A TORTOISE SAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1918, Page 4

A TORTOISE SAGE

Egypt, ami somewhere, about 120 in the shade. The “hoys” have a few hours off. In a short time they will he called up to strengthen the attacking line. Every man’s kit and horse are within easy reach. Suddenly one enterprising individual discovers a fine tortoise in the neighbouring sciuh. His shout of “ Eureka !’ causes others to join m the search, and soon halt the troop are in possession of tortoises.

The fun begins. A cirmlai conr-e of about I Oft hi circumference is marlud, a sword it the centre is the starting-post. The “ horses tin largest being about the size of a clenched fist—are placed with their heads to the starting-post and the signal is given for their release. The tortoise which crosses the circumfer ence of the circle is to be the winner.

No greater excitement, was ever seen at Newmarket ! Books are made and each man hacks his own “steed.”

“ They’re off !” shouts one facetious bookmaker. “Three to one bar none.”

Piastres (roughly 2Jd) in a perfect shower are thrown on to the horseblanket, on which the bookmaker sits, and 50-piastre . ( 1 0/J notes change hands.

Rules and regulations are made as the race proceeds. Some claim the right to whip their steeds—that is, prod them with sticks. One excited owner caught, prodding his steed with, his hoot and forcibly propelling it towards the line is unanimously disqualified and tin bookmaker gives back his stakes.

But even here, in the arid desert far from civilisation, the “ daik horse ” appeal’s. Among the troop was a budding Darwin. He had a collection of snakes, lizards, chameleons, driver ants and scorpions preserved in picicle jars by means of petrol and stowed away in a recess on (lie transport limbers. He had for some weeks carried in his nosebag among the emergency horse ration a splendid little specimen of tortoise, awaiting an opportunity to add it to his collection on the limber when the troops were retiring and the transport was accessible.

His “entry” was quietly made, and no one was aware that his nominee had a “ trial ” each time his horse was fed. When the excitement was at its height and the bookmakers were offering long odds on .those still at the post he “ plunged.” He placed a 100-piastre note (£1) in the bookmaker’s hand at 10 to 1. “ Give my horse a prod,” said he to an excited trooper who bad improvised a goad from the discarded key of a bully-beef tin. This was done and the “outsider’ literally “walked over.”