As he loved her so he honored her, and she was to him the purest woman on earth. When the agony was past he turned to her and said, " You will not free yourself, then I shall free you ; for as long as you suffer, so I have to suffer too. Remember what I tell you, I shall free you," and raising his cap he left her at the entrance to the gates. " Come here you fellows," said Jones to Lieutenants Somerset and Prinsep. " I've got two new animals in my stables and I am going to christen them. (J}ti hi 9 " The bearer appeared at the mess room door. " Sim/ih in he ! " And armed with a bottle of champagne the trio marched off to the stables. "Now then," said Jonesentering with his friends, the box in which stood the new chestnut, contentedly munching his feed, " This is a chestnut gelding by Proto-Martyr out of Maud. What shall I call him ? I have not swallowed a Johnson's dictionary, but I know that Proto-Martyr means the first martyr, who was stoned to death. Maud is the name of a girl. Give us a good name for him." "Come into the Gardenia Maud," sang Prinsep. " Call him Convent Garden ; Convent-martyr ; Maud-gar-den, see'? "

" How would ' The Maiden Tribute ' do? " suggested Somerset ; but Jones said that Convent Garden was more lvspectable, and so Convent Garden the chestnut became as the simpkin rippled over his head.

Then turning to the ragged dun which had been bought at the Tal, he said: I've got a name for this beggar He is a country-bred with no pedigree to boast of."

" Call him ' The Waif,' " cried Somerset. " How would ' The Creole ' sound—suit the color," said Prinsep. "No; I have bought this beggar with a purpose, and therefore I christen him First Blood, for he shall draw first blood for me in a game I am going to play all by my little self." And as the simpkin poured out on the.head of the ragged pony, the two lieutenants laughed at his comical appearance. But Carr-Jones' set face looked very grim and white. [End of Chaptfr V.]