GOLDEN HORN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 672, 25 May 1929, Page 29

GOLDEN HORN

Who Walked Unharmed in Jungles

Her real name was the Cow of Plenty Bui after she was sold to Rajah the King, she came to he known a< the royal cow Golden Horn.

was bought for the royal stable from her master Krishaka, a farmer because she was beautiful, wise and fearless. It is said that KrisliaK.i was , paid with her weight in silver by Rajah. Not only that. in order io show how he loved her, the king had her horns covered with gold. After that had been done he had set on the tips of her horns gems that shone like stars. That is how she came to be called Golden Horn. Because everybody knew how wise and unusual she was. the whole kingdom allowed Golden Horn to go wherever she pleased, and eat whatever fodder she chose. That, indeed, was a great honour. Not a person in the royal household ever worried if Golden Horn did not come home at sundown. She could spend the night in the jungle full of tigers if she wanted to. Her fearless heart and wise head protected her everywhere. Soon Golden Horn gave birth to a baby bull.* He was named Ratna Singh or Jewel Hdrn. As soon as his horns had sprouted a little, his mother took him to many strange pastures in order to educate him. She said, “You must go to school. My boy, I am your mother. I must teach you all I know. We cows are not like human beings who hire teachers; we have to educate our own children by ourselves. “First of all, learn to think clearly. Always keep calm. And whenever you face an enemy, don't fear him. Remember that. “I want you to learn the ways of men and beasts. You ‘should know what befriends and what harms us. You should sharpen your wits. Strengthen your heart: And exercise your body.” “But, mother,” questioned Jewel Horn, “in order to succeed in fighting, all that I have to do is to use ray horns.” “Not altogether,” answered his mother. “You must use your brains, then your horns. If you use only horns, you may not succeed.” Thus conversing one day, they trotted off in the direction of the tigerinfested jungle. It was late afternoon. The wild animals were still sleepy. Those that were awake were stretching themselves in their dens. Black panthers sharpened their claws on the trees on which they had slept all day. Large leopards whined as they awoke. Far a tiger grunted as he leaped out of his lair. Darkness fell softly on the jungle. When she noticed that the dusk was coming, Golden Horn said, “Come, Jewel, let us start homeward. It is getting late.” Slowly they sauntered back. But soon after their backs had been turned on the deep forest, resounding with the yell of wolves, the roar of tigers and the trumpeting of elephants, Golden Horn felt that some beast was following them. She whispered, “Go slowly, my son. The calmer you are, the less anyone can frighten you. Don't be .frightened. He who is frightened by any animal is killed by the same.” “And you, Mother, do you feel afraid?” questioned Jewel Horn. “No, though I hear some fearful sounds,” she answered. “Look, Mother, what is that purple, black and orange patch in the high grass before us—” Golden Horn hissed at him, “Hush! . Stop. Stand still.” Hardly had she warned him when with a roar a tiger landed ten feet from where she had stood. “Grr-rr,” he roared again. A shock ran through both the cows. But clever Golden Horn stepped forward as if she was not at all disturbed. Stamping her hoofs on the ground she scolded the tiger, “Who are you? How dare you interrupt our evening walk?”

“Interrupt who, what .*' growled the tiger in bewilderment. For ho had never seen such horns on a cow npr heard such speech. “Do vou not know I am Golden Horn, the King's cow? I am the Cow* of Plenty. I am walking with my son. Jewel Horn, a hero of the first water. Please be good enough to jump awqy homo to tlie king.” “Not u bit of it.” growled the tiger. “Cow of Plenty, are you? Good. You will lie plenty to eat!” “How dare vou insult my mother'’” shouted Jewel Horn. "If you talk like that again, 1 will gore you, though m> horns are only three inches long.” That speech from a mere calf puzzled the tiger more. “Just a minute. Air. Tiger.” pleaded Golden Horn. "Forgive the rudeness of my son. He does not know who you are.” Then, putting her mouth to her son’s ear, she wispered, “The moment I bellow three times, attack him. Put your horns into his stomach. Leave mo to do the rest.” Then, quietly turning to the sinister beast whose stripes were like shining steel in the light of the risen moon. Golden Horn said, **o Sir, why destroy me, the Cow of Plenty? My horns are of gold. On their tips 1 wear diamonds. If yon bite off those pieces of gold and diamond, you can sell them goldsmith. Then with the money you will be able to buy many cows. That will give you something to eat for many days.” “That is a good idea.” chimed in the striped beast. “Besides,” continued Golden Horn. “th€> King will have my burns capped again with gold.” “Capital idea.” shouted the tiger with joy. “Then again I will take the gold from your horns and buy some more cows to eat. Thus you will be mine own Cow of Plenty. What a name’. Cow of Plenty!” “If that pleases you.” said Golden Horn. “Now.” said the tiger, “how can I get the gold off your horns?” “That is easy. Come forward. T will lower my head. Then bite off the tips with your teeth while I hold my head steady. Do be kind enough not to wrench my horns too hard, won t you?” she begged. “Of course—anything to oblige such a good cow.” Saying that. Mr. Tiger advanoed at her lowered head. . . . Though ho was bewildered by tlie strangeness of all this and his heart was full of strange fears, yet he moved on very slowly. Step fcy step, he cam*-* on. The earth seemed to tremble under his weight. At last he stopped. , * seemed to Golden Horn that an hour passed before he opened his mouth and closed his teeth slowly on the tip of one of her horns. That instant she bellowed three times like three thunder claps, deafening his ears and almost freezing his muscles. At the same moment a sharp something pierced the roof of his mouth and his brain. From below something struck his side and knocked him over. Howl- | ing, he rolled on the ground once or twice. Tie was so hurt and frightened that he did not dare rise to his feet. Instead he slunk away out of the sight of the two cows as if he were they, and they were two tigers. ... Seeing that they had not only saved themselves but also taught that tiger the lesson of his life, mother and son walked briskly toward the stable of the king. “What an escape!” they exclaimed every few yards that they covered. And both Golden Horn and Jewel Horn knew that it was not by force that they had won. The next day after they had been bathed and fed. Jewel Horn said. “Mother, you are right. Horns alone cannot protect a cow. It must use its brains.” Golden Horn answered. “Even our ! brains are not good enough unless our i hearts are calm. You must try to | sharpen your wits. But above ail be ; calm. If you are calm nothing can j Frighten you. And he who is not ; frightened can beat tigers or any other j animal. Our fear kills us before we are j killed by .an enemy. He who is with - I out fear has no enemy.”