by Carly Smesh
Has they walked towards his quarters David told him of his progress with them. Inside his lounge Ashar Kahn sat in the rocking chair, Hanga appeared "would the Horse Master like some refreshment" he asked. Ashar Kahn looked at the decanter sat on the sideboard, one of Hangar's acquisitions.
Is that whisky wine he asked?
David poured out a good measure for him and a smaller one for himself.
"His Majesty has shown me the medicinal benefits of whisky wine" he murmured taking a drink.
He then began to explain that they had delayed coming out until the fifty saddles were complete, adding that it was now ready. He also had a message from his Majesty to say the package from England was now on its way and arrangements made to receive it. They began to talk about the progress of the Fort and David mentioned his concern regarding the water supply.
"In the city we have wells that are powered by windmills, once the flow has started it continues until it is stopped by a handle Colonel Sahib."
He went on to say he would arrange for men responsible for making these to come out to the fort.
"Tomorrow we will let the horses choose their riders then I must return to the city, my sons will stay to help.
Later he watched has details unloaded the wagons under the supervision of an old Havildar who had been made Quartermaster for the Company. Havildar Turin distributed the saddles and tack to the men in his command, there were also Lovet green saddle blankets edged with gold piping.
Taraq brought his saddle tack and blanket to him, along with a jar of saddle soap.
The saddle was beautifully made in black leather with all the additions he had asked for. The rifle holster had straps to adjust the fit and was lined inside with a thick green material.
Ashar Kahn had advised him to place the saddle between the stalls of Kahn and Sulkie to let them get use to the sight of it, also to saddle his horse were they could see him doing it. He said his sons would be showing the Gurkhas how to care and lookout for diseases in the animal.
"But you will need a blacksmith to shoe them. I have in mind", he said "the eldest son off the royal blacksmith. He is not only skilled in shoeing but also versed in the art of treating ailments in the animals. I am sure he would agree to work here at the fort if accommodation for him and his young wife could be found".
David had agreed at once and said he would leave the matter of pay to the Horse Master to agree with him.
That night he stood behind David has he gave them their evening apples caressing their necks has he spoke to them in their stalls.
"Colonel Sahib you will soon begin to accustom Sulkie to the saddle" he murmured.
The next morning he followed Havildar Turpin's unit out to the Paddock each man carried either half an apple or a carrot. Ashar Kahn and his sons walked with them.
At the paddock Ashar Kahn addressed them.
"You will need to spread out on the opposite end from the horses. Make no sudden moves but whisper to them has if addressing a child. When a horse accepts your offering it means it has chosen you. Stroke it and talk soothingly to it, and then lead it with its halter out of the paddock.
The men filed into the paddock, the horses moved to the end away from them. The men spread out in a line and offered up their piece of food talking to them. Nothing happened for several minutes, and then a mare broke from the herd and walked slowly over to a Gurkha and took the offering standing patently chewing has the Gurkha made a fuss of her, before leading her out of the paddock. Soon others followed David noticed a black stallion selected Havildar Turin.
Hanga had his horse waiting by the horse stalls when he returned, Kahn and Sulkie's heads looking at him has he removed the saddle from the post dividing them. Sulkie whinnied thinking he was about to give her an apple. But they both watched has he saddled the docile mare he rode, before he gave them their morning apples.
Kahn snorted has he mounted and rode over to where Ashar Kahn now mounted waited. They rode out of the gate together.
The Prince was already seated waiting for them when they were shown in to the usual room that they had their meeting in.
After the customary greetings David began his report. The Prince listened nodding his head when David mentioned about the blacksmith and windmill and that the Horse Master would organise that. Ending by saying he was concerned about communication stating how long it would take riding to deliver a message.
The Prince said he would look into the matter. "And now my news" the Prince murmured "the next package from England is due to land, in the next week, a further package three weeks later. I have written to Mr Henry Cartwright ordering a further 150 rifles and halve million rounds of ammunition, I think it only prudent to stock up with ammunition, because it could well be supplies of cordite will soon become scarce if the British War Department has its way.
The meeting came to a close with David saying he was returning to the Fort that day.
Ashar Kahn said he would have a fresh horse awaiting him.
Before leaving the city he visited the leather shop Havildar Turpin had mentioned regarding the cartridge belt. The merchant produced the one he had made. David slipped it over his shoulder and immediately the merchant said "the Sahib has it on the wrong shoulder". David realised he'd put it over his right shoulder due to his left-handedness. He explained why, and the merchant said he could rectify it in a few minutes.
While he waited he tried on some riding boots finding a pair that had soft black leather uppers but with a stout sole's and heels. When he returned with the modified belt David tried it on again and found he could flick the lid of the case quite easily and close it using the brass stud that held the lid. Satisfied he told the merchant to make 150 of them but to deliver the first 51 he made to the fort where he would be paid, also to add the cost of the boots and have another pair just like them made.
The bay stallion that Ashar Kahn had left for him, was big and strong and eat up the miles back to the fort, but the sun had set before he passed through the gates.
He warned Havildar Major Para that the next consignment of weapons and ammunition were due in roughly ten days' time knowing he would take care of it the next day. He also mentioned about quarters for the blacksmith and his wife and that someone was coming out from the city to sort something out for the well.
Para made a note in his book and said it would be attended too.
He made a point of seeking Patar and asked him how the horses would react to gunfire.
He said they might try to bolt, to overcome this he suggested that he take the unit out to the rifle range whilst it was being used.
He would keep them lined up some distance away and gradually over time bring them closer. Once the horses were accustomed to that, the men should try firing their rifles whilst on horseback.
David had a detail off new men sent out to the range using the Martini Henrys.
Later he brought the stallion he had rode, out to the paddock in which Kahn and Sulkie where in.
First of all in walked around mounted in the inside of the paddock, the two horses backed in a corner watching, then he dismounted and unsaddled. He waited a few minutes then re-saddled mounted a walked around again, he repeated this half a dozen times before Kahn and Sulkie lost interest and looked else were.
After his meal that night he went out to the stables with the apples and saw Kahn and Sulkie smelling his saddle. They recognised him when he was still twenty feet away, their ears going forward and whinnying. Now when he produced an apple Kahn normally won, being the more aggressive, but after they had eaten them, Sulkie would put her head over his shoulder has he stroked her neck whispering to her.
Havildar Turin reported to him the next morning has summoned before joining his unit. David had a request of him. He told him the next fifty rifles were due soon and he needed to start considering who would make up the next unit. He had his own idea of who should lead it, but respected Turpin's judgment.
Turpin said he would give it some
thought and report back to him.
He watched has the men lead their horses from the horse line out onto the parade ground before mounting and Taraq and Petra lead them out of the Fort.
He crossed to where Havildar Major Para was overseeing a group emptying out a room built into the wall at the bottom end of the Fort, when he saw David he saluted "For the blacksmith Colonel Sahib" David smiled and told him he would be at the paddocks if required.
He carried his saddle and the blanket has he led them to the small paddock. Once inside he gave them an apple and caressed each of them in turn talking to them in a calm voice.
He started with the blanket with Sulkie.
Placing it on her back while talking to her. She swung her head around to see what it was, but remained calm, he took her halter and led her around the paddock twice, and then stood in front of her stroking her head while she muzzled his face.
Next he gently placed the saddle on her back, she took half a step sideways and he felt a slight tremble in her body.
He went to her head again soothing her "It's all right darling I won't let anything hurt you" he whispered in her ears. He stood like that caressing her while talking to her for over ten minutes, until she has settled down.
Finally he fastened the girth strap, but not too tightly, she had her head turned to watch him but he kept his face turned to her talking gently while he did it.
He stood away and watched he reactions she swung her head from side to side has if to see what was on her back, when he called to her she trotted over to him and took the apple he offered.
Kahn in the other paddock snorted at not getting one. He left the saddle on her all that day, only removing it when they returned to the stable in the evening.
The next morning he saddled Sulkie outside her stall while Kahn watched, she made no fuss has he did so, happily chewing her apple. He led them round to the paddocks putting them in their separate ones carrying the rest of the tack.
He stood in front of her talking softly to her has he removed the rope halter she had come from the city in. Then slowly lowered the leather bridal over her head. She didn't fight the bit when he put it in her mouth merely shook her head a few times has he adjusted the straps, once he was satisfied he stepped back to see her reaction. She trotted around the paddock and shook her head a few times but apart from that was quite happy. He left them and returned to the Fort, deciding to return later to fit the remaining tack.
He saw a detail mucking out the horse lines, wheel barrowing the soiled straw out to the rear off the Fort. He remembered, Hanga had said the cooks were starting a vegetable garden with the horse manure.
Back in his office he watched has Havildar Turin's detail rode in. they unsaddled, then rubbed their mounts down with straw, then watered and fed them, before going for their meal.
He was in his office going over the muster book when Havildar Turin reported to him.
"Colonel Sahib I have been giving your question a great deal of thought. And it is my opinion that Naik Sultar would be the best to lead the next section. But, has you allowed me, he should suggest the men he would have to command"
After thanking him and dismissing him, David sat back in his chair.
Naik Sultar he knew from the records was twenty-six years old, quite young for his rank. He had joined the Princes Army has a seventeen year old recruit straight from Nepal. The fact that Havildar Major Para had promoted him over older men spoke highly of his capabilities.
He checked the range scores book; he was in the top ten for marksmanship.
He called out to the guard outside his door and asked him to finds Naik Sultar.
Most of the recruits who had served in the British Army could speak English to varying degrees, and had been teaching those who couldn't. Naik Sultar was one such who had, had to learn.
The guard announced the he was outside and David told him to enter.
Naik Sultar came to a halt and gave a sharp salute, David answered it and told him to stand easy.
He began to explain that another fifty-man unit like Tiger unit was to be formed, and he had been selected to lead it. David saw his eyes gleam at this. He went on to say that Sultar would need two Naik's, and four, Lance Naik's for the unit. What he required was a list of those Sultar would wish to be in it from the men available in the Fort. You are free to suggest any one for the ranks of Naik or Lance Naik, you are promoted to the rank off Havildar off has this moment.
David added that there was no immediate rush for the list, but he would like to have it in ten days' time. Adding this unit would be called Cobra Company.
After he had gone David realised that he would soon need the next string of horses for the new unit, and made a note to himself to speak to Taraq about it.
Has he left to return to the paddock he noticed a large wagon drawn by two mules down at the end of the fort, a detail under the Havildar Major were helping to unload it.
The blacksmith had arrived.
He had no problems fixing the reins to Sulkie, although she thought she was going to get an apple "sorry darling but you must wait until this evening" he murmured patting her neck. He tied the reins to the pommel of the saddle.
He sat on the top rail of the paddock to watch her. At one stage she moved over to the dividing rail and put her head over it, Kahn came up to her and sniffed her head. David chuckled just like a woman showing off her new jewellery.
He returned them to the stables earlier that evening; Hanga had mucked out there stalls and laid new straw for them. Kahn watched has he removed the saddle had halter sniffing it when he placed it between their stalls. He spent two hours brushing them until their coats gleamed, and then rewarded them with their evening apples.
When he turned around he found Taraq watching him with a smile on his face.
"The Colonel Sahib has lovers now" he murmured, "My father will be most pleased."
David asked him if he knew their bloodline.
Taraq said that Kahn was the son of his father's mare Jazal, and his father had been Mogul a stallion that had never been broken, just used for breeding. Sulkie was the daughter off the Prince's own Arab stallion Swift and a daughter off Mogul.
He went on to say that there were over 200 horses in the royal herd and over 600 in the market herd.
When David asked what the market herd was, he was told the horses that were for sale.
It seemed the horses the men had, came from this herd.
David told him that he would need the next batch of horses, has soon has the saddles were ready for them.
Taraq said he would return to the city to find out, and return with the horses if the saddles were ready.
He said the training of accustoming the horses to gunfire was going well and the next stage would to be the riders firing from horseback, adding the men might suffer a few bruises in the process.
After Taraq had left David realised that Kahn and Sulkie would have to undergo the same training.
David had to let Hanga take the horses to the paddock the next morning, has the men for the well had arrived.
They had left their two wagons outside the Fort. He waited has an elderly man dressed in rich clothes walked about the fort with Havildar Major Para accompanying him.
When they returned to his office Para interrupted for him.
It seemed that a river passed beneath the Fort fed by the mountain streams from the snow.
Further it would be no problem to drill a well at the point the man had found it was only he estimated, twenty feet deep.
The spot he had picked was at the lower end of the Fort, down near his own quarters, away from Para's beloved parade square.
He left to let the Havildar Major assembling a detail and to organise the installation.
He found a Lance Naik in charge off a five man detail helping to build a forge for the blacksmith.
Who was a broad muscular man in his mid to late twenties David judged.
The Lance Naik told him he had wor
ked for his father for twenty years learning the trade, but his mother didn't get on well with his wife, has they all livid under the same roof.
The man had bowed his head and smiled at David when introduced and David had shaken his hand.
Discovering his name was Jolah, from the few Kana words he could understand the man was grateful to work for the Colonel Sahib.
He returned to his office going over the inventory from the Quartermaster Havildar, authorising the replacement of uniforms and boots requested.
After he had left David decided it was time to put into motion his plan for the restructuring of the Company.
He called Havildar Major Para into his office and told him to sit down in front of his desk.
He started to explain that the Company was expanding fast, they're being 148 men now in the muster book, and that number would rise to 230.
There would be two Companies off 100 men in each company, and 30 men in administration duties eventually.
He wanted Para to take charge of the Fort's administrative duties with the rank of Subedar Major effective immediately.
He was to select his own team from the men hopefully too old for combat. He went on to say that he needed him to take the weight of administration from his shoulders. To release him to concentrate on the training of the troops, who from now on would have the title of Rifleman.
He would be free to promote those in his section he saw fit.
He watched Para's face, at the news, a mixture of shock, pleasure and pride registered.
He came to attention, saying he would have his recommendations on his desk by the morning, giving a smart salute has he left.
David sat back in his chair and ran his fingers through his hair feeling tired his head aching with the decisions he had made, and the decisions he had yet to make.
The following morning he had Subedar Major Para's list, which he approved.
He sent for Havildar Turin and asked him to assemble his unit by the armoury.