On Chance.

Otago Witness, Issue 2161, 25 July 1895, Page 53

On Chance.

•"No such thjng aa luck ? ' Fiddlesticks !'* indignantly remarked Colonel Monkhouse. ••Ttere is plenty of luck, and far more illluck, and I have fcesn both. " You know Mivjor- General Sir Chumfrey Welleßley-Polts, V.C., X.C B. ? Ho and I were out together a* subalterrs in a cavalry regiuaeut ia India at the time of the Mutiny. Ttieti the Welleiley pact of bis immj had nob been heard of. Ho was plain Potta. Potato Potts we u&ed to call hi ca. on account of his fondness for that v< go table. "Said he to me: 'Lcok here, Monkhouse, I'm a better rider than you, aiid if you get thrown when ia action, you'll be done fur. I don't mind doing you a good turn, and if you. like we'll snap ht'rssß.' " I agreed, nob f o much because I was afraid of lot ing my saddle, but beoausa I was a good judge <-F horstfleah and Potts was not. . " On our march we unexpectedly encountered a patty of the enemy. They nude a terrific din. We charged, and I could see that Potti was ia a fearful funk. But my horse — thit is to s%y, Potls's — was still more frightened. *♦ Potts's bowe — that is to say, mme — had been well trained, and went ahead at the s.tme rate as tho otber horsts in tha regiment. - ' " The other beaat, however, in his fright, took the bit between his teeth and bolted. Bit he bolted ahead, and not to the rear. " The result was that pour Potts found himself, much againit his will, singly charging tho mutineers. He escaped without a scratch, and was awarded the Victoria Cress, and h&s mads et jady progress in the profession. "Luck! Of course. If I had not, just by chance, understood the value of horses, I would Lave been tho man to win the Cros'. " And bo Potts received distinctions and I got differences. Some people cannot distinguish, the differeroe or di-fiDc'.ion Letween tk distinction and a difference. •' I can."