CHAPTER NINETEEN.

"GOOD TASTE FOR A SAVAGE."

Rifle felt obliged in the morning to join cousin and brother in the announcement to the captain, who looked as if he could hardly believe it at first, but ended by walking straight to the paddock, to find the colt looking more distressed than ever; and on a closer inspection there plainly enough, though it had remained unnoticed before, on account of the dry time, were the marks of the nightly gallops on the hard sun-baked soil.

"That explains it all, eh, Jack?" he said to his brother.

"Yes; the black scoundrel! I had noticed for some time past how fond he was of horses."

"Yes," said Norman; "nothing pleased him better than petting them and giving them bits of his damper."

"Very good taste for a savage to appreciate how n.o.ble a beast is the horse, but I'm not going to introduce the said n.o.ble animal for the delectation of black savages."

"But you will not be very hard upon him, father?"

"No," said the captain, tightening his lips, "not very."

"What shall you do?" said Uncle Jack.

"Lay wait for his black lordship to-night, and give him a sound horse-whipping."

Rifle's face twitched a little, and the three boys exchanged glances.

"Better be careful, Ned," said Uncle Jack. "These fellows can be very revengeful."

"I am not afraid. He must have a severe lesson, and as I am his master--Marmi, as he calls me--I shall give it at once."

"But you will not sit up for him alone?" said Uncle Jack.

"Oh no. I shall want you all to help me; and so as to make sure of him, there is to be no riding out to-day. He is, of course, hiding in the scrub somewhere, and I don't want him disturbed."

Rifle looked very hard at Norman, who turned to his father.

"Well, Norman?"

"We all like Shanter, father," he said. "He is not much better than a child in some things."

"Exactly; I know that."

"We want you to let him off, father--forgive him."

The captain looked more stern, and tightened his lips.

"I appreciate your generosity, my boys, but it must not be looked over.

I must punish him. Words will be of no use. I am afraid it must be blows. But look here; I will be as mild as I can. Will that satisfy you?"

"I suppose it must, father," said Rifle, dolefully.

"Yes, my boy, it must; and now look here: not a word to them indoors.

It would only startle mamma and the girls. Your uncle and I will be going to keep watch to-night, and you can slip out of your window as you did last night."

Hence it was that about ten o'clock that night the little party were all crouching by the palings watching, as well as the darkness would allow, and listening for the faintest sound, not a word being uttered for fear the black's abnormally sharp ears should detect their presence, and make him keep away.

Time glided by, till an hour must have pa.s.sed, and then they heard a sharp neigh, followed by the trampling of feet, as if the horses had been startled. Then came the low murmur of a voice, followed by a few light pats as of some one caressing a horse; and, a minute later, in spite of the darkness, Norman made out that his father had pa.s.sed through the rails into the paddock.

Then, just as he was in agony for fear the captain should be ridden over, or some other accident should befall him, he heard the approaching pace of a horse, but only at a walk.

Like the others, he was crouching down, and it seemed to him that his father was doing the same, when, all at once, the faintly-seen figures of man and horse towered up close by them, and what followed was the work of moments.

There was the loud _whisk_ of a hunting-whip, the darting forward of a figure, followed by the plunge of a horse, as it galloped away, drowning the noise of a heavy thud, though the struggle which followed was quite plain.

"Hold still, you dog!" roared the captain. "I have you tight.--Here, Jack, come and help to hold him."

"Baal baal mumkull mine," cried the black, piteously. "Give in then, you scoundrel. Take hold of his hair, Jack. I have him by his loin-cloth."

It was no question of giving in, for the black made no further struggle, but stood up writhing and twisting up his right shoulder, and rubbing it with the back of his left hand pa.s.sed behind him.

"Don't hit him again, father," cried Norman, quickly.

"Silence, sir!--Now you--you black fellow!"

"Baal black fellow," shouted Shanter, indignantly; "baal black fellow."

"How dare you come stealing here in the dark and meddling with my horses?" roared the captain.

"Baal steal a horse fellow, Marmi," cried the black, indignantly.

"Horse fellow all along all lot."

"Sneaking there in the darkness, to ride my poor horses to death."

"Marmi no let Shanter ride when piggi jump up."

"Not let you ride in the day, sir? Of course not. Do you suppose I keep horses for you?"

"Baal plenty mine know."

"You don't understand?"

"Mine want ride horse fellow like white fellow."

"Then you are not going to learn to ride on mine. Now then, I've done with you, sir. Be off and don't show your face here again. Go!"

"Mine want damper, Marmi. Gib big soff damper."

"I'll give you the whip, sir, if you don't go."