to recuperate, to Kashmir. He was
enthusiastic about the scenery here, and his tramping and shooting trips
in the bracing climate soon gave back his strength and vim.

It was about this time that he realized his pet ambition of joining the
Horse Artillery. He also set himself with a will to the study of
Hindustani, as he realized that his usefulness in the
Quartermaster-General's office would be vastly increased if he could deal
directly with the natives.

This was a turning point in Roberts' career. It was to be his first
stepping stone upward, and it illustrates the point that even though
Opportunity may knock at the door--one must be ready for her. That
Roberts finally won his larger success was due not so much to his genius
as to his industry. Edison says that genius is made up of two per cent
inspiration and ninety-eight per cent perspiration.

The great Mutiny, in which Roberts and many another British soldier was
to be plunged, had its immediate cause in a strange thing--greased
cartridges! How so insignificant a thing could have started so great a
trouble is one of the strange, true stories of history. There were, of
course, other contributory factors, but this was the match that touched
off the magazine.

At this time England employed a great many native troops. To be exact,
there were about 257,000; while the British regulars numbered only
36,000. The latter were outnumbered seven to one.

The Ordnance Department adopted a new rifle, the Enfield, at this
juncture, and sent a consignment to India. The cartridges for the rifle
were greased, for easy loading, and were to be bitten by the soldiers.
This last act at once set the sepoy soldiers in an uproar. It was
against their religious scruples to touch meat of any kind, and they
heard it stated that the objectionable cartridges were greased with pig's
and cow's fat.

As soon as the commanding officers saw the trouble, they ordered that the
cartridges be withdrawn--but the mischief was done.

The Mutiny which flared up here among the native soldiers spread quickly
from city to city. Runners went from camp to camp, urging that they
throw off the hated British yoke. In some places no written or verbal
message was exchanged. A basket of unleavened cakes was brought in and
broken, by way of prearranged signal.

After the first outbreaks, councils of war were hurriedly held on the
part of the British officers, and field expeditions organized.