A Scion of the Kumpani Bahadur

Hastings Standard, Issue 247, 15 February 1897, Page 4

A Scion of the Kumpani Bahadur

A TALE OF INDIAN SPORT,

[Specially written for the Hastings Standard.J

By F. D'A. C. De Lisle. (All rtf/hts reserved % the author. )

Chapter IX

. " The Sandfly " laughed deprecatingly and, leaving his chief, made his way to his quarters, where he wrote the two following letters and mailed them away at once. " Rawal Pindi, Dec. 4, 18—. | " Lieut. Leslie, 22nd Q.0.H., Fort, Umballa, " Dear Sir, —The 28th B.L. regret exceedingly the impossibility of measuring sticks with yours this season, all dates being unfortunately engaged, j Should you care to meet a private team of players here a line to the undersigned will arrange a match I without delay.—Yours truly, " A. F. B. M. Carr-Jones, " Lieut., 28th 8.L." " Rawal Pindi, Dec. 4th, 18— "My De\r H.oxiton, —As you are stationed at the Fort now, you must be enjoying the society of that very swagger regiment, the 22nd Queen's Own Hussars. Hope you like them. I've heard a little about them from Fraser, of Ours, who was down your way last month. They (the 22nd Q.0.H.) sent Ours a polo challenge, but we did not care to play them, as you must guess. However, if you do meet them, try and make them believe we funked it. And tell them they can make pots of money if they make a match with Carr-Jones' private team. I've a little sensation in store for them if they come up ; and I will promise you something to laugh about for the usual nine days if it comes off. Do your best to bring about the desired result, and you will earn the'everlasting gratitude of yours truly. By-the-way, I hear that Bruce, of Ours, at home on furloguh, has applied for an exchange. His leave is up next month, so he is bound to be out soon. Don't ever mention my name to him. He'll hate you if you do. Try and get the swagger 22nd to make a match with me, there's a good fellow. Best regards to all of yours.—Ever yrs., " A. F. B. M. Carr-Jones, " 28th B.L. " Lieut. J. H. A. Honiton, 37th Dogras, Fort, Umballa. " And within a week " The Sandfly" received the following challenge from the '■ swagger" regiment:— " The 22nd Queen's Own Hussars will play a private polo team organised by Lieutenant Carr-Jones; but can only visit Rawal Pindi upon the condition that no natires shall be included in the team, as the 22nd Queen's Own Hussars have made it a standing rule nenr to play against natives or a native team. A date by return post will oblige. " (Signed) Lieut. Leslie, " 22ud Queen's Own Hussars." " Whew ! That's the first time I've seen the color-line drawn in India. What insufferable snobs. Gad ! I'd back my regiment to cut theirs into mincemeat in action. The 22nd Queen's Own Hussars ! By Jove ! they must think themselves something—l see he has mentioned the regiment in full three times in that small space. Here goes to send them the date in their own style " And "The Sandfly" sat down at his desk, his eyes dancing with fun, and dashed off an answer to the challenge. " Quarters of the 28th Bengal Lancers. " Cantonment, • Rawal Pindi. " Dec, 12th 18—. " A. F. B. M. Carr-Jones, Lieut. 28th Bengal Lancers, will be glad to meet the 22nd Q.0.1L on the ground of the 28th Bengal Lancers on Thursday, 17th inst., at a friendly game of polo. The 28th Bengal Lancers will be playing at Mhow on that date, but the private team organised by Lieut. Carr-Jones, of the 28th Bengal Lancers, will be at liberty to meet the 22nd Q.0.1L No natives played. " (Signed) A. F. B. M. Carr-Jones, " Lieut. " 28th Bengal Lancers." By the following mail " The Sandfly" received an answer from Lieut, lloniton, of the Dogras. " They are frothing to get at you," ho wrote. " I've told them that your first team are the only players in the regiment, and that your lot are the biggest duffers in the army. They are hacking themselves wholesale down here. They must be blind not to see how eagerly the Royal Irish and the Bedford snap them up. The R.I.F. and the Bedford know you from experience, and they seem to ' scent the battle from afar.' I don't think you would have felt flattered, old fellow, if you could have heard their remarks on the native troops. Some idiot in their regiment started the rumor that you were going to play natives. My lords got on their stilts, and, after insulting every man in the native contingent here, tried to cancel their bets. But it Was ' Klli /t / , hi.jtl/i'ill' iNY\. r mini!, my love) with the RiffRaffs and the Cords. Nary a man among them would cancel a bet. So I hope you will play all your noncoms., and give thorn >j< hurrum yitrnoit (particular h—l). Let me have all the khuhhur (news) when the fun is over." " Hang it ! " said Jones, '• why didn't I get this before I answered them. I would have given up my idea, to sec them pasted by some of my troopers. Never mind; they'll l?et a taking down they never had before." And he went to practise harder than over with the Dogras and the Sikhs at Dooli. The 22nd Q.O.H. polo team arrived at Rawal Pindi the day before the match. Each man had -ix ponies, and the captain of the team, Lieut, Leslie, had seven. Such sheafs of

polo sticks, such tons of polo bridles and bits and bandages were never seen at Pindi before. A casual spectator would have imagined that a regiment of polo players had arrived. With lordly mien the 22nd Q.O.H. took possession of their quarters, and scores of servants and syces were diving about in and out of compounds and verandahs arranging the baggage and gear of their masters, while those lords of creation walked down to the clubhouse and left their cards with the duncan (doorkeeper). They had a mess-room of their own by special request, so that the 28th were saved the infliction of their presence that night. But afterwards at the club many wagers were booked that CarrJones' team would beat the 22nd. " The Sandfly" bad widely circulated the report that the swagger English regiment had drawn the color line,and every officer of the native regiment at Pindi was itching to have a few rupees on with the strangers. So they were accommodoted to their heart's content.

On the morning of the match, as " The Sandfly " was standing examining the ponies of the 22nd, the orderly of the day cantered up, and saluting, delivered a letter to him.

" Oh, damn ! " said Jones, after reading the note, " this h absurd. Here's a note from Fruser saying that he can't play because the river's up and he won't be able to get across. It was signalled from Dooli by the helio. By George! that is provoking. I say, Leslie, let us play a native non-com., there is no other white players in our regiment." But the 22nd Q.O.H. were inflexible in their determination not to play against natives, and they said so. " Oh, all right," said Jones, sulkily. " I suppose we shall have to play with three men. Jolly hard, when we stand to lose so much." After tiffin Lieut. Leslie received a note from Lieut. Jones, asking to be allowed to use a native non-com. as his No. 2, Major Concannon, was down with a touch of jungle fever and would not be able to play that day. The 22nd returned a negative answer. They would allow white substitutes, but no natives. At last they were all assembled on the polo ground. The fuss the visitors made was wonderful. Every man who could get leave turned out to see the game, and the awkward attempts of the 22nd Q.O.H. while practising before the match called forth roars of ironical applause from the native troopers looking on. Just before the commencement of the game " The Sandfly" was standing talking to Lieut. Leslie, when an orderly galloped up and delivered a letter. Jones's profanity on reading it appeared pardonable to the visitor, for the letter said that Major PolhillCarew was not going to make an ass of himself by playing with Jones alone against a full team of the 22nd Q.O.H. " Abandon the match and let us payup. There's nothing else for it," said the note.

" Do you still adhere to your determination not to play against a native, Lieut. Leslie '?" asked Jones. And the whole team said " Yes." They would rather cancel all wagers and go home than break their resolution.

" Very well," said Jones, "youshall have a flutter for your money. I'm hanged if I don't play you myself." "Oh, that's nonsense," said one of the lordly 22nd. "We don't want to take any advantage of you, you know, deah boy." "You are not taking any advantage," coolly answered " The Sandfly." " If you are agreeable to play me and my polo ponies, I'll bet each of you a thousand rupees that I score two goals to each one you score. I've played single-handed against your sort before. Is it a wager." After a lot of of hee-hawing and fussing about they were persuaded to play. They had brought up their own umpire and goal judge. " The Sandfly " agreed to those officials with alacrity, and the fun began.

As the ball was thrown in Jones said—

" Now go ahead and score your first goal,' and he drew his pony aside and let the 22nd take the ball down the field. He whistled to his two ponies First Blood and Jingling Johnny, and they charged down the first two players of the 22nd amid a roar from the onlookers that was deafening. Then Jones calmly rode off No. ti, and First Blood was whistled back and he rode off No. 1. Up the field like lightning went Jones, and in three hits the ball was banged through the 22nd Q. 0.11.5' goal, while the whole team were hopelessly bunched up at the other goal. It is not exaggeration to say that some of the liiitir,- onlookers rolled on the ground in paroxysms of laughter. A feeble appeal for off-side was heard from the swagger Hussars, but was given against them. " I'll give you off-side and all in," said Jones, as they assembled for the throw-in, and *• take you 2 to 1 in thousands you don't score to-day."

Done ! " cried the back ; but the others didn't appear at all eager to bet more.

On the throw-in, Jones scored again in two hits ; and on resuming he came with a run at the ball and «ent it through, a clear hundred yards, in one slog. And so the farce went on. In the lirst ten minutes' spell Jones had put up nine goals, and Ins opponents had hardly struck the ball la the second spell eleven goals resulted to Jones. Shall I go for a hundred ?" asked Joiit -• of a grinning liavildur of his regiment. But the noble native begged for pity for those, who would not play against his color. "Ah, »th.i rh.nt ,U, ' eh,l„h ' h r i \ r h.ii"' (Ah! sir—stop! do stop ! There has been sufficient fun!) (T > BE CoXTINTEI'.}