The skittish thoroughbred, who shies at a mere touch of the curb, now receives one “spur” jab after another! He gives a leap, and bucks sideways like a flash of lightning, and the sergeant, who is totally unprepared, reels out of the saddle.
“Madness” has recovered consciousness, and, true to his nature, pays back the horse in his own coin. His disturbed state of mind, rendered still more frantic by the darkness of the saddle-bag, finds the necessary outlet in his claws and teeth.
Meanwhile, Tambourine, riderless and with flapping reins, gallops away to the barracks, where he is captured. He had probably bolted from the sergeant, they thought, while that worthy was swallowing a “corpse-reviver” at an inn!
“Give him a good rub down and afterwards let him have some water!” comes a roar from the office where the “Staff” sits and administers. He has heard the horse thundering round for some time, and now sticks his fat, bald head through the door....
The long-aproned stable orderly bangs his heels together with a “Very good, sir!” gives the hunter a couple of soothing pats on the flanks, and leads him away.
But the orderly nearly had a fit when, unsaddling the horse, he saw a coal-black cat flash out of one of the saddle-bags and leap towards him; he thought it was the evil one himself....
With a furious hiss “Madness” sprang over the man’s shoulder, ran along the side of the manger, and leapt out in the middle of the stable.... He was in a terribly battered state, and felt utterly confused by his new surroundings. The fall from the tree, which was the beginning of his misfortunes, seemed to have spirited him into another world. He hid himself in a corner under some hay, and spat out venomous oaths at all who approached.
When the sergeant returned home he came very near smashing in “Madness’” head with his sword—not unnaturally his feelings towards the cat were the reverse of friendly! But the battery commander, who came in at the moment and heard the story, regarded the black devil as sent from heaven.
Weren’t the old barrack stables simply swarming with rats and mice? It would be a splendid thing to have a cat which was worth its salt!