It was a delightful change, for the country was grand, the English
society pleasant and hospitable, and the chief of the district most
eager to be on friendly terms with the officers of our troop, and of the
foot regiment stationed in the lower part of the town, so that the
months soon glided by, and whenever any of us could be spared from duty,
we were off on some expedition.
Brace cared little for sport, but he used to join the shooting-parties
got up by the nawab; and gloriously exciting beats we had through the
jungle; those when Brace was my companion being far more enjoyable than
when Barton had leave. For the latter's sole idea was to slay
everything; while Brace, who was a dead shot, and who laid low several
tigers during our stay, always seemed to be fonder of studying the
habits of the birds and smaller animals that we came across. As for
myself, I believe I shared to some extent the tastes of both; but to me
the whole expedition, with its elephant-ride and train of picturesque
servants, and the tiffin in the tent set up by the nawab's people, was
the great attraction.
It was a merry life we all led, with some festivity always on the way,
from hunting-parties down to lunches at the different civilians', and
then up again to dinner-parties and balls, given by the mess of the
artillery, or the sepoy regiment, which had an excellent band.
The officers of this black regiment were as pleasant and sociable a's
could be, and the colonel as fine a specimen of an English country
gentleman as could be found. There was quite an emulation as to which
corps should be the most soldierly and perfect in their evolutions.
The colonel took to me, and we were the best of friends. He told me
why.
"Because of your seat in the saddle, boy. I used to be passionately
fond of hunting at home, and my heart warmed to you the first day I
watched you in a gallop. However did you learn to ride like that?"
"I suppose it came almost naturally to me," I said, laughing. "My
father always insisted upon my having a pony, and spending several hours
a day in the saddle."
"Your father was a wise man, sir; and you ride capitally."
"Our riding-master said my seat was everything that was bad."
"Bah! He is a mechanic, and wants every man to ride like a pair of
compasses slung across a rail. Don't you spoil your seat to please any
of them. I like to see a man sit a horse as if he belonged to it. Then
he can use his sword."
How proud he was of his regiment. "Look at them," he would say; "only
that they are a little curved in the upper leg, they are as fine a set
of men as you will find in any English regiment; and if it was not for
their black faces, they would pass for Guards."
He was very kind to them, and set a splendid example to his officers,
but, unfortunately, they did not follow his example. In fact, the whole
of the English people at the station treated the black race as if they
were inferior beings; and though every one in Rajgunge was humble and
servile to the whites, it always seemed to me as if they were civil only
because they were obliged.