Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-09-24
THE MALTESE CAT
By Rudyard Kipljng.
Copyrighted
Copyrighted

ponies were Shod 10 prevent them Sip
ping on a turn But, besides all these
things, he knew every trick and device
of the finest game in the world, and for
two seasons had been teaching the 9TH
ers all he knew or guessed.
Remember" he said for the hundrcdth
time. as the riders came up, you must
play together, and you must play with
your heads. Whatever happens, follow
the BALL Who goes out f1rst?"
Kittiwynk, Shiraz. Polaris. and short
high little bay fellow with tremendous
hooks and no withers worth speaking of
die was called Corks) were being girthcd
up, and the soldiers In the background
stared with all their eyes.
II want you men to keep quiet" said
Lutyens. the captain OF tho team, land
especially not to blow your pipes"
Not II we win. Captain Sahib?" asked
the piper.
III We win you can do as you please.
said Lutyens. with a smile, as he slipped
the loop of his stick over his wrist, and
wheeled TO canter to his place The Arch
| angels ponies were a little bit above
themselves on account of the many col
ored crowd so close to the ground. Their
riders were excellent players, but they
were team of crack players instead of
a crack team; and that made all the diff
! ference in the world. They honestly
| meant to play together. but It is very
hard for four men, each the best of the
team he is picked from, to remember
that In polo no brilliancy in hitting or
riding makes up for playing alone. Their
captain shouted his orders to them by
name, and ii Is a curious thing that if
/ YOU call his name aloud in public after
an Englishman you make him hot and
frctty. Lutyens said nothing to his men,
, because u had already been said before.
He pulled up Sh!raz, for he was play
ing back" to guard the goal. Powell on
/ polaris was helf-haCk and Macnamara
and Hughes on Corks and Kittiwynk
wero forwards. The tough. bamboo ball
was set In the middle of the ground. one
hundred and fifty yards from the ends.
and Hughes crossed sticks. heads up,
with the captain of the Archangels. who
saw fit to play forward: that is a place
from which you cannot easily control
your team The little click as the cane
shafts met was heard all over the
ground and then Hughes made some sort
ot quick wrist stroke that Just drlbble1
y
that stroke OF old, and followed as ca,
follows a mouse. While the captain OF
tho Archangels was wrenchng his pony
round Hughes struck with all his
strength and next instant Kittiwynk was
away. Corks following close behind her
their little feet pattering like raindrops
on glass.
Pull out to the left" said Kittiwynl
Corks,"
The back and half-back of the Arch
angels were tearing down on her Just a,
she was within reach of the ball. Hughe.
leaned forward with loose REIN and Gu
away to the left almost under Kitti
wynk's foot. and It hoped and skipped
off to Corks. who saw that. If he was no
quick It would run beyond the boundaries
That long bouncing drive gave the Arch
angels time to wheel and send three mei
across tho ground TO head off Corks. Kit
tiwynk stayed where she was; for sh.
knew the game. Corks was on the bal
half a fraction OF second before tn,
others came up, and Mcnamara, With
backhanded stroke, sent It back acros
the ground TO Hughes. who saw the wa.
clear to the Archangels' goal, an,
smacked the ball in before any on
quite knew what had happened.
That's luck said Corks. as the,
changed ends. "A goal in three minute
for three hits, and no riding to speak of
Don't know" said Polaris "Wev
made 'em angry too soon. Shouldn't won
der II they tried to rush US OF our fee
next time"
Keep the ball hanging. then" sal
Shiraz. THAT wears out every pom
that is not used to it
Next time there was no easy gallopin
across the ground. All the Archangel
!, closed up as one man. but there the
stayed for Corks, Kittiwynk and Pola ri
0 were somewhere on the top of the bal
marking time among the rafting stick.
= while Shraz crcled about outside. wal,
. ing for a chance
. I'VE can do this all day" said Polari.
: ramming his quarters into the side {
S another pony. Where do you thin
y you're showing to7"
"Ill-Ill be driven In an ekka n
/, know" was the gasping reply, "and I
j. give a weeks feed to yet my bllnkers of
g ! cant see anything"
e 1.-THE dust Is rather bad Whew. Thf
& was one for my of-hock. Where's II
h ball. Corks?"
g Under my tail At least the man
q looking for 1t there. This is beautifu
j. They can't use their sticks and it's dri,
- Ing 'cm wild. Give old Bliukers a pus
l. and then he'll go over
n Here, don't touch mo- can't sc
: Ill-I'll back out, I think" said the por
e in bllnkers. who knew that if you can
II see all round your head, You cannot pro
l. yourself against the shock
l. Corks was watching the hall where
8. lay In the dust, close to his near for
10 leg with Macnamara's shortened stic
It WINK was edging her way out of Il
It scrmmage. whisklng her stump of
id tail with nervous excitement
n "Ho They've got It," she snorte
IN Let me out" and she galoped like
* rife bullet Just behind a tail lanky POI
In Of the Archangels, whose rider W
lie swinging his stick for stroke
lie Not to-day, thank you, said Hughc
nt as the blow slid OF his raised stick, al
AZ Kittiwynk laid her shoulder to the tt
pony's quarters. and showed him asi
Sc Just as Lutyens on Shiraz sent the bi
X where It had come from. and the Il
TO pony went skating and slipping away
or the left. Klttiwynk. seeing that Pola
IS. had Joined Corks In the chase for I
re ball up the ground, dropped into Polar
place. and then time was called
Ike Tho Skidars' ponies wasted no time
'ir kicking or Tuning, They knew II
T.