FOX-HUNTING AND WARFARE 317 



killed whilst leading a mixed force, composed of 

 Middlesex, Leicester, and Wiltshire Yeomanry 

 against the Boers at Senekal. Major Dalbiac was 

 formerly in the Royal Horse Artillery, and had seen 

 plenty of active service. At Tel-el-Kebir he was 

 wounded so severely that the doctor said he could 

 not possibly recover. Dalbiac at once offered to bet 

 him a "fiver" that he would be out hunting next 

 season, and, as a matter of fact, he returned, fit and 

 well, to duty within six weeks. He was a brave and 

 dashing officer, and withal discreet, and the army 

 can ill afford to lose such a man. His funeral, which 

 took place at Senekal with full military honours, was 

 attended by General Rundle, to whose division he 

 was attached, and the whole staff. The sad news of 

 Major Dalbiac's untimely death was received with 

 keen regret in sporting circles generally, for he was 

 an ardent sportsman, and took a special interest in 

 horse-racing and polo. He was an excellent horse- 

 man and steeplechase rider, winning a rare number 

 of soldiers' races, amongst others the Grand Military 

 Gold Cup at Rugby with his own horse, Cymew. 



The character of James Thomas Brudenell, seventh 

 Earl of Cardigan, has, however, been freely criticised 

 with inconsiderate praise and unmerited censure, both 

 in the annals of sport and in the annals of warfare. 

 He has been called a hero, and he has been called 

 a coward. 



" Which, wherever the word Balaclava is spoken, 

 Shall shed a sad lustre o'er Cardigan's name." 



