Known as a gentle kindly man, Ravi always gave the children a pencil and the women a little cake of sandalwood soap to put in their linen draw. On the night of the Tabulam Cavalry Ball Ravi was in town and some of the local lads thought they would have some fun.

Scotty and Mick always got along well with Ravi and so they invited him to join their group in the supper room while the lads went about their mischief outside.

James was also in the supper room, a young man with and arrogant air about him. James was confident of his social position as the son of a substantial landowner in the district.

As Scotty and Mick poured drinks for Ravi and kidded him along. The atmosphere in the supper room became friendly between most of the revelers but James became more condescending of Ravi.

As the evening drew late it was time for Ravi to go. He shuffled into the swirling mist with a warm inner glow that comes from welcoming company. The music had faded into the night as he climbed up onto the seat of his cart.

Looking at Ravi, just inches away from his face were the soft brown eyes of his horse, fully harnessed backwards into the poles.

James sniggered as he watched Ravi’s surprise and swaggered back into the darkness to his own sulky.

The pony had wandered a little down hill from the others but was still as James climbed up into the seat. A quick flick of the rains brought a sudden jar. James' horse was strapped into the sulky, but on the other side of the fence.