TALES OF SAHIB LANS).

Otago Witness, Issue 2675, 21 June 1905, Page 86

TALES OF SAHIB LANS).

By F. DA. O. De L'lslb.

(For the Witness.) No. IX.— IN THE CAUSE OF HUMANITY. (All Rights Reserved.) They were lunging a big chestnut waler on the parade ground at Bundook ; from appearances he looked as if he were going to be one too much for the breakers ot the 62nd Royal Pointers. The horse had only just been brought up from Calcutta, where the Damascus had landed him at Garden Reach, straight from the bush of Gippsland, his native home in Australia. Never had be looked through a bridle until one of the hands engaged in shipping him afc Port Melbourne had shoved a halter over his head through one of the openings in the truck in which he had been brought down from Warragul ; and the halter had remained on his head from that day without being removed. He had proved a veritable terror on board, and the boys were glad to see the last of him when he passed the Government "vet." in Calcutta and was drafted away as a cavalry . remount , to the 62nd Royal Pointers at Bundook. And, oh! my sacred sister Sarah (new form of Persian adjuration), didn't he give the thin red line of heroes an idea of what an Australian nag can really do in the way of buckjumping, when he has got his heart set on it. He was a magnificent specimen of the "aboriginal article," as Lieutenant Plantagenet said. This august personage — one of the perfumed darlings of Piccadilly — was looking on at the lunging, with three or four of his brother officers. The waler was destined to be the second charger of this pigeon-chested hero. The horse was fully 16.2 in height, big boned, with a deep long barrel — a picture of a troop horse. After about 20 minutes lunging a saddle was put upon his back. He stood dazed and trembling. The whole earth was revolving round him at the rate of knots, and the poor beast was in a pitiful condition of fear and dizziness. "Now then, Rodgers," sang out the officer before mentioned, " nip on to him and give him gyp." The rough rider of the regiment touched his cap with bis whip, and vaulted into the saddle. Taking a firm grip with his knees he dug his heels into the horse and made him move along. Quivering all over, the animal staggered on for a few paces, lurched heavily forward, and fell headlong on the grass. "Quick ! Up with him !" shouted Lieutenant Plantagenet. But the waler refused to move ; for five minutes be lay, regardless of the whips, kicks, and hammerings on his defenceless carcase.. At last he struggled up, and, quick as thought, the rough rider was on his back. But, alas ! for the* vanity oi human hopes ! Five minutes' rest had restored the dazed animal. All nis youthful vigour, all the fiery spirits of his native wilds rushed through his throbbing heart ; with a plunge and a bound that would not have disgraced a cannon ball he "went to market" like a demon possessed. At the third buck the rough rider went skyward with the velocity of a shell rocket ; at the fifth the saddle described a graceful parabolic curve, comet fashion, with the girths, surcingle, and martingale acting as tails, and descended with a vicious "whop"' on the head of no less a persona.ge than '"beautiful, bountiful Bertie,'' the august Plantagenet of that ilk. Words would fail to describe the profanity of the most interested actors in this little episode. A dusky cloud ot syces, grass-cutters, native troopers, and bhistis pursued, surrounded, and brought back the demon plunger. More profanity welcomed him. The graceful Plantagenet was wroth at having his helmet jammed over his eyes by a two-stone breaker's saddle. Once more the lunging, followed by thrashings unmerciful by the swell and the rough rider, with auxiliary assistance from sundry villainous natives around. During this interval a tall, dark man, with a heavy moustache and a muchtanned Complexion, trotted up on a beautiful grey waler. He pulled up to see what was going on, and as he watched the tan turned to deep scarlet in bis face, and his .dark eyes flashed like steel. Riding up to a native gharri-wallah who was flogging the waler round with an enormous bamboo, he gave him a succession of "ribroasters" that made the man howl for mercy. ''Sahib ! Sahib ! Huzzoor I" implored the gharri-wallah. "Ki-ko wasti? Nai! Nai !" shouted the man on the grey waler, laying about him. His majesty the Plantagenet could not brook the interference of a stranger in his business. "Who the dayvil's that fella-h, Rodgers?" he shouted, in a. voice loud enough to be heard in Calcutta. "The * fellah' will tell you himself," said the stranger, riding up, and presenting his card. "John W. Chatham, Bundama Station, N.5.W.," read the Royal Pointer. "Haw! for what reason do you — aw — interfeah?" "In the cause of humanity," replied the stranger. "I interfered because I will never stand by and see a dumb animal punished without cause. You look on and allow that unfortunate horse to be ' whaled ' till the blood spurts from his wounds, and yet you are afraid to get on his back." "Aw ! What the dayvil ! Aw ! how dare you?" gasped the astonished lord ot creation. "I dare in the just cause," was the reply. "If you want that horse broken in, see that it is done without unnecessary violence; if not, you may find yourselt rerjorted at headquarters." "Aw ! Perhaps you would like to ride i the brute 1" sneered Lieutenant PUntaee-

net. "You talk dencid big, by Jove !" "Yes. I'll ride him," was the reply. "And I'll bet you a thousand rupees he does not throw me!"

"W-w-what?" stammered Lleutenam Plantangenet. "I'll bet you an even 1000 rupees that horse does not throw me fairly, all accident to gear excepted," replied the stranger. ''Done!" said the Royal Pointer, with alacrity, wishing in his heart that this intrusive stranger might break his neck in

the attempt. The stranger dismounted and commenced handling the waler. In one moment it was seen that he was an experienced hand. The very way in which he approached the horse showed it. "Ah! Jack Chatham, is it?" said an old Australian horse trader in the crowd. "That man is one of the greatest horsemen Australia ever produced. My sugar's on him."

It was not mere bravado that made the Australian put his light hunting saddle on the waler. From the Darling to the Diamantina. from the Bogan to the Condamine lie had ridden young horses for years, and he was the acknowledged champion rough rider of the West. The horse seemed to understand instinctively that he was in better hands, for he submitted to be saddled without demur. J.'hen the newcomer mounted, and the fun began. The waler bucked, plunged, turned, and twisted all he knew, and upheld the glorious reputation of his country. But still the daring rider remained on his back — a veritable old man of the sea.. For 10 solid minutes the waler played up ; then he gave in, and walked, trotted, cantered, and galloped round the parade ground, obedient to a)l his rider's wishes.

"Lay the w,hip on to him ! Cut it out of him !" roared the Royal Pointer. '"Jam the hooks into him !" yelled the rough rider after the flying Australian.

"That I most distinctly decline to do," said Chatham returning. "It is unwarrantable punishment. The horse is simply acting naturally, as all of them do. If you ill-treat him now, you may ruin him for ever. If you treat him well he will make a perfect troop horse. Now then, sir, I think I've won my bet."

"Aw ! Yaas ! I suppose so. I didn't know you were a professional, don't you know !" said Lieutenant Plantagenet. "I'm no professional," replied Chatham. "I grow horses on my ranch by the thousand, and supply the Indian army with remounts. I ride only for my own pleasure, and look upon the horse as a man's best friend. I'm a humanitarian and a sportsman. Don't insult me ; I'm rather hasty in my temper. 1 ' The look that accompanied this remark rather disconcerted the exalted Plantagenet. " "I'd like to punch his blasted head." he growled, as the Indian horse shipper rode

"Don't you try, sir," said the Australian trader, who had watched the whole incident with the keenest gtisto. "Mr Chatham is a bruiser in a. rank by himself, and _he thinks nothing of licking the roughest of his station's hands if they're cruel to animals, though he does it simply in the cause of humanity."