The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-02-04
THE RAJAH'S HORSE.
BY CHARLES c. D. ROBERTS.

BY CHARLES c. D. ROBERTS.
d The Thalia, the American man of war
on which I was midshipman, had, for
some inexplicable reason, put in at Ma
sulipatam, India, and lay there over a
month. Jack Shaler and I got leave to
60 ashore and stay awhile at o sort of
hotel, for the purpose of looking into
native customs, ana so forth. Under the
spell IF superabundance of servants and
salaams we soon realized our great per-
sonal and national importance, and what
is more, we succeeded in making the old
Raiah realize it. Thereupon the Rajah
feaste;l US, and gave us very good time
generally.
The Rajah of Masulipatam has no doubt
many weaknesses, but the only one which
seems to call for present comment was
his weakness for horses. His stables
were magnifcently stocked, and I be-
.leve that his heart had its dwelling
therein. His steed was certainly one of
the finest to be found in all India.
# One morning the Rajah sent two
gofgcously appareled messengers to
invite US to boar hunt, or "pig stick
ing" as the English IN India call it.
Tie messengers, who came on horseback,
were followed By grooms in white turban
and tunic, leading pair of splendid
animals for Jack and me to ride. Need
less to say, we accepted the invitation
thus effectually backed up, and set out
for the palace with the highest kind of
expectations. A boar hunt was just the
experience we wanted. But We didn't
get it, that day.
When we reached the palace gate, to
the evident surprise of our attendants,
there was no hunting party gathered to
receive us. We halted, without dis
mounting, and Immediately one of the
chief officers of the palace appeared. He
almost effaced himself before US as he
explained that there would be no hunt
that day. (Jack and I, you know, are
pretty we'll up in Hindustani, having
been grinding at it all the time we were
on the Indian station.)
y. Presently the dusky apologist informed
: US that, if We pleased, His Highuess would
receive us in the garden, whittier he had
betakea himself to WOO forgetfulness
Of recent serious annoyance. Of course
we went at once to the amiable potentate,
genuinely concerned that he should be in
trouble.
Through massive, wide, but low
arched doorway Of exquisitely cut black
marble, we entered the palace gardens
of Nssulipatam, and looked out upon
dscape which appeared to lis to grow
6ore and more enchanting every time it
met our gaze. The officer, knowing that
we needed no further direction, and that
his master wished to see us alone, with
drew in silence. In secluded portico
. by the canal we found the Rajah await
ing US.
He came forward to meet US. He
was a man of the world, and had
travelled in Europe; and toward foreign
ers he adopted the manners which be-
long to the gentleman everywhere. He
was full of regret at having to disap-
point us, and assured us that the hunt
was only postponed. His face wore q
troubled expression, ,and Jack made dis
Greet and sympathetic inquiry into the
cause of his dis9uietude.
"The fact is" said the Rajah, "my
beloved horse Bahram has gone mad,
hopelessly mad, fear!"
Dol
it2" I cried in CONSERVATION. I love
horses, and I had been consumed with
envious admiration for that beautiful
animal, dark, blood bay Arab, of mar
velous stature.
"Ycs" said the Rajah, "hc was act
ing very strangely yesterday, and his
groom could hardly manage him. This
morning, as he was being led out, and
was almost preparing to mount in spite
of the excitement under which he was
laboring, he suddenly plunged forward
with a horrid yell and seized the groom's
neck between his teeth. He shook the
man just as in England once saw one of
those small dogs they call q terrier shake
q rat. And the man was Immediately
Killed. Notwithstanding my great love
for Bahram, my pity for the unfortunate
groom was so exceedingly great that
was on the point of transfxing the horse
through the body with my boar spear.
But as 1 rushed forward, (my Frightened
attendants, being unarmed, had ran away
precipitately) Bahram dropped his victim,
and seeing the poor wretch was already
dead I thought it unnecessary to slay the
horse, which was so much more valuable,
indeed, than many grooms.
''Iusteed of attacking me, as 7 anti
cipated, the iniuriated, animal
now whirled about, and darted
back into the paddock which sur
rounds the stables. Leaping superbly
into the air, ann uttering wild and
fearful cry (Which I have not the prop
er English to explain to you), he darted
at another of the grooms. But in the
-twinkling of an eye the fellows had all
disappeared within the stables, and had
closed the doors. I beckoned one of my
attendants to shut the gate beside which
was standing. But Bahram was now
returning like lightning, and the coward
" slave was reluctant fo come forward