THE STORY OF ICHALKARANJI
Palkar, of Moro Pant Pingle and Baji Deshpande, and hence it is not surprising that they quickly stirred the ambition of the young Naro Pant, now known more familiarly as Narayan. When he was not listening to the exploits of the famous quartette who had done so much to help Shivaji, Narayan was either thinking of them or training himself to emulate them.
One day he requested a syce to let him mount a spirited horse. The syce hesitated, but his caution was transformed into enthusiasm by the earnest entreaties of the fearless boy. Although he had never ridden a horse before, he held the animal well in hand and made his first ride a triumph of horsemanship which was witnessed, unknown to the boy but fortunately for him, by Santaji who had been passing by and who had stopped to witness the unusual self-imposed lesson in riding. His expert eye saw with satisfaction the cleverness and enthusiasm shown by Narayan in tackling the horse, and tradition adds that he particularly admired the pluck as well as the presence of mind of the intrepid youth, which suggests that his first lesson was in all respects an exciting affair. From this time onwards Santaji took a personal interest in Narayan, and himself made arrangements for the boy to obtain all the advantages of the civil and military education which was available in those days. Narayan proved to be very intelligent. and quickly became expert in the three R's in general and in accountancy in partic-
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