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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Athelstane Ford, by Allen Upward
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Athelstane Ford
+
+Author: Allen Upward
+
+Release Date: September 21, 2008 [EBook #26677]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ATHELSTANE FORD ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by D Alexander and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was
+produced from images generously made available by The
+Internet Archive)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Athelstane Ford
+
+ BY
+
+ ALLEN UPWARD
+
+ AUTHOR OF "THE PRINCE OF BALKISTAN," "A CROWN OF STRAW,"
+ "SECRETS OF THE COURTS OF EUROPE," ETC
+
+ London
+ C. ARTHUR PEARSON LIMITED
+ HENRIETTA STREET W.C.
+ 1899
+
+
+
+
+ CONTENTS
+
+
+ CHAP.                                                      PAGE
+
+     I.  COUSIN RUPERT GAINS A RECRUIT                        1
+    II.  THE TAVERN OF THE "THREE-DECKER"                    14
+   III.  THE BEGINNING OF THE RIVALRY                        27
+    IV.  "À LA MORT"                                         41
+     V.  ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP                            55
+    VI.  IN THE POWER OF THE ENEMY                           69
+   VII.  THE SIEGE OF GHERIAH                                83
+  VIII.  IN THE COMPANY'S SERVICE                            96
+    IX.  THE SPY                                            112
+     X.  TAKEN CAPTIVE                                      128
+    XI.  THE BLACK HOLE                                     152
+   XII.  RUPERT IN A NEW LIGHT                              163
+  XIII.  A NIGHT ADVENTURE                                  180
+   XIV.  IN A STRANGE LAND                                  197
+    XV.  THE COMING OF SABAT JUNG                           212
+   XVI.  A BATTLE IN THE DARK                               227
+  XVII.  A MISSION OF DANGER                                244
+ XVIII.  MEER JAFFIER'S OATH                                260
+   XIX.  PLASSY                                             276
+    XX.  RETRIBUTION                                        288
+   XXI.  COLONEL OLIVE'S MESSAGE                            302
+  XXII.  AFTER MANY DAYS                                    312
+
+
+
+
+ATHELSTANE FORD
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+_COUSIN RUPERT GAINS A RECRUIT_
+
+
+It has not happened to many men, as I think, to have fallen into the
+hands of as cruel and bloodthirsty a monster as ever defiled God's
+earth, and to have escaped to tell the tale. Yet it is of this that I
+have come to write; and of all the hardships and perils which I went
+through from the time I fled from my father's house to seek for
+treasure in the East Indies; and of the battles in which I fought; and
+of the madness of love and jealousy which I knew; and of how the man I
+trusted became my enemy, and pursued me with his vengeance; and of the
+treasure which I found in the palace of the Hindoo king; and of how I
+returned at last to my own home.
+
+Nor do I greatly expect that the hearing of these things will be
+effectual to hinder those who come after me from adventuring in their
+turn, for young blood will have its way, like sap in the veins of a
+growing tree. But there are times when I think that if I could have
+looked forward and seen what was to come, and all the dire straits
+through which I was to pass--both among my own countrymen and in those
+distant lands--I might have given a different welcome to my cousin
+Rupert when he came riding into Brandon, on the evening of that day
+which was to be the last of my boyhood.
+
+I had come out of the house before supper was laid, as I often used,
+and had made my way along the edge of the dyke which runs through our
+meadows into the broad, which we call Breydon Water; and there by the
+margin of the broad I stood, while the sun was setting behind me, and
+watched the light flush and fade over the grey spire and high red
+roofs of Yarmouth town. Many a night I had come there to the same spot
+and gazed with wistful eyes at that prospect; for though I was, in a
+manner, familiar with the old town, and had gone in there on market
+days many a time since I was a boy, yet, at this hour, and seen across
+the water in the bright blaze of the sunset, it seemed to be strangely
+removed and glorified--like that city which Christian had a prospect
+of from the Delectable Mountains--and I could never think of it as
+other than an enchanted region, the gate of the great world, where
+the hours throbbed with action, and life was more full and splendid
+than in our lonely grange among the broads; and my heart was fretted
+within me, and day by day the longing grew upon me to break out of the
+narrow limits in which my life was bound, and take my way thither into
+the glamour and the mystery of the world.
+
+Then all at once, as I stood there and gazed, I was aware of the sound
+of a horse's hoofs coming over the wet grass, and turned and saw my
+cousin riding towards me on his black mare and waving his whip to me
+as he came.
+
+I had a great affection for my cousin in those days, mingled with a
+sort of dreadful admiration for the character he bore. He was my elder
+by nearly ten years, and had been, in my eyes, a man ever since I was
+a child, so that I looked up to him with reverence, and thought
+nothing so delightful as to have him come down, bringing the air and
+rumour of the outside world into our quiet homestead. Indeed, he
+seemed to be of a superior order to us, and might almost be reckoned
+as one of the gentry, for his father came of the Gurneys of Lynn, and
+had set up a great brewery of ale there, by which he enriched himself
+past all counting. How such a man had come to marry my aunt I never
+knew, for my father kept silence on the subject, and Rupert himself
+could tell me nothing of his mother, who had died when he was but an
+infant. Nor was there much intercourse between our families, except
+that twice a year, at Lady-day and Christmas, Mr. Gurney would send
+us a barrel of his best brewing; and once a year, on the 1st of
+January--for he would give no countenance to the feasts of the
+Church--my father despatched a pair of fine turkeys to Lynn.
+
+Cousin Rupert always showed a friendship for us, and I believe would
+have given us his company more often but for my father's disapproval
+of his manner of life; for he was already known as a wild companion,
+and one who set little store by religion and respectability. There was
+even a scandalous report that he had been fined by the Aldermen of
+Yarmouth under the new statute made against profane swearing. They had
+fixed his fine, so it was said, at two shillings, being the penalty
+for common persons above the degree of a day labourer; but my cousin
+Rupert, taking out his purse with a great air, demanded to have his
+oath assessed like a gentleman's, and paid down a silver crown upon
+the table.
+
+Since then he had been away beyond seas, nor had I set eyes on him for
+the best part of three years. It was thought that he had been taking
+some part in the wars which then raged all over Europe; and difficult
+enough it was to understand what they were all about, and whom we were
+fighting; for at one time we were on the side of the great Empress
+Maria Theresa, and against the young King of Prussia, who was dubbed
+an infidel; and then later on we were fighting against the Empress--it
+is true she was a Papist--and King Frederic was in all men's mouths
+as the Protestant hero: I remember myself seeing his portrait painted
+up on the sign-board of the inn at Blundell. However, we were always
+against the French, whatever happened.
+
+But, as it turned out, all this had no concern with my cousin. I
+cannot tell how glad I was to see him back again, and I think he was
+not ill-pleased at seeing me.
+
+"Hallo, is that young Athelstane!" he called out as soon as he was
+near enough. "Come on with me, cousin, and help me to put up my horse.
+I have ridden out from Yarmouth, and I mean to sleep here to-night."
+
+He sounded his words in the mincing, London fashion, which was then
+beginning to spread among the better class in Norfolk; but I cannot
+imitate his speech, and so write it down as if it were plain English.
+
+Quick as my feet could carry me I ran forward in front of the horse,
+and was there with the gate of the yard open before my cousin came up.
+
+My father turned out of doors at the clatter, and looked not over
+pleased when he caught sight of Rupert's dark face. However, he was a
+man who would never shut the door against his own blood, and he gave
+him some sort of a friendly greeting.
+
+"Well, Nephew Rupert, how long have you been back in England?" he
+asked him, as soon as the horse had been taken in and given its feed.
+
+"It is scarce a month since I landed," my cousin answered; "but being
+in Yarmouth, and you so near, I could not forbear riding over to spend
+a night with you."
+
+By this time we were come into the house, and my mother was in the
+hall to welcome him, which she did with great kindness; for though he
+was not of her kin, I believe she loved him better than my father did.
+But that is saying little, for who was there about her that she did
+not love? Even those who held aloof from my father as a stubborn
+Independent had a kindness for my mother, who seemed to understand
+nought of differences in religion, except between Christian and
+heathen.
+
+My father was of a different stamp. It was his boast that he was
+related to the family of the famous John Bradshaw, the judge who
+pronounced sentence on King Charles I, and whose house stands on
+Yarmouth quay to this day. My father has many a time pointed it out to
+me, and told me of the secret conclave held there of the Independent
+leaders, when it was resolved to bring the unfortunate king to the
+block. I have often thought that it was well for us that my father was
+a freeholder, owning the fee simple of Brandon Farm; for the gentry
+around were now all become staunch Churchmen, though loyal to King
+George II, and showing no favour to the young Pretender in his late
+desperate rebellion. Of that, however, I remember little, being scarce
+twelve years old when it occurred.
+
+With the Rector of Brandon parish we held scant intercourse, except at
+tithing time, when my father always received him with grim civility
+and bade him take what the law gave him, since title from the Gospel
+he had none. Our only friend in the neighbourhood was one Abner
+Thurstan, a farmer who lived over the border in Blundell parish; but
+as he was an Anabaptist--or Baptist as they were then beginning to
+call themselves--and my father had a great contempt and dislike for
+the visionary ideas of that sect, even he came but seldom to our
+house. His daughter Patience was a great favourite with my mother; and
+for that matter I did not dislike the child, and would oftentimes
+pluck her an apple from our trees or cut a whistle for her out of a
+twig of elder wood.
+
+The man whom my father most held in esteem was Mr. Peter Walpole, a
+wool factor of Norwich, and a very religious man. He had a great gift
+in the expounding of Scripture and in prayer, and it was his custom
+once in every month to ride over to our house from Norwich of a
+Saturday and hold a service on the next day for such as chose to come.
+This was before the Methodists had arisen in our parts, and there was
+no other means of hearing the Gospel in country places, the Church
+clergy being for the most part men of the world.
+
+Lest I seem to be wandering from my story, let me say here that my
+father had been in treaty with this Mr. Peter Walpole concerning my
+apprenticeship to him in Norwich. After moping a long time at the
+dullness of my life in Brandon I had plucked up courage to tell my
+father that I would fain be abroad. He heard me less unkindly than I
+had feared, and contrived this plan for settling me away from home for
+a few years, after which, he was pleased to say, I might have sense
+enough to wish to come back. Good Mr. Walpole came into the scheme
+very readily, and I believe it was only a matter of fifty pounds
+between them before the thing could be carried out; but each held
+firmly to his own view of the bargain, and though there was the same
+friendship between them as ever, and Mr. Walpole prayed over the
+business in our house, they could by no means come to terms.
+
+Things stood at this pass, and I was sorely impatient with it all,
+when, as I have said, my cousin Rupert arrived, and, for good or evil,
+gave my life a far different turn.
+
+As soon as my father had seen to it that the cloth was laid for four,
+and sent down the maid with orders to fill a jug from the barrel on
+the right-hand side of the cellar door, he turned to Rupert.
+
+"You shall taste your father's brewing," he said. "I trust all is well
+with him?"
+
+"I have no doubt it is, and I am much obliged to you, sir," answered
+he carelessly. "To tell you the truth, I have not yet found my way to
+Lynn."
+
+"What, nephew! Have you come here before paying your respects to your
+own father?"
+
+"I am afraid it is even so; and I will not pay you so poor a
+compliment as to remark that Brandon Grange lies forty miles nearer to
+Yarmouth than King's Lynn."
+
+"Fie, young man, I am ashamed to hear you! I doubt whether I ought to
+have let you cross my threshold if I had known of this. Jessica," he
+added, turning to my mother, "here is a youth who comes to pay you a
+visit before he has so much as set eyes on Lynn brewery, after three
+years!"
+
+And thrice during the evening he returned to the same subject, each
+time rating master Rupert soundly for his filial neglect, and pointing
+out the many advantages which his father's rich house at Lynn had over
+what it pleased him to call the homely grange of Brandon.
+
+He questioned Rupert while we supped concerning his adventures, and
+what quarter of the world he had been in. But as to this my cousin
+maintained a singular reserve, merely stating that he had spent most
+of the time on a voyage round the Cape of Good Hope to the factories
+of the great East India Company, of Leadenhall Street in the City of
+London.
+
+All this time I listened, saying nothing, for it was not my father's
+custom to permit me to speak in his presence, unless I was first
+questioned. I cared for this the less because I knew that as soon as
+we were upstairs together my cousin would unburden himself to me
+freely. And already I scented some mystery under his guarded speech,
+which made me impatient for the time when we should be alone. I
+listened with an ill grace to the chapter which my father read to the
+household after supper, and it seemed to me that he had never prayed
+at such length and to so little purpose. I thought it especially
+needless that he should petition, for the space of full five minutes,
+for the fruitfulness of our flocks, for by this time the ewes had all
+dropped their lambs, and not one of them was a weakling.
+
+Nevertheless it was over at last, and I quickly lighted the candle and
+conducted my cousin upstairs. He was always my bedfellow on the
+occasions of his visits to Brandon, and never spared to keep me awake
+as long as it pleased him to talk to me.
+
+As soon as we were snugly settled in bed, Rupert, as I had expected,
+laid aside his reserve.
+
+"Now, Cousin Athelstane, what do you suppose it is that has brought me
+here?"
+
+I could only shake my head in sign of pure ignorance.
+
+"I will tell you. I have come here to offer you a berth on board my
+ship, the _Fair Maid_, now lying in Yarmouth river."
+
+My breath was fairly taken away by this announcement. All the dreams I
+had cherished for so long seemed suddenly to have put on substance,
+and what was yesterday a thousand miles away had come at one word
+within my reach. Yet I could only stammer out--
+
+"The _Fair Maid_? Is that the ship in which you went to the East
+Indies? And is she bound thither again?"
+
+Rupert nodded his head.
+
+"She sails as soon as ever she can be fitted out, and we are shipping
+the bravest fellows in all Norfolk for our crew. A word in your ear,
+cousin: we sail with letters of marque against the Frenchmen, and it
+will go hard if you or I come back with less than a thousand pounds to
+our share."
+
+"What! Is the _Fair Maid_ a privateer?"
+
+I spoke in some dismay, for in those days privateers bore a bad name.
+They were commissioned only to prey upon the commerce of such
+countries as we were at war with, but it was currently believed that
+they did not always look too closely at the flag of a vessel which
+fell in their way, and that if peace was proclaimed while they were
+abroad on a cruise they took care not to hear of it till such time as
+suited their convenience. Among good men, therefore, they were
+esteemed little better than pirates, and I could understand why my
+cousin had been so chary in speaking about his voyage to my father.
+
+"You needn't look so scared, youngster," he said, noting my behaviour.
+"Our commission was signed by his Majesty King George himself; and
+even the Frenchmen we took had nothing to complain of beyond the loss
+of their property, and occasionally their lives when we found that
+necessary to our own safety."
+
+I felt my flesh creep, and yet the fascination of it was stronger than
+the dread.
+
+"You mean you killed them?" I asked, gazing into his face as if I had
+never seen it before.
+
+"We had to, sometimes, lest they should tell tales against us. Off
+Mauritius we were chased more than once by a sloop of war, and it
+would have gone hard with us if we had been captured. The French there
+have got a devil of a governor, La Bourdonnais, and he has vessels
+perpetually prowling up and down in those seas, and as far as
+Pondicherry and Chandernagore. But what do you say, cousin? Are you
+man enough to join us? You have the right stuff in you, I warrant--all
+the Fords have. Our great-grandfather fought at Naseby, and though he
+was a scurvy Roundhead, I'll swear he gave a good account of himself."
+
+I hesitated, my whole heart on fire to accept, and yet held back by a
+subtle distrust for which I could in no way account.
+
+"Come, boy, you have only to slip away to-morrow night, after I have
+gone, and join me privately in Yarmouth, at the sign of the
+'Three-decker.' I will tell my worthy uncle in the morning that I am
+on my way to East Dereham and Lynn, so it will be long enough before
+they suspect where you are gone. And by the time the hue and cry
+reaches Yarmouth you shall be safely stowed in the hold of the _Fair
+Maid_, or maybe in a snug attic of the tavern, where only a bird could
+find you out."
+
+I made little more ado, but gave my consent, whereupon my cousin,
+reaching down to the pocket of his breeches which he had cast on the
+foot of the bed, drew out a golden guinea, which he pressed into my
+hand.
+
+"Here is handsel for your engagement," he said. And that settled, he
+turned over and betook himself to sleep, leaving me to get out of bed
+and extinguish the light.
+
+But I could not sleep so easily, and lay there tossing and turning far
+into the night, while I speculated on the new life that lay before me
+and all the great deeds I would do.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+_THE TAVERN OF THE "THREE-DECKER"_
+
+
+Early in the morning after breakfast Cousin Rupert left us, giving
+out, as he had promised, that he was on the way to see his father at
+Lynn. And as he told me afterwards, he kept his horse on that road
+till he had passed through the village, when he turned, and skirting
+the river as far as Raynham ferry, crossed it there, and so rode into
+Yarmouth.
+
+All that day I went about with a strange lightness in my breast,
+so that I could scarce keep from laughing out. And when my father
+admonished me, pretty roughly, for not having mended the fence of the
+fowl walk to his liking, I minded it no more than if it had been old
+Sugden the rat-catcher. Once or twice during the dinner I caught my
+mother looking at me with a certain apprehension, as if she observed
+somewhat unusual in my behaviour. I fancy she thought I might be
+sickening for the ague, which was very rife in those parts. My mother
+was a great physician, and always kept ready a store of the Jesuits'
+bark--the only good thing, my father was accustomed to say, that had
+ever come out of Rome.
+
+In the afternoon I walked into Blundell to bid a sort of farewell to
+little Patience Thurstan. I found her set on a stool in the porch,
+threading beads, for she was but a child; and to see her jump up when
+I drew nigh, and run to meet me, was a pleasant sight to carry away in
+my memory through the stormy days which were to follow.
+
+Knowing her to be faithful, from her behaviour in many a childish
+confidence we had had together, I made no scruple to tell her I was
+leaving Brandon; though I forbore to say whither I was bound, lest
+they should torment the girl with questions afterwards. And I knew
+that Patience would not tell a lie, and deny the knowledge if she
+possessed it. But I half repented what I had done when the poor little
+thing fell a-crying, and besought me not to go away. I had nothing
+else to bestow upon her, so I was forced to give her my cousin
+Rupert's guinea for a keepsake, telling her to buy a doll or a ribbon
+with it next time she went into Norwich fair.
+
+With that I came away, beginning for the first time to feel how
+serious was the step I contemplated. But I had given my word, and I
+could not now draw back even if I had felt inclined.
+
+The chapter my father read to us that night, I remember well, was out
+of the book of Ezekiel, in which the prophet dealt with the city of
+Tyrus, and denounced the judgments of the Lord on her pride and
+luxury, on her ships of fir and cedar with sails of purple embroidery,
+on her mariners and men of war, on her merchandise of silver and
+brass, of horses and mules, of ebony and precious stones, and of honey
+and oil and wine and spices and white wool. And the words sounded in
+my ear like a denunciation of the places I had chosen to go among; and
+I was glad when it was all over; and I went upstairs to my bedroom,
+hearing my father shoot the great bolts of the house door for the last
+time.
+
+I made shift to take off my coat and shoes, and got into the bed, lest
+my mother should come in to bid me good-night, as she sometimes did.
+And well it was that I had thought of this, for in her anxiety about
+me she followed me up soon after with a dose of the Jesuits' bark,
+which she compelled me to swallow, though sorely against my will. Then
+she sat down by the bedside for the space of, I daresay, fifteen
+minutes, or longer as it seemed to me then, and fell to stroking my
+hair, which I wore without a queue, my father setting his face against
+that French fashion.
+
+I fidgetted so much that at length my mother perceived that I would be
+alone. I heard her draw a sigh as she rose to go away, and then,
+tucking the bedclothes round me with great care, she gave me a kiss
+and left me.
+
+I waited as long as I could contain my impatience, for my parents to
+fall asleep. Then I arose softly, without rekindling the light, which
+my mother had blown out, completed my dress, and filled a small
+knapsack with such few things as I had immediate need for. I
+remembered also to put in my pocket a bright guinea which good Mr.
+Walpole had presented me with in my twelfth year as a reward for
+having repeated the 119th Psalm, and which my father had strictly
+forbidden me to spend.
+
+Thus provided, I opened the door of my bedroom and crept out, carrying
+my shoes in my hand. I crossed the landing, treading like a thief, to
+the door of the room where my parents slept, and laid my lips against
+the panel that was nearest to my mother's side. And with that I found
+my eyes were smarting, and a lump rose in my throat, so that I turned
+away hastily, and made the best of my way down the stairs, and by
+unbarring the kitchen door, out into the open air. Then I turned my
+back on the house where I was born, and set out to walk through the
+night to Yarmouth.
+
+Lest my father should surmise where I was, I had got ready a feigned
+letter in which I pretended--I am ashamed to say so--that seeing no
+likelihood of Mr. Walpole's receiving me without that extra fifty
+pounds which stuck so in my father's gizzard, I had taken the
+resolution of going up to London to seek my fortune; and I promised to
+send him news as soon as I should arrive there; which promise, as it
+turned out, I had no opportunity of keeping or breaking, for I did not
+set foot in that great city until years had passed, and I had gone
+through the wonderful adventures which were to make a man of me, and
+had come thither as the messenger of the second greatest Englishman,
+as I think, who has lived in my time; aye, and had speech of him who
+was the greatest of all. But of this hereafter.
+
+The clammy air of the marshes clung about me and chilled my spirits,
+as I proceeded through the desolate region which lay between me and
+the town. The road hereabouts runs straight along for miles, without
+hedge or fence, save for a couple of upright posts, with three or four
+crossbars, rising up here and there at the corners of the fields where
+the dykes run into one another. A hundred years before all this part
+of Norfolk had been little better than a fen, which the Brandon Water
+overflowed at spring tides, till engineers had come over to us from
+Holland, who taught us to make these dykes and embankments after the
+fashion of their country. And, indeed, the people of Bury have a
+tradition that the ocean itself once came up over these parts, and
+that their hamlet, however since decayed, was then a flourishing town
+and seaport; but I could never find that any one outside of Bury
+believed in this legend.
+
+Be that as it may, I had but a doleful walk of it; moreover, I was
+fain to button up my coat and pull my collar close about my neck, by
+reason of the cutting wind which blew across from the German seas. Nor
+did I meet any adventure on the way, but in avoiding the turnpike at
+Broxall I was forced to leap a dyke in the dark, and missing the
+further bank by about a foot, I fell into the water knee-deep. I got a
+sound drenching, but no other damage except for the mud bespattering
+my clothes, which must have presented a sorry spectacle had there been
+any there to observe me.
+
+The noise of my splash brought out the pike-man, uttering many oaths,
+to see who it was that had been defrauding his gate. But I got nimbly
+on to my legs and ran past, and though he made a show of chasing me
+for a short space, he soon thought better of it, and went back to his
+bed.
+
+It must have been, I suppose, half-way between midnight and dawn when
+I arrived in Yarmouth. And well pleased I was when I had safely
+crossed the bridge across the Bure river and felt the pavement of the
+town underneath my feet. For though there was not another soul abroad
+in the streets at that hour, that I could perceive, yet the knowledge
+that the houses on either hand were full of sleeping folks seemed to
+be some company after the desolateness I had just come through.
+
+I had never before been in a great town at night, and I was much
+amazed by the splendour of the illumination from the lamps which hung
+across the high streets, and made almost as much brightness as if
+there had been a moon. Being somewhat afraid of meeting with the
+watch, for I did not then know the habits of these gentry as well as I
+did afterwards, I soon left the region of the lights, and turned down
+into the lanes, which the men of Yarmouth call rows, and of which they
+are not a little proud, and to my mind with some warrant, for, though
+strait, these passages are very regularly built, and beautifully paved
+with cobblestones, and are besides so numerous that I have never seen
+the like in any city I have visited, neither in Europe nor in the
+Indies.
+
+In the end I got out from among the houses, and arrived upon the
+sea-beach, where I discovered a sheltered pit among the sand hillocks,
+which they call denes, and there I lay down and slept off my
+weariness.
+
+When I awoke the sun was so far up that I judged it to be nearly nine
+o'clock. Taking shame that I had proved such a sluggard, I rose up
+quickly, and brushed away the sand, which I was rejoiced to perceive
+had finely cleansed away the mud from the dyke at Broxall. This done I
+made the best of my way into the town to keep my rendezvous with
+Cousin Rupert, for I was sharply beset by hunger.
+
+I had to ask my way more than once before I could find out the tavern,
+which lay down on the quay, over against the river Yare. By this I
+soon saw that the "Three-decker" had a reputation not over and above
+savoury among the townsfolk, for the more respectable of those I
+addressed myself to gave me harsh looks before answering my question.
+And no doubt the soberness of my dress and carriage must have made it
+seem strange that I should be seeking the whereabouts of such a haunt.
+
+I will not deny that this observation a little daunted me when I found
+myself at the door of the house. The tavern was by way of being an
+ancient one, for the oak props were blackened with age and the upper
+storeys jutted out one above the other, in the way our forefathers
+were used to build in walled towns, where every foot of space was of
+account. Nor did the place look to be ill-kept, though situated in a
+mean part of the town beside the fish market. However, it was no time
+for me to make reflections, having come so far, wherefore I quickly
+drew the latch and stepped inside.
+
+I had no need of a guide to conduct me to the parlour, for I caught a
+hubbub of voices coming from my right hand, above which rose a roaring
+stave in chorus, interspersed with a clapping of hands and a rapping
+of mugs upon the table. I undid the door, meaning to slip in quietly,
+but no sooner did I pass my head into the room than the entertainment
+suddenly ceased, and the whole crew turned to observe my entrance.
+
+Truly it was easier for them to discern me than for me to do the same
+by them, for besides the dismay of meeting so many faces at once, the
+whole room was filled with the smoke of tobacco, a thing which was
+strange to me, and which caused my eyes to tingle, besides tempting me
+to cough. I made out, however, that there was at least a score of men
+present, the most part of them seated round a table in the middle of
+the room, at the head of which table stood a high arm-chair, and in
+it, as I believe, the biggest man I had ever seen. The looks of the
+company are past my power to describe, being such as to make me feel
+as if I had broke into Bedlam. Their faces were all red and blotched
+with drink, and their heads covered with extravagant ringlets, which
+might never have seen a comb, while their dress was disordered to
+indecency, and the whole table was covered with a confusion of
+tankards and bottles and tobacco-pipes, not to mention playing-cards
+and dice. The huge man at their head bore a most terrifying aspect. He
+had an immense head set on a neck so short and thick that it seemed as
+if he must infallibly choke at every morsel he swallowed, and a belly
+capacious enough to have held a firkin of liquor. He had made himself
+easy by unbuttoning his waistcoat and the upper part of his breeches,
+and lolled back in his seat as if he had no mind to stir for the rest
+of the morning. One of his eyes was closed up, and had a French
+plaister across it, but the other stared and rolled enough for two.
+
+On a bench in the window there were two other men withdrawn by
+themselves; but these I did not at first notice, being taken up with
+attending to this one-eyed ruffian.
+
+"Who in the foul fiend's name have we here?" he called out as soon as
+I was come in, using many other oaths beside, which I have no need to
+set forth. "Is this some sprouting soul-catcher come to bestow upon us
+a word in season? Speak, boy, your name and business? Show your
+colours, d'ye hear! Or will you mount the table and pitch up a godly
+psalm for our sinful ears? A blister on the brat's tongue; why don't
+he answer?"
+
+I stood aghast at this scurrilous address, the like of which I had
+never yet heard. The others followed it up with shouts of applause,
+and one of those at my end of the table rose and came towards me,
+making as if he would catch me by the shoulder to drag me forward.
+
+But this I was not inclined to suffer.
+
+"My name need not concern you," I said, replying to their chairman.
+"As for my business here, I have come to inquire after a kinsman of
+mine who uses this house. Stand back, sir, I am not to be mauled by
+you!"
+
+I spoke these last words sharply to the fellow who had tried to
+lay hold of me. Though some years my senior he was but a lean,
+spindle-shanked creature, whom I felt better able to give a buffet to
+than to take one from him.
+
+The big man let loose a round dozen of oaths.
+
+"Here's a fine cockerel come into our own house of call to beard us!"
+he exclaimed between his profanities. "I should like to know who uses
+the 'Three-decker,' when the crew of the _Fair Maid_ are here, without
+our licence? What is the matter with you, Trickster Tim? Are you
+afraid to handle the yokel?"
+
+Thus egged on, the man, who had given way under my angry looks, made
+at me again. But my blood was now up, and I dealt him a blow on the
+jaw which sent him down fairly to the floor. He got up, spluttering
+blood, his clothes all smeared with the sawdust and the stains of
+liquor, and the whole party leaped to their feet at the same time, as
+if they would set upon me.
+
+I doubt but I should have fared roughly at their hands if I had not
+been delivered by a most unexpected diversion.
+
+"Stand clear, you cowards, and leave Tim Watts to fight his own
+corner, if he can!"
+
+I turned round to the window at these words and beheld to my joy my
+cousin Rupert, who had been one of the two sitting there apart, and
+who had now risen, pale and very angry, with his hand on the basket of
+a cutlass which he wore at his belt.
+
+Though I should have thought it kinder if he had come to my assistance
+earlier, instead of leaving me to show what I was made of first, I
+hailed his interference with much relief, and stepped quickly to his
+side.
+
+But the fellows he had rebuked looked sourly in our direction and
+began to grumble to each other.
+
+"No orders here!" came from one man. "No lieutenants over us ashore!"
+said another. "We're all equal in the 'Three-decker.'"
+
+"Silence, Jim Palmer!" cried Rupert sternly. "And you too, Andrews; I
+thought you had more manhood in you! What reason had you for baiting
+this young man when he came in civilly? Do you know who he is, you
+fools? This is my own cousin, who has just given the slip to his sour
+old Puritan of a father, and come here to join our jolly fellowship!"
+
+I felt some pricks of shame at this lewd reference to my father. But
+Rupert's words completely turned the tide in my favour; and when he
+went on to call for the potman and order a quart of ale and a noggin
+of gin all round the table, I became the most popular man in the
+assembly for at least half an hour. My health was called for by the
+man in the chair who had so abused me, and who, as I now found out,
+was the boatswain, or foreman of the crew. They even would have
+Trickster Tim to apologise and shake me by the hand. He tried to go
+through this performance with an air of cordiality, but succeeded very
+ill.
+
+After this my cousin drew me aside and presented me to his companion,
+whom he named to me as Mr. Sims, the captain of the _Fair Maid_.
+However, it did not take me long to see that though Mr. Sims commanded
+the vessel, by reason of his skill in navigation, yet my cousin was
+the real moving spirit of the entire ship's company, and could turn
+the captain round his little finger, if he had a mind.
+
+Pens and ink were then sent for, and a sheet of parchment, on which
+Captain Sims, who was an old hand at this work, himself drew up the
+articles of my apprenticeship. It was necessary that I should ship
+before the mast, he explained, in order to avoid provoking the
+jealousy of the crew; but they both promised me that I should be rated
+as an officer as soon as a fair excuse offered itself for my
+promotion. The others present were all called round to witness me sign
+the indenture, after which, like a vain young fool, I must needs
+produce Mr. Walpole's guinea and order a fresh supply of liquor as far
+as it would go. This display of spirit, as they esteemed it, did my
+business with the crew, who having now been ashore for four weeks had
+spent most of their money, without in any degree lessening their
+thirst. But I fear good Mr. Walpole would have been but ill-satisfied
+if he could have known how his money was spent.
+
+This business disposed of, Rupert thought it prudent to take me inside
+and have me bestowed in some safe corner of the house till the search
+after me should have blown over. And the first person whose help he
+must needs obtain in this was the tavern keeper's niece, Marian, whom
+I thought then, and think to this day, the most handsome creature that
+there was in the world, and whom I loved desperately from that hour.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+_THE BEGINNING OF THE RIVALRY_
+
+
+And now, lest it be wondered what was done by them at home in the
+matter of my flight, I will tell here so much as I afterwards came to
+know.
+
+When the letter which I had left behind me was put into my father's
+hands, it appears, he read it once through, and delivered it to my
+mother. Next, without saying one word, he went out by himself into the
+stable, saddled his great horse, Gustavus, which stood seventeen hands
+high, presently mounted it, and rode off at a strong gallop, setting
+his face towards the London road.
+
+It was not till the end of the second day that he came back, the horse
+covered with dirt to the shoulders. He said nothing of where he had
+been, but walked into the house with a stern face, and called for the
+family Bible, which had belonged to his grandfather in the time of the
+Commonwealth. This book was bound in parchment and fastened with iron
+clasps, and lay always on the top shelf of the old oak press, whence
+it had not been taken down once in a dozen years.
+
+My mother brought it to him trembling, and when she saw him open it at
+the blank page within the cover, whereon were written the names of all
+the Fords for four generations, she fell upon her knees and implored
+him not to carry out what he had in his mind. But he heeded her no
+more than if he had been stone deaf, and taking a pen in his right
+hand drew it through my name and the date of my birth and baptism,
+making a line right across the page, which looks as if it had been
+drawn with a ruler to this day. Then he threw the sand upon it, and as
+soon as it was dry closed the book and handed it back to my mother,
+who was fain to restore it to its place.
+
+All this time not a word had passed his lips. At supper my father ate
+but little, and drank still less. When it was time for prayers he bade
+my mother read the chapter instead of him, as was his wont when
+greatly fatigued. Whereupon that sweet saint, as I must ever have
+leave to call her, turned, not to the prophecy of Ezekiel, but to the
+gospel of Saint Luke, and read out from that chapter which contains
+the parable of the Prodigal Son. And when she came to the words, "For
+this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is
+found"--when she had come to this place, my father, who had sat and
+listened hitherto, cried out in a harsh voice--
+
+"Stop, woman!"
+
+And he took the Bible from her and turned over the leaves till he was
+at the book of Ezekiel, and read the chapter in order as usual.
+
+Nevertheless in the night my mother, who lay awake weeping, heard him
+give more than one sigh; and presently, while it was still dark, he
+rose up and went out of the room and downstairs, and stayed away above
+an hour; after which he came back and lay down again. And he strictly
+forbade her ever to utter my name in his hearing from that time.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+I lay in hiding above a week before I durst venture abroad except at
+night. And very soothing to my spirit those night rambles were, though
+melancholy; for the look of all things was so changed and solemn under
+the black sky, or in the silent radiance of the moon, the houses were
+so oppressively still, and the masts of the ships so spectral upon the
+water, that it seemed to me by the end of those few days, that I had
+been exploring another world, and had got at last to be familiar with
+its ways.
+
+In the daytime I was safe enough in my snug quarters in the tavern,
+for not a soul knew I was there save the privateer's crew. And to do
+those ruffians justice, though there were few other crimes they stuck
+at, I believe that a thousand pounds would not have tempted one of
+them to give me up after I had been duly embodied in their company.
+Indeed, I found some of them to be good fellows enough, and grew not
+to dislike old Muzzy, the boatswain--for so he was called, though I
+know not if it was his proper name or one bestowed upon him by his
+mates. He was, if I mistake not, a foundling. He had conceived a huge
+friendship for me, and would come upstairs to the garret where I was
+secluded, and give me lessons in the broadsword exercise by the hour,
+the knowledge of which stood me in good stead in not very long.
+
+But practise how I might, I never reached that perfection which the
+boatswain had attained, who was, I do think, the most complete master
+of his weapon then alive. I have heard, not from his mouth only, but
+from others of the crew, of the duel which he fought with three
+Frenchmen together, at a time of peace between the countries, in
+Civita Vecchia, and how he left them all dead upon the ground. For
+such were English tars in those days, a manly race of whom we have but
+few left now.
+
+The rest of the crew I pass over as being of a class common enough in
+all our seaports. The profane language they constantly employed grew,
+by dint of repetition, to have no meaning in my ears, as I am sure it
+had none, for the most part, in theirs. The thing which I found it
+hardest to accustom myself to was the smoking of tobacco. Indeed,
+after I had lit my first pipe I fell so ill that I looked upon it as a
+judgment of Providence, and vowed I would never light another. But
+seeing all the rest at it day by day, I soon ventured again, and came
+at last to enjoy it no less than they did. And no doubt if there were
+anything mischievous in this habit when pursued in moderation, it
+would have been denounced by the sacred writers, who would, by means
+of their inspiration, have foreseen its introduction into these
+regions, though not then known.
+
+But what will for ever make memorable to me the days which I spent in
+Yarmouth, waiting for the _Fair Maid_ to be equipped for sea, was the
+deep joy of my first love for the woman whose lot was to be so
+strangely cast in with mine. I do not know whether she at first failed
+to perceive this passion, or whether she slighted it as the heedless
+fancy of a lad, for she behaved towards me as if there could be no
+such thoughts between us, caressing me openly before company, and
+thereby causing me the keenest joy and anguish at the same time.
+
+Mistress Marian Rising, to give her her full description, was, as I
+have said, the niece of my host. Her own parents were settled in the
+East India Company's factory at Fort William, on the river Hooghley,
+where her father did business in drugs and was amassing, according to
+report, a considerable fortune. She told me that her people had
+refused to carry her out with them to the East, on account of the
+unhealthiness of that climate, but being now grown of age she was
+resolved to take the first occasion of going out there to join them.
+
+She spoke much of the marvels of that great region which we now call
+Indostan, and of which little then was known in my part of Norfolk,
+describing the vast wealth and luxury of its people, the power and
+splendour of the nabobs and princes, and the curiosity of their
+buildings and manufactures. Of all these she spoke as familiarly as if
+she had dwelt among them, deeming, I suppose, that the connection
+between her and that region invested her with authority on the
+subject. I need scarce say that I drank in every word with greedy
+ears, and was become daily more inflamed with desire to voyage
+thither.
+
+My cousin Rupert was frequently a third party in our conversations. He
+used a tone of familiarity with Marian which I was inclined to resent,
+though she took it in good part. But he deeply offended me one day
+that we were together by referring openly to what I thought my secret
+passion for the girl.
+
+We had been discussing the question of how far it was safe for me to
+venture abroad into the streets, and he wound up by saying--
+
+"To speak my mind plainly, Mistress Marian, I think it is high time my
+cousin got further out of reach of your fascination. You and he have
+been too much together of late; and if I mistake not Master Athelstane
+would not object to prolong his captivity for ever on such terms."
+
+"What do you mean?" I cried angrily.
+
+But the girl only laughed.
+
+"Be quiet, sir!" she said. "You ought to be ashamed of yourself for
+showing jealousy of a mere boy like this! Why, he is scarce old enough
+to notice whether I have brown eyes or black."
+
+This made me still more angry with Rupert.
+
+"Mere boy as I am, I will thank you not to meddle between me and any
+lady who may choose to favour me with her goodwill!" I told him.
+
+"I crave your pardon, my venerable cousin," sneered Rupert. "I was not
+aware that matters between Mrs. Rising and you had made such progress.
+I would offer to go to Saint Nicholas, and bid them put up the banns
+next Sunday, if I were not afraid it might bring my worthy uncle over
+from Brandon with a whip and a dog-collar."
+
+I sprang to my feet as red as fire, and was as likely to have answered
+him with a blow as a word, if Marian had not come between us.
+
+"Sit down, you foolish boy," she said, giving me a look that turned my
+wrath into secret exultation. "As for you, Rupert Gurney, I have told
+you before that I will not endure your hectoring temper. If you cannot
+behave more civilly, there are plenty of other inns in Great Yarmouth,
+and you had better betake yourself to one of them."
+
+Rupert now saw he had gone too far, and passed off the thing as a
+pleasantry. After that he became as friendly to me as ever; but I
+could not so soon get over his ungenerous words, and I think I never
+felt quite the same love and admiration for him afterwards.
+
+About this time I overheard a conversation between Mr. Sims and my
+cousin which I by no means liked. They were seated in the parlour of
+the inn by themselves, overhauling the ship's papers, which they took
+out of a tin case, such as is used by mariners to guard against the
+chances of a wetting. I had come in to join them, for they sometimes
+used me as a clerk in the business of the ship, and found them too
+busy to heed my presence.
+
+"I tell you, Gurney, I mislike it," Captain Sims was saying. "Here is
+the date of our commission, by which, as you may see, it has run out
+since the conclusion of the peace. The _Fair Maid_ cannot sail under
+that."
+
+Rupert cursed the commission, and cursed the date upon it, with much
+heartiness.
+
+"We must sail without it, then, that's all!" he said, as soon as he
+had finished cursing. "It will be all one by the time we make Gheriah.
+Thanks to this cursed peace we might as well whistle for another as
+apply to the Admiralty Commissioners."
+
+"Nay, not so fast!" exclaimed the other, drawing back in his chair.
+"That were to proclaim ourselves pirates at once."
+
+"Well, and pray what else have we been till now?" returned my cousin,
+giving him a nasty look.
+
+Mr. Sims shook his head gravely.
+
+"No; I have been a privateersman all my life, barring a few smuggling
+ventures in the late peace, but I have never put to sea without my
+letters of marque and reprisal, duly signed and sealed."
+
+Rupert curled his lip as he looked at the other.
+
+"And what did your letters of marque say as to the Portuguese slaver
+we sank in the Gaboons?" he demanded scornfully. "And what of that
+Bristol schooner we mistook for a Frenchman off Finisterre, and had a
+thousand pounds of coffee out of, before we discovered the error?"
+
+"No matter," said Sims, setting his fist upon the table with an angry
+thump; "I don't profess to be more particular than other men when I
+get on the high seas; but I've always got my letters of marque on
+board, and as long as I have them, d'ye see, they can't hang me."
+
+Rupert seemed to be casting about for some way to satisfy his
+scruples. Presently he said--
+
+"There's no other way for it, then--we must alter the date."
+
+Mr. Sims gave a start, and let drop an oath.
+
+"You're a strange man, Gurney," he said; "I can't make you out this
+morning. You talk of forging the king's commission as if it were no
+more than altering the log. Why, man, that's a worse hanging matter
+than sailing with no papers at all!"
+
+My cousin fairly lost his temper at this, and cursed the other for a
+thin-skinned numbskull.
+
+"Either we sail or we don't," he concluded by saying, "and either we
+sail with a commission or without it. I am ready here to alter the
+date with my own hand--it is but turning a IV into a VI--to give us
+two years more, and you need know nothing of the matter."
+
+The captain came into this with surprising readiness thinking, no
+doubt, that he had sufficiently guarded his own neck in the business.
+Then for the first time they perceived me; and Sims was for making me
+take an oath on the gospels not to betray what I had heard. But Rupert
+rebuked him sharply, bidding him to know that no Ford had ever
+committed treachery or dishonour within the memory of man, any more,
+he was good enough to say, than the Gurneys themselves.
+
+And this testimony of his so soothed me that I allowed my conscience
+to slumber in the matter of the forged commission. Yet it was plain
+enough to me by this time that my cousin was a desperate scoundrel,
+and that the company I had enlisted among were little better than a
+gang of pirates, if better they could be called.
+
+I daresay it was not to be expected that I should associate for long
+with such men without falling into their ways. But what prevailed most
+to change me from my former character, and wrought on me for evil was,
+I verily believe, the frenzy of the passion which possessed me for
+Marian.
+
+By this time I had gathered courage to let her know how she stood in
+my regard, and with the worst result for me that could have happened.
+For she would listen well-pleased to all the desperate love I poured
+into her ear, and then the next day I would find her closeted with my
+cousin Rupert, who was become her bold and notorious wooer, or else
+with one of the flash young gentlemen of the town, who frequented the
+tavern for no other purpose but to make love to her, and brought her
+presents of rings and lockets and suchlike matters, which she never
+scrupled to accept. And when I upbraided her for this wantonness, she
+gave me cruel words.
+
+"I would have you to know that I am not your mistress, pert young sir,
+any more than I am your cousin's! And I suppose I am free to do as I
+please, without your leave first had! If it likes me to entertain the
+society of other young gentlemen, be sure I shall do so; and as for
+the trinkets you are pleased to be jealous of, it will be time enough
+to cast them in my teeth when you have better to bestow on me
+yourself."
+
+With that she flung away, leaving me sore distressed and amazed. But
+though this speech removed somewhat of my blindness, yet the love I
+had for her was no whit lessened, but rather increased in vehemence.
+And seeing that I had but little money of my own to procure her such
+toys as she spoke of, I forthwith betook me to dicing and gambling,
+which hitherto I had refrained from, in the hopes of bettering my
+estate.
+
+The luck I had in this was very various, so that at one time guineas
+seemed to be dropping out of my pockets, whereas at others I might
+ransack them through without finding so much as a silver penny. And
+according to the state of my fortunes, so did I prosper in Marian's
+regard; and in this ill-state of my affairs I grew reckless, and drank
+to drive away better thoughts, and so came on rapidly to the evil hour
+which was to end it all.
+
+For, as it happened, I was one night throwing the dice with my cousin
+Rupert, and he had won of me, and as I went on, drinking in between
+whiles, I lost what little coolness I had started with, and finally
+staked my last penny on the last throw, and lost that too. Then I
+flung myself back from the table with an oath.
+
+"Fair and softly, cousin," said Rupert, picking up the money I had
+thrown before him. "It does not much matter who wins, seeing that it
+all goes into the same pocket afterwards."
+
+"What do you mean?" I cried sharply. For nothing angered me more than
+to have him say anything which glanced at our rivalry for Marian, in
+which business I had too much reason to suspect he was more fortunate
+than myself. That very day, moreover, I had found them together, and
+they had looked ill-pleased at being disturbed.
+
+"Faith, I think you must know my meaning well enough by this time,"
+answered Rupert, with an insulting smile. "Before you try to play the
+gallant you must line your pocket better."
+
+"Hold your tongue!" I said fiercely. "I am not used to buy favours,
+like some who have nothing but their purse to commend them."
+
+"Then you should go where favours are not sold," he sneered, with an
+evil smile.
+
+"Those words in your teeth!" I shouted, starting up and clapping my
+hand on my sword, which I had bought two days before of a Jew.
+
+By this time the noise of our quarrel had aroused the whole room, and
+the company were crowding round us, the men of the _Fair Maid_ in the
+front. Rupert bit his lip as he saw where he stood.
+
+"Peace, youngster," he said, with a threatening look which belied his
+words. "I will not be forced into a quarrel here."
+
+"Here or outside, I care not," says I, "but I swear you shall take
+back the slander you have cast upon a woman you are not fit to speak
+with!"
+
+"D--n you!" says Rupert, "do you want me to fight for a----"
+
+He got no farther, for with that I caught up the dice-box and dashed
+it between his eyes, so that he fairly staggered back, and the blood
+started from his nostrils. And then, almost before I knew what was
+happening, his sword was out, and mine was clashing against it, and
+the table was overturned on the floor, and then there was a rush and a
+shout, and some one was holding me back from behind, while Mr. Sims
+and the boatswain stood between us, and Rupert, with a look on his
+face which I had never seen there before, was saying in a very steady
+voice--
+
+"Gentlemen, you may arrange it as you please, but take notice that it
+must be _à la mort_."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+"_À LA MORT_"
+
+
+So it had come to this, that before the dust of my father's fields was
+well off my shoes I was committed to a duel to the death with a
+desperate, vindictive man, who had been steeped in bloodshed before I
+had ever handled a sword, and that man my own near kinsman.
+
+At the time I was less frightened than I have often been since in
+thinking over it. The others were more alarmed for me than I was for
+myself, and I heard Mr. Sims and old Muzzy urging upon Rupert to let
+the matter go no further. But this he would not now hear of, and in
+the state of mind I was then in I should have been little better
+satisfied than he to have had the affair patched up.
+
+At last they saw it was of no use to seek an accommodation between us,
+and they withdrew together to settle how we were to fight, Captain
+Sims, as I understood, acting in my cousin's interest, while the
+boatswain did the same office for me.
+
+While they were discussing it, which it took them some time to do,
+Rupert and I sat on opposite sides of the room. He put on a great air
+of indifference, talking familiarly with those of his friends who
+stood about him, while I could do nothing but stare across at him with
+a horrible fascination, as the man by whose hand, in all likelihood, I
+was to die within the next half-hour. I remember noting for the first
+time what a finely formed person he had, tall and supple as a lath of
+steel. As far as that went I was no weakling, and I have been told
+that at that time we greatly resembled each other, though I do not
+think I can ever have shared my cousin's good looks.
+
+I was becoming feverish over the delay of our seconds, if such they
+can be called, when they rose from their corner, and the boatswain
+came across to me with a very grave air, Mr. Sims at the same time
+going over to Rupert.
+
+"We have arranged," the boatswain said to me, in a serious voice,
+"that you are to fight out at sea. A boat is to be moored to the buoy
+off the mouth of the river, and you will be rowed out and put into it
+together, one at each end. You are to be armed with cutlasses and left
+there together. There will be a pair of sculls on board, and the one
+who kills the other will throw his body overboard, so as to leave no
+trace, and then row ashore. If the boat does not return at the end of
+an hour, we shall come out to her to see what has happened. Do you
+agree to this?"
+
+He spoke these words in a distinct, loud voice, so as to be overheard
+by those who stood next. Then, before I could answer, he bent over
+quickly and laid his lips to my ear, whispering--
+
+"Refuse it, boy, refuse it! It will be a narrow match enough between
+you with the cutlass, which was the weapon I stuck out for for your
+sake. But out in a trumpery rocking boat, with you a landlubber
+against a man that has been at sea these ten years, I would not give a
+farden for your life."
+
+He said this with many strong oaths, for I honestly believe the old
+pirate had got an affection for me. But he wasted his breath as far as
+I was concerned, my pride being then too fierce to admit of my
+shrinking from any terms that might be offered by the other side.
+
+"Tell them I accept," I said sullenly, "and make no more ado about it.
+How soon can we reach this place?"
+
+The old fellow cursed me roundly for an obstinate, bloody-minded young
+fool.
+
+"Give me a hug," he wound up by saying, "for blast me if you ain't a
+youngster after my own heart!" And he fell to and embraced me
+heartily, kissing me on both cheeks, and shedding tears plentifully;
+for he was three-parts drunk, and clearly looked upon me as a dead
+man.
+
+And in that light I saw that the company present regarded me, my
+cousin's prowess being well known by many duels which he had fought in
+the past; and though I had pretty well made up my mind that I was to
+die, I suffered no small discouragement and chagrin from the
+compassionate looks which were cast upon me. My old enemy, Trickster
+Tim, also thought this a safe occasion to insult me, coming up close
+before me and peering into my face, as if I were already so much
+carrion. Nor had I the spirit to resent his insolence.
+
+Captain Sims now led the way out of the house, holding Rupert by the
+arm, while I followed with my friend. The rest of the crew swarmed out
+after us, but old Muzzy sharply ordered them back, taking only two men
+to pull the oars, for we had a long way to row before the buoy could
+be reached.
+
+It was a miserable voyage for me, sitting there in the stern, not
+three paces from Rupert, shivering in the cold night air, and perhaps
+from fear as well, as we dropped slowly down the river, past the black
+piles of the landing jetties and the sleeping ships. Our course was
+lit only by the stars, save where a ship's light cast a sickly gleam
+upon the water as we approached it, and faded away as we rowed on. The
+whole way I never once opened my lips, but the others talked together
+in low voices, turning themselves away from me in the same manner as
+if I were a convict being led to execution. And as for my own
+thoughts, they were distracted enough, especially when I called to
+mind my dear mother and my good and upright father, and how little
+they imagined the business in which I was now engaged. These
+reflections so softened me that I believe if my cousin had made the
+least move towards a reconcilement my whole wrath would have melted
+away. But no doubt he had made up his mind that only my death could
+restore his authority amongst the ruffians whom he led.
+
+At last our dreary passage was ended, and we were arrived at the place
+agreed on for the encounter. We had towed down a smaller boat in our
+wake, and this they now fastened to the buoy, and we stepped into it,
+Rupert at the bows and I at the stern. Then the boatswain gripped my
+hand for the last time, whispering to me to beware of Gurney's
+upper-cut, and so they bade us farewell and rowed off quickly in the
+darkness, like men who would avoid the sight of a murder.
+
+So there were we, left alone in that frail compartment, out there upon
+the heaving water, with nothing but death in our hearts. I had but
+time to breathe a prayer, which I did with some misgiving as to how it
+would be received, when my cousin drew his cutlass and stepped into
+the centre of the boat. I rose to meet him with my weapon in my hand,
+and we stood there facing one another, with only the width of the seat
+between us.
+
+"Are you ready?" says Rupert quickly. And before I had time to answer
+he brought down his cutlass with such force that unless I had guarded
+it the blade would have split open my head.
+
+It was now that I had reason to be thankful for the lessons I had
+received at the hands of the boatswain, for Rupert's blows came so
+thick and fast that I had all I could do to parry them. I bore his
+last caution to me in mind, and soon found the importance of it, for
+though my cousin made many feints at my shoulder and other parts of my
+body, yet the only blow into which he put his real force was the
+upper-cut at my head.
+
+I kept my eyes fixed upon his, as I had been taught, and soon saw a
+savage light arising therein when he found he made so little
+impression on me. Indeed, if we had fought on firm ground I believe
+that, as the boatswain said, I should have been his match, but the
+rocking of the boat gave him an advantage, and presently he pursued a
+feint further than I expected, and gave me a gash of about three
+inches long in my left thigh.
+
+The first smart of the wound made me gasp for breath, but the next
+moment it had so raised my fury that I left off the defensive and fell
+upon my enemy with all my might, hitting and slashing so desperately
+that, do what he would, I broke down his guard and laid open his
+forehead over his right eye, and the blood began to trickle down his
+face.
+
+This transformed his own anger into a tempest, and now, indeed, we
+went at it more like two savages than Christian men. For the cutlass,
+by the very reason that it is not so deadly an instrument as the
+small-sword, is capable of inflicting a very great many wounds before
+any fatal effect takes place. And so, becoming less heedful of our
+guard as we warmed to it, we wounded each other all over the body in a
+most desperate manner, till my cousin seemed to me to be covered with
+blood from head to foot, and I can have been little better, for I felt
+the blood running from me at above a dozen places.
+
+My enemy was the first to see the folly of this, for he began to
+change his tactics, drawing back from my assault and keeping on the
+defensive till he should lure me on to give him an advantage. And in
+this at length he had nearly succeeded, but happening to forget the
+seat which lay behind him in the bows of the boat, he overbalanced
+himself against it and fell backwards, still gripping his weapon in
+his hand.
+
+I scorned to take advantage of this accident, but stayed where I was
+to give him time to get up. He lay upon his back for a minute, glaring
+sullenly at me to see if I would kill him. But finding that I had no
+such mind he recovered himself nimbly enough. And being, no doubt,
+still further enraged at this accident having put him, as it were,
+into my power, he now made at me with the most terrible vehemence,
+raining down blows upon me sufficient to have felled an ox. And then
+in the midst of it all, while I was warding off his fury, and the
+sparks flew from our weapons every instant, I suddenly felt my hand
+jarred as though I had touched a conger, and the blade of my cutlass
+snapped off at the hilt with a crash, and I stood there at his mercy.
+
+He stopped short, as much astonished as I was, while I sank down on
+the seat next the stern, ready to sob, and put up my hands before my
+face.
+
+"That cursed Jew has cheated me of my life!" I groaned between my set
+teeth.
+
+Rupert rested the point of his cutlass upon the seat in front of him
+and looked over at me curiously.
+
+"Young man," he said, "your life is forfeit to me, and it hath never
+been said that Rupert Gurney spared an enemy. Yet, inasmuch as you are
+of my blood and but raw in the world, I have half a mind to make terms
+with you. Will you make your apology for the violence you put upon me
+in the tavern, and swear to repeat its terms before all those who were
+witnesses of our dispute?"
+
+I looked up at him and smiled bitterly in his face.
+
+"Do you understand me so little, and you a Ford by the mother's side?"
+I answered him. "Now that I have no weapon you may murder me if you
+will, but apology you shall have none from me--unless," I added, "you
+take back your insult to the woman I love."
+
+"You young fool!" he ground out savagely. "That drab you make such a
+to-do about has been mine this two months past."
+
+I leave it unsaid how these words affected me, both then and for long
+afterwards. For up to that moment I had looked upon the girl with as
+pure a reverence as any boy ever cherished for a maid, and my cousin's
+vile boast, cast it back to him as I might, sank into my mind and
+worked there like a poison.
+
+"I believe you lie," I said to him with marvellous coldness. For what
+with the loss of blood, and the despair which had seized upon me at
+the breaking of my weapon, and the news I had just received, I was
+become quite dispirited, and was indifferent to what he might do with
+me.
+
+"Die, then, since you will have me kill you!" he exclaimed, and began
+advancing down the boat towards me.
+
+But as he stepped over the middle seat it chanced that he struck his
+foot against one of the oars which lay along the boat's bottom; and
+the rattling of this oar put a new thought into my mind.
+
+It so happened that I had been used to play with the quarterstaff at
+home, and old Sugden, the rat-catcher, who was esteemed the greatest
+proficient in this sort of exercise in our part of the country, had
+had many a bout with me, in which, before I ran away, he had been
+forced to confess that I was very well able to cope with him. Now,
+therefore, in my extremity, seeing death so near at hand--for up to
+this moment I had hardly believed that my cousin would kill me--I made
+shift to snatch at an oar, and drawing it to me just in time put
+myself in a posture of defence before he could strike me.
+
+He drew back, greatly astounded, and swore beneath his breath.
+
+"What fool's game is this, boy? Would you break honour with me? We
+were agreed to fight with cutlasses."
+
+"And now that my cutlass is broke foully you would take and murder
+me!" I retorted, and being now incensed at his bloodthirstiness, after
+I had once spared his life, I cursed him in the face for a coward.
+
+This was more than he could bear. He leaped across the seat, with his
+head stooped, to come inside the sweep of my weapon, but this was a
+trick I had had experience of, and though I found my oar very heavy
+and cumbrous I yet managed to repulse him with a crack on the head.
+And immediately he raised his cutlass to strike back I caught him a
+very smart blow on the knuckles, and sent his weapon flying over the
+side of the boat into the water, where it instantly sank.
+
+By this time I think we were both too furious to be willing to end the
+combat without one or the other's death. Rupert, as soon as he knew
+what had happened, fairly sprang upon me, and clutched my throat,
+bearing me down with him into the boat. Here he knelt above me,
+squeezing my windpipe, and emitting horrid snarls like a wild beast.
+My senses began to forsake me, and I was as good as lost, when, by the
+direct mercy of Providence, my right hand encountered the blade of my
+own cutlass, lying close beside us, which I instantly snatched at,
+and plunged as hard as I could thrust into Rupert's side. And with
+that, feeling his fingers relax themselves as he tottered sideways
+from off me, I raised myself half up, lifted him by the thighs, and
+cast him clean over the side of the boat into the sea. And that done I
+sank down again in a bloody swoon, and perceived nothing more.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+It was, as I learned, above a week afterwards when I fully came to
+myself, and discovered that I was lying in my former garret at the
+"Three-decker." There was an old woman coming into the room to wait
+upon me, who told me that I had been brought ashore on the night of
+the duel by men wearing masks; and one of them, whom she knew by his
+voice and carriage to be the boatswain of the _Fair Maid_, had given
+money out of his pocket for me to be taken care of till such time as I
+should recover.
+
+In the state of weakness to which I was reduced I shed tears at
+hearing of this kindness on the part of that rough man, who was, I
+sadly feared, a great scoundrel, of most villainous evil life. My next
+business was to ask what had become of him and the rest of the _Fair
+Maid's_ crew.
+
+"The _Fair Maid_ sailed yesterday," the crone answered. "They warped
+her out on the afternoon ebb. 'Tis said she sails under a privateer's
+commission against the French."
+
+I scarce knew whether to be glad of this news, or sorry. I told
+myself that I could hardly have looked for a welcome among those men
+after being the means of their lieutenant's death; and, moreover, I
+had learnt enough of their character to feel strongly averse to a
+cruise in such company. Yet they were the only friends I had, and I
+was grown used to them; and the thought that I was left there, as it
+were, alone, with nothing to turn to, made me very dismal after all.
+
+It seemed somewhat strange to me, during the rest of that day, that
+Marian had never once come to inquire for me; but I put off speaking
+about it to the morrow. In the morning I awoke greatly refreshed, and
+feeling well enough to leave my bed, which I did, and came down into
+the bar of the house to look for her.
+
+I found only her uncle, a weazened, peevish man, who had showed
+himself very little while the privateersmen were about his house. I
+bade him a courteous good morrow.
+
+"Good morrow t'ye," he snapped out churlishly. "I'm glad to see you're
+about again, as I daresay you know your reckoning has run out."
+
+This I did not believe, but thought it beneath me to pick a quarrel
+with such a man. Besides, he was Marian's uncle.
+
+"Any charges you may have against me shall be fairly met," I answered
+proudly. "But where is Mistress Marian? I have not seen her these two
+days."
+
+"And you're not like to see her again, I take it," he returned
+disagreeably. "At least, not in my house; I've had enough of the
+impudent baggage."
+
+"What are you saying, man?" I demanded, much dismayed. "You need not
+miscall your own niece, I should think. But what of her? Do you mean
+she has left you?"
+
+"Aye, what else should I mean? And right glad I am to be rid of such a
+trollop, drawing all the rapscallions of the port in here, and
+bringing my tavern into disrepute."
+
+He spoke so bitterly that I believe he was trying to talk himself into
+thinking he had profited by her departure. For in reality she had
+brought him the chief part of his custom, and there was at that
+moment, as I could perceive, not a soul in the tavern beside
+ourselves. But I did not stop to reflect on this.
+
+"Where has she gone? What has happened?" I questioned breathlessly,
+with a terrible fear in my heart.
+
+"Nay, whither she has gone is more than I can tell you, for as likely
+as not the jade has lied to me. But she left this place two days ago,
+in the afternoon, and all the account she gave me was that she had
+taken her passage in the _Fair Maid_ for her father's house in
+Calcutta."
+
+I fell down on a bench, like a man stunned, and groaned aloud. Then I
+sprang to my feet again and made for the door.
+
+"I will follow her!" I cried out madly. "If she has gone to the end of
+the world I will go after her, and all the devils in hell shall not
+hold me back!"
+
+And leaving the man there, staring at me as if he thought I was
+crazed, I ran out of the house, and so stumbled right into the arms of
+a pressgang come ashore off a king's ship which had that morning
+dropped anchor in Yarmouth Roads.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+_ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_
+
+
+The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made
+familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first
+of escaping their clutches. It is true they were only authorised to
+impress seamen and fishermen, and that after proving their commission
+before justices of the peace. But if report did not belie them, they
+looked not too closely into a man's seamanship; but, if they found a
+likely fellow, regarded all as fish which came into their net.
+
+There was a lieutenant set above the fellows into whose hands I had
+fallen, a tall, lantern-jawed, middle-aged man, with a most abominable
+squint, and to him I addressed myself:
+
+"Sir, I am not in a condition to be pressed by you, I am not a mariner
+by calling; and, moreover, I am but just risen from a bed of
+sickness."
+
+He glanced over my dress before he answered, with something of a
+smile. And, indeed, for a landsman, my costume was something out of
+the way, for during the time since I had signed articles to Captain
+Sims I had done my best to equip myself in true sea-dog fashion.
+
+"You surprise me, young sir," the lieutenant said presently, when he
+had surveyed me. "Your dress tallies but ill with your professions. If
+you wore but a cutlass, and had a pistol to your belt, I could have
+sworn you to be a smuggler at the least."
+
+I hung my head at this, for it was my own vanity that had led me into
+the mess. I could only fall back on my second excuse.
+
+"Nevertheless, you are mistaken, sir," I said. "But however that may
+be, be pleased to believe me when I tell you that I am scarce yet
+recovered from several severe wounds."
+
+"Indeed! I thought I had seen you coming out of yonder tavern at a
+marvellous nimble gait. But my eyes are indifferent bad. Here, Master
+Veale, what say you, does this young man look too sick for our
+purpose? He says he is not recovered of his wounds."
+
+The man he applied to, who was master of the ship's cutter, answered
+him in the same jesting manner.
+
+"I see nothing the matter with un, your honour. But perhaps we had
+best carry un aboard and let the ship's doctor feel his pulse."
+
+"I protest against this treatment," I said angrily. "In the name of
+his Majesty, I say, unhandle me."
+
+"Nay," quoth the lieutenant, "my hearing is as indifferent as my
+eyesight, and I follow you not. Master Veale, if this youngster uses
+any blasphemy or indecency let him be gagged till we come aboard
+again."
+
+This threat was enough to silence me, if I had not been otherwise
+afraid to make a stir. For though I might have got some of the
+passers-by to succour me, it being broad daylight, and these
+impressments most unpopular among seafaring men, yet I foresaw that it
+would quickly come to a question of who I was, and if my name once
+became bruited abroad there were friends of my father's in the town
+who would have made short work of sending me back to him. And sooner
+than face the disgrace of this, as I considered it, I was willing to
+try my luck with King George.
+
+I therefore walked along with the pressgang, by the side of Master
+Veale, who used me civilly enough when he found I had given up the
+thoughts of resisting.
+
+I was not a little amazed and delighted when we came out upon the
+shore, and I caught sight of the _Talisman_, as she was called, riding
+at her anchor. For she was a great line-of-battle ship, such as I had
+never yet seen, carrying seventy-four guns upon her three decks, which
+rose above the water like a huge wall, with the muzzles of the cannon
+plainly visible through the opening of her portholes. This majestic
+mass lay like a floating fortress upon the waves, and overhead her
+three masts towered up into the very clouds, with their yards set in
+order, and the ropes crossing from one to the other as intricate as a
+spider's web. Last of all, from a flagstaff on the stern, brandished
+the ensign of Great Britain, in defiance of her enemies. And my heart
+swelled as I gazed upon it, and remembered how that banner had struck
+terror into the Frenchmen, and Dutch, and Spaniards, in so many great
+and memorable fights. Perhaps in that moment I had a foretaste of
+those glorious triumphs of the British arms in which I was hereafter
+to take a part.
+
+As soon as we were brought on board this fine vessel--and by this time
+we had pressed two or three others of the Yarmouth men--we were
+presented to the captain for his inspection.
+
+The captain, it was easy to perceive, was a man of great quality,
+being, as I learned before long, a nephew of Lord Saxmundham, in
+Suffolk, who at that time sat upon the Board of Admiralty. He had the
+most elegant hands and feet of any man I ever saw, and was dressed
+with great care, having long ruffles of the finest lace to his neck
+and wrists, and a gold-hilted small-sword by his side. Even my cousin
+Rupert beside him would have looked but a country boor.
+
+He spoke to the lieutenant who had headed our party, drawling out his
+words in a fashion absurd in a London fop, but disgusting in the
+commander of a man-o'-war.
+
+"Well, Mr. Griffiths, what sort of scum have you got hold of this
+time? Faugh!" he continued, taking out a pocket napkin to wipe his
+nose, "I declare the fellows all stink of herrings!"
+
+This last was a downright lie, for I had never so much as stepped into
+a fishing smack. And besides, the herring fishery was not yet begun.
+
+"Sir, that is a fault which can soon be amended," returned the
+lieutenant, biting his lip at the other's insolence. "For the rest,
+they looked to me to be sturdy rascals enough, and, I doubt, will make
+good seamen."
+
+"Yes, looked to you, my good sir; but then, you know, your sight is
+none of the best," sneered the captain, between whom and his officer
+there appeared to be some jealousy.
+
+Mr. Griffiths, though he had jested at his infirmity in speaking to
+me, writhed under this allusion to it from another. He gave his answer
+with spirit.
+
+"Captain Wilding, I have done what you ordered me in impressing these
+men. If you don't think them serviceable I shall be happy to set them
+ashore again."
+
+The other waved his napkin between them as if he would have brushed
+away a fly.
+
+"There, there, my worthy man, that is quite enough! I have seen the
+tarry scoundrels, and as long as they have not the smallpox, I am
+content. Bestow them as you please."
+
+Thereupon we were led into the fore part of the ship, to be rated
+according to our several abilities. And it fell out luckily for me,
+for the lieutenant, when he discovered that I had had some education,
+and could cast accounts--a business of which he plainly knew
+nothing--informed me that he believed the purser stood in need of an
+assistant, and offered to recommend me to him. This kindness on his
+part I gladly closed with, not that I liked the duty better than the
+common service of a ship, but because I guessed that I should thereby
+be delivered from the molestations of the crew, there being no greater
+pleasure to the vulgar of every profession than to rough-handle and
+abuse those who come newly amongst them. And herein, as it turned out,
+I had judged rightly, and for so long as I remained upon that ship I
+suffered no ill-usage, except at the hands of my superiors.
+
+But before this was settled I had a favour to ask of the worthy
+lieutenant.
+
+"One thing I must bargain for, with your leave, Lieutenant Griffiths,"
+I said to him, speaking boldly, as I discerned him to be favourable to
+me, "and that is, that if we should come to fighting with the enemy I
+am to take part with the rest."
+
+Mr. Griffiths laughed when he heard this demand.
+
+"Why, there now," he cried, slapping his thigh, "if I couldn't have
+sworn that you were one of the sort we wanted directly I clapped eyes
+on you! Never fear, lad, you shall have your fill of fighting before
+we go into dock again; for--I will tell you so much--we are under
+orders to join Admiral Watson's fleet at the Nore, and a man with a
+healthier stomach for such work never hoisted pennant on a
+three-decker."
+
+"I am glad, at all events, that we shall sail under a fighting
+admiral," I responded saucily, "for, as for our captain----"
+
+He stopped me at this point in a manner which terrified me, hurling a
+string of curses at my head sufficient to have sunk me through the
+deck.
+
+"Hold your impertinent tongue!" he said in conclusion. "I would have
+you know better than to pass remarks on your officers in my hearing. I
+have had men put in irons for less. Follow me this minute to the
+purser, and remember you are on board of one of his Majesty's ships,
+and not a dirty herring smack."
+
+By which I saw that, however this gentleman secretly despised his
+commanding officer, he was too honourable to encourage the tattle of
+his inferiors. In this no doubt he showed his breeding; for it was his
+boast that he was sprung from one of the most ancient families in
+Wales, where the gentry, he was wont to say, are of older lineage than
+those of any other country in the world.
+
+The purser proved to be a Scotchman, against which nation I had taken
+a strong prejudice, on account of the wicked and unnatural support
+given by them to the Chevalier in his bloody invasion of this kingdom,
+and which prejudice has since been further confirmed in me by the late
+mean and notorious conduct of Lord Bute. However, I found Mr.
+Sanders, the purser, to be a respectable, religious man, having as
+little love for Papists and Jacobites as I had myself. He received me
+without much civility, but if he showed me no great favour neither did
+he do me any injury, and in his accounts he cheated the crew as little
+as any purser I ever heard of.
+
+But not to linger over these matters, the only thing that befell me
+during our voyage to the Nore was an extraordinary painful sickness
+and retching, the anguish of which I could not have believed possible
+to be borne, and which many times made me wish I had never quitted my
+father's house. During the continuance of this malady I was rendered
+quite unable to do my duty, to Mr. Sanders's no small discontent, and
+was left to the sole companionship of an Irishman, one Michael
+Sullivan, who became much attached to me, and soothed my sufferings by
+every means in his power. He was a corporal of the Marines, and had
+been three times promoted to be sergeant for his bravery in action,
+and three times degraded again for drunkenness. Among his comrades he
+was known as Irish Mick: and here I observed a peculiarity which I
+have found amongst others of that nation; for though he would
+continually be boasting of his country, and exalting the Irish race
+above every other on the face of the earth, yet no sooner did any of
+us remark on it to him that he was an Irishman than he straightway
+fell into a violent passion, as if we had laid some insult upon him.
+
+While I lay thus ill, as I have said, I lost all thoughts of the quest
+I had meant to undertake for Marian, and would not have cared if the
+ship had been bound for the infernal regions. But as soon as I was
+recovered sufficiently to come on deck, whither I was very kindly
+assisted by the Irishman, I grew exceedingly curious as to our
+destination.
+
+"Does any one know whither we are bound when we have joined the
+Admiral's fleet?" I asked of Sullivan.
+
+"Faith, and it's that same question I'm just after putting to the
+boatswain's mate," he answered, "and the sorrow a soul on board that
+knows any better than myself and yourself."
+
+He pronounced his speech with a very rich brogue, which I shall no
+more attempt to imitate than Captain Wilding's affectation. For indeed
+there seem to be as many ways of pronouncing English as there are
+people that speak it, and even in Norfolk itself I have met with
+people who were not free from something like the Suffolk twang.
+Seeing, I suppose, that I was disappointed by this answer, he leant
+over and whispered in my ear--
+
+"But it's my belief that King George is tired of the peace with the
+French, and that he's sending us out to sink a few of their ships and
+maybe bombard a town or two, just by way of letting them know that
+we're ready to begin again."
+
+I answered him impatiently, for my sickness had made me fretful.
+
+"I believe you are a fool, Mick! It is well known that we never go to
+war with the French unless they have first provoked us."
+
+"Well, and sure haven't they provoked us enough by all their doings in
+America and the Indies, not to mention the battle of Fontenoy, which
+my own cousin Dennis helped them to win, more by token; though he got
+a bullet in his left arm before the fighting begun, and had to content
+himself with cheering while the others were at it."
+
+"That will do," I said crossly, for I had heard of the battle of
+Fontenoy and his cousin Dennis before, and it was a sore point between
+us. Nor could I understand how a man who had the privilege of being
+born a British subject, though liable to the proper severities of the
+penal code against Papists, could traitorously desert his allegiance
+and take service with our natural enemies.
+
+However, I learned nothing further of our destination till we reached
+the Nore, which we did about the end of the third day. Here we found
+the rest of the squadron a-waiting us, and, the _Talisman_ being the
+biggest ship in company, Admiral Watson immediately hauled down his
+pennant off the _Victory_, of fifty guns, and came aboard of us.
+
+I was leaning over the chains with Sullivan when the barge came
+alongside, and could see a gentleman in the stern, sitting beside the
+Admiral, in a military uniform, and having a very resolute and
+commanding countenance.
+
+"Who is that?" I asked.
+
+"That? Why that's Charlie Watson," he replied, mistaking my meaning.
+"It's myself that ought to know, for I sailed under him against the
+Spaniards in '44, and a devil of a beating we gave them. Hooray!"
+
+The cheer was taken up by the rest of the crew as they caught sight of
+this gallant seaman, who had been made Rear-Admiral of the Blue in his
+thirty-fifth year, and that without any influence at his back, but
+solely on account of his splendid services in the Spanish wars. Mr.
+Wilding, who had come up on deck to receive the Admiral, looked round
+very sourly when he heard the cheer, but was ashamed to openly rebuke
+us.
+
+"Nay, but who is the other beside him," I went on to ask, being
+strongly moved to interest by the sight of this gentleman. He appeared
+to be by some years junior to Mr. Watson, who was now somewhat over
+forty, but in spite of that, and of his treating the Admiral with much
+ceremony, there was that in the air of this officer which made an
+impression of authority, and which drew all eyes towards him as soon
+as they were arrived upon the quarterdeck.
+
+Sullivan professed himself as ignorant as to the stranger's identity
+as I was myself, nor was I near enough to hear what passed when
+Admiral Watson presented him to Mr. Wilding and the other officers.
+Nevertheless, I could see that they received him with extraordinary
+respect, even the captain seeming to brisk up and to put on a more
+manly carriage under this gentleman's eye.
+
+After giving one or two keen glances round the deck, which set us all
+on the alert, the officer walked quickly forward, and the whole party
+following him, they went below, immediately after which the signal for
+weighing anchor was made to the squadron, and the crew was set to work
+putting on all sail. In the midst of which business the report ran
+round the ship, and reached me I know not from what lips, that the
+passenger we had received on board was no other than the famous Mr.
+Robert Clive, who had just been created a lieutenant-colonel by the
+king, and whom we were carrying out to India to take up his government
+of Fort St. David in the Carnatic.
+
+At this time, though Mr. Clive had not yet reached to that height of
+eminence which he afterwards attained, he was already known as one of
+the bravest Englishmen of his time, and I had heard from many quarters
+of his glorious exploits in the Indies. Although a civilian by
+profession, when the settlements of the East India Company in Madras
+were threatened with destruction by the French, he had exchanged his
+pen for a sword, and, with a mere handful of English and Sepoys, had
+captured and maintained the town of Arcot against a great army of the
+French and their allies, after which he had beaten them in many
+engagements, and in the end wrested the entire province of the
+Carnatic from their hands. Since then he had been in England, where he
+had stood for the Parliament, and, as it was thought, had given up all
+intentions of returning to Indostan. Now the news that we had him on
+board with us, and that he was on his way out, no doubt to drive the
+last remains of the French power from that quarter of the world, came
+on my ears like the summons of a trumpet, and went far to make me
+content with the accident that had thrown me in the way of the
+pressgang.
+
+Mr. Griffiths, the lieutenant, who had continued to take some notice
+of me, for which I was not ungrateful, chanced to come by while I was
+full of these thoughts, and after confirming the news which I had
+heard, fell to talking with me about our cruise.
+
+"You see I did you a good turn by bringing you off from that muddy
+fishing-hole," he was pleased to observe presently. "Now you are
+likely to see some service, and, if luck serves, to bring home a good
+share of prize-money."
+
+By this time I had called to mind the sailing of the _Fair Maid_, and
+the destination of that passenger of hers, to see whom once more I
+would have given all the prize-money in the world.
+
+"Are we like to make the Hooghley river, do you think, sir, when we
+get out to the Indies?" I ventured to ask.
+
+"That's as it may be," he answered, friendly enough. "All I can tell
+you--for I believe this to be no secret--is that our first port in
+those seas is Bombay. And further, since we cannot attack the French
+till war breaks out, I may give you to know that our first business is
+to root out certain pirates that infest that coast, and who have their
+headquarters at the citadel of Gheriah, in the Morattoes' country."
+
+I turned silent at this, remembering how I had heard the name of
+Gheriah pronounced between my cousin and Mr. Sims in the parlour of
+the "Three-decker", and feeling a dreadful apprehension that I was to
+meet with the privateers (as they called themselves) in circumstances
+which I had little desired.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Eleven months later--for we were beset by contrary winds all round the
+continent of Africa, and put in at divers places on the way--we came
+to an anchor in the harbour of Bombay. And there, riding at a mooring
+under the very walls of the fort, the first vessel that I saw was the
+_Fair Maid_ herself, looking as peaceful as if she had never fired a
+gun.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+_IN THE POWER OF THE ENEMY_
+
+
+On our voyage outward one thing had occurred to me which, as it turned
+out afterwards, was to prove of very great consequence; this was my
+learning of the native Indian language.
+
+Colonel Clive, who had never been at the pains to acquire it himself,
+had brought out in his train as secretary a Mr. Scrafton, who was well
+versed in the Indostanee, and who was obliging enough to offer to
+impart it to me, I having rendered him some services in the
+transcribing of his papers and accounts. Having much time on my hands
+on so long a voyage, I very thankfully accepted his proposal, though
+little then foreseeing the benefit I was to derive from it.
+
+This connection between us brought me a good deal under the notice of
+Mr. Clive, who was several times pleased to address his conversation
+to me, and to inquire my name and what had brought me into that
+service.
+
+When I told him I had run away from home he seemed not a little
+amused, though he affected to rebuke me.
+
+"I perceive you are a young man of a reckless spirit," he observed,
+but whether in irony or not I could not tell. "And pray what do you
+intend to do when we get to the Indies?"
+
+"Why, sir," I answered hardily, "as soon as war breaks out I mean to
+run away from the ship and enlist under your honour."
+
+"The devil you do!" he cried, a smile showing itself on his stern
+face. "Mr. Scrafton, do you hear my little purser here? I have a mind
+to report your speech to Mr. Sanders."
+
+But though he said this, I could see that he was not ill-pleased. And
+whether from that occasion or another, by the time our voyage was
+ended I was known all over the ship as Colonel Clive's purser. And how
+proud the title made me I forbear to say, but I know that if Mr. Clive
+had ordered me to march into Delhi, and pluck the Great Mogul by the
+beard, I should have thought it a little thing to do.
+
+The first thing I did after we had dropped our anchor was to beg for
+leave to go ashore, which Mr. Sanders granted with some difficulty.
+Mr. Griffiths was good enough to give me a place in the cutter, and as
+soon as we were landed I separated myself from the rest, and without
+staying to examine the curiosities of Bombay, which is a fine great
+city, built on an island, I procured a boatman to take me off
+privately to the _Fair Maid_.
+
+The boatman I applied to was an Indian. He used me with wondrous
+civility, calling me Sahib, which is an oriental term of respect, and
+bowing before me to the very ground. When we were got into the boat,
+however, he proved but a poor oarsman, and indeed all the natives of
+that country seem but a feeble race, owing, no doubt, to their
+idolatrous religion, which forbids them to eat flesh.
+
+We arrived at the stern of the _Fair Maid_ without accident, but to my
+surprise I could see nobody on the deck. Bidding the Indian wait for
+me I scrambled on board without hailing, and proceeded to examine the
+cabin. I found this likewise to be deserted, and was beginning to
+think the vessel was empty when, on turning to come out, I found
+myself face to face with a dark man in a turban, bearing a naked
+scymetar in his hand, who had crept in behind me.
+
+"Who are you?" I demanded, addressing him in Indostanee.
+
+But he shook his head, for, as I was to find out, the Morattoes, to
+which nation he belonged, speak a different dialect of their own.
+
+While I was considering what to do with him, since his behaviour was
+very threatening, I was greatly relieved by seeing an Englishman come
+in after him, who proved, indeed, to be no other than my old
+acquaintance, Trickster Tim.
+
+The sight of me gave him a great shock, and at first I believe he
+mistook me for a spirit from the other world, which perhaps was not
+strange, considering that he had last seen me on the other side of the
+globe, and lying very near to death's door.
+
+I spoke him friendly, nothing doubting that he would be pleased to
+welcome a fellow-countryman.
+
+"Well, Tim, how d'ye do, and how are all aboard the _Fair Maid_?"
+
+As soon as he had heard my voice his apprehensions vanished. He gazed
+at me for a minute, as if undecided what to do, and then, putting on a
+smile, stepped forward and shook me by the hand.
+
+"And how did you get here?" he asked. "We thought we had left you in
+Yarmouth."
+
+Not thinking any concealment needful, I told him my story, which he
+listened to very attentively. At the end he spoke some words to the
+Morattoe, who went out of the cabin.
+
+"Sit down and make yourself comfortable," he said to me. "Our men are
+all gone ashore, but the captain will come off presently and be right
+glad to see you safe again."
+
+"I can't stay long," I told him, "because I have only got leave for a
+couple of hours."
+
+At this he smiled a little queerly, but pulled out a bottle of rum and
+some glasses, and prevailed on me to take a drink with him. We sat
+thus for some time, talking, and he told me that the ship had been out
+there for more than a month, having escaped some of the headwinds we
+had had to contend with.
+
+"And what of Mrs. Rising?" I said at last, for I had been shy of
+putting this question to such a man. "I understand she took passage
+with you."
+
+He grinned at this, rather maliciously.
+
+"I thought you'd come to that," he said. "I didn't suppose it was for
+love of your comrades that you had come on board so quickly. As for
+Mistress Marian, she's ashore, and for her address I may refer you to
+the captain when he finds you here."
+
+"The captain is rather slow in coming," I observed, getting on to my
+feet. "I think I must be going ashore."
+
+With that I walked out of the cabin, Trickster Tim following at my
+heels. When I got on to the deck, I stared about me in dismay. Not a
+sign could I see of my boatman.
+
+"What's become of that fellow who brought me out?" I cried, turning to
+my companion.
+
+The scoundrel laughed in my face.
+
+"I sent word to him not to wait for you," he coolly replied, "as I
+thought maybe you'd rather stay with us."
+
+"Rascal!" I shouted, taking him roughly by the arm. "What is the
+meaning of this villainy?"
+
+"There's the captain; you'd better ask him," he answered.
+
+And turning round as the sound of oars smote on my ears, I perceived a
+boat coming alongside, and seated upright in the stern the very man of
+all others whom I had never thought or wished to see again. It was my
+cousin Rupert.
+
+He caught sight of me at the same moment, and a fierce scowl passed
+across his brow.
+
+"Whom have you got there, Tim?" he called out, standing up in the boat
+to get a view of me.
+
+"Mr. Ford, sir, purser's assistant of his Majesty's ship _Talisman_."
+
+At that moment the boat came alongside and my cousin leaped on to the
+deck, followed by four or five of the crew. He surveyed me with a
+glance of bitter hatred, mingled with triumph.
+
+"So, cousin, I did not kill you after all! Never mind, I am glad you
+have remembered your old articles and are come to join us once more.
+We have lacked a cabin-boy since your desertion, and if his Majesty
+can spare you, we shall be glad of your services."
+
+I was too confounded to reply, or to take much heed of this mocking
+harangue. I had as firmly believed Rupert to be dead as, it seems, he
+had believed me. The truth, as I gathered it by degrees afterwards,
+seemed to be this: At the moment of my casting him out of the boat in
+which we had fought, the other boat was returning to find out what had
+been the result of the battle. They had first picked up Rupert out of
+the water, when he was on the point of death, and had then found me
+senseless, and to all appearance mortally wounded, where I had fallen.
+They carried us both back with them, and finding Rupert revived, had
+concealed him on the _Fair Maid_ till she should sail. The boatswain,
+out of a kindness for me, and knowing the other's vindictive nature,
+had persuaded him that it was impossible for me to recover, and so
+they had left me.
+
+As soon as I was able to collect myself I demanded to have speech with
+Mr. Sims, the captain.
+
+"You will meet with Mr. Sims where you are going," retorted Rupert.
+"In the meantime any business you have with the captain of this vessel
+may be transacted with me."
+
+"Then I insist that you put me ashore instantly," I said, with
+resolution. "Would you kidnap me under the very guns of his Majesty's
+fleet?"
+
+"Not so fast," returned Rupert, keeping his temper, as he could afford
+to do, having the upper hand. "You have forgot your indentures, by
+which you are bound apprentice to the good ship _Fair Maid_, sailing
+under his Majesty's letters of marque and commission."
+
+"Under a forged commission," I retorted hotly. "I refuse to be bound
+by indentures to a pirate!"
+
+This outburst was, no doubt, what my cousin had been waiting for, to
+set the opinion of the crew against me. He now turned to his
+followers, very stern.
+
+"Take this youth down to the forecastle and put him in irons. If he
+repeats his scandalous aspersions, I will bring him to trial as a
+deserter and mutineer."
+
+I had no means of resistance, and his orders were carried out, the
+scoundrel who had tricked me into waiting for Rupert's return, taking
+especial pleasure to see that my irons were made secure. I scorned to
+question the dirty rascals further as to how my cousin came to be in
+command, but I guessed there had been some foul work on board since
+the vessel had left Yarmouth; and the next morning I learnt the whole
+story.
+
+Old Muzzy, my firm friend, had been ashore all that night, very drunk,
+but soon after dawn he came off to the ship, and hearing of my plight,
+at once betook himself to where I was imprisoned. He embraced me very
+heartily, and as soon as I had satisfied him as to my recovery and
+subsequent adventures, he disclosed to me the situation of the _Fair
+Maid_.
+
+"You see it's like this, my boy. Mr. Sims is a good seaman, no one
+can't say he's not, but he's too much of a lawyer to handle a craft
+like this. Now that cousin of yours, though he be a bloodthirsty,
+revengeful beast, as you should know by this time, yet he's no lawyer.
+Captain Sims, there, he was all for letters of marque and such, but
+then, once a peace breaks out, where's your letters of marque? They
+ain't no more use than so much ballast. Now when we came out here, the
+lieutenant he says, 'Let's go into Gheriah, and join the pirates
+there'--though according to him they aren't what you may call pirates,
+being under a king of their own, who has as much right to give them
+commissions as King George himself. But Captain Sims he wouldn't hear
+of it, the more so as there was a British squadron under Commodore
+Porter had been out from Bombay in the spring, and knocked some of
+their forts about their ears for them. But, you see, unless we joined
+them, we had nothing to do till such time as the war began again,
+unless we chose to take the risk of standing up and down the coast, as
+you may say, on our own hook. So the crew they sided with the
+lieutenant, that's your cousin, and the end of it was there was a sort
+of a mutiny, and Captain Sims he was carried ashore at Gheriah and
+given up to the pirates, leastways to their king, and the lieutenant
+took his place."
+
+"Then the long and short of it is that this is a pirate ship," was all
+I could say.
+
+"Well, we are, and, in a manner of speaking, we aren't. When we want
+to come into Bombay here we sail under King George's flag, and when
+we're in company with the pirates we fly theirs. Any way, we've taken
+two Dutch ships and an English one since we got out here, and that's
+put money in our pockets, which is more than Captain Sims would have
+done with his lawyering."
+
+"And I suppose I am to be carried to Gheriah and given up to the
+pirates, like Mr. Sims," I said bitterly.
+
+But this the boatswain swore with many oaths he would not permit.
+Nevertheless I could see that he was strongly attached to my cousin's
+interest, and not disposed to venture anything openly against him.
+Indeed, he tried very hard to persuade me to come into their plans,
+offering to reconcile me with Rupert if I would consent to do this. To
+these proposals, however, I would by no means consent, being more
+experienced by this time than when I had joined them at Yarmouth, and
+having a pretty shrewd notion of how Mr. Clive would regard my former
+comrades if they should fall into his hands. Finally, I besought the
+boatswain for news of Marian.
+
+He drew a grave face at this name.
+
+"Athelstane, lad, I would rather you'd ask me any other question than
+that. Plague take the girl, she was the cause of all the mischief
+between you and the lieutenant! Forget her, lad, forget her, she's not
+worth your troubling after."
+
+But he might as well have pressed me to forget who I was, and the
+situation into which my eagerness to hear of Marian had brought me.
+
+Finding me resolute to know about her, he told me this much:--
+
+"She came aboard while the _Fair Maid_ was in the river, to nurse your
+cousin as he lay ill of his wounds. But I believe he had been tempting
+her before that to come out to the Indies with him, and she held back
+for him to go to church with her first, and this he didn't care enough
+for her to do. Anyhow, it ended in his getting round her to trust
+herself with him, and he swore he would carry her straight to Calcutta
+and hand her over to her people there. When we got out here, and she
+found he had no such purpose, but meant to keep her in the fortress as
+long as it suited his pleasure, there was a terrible business betwixt
+them. But you know what the lieutenant is, and that it ain't a few
+tears from a woman that'll turn him from anything he has a mind to do.
+So he just set her ashore by force, and there she is, as much a
+prisoner as Mr. Sims himself."
+
+I was overcome with the horror of this news, though I suppose it was
+what I should have expected from my cousin's character.
+
+"Good heavens!" I cried out in my distraction. "Do you mean that she
+is in the hands of the pirates at Gheriah?"
+
+"That's about what it comes to. And the sooner you give up all
+thoughts of her the better for you, says I."
+
+Before I could frame any answer--and, indeed, I know not what answer I
+could have made--there was a great noise and trampling upon deck, and
+a man came down to tell us that the vessel was about to weigh anchor,
+and that the boatswain was wanted to attend to the service of the
+ship. Whereupon he left me, in the company of bitterer thoughts than a
+man can have more than once in his life.
+
+I pass over the dreary time spent by me in that dismal confinement
+during our voyage. Old Muzzy visited me pretty often, and once Rupert
+himself came down and made offers towards a reconcilement.
+
+"Say that you will join us honestly, and I will take off the irons,
+and rate you as one of the crew. And when occasion serves, I will
+cause you to be made lieutenant under me," he promised, "for after all
+you are my own kinsman, and blood is thicker than water."
+
+Whether he was sincere in this, or was compelled to it by my friend
+the boatswain, I do not know. But I had only one reply to give him.
+
+"And Marian, what of her?" I said indignantly.
+
+A dark look came on his brow.
+
+"Leave that business alone," he said. "It were better for you, I warn
+you fairly. That woman is mine, and I will not suffer the Almighty
+Himself to come between us."
+
+At this blasphemous avowal I turned my back on him, and would
+entertain no further proposals. However, I knew from the boatswain
+that Rupert was first for throwing me overboard; and when Muzzy, who
+had much authority with the crew, would not consent to that, he was
+for putting me into the castle at Gheriah, along with the late
+captain. But this my sturdy champion also opposed, and the end of it
+was that I was left in my present quarters when the _Fair Maid_
+arrived in the pirates' harbour, and brought them the news that a
+British squadron was on its way to besiege the place.
+
+This intelligence Rupert had acquired before leaving Bombay, and it
+was this which had caused him to set sail with so much haste. Becoming
+very busied in preparations for the defence, I luckily slipped
+somewhat out of his mind, and the boatswain took advantage of this to
+soften the rigour of my imprisonment, allowing me to take the air on
+deck, and even going so far as to release me from my irons.
+
+I was thus enabled to gain some idea of the place I had been brought
+to. When I first came up from below, after so long a time passed in
+obscurity, the daylight proved too much for my eyes, and I was obliged
+to close them, and accustom myself to the glare by degrees. As soon as
+I was able to look about me, however, I perceived that the _Fair Maid_
+was lying in a very spacious river, not far from the mouth, and over
+against a sort of rocky islet or peninsula, joined to the left bank of
+the river by a strip of sand. On the rock there was built a very
+strong castle, having a double wall and towers to protect it, but the
+cannons of rather poor calibre. Alongside of us lay the fleet of the
+pirates, composed of strange-looking vessels, having for the most part
+two masts, one very much in the stern, and rigged with a huge sail,
+the peak of which came much above the top of the mast. The prows of
+these vessels stretched a great way forward out of the water having
+the appearance of a bird's beak. The larger of these vessels, of which
+there were about ten, are called grabs, and the smaller, of which I
+counted upwards of sixty, gallivats. These latter are managed with
+oars as well as sails, and when there is no wind they are employed to
+tow the grabs behind them, so that in light weather it is easy for
+them to overtake the ship of which they are in pursuit. They were all
+armed with cannon, the grabs carrying as many as twenty or thirty
+12-pounders, and the gallivats swivel-guns of 6 or 9 pounds.
+
+We had lain in this position for more than a month, and I was
+beginning to be afraid that Admiral Watson had altered his intention
+of coming to reduce the pirates' stronghold, when one evening, as I
+sat on the deck, just at the time that the wind changed and began to
+blow in from the sea, I discerned a great commotion on shore in the
+fortress, and turning my eyes towards the river's mouth I beheld a
+most welcome sight, namely, a fleet of no less than fourteen ships,
+arranged in two lines, with the _Talisman_ at their head, sailing
+proudly in, with the British flag flying at their peaks, and their
+tops all full of men, their guns run out through their portholes, and
+their decks cleared for action.
+
+As silently and as orderly as if they were in mid-ocean without a foe
+in sight, they came sweeping up the river, doubled the rocky point,
+and anchored one after the other, within two hundred yards of the
+north wall of the fort.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+_THE SIEGE OF GHERIAH_
+
+
+Hardly had the fleet taken up its position, when I saw on the land
+side a great army of Indians march down to the edge of the river and
+pitch their camp at the end of the sandy neck, so as to cut off all
+chance of escape from the defenders of the fort.
+
+These, as I found out, were Morattoes, the king of that country,
+though not friendly to the English, having agreed to join them in this
+enterprise. Indeed, it appeared that the pirates themselves were
+revolted subjects of this king, having their origin in the treachery
+of one Angria, the Morattoe admiral, who cast off his allegiance and
+seized and fortified divers strong places along the coast, where he
+set up an independent power. For this reason the Morattoes had
+despatched an army under their principal general, Ramagee Punt, to
+assist in extirpating the pirates and regaining their former
+dominions.
+
+As soon as the ships had swung to their anchors I saw a boat put off,
+bearing a flag of truce, to summon the pirates to yield up their
+fastness. But this proposal evidently miscarried, for the boat
+returned shortly, without any motions being made towards a surrender.
+At the same time I saw the gate on the landward side of the fortress
+opened and a chieftain wearing a rich dress come forth, accompanied by
+a train of attendants, and cross over the sand spit into the
+Morattoes' camp, from which he did not return that night.
+
+This looked to me like a piece of treachery, as though the pirates
+were seeking to make terms with their fellow-countrymen behind the
+backs of the English. No doubt this transaction bore the same look to
+those on board the fleet, for when I came up on deck in the morning to
+see if any change had taken place during the night, I was astonished
+to see the space between the Morattoes' camp and the sand spit covered
+with tents, in which were about two thousand troops newly landed from
+the fleet, the last of the boats that had put them ashore being then
+half-way back, and rowing right round the grabs and gallivats, which
+were moored altogether close in under the walls of the fortress. It
+was not difficult for me to guess that this bold exploit was the work
+of Colonel Clive, who had thus placed himself between his treacherous
+allies and the enemy, effectually putting a stop to all underhand
+communications between them. And I learned afterwards that but for
+this determined action on his part, the fortress would have been
+delivered up to Ramagee Punt that very morning, and the English
+excluded from all share of the prize.
+
+I saw some messengers pass to and fro between the ships and the land,
+but nothing seemed to come of it, and finally, about ten o'clock I saw
+a signal run up on the _Talisman_, and immediately the side of every
+ship drove forth a vast cloud of smoke across the water, and the air
+was shaken by the discharge of at least three hundred guns.
+
+Now the cowardice of the pirates was made manifest, for instead of
+manning their own fleet, which might have given much trouble if well
+handled, they left it exposed to the British fire, and withdrew behind
+the walls of their fort, from which they made a feeble reply to the
+broadsides of the squadron. The consequence was that before long one
+of the shells from the fleet set fire to a large grab, and the whole
+of the pirates' vessels, being made fast side by side, caught fire
+together, and were burnt to the water's edge, amid a continual noise
+of explosions every time the flames reached a loaded cannon or a
+powder barrel. Thus was destroyed in a few hours a navy which had for
+fifty years been the terror of the Malabar coast, and had preyed upon
+the commerce of every nation trading in those seas.
+
+So taken up was I in watching this scene of destruction that I did not
+at first notice what was happening to the _Fair Maid_. Being anchored
+some way off the other vessels, and further up towards the sand spit,
+we escaped the damage that had been done to them, but now we attracted
+the attention of the British Fleet, and those on board naturally
+considering us as a prize captured by the pirates, one of the ships
+began to open fire on us, and sent a ball clean through the deck.
+
+Up to this time the crew had lain inactive, taking no part in the
+fight. My cousin had gone ashore into the fort the night before,
+taking a part of the ship's company with him, and had not returned.
+The boatswain was left in command, with about twenty men under him,
+and these now began to see that they were in a trap, being too few to
+fight the ship to any purpose, while any attempt to land would expose
+them to a destructive fire either from the fleet or from Mr. Clive's
+troops, which would come along the sand spit to cut them off.
+
+In this extremity old Muzzy took what was perhaps the boldest
+resolution any man could have come to. He decided to set sail, and
+pass right between the fort and the ships, running the gauntlet of the
+whole squadron, and thus escape down the river and out to the open
+sea. The breeze blowing out to sea, as it always does for the first
+half of the day on this coast, the plan seemed a good one, if once
+they could pass through the fire of the squadron.
+
+This course commending itself to the crew, the sails were hoisted
+accordingly, I lending a hand, for I had no desire either to take
+refuge with the pirates or to be sunk where we were; and having
+slipped our cable the _Fair Maid_ got under weigh. This proceeding
+must have struck surprise into those who were watching us, for the
+frigate which had commenced to bombard us at once stopped fire, and
+waited to see what we would do. As we had no colours flying, it was
+difficult for them to know what we would be at, or whether we did not
+mean to surrender. Had we been only concerned with the fleet, our best
+course might have been to hoist the Union Jack; but in that case we
+had to fear the guns of the fort, close under which we meant to pass.
+
+In this way we got along till we were right in the range of fire
+between the ships and the fort, and here for a minute all seemed over
+with us and I had fairly given myself up for lost. A whole broadside
+of thirty guns was fired right across us, and the only thing that
+saved us from being sunk instantly was our lying so low on the water
+that the bullets, being aimed at the walls of the fort, passed over
+our heads. As it was they did great damage to the rigging. The main
+topmast was shot away, the shrouds were torn to threads, and the gaff
+of the fore-topsail was badly wounded. Luckily for us the next vessel
+of the squadron had discharged its broadside just before we came into
+the line of fire, and the third merely signalled to know if we would
+surrender. Old Muzzy refused to answer the signal, and his conduct in
+this, and in not using the _Fair Maid's_ own guns, clearly puzzled
+those on board the fleet.
+
+By this time we had begun to round the corner of the rock, and paying
+away before the wind to go down the river, presented our stern to the
+remaining ships of the squadron. One of them gave us a broadside, but
+it was ill-directed, and only three balls took effect. They had aimed
+this time at the hull, luckily for the _Fair Maid_, as she could ill
+have stood another discharge at her rigging, and though the tiller was
+shot away, and some damage was done to the stern, it was not serious
+enough to cripple her.
+
+But just as we were beginning to breathe we were dismayed at suddenly
+receiving a bullet from one of the guns of the fort, which ploughed
+right into the deck within two feet of where I stood. I looked up
+astonished, and beheld my cousin Rupert, with the match still in his
+hand, looking over to watch the effect of his shot. The other men on
+board caught sight of him at the same moment, and a howl went up at
+this act of cold-blooded treachery. One of the fellows snatched up a
+loaded musket which lay on the deck, and discharged it at him, and I
+had the satisfaction to see him fall back swiftly, but whether
+actually struck by the bullet or no I could not tell.
+
+Distracted by this unlooked-for attack, we had not noticed a fresh
+danger from the fleet. But now we perceived that the launch of the
+Admiral's own ship, the _Talisman_, had been manned, and was bearing
+right down on us, the men on board coming with great coolness and
+daring right past the guns of the fort. In this they were fortunately
+protected by the fact that the gunners were all engaged in replying to
+the fire of the fleet, which lay anchored above, and we being now past
+the direct line of fire, and out on the middle of the river, the
+garrison paid no attention to us. However, the launch would have had
+no chance of overtaking us but for the unlucky accident to the tiller,
+which had made the _Fair Maid_ unmanageable for the moment, and caused
+her to come up to the wind. They were thus able to draw very near us
+before the man at the helm had contrived to rig up a makeshift tiller
+out of a splinter off the gunwale. Just as he began to get the ship's
+head round again the launch approached within hailing distance, and
+bade us surrender.
+
+Old Muzzy strictly forbidding any reply, they fired a bullet at us
+from a small swivel gun in the bows. Thereupon one of the crew--the
+same man who had fired at Rupert--wanted to discharge the _Fair
+Maid's_ stern gun at them; but this the boatswain would not permit.
+
+"If we're caught running away, they may let us off," he said
+prudently; "but if we're caught after firing on the king's uniform,
+it's hanging for every mother's son of us."
+
+The men saw the wisdom of this, and now the sails began to draw
+again, and give a fair chance of leaving the launch behind. No sooner
+did this happen, than I experienced a keen feeling of regret. I had
+aided heartily in our escape so far, believing it to be the only thing
+I could do, but now I thought I saw a chance of being restored to my
+ship I could not resist the temptation. I measured the distance
+between the _Fair Maid_ and the launch with my eye, and, though a poor
+swimmer, considered I might manage to keep afloat till the launch
+should pick me up. I turned round, shook hands with old Muzzy, and
+before he knew what I had in mind, plunged over the side into the
+water.
+
+I heard a cry go up from the crew, who at first thought it was an
+accident, my zeal in helping to work the ship having put it out of
+their minds that I was merely a prisoner. However, they had too much
+to do in looking after their own escape to give much thought to me;
+and in the end they got very fairly away, and disappeared outside the
+river's mouth.
+
+In the meantime the launch came on towards me, and then a thing
+happened which I may truly say brought my heart into my mouth. For one
+of the marines in her, looking on me no doubt as one of the pirates,
+raised his musket and aimed it directly at my head. The sun was behind
+me, but fell full upon his face, and I could see the narrowing of his
+eye as he took aim, also the flash of the sunlight along the barrel. I
+had made up my mind that I was a dead man, and was even hoping that
+my death would be too swift for me to feel the pain of the wound, when
+I saw the gun struck up and heard the voice of Irish Mick crying out
+in a mixture of terror and laughter--
+
+"Sure, don't you know him? It's the little purser!"
+
+The recognition came almost as near killing as saving me, for in their
+amazement the men of the launch ceased rowing, and as in my expectancy
+of death I had lost all power of motion I was like to have been
+drowned. However, they rescued me just in time, and welcomed me on
+board with a heartiness which did much to make amends for the
+suffering I had gone through since I had left their company.
+
+I told them my story, and had to tell it again to Mr. Griffiths and
+the purser when I reached the ship. Mr. Sanders received me coldly,
+and pronounced that I had been rightly served for hankering after my
+former evil companions, but the lieutenant spoke to me more kindly,
+and praised me for my refusal to join myself to the privateers, or
+rather pirates, for such they were now openly become.
+
+I claimed his promise to let me take part in the fighting, to which he
+willingly consented; though, indeed, there was but little glory to be
+gained, as the pirates were now so cowed as to have pretty well ceased
+to return our fire, and before night they had made some fresh attempts
+towards a capitulation.
+
+It fell through, however, and our bombardment was renewed the
+following day. The castle was so strong, the walls being hewn in many
+places out of the solid rock that we were unable to make much
+impression, but luckily if their walls were strong, the hearts of the
+pirates were too weak to prolong the defence, and it became merely a
+question of whether they should surrender to us or to Ramagee Punt.
+The Morattoes struggled hard, but Colonel Clive stood at his post like
+a wall between them and the fort, and after two days the pirates saw
+that they had met their master, and opened the gates to him.
+
+As soon as I knew that Mr. Clive's force would be the first to enter,
+I took Mr. Griffiths aside, and explained to him that there was an
+Englishwoman, in whom I was interested, inside the fortress, and after
+I had related the whole story to him he sent me ashore to the camp to
+lay the case before Mr. Clive.
+
+That brave man--who was good enough to express his pleasure at seeing
+me safe again--heard me with great attention. As soon as I had told my
+story he turned to his secretary.
+
+"Mr. Scrafton, you have heard what this young man says. I desire you
+will send at once for Angria's envoy, and tell him that if I find one
+hair of this girl's head has been injured I will hang him from his own
+walls."
+
+He spoke this in a stern and terrible manner, which imparted some fear
+even to me. Within an hour the message came back from the pirates'
+chief that the Colonel's orders should be strictly obeyed.
+
+This was while the negotiations for the surrender were still in
+progress. By the end of the second day's bombardment all was over, and
+Colonel Clive marched into the place at the head of 800 English and
+1,000 Indian soldiers, who formed his whole army. I was allowed to
+enter at the same time.
+
+We found the pirates drawn up inside to the number of several
+thousands. In so vast a crowd I could not distinguish the faces of any
+of the _Fair Maid_ men, nor was there a sign to be seen of my cousin
+Rupert. Out of a feeling of shame I had concealed from Colonel Clive
+that this villain was among the pirates, but I made a strict search
+for him presently all through the place, without any result. I could
+only conclude that he must have been killed during the siege, unless
+he had made his escape in some way not easy to guess.
+
+As soon as we had passed through the ranks of the pirates, whom Mr.
+Clive ordered to be disarmed and handed over to their Morattoe
+countrymen, we came into the inner court of the place, where we found
+Angria himself, surrounded by his chief men. He was a tall, handsome
+Indian, with a fierce, threatening countenance, surmounted by a
+crimson turban, which blazed with rich gems. His whole treasure lay
+beside him, and amounted, when it came to be reckoned up, to £120,000,
+which was divided among the fleet and army, I getting £6 for my own
+share. It was considered a paltry booty by the men, and some hinted
+that the officers had taken more than their portion. There was also a
+dispute between the two services as to the amount of Mr. Clive's
+share, which the army insisted should be equal to a rear-admiral's,
+while the navy would not allow it to be more than a post-captain's. In
+order to settle the matter Admiral Watson very handsomely offered to
+make up the difference out of his own share, which the Colonel with
+equal handsomeness declined; and so the affair passed off.
+
+But the greatest prize we gained in that action, to my thinking, was
+the woman whom I found crouched in terror upon the floor of a dark,
+stifling hut, built against one of the walls of the castle, and
+expecting every moment to find herself in the clutches of some savage
+enemy. For Rupert had cruelly forborne to tell her that the fortress
+was besieged by an English fleet, and when I entered the place where
+she was confined, she no doubt believed me to be some marauder of the
+same stamp as those among whom she had been kept a prisoner.
+
+I stepped up beside her with a bursting heart, and laid a hand upon
+her shoulder.
+
+"Marian," I said, "I am Athelstane Ford, who has come to set you
+free."
+
+She trembled all over as she gave a quick look up at me, and then rose
+tottering on to her feet. And when I saw her face, how it was all
+shrunken from its former roundness, and the colour had gone from her
+cheeks, and the brightness from her eyes, as she stood there before
+me, with her dress all dishevelled, and her beautiful long hair ragged
+and wild, the tears started to my eyes, and I swore a deep oath that
+if my cousin Rupert ever met me face to face again he should not
+depart alive.
+
+"Athelstane," she said presently, when we had stood gazing at each
+other like that for above a minute, "that detestable villain who is
+your kinsman has cruelly used me and betrayed me; but I believe you
+are a true man. Take me to my father, and I will bless the day that I
+ever saw you first." And before I knew what she would be at, she had
+knelt down and kissed my hand, with a passion of weeping, that proud,
+beautiful creature whom I had last seen in all the glory of her youth
+and loveliness, the jewel of her native town.
+
+I raised her up tenderly, and drew her forth out of that vile place. A
+week later the Admiral carried his fleet back to Bombay; but I had got
+my discharge, and was with Marian on board the sloop _Thetis_, of
+twenty-six guns, bound for the river Hooghley with despatches.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+_IN THE COMPANY'S SERVICE_
+
+
+And now I must pass quickly over that time of my life on which I
+should most love to linger, those halcyon hours when, with Marian by
+my side and the prospect bright before us, we voyaged through those
+Indian seas, down the long coast of Malabar and up the long coast of
+Coromandel, past the Isle of Serendib, and the reefs and foaming seas,
+to where the tangled banyan roots overgrow the muddy mouth of the
+Hooghley.
+
+Being, as we were, the only two idle persons on board that ship, we
+were thrown upon each other's company day after day, and in the long
+talks we had together she gave me her account of the injuries which
+she had suffered at the hands of my cousin Gurney. And what pleased me
+most in these conversations was not to hear her kind and loving
+professions towards myself, so much as that bitterness which she now
+manifested against Rupert, for whom, she told me, she cherished a
+hatred as strong as her former liking and attachment.
+
+"You are not to think," she said, "that I ever held your cousin in
+that regard which he was vain enough to believe and boast of. It is
+true we were good friends, and had been such before I had yet made
+your acquaintance. But he was a man for whom I had a strong distrust,
+and that in spite of his swaggering airs and gallant speeches, fit to
+turn the head of some silly, vain girl who knew nothing of the world."
+
+"How came you to put yourself in that villain's hands," I asked, with
+some reproachfulness, "by venturing on board the _Fair Maid_?"
+
+"I own that was a wrong, foolish act," she answered, "of which the
+wrongs I have suffered in consequence are sufficient proof. But when I
+first yielded to Rupert Gurney's solicitations to take my passage in
+that ship, I looked to the fact that Captain Sims was her commander,
+and it was him I relied on to afford me protection. Can you not
+understand how tired I was of my life in Yarmouth, in that old, dreary
+inn; and how I wished to be abroad and see the great world, and also
+to embrace my own parents, from whom I have been separated these
+twelve years?"
+
+Thus she made her defence. Nor was I like to gainsay it, loving her as
+I did, with the same folly and blindness as of old, and ready to see
+and to hear just as she bade me, so that I might only be let hug
+myself in the belief that I had her affection in return.
+
+"For the first part of our voyage," she told me further, "all went
+well enough, until your cousin recovered of those wounds you had given
+him. Then he began to take a tone with me which I could ill brook; and
+you may imagine my uneasiness when I perceived that he had greater
+interest with the men than Mr. Sims, and that I was fairly in his
+power. As soon as we had got out in these seas he threw off all
+pretence of taking me to Fort William; and when I implored him at
+least to set me ashore in Bombay, where I might find another ship, he
+flatly refused, and told me plainly that I was nothing more than his
+prisoner. I applied to Mr. Sims for protection, but he answered that
+it was none of his business, and since I had come aboard freely there
+was nothing penal in detaining me. This man, I could see, was afraid
+of Gurney, who shortly after raised a mutiny against him, put him in
+irons, and carried him into Gheriah."
+
+I had forgotten to say that when we took the pirates' castle, Captain
+Sims was found among the prisoners, who, producing his papers, and
+making out a long tale about his being an innocent merchant skipper,
+fallen into the hands of the Moors, not only got his freedom, but a
+handsome compensation out of the plunder of the place, with which he
+took passage home to England.
+
+Marian told me that her complaints and anger at last drove Rupert to
+put her ashore, where he gave her, like Sims, into Angria's custody.
+
+"And the horrors of that prison," she said, "are not to be described,
+nor even conceived by one who has not had experience of it. I was
+locked into a small cell, with scarce room to move or breathe, and the
+insufferable heat was such that I was forced to strip naked and lie on
+the floor, with scarce a rag to cover me. What would have happened to
+me if the fort had not been taken I dare not think. I must have gone
+mad or died."
+
+"Do not let us speak of it," I said, soothing her. "All those horrors
+are passed, and not likely to return. Where we are going, in Calcutta,
+you will find friends and English customs; and your faithful servant,
+if you will have him as such, Athelstane Ford, will stand guard over
+you with his life."
+
+This was the nearest approach which I made to a declaration of my
+love, choosing rather to drift by force of circumstances into the
+position of Marian's accepted lover than hazard all I had gained by
+seeking to pluck the fruit before it was ripe. It was sufficient for
+me in the meantime to elicit from her those expressions of abhorrence
+towards my cousin (and late rival), which assured me that she was
+effectually cured of her unhappy tenderness for that villain.
+
+"Thank heaven, you are not likely to be troubled with any further
+sight of him," I said, to clinch the matter. "After these events
+Master Rupert will be no such fool as to endanger his neck by
+trespassing on the Company's territories."
+
+"I wish never to see him, nor so much as to hear of him again," Marian
+answered warmly.
+
+With such assurances she satisfied me. Perhaps my hopes played me
+false, and made me take gratitude for something dearer; or it may be
+that Marian, who knew well enough what were my feelings towards her,
+did return me some fondness at this time, and was resigned to accept
+my suit. Even if I deceived myself, I will not repent it. For I know
+that this life of ours is but a series of illusions, where we stand
+like children at a peepshow in a fair, beholding pictures which we
+mistake for real things. So that I say that he who falsely thinks
+himself beloved is just as well off for that time as he who really is
+beloved. Yet so far as I was concerned, if any man had said to me then
+that Marian did not love me, I should have scorned him.
+
+Of my love for her I must not speak at all, or I shall never have
+done. Long before we reached the Hooghley she had recovered from the
+ill effects of her imprisonment, and moved about the ship with that
+command which her beauty gave to her. Her charm was such as I have
+never seen in any other woman: compared with them she seemed like a
+bright child among old, sleeping men, almost like a living body among
+the withered tenants of the tombs. And before we had been upon our
+voyage above a fortnight the commander and both lieutenants of the
+_Thetis_ were at her beck and call, while as for the little
+midshipmen, down to one youngster of twelve, they swore by her as if
+she were a goddess, and fought duels about her in the cockpit with
+their dirks.
+
+Before we arrived in Bengal she talked to me much about her parents,
+who had been settled at Fort William for nearly twenty years. It was a
+long time since she had had news of them, she told me, but when she
+last heard her father was prospering in his business, which was that
+of a drug factor, not in the civil service of the East Indian Company,
+but trading under their licence, and shipping his merchandise in their
+bottoms. So much she knew, but nothing besides, and it was with as
+much curiosity as myself that she saw the Sunderbunds drawing near,
+and our sloop anchoring off Falta to wait for a pilot up the river.
+
+The Hooghley, famous as it is, is only one of the mouths of that great
+river the Ganges, sacred and renowned throughout Indostan. Yet it is
+upwards of forty miles long, for so great was the distance which
+separated us from our destination. By means of a fair wind we
+accomplished this difficult navigation, dangerous on account of the
+numerous shoals, in a very few hours, passing on our way the fort of
+Budge-Budge, where the Company kept a small garrison.
+
+The scene along the banks of the river was most strange to me at this
+time, and made an impression not easy to be effaced. The trees which
+overhung the most part of the banks, of a character quite unlike
+those we have in Norfolk, were gloomy and forbidding in the extreme;
+but when we came to one of the people of the country's villages, and
+saw the men dressed in gay turbans, the women walking about with
+curious earthen vessels on their heads, and the stark naked black
+children playing in the water, I was altogether bewildered, and could
+scarcely credit that I, who saw these things and had come to dwell
+amongst them, was the same boy who had been bred up so peacefully in
+that English village among the flat meadows bordered by the shallow
+broad.
+
+However, we came at last to that place since so celebrated, though
+then considered only as the third among the Company's settlements in
+the East; I mean Fort William. The fort itself was at this date of no
+great size or consequence; but in the neighbourhood along the river
+bank were many fine warehouses erected by the English. In the rear of
+these was built the native town, which the Moors call Calcutta. Here
+the houses are generally mean and dirty; but some of the rich Indians
+lived in very noble style, having fine gardens round their houses,
+ornamented with fountains and groves of tulip trees and mangoes.
+
+Marian and I were put ashore in the ship's gig, having first bid adieu
+to the officers, and set about inquiring the way to Mr. Rising's
+house. In this at first we were unsuccessful, but at last I found an
+obliging person on the quay who directed his native servant to guide
+us to it.
+
+This man, to whom I gave a handful of pice, conducted us through some
+narrow streets of the town, very ill-paved, and full of a most evil
+smell, to a lonely neighbourhood on the side of the river further up,
+where there was a house built in the Moorish fashion, and enclosed in
+a wild garden much overrun with weeds. All round this garden was a
+high wall, conformable to the jealous disposition of these people. The
+entrance was by a narrow gate, and there was a miserable dwelling
+crouched against the wall inside, the door of which stood open. Some
+black children were playing in front of this hovel, who cried out when
+they saw us, and ran indoors. An Indian came out, very gaunt and
+fierce, who demanded in English what we did there.
+
+"We are come to see Mr. Rising," I told him, using his own language
+which Mr. Scrafton had taught me. "Is this his house?"
+
+"It is, my lord," says the fellow, much surprised, and giving a low
+bow, which they call a salawm.
+
+With that I dismissed our conductor, and Mr. Rising's gardener--for
+such he was--brought us to the house. We now saw that though
+originally a fine mansion it was sadly decayed. The walls should have
+been white, but excessive heat had cracked and blistered them, and
+turned everything to a yellowish hue. The Indian brought us inside,
+and into a long, low-ceilinged room with a great window opening on to
+the river. This room had no furniture except two small tables; but all
+round the walls was a covered settee, very broad, such as the Moors
+are used to sit on with their legs tucked up beneath them. To a
+European it is uncomfortable at first, but by degrees I grew
+accustomed to it. In this room presently Marian's father came to us.
+
+The first sight of Mr. Rising gave me a shock, and must, I think, have
+given a worse one to my companion. He was, as I knew, a man of middle
+age, yet he looked very, very old, being bent down and much wrinkled,
+with his hair nearly white. Moreover, his eyes wandered as if he were
+uncertain which way to look, and while he spoke his fingers worked
+strangely up and down his bosom, as if groping over the strings of
+some musical instrument.
+
+"Well, sir," he said in a thin, halting voice, seeming to find each
+word an effort, "what is your pleasure with me?"
+
+"I have come here, sir," I said, "with one whom you will rejoice to
+see. This is Mistress Marian Rising, your daughter, who has come out
+from England in my company."
+
+For at Marian's prayer I had strictly promised to say nothing about
+the manner of her voyage, which might have done her some discredit
+with the Calcutta folk.
+
+As I pronounced the above words the girl herself sprang forward and
+cast her arms about her father's neck.
+
+"Father!" she said. "Don't you know me--your little Marian, who has
+come home!" And she wept on his bosom.
+
+Then it was a pity to see that ancient, stricken man wakening, as it
+seemed, out of his trance, and gradually making sure who it was that
+embraced him.
+
+"My child! My child! Why have you come here?" he said presently. And
+then shed some tears himself, and clasped her to him, and kissed her.
+
+"Where is my mother?" asked Marian, as soon as she had raised her
+head.
+
+"Poor child! Your mother has been dead these eighteen months," he
+answered sadly. "I should have written to tell you of it, but I was
+preparing for my passage home--indeed, I don't know why I have not
+started before this."
+
+He gazed round him as he spoke, so as to convince me that indeed he
+did not know, and had lost the power--poor man!--to understand his
+circumstances or to take any resolution whatsoever.
+
+I came away from that strange scene terrified, not so much by what I
+saw, as by an instinct I had that this man's dreadful wreck was only a
+sign of that great and abiding horror which lay like a shadow all over
+the land; just as in the fable the glimpse of one monstrous foot was
+sufficient to warn the spectator that a giant came along. Which
+feeling in my mind was rather confirmed than dispelled when I came to
+learn, as I soon did, that Mr. Rising's sad condition was brought
+about by the drug called opium, a staple of this country, the magical
+properties of which herb seemed to me then of a piece with the
+frightful sorceries and dark secret practices of the people, as I
+afterwards came to know them, and which, with their abominable
+idolatrous superstitions, used often to make me wonder that the
+Almighty did not destroy them with His plagues of fire and brimstone,
+like those wicked Cities of the Plain. Yet one good result of my
+observance of these people's horrid customs was to inspire me with a
+becoming and devout gratitude that I had been born a citizen of
+Christian England, a blessing which we should the more prize since
+Providence has seen fit to deny it to so many millions of His
+creatures, and to bestow it upon a few. Sad it is that even among
+those few there should be found multitudes unmindful of their
+opportunities, who give themselves up to dissolute lives, or who turn
+away from the blessed truths of Scripture to hanker after liturgies
+and Romish inventions.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+And now, having arrived safe in Calcutta, I looked forward to a period
+of rest and security not only for Marian, but myself, after the rough
+taste we had both had of fortune in her cantankerous mood. As soon as
+I had seen Marian lodged in her father's house, I sought out Mr.
+Holwell, one of the principal Company's servants in Calcutta, and
+commissioner over the police of the town. To this gentleman I brought
+a letter from Mr. Scrafton, to recommend me to his good offices, and
+having read it he at once received me very civilly and promised me his
+friendship.
+
+He asked me many questions about the taking of Gheriah, and also about
+Mr Robert Clive, whose character stood high in the estimation of every
+one in Bengal, even the Moors having bestowed on him the name of Sabat
+Jung, signifying the daring in war.
+
+"We had heard of this affair before you came," Mr. Holwell told me.
+"The man Angria was famous in these parts, and supposed to be
+invincible, so that his sudden destruction by our armament has given
+the natives here an altogether new idea of the English power. It will
+be well if this doesn't do us more harm than good, for the Moors are a
+jealous, suspicious race. Our agent in the neighbourhood of
+Moorshedabad, the Nabob's capital, has warned us that the English have
+many enemies at the Court, who seek to poison the Nabob's mind against
+us. I believe there are some spies come down here to examine our
+defences and the strength of our garrison."
+
+"What!" I said. "Do you think the Nabob intends anything against us?"
+
+"No, I don't say that," Mr. Holwell answered. "The present Nabob,
+Allaverdy Khan, has always been our good friend. But he is old and
+sick, and his nephew, who is likely to succeed him, is a dangerous
+young man, puffed up with pride and conceit. If he should come to the
+throne he is only too likely to find some pretext for harassing the
+Company."
+
+To these forebodings I paid but little attention at the time, though I
+was soon to learn that they were not idle fears. Mr. Holwell, after
+having ascertained that I was acquainted with the Gentoo language,
+offered to procure me employment under the Company in one of their
+counting-houses, as interpreter, which offer I gladly accepted for the
+time. I was to receive a salary of 200 rupees by the month, in
+addition to which Mr. Holwell undertook to procure me a dustuck from
+the Governor, enabling any merchandise I chose to trade in to pass
+through the province of Bengal free of taxes or duties to the Nabob's
+government.
+
+I soon found out that this privilege of trading on their own account
+proved, together with the presents they received from native merchants
+who did business with the Company, the most valuable part of the
+livelihood of the Company's servants. Their salaries were so
+wretchedly small as to be insufficient for the necessities of life in
+this climate, where the poorest European is obliged to keep half a
+dozen black servants in his pay. For my part, I did not embark in
+trade myself, having no capital, but I accepted the offer of a Gentoo
+merchant to lend him the use of my dustuck to cover his goods, for
+which he paid me handsomely.
+
+These Gentoos, as they are called in that part of India, are the
+original natives of the country, who follow the idolatrous religion
+taught by their Bramins, practising human sacrifices and other rites
+too vile for description. Over them the Moors have established their
+empire by force, but being a military race, incapable of business,
+they commit the details of their government to certain of the Gentoos,
+who collect their revenues, and amass great fortunes. They are very
+dishonest scoundrels, as I discovered, and at first, finding me new to
+the Company's business, I have no doubt they overreached me. At the
+same time I received many handsome gratifications from them, so that I
+came to consider myself ill-used when I did not pocket a hundred or
+two rupees over a transaction involving some thousands. But in the
+course of a few weeks, as I began to understand the trade better, and
+to cut down their exorbitant demands, these men marvellously abated
+their complaisance. Some of them, even, who had professed to know no
+English, suddenly showed themselves to be conversant with it, and
+chose to conduct their negotiations with some other servant of the
+Company.
+
+During this time I was lodged, upon Mr. Holwell's recommendation, in
+the house of a respectable, God-fearing widow, Mrs. Bligh, whose son
+had recently gone up country to our factory at Cossimbuzar. Every day
+I attended at the counting-house, where I was placed under the orders
+of the Honourable Robert Byng, brother of the ill-fated admiral of the
+same name, and who managed the business of the Company's investment in
+rice, one of the principal branches of their trade. The Gentoo
+merchants came to us there to make contracts for the provision of such
+quantities as we required, after which they travelled about Bengal,
+purchasing the crops, and sending the grain down the river in barges,
+to be shipped at Calcutta for England.
+
+Another staple of the Company's commerce, and the most valuable of
+all, is silk. The Bengalee Indians are renowned for this manufacture,
+yet they have no regular places set apart for it, but in their
+villages scattered up and down the country, every man works for
+himself in his own hut, doing no more--such is the natural laziness of
+this people--than just sufficient to support him. The merchants are
+consequently obliged to travel about from place to place, collecting
+the stuff, which they do chiefly at the country fairs, where the
+peasantry assemble once a year, bringing their work to be disposed of.
+It is these customs of the people which have made it necessary for us
+to set up an establishment in their country, like the Dutch at
+Chinsurah and the French at Chander Nugger; for unless there were some
+English on the spot to collect this merchandise and have it ready
+against the arrival of the Company's fleet, the ships would often
+return empty, or be obliged to pay extravagant prices to the native
+monopolists of the trade.
+
+While I was thus employed in the daytime, I seldom allowed an evening
+to pass without visiting Marian at her father's house. Here I was most
+kindly received, and for a time my hopes ran high. But, I cannot tell
+how it was, I began presently to discover a change in Marian for which
+I could not account. While her friendship towards me was in no way
+lessened, but if possible increased, I gradually became aware that I
+did not possess her entire confidence. She would sometimes look up
+disturbed, I had nearly said frightened, at my entrance. At other
+times when we were in the midst of conversation her attention seemed
+to wander, and her expression became troubled, as if she had some
+secret anxiety preying on her mind. I cannot say how unhappy I was
+made by these symptoms, though I was far indeed from guessing at their
+cause.
+
+Suddenly, in the midst of these private disquietudes, an event
+happened which cast a shadow over the whole community of Calcutta.
+Intelligence arrived that Allaverdy Khan was dead, and his nephew
+Surajah Dowlah proclaimed Nabob of Bengal.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+_THE SPY_
+
+
+So many accounts have been written of the events which took place in
+Bengal about this time, that I shall omit as much as possible of the
+public transactions in which I was concerned, dealing rather with my
+own particular adventures in the midst of them.
+
+Of Surajah Dowlah, at the time of his accession, I knew only what was
+reported about him by common rumour in the settlement, which was that
+he was a young man of cruel and vicious propensities, ill-disposed
+towards the English in his country, and greedy for plunder. This was
+enough to make me share the uneasiness about his intentions towards
+us, which I found to prevail in the minds of Mr. Holwell, Mr. Byng,
+and other prudent persons. On the evening of the day on which I heard
+this news, therefore, I went round to Mr. Rising's house, to speak
+with Marian about her situation.
+
+It was not quite dusk when I arrived, being the month of April. To my
+surprise I found the outer gate leading into the garden close shut,
+and it was not till after knocking and shouting for many minutes that
+the Indian porter condescended to come and open it. Being angry with
+the man for this unreasonable delay, I cuffed him as I passed in--for
+without some severities of this kind there is nothing to be done with
+the natives of Bengal. The fellow, instead of cringing before me as is
+the wont of these people, gave me a black look, and muttered
+sullenly--
+
+"The lord is harsh to his servant, but another may be harsher to the
+lord."
+
+Not knowing at this time the wonderful intelligence which prevails
+among the Indians, so that news of all kinds travels about among them
+by underground channels of which Europeans are not permitted to know,
+I did not sufficiently understand the gravity of this threat.
+Dismissing it as a mere piece of insolence, however unusual, I walked
+up to the house and opening the door for myself, came into the room
+where Marian usually received me and which was the same I have already
+described.
+
+I found her sitting alone by the open window, in the dusk, looking out
+into the river. As I walked in she turned with the uneasy start I had
+remarked on former occasions, and rising hurriedly, came to meet me.
+
+"Good evening, Marian," I said, taking her by the hand. "I should have
+been here sooner but for that surly gardener of yours, who kept me
+waiting at the gate."
+
+"I will speak to him about it," she answered.
+
+It was not light enough for me to see her face, but I observed that
+she spoke in a tone of indifference, as if scarcely heeding what she
+said. At the same time she took her seat on the divan, and asked me to
+sit by her.
+
+"Is your father well?" I asked, putting the question out of courtesy,
+for by this time we both knew that the poor man was ruined by his
+dreadful habit, from which it was impossible he should ever be
+released.
+
+"Yes, I think so. I have not seen him lately," she said, still with
+the same distracted air.
+
+I will confess, plainly, that I had begun to have fears for her, lest
+either the ravages of the climate, or the sufferings she had
+undergone, had wrought upon her mind.
+
+"I come to bring you bad news," I went on. "The Nabob has died."
+
+"So I have understood," Marian replied in the same listless way. Then,
+seeming to recollect herself, she added quickly--"I learnt the news
+this afternoon from a friend."
+
+Since her arrival I knew that some of the ladies of the settlement had
+shown Marian some kindness, inviting her to their houses occasionally.
+One of these ladies, I concluded, had been beforehand with me in my
+intelligence.
+
+"I am glad to see you so easy under the circumstances," I said,
+feeling perhaps a little jealous. "I suppose you know that the new
+Nabob is no friend to the Company, and that we may have trouble with
+him before many months are past."
+
+"I suppose it may be so. But though Surajah Dowlah may have grounds
+for complaint against the Council here, I can't think he will carry
+his resentment so far as to injure the peaceable inhabitants of
+Calcutta."
+
+I turned towards her, amazed.
+
+"What do you say?" I cried. "You speak as though you were in the
+Nabob's interests! Have you been listening to the talk of some Moor or
+other? If so, let me tell you that they are nothing but liars and
+traitors, every mother's son of them!"
+
+"You needn't be so fierce!" she returned, more warmly than she had yet
+spoken. "I have had no conversation with any Moor, or Gentoo either,
+upon the subject. Surely I may have leave to think as I choose,
+without being bound to take my opinions from Mr. Athelstane Ford!"
+
+"Oh Marian, Marian!" I exclaimed bitterly, wounded by these unkind
+words. "What have I done to forfeit your confidence? Have I not been
+faithful and true to you from the first hour of our acquaintance till
+now? You know that I am the best friend you have, and one who would
+die to serve you. Yet these several days past you have behaved to me
+as if you had plans which you wished to keep from me. Do you doubt of
+my being ready to do anything you should bid me, even if it were to go
+to Moorshedabad and enlist with Surajah Dowlah himself? Why are we not
+to be open with each other? You know I love you; I have told you so
+often enough before we ever came out to this dreadful land; and I
+think I have shown myself ready to prove it as well. Even now I have
+come here simply to provide for your safety. In a few days the
+unfavourable monsoon will set in, after which no ship can leave the
+coast, but this week there is a vessel sailing for Madras, on which I
+am able to secure a passage for you, and for Mr. Rising as well, if he
+will go. I have come to offer you this opportunity, and entreat you to
+accept of it. And if there are any who would persuade you to remain,
+depend upon it, they are your enemies and not your friends."
+
+She heard me out, sitting quite still and showing no sign of
+impatience. But when I had finished she said--
+
+"I thank you, Athelstane, for your kind intentions, and for your
+goodness in the past, of which I do not need to be reminded. As for
+what you say about your love for me, since you have spoken so plainly,
+I must needs tell you that I am not able to return it. I have tried,
+both on the voyage hither and since; and I have failed. Your loving
+friend I am, and hope to remain always, no matter what may happen to
+part us for a time. Nevertheless, I don't share your fears of what
+the Moors may do against us, and I will not leave Calcutta, though I
+thank you for your offers."
+
+She seemed as if about to say more, but stopped abruptly. Of the deep
+distress which I felt to hear her declare that my love for her was
+hopeless, I say nothing, for what can be said? There are some to whom
+that great prize, the chief that life affords, namely the love of the
+woman they have chosen, is granted, but to most men, I suppose, it is
+denied; and I but shared the common lot. These things are the most
+important in our lives, they leave bruises whose marks are never quite
+effaced; yet all passes secretly; the business of life goes on, the
+world sees our actions, our outward triumphs and losses, and knows of
+nothing else. There was not a soul in Calcutta who ever knew what had
+passed between Marian and me on this occasion, and yet those few words
+were a worse grief to me than all the other sufferings I had to
+endure; and in that single hour I was changed from a boy into a man.
+
+After this I dared not press her again on the subject of leaving
+Calcutta. With a heavy heart I watched the last ship go down the
+Hooghley on the way to England, and the very day after it had gone I
+received a message in writing from Mr. Holwell, in these words--
+
+    "Haste to the Council meeting, and ask for me. We are in receipt
+    of threatening letters from Moorshedabad, and need your
+    services."
+
+Not a little agitated, I thrust the letter into my pocket, and
+hastened round to Mr. Drake's, the Governor's house, where the Council
+was assembled, he being confined indoors by an illness. I sent in my
+name to Mr. Holwell, who immediately came out and fetched me into the
+room where they were met.
+
+Mr. Drake lay on a couch against one of the windows, while the other
+gentlemen were seated around in a circle, facing him. He was a stout
+man with a red face, who had spent many years in the East Indies, and
+by dint of an important manner and never having been placed in any
+situation of real difficulty, had passed down to this time for a very
+prudent and capable person. On my entrance he spoke to me rather
+peremptorily--
+
+"You are Mr. Ford, are you not?"
+
+I nodded.
+
+"I am told that you speak the Indostanee language. Is that so?"
+
+"Yes, sir," I said. "Mr. Holwell and Mr. Byng are aware of it."
+
+"Very good." He nodded his head once or twice. "Those gentlemen have
+recommended you to the Council as a discreet, intelligent young man,
+which I do not doubt you are. There is an employment which I have to
+propose to you, one which calls for those qualities, and also for
+courage. The question is, young man"--he fixed his eyes on me very
+sternly--"do you think you possess courage?"
+
+"I don't know," I answered bluntly, not much liking his manner of
+questioning me.
+
+"Ha!" He gave a sort of sniff, and looked about him scornfully.
+
+"But I have fought one duel, and am ready to fight another with any
+one who doubts me," I said, speaking in a modest voice. And some of
+the gentlemen laughed and clapped their hands.
+
+The Governor frowned severely.
+
+"I believe, Mr. Ford, that you intend no disrespect to this Council by
+your answer?" To this challenge I made no response. "Very good, I
+daresay you may be equal to the commission we have to offer you. You
+must know that we have received letters from the newly proclaimed
+Nabob of Bengal, complaining of certain improvements we have made in
+our defences. Those improvements were made in the prospect of the
+French war, but the Nabob chooses to regard them as directed against
+him. Now the point is this, that we believe information has been
+supplied to Surajah Dowlah by some person in this town, not one of the
+Indians, but a European, who must have some means unknown to us of
+coming to and fro. We have set a watch, but are unable to detect him.
+Mr. Holwell has suggested that you might undertake this task, and by
+reason of your ability to communicate with the Gentoos in their own
+language, succeed in discovering this person; in which case we are
+prepared to pay you a very handsome reward."
+
+I did not feel much inclined to this proposal at the first blush,
+considering that it carried little honour with it. But Mr. Holwell,
+who no doubt divined my objections, set himself to remove them.
+
+"You will render the Company and the whole settlement a great service
+if you are able to effect this, Ford," he said. "The fact is that the
+presence of a European spy, most probably a Frenchman, is a source of
+very great danger. There are many weak points in the fort, for
+instance, which would be overlooked by a Moor, but of which fatal
+advantage may be taken if they are communicated to an enemy by an
+intelligent observer. I think it is your plain duty to assist the
+Council if you can."
+
+"That is enough, sir; I will do my best," I replied.
+
+The Governor then dismissed me, and the Council broke up. I believe
+letters were sent to Surajah Dowlah, to explain the circumstances
+which had awaked his suspicions, but without any good effect.
+Meanwhile Mr. Holwell carried me to his house, where we laid our plans
+for the detection of the spy.
+
+It was settled that I should assume the dress of a Moor, and in that
+character should pass my time about the fort and adjacent grounds,
+that being the place to which a person seeking information would be
+most likely to repair. Mr. Holwell provided me with a turban, jacket,
+and blue trousers, and I stained my face with a pigment which he
+assured me would not easily come off. At the same time I wore a
+scymetar in my belt, and put a pair of pistols in my bosom. Thus
+disguised I went out for a walk through the bazaars, and had the
+satisfaction to observe that I was everywhere taken for a Moor. But
+when I spoke I was not so successful, my practise in the language not
+being sufficient to impose upon the Indians.
+
+As soon as I had satisfied myself by this experiment that my disguise
+was accurate, I returned towards the fort, and commenced walking about
+it, observing the persons who came in and out on their business. But
+though my suspicions were once or twice attracted to different ones,
+yet I found nothing to go upon. In this way not only one day passed,
+but several others, and I began to despair of success.
+
+On the fourth day of my watch, however, about seven o'clock in the
+evening, as I happened to be looking abroad of the river, which is
+here pretty wide, and contained a good deal of small shipping, I
+noticed a man in a boat, which he rowed himself, who appeared to be
+lurking about for no very honest purpose. Instead of either landing or
+going off in some fixed direction, this man plied to and fro, close
+under the wall of the fort, which he seemed to examine very closely
+from time to time. As well as I could make out he was a Moor, and my
+instructions were to watch for a Frenchman, yet I was rendered so
+uneasy by the movements of this individual that I resolved to go out
+on the water, and examine him more closely. Accordingly I left the
+place where I was, near the north gate of the fort, and strolled down
+to a small flight of stairs on the river bank, where some boats lay
+for hire. Stepping into one of these, I cast off, and taking the oars,
+which I had learned to handle during my term of service on board the
+_Talisman_, rowed slowly out towards the spy, as I believed him to be.
+
+When he saw me coming towards him, he at first pulled a few strokes as
+if to make away, but being, as I suppose, reassured by the sight of my
+costume, he ceased rowing and waited for me to come up alongside.
+Glancing round from time to time as I drew near, I soon perceived that
+I had no Frenchman to deal with, or at least that, if I had, he had
+taken the same precaution as myself in assuming the dress of the
+country. Feeling desirous to test him, I hailed as soon as I came up,
+in the native tongue.
+
+"Does my lord seek for anything that his servant may procure him?" I
+said, using their fulsome style.
+
+He at once replied, in what was evidently a phrase learnt by rote--
+
+"I cannot speak your language, but I am a friend of Omichund."
+
+Now this Omichund was a great, rich Gentoo, a banker and merchant who,
+having made huge profits as a broker in the matter of the Company's
+investment for many years, had recently had his services dispensed
+with, and was believed to be disaffected on that account, and in
+correspondence with the Moorish Court. I needed no more to convince me
+that this was most likely the man whom I had been employed to
+apprehend. Not daring to speak English, and it being useless to
+address him in the Indostanee, I made signs that he should follow me,
+and commenced to row to the shore.
+
+But here I was disappointed, for the fellow, instead of following me,
+at once began to move off in the opposite direction. Seeing this I at
+once turned, shouting after him, and pointing where I would have him
+go. He merely grinned and rowed further off, nor was it any better
+when I showed him one of my pistols, for he then merely increased his
+speed, so that I was obliged to pick up my oars again pretty quickly
+in order to pursue him.
+
+Seeing that it was become a race between us, he bent to his oars, and
+I did the same, so that the two boats flew down the river, one about
+twelve lengths behind the other. But taking advantage of a string of
+barges which lay anchored out in the stream, he presently dodged me,
+running in round the tail of the line, and so altering his course up
+the stream. If I had not turned my head constantly to watch him, I
+should soon have lost him among the shipping, and these frequent
+turnings hindered my rowing, so that I could not gain on the other
+boat so fast as I should otherwise have done. For I soon perceived
+that I was the better rower of the two, or else had the quicker boat;
+and the spy seemed to perceive it too, for after taking me some
+distance up the middle of the river, he suddenly struck off towards
+the bank, rowing hard for a house which had come in sight, standing on
+the river's edge.
+
+As we approached this house I could just see (for it was growing dark)
+a large window standing open, not above a man's height from the water.
+To this my fellow rowed, and having brought his boat beneath it, threw
+down his oars, stood up on the gunwale, and with a desperate leap
+which nearly sunk the boat, gained the sill of the window and
+disappeared inside.
+
+But I was close behind, running up against the side of his boat at the
+moment when he passed in at the window, so that by imitating his
+tactics I was able to leap through immediately after him. I stumbled
+in alighting, picked myself up, and glanced round, to perceive the man
+I had been pursuing standing over against me with a pistol in his
+hand. The next moment I had recognised the room, and there was Marian
+standing up with a distressed face, one hand on her bosom and the
+other stretched out between us.
+
+"Stand back!" shouted the spy to her in English, in a voice that I
+could have recognised anywhere in the world. "This is a damned Indian
+spy, whom I will kill as soon as I have questioned him."
+
+"You lie, Rupert Gurney," says I, quite calm and cold, as I drew out
+my own pistols and stood facing him. "'Tis you are the spy, in the
+service of a vile, treacherous, Moorish tyrant, to whom you would
+betray your countrymen."
+
+I do not think I have ever seen a man so overwhelmed as was Rupert by
+those words, though the surprise of this encounter must in reality
+have been less to him than it was to me, since Marian had of course
+told him of my being in Calcutta. His jaw dropped, and he ceased to
+present his pistol at me, no doubt being well aware that I would not
+take him at a disadvantage.
+
+"Yes," I continued, "not satisfied with your piracies and murders, for
+which you are justly afraid to show your face in any English
+community, you are now become a traitor and a public enemy. You have
+hired yourself out to that bad man, Surajah Dowlah, and go about to
+deliver your fellow Christians into the hands of Mussalmans and
+heathen."
+
+"Not so fast, young man," says Rupert, resuming his natural insolence.
+"Your reproaches are unfair in one particular at least. I am no longer
+a Christian, having exchanged that religion for the more convenient
+and profitable one of the Alcoran."
+
+He added a coarse jest which I am ashamed to write down, and which a
+year or two before I believe he would have been ashamed to utter. I
+have heard that residence in the East Indies has this effect upon some
+men, to change their characters to evil, so that when they return to
+Europe they are no longer fit for the decent society of their own
+country. And though my cousin Gurney was an unscrupulous and daring
+young man before ever he left Norfolk, yet I believe he was altered
+for the worse after his visiting those parts.
+
+Marian, standing terrified between us, now interfered to say--
+
+"Be silent, Rupert, if you please. And you, Athelstane, since you
+perceive your cousin is here under my father's roof, I entreat you to
+retire as you came."
+
+"I cannot, Marian," says I, very firm. "I am charged to take that
+traitor and villain, and I will do it, dead or alive."
+
+In spite of his bravado I could see Gurney wince under these words,
+though he affected to make light of them.
+
+"Leave us together, girl," he said to Marian. "I will tame this young
+cockerel, as I would have done before if he had fought me fairly, with
+the weapons agreed to be used by us."
+
+My blood boiled to hear this shameful taunt.
+
+"You coward!" I cried, "I spared your life once, as you well know, and
+then you would have murdered me in cold blood because the cutlass
+broke that I had of a Jew! But I will fight you now with sword,
+pistol, or both, and this time I swear that you shall not escape with
+your life."
+
+But Marian would not consent to this.
+
+"You are not to fight," she exclaimed. "Do you hear me, Athelstane
+Ford? Your cousin wants nothing but to be allowed to go away in
+safety; and would you be the one to deliver your own blood up to
+justice? For shame!"
+
+"Shame, indeed!" I retorted bitterly, all the anguish that was pent up
+in my heart breaking out. "Shame that I who have loved and served you,
+and delivered you out of the prison where this very man had put you,
+should be asked to spare him now by you, whom he has never truly
+loved, whom he has betrayed and slighted, and is ready to betray
+again. I know not, though I can guess, by what wheedling tale he has
+cozened you to forgive him, and to lend him shelter and protection in
+his base designs; but do you think, Marian, that that villain standing
+there will care for you one moment longer than you can be of use to
+him, and that he will not leave you to a worse fate than before when
+he has done with you, and that without the least compunction? I have
+loved you a long time, Marian, but I have never understood you, and if
+this is your intention then I think you cannot be in your true mind."
+
+I looked to see her break out and weep, but she did not. She cast her
+eyes to the ground, and said, when I had finished, speaking low--
+
+"I think you are right, and that perhaps I am not in my true mind. For
+there are times when I know and see all the falsehood and wickedness
+of this man's heart as well as ever you can tell it me, and yet I tell
+you, to my own bitter shame, that I love him so that if he bids me
+follow him into any disgrace or crime, God help me, I cannot refuse!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+_TAKEN CAPTIVE_
+
+
+Rupert, when he heard those words of Marian, gave a laugh, and
+advanced a step towards me.
+
+"There now, you see how it is," he said, "as I told you long ago in
+Yarmouth; but you wouldn't believe me. Come, why need we keep up our
+quarrel any longer, when the girl tells you to your face that she
+prefers me? After all, we are of the same blood, good Norfolk
+dumplings both; and if I have done you any injury in the past, I am
+here ready to tender my best amends for it."
+
+He spoke this with a brave air, and I believe was going to offer me
+his hand. I must confess that I was a little touched with compunction
+at that mention of Norfolk, where I was born. Something, too, of that
+old superiority and fascination which this man had exercised over me
+in my boyhood revived as he spoke. But the memory of his subsequent
+treacheries and crimes was too strong for me to feel more than a
+momentary inclination towards yielding. I drew back from him,
+therefore, and shook my head.
+
+"If we are related, it is a thing I cannot help, though it is to my
+shame," I answered him. "But I will have no more part nor lot with
+you, were you the last of my kin left on earth. Do not suppose that,
+because Marian is so far bewitched that she has forgiven you your
+wicked treatment of her, I shall do the same. What are you now but a
+traitor to your countrymen, and a spy in the service of a bloody
+Indian tyrant? Rupert Gurney, I must tell you that I hold you for a
+detestable villain and a coward, and I will pursue you without truce
+and without rest till I have rid the earth of such a wretch. And I am
+here now ready to begin."
+
+My anger against him gathered and swelled as I spoke, recalling his
+base actions, so different from his words. He immediately let me see
+that his behaviour was not changed, for before I had well done
+speaking he suddenly raised his pistol and discharged it in my face;
+after which he turned and ran out through the doorway, without waiting
+to see the result of his shot. To do my cousin justice, I believe he
+had plenty of natural courage, being of the right Ford strain, as he
+said. But after that great combat which we had in the boat off
+Yarmouth river, he never faced me again without a certain reluctance
+and blenching, as though his conscience misgave him.
+
+I was very little hurt on this occasion, for the ball entered my
+mouth sideways, merely depriving me of two teeth, and issuing again
+through the left cheek. But the sudden pain and bleeding incommoded me
+so far as to hinder my pursuit of Rupert, so that he got clear away
+and left the town that night, it seems, for Moorshedabad.
+
+I reported the affair to Mr. Drake, merely concealing some details, as
+that this was my kinsman; and he was so well satisfied to have got rid
+of him that he promised me I should receive half the reward offered
+for his capture. But the subsequent events doubtless put it out of his
+mind, for I never received anything. And on the whole I was satisfied
+with this, not wishing to make a profit, as it were, out of the
+treachery of one of my own family, however unworthy.
+
+Even had I succeeded in taking Gurney, and had he been executed, it
+was now too late to have altered the course of events. Every day
+brought fresh intelligence confirming the hostility of the Nabob
+towards the English. One day he sent to demand the levelling of Fort
+William to the ground, the next he threatened the withdrawal of the
+Company's privileges, and in particular the dustucks, which he said
+were abused by being lent to Gentoos, his own subjects. Finally word
+came that Surajah Dowlah had marched out of Moorshedabad with his
+army, and had sat down before Cossimbuzar, where we had a factory and
+a small fort.
+
+All this time the Governor and others of the Council had refused to
+believe that anything was intended beyond extorting a sum of money
+from the Company. But the wiser and more prudent ones, among whom were
+Messrs. Byng and Holwell, took a different view, which they made me
+share. Now at last Mr. Drake seemed to rouse from his supineness, and
+gave orders for the town and fort to be prepared against attack.
+Before these orders could be carried out, however, arrived the news
+that Mr. Watts, chief of the Cossimbuzar party, was a prisoner in the
+Nabob's hands, that the place was surrendered, and plundered by the
+Moors, and that our garrison, though promised security, had been so
+barbarously used by them that Mr. Elliott, the commanding officer, had
+taken his own life.
+
+And now men began to tell each other fearful stories of Surajah Dowlah
+and his career. It was said that when he was a child his favourite
+pastime had been the torturing of birds and animals, from which, while
+still in his boyhood, he had passed to mutilating slaves; that not
+only had he given himself from his earliest years to every species of
+oriental lust--some too vile to be named--but he was even a drunkard,
+a vice forbidden by the Alcoran and foreign to the manners of
+Indostan. To his great-uncle, the late Nabob, who doted on him to
+distraction, he had shown, it was said, the basest ingratitude,
+insolently taking advantage of the old man's affection to accomplish
+his crimes and murders with impunity, and, if restrained in any of
+his desires, to withdraw from the Court and threaten rebellion,
+knowing that his uncle would yield anything rather than endure the
+absence of his darling. At the present moment, it was affirmed, he had
+quarrelled with and set aside all the wisest and principal men in his
+dominions, and was governed by minions of his own, buffoons and such
+creatures, sprung from the lowest class and promoted to high stations
+as a reward for their participation in his guilty orgies. Such was the
+young man, incapable of reason or mercy, and passing from one
+transport of passion to another, who was now in full march with all
+his force against Calcutta, having sworn to exterminate the English
+from Bengal.
+
+Immediately I found there was talk of resistance and fighting, I went
+to Mr. Byng and begged to be allowed to serve with the garrison. This
+offer he thankfully accepted, and in the course of a day or two every
+other Englishman in the town either volunteered or was pressed into
+the same service. Our regular garrison consisted of only two hundred
+European troops, to which were added some Topasses, a mixed breed of
+Indians and Portuguese, very suitable to be used as mercenaries, and
+about a thousand of the black natives armed as buxerries, or matchlock
+men. Out of regard to my having been the first to volunteer and to my
+former service on board a man-of-war, I was presently appointed a
+sergeant, and put in charge of a party of twelve men, assigned to the
+defence of the rope-walk which joins the main east road from the fort
+to the Morattoe ditch.
+
+Besides this ditch, begun to be dug many years before at a time when
+the Morattoe armies were invading Bengal, and never finished, there
+was no fortification of any kind round the town; so that barricades
+had now to be thrown up, and guns planted in the streets at whatever
+points seemed most favourable for intercepting the advance of the
+enemy. The plan of defence, so far as any plan was adhered to in the
+confusion and panic which prevailed, was to defend these outposts as
+long as possible, then to retire into Fort William itself and stand a
+siege, and when the fort could be maintained no longer to take to the
+ships which lay in the river, and drop down the stream out of reach of
+the enemy.
+
+My own post was, as I have said, at the rope-walk. At one end of this
+place, on the main road into the town, was a battery under the command
+of a captain, so disposed as to check any advance. But in case the
+enemy should try to creep round through some side streets and take the
+battery in flank, our little party of twelve was stationed at the
+other end of the rope-walk, ready to detect and resist any such
+attempt.
+
+The first notice we had of the arrival of the Moors' army was by a
+cannon fired on the north side of the town, at a place where the
+Morattoe ditch joined the river Hooghley. This being the direct way
+for an army coming from Moorshedabad to enter Calcutta, the Moors here
+made their first attack, and all that day the sound of cannon and
+musketry came to us on the breeze, without our seeing the enemy or
+knowing how the fortune of the day was turning. But with evening came
+the good news that the enemy had been repulsed and had drawn off to
+the other side of the ditch.
+
+That night we did not dare to retire to rest indoors, but slept at our
+post, under a shed put up over some wheels on which the twine was
+wound. At four in the morning we were up and eating some bread and
+cold meat sent to us from the fort for our breakfast, when suddenly we
+heard a fearful rattle and crash of musketry close at hand. The enemy
+had been informed of the gap in the Morattoe ditch further south, had
+swarmed across it, and were now attacking our outposts all along the
+line.
+
+Leaving our meal half-eaten, we sprang to our feet and took our
+weapons. I ordered the men not to expose themselves more than was
+needed, an order which one or two of them obeyed so zealously as to
+place themselves where they could neither see nor be seen by the
+enemy, and where all they did was to load their muskets and discharge
+them into the air in the direction from which the attack seemed to
+come. However, I found some braver than that, and as the Moors seemed
+much afraid of our fire we held them at bay well enough. Their own
+fire was more frightening than dangerous, the noise being out of all
+proportion to the number of persons hit. So much was this the case
+that after some hours had gone by without a single ball taking effect
+on any member of our party, their first fears wore off and all began
+to expose themselves in a very reckless manner.
+
+There was a wall forming the side of the rope-walk, about four feet
+high, and behind this wall we stood and fired at the Moors as they
+showed themselves in any of the streets commanded by our position. I
+cannot describe how interested and excited I got in this cruel sport,
+for such it resembled. I chose for myself a long, narrow street
+leading to the southward, with about a dozen lanes crossing it from
+east to west. Loading my gun and resting it on the coping of the wall
+with the muzzle pointed down this street, I kept my eyes on the
+various openings. Every quarter of an hour, perhaps, a small party of
+soldiers in bright silk turbans, with glittering arms and armour,
+would pass out from one of the lanes into this street, either crossing
+it or moving up or down. Each time I would wait till a whole group
+emerged, so as to have a bigger target, and then discharge my piece.
+Almost invariably a man would fall, and the whole party, terrified and
+not understanding the smallness of our force, would run into one of
+the lanes adjoining, leaving a wounded or dead man lying in the
+deserted street. This went on till, I think, fifteen or twenty bodies
+lay at different points along the roadway, besides those who, being
+slightly hurt, had crawled away into shelter.
+
+In the end I suppose the Moorish leader in this part of the attack
+must have had notice of our proceedings; for presently a force of some
+thirty or forty Indians emerged suddenly from a corner very near the
+rope-walk and advanced towards us at a run, firing freely as they
+came. Now it was that one of our men was hit for the first time, a
+Company's servant named Parkes, a young lad who had arrived in Bengal
+only six weeks before from England. A ball struck him under the right
+eye, and he died in a few minutes.
+
+This accident caused the rest of us to take more care. Nevertheless,
+we managed to get off a good volley before the enemy could arrive as
+far as the wall, wounding several. The rest wavered, and would,
+perhaps, have fled but for the action of their leader, a tall, fine
+man, having a great scymetar in his hand, with which he struck his men
+violently on the shoulders to urge them forward. Seeing them resume
+their rush at our position, I looked round at my own men, and to my
+disgust found several preparing to desert their places and retire
+further back.
+
+"Stop!" I shouted angrily. "Let us show these black villains we are
+not afraid of them! Fix bayonets! Forward! Charge!"
+
+With these words I leaped over the wall and ran at the enemy, followed
+by my whole party, except one man, who actually threw down his piece
+and fled, not stopping till he reached the fort. But he need not have
+done this, for had he stood a moment he would have seen the whole
+party of Moors break and fly without waiting to close with us, so much
+were they terrified by the way in which we sprang over the wall to
+come at them. And this is, indeed, the nature of all the natives of
+Indostan--to give way instantly that they meet an enemy who is more
+bent on fighting than they are themselves.
+
+The only person to stand his ground was the leader of the party, who
+waited for us to come up, and then, singling me out, aimed a blow at
+me with his scymetar. Up to this moment I had been too busy to observe
+his face, and my rage knew no bounds when I discovered that I had to
+do with my renegade kinsman himself, who, it appears, had been
+searching for me from the very beginning of the battle. How it would
+now have gone between us I cannot say, for several of my men closing
+in round us almost immediately, Rupert saw his danger and ran off, and
+my duty to defend the rope-walk forbade me from following.
+
+For the rest of that day we were not much disturbed, except by the
+continual pattering of bullets, which seemed to come from all quarters
+of the compass. When night came, being anxious to learn how the siege
+had progressed in other quarters, I sent a messenger to the fort, who
+brought back word that the enemy had made no very great impression so
+far, but that everything was in such a state of confusion and dismay
+at the headquarters that it was impossible we could hold out much
+longer.
+
+Not to dwell on these particulars, the next day saw the end of this
+unhappy affair. Early in the forenoon the Moors made a very hot attack
+on the battery at the far end of our rope-walk, and at the same time a
+fresh party, headed by my wicked cousin, assailed our position. I
+restrained my men from discharging their muskets till the Indians were
+within a few paces of us, with the result that we did great execution,
+nearly a dozen of them falling. The rest fell back for a moment, but
+Gurney urging them on, they rushed up and made a desperate attempt to
+clamber over the wall.
+
+While we were hard at work keeping them off with our bayonets, I heard
+a tremendous crash and shouting in the rear, from the point where the
+battery was placed. This noise seemed greatly to encourage our
+assailants, several of whom managed to get over the wall and engage in
+hand to hand conflicts with the men under me. Nevertheless, I stirred
+up my fellows to continue their resistance, and myself beat back two
+Moors, one of whom I ran through the body with my bayonet. So absorbed
+was I that I did not observe the approach of a young ensign from the
+battery, who came running along the rope-walk, shouting out--
+
+"Fall back! fall back! The battery is abandoned to the enemy, and they
+will cut off your retreat."
+
+At this the men with me began to slacken their exertions, and some
+fairly took to their heels. However, I had just caught sight of Rupert
+advancing towards me and did not feel inclined to budge.
+
+"Come back, you fool!" shouted the little ensign, pale and breathless.
+"We are beaten, don't you hear?"
+
+I turned my head and scowled at him.
+
+"You seem to be beaten, sir," I said. "For my part, I am very
+comfortable where I am, and intend to go on fighting."
+
+With these words I turned to defend myself from Rupert, who was coming
+at me eagerly enough, as it seemed. The ensign fled without further
+parley, and I believe saved his life. So also did most of my
+companions, though two others were badly wounded, and unable to stir.
+For my part I was resolved to sell my life dearly, but this privilege
+was denied me. For Gurney, as soon as he saw how the land lay, and
+that I was left there alone, instantly drew back and ordered his men
+to take me a prisoner, which, being by this time about thirty or forty
+against one, they effected, whether I would or not.
+
+My cousin's exultation was very great when he thus had me for the
+second time in his power.
+
+"Now, Master Athelstane," he cried, "we shall see whether you get off
+as lightly as you did at Gheriah. You are not likely, I think, to be
+rescued by a fleet this time. But perhaps you will be glad that I
+should take you without more ado before the Nabob. He has a high
+opinion of the English, and no doubt will be glad to take you into his
+service and give you many handsome rewards."
+
+"Rupert Gurney," I answered, "in mocking at one who is your prisoner,
+owing to no valour of yours, you merely show yourself to be a coward
+as well as a traitor. I care nothing for what the Nabob may do to me;
+and this I know, that I would rather he put me to death outright than
+enjoy his favour by such services as yours."
+
+"Thank you, cousin," says Rupert, who was able to keep his temper now
+that he had the better of me. "I am glad to learn that you will not
+seek to undermine my credit with his Highness. But now, if you are
+sufficiently rested, let us proceed."
+
+Speaking these mocking words, he made his men bind my wrists together
+with a cord, and conducted me out of the streets of the town towards
+Surajah Dowlah's camp.
+
+The tent of the Nabob was a fine great pavilion of yellow and crimson
+cloth. All about the entrance stood his guards, very handsomely
+dressed, with silver and gold ornaments, and armed with all sorts of
+curious weapons, some of which I had not seen before. Inside, when we
+were presently admitted, the spectacle was still more striking. The
+Nabob sat on a high cushion, called the musnud, placed on a daïs
+which was raised several feet above the ground. On the daïs beside him
+stood three of his principal courtiers, in silk robes and turbans
+incrusted with gems, while others of inferior rank stood below the
+steps of the daïs. A slave beat the air with a fan of peacock's
+feathers over the Nabob's head.
+
+I gazed with great curiosity and awe upon this young prince, who was
+now making his name terrible through Bengal. I was amazed to see that
+he was extremely young, scarce older than myself, with a face, I
+think, the handsomest of any Indian's I ever saw: yet his face was
+marred, and his youthfulness made unnatural by the ugly traces of his
+passions. His skin appeared coarse and blotched, his lips were thick
+and purple-coloured, and his teeth--an unusual thing among Moors--very
+black and dirty, when he spoke. He lay back somewhat on his throne,
+with his chin leaning on his breast and his heavy eyes turned to the
+ground. In spite of the waving of the fan, the heat seemed to oppress
+him; or else it was the weight of his turban, for he passed his hand
+over his brow every now and then as if he would have lifted it off.
+His fingers, I noticed, were much encumbered with rings, besides which
+he wore bracelets, and ear-rings in his ears. But when he lifted his
+eyes from the floor and looked at me, I was appalled by the expression
+in them, which was not that of common ferocity, but rather dreadful
+despair, like a lost soul that is goaded on to assuage its own pangs
+by the torture of others.
+
+"Who is this dog?" he asked in a husky, soddened tone, as I was
+brought up to the foot of his daïs.
+
+"It is one of the ungrateful wretches who have dared to resist the
+slaves of your sublime Highness," was the answer. Rupert had come in
+with me, so as to take the credit of my capture, but the conversation
+with the Nabob was carried on by one of the Indians, who seemed to be
+the lieutenant of the party.
+
+"Is he one of the English?" demanded Surajah, casting an angry glance
+at me.
+
+"Your exalted wisdom has said the word. Undoubtedly he belongs to that
+vile nation, whom the breath of your anger has even now destroyed."
+
+"Ask him why his people have dared to resist my commands. Who is he?
+Is he one of their principal men? Ask him where is their treasure?"
+
+Before the Indian could translate these questions I answered them in
+the same language.
+
+"I am an interpreter in the service of the Company, may it please your
+Highness. I am but newly arrived in your country, and know nothing of
+the other matters you have asked about."
+
+The Nabob gave a sullen frown.
+
+"Take the wretch away out of my sight. He is a worthless capture," he
+said.
+
+But one of the three men on the daïs, a young, handsome Gentoo, with a
+cruel, cunning face--I afterwards heard he was Lal Moon, the Nabob's
+chief favourite--bent over his master and whispered something in his
+ear. Instantly Surajah Dowlah sat up, furious.
+
+"You have lied to me!" he screamed. "You speak our language, and yet
+you say you are but newly arrived. That must be a lie!"
+
+He looked round at his courtiers, and there was a murmur of admiration
+at his sagacity.
+
+"Your Highness is mistaken," I said, keeping cool. "I learned the
+Indostanee language on my way out to the East Indies, from the
+secretary of Colonel Clive."
+
+As I pronounced this name I saw a movement among those present. The
+Nabob stared, not understanding to whom I referred; but an older man,
+with a proud, discontented, and yet apprehensive air, who also stood
+on the daïs, and was, I found out, Meer Jaffier, Surajah Dowlah's
+uncle, and commander of his armies, this man, I say, spoke in
+explanation--
+
+"The youth means that he came on the ship with Sabat Jung."
+
+No sooner did the Nabob hear this than he changed colour.
+
+"Are you a friend of Sabat Jung's? Is he coming to Bengal?" he asked,
+with scarcely concealed anxiety.
+
+"Sabat Jung is my protector," I replied, putting on a bolder air. "If
+he hears that any wrong has been done to the English in Calcutta, he
+will surely come here and avenge them."
+
+The courtiers exchanged looks of amazement at these words of defiance,
+doubtless expecting to see me led to instant execution. But I have an
+instinct which tells me when a man is afraid of me, and I could see
+that, for the time, Surajah Dowlah was cowed.
+
+My cousin Gurney seized this opportunity to attract the Nabob's
+attention, and take credit for his exploit. He stepped towards me and
+said, in such Indostanee as he could command--
+
+"Silence, wretch! Sabat Jung is in the Carnatic, nor would he dare to
+come into Bengal without the permission of the Lord of the English,
+Surajah Dowlah. When he hears of the conquest of Cossimbuzar and Fort
+William the heart of Sabat Jung will become as water."
+
+I gave him a scornful look.
+
+"If his Highness judges of the English by you he will be deceived," I
+said. "If you were ever to show your face in any place where Sabat
+Jung was he would have you hanged, as you very well know."
+
+I kept my eyes fixed on the young Nabob's face as I spoke, and was
+pleased to see that I had made an impression. He looked uneasily from
+one to the other of us, and then, before Rupert could reply, ordered
+us both from his presence.
+
+I found myself kept a close prisoner for that night and a part of the
+next day in the house of a rich Indian, which stood beside the
+Morattoe ditch. From this place I could hear some noise of guns
+occasionally, and was obliged to conjecture how the fight was going
+on. There was something very trying and painful in being near enough
+to a battle-field to share its anxieties without being allowed to join
+in the work. But I had a pretty sure presentiment that the affair
+would end badly for us, and so indeed it proved; for about four in the
+afternoon there was a great commotion outside the place where I was
+confined, and my guards came in to fetch me, telling me with cruel
+pleasure that Fort William had surrendered, and I was to be brought
+there to join the other prisoners.
+
+I will not stay to describe the confused spectacle of the streets
+through which we passed on our way to the fort. What struck me most,
+and put a deep depression upon my spirits, was to see the fierce
+exultation of the native Indians in our discomfiture. In this hour of
+our overthrow these men, who had lived unmolested beneath our
+government, and thriven by means of our commerce, openly revealed all
+that vehement malice and hatred toward us which is, I suppose, part of
+their nature, and not to be eradicated by any fairness of dealing. I
+should be ashamed to relate the vile things they said, and their gross
+behaviour, as I was led along a prisoner. I thank God I have since
+walked through those same streets in a different trim, and had those
+same wretches bowing and grovelling on the earth as I passed.
+
+When I arrived at the fort I was horrified to find gathered there a
+large company of other English prisoners, to the number of about a
+hundred and fifty. Among them were both the Honourable Robert Byng and
+Mr. Holwell, who received me with surprise, having been assured by
+those men who had fought under me that they had seen me slain.
+Immediately after my joining them Mr. Holwell, who had become the
+chief of the party, was sent for by the Nabob to be examined. While he
+was away Mr. Byng told me the miserable circumstances of the capture
+of the fort, and how the Governor, Mr. Drake, had shamefully fled away
+overnight in a boat to the ships on the first alarm of the enemy's
+approach. Not content with this, he had carried off the whole of the
+shipping down the river to Govindpore, thus rendering hopeless the
+case of the English who had not escaped along with him, and that
+although it would have been easy to rescue them by sending a few boats
+to the shore. Of this, which I believe to be the most signal act of
+cowardice ever heard of, I forbear to write, lest I should fall into
+the use of opprobrious language. Yet I have often marvelled that those
+who had poor Mr. Byng--I mean the Admiral--shot on his own quarterdeck
+for his failure at Minorca, should have refused a gallows and a hempen
+noose to one who so richly deserved it as Governor Drake.
+
+While Mr. Holwell was with the Nabob the rest of us stood under a
+strong guard in the courtyard of the fort, where we began to find the
+heat very burdensome, the more so as it was difficult to get anything
+to eat or drink. While we were thus situated I saw my cousin Rupert go
+by, wearing a rich new turban, to wait upon the Nabob. At this period
+he appeared to be in high favour at the Court. No doubt he had
+acquired influence with Surajah Dowlah by flattering his superiority
+to the English.
+
+Mr. Holwell presently returned with the news that Surajah Dowlah
+was very much incensed against him, on account of the small sum found
+in the treasury of the fort, which amounted only to 54,000 Rs. The
+prince was firmly persuaded that the Company had somewhere concealed
+a vast treasure, which had been his principal motive to push the
+attack of the place. He had threatened Mr. Holwell very severely
+unless this treasure were found, and dismissed him to consult with his
+fellow-prisoners. This was bad news, for it was evidently impossible
+to persuade Surajah Dowlah that there was no such treasure, and he
+would therefore be inclined to look upon Mr. Holwell's failure to
+discover it as mere obstinacy.
+
+We were discussing our prospects very gloomily when a party of Moors
+arrived, bringing two fresh prisoners. I felt a sudden sickness when I
+recognised that these were none other than Marian herself with her
+father. Old Mr. Rising seemed to be dazed, and unconscious of what was
+happening to him, but Marian was suffering from visible terror. I
+hastened to her side, exclaiming--
+
+"Marian, what do you do here? Why are you not gone with the other
+women?"--for all the Englishwomen and children had been put aboard the
+ships as soon as the Moors arrived outside the town.
+
+Marian looked surprised and a little comforted to meet me in the same
+situation as herself.
+
+"So you are a prisoner too!" she cried. "I confess I do not understand
+what has happened to my father and me, for Rupert especially enjoined
+and urged us to remain in our house, assuring us that his credit with
+the Nabob would serve not merely to protect us, but to secure high
+places and rewards for himself, which he intended I should share."
+
+She said this with a certain shame, but I was too anxious for her
+safety to retain my feelings of jealousy at such a moment.
+
+"I will send for Gurney to come here," I said. "I have just seen him
+go into the Nabob's presence."
+
+I called one of the men who kept guard over us, and bade him go
+instantly and fetch my cousin. The Moor showed some disinclination to
+obey me, but I repeated my command in a tone so firm that he gave way,
+and sullenly complied.
+
+In a minute or two Rupert came out, looking bewildered, and, I
+thought, somewhat alarmed. As soon as he saw who it was that had sent
+for him, however, his assurance returned, and he came to us with a
+jaunty air.
+
+"Ha! Marian," he said, taking no notice of me, "so you have found your
+way here, have you? I am pleased to greet you; but if you have sent
+for me to ask me to procure the release of your other admirer, whom I
+took prisoner yesterday, I must tell you fairly that I am not the
+least inclined to do it."
+
+"Nay, Rupert," she answered, "I am ashamed to say that I had not
+thought of asking you anything on your cousin Athelstane's behalf.
+'Tis I and my father who are now prisoners, in spite of your pledges
+to us. Surely you will not suffer this!"
+
+Thus she spoke to him, but, ah! not in the old self-confident strain,
+but with a certain mournful submission which wrung my very
+heartstrings.
+
+"What do you say? You amaze me, Marian! This is a gross breach of the
+Serdar's own promise to me, but I doubt not that it will at once be
+righted. As for your father, I do not say; it may be that the old man
+would be better off in captivity. But I take it on myself that you
+shall be released without delay. I will go straight and speak about
+it."
+
+He said all this so readily that I could not feel sure he was not
+sincere. Marian, poor girl, gladly believed him, and gave me a look
+which was plainly meant to protest against my entertaining evil
+thoughts of Rupert. He hurried away, as he had said, and at the same
+time Mr. Holwell was sent for again to the Nabob.
+
+By this time it was getting to be near evening. The sun was dropping
+down on the other side of the river, and the long shadows of the palm
+trees rocked on the water. From where we stood we could see the
+soldiers going to and fro getting ready their evening meal, and hear
+an occasional shot in the town, where some Indian was letting off his
+musket by way of triumph for the victory. It was still hot, but a
+little breeze began to move up the river and flutter some pieces of
+linen that hung out drying in the lower courtyard, yesterday having
+been washing day in the fort.
+
+Mr. Holwell and Rupert returned together, the former more cheerful,
+but Gurney very sulky, and making a show of being much annoyed.
+
+"I have spoken to the Serdar, Marian, and could do nothing for
+to-night. He says that you are to remain with the other English till
+he can take the Nabob's pleasure, who is now getting drunk, and
+difficult to deal with."
+
+Mr. Holwell confirmed the story, adding--
+
+"Surajah Dowlah may scarce be spoken to. His looks are dreadful. Yet
+he has sworn to me on the faith of a soldier that no hair of any of
+our heads shall be injured."
+
+"That is right," quoth Rupert. "So you see, Marian, it is but staying
+here with your other friends"--he gave me a jeering smile as he said
+this--"till to-morrow morning, when I will speak to the Nabob myself,
+at all hazards, and have you released."
+
+Poor Marian glanced at him in despair.
+
+"Rupert, you won't desert me!" she cried. "You don't mean to leave me
+as you did in Gheriah in that horrid cell, from which I scarcely
+escaped alive?"
+
+"Pooh, pooh, girl! No," he answered lightly, "I shall be at hand. It
+is nothing. What is one night's captivity? The soldiers will have
+orders to find you some comfortable room in the fort. I will see about
+your accommodation myself."
+
+With this promise on his lips he disappeared, and returned no more.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+_THE BLACK HOLE_
+
+
+I have now to tell how we passed through that night, the memory of
+which to this day moves me to tremble and sicken like a man in strong
+fear.
+
+At sunset the Moorish soldiers who had charge of the prisoners marched
+us all together into a covered gallery or verandah that ran along one
+side of the courtyard, from which it was screened off by a row of
+arches. While we waited here a part of the soldiers ran to and fro,
+as if looking for accommodation for us. Surajah Dowlah's promises,
+reported to us by Mr. Holwell, had so far raised our spirits that some
+of the prisoners made merry at the difficulty the guard seemed to be
+in. One man asked if we were to pass the night in that gallery.
+Another, who stood near me, observed in jest--
+
+"They don't seem to know of the Black Hole."
+
+"I'm afraid we shouldn't all go into that," replied another, laughing.
+
+"What place do you mean?" I asked out of curiosity.
+
+"It is the cell where they confine the soldiers of the garrison,"
+explained the person next me. "It won't hold more than one or two
+persons."
+
+Hardly had he given me this information before the officer in charge
+of our guard came hurrying up. He gave some directions to his men, who
+commenced pushing and urging us along the gallery to a small door in
+the wall at our back. This they threw open, and beckoned to the
+prisoners to enter.
+
+"By heaven, it is the Black Hole!" exclaimed some one in the throng.
+
+There was a murmur of disbelief, followed by one of indignation, as
+those who were in front looked in. The room was barely seven paces
+across each way, and very low. The only openings it contained, beside
+the doorway, were two small windows giving, not on to the open air,
+but merely on to the covered passage in which we had been standing.
+
+"But this is absurd!" cried Mr. Holwell, remonstrating with the
+soldiers. "There is not even standing-room for a hundred and fifty
+persons in there."
+
+"They cannot intend that we are all to go in. We should be
+suffocated," said another.
+
+The soldiers beginning to show anger, some of the company walked in to
+demonstrate how restricted the space was. Nevertheless the Moors
+continued to press us towards the doorway, and seeing that they were
+in earnest, I whispered to Marian to give me her arm, and went in with
+the first. By this means I was just in time to secure Marian a place
+at the corner of one of the windows, where she would have a chance
+to breathe. I took up my position next to her, and we were quickly
+surrounded and closely pressed on by those who followed. Before we had
+well realised what was happening to us, the whole of the prisoners had
+been thrust into the cell, and the door, which opened inwards, pulled
+to with a slam and locked.
+
+The moment this happened I found myself bursting out into a most
+prodigious sweat--the water running out of my skin as though squeezed
+from a sponge--by the mere press of people in that confined space; and
+near as I stood to the window I soon began to experience a difficulty
+in breathing, so foul did the air immediately become. The sufferings
+of those further back in the apartment must of course have been much
+worse. The door was no sooner closed than those next to it began to
+make frantic efforts to open it again; but we were so closely packed
+that, even if the door had not been locked, it would have been
+scarcely possible to open it wide enough to allow of any persons going
+through. Every mind seemed to become at once possessed with a sense of
+our desperate situation, and the groans and cries for mercy became
+heartrending.
+
+Mr. Holwell, having been the first to enter, had been fortunate enough
+to secure a place at the other window. He now exerted himself, as the
+leader of the party, to calm the tumult.
+
+"Gentlemen," he said earnestly, "let me urge you to keep still. The
+only hope for us in this emergency is to behave quietly, and do what
+we can to relieve each other's sufferings. I will use my endeavours
+with the guard to procure our release, and in the meantime do you
+refrain from giving way to despair."
+
+It was now dark within the room, but outside some of the guards had
+lit torches, by whose light I distinguished one old man, a Jemautdar,
+who appeared a little touched with pity for our distress. To this man
+Mr. Holwell appealed, through the window, offering him large rewards
+if he would have us transferred to some more tolerable prison. At
+first the old Moor merely shook his head, but finally, when Mr.
+Holwell offered him a thousand rupees if he would remove even half the
+prisoners to another room, he shrugged his shoulders, muttered that he
+would see what could be done, and walked off.
+
+During the few minutes which had already elapsed since our coming into
+the cell, the heat had increased to that degree as to be no longer
+tolerable. My skin and throat felt as though scorched by fire, and the
+atmosphere was so noxious that it became painful to breathe. I looked
+at Marian. She was very white, and stood moving her lips silently as
+though praying. Being the only female among us, those immediately
+round the window showed some desire to respect her weakness, but the
+pressure from behind was such that they were driven against her, in
+spite of themselves, and I had hard work to defend her from being
+crushed against the wall.
+
+But when I glanced back into the room the sights revealed by the
+flickering torchlight convinced me that our sufferings were almost
+light in comparison with those of others. I saw one man, a few paces
+behind me, turn purple in the face, as if some one were strangling
+him. Two or three others had already fainted from the heat, and I
+heard some one whisper that they had fallen to the ground.
+
+The Jemautdar presently returned, shaking his head, and said to Mr.
+Holwell--
+
+"I can do nothing. It is by the Nabob's orders that you are locked up,
+and I dare not interfere."
+
+"But we are dying, man!" cried Mr. Holwell. "The Nabob swore that he
+would spare our lives. Listen! I will give you two thousand
+rupees--anything--if you will procure us some relief!"
+
+The old man went off once more, and hope revived for a moment. While
+we were thus waiting some one at the back of the room suddenly said
+aloud--
+
+"Let us take off our clothes!"
+
+Hardly were the words out of his mouth than in an instant, as it
+seemed, nearly every one was stark naked. They tore their things off
+furiously and cast them to the ground. I resisted the contagion as
+long as I could, but when I saw even Mr. Holwell, though nearer the
+air than myself, stripped to his shirt, I could not resist following
+his example; and in our dreadful extremity my unhappy companion was
+presently forced to do the same, hiding her face with her hands and
+choking down great sobs.
+
+When the Jemautdar returned for the second time he made it appear that
+our case was hopeless.
+
+"No one dares help you," he said, speaking with evident compunction.
+"Surajah Dowlah is asleep, and it is as much as any man's life is
+worth to awake him."
+
+As soon as the meaning of these words was understood by the hundred
+and fifty miserable wretches inside, a pitiful, low wail went up. Then
+commenced that long, dreadful agony which so few were to survive, and
+which I only remember in successive glimpses of horror spread over
+hours that were like years.
+
+One of the last things we did, before all self-control was lost, was
+to try and make a current of air by all sitting down together, and
+then suddenly rising; but unhappily by this time several had grown so
+weak that, having once gone down, they proved unequal to the effort of
+getting up again, and fell under the feet of their companions. Among
+these unfortunates was Marian's father, Mr. Rising, who had come in
+with us, and stood a little way off in the press. Although preserving
+his dazed, unconscious air in the midst of these calamities, he had
+exhibited many symptoms of physical distress. He now remained sitting
+helpless on the floor, and while I was trying to contrive some means
+of assisting him, I saw the next man behind him very coolly step over
+his body, spurning it with his foot. Poor Mr. Rising fell on his back,
+groaning, and was instantly trodden out of sight.
+
+My first impulse was to spare Marian the knowledge of her father's
+shocking fate. Turning round hastily, I whispered--
+
+"Don't look behind you, for God's sake!"
+
+The words came too late. She turned her head, saw what had happened,
+and shrieked aloud.
+
+That shriek was the signal for fifty others, like wild beasts
+answering each other in a wood, as the manhood of that tortured mob
+suddenly forsook it, to be succeeded by brute despair. Some began to
+hurl themselves against the door, others broke into frantic prayers
+and imprecations. The clamour died down, rose again, and finally
+settled into a monotonous, incessant cry for water.
+
+All this time I had preserved my self-control very well, but when this
+cry for water was raised, either the excessive pain I endured, or else
+the mere example of so many persons around me, so shook me that I
+could no longer command my motions, and I found myself screaming the
+words in Indostanee at the old Jemautdar as though I would have torn
+him in pieces.
+
+The old man seemed to be really moved by our sufferings. He sent two
+or three of the soldiers to fetch water, and they presently came to
+the windows bearing it in skins.
+
+It was a fatal act of mercy. The mere sight of the water instantly
+overthrew the reason of half the unhappy wretches behind us. A wild
+howl went up, and a frantic struggle commenced to get to the windows.
+Those who a few minutes before had been rational Christian beings were
+now to be seen fighting and striking each other as they leaped and
+plunged to climb over those in front. Marian, terror-stricken by the
+outburst, put her hands before her eyes, and would have been swept
+away from her place like a leaf if I had not set my back to hers and
+fought furiously against the lunatics behind. I can see now the dark,
+flushed face of one man, his parched tongue dropping out of his mouth,
+and his eyes rolling horribly, quite mad, as he flung himself upon me
+and tried to tear me down. To add to the horror, the Indian soldiers
+brought their torches to the windows in order to gloat on this scene.
+I heard them laugh like devils as the red light flashed on the naked
+heap of infuriated Englishmen writhing and fighting in that narrow
+hell.
+
+After ten minutes the struggles began to die down through sheer
+exhaustion, and then those of us who stood next the windows were
+allowed to drink from the skins; after which we filled hats with the
+water and passed them into the back of the apartment. In this way
+every one obtained some, but no good effect was wrought thereby. So
+far as I was concerned, the heat and drought were so fearful that no
+sooner had I swallowed my share of the fluid than my throat became as
+dry as it had been before--the momentary relief served only to
+aggravate my torments.
+
+Then as the fever gained upon me, my thoughts broke bounds, and there
+danced confusedly through my brain odd scraps of memories and pictures
+of other scenes. For whole moments together I lost the knowledge of
+where I was; those dark walls and haggard faces passed, and in their
+stead came visions of the pleasant places I used to know, the ruffling
+of the wind upon the Breydon Water and the dykes, the stir among the
+reeds and rushes, and the cattle browsing in the Norfolk fields.
+Instead of the swarthy Indian soldiers with their torches I saw the
+friendly, homely figures of the carters as they rode their horses to
+the pool at sundown after the day's work was over, and the familiar
+groups of villagers, and the face of little Patience Thurstan as she
+looked up at me, ready to weep, that time I said goodbye to her on my
+last day at home; and there rose before me the likeness of the dear
+old homestead, the gables and the crooked chimney, and the porch with
+jasmine growing over one side and boys' love on the other; and I saw
+my father and my mother where they sat and faced each other across the
+hearthplace, and thought, maybe, of their son, so that there came over
+me a great and miserable longing to return to them; and, like the
+prodigal son when he ate husks among the swine, I repented of my
+rebellion and running away, and in that hour I took a resolution that
+if I ever outlived the night I would leave the wicked land of India
+for ever, and go back to my own country, and ask my father to forgive
+me, as I knew my mother had forgiven me long ago.
+
+Such were the thoughts that, by fits and starts, passed through me
+during the first hours of the death struggle; but the worst horror of
+that awful night came presently. In the recesses of the chamber,
+furthest from the windows, a harder evil than the heat was the
+intolerable foulness of the air. Even where I was standing it had
+become an excruciating pain to breathe, and my breast felt as though
+laced about with iron bands. In the interior many had by this time
+dropped down, not so much suffocated as poisoned by the fetid gas they
+were compelled to inhale. And now at length I detected a new,
+indescribably nauseous odour, added to the acrid smell of the place.
+At first I tried to conceal even from my own mind what this was. But
+not for long. In a very few minutes the secret was known to all there.
+The unhappy man I had seen trodden down had been dead for about half
+an hour, and his body was already corrupt.
+
+Then that whole den of madmen broke loose, raving and cursing; some
+imploring God to strike them dead, others casting the most foul and
+savage insults at the guards without, if by that means they might
+tempt them to fire in through the windows and put an end to what they
+endured. They struck at one another, they clutched each other's hair,
+surging and trampling one another down to gain an inch nearer the
+miserable air-holes which afforded the only chance of life. The floor
+was choked with corpses, among which the survivors were entangled in
+one seething mass. As for me, I became light-headed, and had only one
+blind instinct left, to strike down any man who attempted to thrust
+Marian from her breathing ground. I was aware that she had lost her
+senses and sunk down between me and the wall; yet I went on battling,
+as in some dreadful nightmare, with the furious forms that rose up and
+loomed out of the darkness. When I could no longer make out their
+faces I still struck out blindly, and heard them go down heavily upon
+the pile of bodies behind which I stood entrenched. Hour after hour
+that ghastly combat raged, till the corpses were thrice and four times
+more numerous than those who still breathed; and at last an awful
+lethargy settled down over the scene, broken only when one of the
+survivors roused himself for an expiring effort that sent a quiver
+through the dead and dying heap.
+
+After that I know no more, for when the morning broke, and the
+officers came to release the handful left alive, the energy that had
+held me up so long forsook me, and I sank down unconscious.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+_RUPERT IN A NEW LIGHT_
+
+
+When I came to my senses again I was lying on the ground under the
+gallery. The door of that Gehenna was standing open, twenty paces from
+me, and the stench from the corpses piled within tainted the air of
+the whole court.
+
+My first thought was of Marian. I looked round as well as I was able,
+but could see no signs of her. The great weakness in which I found
+myself was such as to prevent me from standing on my feet, but I
+lifted myself up so far as to lean on one elbow, and in that posture
+glanced round over the little group of those who survived.
+
+I counted twenty-two in all, less than one-sixth of the number of
+those who had been promised the mercy of Surajah Dowlah on the evening
+of yesterday. Close beside me lay Mr. Holwell, seeming to breathe
+painfully, as he laboured to gain his self-command. I heard afterwards
+that this worthy gentleman had been found unconscious and almost
+lifeless, on the floor; and that a lane had had to be cleared through
+the dead to bring out the twenty-three of us that remained alive.
+
+But, look where I would, Marian was not there, and my heart misgave me
+that that beautiful form was lying in the loathsome charnel-house
+whence I had so hardly come out. A man near me, who appeared to have
+preserved his strength better than most of us, presently observing my
+trouble, and guessing its cause, undertook to enlighten me.
+
+"You look for Mistress Rising?" he said. "She was among the survivors;
+I saw her brought out immediately before you. But she is not here; one
+of the Moors' officers led her away out of the fort, no doubt to
+bestow her in safe keeping somewhere in the town."
+
+This intelligence served to remove my worst apprehensions, yet it left
+me not a little uneasy as to what next might befall Marian among those
+in whose hands we were still captives. At the moment of which I speak,
+however, I was too ill to pursue the inquiry as to what had become of
+her. The fever I had taken during the night was still strong upon me,
+indeed we were all in a very pitiful state, scarce able to move or
+speak, and looking more like ghosts than men. It was not till above a
+week had passed that I began to shake off the effects of those few
+hours' torture; and I sometimes think that I have never yet wholly
+recovered from them.
+
+Nor must I spare to mention those other changes which were wrought in
+me by that night, passed, I may say, in the Valley of the Shadow of
+Death. Up to this time, I perceived on looking back over my previous
+adventures, I had been no better than a mad young fool, following
+after a will-o'-the-wisp to my own hurt and destruction. And though I
+cannot say that that ill-starred and calamitous love of mine for
+Marian, which had haunted me since I first saw her in the tavern of
+the "Three-decker" at Yarmouth, was abated at this time, yet I think I
+did now begin to perceive how evil an influence it had exerted over my
+life, and to gradually bring myself to a manlier frame of mind. So
+that I no longer hugged myself with false and pernicious hopes of what
+could never be brought to pass, but set myself resolutely to uproot
+this my besetting weakness, and thus to transfer Marian, as it might
+be, from the place of a mistress to that of an old and dear friend.
+
+In all which resolves and efforts at amendments I found myself greatly
+helped and encouraged by the recollection of those better thoughts
+which had come to me in my distress, when my eyes were opened to the
+wickedness of which I had been guilty towards my parents. And from
+this time on, through all the vicissitudes I was yet to encounter, I
+looked forward steadily to the day when I should turn my feet once
+more towards home, and behold my father and my mother, and the simple,
+loving face of little Patience Thurstan.
+
+But before that day came there were many things to be done, nor would
+I have willingly left the land of Indostan till I had seen the blood
+of the English he had so barbarously murdered revenged upon Surajah
+Dowlah's head. How this was to be brought about I did not then know,
+yet I had a confidence that it would be so, which sustained me. For I
+felt that I had witnessed, and been partly victim of, a most heinous
+and devilish crime, scarcely to be matched in the annals of mankind,
+and such as scarce any punishment within the power of man to inflict
+could wholly purge. It was as if there had been revealed to me, in the
+light of those flaring torches thrust in mockery between the bars of
+our prison windows, a whole secret hell of cruelty and darkness, such
+as our Christian land knows nothing of, which we can never understand,
+but which for ever lies waiting for the moment to burst forth, under
+the obsequious and servile behaviour of the natives of India. Since
+that time, I confess, I have never regarded, nor can regard, them as
+my fellow-beings; I look upon all faith or mercy shown to them as
+wasted, and were it possible for the English to overthrow every one of
+their governments, and to reduce the whole peninsula into slavery, I
+should not think enough had been done to extinguish the memory of that
+one misdeed.
+
+The cup of the Nabob's cruelty was even yet not full. In the morning,
+as soon as we had partaken of a little food and wine, merely enough to
+give us strength to stand up, our miserable remnant was ordered to
+come before him, to be questioned again.
+
+We found Surajah Dowlah enthroned in the principal apartment of the
+fort, in even greater state than I had before seen him in, flushed
+with all the triumph of a conqueror. He looked to have just awakened
+from sleeping off a debauch, and glanced at us, as we came in, with a
+heavy, lowering eye. The supple, handsome Lal Moon was standing beside
+his master as usual, and close behind the favourite I saw my kinsman,
+with a countenance somewhat discomposed. He turned a very scrutinising
+look on our party, frowned when he caught sight of me, and was
+evidently disturbed at not perceiving Marian amongst the rest.
+
+The Nabob, instead of displaying any interest in our condition, or
+pretending any regret for the massacre of our fellow prisoners, at
+once addressed Mr. Holwell in a very peremptory manner.
+
+"Now, English dog, you have had a night to consider," he said
+insolently, "are you disposed to behave more civilly to me in the
+matter of the treasure?"
+
+Poor Mr. Holwell had scarce strength enough to answer him. He said
+feebly--
+
+"I can only repeat what I told you last night. Your Highness has been
+deceived. There is no treasure here of the Company."
+
+"You are a liar, and the son of a liar!" returned Surajah fiercely.
+"Do you think I am a fool to believe that the English come all the way
+from your country here to amass a paltry sum of fifty thousand
+rupees? Such a sum would not pay the expense of your establishment
+here. I know well that you have a treasure somewhere hidden; but you
+are resolved to keep it from me, the rightful master of this country.
+I swear I will teach you that it is safer to stand in the path of a
+mad elephant than to disobey the least command of Surajah Dowlah!"
+
+He rolled his eyes savagely as he made these threats, which struck
+dismay into the stoutest of us. Mr. Holwell attempted no further
+answer, and presently the Nabob rose in a fury and marched out of the
+hall, giving no orders concerning our disposal.
+
+As soon as he was gone the general of his army, Meer Jaffier, came
+down off the daïs and approached us. He began offering some
+expressions of sympathy to Mr. Holwell, and assured him that he would
+use his influence with his nephew to procure our release.
+
+While Meer Jaffier was talking to Mr. Holwell, I saw my cousin slowly
+approaching me. I turned my back, so loth was I to hold intercourse
+with him, but he came up, and persisted in addressing me.
+
+"Athelstane, what has become of Marian Rising?" he asked abruptly.
+
+"Nay, I leave that to you to find out, who delivered her to Surajah
+Dowlah to be tortured and killed," I answered bitterly.
+
+"See here, cousin," he said, infusing a touch of natural feeling into
+his voice, "I swear to you, on the faith of a Ford, that I had not so
+much as the least suspicion of the horrid treachery about to be
+practised on you last night by these damned black devils. If I could
+have had any notice of what was going forward, I would have returned
+last night at all hazards, and delivered you. As regards Marian, I had
+the most sacred pledges from both Meer Jaffier and Lal Moon that not
+one hair of her head should be injured. I swear it."
+
+"You swear very plentifully, it appears to me," I returned, preserving
+a tone of mere contempt and hatred; "but I know not how your oaths can
+serve you at the present time. Thanks to your evil persuasions, the
+woman for whom you have many times pretended affection was last night
+brought to the very door of death, and is now ill and captive among
+the Moors. Me, your cousin, whom you first tempted to leave his home
+and friends, and have since betrayed and misused and many times
+attempted to slay, you see before you, in the power of those black
+fiends, as you call them, who appear to be your good friends. Had you
+not better prevail with them to put us both to death, and thus make an
+end of it?"
+
+"No, by G----, Athelstane, you are wrong!" he exclaimed very
+earnestly. "I bear you no malice, nor ever should have done, had
+you not set yourself up as my rival and thwarted me on several
+occasions--and I am a man that will not brook opposition. As it is, if
+I have ever attempted anything against you, it was in hot blood, and
+had I hated you ten times worse than I did, yet last night's business
+would have been too much for me to stomach."
+
+I gazed at him, doubtful whether to believe in his sincerity or no. It
+was difficult for me to refrain from some softening towards him as he
+thus spoke, and yet I asked myself whether these fair words were not
+the prelude to some new piece of knavery or treachery, for which he
+stood in need of my assistance.
+
+He continued urging me.
+
+"Have you forgot all those ties that are between us--our blood, and
+bringing-up in the same country, and the pleasant times we have had
+together when you were a youngster, and I was used to ride over to
+your house from Lynn, for my holidays? You were then content enough to
+call yourself your cousin Rupert's little squire, and if it were a
+question of robbing orchards or taking bird's-nests, you grudged to be
+left out. Can you not overlook the differences that have since arisen
+between us, and let us return to our former good comradeship and
+affection?"
+
+Now I well knew that this man was a most accomplished villain, and an
+hour before I should have no more thought of sparing or making terms
+with him than with a speckled snake. Yet no sooner did he thus begin
+to wheedle me, than I found my just anger and hatred against him
+insensibly desert me.
+
+"Why do you hold this language to me?" I said, as sullen as I could,
+so as to hide my secret relenting. "What need have you of me now?
+What fellowship can there be between a miserable prisoner in the
+Indians' power, and you, their trusted friend and servant?"
+
+He gave me a significant glance, and then stooped towards me,
+whispering--
+
+"No, cousin, you are mistaken there, I tell you again. Either these
+Moors have all along meant to play me false, or else they consider
+themselves betrayed by me in the matter of the treasure which they
+expected to find. Instead of now enjoying their confidence, I find I
+am looked upon with distrust. They tell me nothing, and no longer
+consult with me about their dealings with the English. I tell you
+fairly, I am uneasy to find myself so much in their power as I am, and
+if I could I would gladly make my peace with my fellow-countrymen, and
+enter the service of the Company."
+
+This confession sounded to me sufficiently probable to be believed. I
+could now see plainly enough what was Rupert's object in thus seeking
+to be reconciled with me. It was because I was the only witness
+against him in the English camp, able to denounce the crimes and
+treasons which he had committed, to the governor and his council. It
+was evidently necessary for him to have some person to answer for him,
+in case he should seek service with the Company, and for this reason,
+I concluded, he had decided that it would be of more profit to him to
+have my friendship than to get rid of me altogether.
+
+With these thoughts I suffered myself to entertain his proposals. But
+there was another question of more importance to me than Rupert
+Gurney's friendship or enmity.
+
+"What of Marian?" I demanded. "Were you not the person who came for
+her this morning, and led her out of the fort?"
+
+"No!" he cried, much disturbed. "Do you know what has happened to her?
+I have inquired everywhere, and been unable to gather the smallest
+information. It is this which has convinced me that I no longer
+possess the confidence of those about the Nabob. And I fear----"
+
+He stopped, biting his lips, and looked at me, as if he would know
+what I suspected. I returned his look with interest.
+
+"And I, too, fear," I answered solemnly. "And pray heaven that my fear
+is unfounded, for if it should turn out otherwise, after your
+persuading her to trust in your protection, I tell you plainly, Rupert
+Gurney, that I will never rest till I see you dead at my feet."
+
+Though I thus threatened him, nevertheless I believed that he was
+really at a loss and anxious to find out what had become of Marian. He
+presently said to me--
+
+"I will go now and make a further search, and if I hear any news, will
+let you know. And do you, on your part, trust me. If in the meantime
+I can do anything to effect your release, I will."
+
+With that he went off. About the same time an order arrived for our
+removal, and we were carried away to another part of the fort.
+
+Whether in consequence of my cousin's representations or of Meer
+Jaffier's, as is more probable, Surajah Dowlah suddenly decided to
+release all his English prisoners, except three or four of the
+principal ones, including Mr. Holwell. This intelligence was brought
+us about supper time, and an officer shortly after attended, to make
+the selection of those who were to be continued in captivity.
+
+Not apprehending that any importance could be attached to me, I rose
+joyfully to go out with those who were being dismissed, when, to my
+surprise, the officer told me in their language, very sharply, to keep
+my place.
+
+"But why do you seek to detain this young man?" inquired Mr. Holwell.
+"He is not a person of any consequence among us."
+
+The Moor shook his head.
+
+"This youth is to be kept in the Nabob's hands because he is a friend
+of Sabat Jung's," he answered.
+
+It may be imagined how mortified I was to find my boasting of the
+friendship of Colonel Clive thus turned against me. There was no help
+for it, however. With a heavy heart we saw our fellow-prisoners
+depart, some of them to examine their houses in Calcutta, others to
+take refuge with the English fleet, which about this time dropped
+down the river to Fulta, where it lay.
+
+I heard afterwards that when the refugees arrived on board, and told
+the woeful tale of what had followed on the capture of Fort William,
+Mr. Drake and those with him bitterly repented of their cowardice and
+desertion. Messengers, that is to say, Indian spies, had already been
+despatched by land to Madras, the voyage thither being impossible at
+this time on account of the prevalent monsoon. Others were now sent
+after them, with letters recounting the whole of these transactions,
+and urgently entreating the Madras council to despatch succour at the
+earliest possible moment.
+
+In the meanwhile, to pass over the next few days, Surajah Dowlah,
+finding no further mischief to execute in Calcutta, after he had
+plundered all the principal merchants, placed a force there under
+the command of an officer named Monichund, and marched back to
+Moorshedabad, carrying me in his train. My fellow prisoners,
+consisting of Mr. Holwell and two other gentlemen, named Walcot and
+Court (for poor Mr. Byng had been among those who perished in that
+cell of death), were despatched separately in irons, by a boat up the
+river.
+
+If I had been traversing this strange, and in many parts beautiful,
+country under other circumstances I might have found much to interest
+me. But being, as I was, still weak and wretched from the effects of
+the night passed in the Black Hole, and, moreover, very anxious and
+troubled in mind about the fate of Marian (besides my own), I heeded
+little of it. The country was extremely flat, and much overgrown with
+trees, particularly mangoes, which tree hath a most delicious fruit,
+very grateful after toiling along the barren roads in the intolerable
+heat of this climate. Travelling in company with an army, we were not
+able to see much of the country people, who feared the Nabob's
+character, and for the most part deserted their villages and retired
+into the woods while we passed. One day we lay without the walls of
+Chander Nugger, the French settlement in Bengal. These Frenchmen
+had managed to propitiate Surajah by aiding him with a supply of
+ammunition when he was on his march against Calcutta. To this they now
+added a large sum of money, and by this means prevailed on him to pass
+on without entering their town. They no doubt rejoiced, like true
+Frenchmen, at the misfortunes which had overtaken the English, not
+foreseeing at this time the happy revolution in our affairs which was
+to make them sing to another tune.
+
+Our progress through the country was so gradual that it was about
+three weeks before we at last reached the Nabob's capital. During our
+long march I had not once seen my cousin, nor did I know what had
+become of him, nor whether he had stayed behind in Calcutta or
+attached himself to the Moors' army.
+
+Moorshedabad is a great, rich place, very oriental in character, there
+being no foreigners resident in it, except a few Armenians, a race of
+thieves and pedlars, worse than Jews, who also infested Calcutta. But
+I had little opportunity of exploring its bazaars and palaces at this
+time, being conveyed straight to a filthy hut, formerly used as a
+cowshed, standing outside the Nabob's palace, where I found my
+companions already arrived, and where I was forced to lie on straw,
+and not allowed to move abroad.
+
+In this miserable place, guarded by sentries, we lay for some days,
+being all of us too feeble to contrive any plan of escape. Each
+morning Surajah Dowlah sent a messenger to us, to ask if we were yet
+prepared to disclose the truth about the treasure. We were informed
+that he was deeply incensed at the failure of his raid on Fort
+William, to which it seems he had looked to bring enormous sums into
+his treasury.
+
+On the third or fourth night, just as I was settling myself to sleep
+on a rude heap of straw which I had gathered together against the wall
+of the shed, the door softly opened and a man entered. As soon as he
+spoke I knew him at once to be my cousin Rupert.
+
+"Which of you is named Ford?" he asked, speaking in the Indian
+language; for it was too dark for him to see my face.
+
+"I am," I answered in English, sitting up.
+
+He placed his finger to his lips, and stepped across the hut to where
+I was, while my three companions raised themselves eagerly on their
+elbows, to know what passed.
+
+Rupert, who still wore his Moor's dress, kneeled down on the straw
+beside me, and whispered in my ear--
+
+"Hist! I am come to arrange for your escape, but you must say no word
+to these others, lest they should want to join you, which would only
+serve to ruin our chance."
+
+"In that case," said I, answering him aloud in English, for I
+mistrusted him, "it is useless to proceed. I will entertain no project
+to escape which does not include these gentlemen here with me."
+
+Rupert ground his teeth, cursing me beneath his breath for a fool. But
+Mr. Holwell promptly rebuked me.
+
+"You are not to act like that, Ford," he said. "Neither I, nor, I am
+sure, either of these other gentlemen would consent that you should
+refuse any offer of escape merely because it is not extended to us
+also."
+
+My cousin, seeing that I was resolved not to have the conversation
+private between us two, now addressed himself to the others.
+
+"I heartily wish it were in my power to deliver you all, gentlemen,
+but unfortunately that is what I can't do. I have secured a means by
+which I may carry off my young kinsman here, though at great danger
+to myself. But if it comes to the four of you, then I confess I must
+abandon the scheme."
+
+On this Mr. Holwell renewed his protestations, urging me by no means
+to neglect Rupert's offer.
+
+"But how is it, sir," he added, speaking not unkindly, "that I find
+you, an Englishman, and a relation of young Mr. Ford, in these parts,
+and apparently in a position of influence with the natives?"
+
+"Oh, as to that, it is an old story," replied my cousin, coolly.
+"I came to Bengal first by land from the Malabar coast, in the time
+of the late Nabob, and for that reason I was not at first included
+in the hatred which Surajah Dowlah bore to the English on the
+Hooghley. However, the efforts which I made to restrain the Nabob's
+vindictive proceedings, and the disgust which I showed at his late
+barbarities, have greatly weakened my credit with him. I believe he
+knows or suspects that I am merely casting about for an opportunity
+to quit his service, and has set spies on me accordingly. I have at
+last devised measures for making my way down to the coast, to our
+fellow-countrymen, and have bribed your gaolers to allow my cousin
+Ford to escape with me to-night, if he will."
+
+So earnestly did Gurney tell this tale that I could see Mr. Holwell
+and the others were very favourably impressed, and took him for an
+honourably behaved man. As for me, I felt my cheeks burn with shame
+as I sat and listened, yet I neither felt inclined to admit to these
+gentlemen that I was cousin to a villain and a traitor, nor did I
+consider it to be my duty to denounce my own blood.
+
+I therefore held my peace, while the conversation went on between the
+others. Mr. Holwell insisted that I should take Rupert's offer, and be
+the means of conveying news to our friends of where the other three
+lay. I demurred, and should perhaps have rejected the invitation in
+the end, had not my cousin taken advantage to slyly whisper in my
+ear--
+
+"Don't you understand, fool? I have news of Marian, and want your aid
+to carry her off from Surajah Dowlah's harem!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+_A NIGHT ADVENTURE_
+
+
+As soon as I had heard that name from Rupert's lips, all my hesitation
+was at once overcome, as he no doubt foresaw would be the case.
+
+"Come," I said, springing upon my feet with an energy I had not felt
+for some time, "let us be going, then."
+
+My fellow prisoners looked not a little astonished at this sudden
+change in my resolution. However, they offered me their good wishes
+for the journey, and Mr. Holwell in particular entrusted me with some
+messages to Mr. Drake, in case I should succeed in penetrating to him.
+We had no certain information at this time as to the whereabouts of
+the English ships, but supposed them to be lying somewhere about the
+mouth of the Hooghley. It was judged best that I should carry no
+writing.
+
+We two then crept softly out of the hut, my cousin going first, and I
+following. There was no moon abroad, but a sufficiency of light was
+afforded us by the extraordinary brilliancy of the stars, which
+appear much bigger, as well as thicker in the sky, in these latitudes
+than in England. At a short distance from the door of the shed I could
+perceive the sentinel, seated with his back towards us, his hands
+resting on his matchlock.
+
+"This way," whispered Rupert in my ear. And turning in the opposite
+direction from the sentry, he stooped down and ran along under the
+shadow of a high wall which bordered a winding road.
+
+The wall was about eight feet high, and enclosed a garden. Here and
+there it was overhung by branches of trees, whose foliage I failed to
+distinguish in the darkness, but I once or twice thought I smelt the
+fragrance of lemons. Within the garden behind the wall we could hear
+the tinkle of a fountain and a noise like the singing of some bird.
+
+"What is this place?" I asked in a whisper, as I ran along by Rupert's
+side.
+
+"Hush!" he answered crossly. "We shall be overheard. This is the
+Nabob's garden, where are the pavilions of his women."
+
+We ran on in silence for some little time longer, when we arrived at
+the end of the garden, and plunged into a narrow and dark lane that
+led out of the town. This passage we followed till we came out upon a
+deserted nook immediately under the walls of Moorshedabad, which were
+here much damaged, and matted with ivy and other weeds.
+
+"Now," said Rupert, as he flung himself panting on the ground, in a
+little grassy place, "we can talk over our plans without fear of being
+disturbed."
+
+I sat down beside him, inly marvelling at that great transformation
+which had so quickly converted us from deadly enemies seeking each
+other's lives, into allies, if not friends. After all our hostilities
+against each other in Great Yarmouth, at Gheriah, and in Calcutta, we
+were now in Moorshedabad, bound together by a common purpose, and that
+purpose concerned with her who had originally been the cause of our
+enmity.
+
+I have often thought since that the change which took place in my
+cousin's behaviour about this time was due, not so much to any tardy
+pricks of conscience, as to a sort of dizziness of mind, brought about
+by the spectacle of the prodigious crimes of Surajah Dowlah. His own
+spirit, however bold and wicked, was daunted in the presence of this
+being who, though so much younger in years, was so greatly superior in
+evil; so that he shrank back, like one brought suddenly to the edge of
+a precipice. Perhaps he had a secret apprehension of his coming fate;
+at all events, it is certain that for a short time he manifested a
+hearty longing to return to the society of honest men.
+
+As soon as we were seated his first act was to pluck off the turban he
+wore on his head, and cast it to the ground.
+
+"Faugh!" he exclaimed. "What an intolerable thing to wear! If it were
+not for their turbans and their abstinence, I declare Mahometanism
+would suit me well enough."
+
+I gazed at him in horror.
+
+"Do you mean, Rupert, that you have really embraced that idolatrous
+sect?" I demanded.
+
+"You need not look so scandalised, cousin," he retorted. "In the first
+place you are quite wrong to call it idolatrous, images of every kind
+being strictly forbidden by the Alcoran. In the second place it is a
+very decent, respectable religion, as religions go, and extremely
+convenient for seafaring men who sometimes need an excuse for
+overhauling a Christian cargo."
+
+"Rupert Gurney," I replied sternly, "you have within the hour brought
+me away out of prison, and for that I thank you. But I will neither
+listen to your blasphemous talk, nor suffer it, and rather than
+consent to do so I will go back to the place from which you took me
+but now."
+
+"Fair and softly, young Athelstane," he answered grinning. "I see you
+are as fierce a Puritan as ever, and as I have lost the wish to
+quarrel with you I will endeavour to refrain from saying anything
+offensive to your delicacy. But do you, on your part, abstain from
+flying into a passion at every word that does not happen to sound to
+your liking; for patience is a virtue recommended, as I believe, by
+your religion as well as mine, and it seems to me that your stock of
+it is rather scant."
+
+I cannot say how deeply mortified I was by this rebuke, which, coming
+from one whose evil life I held in just detestation, wrought more
+conviction in me than all the sermons I had heard from good Mr. Peter
+Walpole of Norwich, when I was a boy. I discovered, as though by a
+flash of light, how unchristian was the temper I had too often shown
+in my dealings, not only with my cousin, but with other persons, and
+from that moment I set an earnest watch on myself in this respect.
+
+Forcing myself to acknowledge my error at once, though much against
+the grain, I said--
+
+"I ask your pardon, Rupert, if I spoke harshly. But let us leave these
+questions, and come to the business in hand. What of Marian, and how
+do you propose that we should effect her escape?"
+
+He looked at me surprised.
+
+"Why, Athelstane, my boy, give me your hand!" he exclaimed, in a more
+cordial tone than I had ever heard him use before. "Curse me if I
+don't heartily wish we had never quarrelled!" I gave him my hand with
+some reluctance, and he proceeded. "You saw that garden which we
+passed on our way to this spot? The girl is detained a prisoner in one
+of the Nabob's summer-houses which stand within it. I have found means
+to corrupt one of the eunuchs who is a friend of mine, and anxious to
+stand well with the English. For I must tell you, Athelstane, that all
+is not working smoothly in the government here. Surajah Dowlah, by his
+arrogance and violence, has made many enemies, among whom are his own
+uncle, Meer Jaffier, and Roy Dullub, the most important of the
+Gentoos. These men have a just apprehension of the vengeance which the
+English may take for the late invasion of their settlements, and
+moreover they stand in dread of the young Nabob's reckless temper,
+sometimes bordering on insanity. So that we have more friends than we
+know of in the Court. This eunuch, then, as I was going to say, has
+agreed to introduce me into the garden to-night, in about an hour's
+time through a small postern in the wall of which he has the key. He
+is going to conduct me to the summer-house where Marian is. There it
+may be necessary to use force to overpower the eunuchs in charge of
+the place, but if we succeed in doing that, as I think there is little
+doubt we shall, we have nothing to do but to carry her off and retire
+by the way we came. I have provided a safe retreat afterwards to the
+coast."
+
+I fell in heartily with this scheme, which seemed to present a
+tolerable chance of success. Rupert went on to explain to me the means
+by which he hoped that we might afterwards be able to pass through the
+country without being stopped. He proposed that we should give it out
+that we were a party of Mahometan pilgrims bound for the mouth of the
+river, to take ship for Mecca; and he told me he had three horses
+already hired, with a driver, waiting for us in a certain place. In
+order that this scheme might be carried through it was necessary that
+I should be disguised to pass for a Moor, like himself. He now
+produced from his bosom a brown pigment, such as he had already used
+with good enough success on his own complexion, and carefully stained
+the skin of my face, also my feet and hands.
+
+"Remember, above all," he said, while he was thus engaged, "if you
+would be taken for a Mahometan, never to wash your hands without
+washing your feet at the same time, for this custom is inveterate with
+them, and is, I think, the principal point of difference between the
+two religions."
+
+When he had finished, I asked--
+
+"And now what shall I do for a suitable dress?"
+
+For I was still clad in the garments of rough canvas which the Moors
+had given to us on the morning after our release from the Black Hole.
+
+"By the Lord Harry, I don't know what you can do!" cried Rupert. "I
+had overlooked that part of it. Unless you were to cut down one of
+these black rascals in the dark, and exchange suits with him?"
+
+I declined to do what I thought would amount to committing a murder,
+although it were to be done upon an Indian; whereupon my cousin
+offered to kill the man, if I would wear the clothes. At last we
+agreed to procure the dress by peaceful means, if that should be
+possible, and set out on our return to the centre of the town.
+
+Sure enough we had not gone a great way when we met a man of the city,
+a Gentoo, wearing a loose woollen robe and white turban, which we
+thought would pass, and which he agreed very easily to part with for
+five rupees. I offered him my canvas suit into the bargain, but this
+he rejected with disdain, on account of his religion, and walked off
+from us stark naked, but for a loin-cloth.
+
+It was now time that we should repair to the meeting appointed by the
+eunuch. We found the postern without any difficulty, and as soon as my
+cousin had knocked twice in a peculiar manner the eunuch came and
+admitted us. This eunuch appeared to be a very civil, worthy person,
+very different to most of his kind, whom I have found to be full of
+spite and malice, and untrustworthy in all their dealings.
+
+As soon as we were entered in the garden the eunuch conducted us
+through an orchard and down a grove of persimmons, to where there was
+a fountain, and close by it a square marble tank bordered by roses in
+white marble boxes. Here he left us for a moment, while he went
+forward to examine the summer-house, if there were any one stirring
+within. While we were waiting I took an interest in gazing at the
+clear water of the tank, and picturing the scene when the Nabob's
+women came thither to bathe, as I heard was their daily custom.
+
+Presently the eunuch returned, and beckoned to us.
+
+"The Sahibs may go forward now," he said. "The cage is shut and the
+birds are asleep."
+
+We followed him, and he brought us out upon an open space, and in the
+midst of it a small pavilion, like a temple, built in white stone or
+marble, in two storeys, very elegantly, with small pillars before it
+and a dome above, the whole covered over with fantastical designs of
+trees and flowers, curiously wrought in the stone.
+
+The door of the pavilion was closed. In the upper storey I saw several
+lattices open, but no lights.
+
+"What are we to do in the next place?" I asked of the eunuch.
+
+He gave me an expressive look out of his black eyes, and silently
+delivered to me a scymetar which he carried.
+
+"Let the Sahib knock, and when they who keep the door put forth their
+heads, let the Sahib strike them off," he said, seeing me hesitate.
+
+It had been well for us, as it turned out, if I had done as he bid me,
+for the squeamishness which we feel about shedding blood is not
+understood amongst Indians, and they despise us for it. However,
+before I could say anything further, my cousin stepped up to the door
+and knocked boldly.
+
+There was a commotion inside. I drew my scymetar, and Rupert did the
+same. As soon as the door was unfastened from within, without waiting
+to parley, we flung ourselves through the opening, striking out
+blindly in the dark.
+
+Instantly there went up a howl for mercy, and the eunuchs inside--for
+there were two of them, both well-armed--cast themselves down writhing
+on the floor, evidently in the expectation that they were immediately
+to be put to death. Rupert aimed a deadly blow at one of them, but I,
+like a fool, struck up his weapon.
+
+"Stay," I said, using the Gentoo language purposely that they might
+understand, "it may save us trouble to spare their lives, on condition
+that they strictly obey our instructions."
+
+The wretches hearing this, instantly broke into all sorts of
+grovelling entreaties and oaths of fidelity. Quite disgusted by their
+slavish cowardice, I said to them--
+
+"Hold your tongues! You have in this house a prisoner, an
+Englishwoman, whom we have come to carry away. Let one of you go at
+once and bring her here."
+
+The eunuch furthest in from the door immediately leaped to his feet
+and made off down the passage. But Rupert, who knew more about these
+sort of creatures than I did at this time, strode after him, calling
+out--
+
+"Stay! I will go with you!"
+
+But the fellow, without turning his head, sprang up a narrow staircase
+at the end, and darting into the first room he came to above, slammed
+the door to, and had it fastened before Rupert could catch him up. In
+another moment we heard him yelling and squalling out of the window
+for assistance to come and take the murderers and ravishers that were
+broken into the garden.
+
+My cousin came jumping down the stairs three steps at a time.
+
+"This comes of your cursed softness!" he growled out savagely. "As
+though it were not a Christian act to cut the throats of as many of
+these hell-hounds as possible!"
+
+He fetched a slash at the man who lay whining at our feet that nearly
+severed his head from his trunk.
+
+"Now we must save ourselves if we can!" he muttered. And indeed it was
+time. The screams of the eunuch overhead had brought the whole place
+about our ears. As we stepped out of the pavilion again, we saw lights
+glittering through the trees all round us, and heard shouting and the
+running of feet. Our friendly eunuch had taken to flight, and we were
+left to extricate ourselves as best we could.
+
+"We must not stay here or we shall be surrounded," cried Rupert.
+"Which way is the gate?"
+
+I strove to recollect, and then, taking what I thought to be the
+direction, we started off at a run.
+
+Instantly that fiend who had betrayed us, leaning further out of the
+window to discover which way we fled, redoubled his cries. Looking
+back for a moment as we ran, I saw him pointing, and at the same time
+there was a movement of one of the other lattices, and I caught a
+glimpse of a white face and two hands thrust out with a despairing
+gesture, and knew that Marian was aware of our enterprise and that we
+had failed. Then the clamour on all sides grew louder, and men bearing
+lanterns and armed with swords and matchlocks burst out from the trees
+around the pavilion, and ran hither and thither, some towards the
+building, others searching for our track.
+
+We ran like deer, bending down so as not to be seen, and dodging in
+among the trees and bushes. By this means we preserved ourselves from
+immediate capture, but soon missed our way, and found ourselves
+wandering about in the garden, stealing from one patch of cover to
+another; while every now and then a party of our pursuers would go
+past, so close that we could hear them speak, and see the sparks of
+lantern-light drip off the naked blades of their weapons as they
+thrust them into the bushes.
+
+After several close escapes of this kind, when we at last stumbled on
+the postern, more by luck than skill, we found it barred and locked,
+and the key removed. Before we could decide what next to do, on a
+sudden a party of four gigantic blacks burst out upon us, brandishing
+their weapons at our heads and calling on us, by all manner of filthy
+names, to surrender. I believe they expected us to prove an easy prey,
+but I was now grown desperate, and rushed so fiercely on him that came
+first and carried a lantern, that I fairly bore him to earth at the
+first shock. And when I looked round for another I found all three in
+full flight, one of them leaving his right hand behind, which Rupert
+had managed to slice off at the wrist with the first blow. They ran
+for their lives, shouting out that they had to do with two demons from
+the pit. Rupert, seeing the man I had struck down move, stepped over
+to him, quite cool, drew his blade across the poor wretch's throat,
+and wiped it on his turban. After this we lost no time in shifting our
+ground before the rest of the pursuers came up.
+
+With the chase so hot after us, it had become plain that we must be
+taken before long, unless we could hit upon some means of escaping
+from the garden. In this strait I bethought myself of the trees whose
+boughs I had noticed from outside overhanging the wall, when we passed
+it earlier that night. I reminded Rupert of this, who exclaimed
+joyfully--
+
+"Well done, cousin, I declare you have saved us now! I believe I can
+find that part of the garden easily enough, when it will be a simple
+matter to climb the trees and drop down on the other side of the
+wall."
+
+We set out at once, Rupert leading the way, and turning from side to
+side as we heard the Moors shouting after us. They now felt pretty
+sure of our whereabouts, and began discharging their pieces where we
+went, so that the balls tore the leaves off the trees all round us,
+but luckily without doing us any damage. We arrived at the wall, and
+seeing a tree suitable for our purpose, made for it, but just as we
+reached it one of those black rascals we had put to flight espied us.
+He raised the cry, and instantly we found ourselves surrounded by the
+whole band, at least twenty of them rushing at us out of the dark, and
+all with the most murderous looks I have ever seen.
+
+I now gave up all for lost, and planting myself with my back against
+the tree prepared to sell my life dear. Not so Rupert, who was already
+off the ground, climbing like a cat up the smooth trunk. He was out of
+sight among the branches directly, and in another minute would have
+been safely over the wall, when at a signal from their leader, about a
+dozen of the Moors who had firearms discharged them all together into
+the tree. I heard a groan and a sound of scrambling above, and
+presently Rupert dropped, falling heavily straight on to the ground,
+where he lay quite still.
+
+When I saw what had happened, I abandoned all further thoughts of
+resistance, and throwing away my weapon bade them do what they would
+with me. Even then, so great was the awe we had struck into them, that
+they advanced slowly, narrowing their circle all round, till at length
+the foremost took courage to lay his hand on my shoulder. They then
+led me away, jabbering the most horrid threats in my ear, while others
+picked up my unfortunate cousin, and carried him after, groaning
+miserably.
+
+We were brought into a sort of guard-house, situated, as well as I
+could judge, in the centre of the garden, and there kept till morning,
+to await the Nabob's pleasure. Poor Rupert, who had broken his leg,
+tossed and moaned till daybreak, but I was so much exhausted that I
+could not keep awake, and fell into a sleep on the floor. In the
+morning, to my astonishment, I was offered some food, after which my
+captors dragged me pretty roughly into the palace. I said farewell to
+my cousin, doubting greatly whether I should ever see him again.
+
+Surajah Dowlah, contrary to his custom, had me brought into him in his
+private apartments, there being present besides only some of the
+minions and low buffoons he kept by him to amuse him. He rolled his
+bloodshot eyes on me, as I was led in, looking as though he could have
+bit me, and played with a sharp, crooked knife which he had in his
+hand.
+
+After overwhelming me with a torrent of imprecations which I should be
+ashamed to write down, he ordered me to tell him how I had got into
+his garden. Being well assured that nothing could make my position
+worse than it already was, and having some experience of the Nabob's
+character by this time, I resolved on defying him. I therefore
+answered boldly--
+
+"I got into the garden by means which I have, and which I shall not
+disclose. Your Highness may rest assured that you cannot keep me out
+of any place into which I choose to penetrate. Nevertheless I
+intended no outrage on you. You hold prisoner a countrywoman of mine,
+whom I intended to deliver out of your hands; and let me warn your
+Highness that whatever you may order to be done with me, the English
+will never leave you in peace till you have set that woman free."
+
+I was scarce prepared for the effect which these words produced on the
+intoxicated youth. He rose half way from his seat, raging like a
+fiend, then fell back again white and crouching, as if I had been
+about to deal him a blow, then passed into a fresh paroxysm of rage,
+and so from one state of mind to another in a way at once alarming and
+pitiful to behold.
+
+"Do you know in whose presence you stand, infidel?" he shrieked. "Do
+you know that I am lord and Subhadar of Bengal, of Behar, and Orissa;
+and that I have a million men who would die at my bidding? I will have
+you torn piecemeal, I will have your eyes picked out with knives and
+your flesh torn by hot pincers! I will plunge this knife into you, I
+will rip you up as I would a wild boar, I will strew your entrails on
+the earth, I will give your heart to dogs to devour!"
+
+He went on in this terrifying manner till he was out of breath. During
+the whole time I stood regarding him with a cool, undismayed
+expression which, I believe, disconcerted him more than any words I
+could have used. Then I said--
+
+"Surajah Dowlah, your words are the words of a boaster, who is bold
+only when he sees his enemy before him disarmed. Beware of what you
+do; you are walking in the dark! Do you believe the paltry handful of
+English whom you drove out of Calcutta count for anything in the
+strength of our nation? If so, let me tell you there are men about
+you, men who have your trust, who could teach you otherwise. You are
+being deceived if your spies have not already told you of the armament
+which he whom you call Sabat Jung is already preparing to invade your
+dominions, when every hair of an Englishman's head that you have
+injured will have to be reckoned for. And it will be well for you if,
+among all those who crouch before you, you find any to fight for you
+in that day."
+
+The servile crew that stood round the tyrant here began to cry out at
+me, and drown my voice. But I was satisfied with the impression I had
+made on the mind of their master. He listened, hanging his head, and
+casting meaning glances at me, as if doubtful how far I had authority
+for what I said. Finally he ordered me to be kept under a strong
+guard, and I was conveyed back to the same prison I had escaped from
+overnight.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+_IN A STRANGE LAND_
+
+
+I have now come to a period which was in many respects the strangest
+of my whole life, so that I often look back on it with wonder; and
+sitting here at the open window, framed in honeysuckle and sweetbriar,
+with the sounds of the farm in my ears and the prospect of the
+peaceful broad in front of me, I ask myself if I be truly that
+adventurous youth who once dwelt in captivity for many months in the
+court of an Indian prince, half victim and half plaything, one day
+caressed and loaded with rich gifts, the next threatened with death
+and torture.
+
+Yet so it was. After the attempt whose miscarriage I have just
+related, the demeanour of the Nabob underwent a singular change. He
+relented from his severity towards us, and in fact a few days after,
+riding past our place of imprisonment one morning, he stopped at the
+door and calling Mr. Holwell out to him, bade him and his two
+companions betake themselves where they would, since he desired never
+to hear of them again.
+
+However, in this dismissal he did not include me, choosing to put me
+on a different footing from the other prisoners he had taken at Fort
+William, and to hold me as a hostage--for so I am sure he considered
+me--for the friendship of Colonel Clive. He offered me the choice
+between being kept in chains or giving him my parole not to leave
+Moorshedabad without his consent. The Moors do not accept each other's
+parole, but they trust that of a European, than which there can be no
+stronger proof of the dishonesty of their whole nation. I chose to
+comply with the Nabob's condition, as I considered that I ought not to
+quit the place without having effected something for Marian. And by
+giving my parole I trusted to obtain opportunities for communicating
+with her, as well as with my luckless cousin Gurney, whom I had not
+seen since the morning after our adventure.
+
+Whether Surajah Dowlah suspected my designs, and took particular
+measures for baffling them, I cannot say. But during the time that now
+followed, try as I would, I never succeeded in so much as hearing the
+smallest news of either of the two persons whom I knew to be in
+Moorshedabad. So close is the secrecy maintained by Orientals that
+they might have both been carried off into the recesses of Tartary,
+and yet not been more utterly out of my reach than they were, abiding
+in the same city.
+
+Neither was I able to gain any certain tidings of my fellow
+countrymen. I only knew that the Nabob, intoxicated with the pride of
+his victory at Fort William, had neglected to take measures for
+pursuing the refugees and driving them from his country. So that they
+lay all together at Fulta, very miserably, wishing for succour to
+arrive from Madras, and passed the time, as I have since understood,
+in recriminations upon each other, for the misconduct and weakness
+which had brought about the fall of Calcutta. What were the real
+feelings of Surajah Dowlah towards myself I found it then, and find it
+still, very difficult to estimate. On many occasions he behaved
+towards me with the greatest kindness, and as though he had a real
+affection for me. He would send for me sometimes, when he was sober,
+and question me about the various kingdoms of Europe, particularly the
+French, English, and Dutch, those being the three nations which had
+factories in his dominions. It was plain that he did not believe very
+much of what I told him, supposing no doubt that I exaggerated in
+order to astonish him. I told him that the French were the most
+powerful military nation on the continent of Europe, but that we were
+their masters, having several times invaded and conquered their
+country. And I said that at sea the English had ever been reckoned the
+first of all nations, so much so that no foreign warship was allowed
+to pass through our seas without striking her topsails to any British
+vessel she might meet. When I spoke in this manner he would mock, and
+ask whether I supposed that a Frenchman would confirm these accounts,
+to which I made answer that such was scarcely to be expected, the
+French being a vain people, and given to boasting of their greatness.
+
+When the Nabob had exhausted his questions--and he seldom asked me
+about any but military affairs--he would bestow on me a jewel, or a
+rich dress, and dismiss me with every mark of kindness. But on the
+very next day, perhaps, being sent for again, I found him in a drunken
+rage, ready to curse my nation and myself, and threatening to have my
+tongue pulled out for having abused him with lies and inventions about
+my miserable country. On these occasions I often heard him declare
+that the whole of Europe did not contain ten thousand men, and that as
+for King George, he was only fit to be a dewan or zamindar under
+himself.
+
+It did not take me long to discover that the Nabob was entirely
+governed by those about him. When he could be prevailed on to listen
+to his uncle, Meer Jaffier, or to his aunt, the widow of Allaverdy
+Khan, his behaviour was rational enough; but more often he fell under
+the influence of his detestable Gentoo favourite Lal Moon, and other
+scoundrels of that stamp, when he became little more than a drunken
+sot. I felt during this period as though I was shut in the same cage
+with a capricious tiger, who one moment purred and fawned on me and
+the next showed his teeth with horrid snarls, nor was there ever a
+day on which I could feel secure that I should not be delivered to the
+executioner before the sun set.
+
+Through all these changes of demeanour I adhered to the firm conduct I
+had at first taken up, and by never permitting the tyrant to see that
+I feared him, succeeded time after time in damping his frenzy. At the
+same time I acquired the friendship and esteem of some of the most
+considerable persons of his Court, particularly Roy Dullub, the dewan
+already mentioned, and the famous Meer Jaffier. My hold on the
+friendship of this distinguished Moor was strengthened by an incident
+which I am about to relate.
+
+As soon as the rainy season was over, which lasted till the month of
+October, Surajah Dowlah marched out with his army into the country of
+Purneah, for the purpose of attacking his cousin, who was Phouzdar of
+that territory. The young Nabob bore a great hatred to this relation
+of his, and had frequently announced his intention of destroying him
+as soon as the weather should permit of his moving against him. At the
+head of the army, as usual, was the general, Meer Jaffier, and at my
+earnest request I was allowed to accompany him as one of his train.
+
+We arrived at length, after a tedious march, at the foot of some
+hills, on the slope of which the Phouzdar's army lay encamped. Our own
+force was much more numerous, but the Phouzdar's position being a
+very strong one the Meer judged it not prudent to make an attack till
+he had had an opportunity of thoroughly examining the ground. With
+this view he chose out a small party, of whom I was one, and departed
+secretly from the camp at sunset, to explore the enemy's
+neighbourhood.
+
+The distance between the two armies was not very great; as near as I
+could judge it was about three miles. But we had no guide to direct
+us, and lost our way in the darkness, getting entangled first in the
+wood, and afterwards among a network of small, deep streams, too broad
+to jump, and dangerous to wade on account of the steepness of their
+banks and the slippery boulders with which their beds were strewn. So
+long did it take us to extricate ourselves out of these difficulties
+that when the sun rose we found ourselves close to the Phouzdar's
+camp, and within full view of his army. We turned to retreat, but at
+the same time a loud halloo was raised behind us, and a troop of
+horsemen, with waving ensigns and steel accoutrements shining in the
+sun, dashed out from the enemy's ranks and rode down upon us.
+
+Meer Jaffier at once gave the order to face round, and form into a
+solid body to receive their onset. As they approached there was a
+tall young man in a high turban that blazed with diamonds, mounted on
+a noble white horse, who spurred swiftly in front, and rode straight
+for where our commander was posted, with me beside him. The Meer, who
+did not want courage, perceiving that this young man sought him out,
+instantly galloped forward to meet him, and cast his javelin. The
+javelin passed by the young man's ear; he pulled up his horse, and
+threw his own in return with such good aim that he struck Meer
+Jaffier on the shoulder, who reeled and fell off his horse on to the
+ground. The other instantly rode up and leaped off his white horse to
+despatch his enemy, but I was on the spot just in time, and without
+dismounting, succeeded in striking the young man on the neck with my
+scymetar with such force that he fell down dead.
+
+No sooner did they see him fall than the whole troop of the enemy's
+horse turned round and went off, casting away their banners as they
+rode. Meer Jaffier, who had merely been stunned for the moment, came
+to himself directly afterwards, and on looking at the dead man's face
+recognised him to be no other than the Phouzdar of Purneah himself. We
+were informed afterwards that he had mistaken us for the Nabob's own
+bodyguard, and had come out to attack the Nabob himself.
+
+This lucky accident put an end to the campaign, the whole country at
+once submitting to Surajah Dowlah. The ungrateful young tyrant chose
+to resent my action, declaring that it was his design to have put his
+cousin to death with his own hand, but Meer Jaffier expressed himself
+very handsomely about the service I had rendered him, and presented
+me with the white horse which the Phouzdar had ridden.
+
+As soon as we were returned to Moorshedabad Surajah Dowlah marked his
+sense of resentment against me by withdrawing my liberty on parole,
+and ordering me into close confinement again. I thus learnt how
+dangerous is the path of those who would advance themselves at courts
+where everything depends on the personal favour of the monarch, and
+not, as in our own happy country, where the power is distributed among
+the Houses of Parliament and great Ministers, so that no man hath it
+in his power unduly to depress another. However, I had not lain in my
+new prison very long before I had reason to rejoice at the Nabob's
+caprice, which had restored to me the right of plotting my escape from
+him. For one evening, when it began to be dusk, the door of my cell
+was suddenly opened, and the gaolers ushered in a person closely
+veiled and disguised, who, as soon as we were left alone, removed the
+wrappings from his face and showed himself to be none other than the
+Meer Jaffier in person.
+
+"My son," he said to me, regarding me with a look of some concern,
+"there has this day arrived at the palace a messenger from Monichund,
+who brings tidings that Sabat Jung, with a great armament of ships and
+men, has arrived in the mouth of the Hooghley, breathing vengeance
+against our lord Surajah Dowlah. And this news has so infuriated him
+against the whole English nation that, unless you can contrive to get
+away from Moorshedabad to-night you are like to forfeit your life on
+the morrow."
+
+Now whether this distinguished Moor was moved to this action by
+gratitude for my former service to him, or whether, as some of my
+friends think, he was already aiming at the treaty into which he
+afterwards entered with the English, and therefore wished to show his
+good will to us; yet of this I am sure, that he preserved my life on
+this night, an action for which I must always hold him in grateful
+remembrance. Under his directions I collected together my property,
+consisting chiefly of the gems which the Nabob had given me, and which
+I secreted on my person. He then brought me out of the prison, past
+the gaolers, whom he had bribed and dismissed, and took me by a back
+way to his own house. Here I found the beautiful white horse he had
+given me, which was named Ali, ready saddled and bridled for a
+journey. I had for some months been accustomed to wear the Moorish
+dress, so that I wanted nothing in the shape of disguise, save another
+application of my cousin Rupert's paint, which was not to be had.
+
+"Mount," said the Meer, "and I will myself ride with you as far as the
+gate of the city and see you safely on your way."
+
+Accordingly he had his own horse made ready, a small, powerful, black
+mare, like a jennet, and on this led the way through the streets of
+the city, now nearly empty, to the southern gate. As we rode along
+together he gave me advice as to how I should proceed.
+
+"You may now pass well enough among the Mahometans," he said, "for you
+have learned a good deal of our manners, and if you had been willing
+to forsake your degrading idolatry, and embrace the true worship of
+Allah, you might have attained to a high position among us. But now
+you are to pass through the country parts of Bengal, in which there
+are few or no Moors, but only Gentoos, of whom I would have you
+beware. For the secret hatred of these people for us, their rulers and
+governors, is very great, so that though you should pass among them
+for a Moor, you would fare little better than if they knew you to be a
+Christian and a foreigner. Above all, beware of their Bramins, a
+faithless, perjured race, given over to all kinds of vile, heathen
+practices, such as you have no notion of. Let a Bramin once raise his
+finger against you among these people and you are lost, for by means
+of their manifold sorceries they have reduced the whole Gentoo
+population to be their slaves."
+
+He gave me some directions as to the road I was to travel, telling me
+I should have to make a circuit so as not to pass through Calcutta,
+which lay directly in the way to Fulta. The whole distance he
+estimated as a little more than two hundred miles, and he advised me
+to ride only at night, and conceal myself in the jungle during the
+day. I asked him what I should do to procure food.
+
+"That will require some address," he answered, "but you must avoid
+entering a village. You will have to keep your eyes open as you ride
+along, and when you come to some hut standing by itself with no others
+near, enter boldly and demand provisions for yourself and your horse.
+Beware of offering any money in payment, or they will suspect you to
+be a fugitive and fall upon you; but if you hold yourself towards them
+with pride and sternness, giving them only curses and blows, they will
+respect and grovel before you, for such is the nature of the
+Bengalese."
+
+As soon as we were arrived at the gate of the town Meer Jaffier bade
+me farewell.
+
+"When you come before Sabat Jung you may salute him privately from
+me," he said at parting. "Tell him that my nephew's violence towards
+the English is far from commanding the approval of the elder and more
+prudent among us, and that we earnestly desire to see your factories
+restored and trade once more flourishing."
+
+In these last expressions I knew him to be sincere. For since the
+destruction of the English factories there had been a great falling
+off in the revenues of Bengal, so much so that even the Nabob himself
+was now inclined to repent of his action.
+
+I thanked and saluted my protector, and giving the rein to my willing
+steed, galloped forth into the night. And now it would be easy for me
+to make a long story of those four days and nights which I spent in
+travelling through the unknown parts of Bengal, riding along dark
+forest paths with nothing to guide me but the stars, under mighty
+trees whose boughs arched overhead like caverns and grew downwards
+into the earth again, past sleeping Indian villages, where the dogs
+bayed behind prickly fences, swimming dark rivers on whose surface the
+reflections of strange idol temples rose and fell, and creeping
+through thick jungles where my ears were stunned by the screams of
+trooping jackals, and where my heart would sometimes come into my
+mouth as I saw the brown grass bend and shake with the passage of some
+great beast, and caught a glimpse of dark red stripes moving behind
+the reeds, and heard the heavy padding of its paws. But only once
+during this journey did I come into real danger, and that through a
+neglect of the wise advice given to me by my good friend at starting.
+
+For though Meer Jaffier had so strictly warned me against the Indians,
+and particularly the Bramins, yet on the third night after my flight,
+beginning to feel somewhat confident by having got so far in safety,
+nothing would do but I must thrust my head into the lion's den, by
+which I mean venture into one of their temples, at the very time they
+were busy about a great religious ceremony. I had been on my way since
+sundown, and had made very good progress, so that I supposed myself to
+have got over the greater part of my journey, when towards the middle
+of the night I came unexpectedly upon a great building, standing by
+itself on the edge of a stream, which building I at once knew to be a
+temple of the Gentoo religion.
+
+Having passed several places of the same kind already I should not
+have taken much notice of this one, perhaps, if my attention had not
+been attracted by a peculiar drumming noise which seemed to proceed
+from the inside, and sounded very strange and awful in the darkness. I
+rode up as near as I dared, and then stopped, listening. The drumming
+grew louder and louder, and I presently began to distinguish a purpose
+in it. The sounds rose and fell in a certain regular order, very
+unlike the melody of our musical instruments, but yet very impressive
+to the ear. I found myself affected by a feeling of suspense as I
+listened, which quickly passed into one of fear, and at the same time
+I noticed that my horse had begun to shiver and sweat violently. The
+only effect of this was to fill me with a burning curiosity to know
+what this music was for. I tethered poor Ali to a tree, and though he
+seemed to be greatly distressed at being left alone, plunged into the
+undergrowth that surrounded the sides of the temple.
+
+The whole place appeared to be in darkness. I groped my way at last to
+the foot of a flight of steps leading up to the front, and finding
+nobody on guard climbed up softly on all fours, only staying now and
+then to breathe deeply, and to try and still the excessive beating of
+my heart. The drums continued to sound, the notes becoming harsher and
+more distinct as I approached. At the top of the steps I found myself
+before a little stone doorway, through which a very faint dusky
+glimmer emerged. I passed in, treading on tiptoe, and came along a
+narrow stone passage, down which the sound of the drumming made a
+dismal echo. At the further end of the passage the way was closed by a
+thick curtain made of a substance that felt like stiff leather, and
+was, I believe, the hide of an elephant. I pushed this back far enough
+to let me through, and passed straight into the midst of the place.
+
+As I did so the beating of the tom-toms broke on my ears with such
+vehemence that I was well-nigh stunned, and a waving dance of torches
+and cressets bewildered my eyes. I stood on the edge of a range of
+steps looking down upon an amphitheatre crowded with men. On the other
+side, over against me, rose a hideous idol, as high as the roof, with
+many heads, each grinning horribly, whilst from its body there
+protruded a monstrous array of clutching arms and hands, with other
+disfigurements too loathsome to be set down. The persons underneath me
+were all leaping and whirling round, with many gestures of homage to
+the idol, and they uttered cries and screams which were drowned by the
+noise of the drums.
+
+In the midst of their frenzy I saw a man dart out stark naked,
+prostrate himself for a moment at the idol's feet, and then inflict a
+terrible gash on himself with a knife which he had in his hand.
+Instantly the yellings and drummings were redoubled, the mass of
+worshippers whirled themselves round more furiously than ever, and
+then another and another man leaped forward and cut himself, each one
+more savagely than his fellow. Though I have never known what it is to
+be faint or sick in battle at the sight of wounds, nor even in a
+hospital, the spectacle of these ghastly mutilations offered up by
+these Indians in their madness to the idol turned me cold. I stood
+there watching them, and saw the stones of the temple all bloody like
+a shambles, and the dark faces of the worshippers distorted like
+maniacs, amid the smoke and flare of the torches, and a din like that
+of the pit; and remembering the different worship in which I had been
+brought up, and the pious services conducted by good Mr. Walpole, I
+thanked the Almighty who had granted me the blessed privilege of being
+born in a Christian land.
+
+And with this prayer in my heart I was turning to go when all at once
+I was aware that I had been spied; the noise of the tom-toms and the
+screaming dropped as if by magic, the torches were extinguished as
+though a wind had suddenly passed through the place, and as I turned
+and fled I heard the pattering of innumerable naked feet behind me on
+the stones.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+_THE COMING OF SABAT JUNG_
+
+
+If ever I felt afraid in my life it was when I fled out of the Indian
+temple with the whole swarm of devil-worshippers in full pursuit. I
+never thought I should have escaped alive, yet by the aid of
+Providence I did so, leaping down the steps by great bounds, finding
+my horse and unloosing him in the nick of time, and galloping off out
+of their reach. They kept up the pursuit for at least a mile, running
+with extraordinary swiftness, and tracking me like wolves;
+nevertheless in the end I got clean away.
+
+This adventure served as a wholesome lesson to me to beware of
+meddling with the ways of strange peoples in a strange land. By dint
+of following Meer Jaffier's wise and prudent directions I got over the
+rest of my journey without hindrance, and as day was breaking at the
+end of the following night I rode down on to the shore of the
+Hooghley.
+
+There the first thing that met my eyes was the pennant of my old
+commander, Admiral Watson, flying from the main truck of his
+Majesty's ship _Kent_, where she lay in the river, surrounded by a
+fleet, comprising the _Tyger_, _Salisbury_, _Bridgewater_, and a
+number of merchantmen. I gloated over this welcome sight almost with
+tears, as I realised that I was restored to my countrymen once more,
+after all my perils and wanderings. It did not take me long to reach
+the English camp on the edge of the river, where the spectacle of a
+turbaned Moor riding in on a white horse excited no small commotion.
+
+I inquired for Colonel Clive, and was quickly brought to the door of
+his tent, where my kind friend Mr. Scrafton came out to speak to me. I
+was on the point of offering him my hand, but observing that he had no
+suspicions as to who it was I merely told him in Indostanee that I
+came from Moorshedabad, with a message from the Meer Jaffier, and
+suffered him to bring me in to Mr. Clive.
+
+The famous Sabat Jung sat writing at a small table, from which he
+looked up as we entered, and cast a sharp glance over me. Mr. Scrafton
+spoke in English.
+
+"Colonel, here is a Moor from the Nabob's capital, with a message from
+his general to you."
+
+Mr. Clive laid down his pen.
+
+"Tell him to deliver it," he said.
+
+Before Mr. Scrafton could interpret this command, which he was about
+to do, I interposed, addressing Mr. Clive in English.
+
+"The Meer Jaffier bade me salute you privately, sir. Is it your
+pleasure that Mr. Scrafton should be present?"
+
+The Colonel and his secretary stared at each other, as they well
+might.
+
+"Who are you, man?" demanded Mr. Clive. "And how do you know this
+gentleman's name?"
+
+"I know his name very well, sir," said I, "and I think he knows mine,
+unless by this time he has forgot his former pupil, Athelstane Ford."
+
+"By the Lord, if it isn't my little purser!" exclaimed Colonel Clive.
+
+And this great man was pleased to rise from his chair and shake me
+very warmly by the hand, declaring himself pleased to see me safe and
+sound again. Mr. Scrafton did the same, after which they made me sit
+down and tell the history of my adventures. They questioned me very
+closely about the character of Surajah Dowlah and the strength of his
+government, and after I had expressed my opinions, Mr. Clive told me
+that he believed he understood the Nabob's character, and had written
+him a letter such as would send his heart into his boots.
+
+"And that the whole of Indostan may know what I think of the young
+monster, I mean to send the letter open to his lieutenant, Monichund,"
+he said. "These barbarous nations shall be made to learn the English
+are their masters, and that every outrage upon an Englishman shall
+cost them dear."
+
+So at last there had come a man able to deal with the bloodthirsty
+savage Moors and their prince as they deserved; and a new page was
+turned over in the history of Bengal. And but for the anxiety that
+continually harassed my mind as to the fate of those two whom I had
+left in Moorshedabad, I mean Marian and my cousin, who, in spite of
+many crimes, had at last done something to atone for his past
+misconduct; but for this, the time which followed would have been full
+of satisfaction. For I was now to witness the closing acts of that
+great historic drama of which I have already chronicled the
+commencement. I was to assist at the execution of justice on a great
+malefactor, and to see his victims repaid a hundredfold for the
+injuries they had suffered at his hands.
+
+I had arrived in the English camp just in time to take part in the
+first of those celebrated operations by which the disgraceful
+surrender of Fort William was to be redeemed, and the English name was
+to be so signally advanced throughout the East Indies. Colonel Clive
+had despatched the letter he spoke of, to demand redress from the
+Nabob, but its language was so high and peremptory that Monichund, the
+Nabob's governor in Fort William, returned it, saying that he dared
+not transmit it to his master. Thereupon Mr. Clive, not sorry to have
+an excuse for hostilities, ordered an immediate advance on Calcutta.
+
+The total number of troops employed on this memorable expedition was
+a little more than two thousand, of whom the most part were Telingies,
+or Sepoys, the English troops being between six and seven hundred.
+Most of these were Company's soldiers, though we had about one hundred
+men of Adlercron's regiment from Madras. We had also two field-pieces;
+the rest had been lost through the unfortunate grounding of the
+_Cumberland_ outside the river. To this force was afterwards added a
+body of three hundred seamen from the ships, as I shall presently
+relate. This little army under Colonel Clive marched slowly up the
+bank of the Hooghley, while Admiral Watson followed and escorted us
+with his fleet.
+
+On the second afternoon we lay at a place called Mayapore, between
+which and Calcutta, on the river's edge, stood the strong place of
+Budge-Budge, or Buz-Buzia as it is written by the learned. The Admiral
+had announced his intention of sailing up to attack this fort on the
+next day with the guns of the ships, and in order to prevent the
+garrison escaping Mr. Clive decided to march round during the night,
+and lay an ambush in the rear of the fort.
+
+Accordingly we marched out of Mayapore about sunset, and were
+conducted by some Indian guides inland through a part of the country
+much broken up by swamps and watercourses, which made our progress so
+excessively tedious that it was not till the following sunrise that we
+arrived at the place appointed for the ambush. This was a hollow in
+the plain, where there was a deserted village, the hollow being
+surrounded by banks covered with thickets which, it was supposed,
+would conceal our presence from the enemy. The troops by this time
+being quite worn out, Colonel Clive gave them leave to lay down their
+arms and repose themselves, and so eagerly was the permission availed
+of that not a single sentinel was posted to give notice of the enemy's
+approach.
+
+I was with Mr. Clive himself, who had allowed me to accompany him as a
+sort of military secretary, Mr. Scrafton not being a soldier. We lay
+down side by side, and I for one had no sooner closed my eyes than I
+fell asleep. But the very next moment, as it seemed to me, I awoke
+with a start, to the sound of a battle going on around me.
+
+I sprang to my feet and took in the whole scene. A whole Indian army
+appeared to have surrounded the sleeping camp. The banks of the hollow
+were lined with swarthy troops, armed with matchlocks, from which they
+poured a steady fire upon our bewildered men, just roused from
+slumber, and groping in confusion after their arms. On an eminence a
+short way behind I espied an officer, whom I took to be Monichund
+himself, seated on an elephant, issuing orders to his troops. Our two
+field-pieces stood deserted in the way of the enemy, who advanced to
+take them, while the terrified artillerymen ran for shelter among the
+troops of the line. Our position looked desperate, and I turned
+anxiously to Colonel Clive to see what he would do.
+
+Mr. Clive had sprung to his feet at the same moment with myself. For a
+moment he stood in an attitude of stern attention, his hands clenched,
+his lips compressed, and his eyes darting from point to point over the
+field. The next instant his voice rang out like the sound of a
+trumpet.
+
+"Steady! Form in line! Face this way! Captain Campbell, form your men
+on the right. Captain Coote, take yours to the left. Where is
+Kilpatrick?"
+
+He sprang forward among the disordered troops, rattling out commands
+and words of encouragement, and infusing a new spirit into them by his
+very presence and the air of cool resolution with which he moved and
+spoke. Like magic the little force disposed itself under his orders,
+and began to return the enemy's fire. Astonished by this sudden
+transformation, the Moors halted in their attack, and seemed contented
+to hold the rest of the ridge. Colonel Clive instantly detected their
+hesitation, drew up two small detachments opposite the points where
+the enemy seemed to be in the greatest numbers and ordered them to
+charge. They dashed forward with a ringing cheer, gained the bank, and
+drove the enemy back into the village.
+
+Taking advantage of this success, Mr. Clive turned his attention to
+the two field-pieces, which had been surrounded by a party of
+Monichund's force.
+
+"Go," he said to me, "order up the volunteers, and rescue those guns."
+
+Elated by this commission I darted towards a little squad composed of
+some fifty of the Company's civil servants who had volunteered before
+we left Fulta.
+
+"Come on," I shouted, "and take the guns!"
+
+They responded with an answering shout, we charged on the Indians at
+the double and drove them off. The artillerymen came up, turned the
+guns on the village, and began to shell out the enemy. A minute
+afterwards a loud cheer announced a general advance of our whole
+force, and Monichund, turning his elephant, fled, followed by all his
+men.
+
+While this was taking place the thunder of guns from the direction of
+the river told us that the fleet had come up, and was already at work
+silencing the artillery of the fort. Colonel Clive called back his men
+from the pursuit, and then, finding them utterly exhausted, he
+deferred the assault on the fort till the next day, and we again
+betook ourselves to repose.
+
+The result of this affair was greatly to encourage us, while we
+afterwards learned that it had as much disheartened the Moors. That
+presumption which they had felt ever since the fall of Calcutta was
+now exchanged for a different feeling, so much so that it may not be
+too much to say that the fate of Bengal was decided by that morning's
+work. The admiration which I felt for Mr. Clive's conduct on this
+occasion emboldened me to offer him my congratulations on his victory,
+but he rebuked me for doing do.
+
+"I will tell you what it is, young gentleman," he said to me, "I
+deserved to have been defeated for my carelessness in letting the
+beggars surprise me. It is true we beat them off, but that is no
+defence. A general should not allow himself to be caught napping in
+that fashion, and you may depend on it I shall say as little as
+possible about this day's work in my despatches to the Directors."
+
+In this confidential way he was pleased to talk with me, a freedom
+which it was his habit to indulge in with all those of his
+subordinates whom he really liked. For this hero, as I must have
+leave to call him, was not one of those little great men who find
+it necessary to keep up their authority by a show of reserve and
+pompousness, but feeling that confidence in himself which would
+enable him to rely upon his actions as the proofs of his greatness,
+he despised the arts of inferior minds.
+
+And now there happened an event, not only singular in itself, but
+interesting to me as bringing me back the company of an old friend
+whom I had never looked to see again. In the evening of this same day,
+while the soldiers were at supper, a party of sailors were landed from
+the ships, being the force I have already mentioned, to be ready to
+take part in the assault the next day. Thinking it possible that some
+of my old comrades from the _Talisman_ might be among them, about
+eight o'clock I strolled down to their quarters, where I found them
+all drinking together, without much appearance of discipline.
+
+I walked past several groups without recognising any face that I knew,
+and was about to give up the quest, when I noticed a group of half a
+dozen who were straying in the direction of the silent fort. This
+seemed to me a very dangerous proceeding, and as I could see none of
+their officers near, I determined to follow and remonstrate with them.
+Accordingly I hastened after them as fast as I could go. By the way in
+which they walked, or rather staggered along, I saw they had been
+drinking pretty freely. Presently they set off at a run, paying no
+heed to my shouts, and I was obliged to follow till they stopped on
+the very edge of the ditch which went round the fort. Here I caught up
+with them, greatly surprised that the garrison had shown no signs of
+life. But before I could speak, or even distinctly see their faces,
+the tallest of the party, a man of great frame, began rolling down
+into the ditch, which was nearly dry.
+
+I dared not call out for fear of drawing the attention of those in the
+fort, and watched him breathlessly as he plunged through the mud at
+the bottom of the ditch and scrambled up the opposite side.
+
+"What is he doing?" I demanded in a whisper of the man who appeared
+to be the most sober of the group.
+
+"It's a bet," he answered; "we bet him a quart of rum he wouldn't get
+to the top of the wall."
+
+I stared at the fellow, hardly able to believe in such recklessness.
+Then I turned my eyes to the huge seaman on the opposite side of the
+ditch. He had just made good his footing on the top of the bank, and
+now he began climbing up the masonry like a cat, till at last his
+herculean figure stood out clear on the summit.
+
+The next moment we saw him draw his cutlass and brandish it over his
+head, and a loud shout came across to us in a voice I knew full well.
+
+"Come on, you beggars, I've taken the ---- fort!"
+
+It was old Muzzy, the boatswain of the _Fair Maid_.
+
+Not for long did we hesitate, but rushing down into the ditch after
+him we were speedily in the fort. There our shouts roused first a
+company of Sepoys, and finally the whole force, who came trooping in,
+to find the place deserted, and the garrison fled secretly under cover
+of the darkness to Calcutta.
+
+While this was going on I had approached my old friend, for so I
+cannot but call him. Indeed, in spite of his evil character and
+manifold breaches of the laws of God and man, the old fellow had shown
+me much kindness, for which I was not ungrateful, and this perhaps
+inclined me to look with an unduly lenient eye on his misdeeds. Going
+up to him, I clapped him on the back, and cried out--
+
+"How goes it, old Muzzy? and what of the _Fair Maid_ and the rest of
+her crew?"
+
+The boatswain gave a great start, and turned round to me with a look
+of astonishment which quickly passed into one of delight.
+
+"Why, drown me, if it ain't that young cockerel again!" he exclaimed.
+
+And before I knew what he would be at, he cast his arms around me, and
+gave me a most evil-smelling kiss, fragrant of rum and tobacco. Then,
+still holding me firmly with his great hairy hands, as though he
+feared I should vanish into air, he put me back far enough for him to
+gaze at my face.
+
+"Stab my vitals if I didn't think as you was suffocated in that there
+Black Hole!" He garnished his speech with many other expressions which
+I am ashamed to remember, far less to write here. "So we all heard
+aboard the ship. But you're alive, ain't ye now?" he added. "It's not
+the rum as makes me think I sees you?"
+
+"I am Athelstane Ford," I answered, trying to shake myself free from
+his grasp, "and not a little glad to meet you again. But how did you
+come to be on a King's ship? Is the _Fair Maid_----"
+
+"Hist!" He interrupted me with a warning frown, and cast an
+apprehensive glance behind him. "Not a word about her! It might be a
+hanging matter if it was known I had been in the boat that escaped
+from Gheriah. I'll tell you all about it by our two selves."
+
+I took advantage of this offer to lead the way out of the fort. We
+walked back to the British lines together, old Muzzy still clutching
+me with one hand, and as soon as we had reached a quiet spot out of
+earshot we sat down and he commenced his tale.
+
+"You see, it's this way. Arter what happened when we was coming out of
+the river, where we lost you overboard, I come to the conclusion that
+that cousin o' yours warn't what I calls a honest man. Nobody can't
+say as how I'm one of your squeamish sort, 'cause I ain't. As fur as a
+bit o' smuggling goes, or a bit of privateering, or even a bit o'
+piracy, in a general way, I don't say nothin', but when it comes to
+taking and firing a culverin at your own ship, with your own mates
+aboard of her, why, d'ye see, I don't call that honest. And when I
+find out as a man ain't what I calls honest, I don't sail in his
+company. Mind you, I'm not the man to deny that Captain Gurney has his
+good points; he ain't no lawyer, that I'll admit, and he's as free
+with his rum-cask as any man I ever wish to sail under. But arter that
+business what I've mentioned, me and my mates swore we wouldn't have
+nothing more to do with him.
+
+"Well, when we got outside the river, we pointed her head for the
+nor'ard, and by keeping pretty close along the shore, though we
+hadn't a soul on board that could navigate, we managed to bring the
+old _Fair Maid_ safe into port--that's Bombay. You may strike me blind
+as I set here, when I tells you that no sooner did we bring up in the
+harbour than who should we see carmly settin' on the quay a-waiting
+for us but that eternal cousin of yourn! How on earth he got there's a
+mystery, but there he was; and as soon as he sights the _Fair Maid_ he
+comes off in a boat as cool as you please and takes the command
+again."
+
+"Why did you let him?" I asked, with a touch of my old resentment
+against Rupert. "Why didn't you refuse to take him on board?"
+
+Old Muzzy gave me a reproachful look and shook his head gravely.
+
+"No, no, boy, we couldn't go for to do that. That would ha' been flat
+mutiny; and remember his name was on the ship's books as first
+officer, and he might have pistolled us every one and had the law on
+his side. We didn't dare leave him neither, 'cause that would ha' been
+desertion, d'ye see, and he might have got out a warrant and had us
+brought on board again in irons."
+
+"What did you do, then?" I demanded as he paused, and a smile of deep
+cunning slowly overspread his face.
+
+"I'll tell you what we did, Athelstane, my hearty. We got ourselves
+pressed!"
+
+"Pressed?"
+
+"Took by the crimps, you understand, and pressed to serve King George.
+Oh, but it was a rare spree to see them crimps a-laying in wait for
+us, and enticing us into their dens, and filling us up with rum till
+we nearly bust where we sat, so that they could go and bring the
+pressgang down upon us. And us all the time asking nothing better, and
+ready to serve of our own accord, only it might ha' looked suspicious,
+d'ye see, it being agin natur for a honest seaman to want to go on
+board a man-o'-war."
+
+The boatswain began to quiver and roll to and fro with spasms of
+inward laughter at the recollection of his strategy.
+
+"And you should ha' seen your cousin's face when he stood all alone on
+the deck of the _Fair Maid_, and saw a boatload of us being rowed past
+him to the _Tyger_, every man jack of us in irons, and laughing in his
+face as we went by! And so that's how it is as I'm in King George's
+uniform, and right glad I am to find you in company again. For if ever
+I took a fancy to a young feller, I took one to you from the moment I
+first clapped eyes on you, and says I to myself, 'I'll make that lad a
+tight sailor yet,' I says, and I'd ha' done it, my boy, but for that
+scrub of a cousin of yours. And I've taken a blessed fort to-night for
+King George; and I'll tell 'em you was with me, and in command of the
+party, and they'll put your name in the despatches, and make you an
+admiral yet, or my name ain't Muzzy!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+_A BATTLE IN THE DARK_
+
+
+With some difficulty I persuaded my zealous friend to change his
+intention of ascribing to me the capture of Budge-Budge. It was well I
+did so, for Mr. Clive, when he heard the particulars of the affair,
+chose to resent the breach of discipline on the part of the sailors
+more than he approved of their reckless enterprise. So that old Muzzy,
+to his surprise, instead of being rewarded for his achievement, found
+himself lucky to get off with nothing worse than a reprimand for his
+drunkenness and disobedience to orders.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The next day we marched upon Calcutta.
+
+The ships went before us to clear the way, but they met with no
+resistance, all the Indian forces retiring before our advance. In the
+affair before Budge-Budge it seems that one of the shots from the guns
+had passed close to the turban of Monichund, and this had so terrified
+him that he never halted in his retreat till he came to Moorshedabad,
+all the way communicating his own fears to the garrisons he passed.
+When we entered the town of Calcutta, therefore, we saw the English
+colours already flying again from the fort, Admiral Watson having sent
+a party ashore to take possession.
+
+I am sorry to say that some bad blood arose between the gallant
+Admiral and Mr. Clive over this incident. In fact there had been
+already several jealousies between the two services, the Admiral and
+his officers affecting to regard the Company's forces as on an
+inferior footing to themselves. This feeling was heightened by the
+fact that Mr. Watson's rank in the navy was higher than that of
+Colonel Clive in the army, which gave him the precedence, though
+everybody knew that the real leader and director of the campaign was
+the Colonel.
+
+I was with Mr. Clive when he came up to the entrance to the fort, and
+can still see the stern look on his face when the sentinel stationed
+there by Captain Coote refused him admission.
+
+"Do you know who I am, fellow?" he cried. "I bid you let me pass this
+instant, or I will have you court-martialled as sure as my name is
+Robert Clive!"
+
+The sentinel drew back, and we passed in, but were immediately met in
+the courtyard by Mr. Coote himself.
+
+"What is the meaning of this performance, sir?" the Colonel asked him
+sternly. "Are you aware that I hold his Majesty's commission as
+lieutenant-colonel, and that you and all your men are therefore under
+my commands?"
+
+"I am very sorry sir," replied the other, beginning to blench a
+little, "but I was put into possession of this place by Admiral
+Watson, who has given me his commission as governor, and bid me hold
+it on his behalf till the arrival of Mr. Drake."
+
+"Then, Captain Coote," retorted Mr. Clive, turning pale, "I order you
+to give up this fort to me, as your superior officer on land, failing
+which I shall order you to be arrested."
+
+The Captain gave way at this threat, but contrived to despatch a
+message to Mr. Watson of what had occurred. The Admiral, whose spirit
+was as high as Mr. Clive's, at once sent on shore to say that unless
+Mr. Clive instantly quitted the fort, leaving Captain Coote in
+possession, he should open fire on it from the _Kent_.
+
+In the end, however, a compromise was effected, by virtue of which the
+Admiral was to hold the fort for the remainder of that day, in
+compliment to his services in having taken it, but at the end of that
+period he was to deliver it up to Mr. Clive as the military
+representative of the Company.
+
+Such were some of the difficulties with which this distinguished man
+had to contend. He would sometimes say to me, in his moments of
+confidence--
+
+"I declare to you, Ford, that if I had known how I was to be vexed
+and thwarted by those whose duty it is to assist me, I would never
+have undertaken this command. After ruining their own affairs these
+Bengal gentlemen criticise and hamper every step I take to restore
+them; and Admiral Watson is more zealous in maintaining what he
+considers the honours due to his profession, than he is in beating the
+Moors."
+
+But in spite of this occasional bitterness, the Colonel entertained a
+great respect for Mr. Watson's courage and abilities as a seaman, more
+especially after the celebrated affair of Chander Nugger. Whilst Mr.
+Clive, with the other members of the committee, was engaged in
+settling the affairs of Calcutta, some spies came in with the news
+that the town of Hooghley lay very open to attack, the garrison being
+greatly dismayed and ready to give up the place on very slight
+provocation. Accordingly the Admiral sailed up the river against it
+with his fleet, and some troops under Major Kilpatrick and Captain
+Coote, attacking it on the land side, it was taken with very little
+loss on our side, and destroyed. But as I was not present on this
+occasion, so I shall say little about it, except to remark that it
+served to yet further impress the Indians with a sense of our power,
+and put Surajah Dowlah on marching from Moorshedabad to crush us with
+all his force.
+
+The state in which we found Calcutta was indeed pitiable. The native
+quarter, especially that inhabited by the meaner sort of people, was
+not much injured, but all the English mansions and factories lay in
+ruins. The unfortunate servants of the Company, although thus restored
+to their former home, found themselves without shelter or money, the
+traffic having, of course, entirely ceased. It was fortunate for me
+that I had been able to bring away the jewels which Surajah Dowlah had
+given me in his fits of maudlin friendship, for these fetched a good
+price among the Gentoo merchants, and procured me as much money as I
+had occasion for. But with most of the others, from Mr. Drake
+downwards, it was different; and if the plunder of Hooghley had not
+brought in about a lac and a half of rupees, about this time, into the
+Company's coffers, I scarce know what they would have done.
+
+News arrived from Aleppo, shortly after these transactions, that war
+had again broken out in Europe between us and the French. This raised
+the prospect of a fresh peril for us, it being feared that the French
+in Chander Nugger would join forces with the Nabob. So seriously did
+Colonel Clive regard this outlook, that he consented to send proposals
+for an accommodation to Surajah, who was now in full march to the
+southward. To these proposals the Nabob pretended to return a
+favourable answer, nevertheless he continued advancing, and in order
+to be prepared against him Mr. Clive fortified an entrenched camp just
+outside the Morattoe ditch, to the northward, by which the Moors
+would have to pass before they could attack the town.
+
+Things were in this position when one morning about the beginning of
+February, rising at daybreak, and strolling outside the camp, I saw
+the whole horizon to the northward lit with the flames of burning
+villages. I hastened to rouse Mr. Clive, and he came out and stood
+beside me, watching, while from a cloud of dust along the road the van
+of the approaching army emerged, one blaze of gorgeous uniforms and
+tossing spears, marching towards the Morattoe ditch.
+
+For some time we stood in silence, as troop after troop came on,
+crowding along the high road, and casting fierce looks towards our
+encampment as they passed. A frown gathered on the Colonel's brow, and
+he began to think aloud, as was his custom sometimes, when we were
+alone.
+
+"Shall I attack them now? I might cut off their vanguard, and again I
+might be caught between two fires. The rest of the army cannot be far
+behind--better wait and ascertain their numbers. Besides, it is too
+soon to say whether or no the Nabob means to play me false. An attack
+now would hazard everything; I am bound to wait and give them time to
+show their true inclinations."
+
+He raised his head, and looked at me.
+
+"Go round the town, Ford, rouse the outposts everywhere, and bid them
+stand on the defensive. If the Moors attempt to cross the ditch and
+enter the town, they are to beat them back, and send me word, but not
+to follow them. Then return to me."
+
+I hastened away to execute these orders, which were duly carried out.
+In one or two places the Moors attempted incursions, but were speedily
+checked. This contented them for that day. On the following morning
+the main army, accompanied by Surajah Dowlah in person, debouched on
+the plains, and proceeded to spread itself round the threatened town.
+
+In the afternoon Mr. Clive summoned me to him. I found him in the tent
+with Mr. Scrafton, and he held a letter in his hand.
+
+"The Nabob has sent to me," he said, "desiring me to appoint some
+persons to treat with him of the peace, and I have chosen Mr. Scrafton
+and you as my deputies. What do you say, Ford? Are you ready to trust
+your head in the tiger's jaws again, after your late adventures?"
+
+"If you think fit to send me, sir, I am ready at all times to obey any
+orders I may receive from Colonel Clive."
+
+He smiled, well pleased.
+
+"Well said, my lad. I knew you were something better than a purser,
+and as soon as this business is over I will see to it that you get a
+commission in the Company's forces, if that will serve your turn."
+
+I thanked him, and Mr. Scrafton and I at once set out for Surajah's
+quarters, which we were informed were at a place called Nabob-gunge.
+But on arriving there we found that the treacherous Moor had pursued
+his march towards the town and when we at last overtook him, late in
+the evening, we found him with his headquarters established in a house
+belonging to the Gentoo merchant Omichund, which house lay actually
+within the Morattoe ditch, and was therefore included in the
+territories of Calcutta.
+
+We were here received by Roy Dullub, the Dewan, who instantly
+recognised me, and manifested some alarm at my thus appearing in the
+character of Colonel Clive's emissary. He glanced over us both with an
+air of suspicion, and desired to know whether we had pistols concealed
+in our dress.
+
+Mr. Scrafton laughed in his face.
+
+"We are not assassins," he said severely. "We do not deal with our
+enemies in that way. If our employer, Mr. Clive, desires to kill the
+Nabob, rest assured he will come in broad daylight, at the head of his
+army, and do it that way."
+
+Roy Dullub gave way after this rebuke, and led us into the presence of
+his master. The Nabob was seated in full durbar, with all his officers
+round him and the evil Lal Moon crouched like a snake beside his ear.
+All the way round the walls of the apartment was placed a row of huge
+guards, men of formidable size and ferocious countenances, who, to
+appear still more dreadful, had their dresses stuffed out and their
+turbans of twice the common size. Throughout the audience they kept
+their eyes fixed on us with a most bloodthirsty expression, as though
+expecting the signal to fall upon and slay us.
+
+Surajah Dowlah was little changed from when I had last seen him. His
+features still preserved that aspect of ruined handsomeness and marred
+and minished glory, which is ascribed to the fallen archangel by our
+great poet Milton--whom I, for one, will never stoop to compare with
+your writer of lascivious stage-plays and sonnets, after whom all the
+world is now running frantic. Roy Dullub handed the paper which we had
+brought containing our proposals to the Nabob, who read it over before
+he condescended to glance at us.
+
+No sooner did he see me, however, than his face changed. He turned his
+head, and whispered something to his favourite, pointing to me at the
+same time. Then he addressed us, with smooth civility, pretending to
+ignore our previous acquaintance.
+
+"I will desire my ministers to consider your proposals," he said. "The
+Dewan shall confer with you, and let you know my pleasure."
+
+"That is not enough for us," replied Mr. Scrafton. He naturally took
+it on himself to speak, as my elder and superior. "Your Highness has
+committed a breach of good faith in crossing the English boundary
+while negotiations are in progress."
+
+"You need have no fear about that," the Nabob responded. "My
+intentions towards the English are friendly. I come among you simply
+as a guest. Tell Sabat Jung that he may lay down his sword and confide
+in my goodwill."
+
+To this Mr. Scrafton replied by a fresh remonstrance, but he soon saw
+that nothing was to be got from Surajah, whose answers were evidently
+being inspired by his secret adviser, Lal Moon. At length the Nabob
+dismissed us, and we retired from the durbar.
+
+As we were passing out we saw, standing in the doorway, the Gentoo
+Omichund, whose house we were in. This man, well known in Bengal,
+possessed large interests in Calcutta, as well as in other parts of
+the Nabob's territories. For this reason he had long played a double
+game between the Moors and English, seeking to keep in with both
+sides. Now, as we came past, he fixed a significant look upon us, and
+whispered in English in my ear--
+
+"Take care of yourself!" Then, as I stood still for an instant he
+added in the same sly tone, "Does your commander know that the Nabob's
+cannon are not yet come up?"
+
+Before I could answer he slipped away in the crowd. I followed on
+after Mr. Scrafton, and whispered to him what I had heard, as we were
+on our way to the Dewan's tent.
+
+"It is my opinion," I added, "that we are to be detained as prisoners.
+The Nabob is merely amusing Mr. Clive till his batteries have
+arrived."
+
+Mr. Scrafton was alarmed. We looked round, and finding nobody near us
+ordered our attendants to put out their torches. We then turned aside
+among the other tents, threaded our way through them in the darkness
+till we came out on to the road running towards the English lines, and
+in this way contrived to escape and get back to camp.
+
+In order to the better understanding of what now took place, in
+default of a chart, I must explain how the two armies were situated.
+The river Hooghley, which here runs pretty straight north and south,
+forms, as it were, the string of a bent bow, the bow itself being
+represented by the Morattoe ditch of which I have so often had
+occasion to speak. The whole of the territory thus enclosed belonged
+to the Company, and measured about five miles in length, and one and a
+half miles in breadth at its widest part. The fort and town of
+Calcutta occupied only a small space in the centre, the rest of the
+ground being broken up into gardens with a few country residences
+scattered about. Of these Omichund's house, now occupied by the Nabob,
+lay about a quarter of the way along the ditch, from the point where
+it joins the river Hooghley at the north end of the enclosure. The
+remainder of their army lay in tents along a space of three miles, but
+on the outside of the ditch. Colonel Clive, as I have before
+explained, had entrenched his camp also on the further side, next to
+the river, lying between that and the Moors' encampment.
+
+The moment we had made our report to Colonel Clive his mind was made
+up. Springing on to his feet, and striding up and down in the tent, he
+exclaimed--
+
+"That settles it, if we are to strike a blow at all it must be now! I
+have done my best to procure a peace, knowing the risk I run by
+undertaking the attack of an army of forty thousand men with the
+little handful I have here under my command. But it is plain that I
+have to choose between that and yielding everything to the Nabob. Mr.
+Scrafton, write a letter in my name to the Admiral, asking him for as
+many seamen as he can spare; and do you, Ford, go and summon the
+officers here to receive their orders."
+
+The news that an attack was intended spread like wild-fire through the
+little camp, and caused the greatest excitement, many regarding it as
+a desperate venture from which we should never return alive. Our total
+force was 650 Englishmen, with 800 Sepoys, and another 100 to serve
+the artillery. These were reinforced by 600 men from the ships, armed
+with matchlocks, who were put ashore secretly at midnight. Our guns
+were six-pounders, and as we had no horses, except one which had come
+with the expedition from Madras, the cannon had to be drawn by seamen.
+
+Old Muzzy was among the party, and was given charge of one of the
+guns, of which there were six altogether. I went up to speak to him
+before he set out, and found him much discontented with the service.
+
+"It's this way, my lad," he said, addressing me with a freedom which I
+could not resent, considering what he had done for me in the past, "I
+understand sailing on salt water, and I understand fighting, but when
+they puts me in charge of this here craft on wheels, with neither
+spars nor yet oars to work it, and tells me to navigate it, I ain't
+exactly sure of my soundings. It seems to me that there ought to be a
+windlass to draw her up. Bust my stays if I can make out how I'm to
+make her answer her helm!"
+
+With these grumblings he entertained me till the signal was given to
+start, when I repaired to the side of Mr. Clive, who took his station
+in the centre of the column. We marched three abreast, four hundred of
+the Sepoys going in front, then the European troops, then the second
+half of the Sepoys, and last of all the guns escorted by the sailors.
+Mr. Clive's plan, so far as he permitted it to be known, was to strike
+right through the Nabob's army, before they were prepared to receive
+us, and attack the Nabob himself in Omichund's enclosure.
+
+It was just before daybreak when the head of our little column came
+upon the advance guard of the enemy. These at once fled, after
+discharging their pieces, but one of their shots, striking a Sepoy's
+cartouch box, caused a slight explosion, which threw our advance into
+some confusion for a moment. We pressed forward, picking our way as
+we best could in the obscurity; for no sooner was it day than a thick
+fog, such as is common in this season of the year in Bengal, descended
+upon us, wrapping everything in darkness. We had gone perhaps half a
+mile without molestation, dispersing the scattered parties of the
+Indians as we advanced, when there broke upon our ears the sound of
+heavy galloping from the quarter where we supposed Omichund's house to
+lie. Colonel Clive at once ordered a halt; we faced to the right,
+whence the sound proceeded, and as soon as the dim forms of the
+approaching squadron loomed upon us out of the mist, the word was
+given to fire. The whole line delivered a volley at a distance of
+about thirty paces, whereupon the phantom horsemen at once turned and
+fled back, uttering loud cries as they were swallowed up again in the
+darkness.
+
+By this time it was evident that our position had become extremely
+perilous. We resumed our march, as nearly as we could keep it in the
+former direction, and continued groping our way in the mist through
+the heart of the enemy's camp, firing volleys by platoons to right and
+left, but without knowing where our bullets went, while the men with
+the guns discharged single shots from time to time along the sides of
+the column into the darkness ahead.
+
+After we had gone on in this fashion for some time, not receiving much
+interruption from the enemy, but greatly troubled by the increasing
+obscurity, which rendered it difficult to see so much as a yard in
+front, there suddenly arose a murmur from amongst the Sepoys at the
+head of the column. Colonel Clive sent to demand the meaning of this,
+and the messenger returned with the intelligence that the men had
+stumbled upon a causeway, crossing our line of march, and leading to
+the Morattoe ditch on our right. He at once gave the order that the
+troops should mount upon this causeway and march towards the ditch.
+Unfortunately, however, no notice of this change in the direction was
+given to the artillerymen in the rear, who continued to fire, as they
+supposed, to the side of the column. A cannon ball came among the
+Sepoys on the causeway, killing several of them. Thereupon the rest
+sought shelter by leaping down on the other side of the causeway, and
+the whole forward part of the troops was huddled together in
+confusion.
+
+The darkness made it difficult to ascertain at first what had
+happened, but as soon as Mr. Clive understood he gave the order to
+cease firing, and brought the whole force across the causeway, where
+he strove to restore their formation. It was his intention to have
+advanced along the causeway, driven away the Moors stationed to defend
+it, and forced his way through to the English side of the ditch. But
+while he was engaged in restoring order among the troops, the enemy,
+no doubt overhearing our movements, commenced a discharge on us from
+some cannon loaded with langrain, which they seemed to have brought
+up within a few hundred yards of us. The shot striking the troops
+while still bundled together, did us the most damage we received that
+day; indeed it was a very terrifying thing to suddenly hear the roar
+of artillery so close at hand, and see men falling right and left from
+shots fired by an invisible foe.
+
+Under these circumstances it was wonderful to see the coolness of
+Colonel Clive, who continued to give his orders without appearing the
+least dismayed, and deployed the men into line again as steadily as
+though we were in our own camp, and not in the midst of the Moors.
+Abandoning all thoughts of the causeway, he ordered the column to
+resume its course to the southward, so as to reach the main road into
+Calcutta, by which we might cross the ditch and return in safety. This
+necessitated our leaving the wounded, about twenty in number, who
+broke into grievous cries at the prospect of being deserted to the
+cruelty of the Moors.
+
+Among the voices raised in complaint I heard one which I believed I
+knew. I hastened to look among the figures on the ground, and
+presently made out the form of old Muzzy himself, who lay with his
+right leg doubled up under him.
+
+"Is that you?" I exclaimed, bending over him. "Where have you been
+hurt? Is it serious?"
+
+"Athelstane!" He looked up, turning his eyes on me with an appeal
+which went to my heart. "They've riddled my leg with their cursed
+heathenish small shot, curse them! If it had been a Christian bullet,
+now, I shouldn't ha' minded so much. Give me a hand, my boy, and I'll
+see if I can stand up."
+
+I put my arms round him and lifted him partly from the ground, while
+he clutched at me with both hands. The next instant a groan broke from
+his clenched teeth.
+
+"It's no good, lad, I can't do it. Go, and save yourself if you can;
+and leave old Muzzy to take his rating below decks at last!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+_A MISSION OF DANGER_
+
+
+I got up and called to some sailors who were falling into the rear of
+the now departing column.
+
+"Here, my men, here's a comrade wounded and unable to walk. Will you
+leave him to be butchered by the Indians?"
+
+They stopped, and cast hesitating looks at the old boatswain, where he
+lay groaning.
+
+"There's a-many of 'em about," observed one man. "We can't save them
+all, sir."
+
+"But this is an old friend of mine, who has saved my life before now,"
+I pleaded. And seeing them undecided, I went on, "What do you say; I
+will give you a hundred rupees--two hundred--apiece if you carry him
+safe into Calcutta?"
+
+They brisked up when they heard this offer. A small tree with dark
+green leaves stood close by, from which they tore some branches, and
+quickly made out a rude litter. On to this they lifted my poor old
+friend, and so carried him off, renewing his groans at every step.
+
+I marched alongside till we caught up with the rear of the column.
+Luckily we were not molested, for which I blessed the fog, though it
+was now showing signs of lifting away. Our progress was here extremely
+slow, the ground being broken up into a number of small rice-fields,
+separated by mud walls or mounds of earth, over which the field-pieces
+had to be lifted with infinite trouble, and in fact two of them were
+abandoned altogether, the sailors being too exhausted to draw them
+further. During this time I forbore to rejoin Colonel Clive, but used
+my freedom as a volunteer to remain with the sailors bearing old
+Muzzy, where I found my presence and encouragement very necessary to
+induce them to persevere in their task. As it was I was obliged to
+raise my offer to three hundred rupees before we had got to the high
+road.
+
+The fog gradually clearing, we beheld parties of the enemy's horse
+from time to time, threatening us, but they were easily dispersed by a
+few discharges of musketry, and gave us far less annoyance than the
+impediments of the ground. At the end of another hour of this toilsome
+work we at length arrived at the road, where we found a considerable
+body of horse and foot posted in front of the bridge across the
+Morattoe ditch into the Company's territories, to prevent our passing.
+
+At the same time the fog finally broke, and disclosed another
+numerous squadron coming down against our rear. The sailors at once
+faced about to defend the artillery, and I took my place among them,
+bidding the men with the litter press on towards the centre of the
+column. The Moors rode up with great determination, notwithstanding
+our fire, and one of them got near enough to me to aim a cut at my
+helmet, which I only avoided by bending my head to one side. At the
+same time I thrust my bayonet into his groin, and had the satisfaction
+of seeing him reel and fall from his horse as it turned and galloped
+off.
+
+This charge being repulsed, we turned about again and rejoined our
+comrades, who had quickly dislodged the force opposed to them in
+front. The whole column then crossed the ditch, in broad daylight, and
+marched without further mishap into the town, where we arrived about
+midday, having been on the march for more than six hours, through the
+midst of a great army.
+
+Such was this extraordinary exploit, to which, as I am assured, a
+parallel is scarcely to be found in the history of any age or nation.
+Nevertheless, at the moment its effect was to cast a gloom over the
+spirits of the troops. The officers, who could never forgive Colonel
+Clive for not having been, like themselves, regularly bred to the
+military profession, grumbled at and criticised his action, which they
+described as that of a mere braggadocio, who knew nothing of war. The
+fact was that the rules of war contained no prescription for the
+conquest of an army of forty thousand men by one of barely two
+thousand; and though the hero who led us was ever ready to attempt
+impossibilities, he could not always perform them.
+
+As soon as I had seen old Muzzy safely bestowed in the hospital, where
+the surgeons declared that it would be necessary to amputate his leg,
+I hastened to report myself to my commander. He received me with
+kindness and no little surprise, having fully believed that I was
+killed. Indeed he told me that a soldier of Adlercron's regiment had
+assured him he had seen me fall. However, he fully approved of what I
+had done in rescuing my old comrade, only regretting it had not been
+in his power to save the rest of the wounded.
+
+I found him much dispirited with the result of the morning's work.
+
+"I have done nothing, Ford," he declared, "nothing. I have marched
+into the Nabob's camp, and marched out again, like the King of France
+in the nursery rhyme. And here are these gentlemen of the committee
+clamouring for peace, that they may get their revenues back again, and
+their dustucks, and I know not what else, with the Nabob and his army
+at their gates. You see what it is to be a commander--would to God I
+were back in England, enjoying my rest!"
+
+The next day put a different complexion on our affairs. Secret
+messages arrived from Omichund to say that the Nabob had been
+terrified out of his wits, that he no longer considered himself safe
+even in the midst of his troops, and that we might depend on a peace
+being speedily concluded. Shortly afterwards a letter arrived, written
+by Surajah Dowlah's instructions to Colonel Clive, in which he
+referred to the treaty on foot between them, and complained bitterly
+of the attack upon his camp.
+
+"Now, Ford," said the Colonel to me, when he had shown me this letter,
+"I feel a different man to what I did yesterday. Sit down and write my
+answer to this insolent Moor."
+
+I took the pen, and he dictated the following letter, of which I have
+the draft still in my possession:--
+
+     "_To his Highness Surajah Dowlah, Nabob of Bengal, Bahar, and
+     Orissa._
+
+     "SIR,--I have received your letter, and am unable to understand
+     what it is that you complain of. I merely marched with a few of
+     my troops through your camp to show you of what Englishmen are
+     capable, but I had no hostile intentions, and was careful to
+     refrain from hurting any of your soldiers, except such as
+     imprudently opposed me. I have been, and still am, perfectly
+     willing to make peace with you upon proper conditions.--I have
+     the honour to remain your Highness's obedient servant,
+
+                         "ROBERT CLIVE."
+
+This bitter jest completed the effect produced by the previous day's
+work. That very evening we heard that the Nabob had broken up his
+quarters, and withdrawn to a distance of several miles from the
+Company's territories; and a few days later he signed a treaty
+granting full restitution to the Company of all that they had lost by
+the sack of Calcutta. This was just six weeks from the time we had
+started from Fulta.
+
+During the period that followed I spent much of my time in the
+hospital, sitting by old Muzzy's bedside. He had borne the removal of
+his leg with great courage, but now that he began to mend I found him
+much depressed in his spirits.
+
+"My day is over, boy," he would say, "I shall never sail salt water
+more. Old Muzzy is a dismasted hulk, only fit to be hauled up on the
+mud, and broken up for tinder. Drown me if I don't a'most wish the
+dogs had put a ball through my hull while they were about it, so that
+I could ha' gone down in deep water, with colours flying and all hands
+on deck, and heard the broadsides roaring over me to the last! That's
+the death for a British tar, my fine fellow, in action gallantly, and
+not to lie on the mud and rot away by inches like I'm fair to do."
+
+I tried to cheer him up as best I could, though indeed I felt sorry
+enough myself to see that strong man laid helpless as a child. I
+thought it my duty to try and rouse him to some interest in better
+things, and brought a Bible to read to him.
+
+In this I succeeded after a fashion. He listened very readily to the
+history of the Israelites, and expressed a huge admiration for Joshua
+and some of the Judges. But when I tried to pass on to the New
+Testament I must confess I met with more difficulties.
+
+"No, no, don't read me that; it's too good for an old rakehelly tar
+like me," he persisted in saying. "Them apostles was fishermen, d'ye
+see, and the fishermen and longshore folk always was more peaceable
+and quieter-like than us deep-sea bilboes. You read me about that
+there fellow as slaughtered the Camelites; I understands him better.
+By Gosh, he gave 'em a warm time of it, on my swow, didn't he! Not
+much use them Camelites showing their heads when Joshua was in the
+offing! He swept their decks for 'em, clean, every time."
+
+He meant the Amalekites. I could not quite approve of the spirit in
+which he took the sacred history, but still I felt that to get him to
+listen to the Scriptures at all was something, and the good seed might
+come up later on.
+
+I pleased myself with these efforts to reform my poor old friend, and
+yet perhaps I should have been better employed in seeking to amend my
+own life. For though I can truly say that I lived honestly and
+soberly, yet all this time my heart was given up to thoughts of
+ambition and revenge, and the desire of riches; and the good
+impressions wrought upon me by my sufferings in the Black Hole had
+almost faded clean out of my mind.
+
+I was not present at the taking of Chander Nugger, which was the next
+great event in the East Indies, and therefore forbear from describing
+it. But this affair served to display yet further the duplicity and
+shifting policy of Surajah Dowlah, whose conduct evidently changed
+from day to day as the passion of hatred of the English, or fear of
+Colonel Clive, obtained the mastery in his bosom. On one day he sent
+permission for us to attack the French, on the next he wrote strictly
+forbidding it. Colonel Clive would have gone against them without
+waiting for the Nabob's leave, but Admiral Watson was more scrupulous,
+considering that to do so would be a violation of our recent treaty.
+Yet he did not shrink from upbraiding the Nabob in round terms, and
+sent him one letter in which he threatened, with the bluntness of a
+seaman, to kindle such a fire in his country as all the water in the
+Ganges should not be able to extinguish.
+
+Finally the Nabob gave way, induced partly by his fears of the Pitans,
+a savage predatory tribe on the borders of Afghanistan, who from time
+to time broke into the Great Mogul's dominions, and were now
+threatening to march as far as Behar. Accordingly a joint expedition
+was made, and Chander Nugger taken after a brilliant action, in which,
+as Colonel Clive fully acknowledged, the Admiral signalised himself
+by conspicuous courage and seamanship.
+
+All this time I lay ill in Calcutta of a low fever, which I had
+contracted in the hospital while attending on old Muzzy. It was now
+his turn to nurse me, which he did most assiduously, being now
+recovered, and able to get about well enough by means of a wooden leg.
+
+As I lay there sick day after day I began once more to see things in a
+truer light. I longed most painfully to be at home among the scenes
+and friends of my youth, and I resolved, once I had risen from my sick
+bed, to let no motives of ambition or interest detain me any further
+in Indostan.
+
+I communicated these sensible resolutions to old Muzzy, who thoroughly
+approved of them.
+
+"And I tell you what, Athelstane, lad, we'll make our passage home in
+company," he said. "I've got a tidy bit o' prize-money left somewhere,
+enough to take me back to England, and mayhap a bit over, to keep me
+out of the workhouse when I gets there."
+
+He put his hands into his hairy bosom and drew out a small canvas bag,
+which he shook out upon the coverlid of the bed. The contents made a
+small heap of gold and silver, amounting, as near as I could judge, to
+about £100 or £150 in English money, though the coins were of all
+countries--rupees, French crowns, moidores, and many others.
+
+The old boatswain put his head on one side, casting looks of
+affectionate pride on his treasure.
+
+"There, my lad, that's my little fortin', enough to pay my freight
+through to Davy Jones's locker, I daresay. And if there's any of it
+left over, by Gosh! you shall have it, for I've neither parent nor
+friend in the world, nor I don't so much as know the place where I was
+born. And drown me if I don't love you, my young matey!"
+
+I was so weak at the time that these hearty expressions of the old
+fellow fairly melted me, though I could scarce refrain from smiling at
+the thoughts of the legacy which I was like to inherit.
+
+"You shall come with me and welcome," I told him. "We will start
+together as soon as ever I can get off this bed; and when we get to
+England I will bring you to my own home, and ask my parents to provide
+you with a shelter for my sake."
+
+"That's right enough," he answered, "and very kind of you. But, mind,
+old Muzzy ain't looking for no charity. Where I goes, I takes my
+little fortin', and them as takes care of me will get the benefit of
+it, d'ye see."
+
+He swept up the money into his bag again, and had just restored it to
+his bosom when there came a sound outside the door, and who should
+walk in but Colonel Clive!
+
+I strove to raise myself in the bed as he entered, but this he at once
+prevented.
+
+"Lie still, youngster!" he exclaimed, walking up to the bedside,
+followed by Mr. Scrafton. "Why, how's this; they never told me you
+were ill till I was on the point of starting for Chander Nugger, when
+I had no time to come and see you? But you are on the high road to
+recovery by this time, surely?"
+
+"Thank you, sir, I am much improved," I managed to stammer out,
+overwhelmed by this condescension on the part of so great a man. "And
+are the French beaten?" I asked anxiously, for I had not heard the
+news.
+
+The Colonel turned to Mr. Scrafton and laughed.
+
+"There's my little purser all over!" he exclaimed, with evident
+goodwill. "The French are beaten, and driven out of Bengal, I trust
+for ever, and their factories are become ours. And since you were
+unable to be present at the action, and to share in the spoil, I have
+remembered my promise to you, and brought you a sword instead."
+
+He took the weapon from the hands of Mr. Scrafton, who was carrying
+it, and laid it on the bed beside me. At the same time Mr. Scrafton
+handed me a paper, duly signed, containing my commission as an ensign
+in the service of the East India Company.
+
+I could only murmur out my gratitude for these marks of consideration;
+while Mr. Clive went on to say--
+
+"And now you must make haste and get about again, for as soon as you
+are able to travel I have an important mission for you to discharge."
+
+"And what is that, sir?" I asked, not very heartily.
+
+The Colonel noticed my diffidence, and gave me a searching look.
+
+"I ought to have said it is a very dangerous mission," he observed.
+
+I felt my cheeks turn red.
+
+"Then sir, I think I am well enough to undertake it," I replied, with
+some little temper. And I sat up in the bed.
+
+Colonel Clive burst out laughing, and seizing me by the shoulders
+thrust me down again.
+
+"There, that is right; there is not so much hurry about it as to drag
+you out of bed just yet. But as soon as you are well enough I mean you
+to go to Moorshedabad."
+
+I uttered a cry of surprise.
+
+"I have some messages to send to Mr. Watts, who is acting there on our
+behalf," Mr. Clive explained. "The affair is too risky for me to trust
+the ordinary service, and besides, from all I hear, you have made a
+great impression on the Nabob, and may serve a useful purpose by
+remaining in Moorshedabad for awhile. But I will tell you no more till
+you are better able to hear it."
+
+And with this, and many kind expressions about my health, he withdrew.
+
+It did not take long for me to shake off the remains of my fever
+under these circumstances, and the moment I was able to go out of the
+house where I lay, I went to wait on my patron.
+
+Colonel Clive received me in his private room in the fort, and
+dismissing everybody else, opened to me the nature of the mission
+entrusted to me. The late proceedings of his enemies against him in
+Parliament have made this business so notorious to the world that I
+shall be excused for expressing it very shortly in this place.
+
+To be brief, the Colonel informed me that the moment for our
+long-delayed vengeance upon the wicked and bloodthirsty Surajah Dowlah
+was at length arrived. Tired with his cruelties, his own subjects had
+cast about for a means of getting rid of him, and overtures had been
+received from the principal men of the Nabob's Court inviting Colonel
+Clive to take part in a concerted scheme for his overthrow. A treaty
+had been drawn up between the parties, whereby it was provided that
+Colonel Clive should march against the Nabob's army with his whole
+force, now increased by the arrival of other ships from the Coromandel
+coast, and should be joined on the battle-field by Meer Jaffier, who
+undertook to desert from his nephew and bring over the part of the
+army under his command to the English side. In return for these
+services, supposing the victory should be obtained, the Company was to
+receive a crore of rupees in compensation for the injuries inflicted
+by the Nabob, while many millions were to be divided among Colonel
+Clive, the gentlemen of the Council and the officers and men of both
+services. Surajah Dowlah was to be deposed from the musnud, and his
+uncle, Meer Jaffier, elevated in his stead, the Meer binding himself
+to pay these sums out of the Nabob's treasure, and the payment being
+further guaranteed by Jugget Seet, the great banker of Moorshedabad,
+whose connexions extended over all parts of Indostan.
+
+This treaty having been signed and executed by Colonel Clive and the
+other gentlemen of the Company, he now required me to carry it to
+Moorshedabad, were it was to be sworn to by Jugget Seet, the Meer
+Jaffier, and the other high officers of the Court who were parties to
+the design. At the same time he enjoined on me to observe the utmost
+secrecy.
+
+"Remember," he said, "that if once Surajah Dowlah or his minion Lal
+Moon should get an inkling of this plot, his rage would break loose
+against every one concerned in it. As it is Mr. Watts has had great
+difficulty in lulling his suspicions, and has several times been in
+great peril. But I suppose you are not the man to shrink back on that
+account."
+
+"Give me the treaty, sir," I replied, "and I undertake to carry it to
+Moorshedabad. Am I to deliver it into Mr. Watts's hands?"
+
+"Why, yes; that is, if you find him still there when you arrive. But
+you must use the greatest caution in communicating with him. Above
+all, beware of the Gentoo Omichund, who has already once threatened to
+betray us. We have been obliged to provide a duplicate treaty to
+satisfy him, in which is included a stipulation for three millions of
+rupees to be paid to him on our success. But you will explain to Meer
+Jaffier that this is merely a trick to which we have been obliged by
+Omichund's knavery. He shall not have a farthing."
+
+Mr. Clive spoke these words very sternly. At the same time he handed
+me the two treaties, one drawn up upon white paper and the other on
+red.
+
+"The red treaty is the one to be shown to Omichund," he explained.
+"Both must be executed by the parties to the conspiracy in
+Moorshedabad, but only the white one is to be sworn to. Do you
+understand?"
+
+"Perfectly, sir."
+
+I rolled up the two papers and put them into my pocket. I did not then
+feel, nor have I since been able to understand, all the indignation
+which has been poured on Lord Clive's head for this artifice, by which
+a treacherous, overreaching scoundrel was robbed of the blackmail he
+had tried to extort. As to the charge which has been made against that
+great man of having caused Admiral Watson's name to be forged to the
+second treaty, I can only say that it was the general opinion at the
+time that the gallant Admiral was fully aware of what was being done,
+and, since he took no steps to restrain the use of his name, it
+appears to be all the same as though he had affixed it with his own
+hand.
+
+However, it is not my intention to dwell upon these disputes, to which
+I am only induced to refer by a spirit of loyalty to my old commander
+and friend, for such he permitted me to call him.
+
+"Remember," the Colonel said to me at parting, "above all, to show no
+fear of Surajah Dowlah. Mr. Watts is too modest in his behaviour, and
+for that reason the young tyrant despises and ill-uses him. But I
+think that is not a fault you are likely to fall into; indeed, I have
+heard that during your former residence there you fairly awed the
+Nabob; so I have good hope that you will do the same again. The moment
+you have secured the execution of the treaties it will be time to fly,
+and as soon as I hear you are safe I shall put my troops on the march
+to Plassy."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+_MEER JAFFIER'S OATH_
+
+
+I arrived in Moorshedabad without accident, and at once repaired to
+the house of the Company's agent, Mr. Watts.
+
+I found this gentleman in a state of the utmost apprehension. The air
+was full of suspicion. Moorshedabad swarmed with the Nabob's spies,
+who watched the going in and coming out of every person whom their
+master had reason to distrust, and carried their reports to his
+infamous minion, Lal Moon. Mr. Watts assured me that he did not
+consider his own life to be worth a day's purchase, and the Nabob had
+uttered such threats against him on the last occasion of his going to
+the palace that he dared not present himself there again.
+
+Fortunately for me Colonel Clive had provided me with an excuse for my
+journey in the shape of a letter to Surajah Dowlah, in which the
+Colonel renewed his expressions of friendship, but demanded the
+withdrawal of the Nabob's army from Plassy. This was a step which the
+conspirators considered indispensable to their design, as they had no
+expectation that Colonel Clive could overcome this force of forty
+thousand men as long as it kept the field.
+
+Armed with the Colonel's letter I went to wait upon the Nabob, leaving
+Mr. Watts to exert his utmost diligence in procuring the necessary
+signatures to the treaties, which I delivered to him for the purpose.
+
+Nothing could exceed the astonishment of the Nabob's officers when I,
+who had fled secretly from the city six months before, presented
+myself before them in the character of an ambassador from Sabat Jung
+and boldly demanded an audience. They hastened to carry the news to
+the Nabob, and after a short time they returned and conducted me into
+his presence.
+
+Although scarcely three months had elapsed since I had last seen
+Surajah Dowlah, I observed a change for the worse in his appearance.
+He sat on the royal musnud with the same state as formerly, clad in
+his gold-embroidered robes and turban sparkling with the light of many
+gems, surrounded by the same obsequious throng of courtiers and
+attended by his ferocious guards ready to take the life of any man
+present, at a nod from their despotic lord. Yet I discovered something
+in his countenance which I had not seen there before. His head hung
+down with an air of weariness, and his gaze, instead of darting
+fiercely to and fro, seemed to shift and hesitate as if with a
+lurking distrust of those about him. He appeared to be in ill-health,
+and shifted fretfully about in his seat as he talked. On my part, I
+regarded him with different eyes from the time when I had come before
+him as a captive in his hands, when I had viewed him as a powerful
+tyrant, invested with all the horror of his recent crimes, and
+especially of that never-to-be-forgotten atrocity of the Black Hole of
+Calcutta. Now, on the last occasion on which I was ever to confront
+him, I did so as the emissary of one whose power was yet greater than
+his own, as the agent of an intrigue that menaced his throne and
+perhaps his life. And beneath the surface of pomp and power and the
+outward show of sovereignty, I looked deeper, and beheld merely a
+young man, scarce older than myself--in his nineteenth year--the
+victim of an evil education, corrupted by the possession of despotic
+power, rent and exhausted by his own evil passions, and surrounded by
+traitors secretly scheming for his downfall. Some of the dread and
+hatred which I had formerly felt for him was replaced by milder
+sentiments, and I could have found it in my heart to pity Surajah
+Dowlah.
+
+As if to strengthen these impressions in my mind, the young Nabob was
+in a singularly amiable mood, and appeared glad to see me.
+
+"So it is you again!" he was pleased to say when I was introduced. "I
+see that you have told me the truth, and that you are a friend of
+Sabat Jung's. But why did you flee from me before? I regarded you with
+favour, and would not have put you to death."
+
+"Sir," I answered, "I am obliged by your kind expressions, but I am an
+Englishman, and in my country there is no man who can put me to death
+unless I commit some crime against the laws; nor do I choose to live
+in any place where I hold my life by the favour of a prince."
+
+A murmur ran through the throng of courtiers at this reply, some of
+the high officers whom I knew to be concerned in the plot pretending
+to be especially shocked.
+
+Surajah Dowlah raised his head and looked at me in some surprise.
+
+"I should not care to be king of your country if I could not put a man
+to death when I wished to. Allah has created kings, and has put men's
+lives into our hands. It is destiny. Those who fall by my hands would
+perish instead by pestilence or famine or wild beasts if I forbore to
+slay them. They die because it is the will of Allah."
+
+I listened in consternation to this frightful profession of fatalism
+by which Surajah Dowlah sought to decline the responsibility of his
+wicked acts. In the meantime he read the letter which I had brought
+from Colonel Clive.
+
+"Why does Sabat Jung so earnestly desire me to disband my troops?" he
+asked presently.
+
+"Your Highness's own conscience must tell you that," I returned. "So
+long as you keep your army in the field, threatening Calcutta, it is
+impossible to believe that you are in earnest in your professions of
+friendship towards the English. The present state of things keeps the
+minds of the merchants unsettled and prevents the resumption of trade,
+without which our factories cannot subsist in Bengal."
+
+"No, no," the Nabob broke out, speaking very earnestly, "I design
+nothing against you. But I am in fear of the Morattoes, who meditate
+another invasion."
+
+"Have no fear of that, sir. Colonel Clive will protect you, if
+necessary, against the Morattoes. But you may depend upon it he will
+never believe in your friendship till your troops are withdrawn from
+Plassy."
+
+The Nabob seemed to meditate upon these words for a few minutes,
+during which nobody ventured to speak to him. Then he looked at me
+again, seeming as if he would search my heart.
+
+"And suppose I comply with this demand, what security have I that the
+Colonel will not advance against this city? How do I know that he is
+not deceiving me? There are plots--yes, there are plots in the air!"
+
+I felt a touch of contempt for him as I answered--
+
+"That is a matter which I must take leave not to discuss. It is for
+your Highness to consider whether your conduct has been such as to
+conciliate the affections of your subjects, or whether it has not
+rather been calculated to make every man your secret enemy."
+
+Surajah Dowlah started, and sank back on his seat, terrified by this
+unexpected plainness, which caused little less alarm among his suite.
+But I soon saw that my words had been rightly judged. Being an
+Oriental, the Nabob could not believe that I should have spoken like
+that if I had really been privy to any intrigues against him. He
+therefore dismissed his fears, and finally promised to issue orders
+for his whole army to retire to Moorshedabad.
+
+Satisfied with this success, I took my leave of him, his last words to
+me as I withdrew being--
+
+"Tell the Colonel I trust him; I look upon him as my friend."
+
+Moved by these words more than I cared to admit even to myself, I
+returned to Mr. Watts, and, all being now in train, we pushed forward
+the affair of the signatures as rapidly as we dared.
+
+During these few eventful days I neglected no means of inquiring after
+the fate of those whom I had left in the Nabob's hands on my former
+flight from Moorshedabad. But though I questioned not merely the great
+officers of the Court, but also many of the eunuchs and inferior
+servants about the palace, I could learn nothing definite either of
+Marian or of Rupert. That they had not succeeded in recovering their
+freedom I was pretty well assured, but what had become of them, and
+whether they were alive or dead, was more than I could learn. The
+shadow and the secrecy of the East had closed like a curtain over
+their fates, and I was left to torment myself with miserable guesses
+in the darkness.
+
+The business of signing the treaty went on as rapidly as it could be
+pushed. But the greed of the Gentoos at every step of the transaction
+was most disgusting, and the cowardice and treachery of the Moors
+scarcely less so. The Dewan, Roy Dullub, at first objected that all
+the Nabob's treasure was not enough to satisfy the gratuities provided
+for in the treaty, but no sooner did Mr. Watts offer to make him agent
+for the distribution, with a commission of five in the hundred on all
+sums passing through his hands, than his scruples instantly vanished.
+
+But at last everything was settled except the swearing of the treaty
+by Meer Jaffier, on which the whole affair turned. The Meer was just
+now arrived in Moorshedabad from Plassy, where he had been in command
+of one division of the Nabob's army, the remainder having before been
+taken from him and given to Roy Dullub. It was reported that Surajah
+Dowlah had received his uncle very scurvily, and spoken to him with so
+much harshness that Meer Jaffier had at once retired to his palace, at
+the other end of the city, and surrounded himself with his guards.
+This palace resembled a fortress, having regular walls and towers, and
+being provided with cannons and other munitions for a siege.
+
+Thither, on the following day, Mr. Watts went to visit him, but
+returned in much alarm to say that the Meer had received him in
+public, in the hall of audience, surrounded by his officers, and had
+given him no chance to refer to the subject of the treaty.
+
+While we were discussing what this could mean an Indian arrived, who
+proved to be a private messenger from Meer Jaffier himself.
+
+This man informed us that Meer Jaffier had been obliged to receive Mr.
+Watts as he had done to deceive Lal Moon's spies, the Nabob's
+suspicions causing him to watch very strictly all intercourse between
+his great men and the English agents. What he now proposed was that
+Mr. Watts should come to his palace in the evening in a curtained
+litter, by which means he might be introduced unsuspected into the
+women's apartments, and there have a private conference with the Meer.
+
+I could see that Mr. Watts regarded this invitation with very little
+confidence, his experiences in the Nabob's Court having rendered him
+cautious to an extreme. I therefore undertook to go in his place, an
+offer which he gladly accepted.
+
+As there was nothing to detain either of us in Moorshedabad after the
+treaty had been confirmed, and every hour that passed rendered our
+situation more precarious, it was further arranged that Mr. Watts
+should take his departure at once, leaving me to follow during the
+night. Accordingly he gave out that he was going on a visit to
+Cossimbuzar on business connected with the Company's investment, and
+set out the same afternoon.
+
+I waited till it was quite dark before I got into the litter, which
+had been prepared for me by two Indian servants on whose fidelity I
+depended. They bore me through the streets on their shoulders at a
+great pace, and, thanks to the respect which these people have for
+their women, I passed undiscovered. Once, indeed, we were stopped for
+a moment, and there was a short discussion, in which I heard the
+voices of my attendants, though I could not distinguish what was said.
+It terminated in a laugh, and they were suffered to proceed without
+the curtains having been withdrawn. But it may be imagined how my
+heart came into my mouth during the brief halt, and what relief I
+experienced when the palanquin was set down within the gates of Meer
+Jaffier's palace and I was able to step out.
+
+The Meer received me in the presence of his son Meeram, a youth of
+sixteen, who bore a strong resemblance to his cousin the Nabob, a
+resemblance, as I was afterwards to learn, not confined to mere looks.
+He sat apart, staring at me with a sullen air of dislike, while his
+father perused the treaty.
+
+Its terms appeared to give Meer Jaffier perfect satisfaction. As soon
+as he had read it, he asked--
+
+"How soon will Colonel Clive be ready to take the field?"
+
+"He is ready now," I answered. "All he is waiting for is information
+from you as to the steps which you propose to take to support him."
+
+Meer Jaffier looked a little uneasy.
+
+"You are my friend, I know," he said. "You must speak good words on my
+behalf to Sabat Jung. Everything depends on him. Let him strike the
+first blow, and he will find every one prepared to join him."
+
+I shook my head.
+
+"I am your friend, it is true," I responded, "but I am still more the
+friend of Sabat Jung, and I must know the grounds on which he is to
+proceed. What force have you ready to bring to his assistance?"
+
+"Do you mean what is the number of my division?"
+
+"I mean the number on whom you can rely."
+
+"Three thousand horsemen."
+
+He glanced at me in some doubt as he spoke. I heard this number with
+dismay.
+
+"Only three thousand! What succour is that?"
+
+"But those are only my own men. There are several commanders who have
+been affronted by Surajah Dowlah, and are ready to turn their swords
+against him at the first opportunity. On the day of battle these will
+come over to us with their troops."
+
+"What assurance have you of that?" I asked.
+
+"I know my countrymen. They judge a man by his deeds, and there is
+nothing that commands their respect like daring and success. Already
+they fear the Colonel; let them see him boldly attacking the Nabob,
+with me by his side, and they will quickly join us. Tell Sabat Jung my
+words."
+
+"And when do you intend to join the Colonel?" I inquired, beginning to
+fear that Meer Jaffier was likely to prove a broken reed to lean upon.
+
+"I will join him as soon as the English troops come in sight of the
+city. Or if the Nabob keeps his army at Plassy, then I will join you
+as soon as the signal for battle is given. I will march over to you
+with a great part of the army, as many as I can persuade to join me,
+and the others will then take to flight. If I see an opportunity I
+will seize my nephew in his tent."
+
+With these promises he beguiled me into some confidence in him. Then
+placing a copy of the Alcoran upon his head, and resting one hand upon
+the head of his son Meeram, he solemnly swore to perform all that he
+had undertaken. He also signed the treaty, writing these words upon it
+in Persian--"In the name of Allah, and of the Prophet of Allah, I
+swear to abide by the terms of this treaty while I have life."
+
+As soon as this business was completed, the Meer said to me--
+
+"And now, before you go, tell me what reward I may give you for your
+services in this affair?"
+
+I hesitated. He evidently expected that I should name some large sum
+in rupees, such as was promised by the terms of the treaty to Mr.
+Watts and others of those privy to it.
+
+"What I ask for is neither money nor jewels," I said, "but the lives
+of the two persons who, I believe, are now kept somewhere concealed in
+the palace of the Nabob."
+
+Meer Jaffier understood me.
+
+"You mean the Englishwoman who was brought here from Calcutta, and the
+Englishman who was formerly a spy in Surajah Dowlah's service?"
+
+I nodded my head.
+
+"It may be that the woman is, as you say, still in the Nabob's harem.
+But I cannot think that the man is alive. He has most probably been
+secretly put to death for his offence in breaking into the garden of
+the seraglio."
+
+"I took part in that offence, and yet I am alive still," I answered.
+
+"Well, what is it you ask of me?"
+
+"I ask your promise that the moment Surajah Dowlah is overthrown, and
+the power has passed into your hands, you will aid me to ransack the
+palace of Moorshedabad in search of that woman and that man."
+
+Meer Jaffier bowed his head.
+
+"You shall do so. Nay, more, to convince you that I am in earnest I
+will write you an authority now, before you leave me, which will
+become of effect as soon as Colonel Clive has driven my nephew from
+the musnud."
+
+A few minutes afterwards I had re-entered the palanquin, and was being
+conveyed back to Mr. Watts's house.
+
+The next day, rising early, I pretended some business with Mr. Watts,
+and followed after him on horseback to Cossimbuzar. Here I was met by
+some of his native servants, who told me that he had gone hunting the
+evening before, and had not returned. Desiring them to show me the way
+he had gone, I went on till I was out of sight, and then, striking
+into a gallop, rode southward for my life towards the English lines.
+
+The sun was low down in the western sky, as, riding slowly on my
+exhausted beast, I drew near the village of Cutwah, and espied the
+uniforms of the English sentries gleaming through the trees. The first
+men who I came up to stood in a little group together, their muskets
+resting on the ground, while they talked together in low tones. They
+looked up as I approached, and seeing the Company's uniform, saluted
+me, while I stopped to show them the pass which I carried. But they
+said nothing, and as I passed on further into the camp I was struck by
+the silence that prevailed. All round me I saw the men cooking their
+suppers, or passing to and fro with water vessels, but their heads
+hung down, and I heard none of the cheering and singing which
+generally prevailed when Colonel Clive had his troops upon the march
+against an enemy.
+
+Pressing forward to the headquarters, I found the same evidences of
+dejection increased on all sides, till at last I met Major Coote
+walking with two other officers away from the commander's tent. The
+Major at once stopped me, and asked me how I did, but in so dull a
+fashion that I could see he was as dispirited as the rest.
+
+"I am quite well, I thank you, sir," I answered him, "but a little
+surprised at the state of the camp. I am but this moment arrived from
+Moorshedabad. Can you tell me if anything untoward has taken place?"
+
+Major Coote turned to the two young officers, and signed to them to
+withdraw. As soon as they were out of earshot he stepped up to the
+side of my horse, and laying his hand on the saddle addressed me in a
+low tone--
+
+"Harkye, Ford, I know you to be a discreet youngster, and so I'll tell
+you my mind plainly. I don't know what news you bring from
+Moorshedabad, and I don't ask, but we've had such accounts from that
+cursed place lately that Colonel Clive has begun to believe that not a
+single man of them all is to be trusted, from Meer Jaffier down. He
+doesn't think them worth fighting for, and what's more, he doesn't
+think they mean to join him as they have promised. The long and short
+of it is, he has just called a council of war of all his officers--you
+would have been there if you had arrived an hour sooner, and therefore
+it's no breach of confidence to tell you--he called the council to
+decide whether we should go forward and fight, or give it up and go
+back. And he gave his own voice for going back, and the d--d council,
+two-thirds of 'em, followed suit; and the upshot of it is we're to put
+our tails between our legs and _go_ back--and that's why you see the
+whole army ready to throw down their arms like so many children!"
+
+I was aghast at this intelligence, hardly believing it possible that
+the courage of Colonel Clive should have failed him, though I was
+better able than most to estimate the worries and cares thrust upon
+his shoulders by the mingled folly and malice of those who should have
+given him their best support.
+
+"Where is the Colonel?" I exclaimed. "I must see him at once! I have
+news that may induce him to change his mind. At all events, I'll take
+the liberty to persuade him."
+
+"He wandered off by himself," Major Coote answered, brisking up a
+little. "He went into that grove of trees across there, as soon as the
+council was dismissed, and he has been there ever since."
+
+I turned and looked at the grove. As I did so I saw some bushes
+parted, and the figure of my beloved chief emerged, walking with a
+swift, firm tread.
+
+Instantly I flung myself from my horse, and rushed towards him. But he
+advanced of his own accord to where Major Coote stood watching us.
+
+"I have altered my mind," he said briefly, with the martial ring in
+his voice that I had heard first on the morning of Monichund's
+attempted surprise before Budge-Budge. "I have come round to your
+opinion, Coote. To-morrow morning we march forward, and engage the
+enemy wherever we find him."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+_PLASSY_
+
+
+And now it befalls to me to relate what I saw of that famous day which
+changed the relations between the English and Moors throughout the
+whole empire of Indostan. And I think that never before nor since was
+such a singular engagement fought, and so little really done to effect
+so tremendous a result.
+
+After I had communicated to Colonel Clive what had passed between Meer
+Jaffier and myself at our secret interview, he believed less than ever
+in the Meer's promises of assistance.
+
+"I do not think the man means to betray me, but like all the Bengalese
+he is a coward, and dares not carry out his promises when the moment
+comes."
+
+Such was his judgment, in which I was obliged to agree; though I
+confess I had a liking for Meer Jaffier, and felt much pity for him in
+his subsequent misfortunes.
+
+It was one o'clock, an hour after midnight, when our little army of
+three thousand men arrived and took up their quarters in the grove of
+Plassy. Of these, two thousand were Sepoys, the remainder being
+European troops, with some sailors from the fleet and about one
+hundred Topasses: we had also eight field-pieces and two howitzers.
+The grove in which we encamped was enclosed in a bank and ditch,
+within which were mango trees, very regularly planted in straight
+rows, the whole place being about half a mile in length, and less than
+a quarter in breadth. It stood near the edge of the river, which
+defended it from approach on the left, where there was a small house
+or hunting lodge, which Colonel Clive chose as his headquarters.
+Facing the grove to the north was the entrenched camp where the
+Nabob's army had lain ever since their retreat from Calcutta. The
+troops had been partly withdrawn a few days before, but they were now
+returned; and we heard their drums and cymbals beating all night long.
+
+Colonel Clive, who had restored me to my former position as his
+secretary, and kept me near him, bade me lie down and sleep in the
+lodge. But though I lay down, I was too excited to do more than doze
+off for a minute at a time, and every time that I opened my eyes I saw
+the Colonel either walking to and fro, as if impatient for the day to
+break, or sitting at a table with maps spread out before him, studying
+them by the light of a torch. Sometimes he went out of the lodge for a
+few minutes to see that all was quiet, but soon returned and resumed
+his meditations.
+
+As soon as it was light enough to see, I got up, unable to lie still
+any longer, and joined Mr. Clive.
+
+"Ah, Ford, so you are awake, eh!" he observed smiling. "You don't look
+as though you had slept very soundly. Let us get on to the roof, and
+perhaps we may see what those fellows are about."
+
+We mounted together by a narrow stair leading on to a flat roof, and
+looked about us. On the left the mist was slowly rising from the
+river, on the right the foliage of the trees hid our own troops from
+view. But in front of us to the north we beheld spread out a scene of
+such magnificence that I confess I trembled, and even Colonel Clive
+uttered an exclamation of surprise.
+
+The Nabob's army lay in their entrenched camp, one angle of the
+rampart, that nearest to us, being strengthened with a small redoubt
+armed with cannon. Behind and away almost as far as we could see,
+stretched the tents and lines of armed men, the whole just beginning
+to stir with the first movements of the day. In the midst rose a
+splendid pavilion, adorned by flags, before the door of which stood a
+train of horses and attendants, while lesser tents were pitched all
+round it, each one displaying the ensign of some great officer. Crowds
+of men could be seen pushing to and fro, catching up their weapons and
+falling into some sort of military order, while others brought up
+horses and elephants, the caparisons of which shone gaily with silk of
+many colours. So great was the throng, and so confused were their
+motions, that I could not even guess their numbers, but Colonel Clive,
+glancing over them with the eye of a veteran, declared that there must
+be at least fifty thousand men, of whom upwards of fifteen thousand
+were cavalry. Their guns I counted myself up to forty-three, and they
+had others which they left in the camp.
+
+As we stood and watched, this great host began to slowly pour out from
+different openings in the rampart and advance on the plain, forming a
+sort of bow round the front and right flank of our position. The
+river, as I have said, protected the left, and they made no attempt to
+close round the rear.
+
+"I wonder which is Meer Jaffier's division?" muttered Colonel Clive
+anxiously, as the array extended itself. The infantry remained for the
+most part between the camp and our front, while the masses of cavalry
+spread away to our right, forming their left wing. The army was not in
+one line, but seemed to advance in a number of detached bodies, the
+intervals between them being filled up with the guns.
+
+This artillery was a truly formidable spectacle. Our own few guns were
+merely six-pounders, nor had we the means of transport for larger
+pieces. But many of the Nabob's cannon were of immense calibre, 24 and
+even 32-pounders, more suitable for siege guns than to be brought into
+action. They were mounted on high wooden stages, which bore not
+merely the cannon but the artillerymen and ammunition as well, and
+each of these carriages was drawn along by as many as eighty or a
+hundred huge white oxen, of the famous Purneah breed. Moreover, in
+case the oxen should not prove sufficient, an elephant walked behind
+each of these moving platforms, and butted it with his forehead from
+behind whenever it stuck from any difficulty of the ground.
+
+Between the grove where we lay and the enemy's camp there were a
+couple of tanks, such as the Indians build to contain rain water.
+These tanks, being protected by banks of earth, served the purpose of
+redoubts, and we saw a small body of men, about forty or fifty,
+advance to the tank nearest us, dragging two light guns, with which
+they at once began playing on the grove.
+
+"Those are white men!" exclaimed Colonel Clive, who had been watching
+this movement. "They must be Frenchmen sent from Brassy--unless they
+are some of those that escaped from Chander Nugger."
+
+While he was speaking the fire from the tank was taken up by the rest
+of the Nabob's artillery, and a roar arose from the whole face of the
+advancing army. Colonel Clive watched the result closely for a few
+minutes.
+
+"They are doing very little harm," he observed. "They fire too high.
+Most of the balls are passing over the heads of our men. But it will
+not do for us to stay in the shelter of the grove; they may think we
+are afraid of them."
+
+He hurried down to the ground, bidding me keep near him, and went to
+where our men were waiting, just within the ditch which enclosed the
+grove. One Sepoy had been killed by the discharge from the tank, and
+three or four wounded, but otherwise we had not suffered.
+
+The Colonel quickly made his dispositions, and the little force
+marched boldly out from its shelter and faced the enemy. At this the
+whole Moorish army halted, still out of point-blank range, and
+contented themselves with continuing their artillery fire, which we
+returned as best we could with our few guns. Colonel Clive passed to
+and fro along the line several times, noting everything that happened,
+and anxiously watching for some symptom of the promised desertion by
+Meer Jaffier. But nothing happened, the Moor's infantry remained
+steady in our front, and the dark masses of cavalry continued to hang
+threateningly on our flank.
+
+"I have brought my men out to give Meer Jaffier his chance," said
+Colonel Clive to me in a low tone, "but if he is afraid to move, we
+are done. It is impossible to order an advance in face of that army."
+
+He walked down the line once again, and counted our casualties. By
+this time we had lost ten Europeans, and about twice as many Sepoys.
+
+"That is enough," the Colonel exclaimed sharply. "It is useless to
+expose the men for nothing. Retire into the grove again."
+
+This order was executed, and the enemy, appearing to gather courage
+from our retreat, advanced their artillery nearer, and quickened their
+fire. However, their aim continued very bad, most of the shot merely
+struck the branches of the trees, and the men were ordered to lie down
+for the sake of greater safety. I was pleased to observe that all,
+even the Sepoys and Topasses, displayed the utmost coolness and
+confidence. Several powder explosions happened about this time in
+different places in the enemy's ranks, and this served to increase the
+contempt of our own men for the Nabob's forces.
+
+About eleven o'clock Colonel Clive called some of the officers
+together, and communicated his plans to them.
+
+"It is quite clear that the Nabob is afraid to attack us at close
+quarters," he said, "or he would have ordered a further advance before
+this. Still I do not consider we are justified in quitting our shelter
+for the present, in the absence of any demonstration from Meer
+Jaffier. It will be better to let the cannonade go on for the rest of
+the day, and then try a night attack on their camp."
+
+Most of the officers concurred in this opinion. As the Colonel and I
+were walking back to the lodge he turned to me suddenly, and asked me
+what I thought.
+
+"Why, sir, to be plain with you, I think the only men we have to
+regard are those forty Frenchmen in the tank," I answered. "As far as
+the rest are concerned, I very much doubt if they would stand five
+minutes against a charge."
+
+The Colonel nodded.
+
+"I shouldn't be surprised if you were right. But remember, Ford, that
+those nine hundred men are the only European troops in Bengal, and if
+I lose even two hundred of them this will be an expensive victory for
+me. What I want is to hold on till Surajah Dowlah's own troops desert
+him, and then I may win everything without loss of life."
+
+I was much impressed by this glimpse into Mr. Clive's mind, which
+showed him as something very different from the reckless, hot-headed
+soldier some of his enemies have called him.
+
+Just at this time a shower of rain fell, and soon after the fire of
+the enemy sensibly slackened, some of their powder evidently having
+been spoiled. Towards two o'clock a stranger thing took place, for the
+firing ceased altogether, and the Moors were perceived yoking their
+white oxen to the gun-stages again; and immediately after the whole
+army commenced to fall back slowly and re-enter the camp.
+
+I was standing by myself outside the door of the lodge when this
+singular movement commenced, and I at once stepped inside to inform
+Colonel Clive. To my astonishment I found him asleep. The exhausting
+work of the last few days, followed by the total absence of rest on
+the previous night, had proved too much for him. He had fallen on to
+a chair, and dropped asleep unawares.
+
+While I was hesitating whether to awaken him I heard some one
+approaching without. I went out softly, and found a sergeant of Major
+Kilpatrick's company, with a message for the Colonel.
+
+"I will take your message, sergeant," I said, not wishing him to know
+of Mr. Clive's slumber.
+
+"Faith, then, sir, it's just this," said the fellow, who was an
+Irishman, "that the enemy's beat, and runnin' away entirely, and Major
+Kilpathrick's just after starting to take the tank from those
+murderin' Frenchies, so as to annoy the Nabob's retreat."
+
+I turned red at this insolent message, which did not even request
+Colonel Clive's permission for the movement. Dismissing the sergeant,
+I darted in and woke up my commander.
+
+The Colonel was broad awake in an instant. When he heard what had
+happened he compressed his lips, without making any remark, and ran
+out of the lodge, and across the ground to where Kilpatrick was
+leading his company towards the tank.
+
+"Halt!" shouted Colonel Clive, as he approached.
+
+The Major stopped, and looked confused.
+
+"I thought, sir, as every moment was precious----" he began, when Mr.
+Clive sharply cut him short.
+
+"I will receive your apologies this evening, sir. At present my orders
+to you are to return and order up the whole force to support this
+movement which you have so rashly begun."
+
+He waited till the discomfited officer had retired, and then turning
+to me, he added with a touch of glee--
+
+"Now, Ford, you and I will take the tank!"
+
+The word was given to double, and we advanced at a run, whereupon the
+Frenchmen, after one discharge, evacuated their position, and retired
+upon the camp.
+
+The rest of the English force now marched out from the grove, and
+advanced in line, pursuing the retreating enemy. But there was one
+part of the Nabob's army which did not join in the movement of the
+rest. A large division of cavalry, one of those which had formed the
+threatening left wing, drew off from the rest and advanced towards our
+right rear.
+
+Colonel Clive watched their movements with suspicion.
+
+"Are these fellows trying to take our baggage?" he murmured. "Captain
+Grant, take three platoons and a field-piece, and see if you can fight
+off those horse."
+
+The order as given was obeyed, the slight demonstration proved
+sufficient, and the mysterious division drew away again out of range.
+In the meantime our main body advanced steadily, and kept up a brisk
+fire on the Nabob's camp with our artillery. On this some of the
+retiring troops showed a disposition to come out again and renew the
+attack, encouraged by the example of the Frenchmen, who had got
+possession of the redoubt in the angle of the rampart, and were plying
+us well with their guns. Seeing this disposition on the part of the
+enemy, Colonel Clive ordered some shot to be thrown among their
+cumbrous artillery trains. This was done with such effect that,
+numbers of the oxen being killed, the trains were thrown into
+confusion. At the same time some of the Moorish horse made a few
+ineffectual offers to charge, but were easily driven off, without ever
+coming to close quarters.
+
+Whatever cause had prompted the strange retreat of the enemy, it was
+evident that the same cause was now operating to take all heart out of
+their defence. The only thing that gave us pause was the attitude of
+the Frenchmen in the redoubt, whose spirit communicated itself to the
+troops in their immediate neighbourhood. While things were in this
+doubtful posture, I happened to glance round to see what had become of
+the cavalry division repulsed by Captain Grant. To my surprise I saw
+them retiring slowly in an opposite direction to the Nabob's camp.
+
+Instantly I grasped the situation.
+
+"Colonel," I whispered hurriedly, "don't you see that that must be
+Meer Jaffier's division!"
+
+Mr. Clive turned and stared for a moment in the direction I pointed
+in.
+
+"You are right," he responded. "Meer Jaffier, of course! Well, since
+he has put off his assistance so long, he shall see how little we
+needed it!"
+
+A thrill of fresh energy seemed to sweep through him as he began
+issuing his orders for the final charge. Two columns were told off,
+one to clear a small eminence to the right, the other to attack the
+French in their redoubt, while the main body was directed to follow up
+in a grand attack on the whole camp. By my special request I was
+allowed to join the column marching against the Frenchmen. We made a
+dash forward--once, twice, thrice the Frenchmen fired at us as we came
+on, then we saw them drop their linstocks and run, and in another five
+minutes it was all over. The entire English force was over the
+ramparts together, the army which had marched out so gallantly against
+us that morning was suddenly become a mere herd, a wretched mob of
+fugitives crushing one another in their eagerness to escape from us,
+and we picked our way amid the plunder of Surajah Dowlah's rich
+pavilion, victors of Plassy, masters and law-givers of Indostan!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+_RETRIBUTION_
+
+
+Although, judged by the standard of such great battles as the King of
+Prussia's, or the famous victories won by Marlborough over the French,
+this affair of Plassy may seem to be but a trifling skirmish, yet the
+country whose fate was decided upon that field, namely the
+Subahdarship of Bengal, Orissa, and Behar, is equal in magnitude to
+the whole of King Frederic's dominions. In fact the blow struck that
+day resounded throughout the entire East Indies, procuring for the
+English an authority in every Court of Indostan, and for Mr. Clive the
+rank of Omrah, with many rich presents, from the Great Mogul himself.
+
+For eight miles we kept up the pursuit of the flying Moors, and only
+rested from sheer weariness. The next morning Meer Jaffier rode into
+our camp at Daudpore, ill at ease. But Colonel Clive received him with
+friendship, and caused him to be saluted as the Nabob of Bengal. From
+him we learned the particulars of what had taken place on the previous
+day in Surajah Dowlah's camp.
+
+The night before the battle the young Nabob had some suspicions that
+there was treachery going on round him. When the next morning he saw
+his army halting at a distance from the English lines, and refusing to
+come to close quarters, his suspicions were confirmed. One of his
+generals on whom he most relied was slain soon after the artillery
+combat commenced, and this further terrified him. Without quitting his
+tent he sent for Meer Jaffier, whose division was posted on the
+extreme right, and implored him to save the day. He even took off his
+turban, than which there can be no greater humiliation for an
+Oriental, and cast it at his uncle's feet, bidding him defend it. Meer
+Jaffier left the tent, and at once despatched a message of
+encouragement to Colonel Clive, which, however, never reached him.
+Shortly afterwards the unhappy Surajah Dowlah, vanquished by his own
+fears, or, it may be, by the stings of his remorseful conscience,
+mounted a swift camel and fled, and this was the signal for that
+general movement of retreat which had given us the victory.
+
+After Colonel Clive and the new Nabob had discussed the situation for
+a short time, it was agreed between them that Meer Jaffier should
+proceed at once with his force to the capital to check any attempt at
+rallying on the part of Surajah Dowlah. Colonel Clive, with the
+English army, was to follow more slowly.
+
+The moment I heard of these arrangements, I asked the Colonel for
+permission to go forward in advance.
+
+"Why, what do you desire to do?" he asked.
+
+I showed him the written authority I had received from Meer Jaffier,
+and then, in as few words as possible, told him the story of Rupert
+and Marian, and of my resolution to deliver or avenge them.
+
+"Go, my boy," he said when I had finished. "I will give you an order
+in my own name, as well as that you have from the Meer Jaffier; and
+God grant you may be in time to save your cousin and your sweetheart
+from the fury of that young tiger we have driven into his lair."
+
+It was late at night that I came for the last time, riding on an
+elephant, into the city of Moorshedabad. Through the crowded streets I
+urged my way, escorted by a handful of Meer Jaffier's horsemen, and
+seeing on every hand the tokens of the anarchy which had followed upon
+the news of Plassy. The people were abroad, lights gleamed in every
+direction, men ran hither and thither, and doors stood open with no
+one to guard the entrance.
+
+As we drew near to the palace of the Nabob the confusion increased.
+From the shouts of the crowd in answer to our questions we gathered
+that Surajah Dowlah had entered the city secretly after his flight
+from the field of battle, that he had called his parasites around him,
+that there had been rumours of another levy and another battle, that
+his heart had again failed him, that he was expected to fly once
+more, that he might at that very moment be making his escape before
+the approach of his successor.
+
+As the palace came into view it was evident that if Surajah Dowlah
+were not already gone, his presence had ceased to act as a restraint
+on his former servants. The courtyard was crammed with a struggling
+throng of palace menials and robbers out of the streets, all engaged
+in the work of plunder. Some were staggering down the steps, entangled
+in the folds of brocades and sumptuous shawls, others bore tulwars and
+scymetars encrusted with gems, some were stripping the gold off robes,
+others picking rubies and sapphires out of their sockets with the
+points of daggers, and secreting them about their persons. The ground
+was strewn with plunder thrown away in favour of something more
+valuable, rich vessels of green jade lay broken in one place, and
+silken garments were trodden underfoot in another. And all this was
+merely the loot of the outer rooms of the palace, for the treasury was
+not yet touched.
+
+At our approach the work ceased. The rioters began to escape, and the
+eunuchs and soldiers belonging to the palace shrank back to their
+quarters. Leaving Meer Jaffier's officer to deal with them, I
+dismounted from my elephant and pressed my way through into the
+deserted palace, taking with me only two men as a protection. I did
+not stay to explore the empty halls and dismantled chambers, but
+hurried as fast as I could go into the garden, and on to the
+well-remembered summer-house where I had caught my last glimpse of
+Marian on that night a year ago. I ran up to the door at which we had
+knocked the same night. It was standing open. I darted through, ran
+into each room, climbed the stair, and searched every nook and cranny
+above. Not a trace of her I sought was there.
+
+Without lingering a moment I went on and explored the other buildings
+in the garden. In some of them I found frightened women, left alone,
+and expecting that I had come to slay them. But from none could I hear
+anything of the English captive. Here and there a frightened eunuch,
+dragged cowering from his hiding-place, recalled Marian's presence a
+year before, but could or would tell me nothing of her fate. I raved
+and stormed through the seraglio like one possessed, but it was all in
+vain.
+
+I turned back to the main building, by this time in the hands of the
+new Nabob's servants, who were restoring it to some sort of order.
+They told me that Surajah Dowlah had got away an hour previously,
+having let himself down by a rope from a lattice into a boat on the
+river, with only two attendants. When I showed them the papers I had
+received from their master and also from Colonel Clive, they offered
+me every assistance, and even joined in the search. During several
+hours we ransacked every part of the palace, but found no signs of
+either of the English prisoners. The principal eunuchs were called and
+questioned. At first they declined to speak, but when one of the Moors
+with me threatened them with torture they became more communicative,
+and finally one of them asked if we had gone down into the secret
+dungeons.
+
+This hint sent a cold shiver through my veins. I bade the eunuch lead
+the way, and he conducted us through a secret door, down a narrow
+winding stair into a horrible basement, constructed under the bed of
+the Ganges, where no light could come by day or night, except that
+brought by the torches of the gaolers. The place was like a maze, with
+branching passages and cells, almost every one of which held some
+victim of Oriental tyranny. But I had neither eyes nor thoughts for
+what was around me, as we hurried down passage after passage and
+opened door after door in the search for those two whom I had come to
+save. Finally the eunuch stopped at a certain door at the very end of
+the darkest passage we had yet traversed. It was opened, and I looked
+in.
+
+I could not at first believe that what I beheld was a human being.
+Stretched out on the damp soil of the den lay a miserable, shrunken
+object, a thing like a skeleton wrapped in parchment, with the faint
+outlines of a man. On our entrance it moved and just raised its head.
+
+"What do you want?" it asked in Indostanee. And then in English it
+breathed, "Is this the end?"
+
+It was the voice of my cousin Rupert!
+
+With a cry, I was on my knees by his side, lifting his woeful head in
+my arms.
+
+"Rupert! Look! It is your cousin Athelstane!"
+
+He moved slowly and sat up. Then a shudder went through his attenuated
+frame.
+
+"Don't you see what they have done to me?" he groaned. "The devils
+have put out my eyes!"
+
+And the devils had. Rupert Gurney, the bold, handsome, careless,
+wicked, swaggering Rupert, whom I had loved and feared and hated all
+my life, would never be bold nor handsome nor swaggering any more, and
+I should never need to fear or hate him again. His wickedness had been
+rewarded; his crimes had met a heavier retribution than any I had ever
+thought to inflict. He had fallen into the hands of one compared to
+whom he had been but a beginner in iniquity; one fit of Surajah
+Dowlah's cruel frenzy had struck upon him, and had left him branded
+for life.
+
+Of Marian's fate he knew nothing. As soon as I had given directions to
+have him carried up out of the dungeon I renewed my search for her
+with a heart ready to burst at the thought of what I might find.
+
+When we did find her I was almost relieved. After the frightful
+apprehensions I had entertained, it seemed to be good fortune that
+she should be merely wasted away, without any outward disfigurement of
+that face that had been my beacon in dreams and raptures for those
+vain years. In my own arms I bore her out of that doleful place and up
+into the open air, through the palace now swarming with the stir and
+bustle of the newly arrived Nabob's Court, into the garden where the
+day was breaking and the birds were beginning to sing, and laid her
+down, at her own desire, on a bed in that very summer-house where I
+had tried--ah, why had I failed?--to rescue her on the night that
+seemed so long ago.
+
+There for two days I never left her. Some of the eunuchs first, and
+afterwards some Indian women, came and waited on us, and brought us
+all the food we needed--and that was not much for either of us. She
+lay still, saying little, and sometimes holding my hand while she
+slept, and then waking up to shed tears upon it, and to murmur the
+gratitude which I had done so little to deserve. On the second day I
+had Rupert brought to her. He was better by this time, though still
+very weak, and just able to walk across the room with his arm resting
+in mine. I guided him to a seat beside her, and placed their hands in
+one another's, and then I came out quickly. I left them together; for
+if I had loved Marian, he had loved her too, and if my love for her
+had been the stronger, so had been hers for him. And I could not feel
+jealousy any longer now that Marian was dying.
+
+For this was the end of it all, the end of my stormy love and rivalry
+and my adventures in the Indian realms. Marian, the beautiful Marian,
+the woman whose fascination had led me so far, and involved me among
+such strange events in such unwonted scenes, was dying. I had come too
+late to save her, and all I had done or attempted for her sake had
+been in vain. And when I knew this, when I looked back over those
+three troubled years and saw the outcome, there came borne in upon my
+mind a great resignation; I beheld myself as if I had been another
+person, and the folly and wickedness that was in my heart stood
+revealed to me as they had never been even in those dreadful hours in
+the Calcutta dungeon, when I sank down, as I believed, to die.
+Standing beside that bedside of the woman I had loved and sinned for,
+watching the grey stain of mortality creep out upon those glorious
+features, the world and all its prizes and possessions became to me a
+mockery, and all that remained to comfort me was the memory of words I
+had read in that old Book at home: there, in that heathen palace,
+surrounded by the temples and trophies of false gods, was vouchsafed
+to me the light which I had refused to receive when I dwelt among
+Christians in a Christian land, and the Divine mercy which had
+followed me through so many wanderings overtook me at the last.
+
+On the morning of the third day one of the Indian servants who waited
+upon us took me aside and whispered something in my ear--something
+which made my heart beat fiercely and sent a tingle through my veins.
+
+I left the summer-house and took my way into the palace. Through the
+stately halls and along the marble pavements, amid the servile crowd
+that swarmed to pay homage to Meer Jaffier, I passed, and on till I
+came to that hideous stair up which I had brought two of Surajah
+Dowlah's victims such a short time before. On the way I gathered
+something of what had taken place.
+
+One of Surajah Dowlah's former subjects, a man whose ears the young
+Nabob had barbarously cut off for some offence, had recognised him in
+his flight, and had betrayed him to the agents of his successor. He
+was brought back in chains to Moorshedabad and carried before Meer
+Jaffier, at whose feet he flung himself, sobbing, and beseeching that
+his miserable life might be spared. Meer Jaffier, partly moved by his
+entreaties, partly restrained by regard for Colonel Clive, had shown a
+wish to spare him. But in Meer Jaffier's son, young Meeram, the fallen
+tyrant had found a spirit as ferocious and ungovernable as his own.
+This boy--for he was scarcely sixteen--thirsted for his cousin's
+blood, and even attempted to stab him in Meer Jaffier's presence. Meer
+Jaffier, afraid of his son, had ordered the prisoner to be removed
+into the dungeons under a guard, and this was done. But the fury of
+Meeram was not to be appeased. In the dark hours of the night, unknown
+to his father, he had descended into the dungeon, bribed or overawed
+the guards, and----
+
+They threw open the door. They held up their torches over a dark
+object lying on the ground. There, with a dozen red rents in the bosom
+of his tunic, with blood thickly soaked into the dye of his silk robe,
+with blood caked upon the rubies and emeralds in his turban, I saw
+Surajah Dowlah, dead!
+
+For some minutes I stood still in the presence of this impressive
+retribution, recalling the brief but terrible career which had thus
+tragically ended. There lay the cruellest despot of his age, the
+practitioner of horrible debaucheries, the sworn enemy of the English
+name, who had driven us out of Bengal, and perpetrated the
+never-to-be-forgotten massacre in which I had been so nearly included.
+I was but newly come out of the presence of two of his victims, and
+here I beheld him cut off from light more surely than the man he had
+blinded, dead while the woman he had murdered still breathed. I gazed,
+and was satisfied. The evil desires of vengeance which had tormented
+me for so long were utterly extinguished. I beheld before me the
+justice of high Heaven, and I came away, not exulting, but awed and
+subdued.
+
+I returned to Marian's bedside, and from that time I did not leave
+her till the end. Occasionally she would talk to me in a low, sweet
+voice, calling back memories of the old town of Yarmouth and the
+pleasant scenes of her youth. Once she spoke to me of myself.
+
+"I have treated you very ill, Athelstane. I knew that I could never
+repay you for your love, but it made me proud to have it; I liked to
+count upon your devotion to me, and I deceived and tempted you."
+
+I tried to protest, but she would have it so.
+
+"I have been wrong in everything I did to you," she said. "I ought
+never to have treated you as a friend, but as a stranger. Then you
+would have grown out of your foolish passion, and have forgotten me;
+for, believe me, Athelstane, I was not fit for you, nor you for me.
+Beneath your hot temper and adventurous spirit, in which you resemble
+your cousin, you are a very different nature. You are a Puritan at
+bottom, and your conscience will not let you rest except in sober,
+honest ways of life. It is better that you should take a wife from
+among your own people, one whose nature is in accord with what is
+deepest and best in you, and not with what is worst. Forgive me,
+Athelstane, and forget me, as one that crossed your life by an evil
+chance and wrought you only harm."
+
+But that, as I told her with tears, I never could do, nor would
+believe. And even now, when I look back across the years with calmer
+vision and a wiser judgment, I am still glad that I knew and loved
+Marian Rising, and never wish to root the memory of that wild romance
+out of my heart.
+
+She spoke to me also of my cousin Rupert, saying that she had long ago
+forgiven--indeed, I think she never was really able to resent--his
+wrongs done towards her, and asking me to do the same. I assured her
+that I had long ago buried all remains of ill-will between us, and I
+promised her that I would take him back to England with me, and
+endeavour to make his peace with his father at Lynn.
+
+Soon afterwards she became very weak, and, seeing that the last moment
+was approaching, I fetched Rupert in to her. He stood with his head
+bowed above the bed, his hair streaked with grey and the marks of the
+agony he had suffered on his face, while Marian caught hold of his
+hand, and, with the feeble remains of her strength, carried it to her
+lips and kissed it. In the doorway stood an Indian, gazing at the
+sight with solemn, unmoved visage. Outside we could hear the distant
+clash of the temple gongs in honour of some sacrifice, and through the
+lattices there was a glimpse of high white walls, with narrow slits of
+windows, shaded over by the dark-green foliage of a teak tree. Was it
+all real? I asked myself, or some vision which had come to me in the
+night, and from which I should awake to find myself abed in my own
+little room at home in Brandon?
+
+So the hour passed, and the last minute came.
+
+"Pray for me, Athelstane," Marian whispered to me, "for I have been a
+great sinner, and for myself I hardly dare to pray."
+
+So I knelt down upon the floor, and the blind man opposite me did the
+same; and as I used the familiar phrases which I had learned
+unconsciously in my youth from many repetitions, a peace stole over
+the room, and Rupert's great sobs ceased to shake him, and the hand I
+held in my own grew very still and cold. And presently I looked up,
+and saw that Marian was dead.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+_COLONEL CLIVE'S MESSAGE_
+
+
+So now my career in the East Indies was over, and I set my face to
+return home.
+
+The first person to whom I communicated my intention was Colonel
+Clive. He was at first astonished, and told me so.
+
+"Why do you mean to leave me now, when all our affairs are prospering,
+and you have nothing to do but to stay on and enrich yourself? I have
+had it in my mind to promote you; indeed, I think you know that I am
+your good friend."
+
+"I do, indeed, sir," I answered, "and I am most grateful for all your
+kindness to me. But it is right that I should tell you I am here in
+consequence of wrong-doing, which has, as I can now see, pursued my
+steps and caused me to be harassed with troubles and misfortunes from
+the very beginning to this hour."
+
+"Why, what wrong have you been guilty of?" asked the Colonel, much
+interested. "I could have sworn you were the most honest young man in
+my company."
+
+"I have run away from my home, sir. I have deceived and disobeyed my
+father and, I fear, caused great sorrow to my loving mother. I allowed
+myself to be tempted to leave them secretly, under cover of a
+falsehood, and to join a crew of privateers, who turned out to be
+pirates, the comrades of those whom you destroyed at Gheriah. In their
+company I fell into evil courses, and finally plunged into a murderous
+contest with one of my own flesh and blood. These things have long sat
+heavy on my mind. I have perceived their evil consequences, I have
+been visited with a bitter punishment, and I am now determined to go
+back to my parents and to obtain their forgiveness before it is too
+late."
+
+Colonel Clive looked at me with some sympathy, mingled with wonder.
+
+"I believe you have decided rightly," he said at last, when I had
+finished. "God forbid that I should keep you from making your peace
+with those who love you." His tone softened as he added: "My story is
+different to yours. I didn't run away; I was driven, pitchforked out
+of doors, and stuck into a miserable billet at Madras, where I nearly
+ate my heart out with loneliness and repining. When I returned to
+England it was not to ask forgiveness, but to give it, if a son can
+take it upon himself to forgive his parent. No matter, all that is
+past now, and I believe my family have found out that I am worth the
+love they have to give me. Look here, my boy, I have no business to
+talk like this to you; but, after all, we can't be always thinking of
+rupees and Moorish tricks. Since you are bent on going to England, you
+shall start in the ship which I am sending from Calcutta with the news
+of our late proceedings, and I will give you a letter, which you are
+to deliver privately into the hands of Mr. Pitt."
+
+At this name I looked up with flushing cheeks.
+
+"The great Mr. Pitt?" I exclaimed.
+
+"Yes, the great Mr. Pitt," returned Colonel Clive, with a slight
+inflection of bitterness in his tone. "But you are right, Ford, he is
+a very great man, and though his battles have been won within the four
+walls of St. Stephen's Chapel, while we lesser men have to fight in
+very different scenes, far be it from me to grudge all honour to the
+man who was the first to do honour to me. He is fortunate in having
+for his theatre the senate of a great kingdom of Europe, I unfortunate
+in having for mine a remote country of which half Europe has never
+heard. Still, I recognise his merits, and it is for that reason I am
+addressing myself to him on a subject which is near to my heart."
+
+The Colonel paused for a few moments.
+
+"But I cannot have you return to England empty-handed," he resumed.
+"What is your share of the gratuity promised to the army I do not yet
+know, but I tell you what you shall do: go into the treasury, and
+help yourself while there is time."
+
+I stared at this permission, but Colonel Clive merely nodded his head,
+and turned to write the letter he had spoken of. Perceiving that he
+was in earnest, I went off to the Nabob's palace, and made my way to
+the treasury, where I found Mr. Watts and some others busily engaged
+in taking an inventory of everything it contained, which was to be
+shipped down the river in boats to Calcutta.
+
+I walked through the rooms looking about me. Never in my life have I
+seen, nor am I like to see such a sight again. So much treasure was
+there scattered around me, that I could scarce believe it when Mr.
+Watts told me that the whole was insufficient to meet the sums pledged
+by Meer Jaffier. In every room I feasted my eyes upon the light of
+countless jewels. Silver was heaped on every floor, and gold on every
+shelf. Great green jade jars contained nothing but uncut gems. All
+kinds of weapons were there, their very shapes disguised under the
+gold and jewel-work which loaded them. There were chairs of ivory, and
+a table of solid agate-stone. Massy chains of gold trailed from
+drawers, and bricks of silver were built up into banks along the
+walls. It was a confusion of magnificence, a very litter of precious
+things.
+
+I informed Mr. Watts of the permission which Colonel Clive had given
+me to help myself, and he confirmed it.
+
+"Take what you please," he said carelessly. "You will find the
+emeralds run larger than any other stone, but some of them are flawed.
+There is a pretty string of rubies somewhere that it might be worth
+while to choose. The biggest diamond is already promised, but there
+are several lesser ones, uncut, which I should judge to be worth from
+twenty to forty thousand rupees each."
+
+He returned to his catalogue, and I to my exploration. After rejecting
+many necklaces and crowns that I did not deem to be of sufficient
+splendour, I finally fixed upon a tulwar, which I found in a box of
+mother-of-pearl by itself. The handle was set with an enormous
+sapphire, and the hilt incrusted with diamonds, some of them as big as
+my thumbnail. I was afterwards offered three thousand pounds for it by
+a Gentoo merchant in Calcutta, but preferred to bring it home with me,
+where it afterwards fetched more than double that sum at a goldsmith's
+in Covent Garden.
+
+Nor was this all that I brought away with me, for when I went to take
+leave of Meer Jaffier, he presented me, as a mark of his esteem, with
+a very handsome dress of gold cloth, and a string of pearls, valued
+afterwards at a thousand pounds. So that I was now become a rich man.
+
+We buried Marian at night, by the Nabob's permission, in a corner of
+the garden of the seraglio. The chaplain of the thirty-ninth regiment
+conducted the service, and I caused a slab of marble to be set up to
+mark the grave, inscribed simply with her name and the date of her
+death. This tomb, I have been told, still stands, and is pointed out
+to English visitors to Moorshedabad as the grave of the Englishwoman
+who was imprisoned in the Black Hole.
+
+The following day, having received Colonel Clive's letter, and bidden
+him an affectionate farewell, I embarked with Rupert upon one of the
+barges which were carrying the treasure down to Calcutta. The fleet
+started in procession, and went down the river, with music playing on
+deck, flying flags by day, and coloured lanterns by night, till we
+reached the English settlement. There I found old Muzzy, patiently
+waiting for me, and full of pride in the victory, in which he was
+prone to attribute a great share to me.
+
+Five months later we sailed up the Thames, and set foot once more on
+English soil.
+
+One thing only detained me in London. This was the delivery of the
+letter which Colonel Clive had entrusted to me for Mr. Pitt.
+
+It was a privilege which I could not rate too highly to be thus made
+the intermediary between the two greatest Englishmen of my time, men
+of a type that seems now to be lost among us. Since Colonel Clive we
+have had no victorious captain, and since Mr. Pitt, no mighty
+minister, and hence it is that our country, which under the rule of a
+Cromwell or a Pitt, hath risen to be the arbiter of Europe, and held
+all nations in awe, is now sunk, under the sway of feeble intellects,
+to a precarious position, the mock of every power, and saved only by
+her fleets from absolute destruction.
+
+I do not find it easy to describe my sensations when I was ushered
+into the presence of the Great Commoner, and saw before me that
+majestic figure, with the profile of a Roman conqueror, and a glance
+hardly less terrible to encounter than the full blaze of the sun. When
+I have stood before the Nabob of Bengal, throned in the midst of his
+Court, I have seen in front of me nothing but a peevish, debauched
+young man, but when I came into the room where Mr. Pitt was I felt
+that I was in the presence of a ruler of men. His attitude, his
+commanding gestures, and the stately manner he had of slowly moving
+his head round upon his neck to look at you, made a most tremendous
+impression; and I found it easy to believe the stories of men having
+risen to speak against him in the House of Commons, and then shrunk
+back miserably into their seats at a mere look from this extraordinary
+person.
+
+Mr. Pitt's manner of reading Colonel Clive's despatch further
+impressed me. He broke the seals, seemed to do no more than give it a
+few devouring glances, and then laid it aside as though he were
+already master of its contents.
+
+"You are Ensign Ford?" he demanded abruptly, fixing his eye upon me.
+
+"I am, sir."
+
+"Colonel Clive tells me in this letter that you possess his
+confidence. Do you think, if I were to tell you my sentiments
+verbally, you could transmit them faithfully to your employer?"
+
+"I will do my best, sir," I replied, not a little astonished at this
+proposal. But I have considered the matter since, and I can see that
+there were many things which Mr. Pitt might not wish to write with his
+own hand, though he had no objection to their being repeated by me.
+
+"In this letter," he proceeded, "Colonel Clive makes a very startling
+proposal, which is no less than that English troops should be sent out
+sufficient to conquer the whole of Bengal, and that thereafter the
+administration of all the Indian territories should be taken out of
+the hands of the Company and brought immediately under the Crown. Now
+what I wish you to tell him from me in reply is this, that I am bound
+to consider his proposal not merely as it affects our situation
+abroad, but also as it bears upon our government at home. I am the
+minister, not of a despotic empire like France or Spain, but of a free
+people, and I must not suffer anything which may assist the Crown to
+encroach upon our liberties. Those liberties rest upon the necessity
+which our kings are under of asking us to tax ourselves for their
+support. Give them a foreign empire like that of Spain in the
+Americas, and you run a danger of rendering them independent. The
+wealth arising from the revenues of Indostan would enable the Crown to
+keep up a standing army in time of peace, without the consent of
+Parliament. Moreover, the administration of these territories would
+give occasion for the creation of great numbers of offices and
+pensions, by means of which our people might be fatally corrupted.
+
+"I would have you further point out to Colonel Clive on my behalf,"
+continued Mr. Pitt, "that those Indians, whom he proposes to make our
+fellow subjects, are accustomed to be the slaves of a despot, and
+being such, they may become dangerous instruments to make slaves of
+us. I should dread to see the sovereigns of this country calling
+themselves emperors in the Indies, and valuing that character above
+that of kings of Great Britain. Believe me, young man, it is not easy
+for a nation to play the despot abroad without losing its freedom at
+home; as I have frequently observed that those who had returned to
+this country after holding great places in the East, have shown
+themselves indifferent to the rights of the subject here."
+
+All this, and much more, did Mr. Pitt say to me, of which I have
+preserved only these meagre recollections. But how feeble an image do
+the written words preserve of the eloquence with which he spoke, the
+enthusiasm which kindled in his eye when he touched upon our
+liberties, and the warning emphasis he laid upon his expressions about
+the power of the Crown! I felt almost as though I had been the bearer
+of propositions for some unnatural treason, and I was not a little
+relieved when Mr. Pitt finally concluded by bidding me thank Colonel
+Clive very heartily for his civility in writing to him, and promised
+to carefully consider of his suggestions.
+
+To this he added some very high compliments to the Colonel's great
+abilities and military glory, all of which I transmitted in a letter
+to Mr. Clive shortly afterwards. And I have set down the above warning
+of the great patriot minister in this place, for the instruction of
+posterity, in case a time should ever arrive when the people of this
+country, in their too eager grasping after foreign conquests contrary
+to the nature of an island, which is to rest content within the
+borders of its own seas, shall find they have bartered away the
+priceless heritage of their own freedom, and sunk into a mere unheeded
+fraction of a dominion which they no longer wield.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+_AFTER MANY DAYS_
+
+
+It was about the hour of five o'clock in the afternoon, and being
+winter it was already dusk, when I came at last to my native place,
+and rode up to the gate of my father's house.
+
+I had journeyed down as far as Norwich in company with my cousin
+Rupert, who was on his way to Lynn, and with my faithful friend, old
+Muzzy, who had sworn never to leave me, and whom I was not less loth
+to part with. And finding myself, as I came back into that country
+where I was born, utterly overmastered by a strong passion of
+home-sickness, I had no sooner procured comfortable lodgings for my
+companions in the Maid's Head Inn, of Norwich, than I got upon
+horseback and rode over by myself to look upon my father and mother
+again.
+
+But as I came towards the house, the greater my longing was to enter
+it again, so much the more was I daunted by a fearful apprehension of
+the reception I should meet with, as well as of the changes which
+might have been wrought during my absence. So that at the last I dared
+not ride up boldly to the door, but came along softly, and dismounted
+and tied my horse to the outer gate. After which I slipped inside
+quietly, and round the side of the house to the window of the great
+parlour, through which I could see the warm glow of a fire illuminate
+the wintry mist without.
+
+When I had come to the window I raised myself up till my head was on a
+level with the bottom panes, and looked within.
+
+The room held four persons. On one side of the fire sat my father,
+seeming to be much older than I remembered him, in his great
+arm-chair, with pillows at the back. Standing up on the opposite side
+of the hearth was a figure which I quickly recognised for Mr. Peter
+Walpole, though his back was towards me. It was Saturday night, and he
+had plainly arrived a short time before me, from Norwich. Between the
+two was my mother, sitting placidly as of old, and unchanged except
+for a wistful sadness in her eyes, which it smote me to the heart to
+notice, and beside her a young woman, scarce more than a girl, with a
+singular sweet expression on her face, who was at first strange to me.
+
+Mr. Walpole was speaking when I first looked in upon them.
+
+"We are like to have more news from the East Indies. The _Norwich
+Journal_ announces that a Company's ship has entered the Thames,
+bringing news of a great victory over the Moors of Bengal."
+
+My mother looked round sharply, and cried out--
+
+"Tell me at once, Mr. Walpole, if you have heard anything of our boy?"
+
+The good old man shook his head.
+
+"No, no, ma'am, there is no news of that sort. I fear it will be long
+before we hear of him. Indeed, it is but a chance that he is out in
+the East Indies at all. We did but hear a rumour that he had been seen
+in Calcutta."
+
+My mother let her head droop upon her breast. The girl bent over to
+her and laid her hand upon my mother's shoulder.
+
+"Don't let yourself think that Athelstane has come to harm," she said
+in a sweet, clear voice. (And if I had not recognised the face I
+recognised the voice. It was my little playmate, Patience Thurstan.)
+"I have a faith which makes me sure that he is still alive, and will
+some day come back to us again."
+
+"No!" It was my father's voice I heard, coming sternly from where he
+sat upright in his chair. "He will not come back here. He left this
+house of his own free will, left it in treachery and deceit. He has
+cast its dust from off his feet, and this is his home no more."
+
+My heart sank within me at these bitter words. But Patience pleaded
+for me still.
+
+"Ah, but he will return, I know he will, and if he does you will
+forgive him, won't you, Mr. Ford? After all he was but a boy when he
+ran away, too young to know what he was doing. How can we tell what
+suffering he has gone through since, how often he has repented of what
+he did, and longed to come back and be forgiven."
+
+Mr. Peter Walpole gave a groan.
+
+"It is I was to blame, as much as the boy, come, brother Ford.
+Remember how I held out for that premium with him. Not but what the
+sum I named was just, mind you; but I loved the lad and would have
+taken him without a premium at all, rather than he should have gone
+wandering about the world, to be murdered by heathen men and
+cannibals."
+
+I cannot express how surprised and touched I was to hear Mr. Walpole
+speak thus of me. For I had ever regarded him as a cold, hard man,
+with no affections beyond money and religion. I looked anxiously for
+my father's reply.
+
+"Nay, you were in no wise to blame, if you considered that what you
+asked was your right, though to my mind it savoured of extortion. It
+is my unhappy son whom I cannot excuse. Had he but come to me, and
+told me what was in his heart, it would have gone hard but I would
+have provided for him in some honest career. But to let himself be
+enticed away by pirates, as there is little doubt they were, and to
+dissemble his flight with falsehood, that was unworthy of a son of
+mine, and cannot be atoned for."
+
+He gave a glance, half angry, half questioning, at my mother, as he
+concluded. I did the same, but was surprised to observe that her face
+was returned to its former placid composure, and she seemed not to
+heed my father's stern expressions.
+
+Poor little Patience took them more to heart, and the tears shone in
+her eyes.
+
+"Don't say you won't forgive him!" she implored. "Think, for aught we
+know he may now be pining in a Moorish dungeon, or lying wounded on
+the battle-field. Oh, Mr. Ford, he was your only son, and you loved
+him--you must love him still!"
+
+"Silence, girl!" cried my father, very fierce. "How dare you tell me I
+love a rebellious child! I should wrong my conscience, and be false to
+my profession as a Christian man, if I were weak enough to do what you
+say."
+
+Patience turned and appealed to my mother.
+
+"Won't you speak to him, mother? Why do you sit there so quietly? You
+love Athelstane as much as--as much as any one."
+
+My mother cast a tender glance at my father.
+
+"Hush, child! There is no need to speak. Athelstane's father forgave
+him long ago."
+
+I saw my father start and tremble.
+
+"Woman! What is it you say? What do you know?" he exclaimed. "You saw
+me cross his name out of the Bible with my own hand!"
+
+"Yes, dear," my mother answered very softly, "but you wrote it in
+again that very night, when you thought I was asleep."
+
+And rising out of her chair she crossed over and took down the book
+from where it had lain those three years and more, and opened the page
+where, as I have often seen it since, my name was written in again in
+large letters, and underneath in a shaken hand, the words, "Oh,
+Athelstane, my son, my son!"
+
+Then, whether because of the flickering of the firelight, or the steam
+of my breath upon the pane, I ceased to see very distinctly, and came
+away from the window, and went round to the door, where I gave a loud
+knock.
+
+The door was opened by Patience, and seeing before her, as she
+thought, a stranger in a uniform coat, she uttered a cry of surprise.
+
+"Who are you, sir?"
+
+"I am an ensign in the East India Company's service, as you see," I
+answered, jesting to conceal the fullness of my heart.
+
+But I suppose there was that within her which told her more quickly
+than her eyes who it was, for before I had spoken two words the little
+silly thing fell a-sobbing and crying, and I had to take her in my
+arms, without more ado, and bring her in with me.
+
+My mother has always affirmed that she knew I was to return that
+night, even when I was outside by the window, and that the first step
+I made across the threshold told her all. But instead of running out
+to meet me, in her beautiful wisdom she went over to where my father
+sat still, and leant against his chair and put her arm round his neck.
+
+So I found them when I came in alone, leaving Patience in the hall,
+and walked straight over, and would have knelt down before my father.
+But he prevented me, and rose out of his chair with a great cry, and
+drew me to him, and so stood holding me in silence, while my mother
+wept; and presently I saw his lips moving, and found that he was
+whispering to himself, "This my son was dead, and is alive again; he
+was lost, and is found."
+
+Afterwards we all knelt down together, while Mr. Walpole offered up a
+prayer; and then I sat in the midst and told them the whole story of
+my wanderings and perils as I have written it here. And later on,
+noting that Patience was dressed in black, I inquired, and found that
+she had lost her father nearly a year before, and was become my
+father's ward till she should attain the age of twenty-one, or marry
+with his consent.
+
+It was not for a long time after that I surprised her little secret,
+and discovered that depth of true affection which had been waiting for
+me all those years beside my own hearth, while I was pursuing phantoms
+far away. But being alone with her one day, and our talk turning on
+the riches I had brought back with me, and how I was to bestow them, I
+said to her--
+
+"For one thing, I must buy you a fairing, Patience, like I used to do
+when we were children together. Have you forgotten, I wonder, the
+guinea which I gave you to spend, on the last day I ever spent at
+home?"
+
+"No, indeed, I have not. I remember it very well," she answered,
+blushing.
+
+"Why, is that so? And pray what did you buy with it?" I asked smiling.
+
+"Nothing at all," said Patience shortly.
+
+"Nothing! What then----"
+
+"I have it by me, somewhere." She pretended to speak carelessly, but
+my suspicions were aroused.
+
+"I insist on knowing where, Patience," I said in a tone of command,
+such as I have never known her to resist.
+
+"You must find out for yourself, then," says she, trying to defy me.
+(For the first and last time, God bless her!)
+
+I took her by the arms and held her firmly.
+
+"Now, Patience, tell me what you have done with my guinea," I
+demanded, quite stern.
+
+"I kept it--for a keepsake. Oh, Athelstane, don't laugh at me, I have
+it on the ribbon round my neck!"
+
+I didn't laugh at her. But I kissed her, and--well, well!--she kissed
+me back. And I was surprised to find how little anybody else was
+surprised when they heard of it, and how they all seemed to take it as
+a matter of course, and my father told me quite coolly that he
+intended me to marry as soon as Patience should be eighteen, and to
+live on Abner Thurstan's farm, which she had inherited by his will.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Of Rupert, as well as of old Muzzy, I must briefly speak. I conducted
+my cousin to his father, as I had promised, and sought to reconcile
+them. But I found my uncle to be harsher than I had expected. He had,
+besides, married again, and his wife looked sourly on the blind man
+she was asked to entertain in her house. The upshot of it was that I
+told her if she would take care of Rupert till I was married I would
+then have him to live with me. And in our house he still abides, a
+much altered man, given to the hearing of sermons, and never so happy
+as when Patience sits down to read him a piece from the Bible or the
+_Norwich Journal_; though sometimes a flash of his old spirit returns
+when I sit beside him after supper and talk over our old adventures in
+the East.
+
+I found it more difficult at first to befriend old Muzzy. For though
+the old man professed to be, and I am sure really was, anxious to
+reform and lead a better life, he made but a poor business of it, and
+his constant profane oaths and habits of rum-drinking proved a severe
+trial to my mother and Patience. I had told them of his many services
+to me, including his having saved my life, and therefore they made it
+a duty to show kindness to the old man, and endeavour to bear with
+his ways. But I think they would have failed, and I should have been
+obliged to find a home for him elsewhere, but for his having
+accidentally told them of the affair outside Calcutta. No sooner did
+these tender-hearted women learn that I had saved old Muzzy's life (as
+they chose to consider it) than they instantly conceived a strong
+affection for the old man, and instead of finding him a burden nothing
+pleased them better than to sit in his company while the boatswain
+related the story of my prowess, interrupting it at every minute to
+excuse himself for some dreadful expression which had brought the
+tears into their eyes. The tale lost nothing in the telling, and I am
+ashamed to say that he so improved upon it in course of time as to
+make it appear that I had marched single-handed through the Nabob's
+entire army, severely wounded the Nabob himself, and slain many of his
+principal generals, and finally emerged, carrying old Muzzy himself
+across my shoulders like a suckling lamb.
+
+Peace to old Muzzy! His heart was as innocent as his life and
+conversation were depraved. I believe my mother used to buy tobacco
+for him; and I am certain I once detected my wife secretly giving him
+rum.
+
+In this peaceful manner my adventures ended, and I found myself, far
+beyond my deserts, settled at last in the land where I was born, among
+those who loved me and whom I loved.
+
+And we are so made, and this life of ours is so strange a thing, that
+sometimes, when I walk abroad in the evening, as I was wont to do in
+my boyhood, and stand beside the lonely, rippling water of the broad,
+and watch the reflection of the sunset upon the distant walls of
+Yarmouth town; sometimes, I say, I ask myself whether all this has
+really been as I have thus written it, or whether all these events
+from my first running away from my father's roof; and those nights and
+days in the streets of yonder town and beneath the roof of the old
+"Three-decker"; and the woman I loved and fought for; and my cousin
+Rupert's enmity; and the voyage which I took to the East Indies, and
+the battles and perils which I passed through; and last of all that
+white tomb in the seraglio garden in far-off Moorshedabad; whether
+they are not dreams and visions which have come to me while I have
+slept.
+
+ UNWIN BROTHERS, THE GRESHAM PRESS, WOKING AND LONDON.
+
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+
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+
+_A series of daintily produced Novels. Price_ =2s. 6d.=
+_each._
+
+ =MISS BETTY.= By BRAM STOKER.
+ =VAN WAGENER'S WAYS.= By W. L. ALDEN.
+ =AN EGYPTIAN COQUETTE.= By CLIVE HOLLAND.
+ =AN EPISODE IN ARCADY.= By HALLIWELL SUTCLIFFE.
+ =TRINCOLOX.= By DOUGLAS SLADEN.
+ =A RUSSIAN VAGABOND.= By FRED WHISHAW.
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+ =A ROMANCE OF A GROUSE MOOR.= By M. E. STEVENSON.
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+
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+By ALLEN UPWARD, Author of "A Crown of Straw," "A Bride's
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+By G. MANVILLE FENN, Author of "The New Mistress," "The Tiger
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+Woman in Grey," &c.
+
+=THE HERMITS OF GRAY'S INN.=
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+By G. B. BURGIN, Author of "Fortune's Footballs," "Settled
+Out of Court," &c. Illustrated by A. KEMP TEBBY.
+
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+
+By EDWARD NOYES WESTCOTT. With Preface by FORBES
+HEERMANS.
+
+=ROSALBA.=
+
+By OLIVE PRATT RAYNER, Author of "The Typewriter Girl."
+
+=THE GOLDEN SCEPTRE.=
+
+By G. H. THORNHILL.
+
+=THE KNIGHT OF "KING'S GUARD."=
+
+By EWAN MARTIN.
+
+=A MILLIONAIRE'S DAUGHTER.=
+
+By PERCY WHITE, Author of "Mr. Bailey Martin," "The Passionate
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+
+=FRANCOIS, THE VALET.=
+
+By G. W. APPLETON, Author of "The Co-Respondent," &c., &c.
+
+=NEW VOLUME OF STORIES.=
+
+By BRET HARTE, Author of "Stories in Light and Shadow."
+
+=A STRANGE EXECUTOR.=
+
+By BENNETT COLL, Author of "My Churchwardens," &c.
+
+=CALUMNIES.=
+
+By E. M. DAVY, Author of "A Prince of Como," "Jack Dudley's Wife," &c.
+
+=AT A WINTER'S FIRE.=
+
+By BERNARD CAPES, Author of "The Lake of Wine," &c.
+
+=TRANSGRESSION.=
+
+By S. S. THORBURN, Author of "Asiatic Neighbours," "His Majesty's
+Greatest Servant," &c.
+
+
+          =MESSRS. C. ARTHUR PEARSON'S=
+          =List of Popular Six Shilling Novels.=
+
+=THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN KETTLE.=
+
+By C. J. CUTCLIFFE HYNE, Author of "The Paradise Coal Boat," &c.
+Illustrated by STANLEY L. WOOD.
+
+=THE PHANTOM ARMY.=
+
+By MAX PEMBERTON, Author of "Queen of the Jesters," &c.
+
+=SETTLED OUT OF COURT.=
+
+By G. B. BURGIN, Author of "Fortune's Footballs," &c.
+
+=BROTHERS OF THE PEOPLE.=
+
+By FRED WHISHAW, Author of "A Russian Vagabond," &c.
+
+=THE KNIGHT OF THE GOLDEN CHAIN.=
+
+By R. D. CHETWODE, Author of "John of Strathbourne."
+
+=THE KEY OF THE HOLY HOUSE.=
+
+By ALBERT LEE, Author of "The Black Disc," &c.
+
+=THE SEED OF THE POPPY.=
+
+By CLIVE HOLLAND, Author of "An Egyptian Coquette," &c.
+
+=THE ARCHDEACON.=
+
+By Mrs. L. B. WALFORD, Author of "Mr. Smith," &c.
+
+=STORIES IN LIGHT AND SHADOW.=
+
+By BRET HARTE, Author of "Tales of the Pacific Slope," &c.
+
+=THE MEMBER'S WIFE.=
+
+By the Hon. Mrs. CHETWYND, Author of "A Brilliant Woman," "A Dutch
+Cousin," &c.
+
+=THE LOST PROVINCES (Sequel to "The American Emperor").=
+
+By LOUIS TRACY, Author of "The Final War," &c. Illustrated by H.
+Piffard.
+
+=FORTUNE'S SPORT.=
+
+By Mrs. C. N. WILLIAMSON, Author of "The Barn Stormers," &c.
+
+=THE OPTIMIST.=
+
+By HERBERT MORRAH, Author of "The Faithful City," &c.
+
+=MORD EM'LY.=
+
+By W. PETT RIDGE, Author of "Three Women and Mr. Frank Cardwell."
+
+=TURKISH BONDS. Stories of the Armenian Atrocities.=
+
+By MAY KENDALL.
+
+=THE INCIDENTAL BISHOP.=
+
+BY GRANT ALLEN, Author of "What's Bred in the Bone," &c.
+
+=THE REV. ANNABEL LEE.=
+
+BY ROBERT BUCHANAN, Author of "God and the Man," &c.
+
+=HAGAR OF HOMERTON.=
+
+By Mrs. HENRY E. DUDENEY, Author of "A Man with a Maid."
+
+=THE VIRGIN OF THE SUN. A Tale of the Conquest of Peru.=
+
+BY GEORGE GRIFFITH, Author of "Valdar, the Oft-Born," "Men Who Have
+Made the Empire," &c. With Frontispiece by STANLEY L. WOOD.
+
+=THE HOPE OF THE FAMILY.=
+
+By ALPHONSE DAUDET. Translated by LEVIN CARNAC.
+
+=LADY JEZEBEL.=
+
+By FERGUS HUME, Author of "The Mystery of a Hansom Cab."
+
+=THE KEEPERS OF THE PEOPLE.= By EDGAR JEPSON, Author of "Sybil Falcon,"
+"The Passion for Romance."
+
+=THE SHROUDED FACE.=
+
+By OWEN RHOSCOMYL, Author of "Battlement and Tower," "The Jewel of
+Ynys Galon."
+
+=A MAORI MAID.=
+
+By H. B. VOGEL.
+
+=THE MASTER-KEY.=
+
+By FLORENCE WARDEN, Author of "The House on the Marsh."
+
+=AN AMERICAN EMPEROR.=
+
+By LOUIS TRACY, Author of "The Final War." Sixteen Full-page
+Illustrations.
+
+=THE FINAL WAR. A Story of the Great Betrayal.=
+
+By LOUIS TRACY. Illustrated by ERNEST E. SHERIE.
+
+=THE RAID OF THE "DETRIMENTAL."=
+
+Being the True History of the Great Disappearance of 1862. Related by
+Several of those Implicated and Others, and now first set forth by the
+EARL OF DESART.
+
+=THE ZONE OF FIRE.=
+
+By HEADON HILL, Author of "Guilty Gold."
+
+=GUILTY GOLD. A Romance of Financial Fraud and City Crime.=
+
+By HEADON HILL, Author of "The Zone of Fire." Illustrated by RAYMOND
+POTTER.
+
+=VALDAR, THE OFT-BORN. A Saga of Seven Ages.=
+
+By GEORGE GRIFFITH, Author of "The Angel of the Revolution," &c.
+Illustrated by HAROLD PIFFARD.
+
+
+          =Popular 3s. 6d. Fiction.=
+
+=THE INVISIBLE MAN.= By H. G. WELLS, Author of "The Time Machine," &c.
+Second Edition.
+
+=THE SKIPPER'S WOOING and the Brown Man's Servant.= By W. W. JACOBS,
+Author of "Many Cargoes." Second Edition.
+
+=THE TYPEWRITER GIRL.= By OLIVE PRATT RAYNER.
+
+=THE DUKE AND THE DAMSEL.= By RICHARD MARSH, Author of "The Beetle,"
+&c.
+
+=THREE WOMEN AND MR. FRANK CARDWELL.= By W. PETT RIDGE, Author of "A
+Clever Wife."
+
+=JOHN OF STRATHBOURNE. A Romance of the Days of Francis I.= By R. D.
+CHETWODE. With eight Illustrations by ERNEST SMYTHE.
+
+=FORTUNE'S FOOTBALLS.= By G. B. BURGIN, Author of "'Old Man's'
+Marriage," &c.
+
+=HER ROYAL HIGHNESS'S LOVE AFFAIR.= By J. MACLAREN COBBAN, Author of
+"The Cure of Souls," &c.
+
+=THE IRON CROSS.= By R. H. SHERARD, Author of "Rogues," &c.
+
+=QUEEN OF THE JESTERS.= By MAX PEMBERTON, Author of "Christine of the
+Hills," &c., &c. With eight Full-page Illustrations.
+
+=LUCKY BARGEE.= By HARRY LANDER, Author of "Weighed in the Balance," &c.
+
+=THE MARQUIS OF VALROSE.= From the French of CHARLES FOLEY. Translated
+by ALYS HALLARD.
+
+=WHEN THE BIRDS BEGIN TO SING.= By WINIFRED GRAHAM, Author of "Meresia."
+With sixteen Illustrations by HAROLD PIFFARD. Square crown 8vo.
+
+=THE MYSTERY OF THE "MEDEA."= By ALEXANDER VAUGHAN.
+
+=KNAVES OF DIAMONDS, being Tales of the Mine and Veld.= By GEORGE
+GRIFFITH, Author of "Virgin of the Sun," "Valdar," &c. Illustrated by
+E. F. SHERIE.
+
+=TANDRA.= By ANDREW QUANTOCK.
+
+=LOST: A MILLIONAIRE.= By AUSTIN FRYERS.
+
+=SPIES OF THE WIGHT.= By HEADON HILL, Author of "The Zone of Fire," &c.
+
+=HANDS IN THE DARKNESS.= By ARNOLD GOLSWORTHY.
+
+=JOCK'S WARD.= By Mrs. HERBERT MARTIN, Author of "Gentleman George," "A
+Low Born Lass," &c.
+
+          =C. ARTHUR PEARSON LIMITED, Henrietta Street, W.C.=
+
+
+
+
+TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES:
+
+1. Minor changes have been made to correct typesetters' errors;
+otherwise, every effort has been made to remain true to the author's
+words and intent.
+
+2. On the advertising pages in the original book, titles advertised
+where typeset with a bold font face; in this e-text, that has been
+noted by inclosing the title in equal signs (=).
+
+
+
+
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+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Athelstane Ford, by Allen Upward
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+      The Project Gutenberg eBook of Athelstane Ford, by Allen Upward.
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+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Athelstane Ford, by Allen Upward
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Athelstane Ford
+
+Author: Allen Upward
+
+Release Date: September 21, 2008 [EBook #26677]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ATHELSTANE FORD ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by D Alexander and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was
+produced from images generously made available by The
+Internet Archive)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 314px;">
+<img src="images/icover.jpg" width="314" height="500" alt="" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<hr class="large" />
+
+<h1>Athelstane Ford</h1>
+
+<h3>BY</h3>
+
+<h2>ALLEN UPWARD</h2>
+
+<p class="center">AUTHOR OF &#8220;THE PRINCE OF BALKISTAN,&#8221; &#8220;A CROWN OF STRAW,&#8221;<br />
+&#8220;SECRETS OF THE COURTS OF EUROPE,&#8221; ETC</p>
+
+<p class="gap">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 73px;">
+<img src="images/i001.jpg" width="73" height="110" alt="" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<h4>London</h4>
+<h3>C. ARTHUR PEARSON LIMITED</h3>
+<h3>HENRIETTA STREET W.C.</h3>
+<h5>1899</h5>
+
+<hr class="large" />
+
+<h2>CONTENTS</h2>
+<div class="centered">
+<table border="0" width="70%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" summary="CONTENTS">
+
+<tr>
+<td align="right">CHAP.</td>
+<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
+<td align="right">PAGE</td></tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td align="right">I.</td>
+<td align="left">COUSIN RUPERT GAINS A RECRUIT</td>
+<td align="right"><a href="#ATHELSTANE_FORD">1</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td align="right">II.</td>
+<td align="left">THE TAVERN OF THE &#8220;THREE-DECKER&#8221;</td>
+<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">14</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td align="right">III.</td>
+<td align="left">THE BEGINNING OF THE RIVALRY</td>
+<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">27</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td align="right">IV.</td>
+<td align="left">&#8220;&Agrave; LA MORT&#8221;</td>
+<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">41</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td align="right">V.</td>
+<td align="left">ON BOARD THE KING&#8217;S SHIP</td>
+<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">55</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td align="right">VI.</td>
+<td align="left">IN THE POWER OF THE ENEMY</td>
+<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">69</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td align="right">VII.</td>
+<td align="left">THE SIEGE OF GHERIAH</td>
+<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">83</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td align="right">VIII.</td>
+<td align="left">IN THE COMPANY&#8217;S SERVICE</td>
+<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">96</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td align="right">IX.</td>
+<td align="left">THE SPY</td>
+<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">112</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td align="right">X.</td>
+<td align="left">TAKEN CAPTIVE</td>
+<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">128</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td align="right">XI.</td>
+<td align="left">THE BLACK HOLE</td>
+<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">152</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td align="right">XII.</td>
+<td align="left">RUPERT IN A NEW LIGHT</td>
+<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">163</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td align="right">XIII.</td>
+<td align="left">A NIGHT ADVENTURE</td>
+<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">180</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td align="right">XIV.</td>
+<td align="left">IN A STRANGE LAND</td>
+<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">197</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td align="right">XV.</td>
+<td align="left">THE COMING OF SABAT JUNG</td>
+<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">212</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td align="right">XVI.</td>
+<td align="left">A BATTLE IN THE DARK</td>
+<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">227</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td align="right">XVII.</td>
+<td align="left">A MISSION OF DANGER</td>
+<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">244</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td align="right">XVIII.</td>
+<td align="left">MEER JAFFIER&#8217;S OATH</td>
+<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">260</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td align="right">XIX.</td>
+<td align="left">PLASSY</td>
+<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">276</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td align="right">XX.</td>
+<td align="left">RETRIBUTION</td>
+<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">288</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td align="right">XXI.</td>
+<td align="left">COLONEL OLIVE&#8217;S MESSAGE</td>
+<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">302</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td align="right">XXII.</td>
+<td align="left">AFTER MANY DAYS</td>
+<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">312</a></td></tr>
+
+</table></div>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="ATHELSTANE_FORD" id="ATHELSTANE_FORD"></a>ATHELSTANE FORD</h2>
+
+<h2>CHAPTER I</h2>
+
+<h3><i>COUSIN RUPERT GAINS A RECRUIT</i></h3>
+
+<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">I</span>t has not happened to many men, as I think, to have fallen into the
+hands of as cruel and bloodthirsty a monster as ever defiled God&#8217;s
+earth, and to have escaped to tell the tale. Yet it is of this that I
+have come to write; and of all the hardships and perils which I went
+through from the time I fled from my father&#8217;s house to seek for
+treasure in the East Indies; and of the battles in which I fought; and
+of the madness of love and jealousy which I knew; and of how the man I
+trusted became my enemy, and pursued me with his vengeance; and of the
+treasure which I found in the palace of the Hindoo king; and of how I
+returned at last to my own home.</p>
+
+<p>Nor do I greatly expect that the hearing of these things will be
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span>effectual to hinder those who come after me from adventuring in their
+turn, for young blood will have its way, like sap in the veins of a
+growing tree. But there are times when I think that if I could have
+looked forward and seen what was to come, and all the dire straits
+through which I was to pass&mdash;both among my own countrymen and in those
+distant lands&mdash;I might have given a different welcome to my cousin
+Rupert when he came riding into Brandon, on the evening of that day
+which was to be the last of my boyhood.</p>
+
+<p>I had come out of the house before supper was laid, as I often used,
+and had made my way along the edge of the dyke which runs through our
+meadows into the broad, which we call Breydon Water; and there by the
+margin of the broad I stood, while the sun was setting behind me, and
+watched the light flush and fade over the grey spire and high red
+roofs of Yarmouth town. Many a night I had come there to the same spot
+and gazed with wistful eyes at that prospect; for though I was, in a
+manner, familiar with the old town, and had gone in there on market
+days many a time since I was a boy, yet, at this hour, and seen across
+the water in the bright blaze of the sunset, it seemed to be strangely
+removed and glorified&mdash;like that city which Christian had a prospect
+of from the Delectable Mountains&mdash;and I could never think of it as
+other than an enchanted region, the gate of the great world, where the
+hours throbbed with action, and life was more full and splendid than
+in our <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span>lonely grange among the broads; and my heart was fretted
+within me, and day by day the longing grew upon me to break out of the
+narrow limits in which my life was bound, and take my way thither into
+the glamour and the mystery of the world.</p>
+
+<p>Then all at once, as I stood there and gazed, I was aware of the sound
+of a horse&#8217;s hoofs coming over the wet grass, and turned and saw my
+cousin riding towards me on his black mare and waving his whip to me
+as he came.</p>
+
+<p>I had a great affection for my cousin in those days, mingled with a
+sort of dreadful admiration for the character he bore. He was my elder
+by nearly ten years, and had been, in my eyes, a man ever since I was
+a child, so that I looked up to him with reverence, and thought
+nothing so delightful as to have him come down, bringing the air and
+rumour of the outside world into our quiet homestead. Indeed, he
+seemed to be of a superior order to us, and might almost be reckoned
+as one of the gentry, for his father came of the Gurneys of Lynn, and
+had set up a great brewery of ale there, by which he enriched himself
+past all counting. How such a man had come to marry my aunt I never
+knew, for my father kept silence on the subject, and Rupert himself
+could tell me nothing of his mother, who had died when he was but an
+infant. Nor was there much intercourse between our families, except
+that twice a year, at Lady-day and Christmas, Mr. Gurney would send us
+a barrel of his best brewing; <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span>and once a year, on the 1st of
+January&mdash;for he would give no countenance to the feasts of the
+Church&mdash;my father despatched a pair of fine turkeys to Lynn.</p>
+
+<p>Cousin Rupert always showed a friendship for us, and I believe would
+have given us his company more often but for my father&#8217;s disapproval
+of his manner of life; for he was already known as a wild companion,
+and one who set little store by religion and respectability. There was
+even a scandalous report that he had been fined by the Aldermen of
+Yarmouth under the new statute made against profane swearing. They had
+fixed his fine, so it was said, at two shillings, being the penalty
+for common persons above the degree of a day labourer; but my cousin
+Rupert, taking out his purse with a great air, demanded to have his
+oath assessed like a gentleman&#8217;s, and paid down a silver crown upon
+the table.</p>
+
+<p>Since then he had been away beyond seas, nor had I set eyes on him for
+the best part of three years. It was thought that he had been taking
+some part in the wars which then raged all over Europe; and difficult
+enough it was to understand what they were all about, and whom we were
+fighting; for at one time we were on the side of the great Empress
+Maria Theresa, and against the young King of Prussia, who was dubbed
+an infidel; and then later on we were fighting against the Empress&mdash;it
+is true she was a Papist&mdash;and King Frederic <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span>was in all men&#8217;s mouths
+as the Protestant hero: I remember myself seeing his portrait painted
+up on the sign-board of the inn at Blundell. However, we were always
+against the French, whatever happened.</p>
+
+<p>But, as it turned out, all this had no concern with my cousin. I
+cannot tell how glad I was to see him back again, and I think he was
+not ill-pleased at seeing me.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hallo, is that young Athelstane!&#8221; he called out as soon as he was
+near enough. &#8220;Come on with me, cousin, and help me to put up my horse.
+I have ridden out from Yarmouth, and I mean to sleep here to-night.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He sounded his words in the mincing, London fashion, which was then
+beginning to spread among the better class in Norfolk; but I cannot
+imitate his speech, and so write it down as if it were plain English.</p>
+
+<p>Quick as my feet could carry me I ran forward in front of the horse,
+and was there with the gate of the yard open before my cousin came up.</p>
+
+<p>My father turned out of doors at the clatter, and looked not over
+pleased when he caught sight of Rupert&#8217;s dark face. However, he was a
+man who would never shut the door against his own blood, and he gave
+him some sort of a friendly greeting.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, Nephew Rupert, how long have you been back in England?&#8221; he
+asked him, as soon as the horse had been taken in and given its feed.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It is scarce a month since I landed,&#8221; my cousin <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span>answered; &#8220;but being
+in Yarmouth, and you so near, I could not forbear riding over to spend
+a night with you.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>By this time we were come into the house, and my mother was in the
+hall to welcome him, which she did with great kindness; for though he
+was not of her kin, I believe she loved him better than my father did.
+But that is saying little, for who was there about her that she did
+not love? Even those who held aloof from my father as a stubborn
+Independent had a kindness for my mother, who seemed to understand
+nought of differences in religion, except between Christian and
+heathen.</p>
+
+<p>My father was of a different stamp. It was his boast that he was
+related to the family of the famous John Bradshaw, the judge who
+pronounced sentence on King Charles I, and whose house stands on
+Yarmouth quay to this day. My father has many a time pointed it out to
+me, and told me of the secret conclave held there of the Independent
+leaders, when it was resolved to bring the unfortunate king to the
+block. I have often thought that it was well for us that my father was
+a freeholder, owning the fee simple of Brandon Farm; for the gentry
+around were now all become staunch Churchmen, though loyal to King
+George II, and showing no favour to the young Pretender in his late
+desperate rebellion. Of that, however, I remember little, being scarce
+twelve years old when it occurred.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p><p>With the Rector of Brandon parish we held scant intercourse, except at
+tithing time, when my father always received him with grim civility
+and bade him take what the law gave him, since title from the Gospel
+he had none. Our only friend in the neighbourhood was one Abner
+Thurstan, a farmer who lived over the border in Blundell parish; but
+as he was an Anabaptist&mdash;or Baptist as they were then beginning to
+call themselves&mdash;and my father had a great contempt and dislike for
+the visionary ideas of that sect, even he came but seldom to our
+house. His daughter Patience was a great favourite with my mother; and
+for that matter I did not dislike the child, and would oftentimes
+pluck her an apple from our trees or cut a whistle for her out of a
+twig of elder wood.</p>
+
+<p>The man whom my father most held in esteem was Mr. Peter Walpole, a
+wool factor of Norwich, and a very religious man. He had a great gift
+in the expounding of Scripture and in prayer, and it was his custom
+once in every month to ride over to our house from Norwich of a
+Saturday and hold a service on the next day for such as chose to come.
+This was before the Methodists had arisen in our parts, and there was
+no other means of hearing the Gospel in country places, the Church
+clergy being for the most part men of the world.</p>
+
+<p>Lest I seem to be wandering from my story, let me say here that my
+father had been in treaty with this Mr. Peter Walpole concerning my
+apprenticeship <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span>to him in Norwich. After moping a long time at the
+dullness of my life in Brandon I had plucked up courage to tell my
+father that I would fain be abroad. He heard me less unkindly than I
+had feared, and contrived this plan for settling me away from home for
+a few years, after which, he was pleased to say, I might have sense
+enough to wish to come back. Good Mr. Walpole came into the scheme
+very readily, and I believe it was only a matter of fifty pounds
+between them before the thing could be carried out; but each held
+firmly to his own view of the bargain, and though there was the same
+friendship between them as ever, and Mr. Walpole prayed over the
+business in our house, they could by no means come to terms.</p>
+
+<p>Things stood at this pass, and I was sorely impatient with it all,
+when, as I have said, my cousin Rupert arrived, and, for good or evil,
+gave my life a far different turn.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as my father had seen to it that the cloth was laid for four,
+and sent down the maid with orders to fill a jug from the barrel on
+the right-hand side of the cellar door, he turned to Rupert.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You shall taste your father&#8217;s brewing,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I trust all is well
+with him?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I have no doubt it is, and I am much obliged to you, sir,&#8221; answered
+he carelessly. &#8220;To tell you the truth, I have not yet found my way to
+Lynn.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What, nephew! Have you come here before paying your respects to your
+own father?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p><p>&#8220;I am afraid it is even so; and I will not pay you so poor a
+compliment as to remark that Brandon Grange lies forty miles nearer to
+Yarmouth than King&#8217;s Lynn.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Fie, young man, I am ashamed to hear you! I doubt whether I ought to
+have let you cross my threshold if I had known of this. Jessica,&#8221; he
+added, turning to my mother, &#8220;here is a youth who comes to pay you a
+visit before he has so much as set eyes on Lynn brewery, after three
+years!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>And thrice during the evening he returned to the same subject, each
+time rating master Rupert soundly for his filial neglect, and pointing
+out the many advantages which his father&#8217;s rich house at Lynn had over
+what it pleased him to call the homely grange of Brandon.</p>
+
+<p>He questioned Rupert while we supped concerning his adventures, and
+what quarter of the world he had been in. But as to this my cousin
+maintained a singular reserve, merely stating that he had spent most
+of the time on a voyage round the Cape of Good Hope to the factories
+of the great East India Company, of Leadenhall Street in the City of
+London.</p>
+
+<p>All this time I listened, saying nothing, for it was not my father&#8217;s
+custom to permit me to speak in his presence, unless I was first
+questioned. I cared for this the less because I knew that as soon as
+we were upstairs together my cousin would unburden himself to me
+freely. And already I scented some mystery under his guarded speech,
+which made me impatient <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span>for the time when we should be alone. I
+listened with an ill grace to the chapter which my father read to the
+household after supper, and it seemed to me that he had never prayed
+at such length and to so little purpose. I thought it especially
+needless that he should petition, for the space of full five minutes,
+for the fruitfulness of our flocks, for by this time the ewes had all
+dropped their lambs, and not one of them was a weakling.</p>
+
+<p>Nevertheless it was over at last, and I quickly lighted the candle and
+conducted my cousin upstairs. He was always my bedfellow on the
+occasions of his visits to Brandon, and never spared to keep me awake
+as long as it pleased him to talk to me.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as we were snugly settled in bed, Rupert, as I had expected,
+laid aside his reserve.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now, Cousin Athelstane, what do you suppose it is that has brought me
+here?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I could only shake my head in sign of pure ignorance.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I will tell you. I have come here to offer you a berth on board my
+ship, the <i>Fair Maid</i>, now lying in Yarmouth river.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>My breath was fairly taken away by this announcement. All the dreams I
+had cherished for so long seemed suddenly to have put on substance,
+and what was yesterday a thousand miles away had come at one word
+within my reach. Yet I could only stammer out&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The <i>Fair Maid</i>? Is that the ship in which you <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span>went to the East
+Indies? And is she bound thither again?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Rupert nodded his head.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;She sails as soon as ever she can be fitted out, and we are shipping
+the bravest fellows in all Norfolk for our crew. A word in your ear,
+cousin: we sail with letters of marque against the Frenchmen, and it
+will go hard if you or I come back with less than a thousand pounds to
+our share.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What! Is the <i>Fair Maid</i> a privateer?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I spoke in some dismay, for in those days privateers bore a bad name.
+They were commissioned only to prey upon the commerce of such
+countries as we were at war with, but it was currently believed that
+they did not always look too closely at the flag of a vessel which
+fell in their way, and that if peace was proclaimed while they were
+abroad on a cruise they took care not to hear of it till such time as
+suited their convenience. Among good men, therefore, they were
+esteemed little better than pirates, and I could understand why my
+cousin had been so chary in speaking about his voyage to my father.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You needn&#8217;t look so scared, youngster,&#8221; he said, noting my behaviour.
+&#8220;Our commission was signed by his Majesty King George himself; and
+even the Frenchmen we took had nothing to complain of beyond the loss
+of their property, and occasionally their lives when we found that
+necessary to our own safety.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span></p><p>I felt my flesh creep, and yet the fascination of it was stronger than
+the dread.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You mean you killed them?&#8221; I asked, gazing into his face as if I had
+never seen it before.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We had to, sometimes, lest they should tell tales against us. Off
+Mauritius we were chased more than once by a sloop of war, and it
+would have gone hard with us if we had been captured. The French there
+have got a devil of a governor, La Bourdonnais, and he has vessels
+perpetually prowling up and down in those seas, and as far as
+Pondicherry and Chandernagore. But what do you say, cousin? Are you
+man enough to join us? You have the right stuff in you, I warrant&mdash;all
+the Fords have. Our great-grandfather fought at Naseby, and though he
+was a scurvy Roundhead, I&#8217;ll swear he gave a good account of himself.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I hesitated, my whole heart on fire to accept, and yet held back by a
+subtle distrust for which I could in no way account.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come, boy, you have only to slip away to-morrow night, after I have
+gone, and join me privately in Yarmouth, at the sign of the
+&#8216;Three-decker.&#8217; I will tell my worthy uncle in the morning that I am
+on my way to East Dereham and Lynn, so it will be long enough before
+they suspect where you are gone. And by the time the hue and cry
+reaches Yarmouth you shall be safely stowed in the hold of the <i>Fair
+Maid</i>, or maybe in a snug attic of the tavern, where only a bird could
+find you out.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p><p>I made little more ado, but gave my consent, whereupon my cousin,
+reaching down to the pocket of his breeches which he had cast on the
+foot of the bed, drew out a golden guinea, which he pressed into my
+hand.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Here is handsel for your engagement,&#8221; he said. And that settled, he
+turned over and betook himself to sleep, leaving me to get out of bed
+and extinguish the light.</p>
+
+<p>But I could not sleep so easily, and lay there tossing and turning far
+into the night, while I speculated on the new life that lay before me
+and all the great deeds I would do.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2>
+
+<h3><i>THE TAVERN OF THE &#8220;THREE-DECKER&#8221;</i></h3>
+
+<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">E</span>arly in the morning after breakfast Cousin Rupert left us, giving
+out, as he had promised, that he was on the way to see his father at
+Lynn. And as he told me afterwards, he kept his horse on that road
+till he had passed through the village, when he turned, and skirting
+the river as far as Raynham ferry, crossed it there, and so rode into
+Yarmouth.</p>
+
+<p>All that day I went about with a strange lightness in my breast, so
+that I could scarce keep from laughing out. And when my father
+admonished me, pretty roughly, for not having mended the fence of the
+fowl walk to his liking, I minded it no more than if it had been old
+Sugden the rat-catcher. Once or twice during the dinner I caught my
+mother looking at me with a certain apprehension, as if she observed
+somewhat unusual in my behaviour. I fancy she thought I might be
+sickening for the ague, which was very rife in those parts. My mother
+was a great physician, and always kept ready a store of the Jesuits&#8217;
+bark&mdash;the only good thing, my father <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>was accustomed to say, that had
+ever come out of Rome.</p>
+
+<p>In the afternoon I walked into Blundell to bid a sort of farewell to
+little Patience Thurstan. I found her set on a stool in the porch,
+threading beads, for she was but a child; and to see her jump up when
+I drew nigh, and run to meet me, was a pleasant sight to carry away in
+my memory through the stormy days which were to follow.</p>
+
+<p>Knowing her to be faithful, from her behaviour in many a childish
+confidence we had had together, I made no scruple to tell her I was
+leaving Brandon; though I forbore to say whither I was bound, lest
+they should torment the girl with questions afterwards. And I knew
+that Patience would not tell a lie, and deny the knowledge if she
+possessed it. But I half repented what I had done when the poor little
+thing fell a-crying, and besought me not to go away. I had nothing
+else to bestow upon her, so I was forced to give her my cousin
+Rupert&#8217;s guinea for a keepsake, telling her to buy a doll or a ribbon
+with it next time she went into Norwich fair.</p>
+
+<p>With that I came away, beginning for the first time to feel how
+serious was the step I contemplated. But I had given my word, and I
+could not now draw back even if I had felt inclined.</p>
+
+<p>The chapter my father read to us that night, I remember well, was out
+of the book of Ezekiel, in which the prophet dealt with the city of
+Tyrus, and denounced the judgments of the Lord on her pride <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>and
+luxury, on her ships of fir and cedar with sails of purple embroidery,
+on her mariners and men of war, on her merchandise of silver and
+brass, of horses and mules, of ebony and precious stones, and of honey
+and oil and wine and spices and white wool. And the words sounded in
+my ear like a denunciation of the places I had chosen to go among; and
+I was glad when it was all over; and I went upstairs to my bedroom,
+hearing my father shoot the great bolts of the house door for the last
+time.</p>
+
+<p>I made shift to take off my coat and shoes, and got into the bed, lest
+my mother should come in to bid me good-night, as she sometimes did.
+And well it was that I had thought of this, for in her anxiety about
+me she followed me up soon after with a dose of the Jesuits&#8217; bark,
+which she compelled me to swallow, though sorely against my will. Then
+she sat down by the bedside for the space of, I daresay, fifteen
+minutes, or longer as it seemed to me then, and fell to stroking my
+hair, which I wore without a queue, my father setting his face against
+that French fashion.</p>
+
+<p>I fidgetted so much that at length my mother perceived that I would be
+alone. I heard her draw a sigh as she rose to go away, and then,
+tucking the bedclothes round me with great care, she gave me a kiss
+and left me.</p>
+
+<p>I waited as long as I could contain my impatience, for my parents to
+fall asleep. Then I arose softly, without rekindling the light, which
+my mother had <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span>blown out, completed my dress, and filled a small
+knapsack with such few things as I had immediate need for. I
+remembered also to put in my pocket a bright guinea which good Mr.
+Walpole had presented me with in my twelfth year as a reward for
+having repeated the 119th Psalm, and which my father had strictly
+forbidden me to spend.</p>
+
+<p>Thus provided, I opened the door of my bedroom and crept out, carrying
+my shoes in my hand. I crossed the landing, treading like a thief, to
+the door of the room where my parents slept, and laid my lips against
+the panel that was nearest to my mother&#8217;s side. And with that I found
+my eyes were smarting, and a lump rose in my throat, so that I turned
+away hastily, and made the best of my way down the stairs, and by
+unbarring the kitchen door, out into the open air. Then I turned my
+back on the house where I was born, and set out to walk through the
+night to Yarmouth.</p>
+
+<p>Lest my father should surmise where I was, I had got ready a feigned
+letter in which I pretended&mdash;I am ashamed to say so&mdash;that seeing no
+likelihood of Mr. Walpole&#8217;s receiving me without that extra fifty
+pounds which stuck so in my father&#8217;s gizzard, I had taken the
+resolution of going up to London to seek my fortune; and I promised to
+send him news as soon as I should arrive there; which promise, as it
+turned out, I had no opportunity of keeping or breaking, for I did not
+set foot in that great city until years had passed, and I had gone
+through the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>wonderful adventures which were to make a man of me, and
+had come thither as the messenger of the second greatest Englishman,
+as I think, who has lived in my time; aye, and had speech of him who
+was the greatest of all. But of this hereafter.</p>
+
+<p>The clammy air of the marshes clung about me and chilled my spirits,
+as I proceeded through the desolate region which lay between me and
+the town. The road hereabouts runs straight along for miles, without
+hedge or fence, save for a couple of upright posts, with three or four
+crossbars, rising up here and there at the corners of the fields where
+the dykes run into one another. A hundred years before all this part
+of Norfolk had been little better than a fen, which the Brandon Water
+overflowed at spring tides, till engineers had come over to us from
+Holland, who taught us to make these dykes and embankments after the
+fashion of their country. And, indeed, the people of Bury have a
+tradition that the ocean itself once came up over these parts, and
+that their hamlet, however since decayed, was then a flourishing town
+and seaport; but I could never find that any one outside of Bury
+believed in this legend.</p>
+
+<p>Be that as it may, I had but a doleful walk of it; moreover, I was
+fain to button up my coat and pull my collar close about my neck, by
+reason of the cutting wind which blew across from the German seas. Nor
+did I meet any adventure on the way, but in avoiding the turnpike at
+Broxall I was forced <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>to leap a dyke in the dark, and missing the
+further bank by about a foot, I fell into the water knee-deep. I got a
+sound drenching, but no other damage except for the mud bespattering
+my clothes, which must have presented a sorry spectacle had there been
+any there to observe me.</p>
+
+<p>The noise of my splash brought out the pike-man, uttering many oaths,
+to see who it was that had been defrauding his gate. But I got nimbly
+on to my legs and ran past, and though he made a show of chasing me
+for a short space, he soon thought better of it, and went back to his
+bed.</p>
+
+<p>It must have been, I suppose, half-way between midnight and dawn when
+I arrived in Yarmouth. And well pleased I was when I had safely
+crossed the bridge across the Bure river and felt the pavement of the
+town underneath my feet. For though there was not another soul abroad
+in the streets at that hour, that I could perceive, yet the knowledge
+that the houses on either hand were full of sleeping folks seemed to
+be some company after the desolateness I had just come through.</p>
+
+<p>I had never before been in a great town at night, and I was much
+amazed by the splendour of the illumination from the lamps which hung
+across the high streets, and made almost as much brightness as if
+there had been a moon. Being somewhat afraid of meeting with the
+watch, for I did not then know the habits of these gentry as well as I
+did afterwards, I soon left the region of the lights, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span>turned down
+into the lanes, which the men of Yarmouth call rows, and of which they
+are not a little proud, and to my mind with some warrant, for, though
+strait, these passages are very regularly built, and beautifully paved
+with cobblestones, and are besides so numerous that I have never seen
+the like in any city I have visited, neither in Europe nor in the
+Indies.</p>
+
+<p>In the end I got out from among the houses, and arrived upon the
+sea-beach, where I discovered a sheltered pit among the sand hillocks,
+which they call denes, and there I lay down and slept off my
+weariness.</p>
+
+<p>When I awoke the sun was so far up that I judged it to be nearly nine
+o&#8217;clock. Taking shame that I had proved such a sluggard, I rose up
+quickly, and brushed away the sand, which I was rejoiced to perceive
+had finely cleansed away the mud from the dyke at Broxall. This done I
+made the best of my way into the town to keep my rendezvous with
+Cousin Rupert, for I was sharply beset by hunger.</p>
+
+<p>I had to ask my way more than once before I could find out the tavern,
+which lay down on the quay, over against the river Yare. By this I
+soon saw that the &#8220;Three-decker&#8221; had a reputation not over and above
+savoury among the townsfolk, for the more respectable of those I
+addressed myself to gave me harsh looks before answering my question.
+And no doubt the soberness of my dress and carriage <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span>must have made it
+seem strange that I should be seeking the whereabouts of such a haunt.</p>
+
+<p>I will not deny that this observation a little daunted me when I found
+myself at the door of the house. The tavern was by way of being an
+ancient one, for the oak props were blackened with age and the upper
+storeys jutted out one above the other, in the way our forefathers
+were used to build in walled towns, where every foot of space was of
+account. Nor did the place look to be ill-kept, though situated in a
+mean part of the town beside the fish market. However, it was no time
+for me to make reflections, having come so far, wherefore I quickly
+drew the latch and stepped inside.</p>
+
+<p>I had no need of a guide to conduct me to the parlour, for I caught a
+hubbub of voices coming from my right hand, above which rose a roaring
+stave in chorus, interspersed with a clapping of hands and a rapping
+of mugs upon the table. I undid the door, meaning to slip in quietly,
+but no sooner did I pass my head into the room than the entertainment
+suddenly ceased, and the whole crew turned to observe my entrance.</p>
+
+<p>Truly it was easier for them to discern me than for me to do the same
+by them, for besides the dismay of meeting so many faces at once, the
+whole room was filled with the smoke of tobacco, a thing which was
+strange to me, and which caused my eyes to tingle, besides tempting me
+to cough. I made out, however, that there was at least a score of men
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span>present, the most part of them seated round a table in the middle of
+the room, at the head of which table stood a high arm-chair, and in
+it, as I believe, the biggest man I had ever seen. The looks of the
+company are past my power to describe, being such as to make me feel
+as if I had broke into Bedlam. Their faces were all red and blotched
+with drink, and their heads covered with extravagant ringlets, which
+might never have seen a comb, while their dress was disordered to
+indecency, and the whole table was covered with a confusion of
+tankards and bottles and tobacco-pipes, not to mention playing-cards
+and dice. The huge man at their head bore a most terrifying aspect. He
+had an immense head set on a neck so short and thick that it seemed as
+if he must infallibly choke at every morsel he swallowed, and a belly
+capacious enough to have held a firkin of liquor. He had made himself
+easy by unbuttoning his waistcoat and the upper part of his breeches,
+and lolled back in his seat as if he had no mind to stir for the rest
+of the morning. One of his eyes was closed up, and had a French
+plaister across it, but the other stared and rolled enough for two.</p>
+
+<p>On a bench in the window there were two other men withdrawn by
+themselves; but these I did not at first notice, being taken up with
+attending to this one-eyed ruffian.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Who in the foul fiend&#8217;s name have we here?&#8221; he called out as soon as
+I was come in, using many <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>other oaths beside, which I have no need to
+set forth. &#8220;Is this some sprouting soul-catcher come to bestow upon us
+a word in season? Speak, boy, your name and business? Show your
+colours, d&#8217;ye hear! Or will you mount the table and pitch up a godly
+psalm for our sinful ears? A blister on the brat&#8217;s tongue; why don&#8217;t
+he answer?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I stood aghast at this scurrilous address, the like of which I had
+never yet heard. The others followed it up with shouts of applause,
+and one of those at my end of the table rose and came towards me,
+making as if he would catch me by the shoulder to drag me forward.</p>
+
+<p>But this I was not inclined to suffer.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;My name need not concern you,&#8221; I said, replying to their chairman.
+&#8220;As for my business here, I have come to inquire after a kinsman of
+mine who uses this house. Stand back, sir, I am not to be mauled by
+you!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I spoke these last words sharply to the fellow who had tried to lay
+hold of me. Though some years my senior he was but a lean,
+spindle-shanked creature, whom I felt better able to give a buffet to
+than to take one from him.</p>
+
+<p>The big man let loose a round dozen of oaths.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Here&#8217;s a fine cockerel come into our own house of call to beard us!&#8221;
+he exclaimed between his profanities. &#8220;I should like to know who uses
+the &#8216;Three-decker,&#8217; when the crew of the <i>Fair Maid</i> are here, without
+our licence? What is the matter <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span>with you, Trickster Tim? Are you
+afraid to handle the yokel?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Thus egged on, the man, who had given way under my angry looks, made
+at me again. But my blood was now up, and I dealt him a blow on the
+jaw which sent him down fairly to the floor. He got up, spluttering
+blood, his clothes all smeared with the sawdust and the stains of
+liquor, and the whole party leaped to their feet at the same time, as
+if they would set upon me.</p>
+
+<p>I doubt but I should have fared roughly at their hands if I had not
+been delivered by a most unexpected diversion.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Stand clear, you cowards, and leave Tim Watts to fight his own
+corner, if he can!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I turned round to the window at these words and beheld to my joy my
+cousin Rupert, who had been one of the two sitting there apart, and
+who had now risen, pale and very angry, with his hand on the basket of
+a cutlass which he wore at his belt.</p>
+
+<p>Though I should have thought it kinder if he had come to my assistance
+earlier, instead of leaving me to show what I was made of first, I
+hailed his interference with much relief, and stepped quickly to his
+side.</p>
+
+<p>But the fellows he had rebuked looked sourly in our direction and
+began to grumble to each other.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No orders here!&#8221; came from one man. &#8220;No lieutenants over us ashore!&#8221;
+said another. &#8220;We&#8217;re all equal in the &#8216;Three-decker.&#8217;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p><p>&#8220;Silence, Jim Palmer!&#8221; cried Rupert sternly. &#8220;And you too, Andrews; I
+thought you had more manhood in you! What reason had you for baiting
+this young man when he came in civilly? Do you know who he is, you
+fools? This is my own cousin, who has just given the slip to his sour
+old Puritan of a father, and come here to join our jolly fellowship!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I felt some pricks of shame at this lewd reference to my father. But
+Rupert&#8217;s words completely turned the tide in my favour; and when he
+went on to call for the potman and order a quart of ale and a noggin
+of gin all round the table, I became the most popular man in the
+assembly for at least half an hour. My health was called for by the
+man in the chair who had so abused me, and who, as I now found out,
+was the boatswain, or foreman of the crew. They even would have
+Trickster Tim to apologise and shake me by the hand. He tried to go
+through this performance with an air of cordiality, but succeeded very
+ill.</p>
+
+<p>After this my cousin drew me aside and presented me to his companion,
+whom he named to me as Mr. Sims, the captain of the <i>Fair Maid</i>.
+However, it did not take me long to see that though Mr. Sims commanded
+the vessel, by reason of his skill in navigation, yet my cousin was
+the real moving spirit of the entire ship&#8217;s company, and could turn
+the captain round his little finger, if he had a mind.</p>
+
+<p>Pens and ink were then sent for, and a sheet of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>parchment, on which
+Captain Sims, who was an old hand at this work, himself drew up the
+articles of my apprenticeship. It was necessary that I should ship
+before the mast, he explained, in order to avoid provoking the
+jealousy of the crew; but they both promised me that I should be rated
+as an officer as soon as a fair excuse offered itself for my
+promotion. The others present were all called round to witness me sign
+the indenture, after which, like a vain young fool, I must needs
+produce Mr. Walpole&#8217;s guinea and order a fresh supply of liquor as far
+as it would go. This display of spirit, as they esteemed it, did my
+business with the crew, who having now been ashore for four weeks had
+spent most of their money, without in any degree lessening their
+thirst. But I fear good Mr. Walpole would have been but ill-satisfied
+if he could have known how his money was spent.</p>
+
+<p>This business disposed of, Rupert thought it prudent to take me inside
+and have me bestowed in some safe corner of the house till the search
+after me should have blown over. And the first person whose help he
+must needs obtain in this was the tavern keeper&#8217;s niece, Marian, whom
+I thought then, and think to this day, the most handsome creature that
+there was in the world, and whom I loved desperately from that hour.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2>
+
+<h3><i>THE BEGINNING OF THE RIVALRY</i></h3>
+
+<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">A</span>nd now, lest it be wondered what was done by them at home in the
+matter of my flight, I will tell here so much as I afterwards came to
+know.</p>
+
+<p>When the letter which I had left behind me was put into my father&#8217;s
+hands, it appears, he read it once through, and delivered it to my
+mother. Next, without saying one word, he went out by himself into the
+stable, saddled his great horse, Gustavus, which stood seventeen hands
+high, presently mounted it, and rode off at a strong gallop, setting
+his face towards the London road.</p>
+
+<p>It was not till the end of the second day that he came back, the horse
+covered with dirt to the shoulders. He said nothing of where he had
+been, but walked into the house with a stern face, and called for the
+family Bible, which had belonged to his grandfather in the time of the
+Commonwealth. This book was bound in parchment and fastened with iron
+clasps, and lay always on the top shelf of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span>the old oak press, whence
+it had not been taken down once in a dozen years.</p>
+
+<p>My mother brought it to him trembling, and when she saw him open it at
+the blank page within the cover, whereon were written the names of all
+the Fords for four generations, she fell upon her knees and implored
+him not to carry out what he had in his mind. But he heeded her no
+more than if he had been stone deaf, and taking a pen in his right
+hand drew it through my name and the date of my birth and baptism,
+making a line right across the page, which looks as if it had been
+drawn with a ruler to this day. Then he threw the sand upon it, and as
+soon as it was dry closed the book and handed it back to my mother,
+who was fain to restore it to its place.</p>
+
+<p>All this time not a word had passed his lips. At supper my father ate
+but little, and drank still less. When it was time for prayers he bade
+my mother read the chapter instead of him, as was his wont when
+greatly fatigued. Whereupon that sweet saint, as I must ever have
+leave to call her, turned, not to the prophecy of Ezekiel, but to the
+gospel of Saint Luke, and read out from that chapter which contains
+the parable of the Prodigal Son. And when she came to the words, &#8220;For
+this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is
+found&#8221;&mdash;when she had come to this place, my father, who had sat and
+listened hitherto, cried out in a harsh voice&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Stop, woman!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p><p>And he took the Bible from her and turned over the leaves till he was
+at the book of Ezekiel, and read the chapter in order as usual.</p>
+
+<p>Nevertheless in the night my mother, who lay awake weeping, heard him
+give more than one sigh; and presently, while it was still dark, he
+rose up and went out of the room and downstairs, and stayed away above
+an hour; after which he came back and lay down again. And he strictly
+forbade her ever to utter my name in his hearing from that time.</p>
+
+<hr class="medium" />
+
+<p>I lay in hiding above a week before I durst venture abroad except at
+night. And very soothing to my spirit those night rambles were, though
+melancholy; for the look of all things was so changed and solemn under
+the black sky, or in the silent radiance of the moon, the houses were
+so oppressively still, and the masts of the ships so spectral upon the
+water, that it seemed to me by the end of those few days, that I had
+been exploring another world, and had got at last to be familiar with
+its ways.</p>
+
+<p>In the daytime I was safe enough in my snug quarters in the tavern,
+for not a soul knew I was there save the privateer&#8217;s crew. And to do
+those ruffians justice, though there were few other crimes they stuck
+at, I believe that a thousand pounds would not have tempted one of
+them to give me up after I had been duly embodied in their company.
+Indeed, I found some of them to be good fellows enough, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span>and grew not
+to dislike old Muzzy, the boatswain&mdash;for so he was called, though I
+know not if it was his proper name or one bestowed upon him by his
+mates. He was, if I mistake not, a foundling. He had conceived a huge
+friendship for me, and would come upstairs to the garret where I was
+secluded, and give me lessons in the broadsword exercise by the hour,
+the knowledge of which stood me in good stead in not very long.</p>
+
+<p>But practise how I might, I never reached that perfection which the
+boatswain had attained, who was, I do think, the most complete master
+of his weapon then alive. I have heard, not from his mouth only, but
+from others of the crew, of the duel which he fought with three
+Frenchmen together, at a time of peace between the countries, in
+Civita Vecchia, and how he left them all dead upon the ground. For
+such were English tars in those days, a manly race of whom we have but
+few left now.</p>
+
+<p>The rest of the crew I pass over as being of a class common enough in
+all our seaports. The profane language they constantly employed grew,
+by dint of repetition, to have no meaning in my ears, as I am sure it
+had none, for the most part, in theirs. The thing which I found it
+hardest to accustom myself to was the smoking of tobacco. Indeed,
+after I had lit my first pipe I fell so ill that I looked upon it as a
+judgment of Providence, and vowed I would never light another. But
+seeing all the rest at it <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>day by day, I soon ventured again, and came
+at last to enjoy it no less than they did. And no doubt if there were
+anything mischievous in this habit when pursued in moderation, it
+would have been denounced by the sacred writers, who would, by means
+of their inspiration, have foreseen its introduction into these
+regions, though not then known.</p>
+
+<p>But what will for ever make memorable to me the days which I spent in
+Yarmouth, waiting for the <i>Fair Maid</i> to be equipped for sea, was the
+deep joy of my first love for the woman whose lot was to be so
+strangely cast in with mine. I do not know whether she at first failed
+to perceive this passion, or whether she slighted it as the heedless
+fancy of a lad, for she behaved towards me as if there could be no
+such thoughts between us, caressing me openly before company, and
+thereby causing me the keenest joy and anguish at the same time.</p>
+
+<p>Mistress Marian Rising, to give her her full description, was, as I
+have said, the niece of my host. Her own parents were settled in the
+East India Company&#8217;s factory at Fort William, on the river Hooghley,
+where her father did business in drugs and was amassing, according to
+report, a considerable fortune. She told me that her people had
+refused to carry her out with them to the East, on account of the
+unhealthiness of that climate, but being now grown of age she was
+resolved to take the first occasion of going out there to join them.</p>
+
+<p>She spoke much of the marvels of that great <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span>region which we now call
+Indostan, and of which little then was known in my part of Norfolk,
+describing the vast wealth and luxury of its people, the power and
+splendour of the nabobs and princes, and the curiosity of their
+buildings and manufactures. Of all these she spoke as familiarly as if
+she had dwelt among them, deeming, I suppose, that the connection
+between her and that region invested her with authority on the
+subject. I need scarce say that I drank in every word with greedy
+ears, and was become daily more inflamed with desire to voyage
+thither.</p>
+
+<p>My cousin Rupert was frequently a third party in our conversations. He
+used a tone of familiarity with Marian which I was inclined to resent,
+though she took it in good part. But he deeply offended me one day
+that we were together by referring openly to what I thought my secret
+passion for the girl.</p>
+
+<p>We had been discussing the question of how far it was safe for me to
+venture abroad into the streets, and he wound up by saying&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;To speak my mind plainly, Mistress Marian, I think it is high time my
+cousin got further out of reach of your fascination. You and he have
+been too much together of late; and if I mistake not Master Athelstane
+would not object to prolong his captivity for ever on such terms.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; I cried angrily.</p>
+
+<p>But the girl only laughed.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p><p>&#8220;Be quiet, sir!&#8221; she said. &#8220;You ought to be ashamed of yourself for
+showing jealousy of a mere boy like this! Why, he is scarce old enough
+to notice whether I have brown eyes or black.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>This made me still more angry with Rupert.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Mere boy as I am, I will thank you not to meddle between me and any
+lady who may choose to favour me with her goodwill!&#8221; I told him.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I crave your pardon, my venerable cousin,&#8221; sneered Rupert. &#8220;I was not
+aware that matters between Mrs. Rising and you had made such progress.
+I would offer to go to Saint Nicholas, and bid them put up the banns
+next Sunday, if I were not afraid it might bring my worthy uncle over
+from Brandon with a whip and a dog-collar.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I sprang to my feet as red as fire, and was as likely to have answered
+him with a blow as a word, if Marian had not come between us.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Sit down, you foolish boy,&#8221; she said, giving me a look that turned my
+wrath into secret exultation. &#8220;As for you, Rupert Gurney, I have told
+you before that I will not endure your hectoring temper. If you cannot
+behave more civilly, there are plenty of other inns in Great Yarmouth,
+and you had better betake yourself to one of them.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Rupert now saw he had gone too far, and passed off the thing as a
+pleasantry. After that he became as friendly to me as ever; but I
+could not so soon get over his ungenerous words, and I think I never
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>felt quite the same love and admiration for him afterwards.</p>
+
+<p>About this time I overheard a conversation between Mr. Sims and my
+cousin which I by no means liked. They were seated in the parlour of
+the inn by themselves, overhauling the ship&#8217;s papers, which they took
+out of a tin case, such as is used by mariners to guard against the
+chances of a wetting. I had come in to join them, for they sometimes
+used me as a clerk in the business of the ship, and found them too
+busy to heed my presence.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I tell you, Gurney, I mislike it,&#8221; Captain Sims was saying. &#8220;Here is
+the date of our commission, by which, as you may see, it has run out
+since the conclusion of the peace. The <i>Fair Maid</i> cannot sail under
+that.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Rupert cursed the commission, and cursed the date upon it, with much
+heartiness.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We must sail without it, then, that&#8217;s all!&#8221; he said, as soon as he
+had finished cursing. &#8220;It will be all one by the time we make Gheriah.
+Thanks to this cursed peace we might as well whistle for another as
+apply to the Admiralty Commissioners.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Nay, not so fast!&#8221; exclaimed the other, drawing back in his chair.
+&#8220;That were to proclaim ourselves pirates at once.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, and pray what else have we been till now?&#8221; returned my cousin,
+giving him a nasty look.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Sims shook his head gravely.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p><p>&#8220;No; I have been a privateersman all my life, barring a few smuggling
+ventures in the late peace, but I have never put to sea without my
+letters of marque and reprisal, duly signed and sealed.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Rupert curled his lip as he looked at the other.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And what did your letters of marque say as to the Portuguese slaver
+we sank in the Gaboons?&#8221; he demanded scornfully. &#8220;And what of that
+Bristol schooner we mistook for a Frenchman off Finisterre, and had a
+thousand pounds of coffee out of, before we discovered the error?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No matter,&#8221; said Sims, setting his fist upon the table with an angry
+thump; &#8220;I don&#8217;t profess to be more particular than other men when I
+get on the high seas; but I&#8217;ve always got my letters of marque on
+board, and as long as I have them, d&#8217;ye see, they can&#8217;t hang me.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Rupert seemed to be casting about for some way to satisfy his
+scruples. Presently he said&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s no other way for it, then&mdash;we must alter the date.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Sims gave a start, and let drop an oath.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re a strange man, Gurney,&#8221; he said; &#8220;I can&#8217;t make you out this
+morning. You talk of forging the king&#8217;s commission as if it were no
+more than altering the log. Why, man, that&#8217;s a worse hanging matter
+than sailing with no papers at all!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>My cousin fairly lost his temper at this, and cursed the other for a
+thin-skinned numbskull.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Either we sail or we don&#8217;t,&#8221; he concluded by <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span>saying, &#8220;and either we
+sail with a commission or without it. I am ready here to alter the
+date with my own hand&mdash;it is but turning a IV into a VI&mdash;to give us
+two years more, and you need know nothing of the matter.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The captain came into this with surprising readiness thinking, no
+doubt, that he had sufficiently guarded his own neck in the business.
+Then for the first time they perceived me; and Sims was for making me
+take an oath on the gospels not to betray what I had heard. But Rupert
+rebuked him sharply, bidding him to know that no Ford had ever
+committed treachery or dishonour within the memory of man, any more,
+he was good enough to say, than the Gurneys themselves.</p>
+
+<p>And this testimony of his so soothed me that I allowed my conscience
+to slumber in the matter of the forged commission. Yet it was plain
+enough to me by this time that my cousin was a desperate scoundrel,
+and that the company I had enlisted among were little better than a
+gang of pirates, if better they could be called.</p>
+
+<p>I daresay it was not to be expected that I should associate for long
+with such men without falling into their ways. But what prevailed most
+to change me from my former character, and wrought on me for evil was,
+I verily believe, the frenzy of the passion which possessed me for
+Marian.</p>
+
+<p>By this time I had gathered courage to let her know how she stood in
+my regard, and with the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span>worst result for me that could have happened.
+For she would listen well-pleased to all the desperate love I poured
+into her ear, and then the next day I would find her closeted with my
+cousin Rupert, who was become her bold and notorious wooer, or else
+with one of the flash young gentlemen of the town, who frequented the
+tavern for no other purpose but to make love to her, and brought her
+presents of rings and lockets and suchlike matters, which she never
+scrupled to accept. And when I upbraided her for this wantonness, she
+gave me cruel words.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I would have you to know that I am not your mistress, pert young sir,
+any more than I am your cousin&#8217;s! And I suppose I am free to do as I
+please, without your leave first had! If it likes me to entertain the
+society of other young gentlemen, be sure I shall do so; and as for
+the trinkets you are pleased to be jealous of, it will be time enough
+to cast them in my teeth when you have better to bestow on me
+yourself.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>With that she flung away, leaving me sore distressed and amazed. But
+though this speech removed somewhat of my blindness, yet the love I
+had for her was no whit lessened, but rather increased in vehemence.
+And seeing that I had but little money of my own to procure her such
+toys as she spoke of, I forthwith betook me to dicing and gambling,
+which hitherto I had refrained from, in the hopes of bettering my
+estate.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p><p>The luck I had in this was very various, so that at one time guineas
+seemed to be dropping out of my pockets, whereas at others I might
+ransack them through without finding so much as a silver penny. And
+according to the state of my fortunes, so did I prosper in Marian&#8217;s
+regard; and in this ill-state of my affairs I grew reckless, and drank
+to drive away better thoughts, and so came on rapidly to the evil hour
+which was to end it all.</p>
+
+<p>For, as it happened, I was one night throwing the dice with my cousin
+Rupert, and he had won of me, and as I went on, drinking in between
+whiles, I lost what little coolness I had started with, and finally
+staked my last penny on the last throw, and lost that too. Then I
+flung myself back from the table with an oath.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Fair and softly, cousin,&#8221; said Rupert, picking up the money I had
+thrown before him. &#8220;It does not much matter who wins, seeing that it
+all goes into the same pocket afterwards.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; I cried sharply. For nothing angered me more than
+to have him say anything which glanced at our rivalry for Marian, in
+which business I had too much reason to suspect he was more fortunate
+than myself. That very day, moreover, I had found them together, and
+they had looked ill-pleased at being disturbed.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Faith, I think you must know my meaning well enough by this time,&#8221;
+answered Rupert, with an <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span>insulting smile. &#8220;Before you try to play the
+gallant you must line your pocket better.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hold your tongue!&#8221; I said fiercely. &#8220;I am not used to buy favours,
+like some who have nothing but their purse to commend them.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then you should go where favours are not sold,&#8221; he sneered, with an
+evil smile.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Those words in your teeth!&#8221; I shouted, starting up and clapping my
+hand on my sword, which I had bought two days before of a Jew.</p>
+
+<p>By this time the noise of our quarrel had aroused the whole room, and
+the company were crowding round us, the men of the <i>Fair Maid</i> in the
+front. Rupert bit his lip as he saw where he stood.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Peace, youngster,&#8221; he said, with a threatening look which belied his
+words. &#8220;I will not be forced into a quarrel here.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Here or outside, I care not,&#8221; says I, &#8220;but I swear you shall take
+back the slander you have cast upon a woman you are not fit to speak
+with!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;D&mdash;n you!&#8221; says Rupert, &#8220;do you want me to fight for a&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He got no farther, for with that I caught up the dice-box and dashed
+it between his eyes, so that he fairly staggered back, and the blood
+started from his nostrils. And then, almost before I knew what was
+happening, his sword was out, and mine was clashing against it, and
+the table was overturned on the floor, and then there was a rush and a
+shout, and some one was holding me back from behind, while <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span>Mr. Sims
+and the boatswain stood between us, and Rupert, with a look on his
+face which I had never seen there before, was saying in a very steady
+voice&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Gentlemen, you may arrange it as you please, but take notice that it
+must be <i>&agrave; la mort</i>.&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2>
+
+<h3>&#8220;<i>&Agrave; LA MORT</i>&#8221;</h3>
+
+<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">S</span>o it had come to this, that before the dust of my father&#8217;s fields was
+well off my shoes I was committed to a duel to the death with a
+desperate, vindictive man, who had been steeped in bloodshed before I
+had ever handled a sword, and that man my own near kinsman.</p>
+
+<p>At the time I was less frightened than I have often been since in
+thinking over it. The others were more alarmed for me than I was for
+myself, and I heard Mr. Sims and old Muzzy urging upon Rupert to let
+the matter go no further. But this he would not now hear of, and in
+the state of mind I was then in I should have been little better
+satisfied than he to have had the affair patched up.</p>
+
+<p>At last they saw it was of no use to seek an accommodation between us,
+and they withdrew together to settle how we were to fight, Captain
+Sims, as I understood, acting in my cousin&#8217;s interest, while the
+boatswain did the same office for me.</p>
+
+<p>While they were discussing it, which it took them <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>some time to do,
+Rupert and I sat on opposite sides of the room. He put on a great air
+of indifference, talking familiarly with those of his friends who
+stood about him, while I could do nothing but stare across at him with
+a horrible fascination, as the man by whose hand, in all likelihood, I
+was to die within the next half-hour. I remember noting for the first
+time what a finely formed person he had, tall and supple as a lath of
+steel. As far as that went I was no weakling, and I have been told
+that at that time we greatly resembled each other, though I do not
+think I can ever have shared my cousin&#8217;s good looks.</p>
+
+<p>I was becoming feverish over the delay of our seconds, if such they
+can be called, when they rose from their corner, and the boatswain
+came across to me with a very grave air, Mr. Sims at the same time
+going over to Rupert.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We have arranged,&#8221; the boatswain said to me, in a serious voice,
+&#8220;that you are to fight out at sea. A boat is to be moored to the buoy
+off the mouth of the river, and you will be rowed out and put into it
+together, one at each end. You are to be armed with cutlasses and left
+there together. There will be a pair of sculls on board, and the one
+who kills the other will throw his body overboard, so as to leave no
+trace, and then row ashore. If the boat does not return at the end of
+an hour, we shall come out to her to see what has happened. Do you
+agree to this?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span></p><p>He spoke these words in a distinct, loud voice, so as to be overheard
+by those who stood next. Then, before I could answer, he bent over
+quickly and laid his lips to my ear, whispering&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Refuse it, boy, refuse it! It will be a narrow match enough between
+you with the cutlass, which was the weapon I stuck out for for your
+sake. But out in a trumpery rocking boat, with you a landlubber
+against a man that has been at sea these ten years, I would not give a
+farden for your life.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He said this with many strong oaths, for I honestly believe the old
+pirate had got an affection for me. But he wasted his breath as far as
+I was concerned, my pride being then too fierce to admit of my
+shrinking from any terms that might be offered by the other side.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Tell them I accept,&#8221; I said sullenly, &#8220;and make no more ado about it.
+How soon can we reach this place?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The old fellow cursed me roundly for an obstinate, bloody-minded young
+fool.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Give me a hug,&#8221; he wound up by saying, &#8220;for blast me if you ain&#8217;t a
+youngster after my own heart!&#8221; And he fell to and embraced me
+heartily, kissing me on both cheeks, and shedding tears plentifully;
+for he was three-parts drunk, and clearly looked upon me as a dead
+man.</p>
+
+<p>And in that light I saw that the company present regarded me, my
+cousin&#8217;s prowess being well known by many duels which he had fought in
+the past; and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span>though I had pretty well made up my mind that I was to
+die, I suffered no small discouragement and chagrin from the
+compassionate looks which were cast upon me. My old enemy, Trickster
+Tim, also thought this a safe occasion to insult me, coming up close
+before me and peering into my face, as if I were already so much
+carrion. Nor had I the spirit to resent his insolence.</p>
+
+<p>Captain Sims now led the way out of the house, holding Rupert by the
+arm, while I followed with my friend. The rest of the crew swarmed out
+after us, but old Muzzy sharply ordered them back, taking only two men
+to pull the oars, for we had a long way to row before the buoy could
+be reached.</p>
+
+<p>It was a miserable voyage for me, sitting there in the stern, not
+three paces from Rupert, shivering in the cold night air, and perhaps
+from fear as well, as we dropped slowly down the river, past the black
+piles of the landing jetties and the sleeping ships. Our course was
+lit only by the stars, save where a ship&#8217;s light cast a sickly gleam
+upon the water as we approached it, and faded away as we rowed on. The
+whole way I never once opened my lips, but the others talked together
+in low voices, turning themselves away from me in the same manner as
+if I were a convict being led to execution. And as for my own
+thoughts, they were distracted enough, especially when I called to
+mind my dear mother and my good and upright father, and how little
+they imagined the business in which I was now <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span>engaged. These
+reflections so softened me that I believe if my cousin had made the
+least move towards a reconcilement my whole wrath would have melted
+away. But no doubt he had made up his mind that only my death could
+restore his authority amongst the ruffians whom he led.</p>
+
+<p>At last our dreary passage was ended, and we were arrived at the place
+agreed on for the encounter. We had towed down a smaller boat in our
+wake, and this they now fastened to the buoy, and we stepped into it,
+Rupert at the bows and I at the stern. Then the boatswain gripped my
+hand for the last time, whispering to me to beware of Gurney&#8217;s
+upper-cut, and so they bade us farewell and rowed off quickly in the
+darkness, like men who would avoid the sight of a murder.</p>
+
+<p>So there were we, left alone in that frail compartment, out there upon
+the heaving water, with nothing but death in our hearts. I had but
+time to breathe a prayer, which I did with some misgiving as to how it
+would be received, when my cousin drew his cutlass and stepped into
+the centre of the boat. I rose to meet him with my weapon in my hand,
+and we stood there facing one another, with only the width of the seat
+between us.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Are you ready?&#8221; says Rupert quickly. And before I had time to answer
+he brought down his cutlass with such force that unless I had guarded
+it the blade would have split open my head.</p>
+
+<p>It was now that I had reason to be thankful for <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span>the lessons I had
+received at the hands of the boatswain, for Rupert&#8217;s blows came so
+thick and fast that I had all I could do to parry them. I bore his
+last caution to me in mind, and soon found the importance of it, for
+though my cousin made many feints at my shoulder and other parts of my
+body, yet the only blow into which he put his real force was the
+upper-cut at my head.</p>
+
+<p>I kept my eyes fixed upon his, as I had been taught, and soon saw a
+savage light arising therein when he found he made so little
+impression on me. Indeed, if we had fought on firm ground I believe
+that, as the boatswain said, I should have been his match, but the
+rocking of the boat gave him an advantage, and presently he pursued a
+feint further than I expected, and gave me a gash of about three
+inches long in my left thigh.</p>
+
+<p>The first smart of the wound made me gasp for breath, but the next
+moment it had so raised my fury that I left off the defensive and fell
+upon my enemy with all my might, hitting and slashing so desperately
+that, do what he would, I broke down his guard and laid open his
+forehead over his right eye, and the blood began to trickle down his
+face.</p>
+
+<p>This transformed his own anger into a tempest, and now, indeed, we
+went at it more like two savages than Christian men. For the cutlass,
+by the very reason that it is not so deadly an instrument as the
+small-sword, is capable of inflicting <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span>a very great many wounds before
+any fatal effect takes place. And so, becoming less heedful of our
+guard as we warmed to it, we wounded each other all over the body in a
+most desperate manner, till my cousin seemed to me to be covered with
+blood from head to foot, and I can have been little better, for I felt
+the blood running from me at above a dozen places.</p>
+
+<p>My enemy was the first to see the folly of this, for he began to
+change his tactics, drawing back from my assault and keeping on the
+defensive till he should lure me on to give him an advantage. And in
+this at length he had nearly succeeded, but happening to forget the
+seat which lay behind him in the bows of the boat, he overbalanced
+himself against it and fell backwards, still gripping his weapon in
+his hand.</p>
+
+<p>I scorned to take advantage of this accident, but stayed where I was
+to give him time to get up. He lay upon his back for a minute, glaring
+sullenly at me to see if I would kill him. But finding that I had no
+such mind he recovered himself nimbly enough. And being, no doubt,
+still further enraged at this accident having put him, as it were,
+into my power, he now made at me with the most terrible vehemence,
+raining down blows upon me sufficient to have felled an ox. And then
+in the midst of it all, while I was warding off his fury, and the
+sparks flew from our weapons every instant, I suddenly felt my hand
+jarred as though I had touched a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span>conger, and the blade of my cutlass
+snapped off at the hilt with a crash, and I stood there at his mercy.</p>
+
+<p>He stopped short, as much astonished as I was, while I sank down on
+the seat next the stern, ready to sob, and put up my hands before my
+face.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That cursed Jew has cheated me of my life!&#8221; I groaned between my set
+teeth.</p>
+
+<p>Rupert rested the point of his cutlass upon the seat in front of him
+and looked over at me curiously.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Young man,&#8221; he said, &#8220;your life is forfeit to me, and it hath never
+been said that Rupert Gurney spared an enemy. Yet, inasmuch as you are
+of my blood and but raw in the world, I have half a mind to make terms
+with you. Will you make your apology for the violence you put upon me
+in the tavern, and swear to repeat its terms before all those who were
+witnesses of our dispute?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I looked up at him and smiled bitterly in his face.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Do you understand me so little, and you a Ford by the mother&#8217;s side?&#8221;
+I answered him. &#8220;Now that I have no weapon you may murder me if you
+will, but apology you shall have none from me&mdash;unless,&#8221; I added, &#8220;you
+take back your insult to the woman I love.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You young fool!&#8221; he ground out savagely. &#8220;That drab you make such a
+to-do about has been mine this two months past.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I leave it unsaid how these words affected me, both then and for long
+afterwards. For up to that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span>moment I had looked upon the girl with as
+pure a reverence as any boy ever cherished for a maid, and my cousin&#8217;s
+vile boast, cast it back to him as I might, sank into my mind and
+worked there like a poison.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I believe you lie,&#8221; I said to him with marvellous coldness. For what
+with the loss of blood, and the despair which had seized upon me at
+the breaking of my weapon, and the news I had just received, I was
+become quite dispirited, and was indifferent to what he might do with
+me.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Die, then, since you will have me kill you!&#8221; he exclaimed, and began
+advancing down the boat towards me.</p>
+
+<p>But as he stepped over the middle seat it chanced that he struck his
+foot against one of the oars which lay along the boat&#8217;s bottom; and
+the rattling of this oar put a new thought into my mind.</p>
+
+<p>It so happened that I had been used to play with the quarterstaff at
+home, and old Sugden, the rat-catcher, who was esteemed the greatest
+proficient in this sort of exercise in our part of the country, had
+had many a bout with me, in which, before I ran away, he had been
+forced to confess that I was very well able to cope with him. Now,
+therefore, in my extremity, seeing death so near at hand&mdash;for up to
+this moment I had hardly believed that my cousin would kill me&mdash;I made
+shift to snatch at an oar, and drawing it to me just in time put
+myself in a posture of defence before he could strike me.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p><p>He drew back, greatly astounded, and swore beneath his breath.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What fool&#8217;s game is this, boy? Would you break honour with me? We
+were agreed to fight with cutlasses.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And now that my cutlass is broke foully you would take and murder
+me!&#8221; I retorted, and being now incensed at his bloodthirstiness, after
+I had once spared his life, I cursed him in the face for a coward.</p>
+
+<p>This was more than he could bear. He leaped across the seat, with his
+head stooped, to come inside the sweep of my weapon, but this was a
+trick I had had experience of, and though I found my oar very heavy
+and cumbrous I yet managed to repulse him with a crack on the head.
+And immediately he raised his cutlass to strike back I caught him a
+very smart blow on the knuckles, and sent his weapon flying over the
+side of the boat into the water, where it instantly sank.</p>
+
+<p>By this time I think we were both too furious to be willing to end the
+combat without one or the other&#8217;s death. Rupert, as soon as he knew
+what had happened, fairly sprang upon me, and clutched my throat,
+bearing me down with him into the boat. Here he knelt above me,
+squeezing my windpipe, and emitting horrid snarls like a wild beast.
+My senses began to forsake me, and I was as good as lost, when, by the
+direct mercy of Providence, my right hand encountered the blade of my
+own cutlass, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span>lying close beside us, which I instantly snatched at,
+and plunged as hard as I could thrust into Rupert&#8217;s side. And with
+that, feeling his fingers relax themselves as he tottered sideways
+from off me, I raised myself half up, lifted him by the thighs, and
+cast him clean over the side of the boat into the sea. And that done I
+sank down again in a bloody swoon, and perceived nothing more.</p>
+
+<hr class="medium" />
+
+<p>It was, as I learned, above a week afterwards when I fully came to
+myself, and discovered that I was lying in my former garret at the
+&#8220;Three-decker.&#8221; There was an old woman coming into the room to wait
+upon me, who told me that I had been brought ashore on the night of
+the duel by men wearing masks; and one of them, whom she knew by his
+voice and carriage to be the boatswain of the <i>Fair Maid</i>, had given
+money out of his pocket for me to be taken care of till such time as I
+should recover.</p>
+
+<p>In the state of weakness to which I was reduced I shed tears at
+hearing of this kindness on the part of that rough man, who was, I
+sadly feared, a great scoundrel, of most villainous evil life. My next
+business was to ask what had become of him and the rest of the <i>Fair
+Maid&#8217;s</i> crew.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The <i>Fair Maid</i> sailed yesterday,&#8221; the crone answered. &#8220;They warped
+her out on the afternoon ebb. &#8217;Tis said she sails under a privateer&#8217;s
+commission against the French.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I scarce knew whether to be glad of this news, or <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span>sorry. I told
+myself that I could hardly have looked for a welcome among those men
+after being the means of their lieutenant&#8217;s death; and, moreover, I
+had learnt enough of their character to feel strongly averse to a
+cruise in such company. Yet they were the only friends I had, and I
+was grown used to them; and the thought that I was left there, as it
+were, alone, with nothing to turn to, made me very dismal after all.</p>
+
+<p>It seemed somewhat strange to me, during the rest of that day, that
+Marian had never once come to inquire for me; but I put off speaking
+about it to the morrow. In the morning I awoke greatly refreshed, and
+feeling well enough to leave my bed, which I did, and came down into
+the bar of the house to look for her.</p>
+
+<p>I found only her uncle, a weazened, peevish man, who had showed
+himself very little while the privateersmen were about his house. I
+bade him a courteous good morrow.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Good morrow t&#8217;ye,&#8221; he snapped out churlishly. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad to see you&#8217;re
+about again, as I daresay you know your reckoning has run out.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>This I did not believe, but thought it beneath me to pick a quarrel
+with such a man. Besides, he was Marian&#8217;s uncle.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Any charges you may have against me shall be fairly met,&#8221; I answered
+proudly. &#8220;But where is Mistress Marian? I have not seen her these two
+days.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p><p>&#8220;And you&#8217;re not like to see her again, I take it,&#8221; he returned
+disagreeably. &#8220;At least, not in my house; I&#8217;ve had enough of the
+impudent baggage.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What are you saying, man?&#8221; I demanded, much dismayed. &#8220;You need not
+miscall your own niece, I should think. But what of her? Do you mean
+she has left you?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Aye, what else should I mean? And right glad I am to be rid of such a
+trollop, drawing all the rapscallions of the port in here, and
+bringing my tavern into disrepute.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He spoke so bitterly that I believe he was trying to talk himself into
+thinking he had profited by her departure. For in reality she had
+brought him the chief part of his custom, and there was at that
+moment, as I could perceive, not a soul in the tavern beside
+ourselves. But I did not stop to reflect on this.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Where has she gone? What has happened?&#8221; I questioned breathlessly,
+with a terrible fear in my heart.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Nay, whither she has gone is more than I can tell you, for as likely
+as not the jade has lied to me. But she left this place two days ago,
+in the afternoon, and all the account she gave me was that she had
+taken her passage in the <i>Fair Maid</i> for her father&#8217;s house in
+Calcutta.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I fell down on a bench, like a man stunned, and groaned aloud. Then I
+sprang to my feet again and made for the door.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p><p>&#8220;I will follow her!&#8221; I cried out madly. &#8220;If she has gone to the end of
+the world I will go after her, and all the devils in hell shall not
+hold me back!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>And leaving the man there, staring at me as if he thought I was
+crazed, I ran out of the house, and so stumbled right into the arms of
+a pressgang come ashore off a king&#8217;s ship which had that morning
+dropped anchor in Yarmouth Roads.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2>
+
+<h3><i>ON BOARD THE KING&#8217;S SHIP</i></h3>
+
+<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">T</span>he license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made
+familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first
+of escaping their clutches. It is true they were only authorised to
+impress seamen and fishermen, and that after proving their commission
+before justices of the peace. But if report did not belie them, they
+looked not too closely into a man&#8217;s seamanship; but, if they found a
+likely fellow, regarded all as fish which came into their net.</p>
+
+<p>There was a lieutenant set above the fellows into whose hands I had
+fallen, a tall, lantern-jawed, middle-aged man, with a most abominable
+squint, and to him I addressed myself:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Sir, I am not in a condition to be pressed by you, I am not a mariner
+by calling; and, moreover, I am but just risen from a bed of
+sickness.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He glanced over my dress before he answered, with something of a
+smile. And, indeed, for a landsman, my costume was something out of
+the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>way, for during the time since I had signed articles to Captain
+Sims I had done my best to equip myself in true sea-dog fashion.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You surprise me, young sir,&#8221; the lieutenant said presently, when he
+had surveyed me. &#8220;Your dress tallies but ill with your professions. If
+you wore but a cutlass, and had a pistol to your belt, I could have
+sworn you to be a smuggler at the least.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I hung my head at this, for it was my own vanity that had led me into
+the mess. I could only fall back on my second excuse.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Nevertheless, you are mistaken, sir,&#8221; I said. &#8220;But however that may
+be, be pleased to believe me when I tell you that I am scarce yet
+recovered from several severe wounds.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Indeed! I thought I had seen you coming out of yonder tavern at a
+marvellous nimble gait. But my eyes are indifferent bad. Here, Master
+Veale, what say you, does this young man look too sick for our
+purpose? He says he is not recovered of his wounds.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The man he applied to, who was master of the ship&#8217;s cutter, answered
+him in the same jesting manner.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I see nothing the matter with un, your honour. But perhaps we had
+best carry un aboard and let the ship&#8217;s doctor feel his pulse.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I protest against this treatment,&#8221; I said angrily. &#8220;In the name of
+his Majesty, I say, unhandle me.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Nay,&#8221; quoth the lieutenant, &#8220;my hearing is as <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span>indifferent as my
+eyesight, and I follow you not. Master Veale, if this youngster uses
+any blasphemy or indecency let him be gagged till we come aboard
+again.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>This threat was enough to silence me, if I had not been otherwise
+afraid to make a stir. For though I might have got some of the
+passers-by to succour me, it being broad daylight, and these
+impressments most unpopular among seafaring men, yet I foresaw that it
+would quickly come to a question of who I was, and if my name once
+became bruited abroad there were friends of my father&#8217;s in the town
+who would have made short work of sending me back to him. And sooner
+than face the disgrace of this, as I considered it, I was willing to
+try my luck with King George.</p>
+
+<p>I therefore walked along with the pressgang, by the side of Master
+Veale, who used me civilly enough when he found I had given up the
+thoughts of resisting.</p>
+
+<p>I was not a little amazed and delighted when we came out upon the
+shore, and I caught sight of the <i>Talisman</i>, as she was called, riding
+at her anchor. For she was a great line-of-battle ship, such as I had
+never yet seen, carrying seventy-four guns upon her three decks, which
+rose above the water like a huge wall, with the muzzles of the cannon
+plainly visible through the opening of her portholes. This majestic
+mass lay like a floating fortress upon the waves, and overhead her
+three masts towered up into the very <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span>clouds, with their yards set in
+order, and the ropes crossing from one to the other as intricate as a
+spider&#8217;s web. Last of all, from a flagstaff on the stern, brandished
+the ensign of Great Britain, in defiance of her enemies. And my heart
+swelled as I gazed upon it, and remembered how that banner had struck
+terror into the Frenchmen, and Dutch, and Spaniards, in so many great
+and memorable fights. Perhaps in that moment I had a foretaste of
+those glorious triumphs of the British arms in which I was hereafter
+to take a part.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as we were brought on board this fine vessel&mdash;and by this time
+we had pressed two or three others of the Yarmouth men&mdash;we were
+presented to the captain for his inspection.</p>
+
+<p>The captain, it was easy to perceive, was a man of great quality,
+being, as I learned before long, a nephew of Lord Saxmundham, in
+Suffolk, who at that time sat upon the Board of Admiralty. He had the
+most elegant hands and feet of any man I ever saw, and was dressed
+with great care, having long ruffles of the finest lace to his neck
+and wrists, and a gold-hilted small-sword by his side. Even my cousin
+Rupert beside him would have looked but a country boor.</p>
+
+<p>He spoke to the lieutenant who had headed our party, drawling out his
+words in a fashion absurd in a London fop, but disgusting in the
+commander of a man-o&#8217;-war.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, Mr. Griffiths, what sort of scum have you <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span>got hold of this
+time? Faugh!&#8221; he continued, taking out a pocket napkin to wipe his
+nose, &#8220;I declare the fellows all stink of herrings!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>This last was a downright lie, for I had never so much as stepped into
+a fishing smack. And besides, the herring fishery was not yet begun.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Sir, that is a fault which can soon be amended,&#8221; returned the
+lieutenant, biting his lip at the other&#8217;s insolence. &#8220;For the rest,
+they looked to me to be sturdy rascals enough, and, I doubt, will make
+good seamen.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, looked to you, my good sir; but then, you know, your sight is
+none of the best,&#8221; sneered the captain, between whom and his officer
+there appeared to be some jealousy.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Griffiths, though he had jested at his infirmity in speaking to
+me, writhed under this allusion to it from another. He gave his answer
+with spirit.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Captain Wilding, I have done what you ordered me in impressing these
+men. If you don&#8217;t think them serviceable I shall be happy to set them
+ashore again.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The other waved his napkin between them as if he would have brushed
+away a fly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There, there, my worthy man, that is quite enough! I have seen the
+tarry scoundrels, and as long as they have not the smallpox, I am
+content. Bestow them as you please.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Thereupon we were led into the fore part of the ship, to be rated
+according to our several abilities. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span>And it fell out luckily for me,
+for the lieutenant, when he discovered that I had had some education,
+and could cast accounts&mdash;a business of which he plainly knew
+nothing&mdash;informed me that he believed the purser stood in need of an
+assistant, and offered to recommend me to him. This kindness on his
+part I gladly closed with, not that I liked the duty better than the
+common service of a ship, but because I guessed that I should thereby
+be delivered from the molestations of the crew, there being no greater
+pleasure to the vulgar of every profession than to rough-handle and
+abuse those who come newly amongst them. And herein, as it turned out,
+I had judged rightly, and for so long as I remained upon that ship I
+suffered no ill-usage, except at the hands of my superiors.</p>
+
+<p>But before this was settled I had a favour to ask of the worthy
+lieutenant.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;One thing I must bargain for, with your leave, Lieutenant Griffiths,&#8221;
+I said to him, speaking boldly, as I discerned him to be favourable to
+me, &#8220;and that is, that if we should come to fighting with the enemy I
+am to take part with the rest.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Griffiths laughed when he heard this demand.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, there now,&#8221; he cried, slapping his thigh, &#8220;if I couldn&#8217;t have
+sworn that you were one of the sort we wanted directly I clapped eyes
+on you! Never fear, lad, you shall have your fill of fighting before
+we go into dock again; for&mdash;I will tell you so much&mdash;we are under
+orders to join Admiral <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span>Watson&#8217;s fleet at the Nore, and a man with a
+healthier stomach for such work never hoisted pennant on a
+three-decker.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I am glad, at all events, that we shall sail under a fighting
+admiral,&#8221; I responded saucily, &#8220;for, as for our captain&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He stopped me at this point in a manner which terrified me, hurling a
+string of curses at my head sufficient to have sunk me through the
+deck.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hold your impertinent tongue!&#8221; he said in conclusion. &#8220;I would have
+you know better than to pass remarks on your officers in my hearing. I
+have had men put in irons for less. Follow me this minute to the
+purser, and remember you are on board of one of his Majesty&#8217;s ships,
+and not a dirty herring smack.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>By which I saw that, however this gentleman secretly despised his
+commanding officer, he was too honourable to encourage the tattle of
+his inferiors. In this no doubt he showed his breeding; for it was his
+boast that he was sprung from one of the most ancient families in
+Wales, where the gentry, he was wont to say, are of older lineage than
+those of any other country in the world.</p>
+
+<p>The purser proved to be a Scotchman, against which nation I had taken
+a strong prejudice, on account of the wicked and unnatural support
+given by them to the Chevalier in his bloody invasion of this kingdom,
+and which prejudice has since been further confirmed in me by the late
+mean and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span>notorious conduct of Lord Bute. However, I found Mr.
+Sanders, the purser, to be a respectable, religious man, having as
+little love for Papists and Jacobites as I had myself. He received me
+without much civility, but if he showed me no great favour neither did
+he do me any injury, and in his accounts he cheated the crew as little
+as any purser I ever heard of.</p>
+
+<p>But not to linger over these matters, the only thing that befell me
+during our voyage to the Nore was an extraordinary painful sickness
+and retching, the anguish of which I could not have believed possible
+to be borne, and which many times made me wish I had never quitted my
+father&#8217;s house. During the continuance of this malady I was rendered
+quite unable to do my duty, to Mr. Sanders&#8217;s no small discontent, and
+was left to the sole companionship of an Irishman, one Michael
+Sullivan, who became much attached to me, and soothed my sufferings by
+every means in his power. He was a corporal of the Marines, and had
+been three times promoted to be sergeant for his bravery in action,
+and three times degraded again for drunkenness. Among his comrades he
+was known as Irish Mick: and here I observed a peculiarity which I
+have found amongst others of that nation; for though he would
+continually be boasting of his country, and exalting the Irish race
+above every other on the face of the earth, yet no sooner did any of
+us remark on it to him that he was an Irishman than <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>he straightway
+fell into a violent passion, as if we had laid some insult upon him.</p>
+
+<p>While I lay thus ill, as I have said, I lost all thoughts of the quest
+I had meant to undertake for Marian, and would not have cared if the
+ship had been bound for the infernal regions. But as soon as I was
+recovered sufficiently to come on deck, whither I was very kindly
+assisted by the Irishman, I grew exceedingly curious as to our
+destination.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Does any one know whither we are bound when we have joined the
+Admiral&#8217;s fleet?&#8221; I asked of Sullivan.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Faith, and it&#8217;s that same question I&#8217;m just after putting to the
+boatswain&#8217;s mate,&#8221; he answered, &#8220;and the sorrow a soul on board that
+knows any better than myself and yourself.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He pronounced his speech with a very rich brogue, which I shall no
+more attempt to imitate than Captain Wilding&#8217;s affectation. For indeed
+there seem to be as many ways of pronouncing English as there are
+people that speak it, and even in Norfolk itself I have met with
+people who were not free from something like the Suffolk twang.
+Seeing, I suppose, that I was disappointed by this answer, he leant
+over and whispered in my ear&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But it&#8217;s my belief that King George is tired of the peace with the
+French, and that he&#8217;s sending us out to sink a few of their ships and
+maybe bombard <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span>a town or two, just by way of letting them know that
+we&#8217;re ready to begin again.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I answered him impatiently, for my sickness had made me fretful.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I believe you are a fool, Mick! It is well known that we never go to
+war with the French unless they have first provoked us.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, and sure haven&#8217;t they provoked us enough by all their doings in
+America and the Indies, not to mention the battle of Fontenoy, which
+my own cousin Dennis helped them to win, more by token; though he got
+a bullet in his left arm before the fighting begun, and had to content
+himself with cheering while the others were at it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That will do,&#8221; I said crossly, for I had heard of the battle of
+Fontenoy and his cousin Dennis before, and it was a sore point between
+us. Nor could I understand how a man who had the privilege of being
+born a British subject, though liable to the proper severities of the
+penal code against Papists, could traitorously desert his allegiance
+and take service with our natural enemies.</p>
+
+<p>However, I learned nothing further of our destination till we reached
+the Nore, which we did about the end of the third day. Here we found
+the rest of the squadron awaiting us, and, the <i>Talisman</i> being the
+biggest ship in company, Admiral Watson immediately hauled down his
+pennant off the <i>Victory</i>, of fifty guns, and came aboard of us.</p>
+
+<p>I was leaning over the chains with Sullivan when <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span>the barge came
+alongside, and could see a gentleman in the stern, sitting beside the
+Admiral, in a military uniform, and having a very resolute and
+commanding countenance.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Who is that?&#8221; I asked.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That? Why that&#8217;s Charlie Watson,&#8221; he replied, mistaking my meaning.
+&#8220;It&#8217;s myself that ought to know, for I sailed under him against the
+Spaniards in &#8217;44, and a devil of a beating we gave them. Hooray!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The cheer was taken up by the rest of the crew as they caught sight of
+this gallant seaman, who had been made Rear-Admiral of the Blue in his
+thirty-fifth year, and that without any influence at his back, but
+solely on account of his splendid services in the Spanish wars. Mr.
+Wilding, who had come up on deck to receive the Admiral, looked round
+very sourly when he heard the cheer, but was ashamed to openly rebuke
+us.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Nay, but who is the other beside him,&#8221; I went on to ask, being
+strongly moved to interest by the sight of this gentleman. He appeared
+to be by some years junior to Mr. Watson, who was now somewhat over
+forty, but in spite of that, and of his treating the Admiral with much
+ceremony, there was that in the air of this officer which made an
+impression of authority, and which drew all eyes towards him as soon
+as they were arrived upon the quarterdeck.</p>
+
+<p>Sullivan professed himself as ignorant as to the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span>stranger&#8217;s identity
+as I was myself, nor was I near enough to hear what passed when
+Admiral Watson presented him to Mr. Wilding and the other officers.
+Nevertheless, I could see that they received him with extraordinary
+respect, even the captain seeming to brisk up and to put on a more
+manly carriage under this gentleman&#8217;s eye.</p>
+
+<p>After giving one or two keen glances round the deck, which set us all
+on the alert, the officer walked quickly forward, and the whole party
+following him, they went below, immediately after which the signal for
+weighing anchor was made to the squadron, and the crew was set to work
+putting on all sail. In the midst of which business the report ran
+round the ship, and reached me I know not from what lips, that the
+passenger we had received on board was no other than the famous Mr.
+Robert Clive, who had just been created a lieutenant-colonel by the
+king, and whom we were carrying out to India to take up his government
+of Fort St. David in the Carnatic.</p>
+
+<p>At this time, though Mr. Clive had not yet reached to that height of
+eminence which he afterwards attained, he was already known as one of
+the bravest Englishmen of his time, and I had heard from many quarters
+of his glorious exploits in the Indies. Although a civilian by
+profession, when the settlements of the East India Company in Madras
+were threatened with destruction by the French, he had exchanged his
+pen for a sword, and, with a mere <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span>handful of English and Sepoys, had
+captured and maintained the town of Arcot against a great army of the
+French and their allies, after which he had beaten them in many
+engagements, and in the end wrested the entire province of the
+Carnatic from their hands. Since then he had been in England, where he
+had stood for the Parliament, and, as it was thought, had given up all
+intentions of returning to Indostan. Now the news that we had him on
+board with us, and that he was on his way out, no doubt to drive the
+last remains of the French power from that quarter of the world, came
+on my ears like the summons of a trumpet, and went far to make me
+content with the accident that had thrown me in the way of the
+pressgang.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Griffiths, the lieutenant, who had continued to take some notice
+of me, for which I was not ungrateful, chanced to come by while I was
+full of these thoughts, and after confirming the news which I had
+heard, fell to talking with me about our cruise.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You see I did you a good turn by bringing you off from that muddy
+fishing-hole,&#8221; he was pleased to observe presently. &#8220;Now you are
+likely to see some service, and, if luck serves, to bring home a good
+share of prize-money.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>By this time I had called to mind the sailing of the <i>Fair Maid</i>, and
+the destination of that passenger of hers, to see whom once more I
+would have given all the prize-money in the world.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span></p><p>&#8220;Are we like to make the Hooghley river, do you think, sir, when we
+get out to the Indies?&#8221; I ventured to ask.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s as it may be,&#8221; he answered, friendly enough. &#8220;All I can tell
+you&mdash;for I believe this to be no secret&mdash;is that our first port in
+those seas is Bombay. And further, since we cannot attack the French
+till war breaks out, I may give you to know that our first business is
+to root out certain pirates that infest that coast, and who have their
+headquarters at the citadel of Gheriah, in the Morattoes&#8217; country.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I turned silent at this, remembering how I had heard the name of
+Gheriah pronounced between my cousin and Mr. Sims in the parlour of
+the &#8220;Three-decker&#8221;, and feeling a dreadful apprehension that I was to
+meet with the privateers (as they called themselves) in circumstances
+which I had little desired.</p>
+
+<hr class="medium" />
+
+<p>Eleven months later&mdash;for we were beset by contrary winds all round the
+continent of Africa, and put in at divers places on the way&mdash;we came
+to an anchor in the harbour of Bombay. And there, riding at a mooring
+under the very walls of the fort, the first vessel that I saw was the
+<i>Fair Maid</i> herself, looking as peaceful as if she had never fired a
+gun.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2>
+
+<h3><i>IN THE POWER OF THE ENEMY</i></h3>
+
+<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">O</span>n our voyage outward one thing had occurred to me which, as it turned
+out afterwards, was to prove of very great consequence; this was my
+learning of the native Indian language.</p>
+
+<p>Colonel Clive, who had never been at the pains to acquire it himself,
+had brought out in his train as secretary a Mr. Scrafton, who was well
+versed in the Indostanee, and who was obliging enough to offer to
+impart it to me, I having rendered him some services in the
+transcribing of his papers and accounts. Having much time on my hands
+on so long a voyage, I very thankfully accepted his proposal, though
+little then foreseeing the benefit I was to derive from it.</p>
+
+<p>This connection between us brought me a good deal under the notice of
+Mr. Clive, who was several times pleased to address his conversation
+to me, and to inquire my name and what had brought me into that
+service.</p>
+
+<p>When I told him I had run away from home he <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span>seemed not a little
+amused, though he affected to rebuke me.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I perceive you are a young man of a reckless spirit,&#8221; he observed,
+but whether in irony or not I could not tell. &#8220;And pray what do you
+intend to do when we get to the Indies?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, sir,&#8221; I answered hardily, &#8220;as soon as war breaks out I mean to
+run away from the ship and enlist under your honour.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The devil you do!&#8221; he cried, a smile showing itself on his stern
+face. &#8220;Mr. Scrafton, do you hear my little purser here? I have a mind
+to report your speech to Mr. Sanders.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But though he said this, I could see that he was not ill-pleased. And
+whether from that occasion or another, by the time our voyage was
+ended I was known all over the ship as Colonel Clive&#8217;s purser. And how
+proud the title made me I forbear to say, but I know that if Mr. Clive
+had ordered me to march into Delhi, and pluck the Great Mogul by the
+beard, I should have thought it a little thing to do.</p>
+
+<p>The first thing I did after we had dropped our anchor was to beg for
+leave to go ashore, which Mr. Sanders granted with some difficulty.
+Mr. Griffiths was good enough to give me a place in the cutter, and as
+soon as we were landed I separated myself from the rest, and without
+staying to examine the curiosities of Bombay, which is a fine great
+city, built on an island, I procured a boatman to take me off
+privately to the <i>Fair Maid</i>.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p><p>The boatman I applied to was an Indian. He used me with wondrous
+civility, calling me Sahib, which is an oriental term of respect, and
+bowing before me to the very ground. When we were got into the boat,
+however, he proved but a poor oarsman, and indeed all the natives of
+that country seem but a feeble race, owing, no doubt, to their
+idolatrous religion, which forbids them to eat flesh.</p>
+
+<p>We arrived at the stern of the <i>Fair Maid</i> without accident, but to my
+surprise I could see nobody on the deck. Bidding the Indian wait for
+me I scrambled on board without hailing, and proceeded to examine the
+cabin. I found this likewise to be deserted, and was beginning to
+think the vessel was empty when, on turning to come out, I found
+myself face to face with a dark man in a turban, bearing a naked
+scymetar in his hand, who had crept in behind me.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Who are you?&#8221; I demanded, addressing him in Indostanee.</p>
+
+<p>But he shook his head, for, as I was to find out, the Morattoes, to
+which nation he belonged, speak a different dialect of their own.</p>
+
+<p>While I was considering what to do with him, since his behaviour was
+very threatening, I was greatly relieved by seeing an Englishman come
+in after him, who proved, indeed, to be no other than my old
+acquaintance, Trickster Tim.</p>
+
+<p>The sight of me gave him a great shock, and at first I believe he
+mistook me for a spirit from the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span>other world, which perhaps was not
+strange, considering that he had last seen me on the other side of the
+globe, and lying very near to death&#8217;s door.</p>
+
+<p>I spoke him friendly, nothing doubting that he would be pleased to
+welcome a fellow-countryman.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, Tim, how d&#8217;ye do, and how are all aboard the <i>Fair Maid</i>?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>As soon as he had heard my voice his apprehensions vanished. He gazed
+at me for a minute, as if undecided what to do, and then, putting on a
+smile, stepped forward and shook me by the hand.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And how did you get here?&#8221; he asked. &#8220;We thought we had left you in
+Yarmouth.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Not thinking any concealment needful, I told him my story, which he
+listened to very attentively. At the end he spoke some words to the
+Morattoe, who went out of the cabin.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Sit down and make yourself comfortable,&#8221; he said to me. &#8220;Our men are
+all gone ashore, but the captain will come off presently and be right
+glad to see you safe again.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t stay long,&#8221; I told him, &#8220;because I have only got leave for a
+couple of hours.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>At this he smiled a little queerly, but pulled out a bottle of rum and
+some glasses, and prevailed on me to take a drink with him. We sat
+thus for some time, talking, and he told me that the ship had been out
+there for more than a month, having escaped some of the headwinds we
+had had to contend with.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And what of Mrs. Rising?&#8221; I said at last, for I <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span>had been shy of
+putting this question to such a man. &#8220;I understand she took passage
+with you.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He grinned at this, rather maliciously.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I thought you&#8217;d come to that,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t suppose it was for
+love of your comrades that you had come on board so quickly. As for
+Mistress Marian, she&#8217;s ashore, and for her address I may refer you to
+the captain when he finds you here.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The captain is rather slow in coming,&#8221; I observed, getting on to my
+feet. &#8220;I think I must be going ashore.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>With that I walked out of the cabin, Trickster Tim following at my
+heels. When I got on to the deck, I stared about me in dismay. Not a
+sign could I see of my boatman.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s become of that fellow who brought me out?&#8221; I cried, turning to
+my companion.</p>
+
+<p>The scoundrel laughed in my face.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I sent word to him not to wait for you,&#8221; he coolly replied, &#8220;as I
+thought maybe you&#8217;d rather stay with us.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Rascal!&#8221; I shouted, taking him roughly by the arm. &#8220;What is the
+meaning of this villainy?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s the captain; you&#8217;d better ask him,&#8221; he answered.</p>
+
+<p>And turning round as the sound of oars smote on my ears, I perceived a
+boat coming alongside, and seated upright in the stern the very man of
+all others whom I had never thought or wished to see again. It was my
+cousin Rupert.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span></p><p>He caught sight of me at the same moment, and a fierce scowl passed
+across his brow.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Whom have you got there, Tim?&#8221; he called out, standing up in the boat
+to get a view of me.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Mr. Ford, sir, purser&#8217;s assistant of his Majesty&#8217;s ship <i>Talisman</i>.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>At that moment the boat came alongside and my cousin leaped on to the
+deck, followed by four or five of the crew. He surveyed me with a
+glance of bitter hatred, mingled with triumph.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;So, cousin, I did not kill you after all! Never mind, I am glad you
+have remembered your old articles and are come to join us once more.
+We have lacked a cabin-boy since your desertion, and if his Majesty
+can spare you, we shall be glad of your services.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I was too confounded to reply, or to take much heed of this mocking
+harangue. I had as firmly believed Rupert to be dead as, it seems, he
+had believed me. The truth, as I gathered it by degrees afterwards,
+seemed to be this: At the moment of my casting him out of the boat in
+which we had fought, the other boat was returning to find out what had
+been the result of the battle. They had first picked up Rupert out of
+the water, when he was on the point of death, and had then found me
+senseless, and to all appearance mortally wounded, where I had fallen.
+They carried us both back with them, and finding Rupert revived, had
+concealed him on the <i>Fair Maid</i> till she should sail. The <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>boatswain,
+out of a kindness for me, and knowing the other&#8217;s vindictive nature,
+had persuaded him that it was impossible for me to recover, and so
+they had left me.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as I was able to collect myself I demanded to have speech with
+Mr. Sims, the captain.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You will meet with Mr. Sims where you are going,&#8221; retorted Rupert.
+&#8220;In the meantime any business you have with the captain of this vessel
+may be transacted with me.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then I insist that you put me ashore instantly,&#8221; I said, with
+resolution. &#8220;Would you kidnap me under the very guns of his Majesty&#8217;s
+fleet?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not so fast,&#8221; returned Rupert, keeping his temper, as he could afford
+to do, having the upper hand. &#8220;You have forgot your indentures, by
+which you are bound apprentice to the good ship <i>Fair Maid</i>, sailing
+under his Majesty&#8217;s letters of marque and commission.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Under a forged commission,&#8221; I retorted hotly. &#8220;I refuse to be bound
+by indentures to a pirate!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>This outburst was, no doubt, what my cousin had been waiting for, to
+set the opinion of the crew against me. He now turned to his
+followers, very stern.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Take this youth down to the forecastle and put him in irons. If he
+repeats his scandalous aspersions, I will bring him to trial as a
+deserter and mutineer.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I had no means of resistance, and his orders were <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span>carried out, the
+scoundrel who had tricked me into waiting for Rupert&#8217;s return, taking
+especial pleasure to see that my irons were made secure. I scorned to
+question the dirty rascals further as to how my cousin came to be in
+command, but I guessed there had been some foul work on board since
+the vessel had left Yarmouth; and the next morning I learnt the whole
+story.</p>
+
+<p>Old Muzzy, my firm friend, had been ashore all that night, very drunk,
+but soon after dawn he came off to the ship, and hearing of my plight,
+at once betook himself to where I was imprisoned. He embraced me very
+heartily, and as soon as I had satisfied him as to my recovery and
+subsequent adventures, he disclosed to me the situation of the <i>Fair
+Maid</i>.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You see it&#8217;s like this, my boy. Mr. Sims is a good seaman, no one
+can&#8217;t say he&#8217;s not, but he&#8217;s too much of a lawyer to handle a craft
+like this. Now that cousin of yours, though he be a bloodthirsty,
+revengeful beast, as you should know by this time, yet he&#8217;s no lawyer.
+Captain Sims, there, he was all for letters of marque and such, but
+then, once a peace breaks out, where&#8217;s your letters of marque? They
+ain&#8217;t no more use than so much ballast. Now when we came out here, the
+lieutenant he says, &#8216;Let&#8217;s go into Gheriah, and join the pirates
+there&#8217;&mdash;though according to him they aren&#8217;t what you may call pirates,
+being under a king of their own, who has as much right to give them
+commissions as King George himself. But Captain Sims he wouldn&#8217;t <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span>hear
+of it, the more so as there was a British squadron under Commodore
+Porter had been out from Bombay in the spring, and knocked some of
+their forts about their ears for them. But, you see, unless we joined
+them, we had nothing to do till such time as the war began again,
+unless we chose to take the risk of standing up and down the coast, as
+you may say, on our own hook. So the crew they sided with the
+lieutenant, that&#8217;s your cousin, and the end of it was there was a sort
+of a mutiny, and Captain Sims he was carried ashore at Gheriah and
+given up to the pirates, leastways to their king, and the lieutenant
+took his place.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then the long and short of it is that this is a pirate ship,&#8221; was all
+I could say.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, we are, and, in a manner of speaking, we aren&#8217;t. When we want
+to come into Bombay here we sail under King George&#8217;s flag, and when
+we&#8217;re in company with the pirates we fly theirs. Any way, we&#8217;ve taken
+two Dutch ships and an English one since we got out here, and that&#8217;s
+put money in our pockets, which is more than Captain Sims would have
+done with his lawyering.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And I suppose I am to be carried to Gheriah and given up to the
+pirates, like Mr. Sims,&#8221; I said bitterly.</p>
+
+<p>But this the boatswain swore with many oaths he would not permit.
+Nevertheless I could see that he was strongly attached to my cousin&#8217;s
+interest, and not disposed to venture anything openly against <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span>him.
+Indeed, he tried very hard to persuade me to come into their plans,
+offering to reconcile me with Rupert if I would consent to do this. To
+these proposals, however, I would by no means consent, being more
+experienced by this time than when I had joined them at Yarmouth, and
+having a pretty shrewd notion of how Mr. Clive would regard my former
+comrades if they should fall into his hands. Finally, I besought the
+boatswain for news of Marian.</p>
+
+<p>He drew a grave face at this name.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Athelstane, lad, I would rather you&#8217;d ask me any other question than
+that. Plague take the girl, she was the cause of all the mischief
+between you and the lieutenant! Forget her, lad, forget her, she&#8217;s not
+worth your troubling after.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But he might as well have pressed me to forget who I was, and the
+situation into which my eagerness to hear of Marian had brought me.</p>
+
+<p>Finding me resolute to know about her, he told me this much:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;She came aboard while the <i>Fair Maid</i> was in the river, to nurse your
+cousin as he lay ill of his wounds. But I believe he had been tempting
+her before that to come out to the Indies with him, and she held back
+for him to go to church with her first, and this he didn&#8217;t care enough
+for her to do. Anyhow, it ended in his getting round her to trust
+herself with him, and he swore he would carry her straight to Calcutta
+and hand her over to her people <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span>there. When we got out here, and she
+found he had no such purpose, but meant to keep her in the fortress as
+long as it suited his pleasure, there was a terrible business betwixt
+them. But you know what the lieutenant is, and that it ain&#8217;t a few
+tears from a woman that&#8217;ll turn him from anything he has a mind to do.
+So he just set her ashore by force, and there she is, as much a
+prisoner as Mr. Sims himself.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I was overcome with the horror of this news, though I suppose it was
+what I should have expected from my cousin&#8217;s character.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Good heavens!&#8221; I cried out in my distraction. &#8220;Do you mean that she
+is in the hands of the pirates at Gheriah?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s about what it comes to. And the sooner you give up all
+thoughts of her the better for you, says I.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Before I could frame any answer&mdash;and, indeed, I know not what answer I
+could have made&mdash;there was a great noise and trampling upon deck, and
+a man came down to tell us that the vessel was about to weigh anchor,
+and that the boatswain was wanted to attend to the service of the
+ship. Whereupon he left me, in the company of bitterer thoughts than a
+man can have more than once in his life.</p>
+
+<p>I pass over the dreary time spent by me in that dismal confinement
+during our voyage. Old Muzzy visited me pretty often, and once Rupert
+himself came down and made offers towards a reconcilement.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p><p>&#8220;Say that you will join us honestly, and I will take off the irons,
+and rate you as one of the crew. And when occasion serves, I will
+cause you to be made lieutenant under me,&#8221; he promised, &#8220;for after all
+you are my own kinsman, and blood is thicker than water.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Whether he was sincere in this, or was compelled to it by my friend
+the boatswain, I do not know. But I had only one reply to give him.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And Marian, what of her?&#8221; I said indignantly.</p>
+
+<p>A dark look came on his brow.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Leave that business alone,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It were better for you, I warn
+you fairly. That woman is mine, and I will not suffer the Almighty
+Himself to come between us.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>At this blasphemous avowal I turned my back on him, and would
+entertain no further proposals. However, I knew from the boatswain
+that Rupert was first for throwing me overboard; and when Muzzy, who
+had much authority with the crew, would not consent to that, he was
+for putting me into the castle at Gheriah, along with the late
+captain. But this my sturdy champion also opposed, and the end of it
+was that I was left in my present quarters when the <i>Fair Maid</i>
+arrived in the pirates&#8217; harbour, and brought them the news that a
+British squadron was on its way to besiege the place.</p>
+
+<p>This intelligence Rupert had acquired before leaving Bombay, and it
+was this which had caused him to set sail with so much haste. Becoming
+very <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span>busied in preparations for the defence, I luckily slipped
+somewhat out of his mind, and the boatswain took advantage of this to
+soften the rigour of my imprisonment, allowing me to take the air on
+deck, and even going so far as to release me from my irons.</p>
+
+<p>I was thus enabled to gain some idea of the place I had been brought
+to. When I first came up from below, after so long a time passed in
+obscurity, the daylight proved too much for my eyes, and I was obliged
+to close them, and accustom myself to the glare by degrees. As soon as
+I was able to look about me, however, I perceived that the <i>Fair Maid</i>
+was lying in a very spacious river, not far from the mouth, and over
+against a sort of rocky islet or peninsula, joined to the left bank of
+the river by a strip of sand. On the rock there was built a very
+strong castle, having a double wall and towers to protect it, but the
+cannons of rather poor calibre. Alongside of us lay the fleet of the
+pirates, composed of strange-looking vessels, having for the most part
+two masts, one very much in the stern, and rigged with a huge sail,
+the peak of which came much above the top of the mast. The prows of
+these vessels stretched a great way forward out of the water having
+the appearance of a bird&#8217;s beak. The larger of these vessels, of which
+there were about ten, are called grabs, and the smaller, of which I
+counted upwards of sixty, gallivats. These latter are managed with
+oars as well as sails, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>when there is no wind they are employed to
+tow the grabs behind them, so that in light weather it is easy for
+them to overtake the ship of which they are in pursuit. They were all
+armed with cannon, the grabs carrying as many as twenty or thirty
+12-pounders, and the gallivats swivel-guns of 6 or 9 pounds.</p>
+
+<p>We had lain in this position for more than a month, and I was
+beginning to be afraid that Admiral Watson had altered his intention
+of coming to reduce the pirates&#8217; stronghold, when one evening, as I
+sat on the deck, just at the time that the wind changed and began to
+blow in from the sea, I discerned a great commotion on shore in the
+fortress, and turning my eyes towards the river&#8217;s mouth I beheld a
+most welcome sight, namely, a fleet of no less than fourteen ships,
+arranged in two lines, with the <i>Talisman</i> at their head, sailing
+proudly in, with the British flag flying at their peaks, and their
+tops all full of men, their guns run out through their portholes, and
+their decks cleared for action.</p>
+
+<p>As silently and as orderly as if they were in mid-ocean without a foe
+in sight, they came sweeping up the river, doubled the rocky point,
+and anchored one after the other, within two hundred yards of the
+north wall of the fort.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2>
+
+<h3><i>THE SIEGE OF GHERIAH</i></h3>
+
+<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">H</span>ardly had the fleet taken up its position, when I saw on the land
+side a great army of Indians march down to the edge of the river and
+pitch their camp at the end of the sandy neck, so as to cut off all
+chance of escape from the defenders of the fort.</p>
+
+<p>These, as I found out, were Morattoes, the king of that country,
+though not friendly to the English, having agreed to join them in this
+enterprise. Indeed, it appeared that the pirates themselves were
+revolted subjects of this king, having their origin in the treachery
+of one Angria, the Morattoe admiral, who cast off his allegiance and
+seized and fortified divers strong places along the coast, where he
+set up an independent power. For this reason the Morattoes had
+despatched an army under their principal general, Ramagee Punt, to
+assist in extirpating the pirates and regaining their former
+dominions.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as the ships had swung to their anchors I saw a boat put off,
+bearing a flag of truce, to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span>summon the pirates to yield up their
+fastness. But this proposal evidently miscarried, for the boat
+returned shortly, without any motions being made towards a surrender.
+At the same time I saw the gate on the landward side of the fortress
+opened and a chieftain wearing a rich dress come forth, accompanied by
+a train of attendants, and cross over the sand spit into the
+Morattoes&#8217; camp, from which he did not return that night.</p>
+
+<p>This looked to me like a piece of treachery, as though the pirates
+were seeking to make terms with their fellow-countrymen behind the
+backs of the English. No doubt this transaction bore the same look to
+those on board the fleet, for when I came up on deck in the morning to
+see if any change had taken place during the night, I was astonished
+to see the space between the Morattoes&#8217; camp and the sand spit covered
+with tents, in which were about two thousand troops newly landed from
+the fleet, the last of the boats that had put them ashore being then
+half-way back, and rowing right round the grabs and gallivats, which
+were moored altogether close in under the walls of the fortress. It
+was not difficult for me to guess that this bold exploit was the work
+of Colonel Clive, who had thus placed himself between his treacherous
+allies and the enemy, effectually putting a stop to all underhand
+communications between them. And I learned afterwards that but for
+this determined action on his part, the fortress would have been
+delivered up <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>to Ramagee Punt that very morning, and the English
+excluded from all share of the prize.</p>
+
+<p>I saw some messengers pass to and fro between the ships and the land,
+but nothing seemed to come of it, and finally, about ten o&#8217;clock I saw
+a signal run up on the <i>Talisman</i>, and immediately the side of every
+ship drove forth a vast cloud of smoke across the water, and the air
+was shaken by the discharge of at least three hundred guns.</p>
+
+<p>Now the cowardice of the pirates was made manifest, for instead of
+manning their own fleet, which might have given much trouble if well
+handled, they left it exposed to the British fire, and withdrew behind
+the walls of their fort, from which they made a feeble reply to the
+broadsides of the squadron. The consequence was that before long one
+of the shells from the fleet set fire to a large grab, and the whole
+of the pirates&#8217; vessels, being made fast side by side, caught fire
+together, and were burnt to the water&#8217;s edge, amid a continual noise
+of explosions every time the flames reached a loaded cannon or a
+powder barrel. Thus was destroyed in a few hours a navy which had for
+fifty years been the terror of the Malabar coast, and had preyed upon
+the commerce of every nation trading in those seas.</p>
+
+<p>So taken up was I in watching this scene of destruction that I did not
+at first notice what was happening to the <i>Fair Maid</i>. Being anchored
+some way off the other vessels, and further up towards <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span>the sand spit,
+we escaped the damage that had been done to them, but now we attracted
+the attention of the British Fleet, and those on board naturally
+considering us as a prize captured by the pirates, one of the ships
+began to open fire on us, and sent a ball clean through the deck.</p>
+
+<p>Up to this time the crew had lain inactive, taking no part in the
+fight. My cousin had gone ashore into the fort the night before,
+taking a part of the ship&#8217;s company with him, and had not returned.
+The boatswain was left in command, with about twenty men under him,
+and these now began to see that they were in a trap, being too few to
+fight the ship to any purpose, while any attempt to land would expose
+them to a destructive fire either from the fleet or from Mr. Clive&#8217;s
+troops, which would come along the sand spit to cut them off.</p>
+
+<p>In this extremity old Muzzy took what was perhaps the boldest
+resolution any man could have come to. He decided to set sail, and
+pass right between the fort and the ships, running the gauntlet of the
+whole squadron, and thus escape down the river and out to the open
+sea. The breeze blowing out to sea, as it always does for the first
+half of the day on this coast, the plan seemed a good one, if once
+they could pass through the fire of the squadron.</p>
+
+<p>This course commending itself to the crew, the sails were hoisted
+accordingly, I lending a hand, for I had no desire either to take
+refuge with the pirates <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span>or to be sunk where we were; and having
+slipped our cable the <i>Fair Maid</i> got under weigh. This proceeding
+must have struck surprise into those who were watching us, for the
+frigate which had commenced to bombard us at once stopped fire, and
+waited to see what we would do. As we had no colours flying, it was
+difficult for them to know what we would be at, or whether we did not
+mean to surrender. Had we been only concerned with the fleet, our best
+course might have been to hoist the Union Jack; but in that case we
+had to fear the guns of the fort, close under which we meant to pass.</p>
+
+<p>In this way we got along till we were right in the range of fire
+between the ships and the fort, and here for a minute all seemed over
+with us and I had fairly given myself up for lost. A whole broadside
+of thirty guns was fired right across us, and the only thing that
+saved us from being sunk instantly was our lying so low on the water
+that the bullets, being aimed at the walls of the fort, passed over
+our heads. As it was they did great damage to the rigging. The main
+topmast was shot away, the shrouds were torn to threads, and the gaff
+of the fore-topsail was badly wounded. Luckily for us the next vessel
+of the squadron had discharged its broadside just before we came into
+the line of fire, and the third merely signalled to know if we would
+surrender. Old Muzzy refused to answer the signal, and his conduct in
+this, and in not using the <i>Fair</i> <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span><i>Maid&#8217;s</i> own guns, clearly puzzled
+those on board the fleet.</p>
+
+<p>By this time we had begun to round the corner of the rock, and paying
+away before the wind to go down the river, presented our stern to the
+remaining ships of the squadron. One of them gave us a broadside, but
+it was ill-directed, and only three balls took effect. They had aimed
+this time at the hull, luckily for the <i>Fair Maid</i>, as she could ill
+have stood another discharge at her rigging, and though the tiller was
+shot away, and some damage was done to the stern, it was not serious
+enough to cripple her.</p>
+
+<p>But just as we were beginning to breathe we were dismayed at suddenly
+receiving a bullet from one of the guns of the fort, which ploughed
+right into the deck within two feet of where I stood. I looked up
+astonished, and beheld my cousin Rupert, with the match still in his
+hand, looking over to watch the effect of his shot. The other men on
+board caught sight of him at the same moment, and a howl went up at
+this act of cold-blooded treachery. One of the fellows snatched up a
+loaded musket which lay on the deck, and discharged it at him, and I
+had the satisfaction to see him fall back swiftly, but whether
+actually struck by the bullet or no I could not tell.</p>
+
+<p>Distracted by this unlooked-for attack, we had not noticed a fresh
+danger from the fleet. But now we perceived that the launch of the
+Admiral&#8217;s own <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span>ship, the <i>Talisman</i>, had been manned, and was bearing
+right down on us, the men on board coming with great coolness and
+daring right past the guns of the fort. In this they were fortunately
+protected by the fact that the gunners were all engaged in replying to
+the fire of the fleet, which lay anchored above, and we being now past
+the direct line of fire, and out on the middle of the river, the
+garrison paid no attention to us. However, the launch would have had
+no chance of overtaking us but for the unlucky accident to the tiller,
+which had made the <i>Fair Maid</i> unmanageable for the moment, and caused
+her to come up to the wind. They were thus able to draw very near us
+before the man at the helm had contrived to rig up a makeshift tiller
+out of a splinter off the gunwale. Just as he began to get the ship&#8217;s
+head round again the launch approached within hailing distance, and
+bade us surrender.</p>
+
+<p>Old Muzzy strictly forbidding any reply, they fired a bullet at us
+from a small swivel gun in the bows. Thereupon one of the crew&mdash;the
+same man who had fired at Rupert&mdash;wanted to discharge the <i>Fair
+Maid&#8217;s</i> stern gun at them; but this the boatswain would not permit.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;If we&#8217;re caught running away, they may let us off,&#8221; he said
+prudently; &#8220;but if we&#8217;re caught after firing on the king&#8217;s uniform,
+it&#8217;s hanging for every mother&#8217;s son of us.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The men saw the wisdom of this, and now the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span>sails began to draw
+again, and give a fair chance of leaving the launch behind. No sooner
+did this happen, than I experienced a keen feeling of regret. I had
+aided heartily in our escape so far, believing it to be the only thing
+I could do, but now I thought I saw a chance of being restored to my
+ship I could not resist the temptation. I measured the distance
+between the <i>Fair Maid</i> and the launch with my eye, and, though a poor
+swimmer, considered I might manage to keep afloat till the launch
+should pick me up. I turned round, shook hands with old Muzzy, and
+before he knew what I had in mind, plunged over the side into the
+water.</p>
+
+<p>I heard a cry go up from the crew, who at first thought it was an
+accident, my zeal in helping to work the ship having put it out of
+their minds that I was merely a prisoner. However, they had too much
+to do in looking after their own escape to give much thought to me;
+and in the end they got very fairly away, and disappeared outside the
+river&#8217;s mouth.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime the launch came on towards me, and then a thing
+happened which I may truly say brought my heart into my mouth. For one
+of the marines in her, looking on me no doubt as one of the pirates,
+raised his musket and aimed it directly at my head. The sun was behind
+me, but fell full upon his face, and I could see the narrowing of his
+eye as he took aim, also the flash of the sunlight along the barrel. I
+had made up my mind that I <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span>was a dead man, and was even hoping that
+my death would be too swift for me to feel the pain of the wound, when
+I saw the gun struck up and heard the voice of Irish Mick crying out
+in a mixture of terror and laughter&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Sure, don&#8217;t you know him? It&#8217;s the little purser!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The recognition came almost as near killing as saving me, for in their
+amazement the men of the launch ceased rowing, and as in my expectancy
+of death I had lost all power of motion I was like to have been
+drowned. However, they rescued me just in time, and welcomed me on
+board with a heartiness which did much to make amends for the
+suffering I had gone through since I had left their company.</p>
+
+<p>I told them my story, and had to tell it again to Mr. Griffiths and
+the purser when I reached the ship. Mr. Sanders received me coldly,
+and pronounced that I had been rightly served for hankering after my
+former evil companions, but the lieutenant spoke to me more kindly,
+and praised me for my refusal to join myself to the privateers, or
+rather pirates, for such they were now openly become.</p>
+
+<p>I claimed his promise to let me take part in the fighting, to which he
+willingly consented; though, indeed, there was but little glory to be
+gained, as the pirates were now so cowed as to have pretty well ceased
+to return our fire, and before night they had made some fresh attempts
+towards a capitulation.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span></p><p>It fell through, however, and our bombardment was renewed the
+following day. The castle was so strong, the walls being hewn in many
+places out of the solid rock that we were unable to make much
+impression, but luckily if their walls were strong, the hearts of the
+pirates were too weak to prolong the defence, and it became merely a
+question of whether they should surrender to us or to Ramagee Punt.
+The Morattoes struggled hard, but Colonel Clive stood at his post like
+a wall between them and the fort, and after two days the pirates saw
+that they had met their master, and opened the gates to him.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as I knew that Mr. Clive&#8217;s force would be the first to enter,
+I took Mr. Griffiths aside, and explained to him that there was an
+Englishwoman, in whom I was interested, inside the fortress, and after
+I had related the whole story to him he sent me ashore to the camp to
+lay the case before Mr. Clive.</p>
+
+<p>That brave man&mdash;who was good enough to express his pleasure at seeing
+me safe again&mdash;heard me with great attention. As soon as I had told my
+story he turned to his secretary.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Mr. Scrafton, you have heard what this young man says. I desire you
+will send at once for Angria&#8217;s envoy, and tell him that if I find one
+hair of this girl&#8217;s head has been injured I will hang him from his own
+walls.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He spoke this in a stern and terrible manner, which imparted some fear
+even to me. Within an <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span>hour the message came back from the pirates&#8217;
+chief that the Colonel&#8217;s orders should be strictly obeyed.</p>
+
+<p>This was while the negotiations for the surrender were still in
+progress. By the end of the second day&#8217;s bombardment all was over, and
+Colonel Clive marched into the place at the head of 800 English and
+1,000 Indian soldiers, who formed his whole army. I was allowed to
+enter at the same time.</p>
+
+<p>We found the pirates drawn up inside to the number of several
+thousands. In so vast a crowd I could not distinguish the faces of any
+of the <i>Fair Maid</i> men, nor was there a sign to be seen of my cousin
+Rupert. Out of a feeling of shame I had concealed from Colonel Clive
+that this villain was among the pirates, but I made a strict search
+for him presently all through the place, without any result. I could
+only conclude that he must have been killed during the siege, unless
+he had made his escape in some way not easy to guess.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as we had passed through the ranks of the pirates, whom Mr.
+Clive ordered to be disarmed and handed over to their Morattoe
+countrymen, we came into the inner court of the place, where we found
+Angria himself, surrounded by his chief men. He was a tall, handsome
+Indian, with a fierce, threatening countenance, surmounted by a
+crimson turban, which blazed with rich gems. His whole treasure lay
+beside him, and amounted, when it came to be reckoned up, to &pound;120,000,
+which was divided among the fleet and army, I getting &pound;6 for <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span>my own
+share. It was considered a paltry booty by the men, and some hinted
+that the officers had taken more than their portion. There was also a
+dispute between the two services as to the amount of Mr. Clive&#8217;s
+share, which the army insisted should be equal to a rear-admiral&#8217;s,
+while the navy would not allow it to be more than a post-captain&#8217;s. In
+order to settle the matter Admiral Watson very handsomely offered to
+make up the difference out of his own share, which the Colonel with
+equal handsomeness declined; and so the affair passed off.</p>
+
+<p>But the greatest prize we gained in that action, to my thinking, was
+the woman whom I found crouched in terror upon the floor of a dark,
+stifling hut, built against one of the walls of the castle, and
+expecting every moment to find herself in the clutches of some savage
+enemy. For Rupert had cruelly forborne to tell her that the fortress
+was besieged by an English fleet, and when I entered the place where
+she was confined, she no doubt believed me to be some marauder of the
+same stamp as those among whom she had been kept a prisoner.</p>
+
+<p>I stepped up beside her with a bursting heart, and laid a hand upon
+her shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Marian,&#8221; I said, &#8220;I am Athelstane Ford, who has come to set you
+free.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>She trembled all over as she gave a quick look up at me, and then rose
+tottering on to her feet. And when I saw her face, how it was all
+shrunken <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span>from its former roundness, and the colour had gone from her
+cheeks, and the brightness from her eyes, as she stood there before
+me, with her dress all dishevelled, and her beautiful long hair ragged
+and wild, the tears started to my eyes, and I swore a deep oath that
+if my cousin Rupert ever met me face to face again he should not
+depart alive.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Athelstane,&#8221; she said presently, when we had stood gazing at each
+other like that for above a minute, &#8220;that detestable villain who is
+your kinsman has cruelly used me and betrayed me; but I believe you
+are a true man. Take me to my father, and I will bless the day that I
+ever saw you first.&#8221; And before I knew what she would be at, she had
+knelt down and kissed my hand, with a passion of weeping, that proud,
+beautiful creature whom I had last seen in all the glory of her youth
+and loveliness, the jewel of her native town.</p>
+
+<p>I raised her up tenderly, and drew her forth out of that vile place. A
+week later the Admiral carried his fleet back to Bombay; but I had got
+my discharge, and was with Marian on board the sloop <i>Thetis</i>, of
+twenty-six guns, bound for the river Hooghley with despatches.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2>
+
+<h3><i>IN THE COMPANY&#8217;S SERVICE</i></h3>
+
+<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">A</span>nd now I must pass quickly over that time of my life on which I
+should most love to linger, those halcyon hours when, with Marian by
+my side and the prospect bright before us, we voyaged through those
+Indian seas, down the long coast of Malabar and up the long coast of
+Coromandel, past the Isle of Serendib, and the reefs and foaming seas,
+to where the tangled banyan roots overgrow the muddy mouth of the
+Hooghley.</p>
+
+<p>Being, as we were, the only two idle persons on board that ship, we
+were thrown upon each other&#8217;s company day after day, and in the long
+talks we had together she gave me her account of the injuries which
+she had suffered at the hands of my cousin Gurney. And what pleased me
+most in these conversations was not to hear her kind and loving
+professions towards myself, so much as that bitterness which she now
+manifested against Rupert, for whom, she told me, she cherished a
+hatred as strong as her former liking and attachment.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p><p>&#8220;You are not to think,&#8221; she said, &#8220;that I ever held your cousin in
+that regard which he was vain enough to believe and boast of. It is
+true we were good friends, and had been such before I had yet made
+your acquaintance. But he was a man for whom I had a strong distrust,
+and that in spite of his swaggering airs and gallant speeches, fit to
+turn the head of some silly, vain girl who knew nothing of the world.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;How came you to put yourself in that villain&#8217;s hands,&#8221; I asked, with
+some reproachfulness, &#8220;by venturing on board the <i>Fair Maid</i>?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I own that was a wrong, foolish act,&#8221; she answered, &#8220;of which the
+wrongs I have suffered in consequence are sufficient proof. But when I
+first yielded to Rupert Gurney&#8217;s solicitations to take my passage in
+that ship, I looked to the fact that Captain Sims was her commander,
+and it was him I relied on to afford me protection. Can you not
+understand how tired I was of my life in Yarmouth, in that old, dreary
+inn; and how I wished to be abroad and see the great world, and also
+to embrace my own parents, from whom I have been separated these
+twelve years?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Thus she made her defence. Nor was I like to gainsay it, loving her as
+I did, with the same folly and blindness as of old, and ready to see
+and to hear just as she bade me, so that I might only be let hug
+myself in the belief that I had her affection in return.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span></p><p>&#8220;For the first part of our voyage,&#8221; she told me further, &#8220;all went
+well enough, until your cousin recovered of those wounds you had given
+him. Then he began to take a tone with me which I could ill brook; and
+you may imagine my uneasiness when I perceived that he had greater
+interest with the men than Mr. Sims, and that I was fairly in his
+power. As soon as we had got out in these seas he threw off all
+pretence of taking me to Fort William; and when I implored him at
+least to set me ashore in Bombay, where I might find another ship, he
+flatly refused, and told me plainly that I was nothing more than his
+prisoner. I applied to Mr. Sims for protection, but he answered that
+it was none of his business, and since I had come aboard freely there
+was nothing penal in detaining me. This man, I could see, was afraid
+of Gurney, who shortly after raised a mutiny against him, put him in
+irons, and carried him into Gheriah.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I had forgotten to say that when we took the pirates&#8217; castle, Captain
+Sims was found among the prisoners, who, producing his papers, and
+making out a long tale about his being an innocent merchant skipper,
+fallen into the hands of the Moors, not only got his freedom, but a
+handsome compensation out of the plunder of the place, with which he
+took passage home to England.</p>
+
+<p>Marian told me that her complaints and anger at last drove Rupert to
+put her ashore, where he gave her, like Sims, into Angria&#8217;s custody.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p><p>&#8220;And the horrors of that prison,&#8221; she said, &#8220;are not to be described,
+nor even conceived by one who has not had experience of it. I was
+locked into a small cell, with scarce room to move or breathe, and the
+insufferable heat was such that I was forced to strip naked and lie on
+the floor, with scarce a rag to cover me. What would have happened to
+me if the fort had not been taken I dare not think. I must have gone
+mad or died.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Do not let us speak of it,&#8221; I said, soothing her. &#8220;All those horrors
+are passed, and not likely to return. Where we are going, in Calcutta,
+you will find friends and English customs; and your faithful servant,
+if you will have him as such, Athelstane Ford, will stand guard over
+you with his life.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>This was the nearest approach which I made to a declaration of my
+love, choosing rather to drift by force of circumstances into the
+position of Marian&#8217;s accepted lover than hazard all I had gained by
+seeking to pluck the fruit before it was ripe. It was sufficient for
+me in the meantime to elicit from her those expressions of abhorrence
+towards my cousin (and late rival), which assured me that she was
+effectually cured of her unhappy tenderness for that villain.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Thank heaven, you are not likely to be troubled with any further
+sight of him,&#8221; I said, to clinch the matter. &#8220;After these events
+Master Rupert will be no such fool as to endanger his neck by
+trespassing on the Company&#8217;s territories.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span></p><p>&#8220;I wish never to see him, nor so much as to hear of him again,&#8221; Marian
+answered warmly.</p>
+
+<p>With such assurances she satisfied me. Perhaps my hopes played me
+false, and made me take gratitude for something dearer; or it may be
+that Marian, who knew well enough what were my feelings towards her,
+did return me some fondness at this time, and was resigned to accept
+my suit. Even if I deceived myself, I will not repent it. For I know
+that this life of ours is but a series of illusions, where we stand
+like children at a peepshow in a fair, beholding pictures which we
+mistake for real things. So that I say that he who falsely thinks
+himself beloved is just as well off for that time as he who really is
+beloved. Yet so far as I was concerned, if any man had said to me then
+that Marian did not love me, I should have scorned him.</p>
+
+<p>Of my love for her I must not speak at all, or I shall never have
+done. Long before we reached the Hooghley she had recovered from the
+ill effects of her imprisonment, and moved about the ship with that
+command which her beauty gave to her. Her charm was such as I have
+never seen in any other woman: compared with them she seemed like a
+bright child among old, sleeping men, almost like a living body among
+the withered tenants of the tombs. And before we had been upon our
+voyage above a fortnight the commander and both lieutenants of the
+<i>Thetis</i> were at her beck and call, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span>while as for the little
+midshipmen, down to one youngster of twelve, they swore by her as if
+she were a goddess, and fought duels about her in the cockpit with
+their dirks.</p>
+
+<p>Before we arrived in Bengal she talked to me much about her parents,
+who had been settled at Fort William for nearly twenty years. It was a
+long time since she had had news of them, she told me, but when she
+last heard her father was prospering in his business, which was that
+of a drug factor, not in the civil service of the East Indian Company,
+but trading under their licence, and shipping his merchandise in their
+bottoms. So much she knew, but nothing besides, and it was with as
+much curiosity as myself that she saw the Sunderbunds drawing near,
+and our sloop anchoring off Falta to wait for a pilot up the river.</p>
+
+<p>The Hooghley, famous as it is, is only one of the mouths of that great
+river the Ganges, sacred and renowned throughout Indostan. Yet it is
+upwards of forty miles long, for so great was the distance which
+separated us from our destination. By means of a fair wind we
+accomplished this difficult navigation, dangerous on account of the
+numerous shoals, in a very few hours, passing on our way the fort of
+Budge-Budge, where the Company kept a small garrison.</p>
+
+<p>The scene along the banks of the river was most strange to me at this
+time, and made an impression not easy to be effaced. The trees which
+overhung <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span>the most part of the banks, of a character quite unlike
+those we have in Norfolk, were gloomy and forbidding in the extreme;
+but when we came to one of the people of the country&#8217;s villages, and
+saw the men dressed in gay turbans, the women walking about with
+curious earthen vessels on their heads, and the stark naked black
+children playing in the water, I was altogether bewildered, and could
+scarcely credit that I, who saw these things and had come to dwell
+amongst them, was the same boy who had been bred up so peacefully in
+that English village among the flat meadows bordered by the shallow
+broad.</p>
+
+<p>However, we came at last to that place since so celebrated, though
+then considered only as the third among the Company&#8217;s settlements in
+the East; I mean Fort William. The fort itself was at this date of no
+great size or consequence; but in the neighbourhood along the river
+bank were many fine warehouses erected by the English. In the rear of
+these was built the native town, which the Moors call Calcutta. Here
+the houses are generally mean and dirty; but some of the rich Indians
+lived in very noble style, having fine gardens round their houses,
+ornamented with fountains and groves of tulip trees and mangoes.</p>
+
+<p>Marian and I were put ashore in the ship&#8217;s gig, having first bid adieu
+to the officers, and set about inquiring the way to Mr. Rising&#8217;s
+house. In this at first we were unsuccessful, but at last I found an
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span>obliging person on the quay who directed his native servant to guide
+us to it.</p>
+
+<p>This man, to whom I gave a handful of pice, conducted us through some
+narrow streets of the town, very ill-paved, and full of a most evil
+smell, to a lonely neighbourhood on the side of the river further up,
+where there was a house built in the Moorish fashion, and enclosed in
+a wild garden much overrun with weeds. All round this garden was a
+high wall, conformable to the jealous disposition of these people. The
+entrance was by a narrow gate, and there was a miserable dwelling
+crouched against the wall inside, the door of which stood open. Some
+black children were playing in front of this hovel, who cried out when
+they saw us, and ran indoors. An Indian came out, very gaunt and
+fierce, who demanded in English what we did there.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We are come to see Mr. Rising,&#8221; I told him, using his own language
+which Mr. Scrafton had taught me. &#8220;Is this his house?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It is, my lord,&#8221; says the fellow, much surprised, and giving a low
+bow, which they call a salawm.</p>
+
+<p>With that I dismissed our conductor, and Mr. Rising&#8217;s gardener&mdash;for
+such he was&mdash;brought us to the house. We now saw that though
+originally a fine mansion it was sadly decayed. The walls should have
+been white, but excessive heat had cracked and blistered them, and
+turned everything to a yellowish hue. The Indian brought us inside,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span>and into a long, low-ceilinged room with a great window opening on to
+the river. This room had no furniture except two small tables; but all
+round the walls was a covered settee, very broad, such as the Moors
+are used to sit on with their legs tucked up beneath them. To a
+European it is uncomfortable at first, but by degrees I grew
+accustomed to it. In this room presently Marian&#8217;s father came to us.</p>
+
+<p>The first sight of Mr. Rising gave me a shock, and must, I think, have
+given a worse one to my companion. He was, as I knew, a man of middle
+age, yet he looked very, very old, being bent down and much wrinkled,
+with his hair nearly white. Moreover, his eyes wandered as if he were
+uncertain which way to look, and while he spoke his fingers worked
+strangely up and down his bosom, as if groping over the strings of
+some musical instrument.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, sir,&#8221; he said in a thin, halting voice, seeming to find each
+word an effort, &#8220;what is your pleasure with me?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I have come here, sir,&#8221; I said, &#8220;with one whom you will rejoice to
+see. This is Mistress Marian Rising, your daughter, who has come out
+from England in my company.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>For at Marian&#8217;s prayer I had strictly promised to say nothing about
+the manner of her voyage, which might have done her some discredit
+with the Calcutta folk.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span></p><p>As I pronounced the above words the girl herself sprang forward and
+cast her arms about her father&#8217;s neck.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Father!&#8221; she said. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you know me&mdash;your little Marian, who has
+come home!&#8221; And she wept on his bosom.</p>
+
+<p>Then it was a pity to see that ancient, stricken man wakening, as it
+seemed, out of his trance, and gradually making sure who it was that
+embraced him.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;My child! My child! Why have you come here?&#8221; he said presently. And
+then shed some tears himself, and clasped her to him, and kissed her.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Where is my mother?&#8221; asked Marian, as soon as she had raised her
+head.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Poor child! Your mother has been dead these eighteen months,&#8221; he
+answered sadly. &#8220;I should have written to tell you of it, but I was
+preparing for my passage home&mdash;indeed, I don&#8217;t know why I have not
+started before this.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He gazed round him as he spoke, so as to convince me that indeed he
+did not know, and had lost the power&mdash;poor man!&mdash;to understand his
+circumstances or to take any resolution whatsoever.</p>
+
+<p>I came away from that strange scene terrified, not so much by what I
+saw, as by an instinct I had that this man&#8217;s dreadful wreck was only a
+sign of that great and abiding horror which lay like a shadow all over
+the land; just as in the fable the glimpse of one monstrous foot was
+sufficient to warn the spectator <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span>that a giant came along. Which
+feeling in my mind was rather confirmed than dispelled when I came to
+learn, as I soon did, that Mr. Rising&#8217;s sad condition was brought
+about by the drug called opium, a staple of this country, the magical
+properties of which herb seemed to me then of a piece with the
+frightful sorceries and dark secret practices of the people, as I
+afterwards came to know them, and which, with their abominable
+idolatrous superstitions, used often to make me wonder that the
+Almighty did not destroy them with His plagues of fire and brimstone,
+like those wicked Cities of the Plain. Yet one good result of my
+observance of these people&#8217;s horrid customs was to inspire me with a
+becoming and devout gratitude that I had been born a citizen of
+Christian England, a blessing which we should the more prize since
+Providence has seen fit to deny it to so many millions of His
+creatures, and to bestow it upon a few. Sad it is that even among
+those few there should be found multitudes unmindful of their
+opportunities, who give themselves up to dissolute lives, or who turn
+away from the blessed truths of Scripture to hanker after liturgies
+and Romish inventions.</p>
+
+<hr class="medium" />
+
+<p>And now, having arrived safe in Calcutta, I looked forward to a period
+of rest and security not only for Marian, but myself, after the rough
+taste we had both had of fortune in her cantankerous mood. As soon as
+I had seen Marian lodged in her father&#8217;s <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span>house, I sought out Mr.
+Holwell, one of the principal Company&#8217;s servants in Calcutta, and
+commissioner over the police of the town. To this gentleman I brought
+a letter from Mr. Scrafton, to recommend me to his good offices, and
+having read it he at once received me very civilly and promised me his
+friendship.</p>
+
+<p>He asked me many questions about the taking of Gheriah, and also about
+Mr Robert Clive, whose character stood high in the estimation of every
+one in Bengal, even the Moors having bestowed on him the name of Sabat
+Jung, signifying the daring in war.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We had heard of this affair before you came,&#8221; Mr. Holwell told me.
+&#8220;The man Angria was famous in these parts, and supposed to be
+invincible, so that his sudden destruction by our armament has given
+the natives here an altogether new idea of the English power. It will
+be well if this doesn&#8217;t do us more harm than good, for the Moors are a
+jealous, suspicious race. Our agent in the neighbourhood of
+Moorshedabad, the Nabob&#8217;s capital, has warned us that the English have
+many enemies at the Court, who seek to poison the Nabob&#8217;s mind against
+us. I believe there are some spies come down here to examine our
+defences and the strength of our garrison.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What!&#8221; I said. &#8220;Do you think the Nabob intends anything against us?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, I don&#8217;t say that,&#8221; Mr. Holwell answered. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span>&#8220;The present Nabob,
+Allaverdy Khan, has always been our good friend. But he is old and
+sick, and his nephew, who is likely to succeed him, is a dangerous
+young man, puffed up with pride and conceit. If he should come to the
+throne he is only too likely to find some pretext for harassing the
+Company.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>To these forebodings I paid but little attention at the time, though I
+was soon to learn that they were not idle fears. Mr. Holwell, after
+having ascertained that I was acquainted with the Gentoo language,
+offered to procure me employment under the Company in one of their
+counting-houses, as interpreter, which offer I gladly accepted for the
+time. I was to receive a salary of 200 rupees by the month, in
+addition to which Mr. Holwell undertook to procure me a dustuck from
+the Governor, enabling any merchandise I chose to trade in to pass
+through the province of Bengal free of taxes or duties to the Nabob&#8217;s
+government.</p>
+
+<p>I soon found out that this privilege of trading on their own account
+proved, together with the presents they received from native merchants
+who did business with the Company, the most valuable part of the
+livelihood of the Company&#8217;s servants. Their salaries were so
+wretchedly small as to be insufficient for the necessities of life in
+this climate, where the poorest European is obliged to keep half a
+dozen black servants in his pay. For my part, I did not embark in
+trade myself, having no capital, but I accepted the offer of a Gentoo
+merchant to lend him <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span>the use of my dustuck to cover his goods, for
+which he paid me handsomely.</p>
+
+<p>These Gentoos, as they are called in that part of India, are the
+original natives of the country, who follow the idolatrous religion
+taught by their Bramins, practising human sacrifices and other rites
+too vile for description. Over them the Moors have established their
+empire by force, but being a military race, incapable of business,
+they commit the details of their government to certain of the Gentoos,
+who collect their revenues, and amass great fortunes. They are very
+dishonest scoundrels, as I discovered, and at first, finding me new to
+the Company&#8217;s business, I have no doubt they overreached me. At the
+same time I received many handsome gratifications from them, so that I
+came to consider myself ill-used when I did not pocket a hundred or
+two rupees over a transaction involving some thousands. But in the
+course of a few weeks, as I began to understand the trade better, and
+to cut down their exorbitant demands, these men marvellously abated
+their complaisance. Some of them, even, who had professed to know no
+English, suddenly showed themselves to be conversant with it, and
+chose to conduct their negotiations with some other servant of the
+Company.</p>
+
+<p>During this time I was lodged, upon Mr. Holwell&#8217;s recommendation, in
+the house of a respectable, God-fearing widow, Mrs. Bligh, whose son
+had recently gone up country to our factory at Cossimbuzar. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span>Every day
+I attended at the counting-house, where I was placed under the orders
+of the Honourable Robert Byng, brother of the ill-fated admiral of the
+same name, and who managed the business of the Company&#8217;s investment in
+rice, one of the principal branches of their trade. The Gentoo
+merchants came to us there to make contracts for the provision of such
+quantities as we required, after which they travelled about Bengal,
+purchasing the crops, and sending the grain down the river in barges,
+to be shipped at Calcutta for England.</p>
+
+<p>Another staple of the Company&#8217;s commerce, and the most valuable of
+all, is silk. The Bengalee Indians are renowned for this manufacture,
+yet they have no regular places set apart for it, but in their
+villages scattered up and down the country, every man works for
+himself in his own hut, doing no more&mdash;such is the natural laziness of
+this people&mdash;than just sufficient to support him. The merchants are
+consequently obliged to travel about from place to place, collecting
+the stuff, which they do chiefly at the country fairs, where the
+peasantry assemble once a year, bringing their work to be disposed of.
+It is these customs of the people which have made it necessary for us
+to set up an establishment in their country, like the Dutch at
+Chinsurah and the French at Chander Nugger; for unless there were some
+English on the spot to collect this merchandise and have it ready
+against the arrival of the Company&#8217;s fleet, the ships would often
+return empty, or <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span>be obliged to pay extravagant prices to the native
+monopolists of the trade.</p>
+
+<p>While I was thus employed in the daytime, I seldom allowed an evening
+to pass without visiting Marian at her father&#8217;s house. Here I was most
+kindly received, and for a time my hopes ran high. But, I cannot tell
+how it was, I began presently to discover a change in Marian for which
+I could not account. While her friendship towards me was in no way
+lessened, but if possible increased, I gradually became aware that I
+did not possess her entire confidence. She would sometimes look up
+disturbed, I had nearly said frightened, at my entrance. At other
+times when we were in the midst of conversation her attention seemed
+to wander, and her expression became troubled, as if she had some
+secret anxiety preying on her mind. I cannot say how unhappy I was
+made by these symptoms, though I was far indeed from guessing at their
+cause.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly, in the midst of these private disquietudes, an event
+happened which cast a shadow over the whole community of Calcutta.
+Intelligence arrived that Allaverdy Khan was dead, and his nephew
+Surajah Dowlah proclaimed Nabob of Bengal.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2>
+
+<h3><i>THE SPY</i></h3>
+
+<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">S</span>o many accounts have been written of the events which took place in
+Bengal about this time, that I shall omit as much as possible of the
+public transactions in which I was concerned, dealing rather with my
+own particular adventures in the midst of them.</p>
+
+<p>Of Surajah Dowlah, at the time of his accession, I knew only what was
+reported about him by common rumour in the settlement, which was that
+he was a young man of cruel and vicious propensities, ill-disposed
+towards the English in his country, and greedy for plunder. This was
+enough to make me share the uneasiness about his intentions towards
+us, which I found to prevail in the minds of Mr. Holwell, Mr. Byng,
+and other prudent persons. On the evening of the day on which I heard
+this news, therefore, I went round to Mr. Rising&#8217;s house, to speak
+with Marian about her situation.</p>
+
+<p>It was not quite dusk when I arrived, being the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span>month of April. To my
+surprise I found the outer gate leading into the garden close shut,
+and it was not till after knocking and shouting for many minutes that
+the Indian porter condescended to come and open it. Being angry with
+the man for this unreasonable delay, I cuffed him as I passed in&mdash;for
+without some severities of this kind there is nothing to be done with
+the natives of Bengal. The fellow, instead of cringing before me as is
+the wont of these people, gave me a black look, and muttered
+sullenly&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The lord is harsh to his servant, but another may be harsher to the
+lord.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Not knowing at this time the wonderful intelligence which prevails
+among the Indians, so that news of all kinds travels about among them
+by underground channels of which Europeans are not permitted to know,
+I did not sufficiently understand the gravity of this threat.
+Dismissing it as a mere piece of insolence, however unusual, I walked
+up to the house and opening the door for myself, came into the room
+where Marian usually received me and which was the same I have already
+described.</p>
+
+<p>I found her sitting alone by the open window, in the dusk, looking out
+into the river. As I walked in she turned with the uneasy start I had
+remarked on former occasions, and rising hurriedly, came to meet me.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Good evening, Marian,&#8221; I said, taking her by the hand. &#8220;I should have
+been here sooner but for <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span>that surly gardener of yours, who kept me
+waiting at the gate.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I will speak to him about it,&#8221; she answered.</p>
+
+<p>It was not light enough for me to see her face, but I observed that
+she spoke in a tone of indifference, as if scarcely heeding what she
+said. At the same time she took her seat on the divan, and asked me to
+sit by her.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Is your father well?&#8221; I asked, putting the question out of courtesy,
+for by this time we both knew that the poor man was ruined by his
+dreadful habit, from which it was impossible he should ever be
+released.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, I think so. I have not seen him lately,&#8221; she said, still with
+the same distracted air.</p>
+
+<p>I will confess, plainly, that I had begun to have fears for her, lest
+either the ravages of the climate, or the sufferings she had
+undergone, had wrought upon her mind.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I come to bring you bad news,&#8221; I went on. &#8220;The Nabob has died.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;So I have understood,&#8221; Marian replied in the same listless way. Then,
+seeming to recollect herself, she added quickly&mdash;&#8220;I learnt the news
+this afternoon from a friend.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Since her arrival I knew that some of the ladies of the settlement had
+shown Marian some kindness, inviting her to their houses occasionally.
+One of these ladies, I concluded, had been beforehand with me in my
+intelligence.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span></p><p>&#8220;I am glad to see you so easy under the circumstances,&#8221; I said,
+feeling perhaps a little jealous. &#8220;I suppose you know that the new
+Nabob is no friend to the Company, and that we may have trouble with
+him before many months are past.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I suppose it may be so. But though Surajah Dowlah may have grounds
+for complaint against the Council here, I can&#8217;t think he will carry
+his resentment so far as to injure the peaceable inhabitants of
+Calcutta.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I turned towards her, amazed.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What do you say?&#8221; I cried. &#8220;You speak as though you were in the
+Nabob&#8217;s interests! Have you been listening to the talk of some Moor or
+other? If so, let me tell you that they are nothing but liars and
+traitors, every mother&#8217;s son of them!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You needn&#8217;t be so fierce!&#8221; she returned, more warmly than she had yet
+spoken. &#8220;I have had no conversation with any Moor, or Gentoo either,
+upon the subject. Surely I may have leave to think as I choose,
+without being bound to take my opinions from Mr. Athelstane Ford!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh Marian, Marian!&#8221; I exclaimed bitterly, wounded by these unkind
+words. &#8220;What have I done to forfeit your confidence? Have I not been
+faithful and true to you from the first hour of our acquaintance till
+now? You know that I am the best friend you have, and one who would
+die to serve you. Yet these several days past you have behaved to me
+as if you had plans which you wished <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span>to keep from me. Do you doubt of
+my being ready to do anything you should bid me, even if it were to go
+to Moorshedabad and enlist with Surajah Dowlah himself? Why are we not
+to be open with each other? You know I love you; I have told you so
+often enough before we ever came out to this dreadful land; and I
+think I have shown myself ready to prove it as well. Even now I have
+come here simply to provide for your safety. In a few days the
+unfavourable monsoon will set in, after which no ship can leave the
+coast, but this week there is a vessel sailing for Madras, on which I
+am able to secure a passage for you, and for Mr. Rising as well, if he
+will go. I have come to offer you this opportunity, and entreat you to
+accept of it. And if there are any who would persuade you to remain,
+depend upon it, they are your enemies and not your friends.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>She heard me out, sitting quite still and showing no sign of
+impatience. But when I had finished she said&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I thank you, Athelstane, for your kind intentions, and for your
+goodness in the past, of which I do not need to be reminded. As for
+what you say about your love for me, since you have spoken so plainly,
+I must needs tell you that I am not able to return it. I have tried,
+both on the voyage hither and since; and I have failed. Your loving
+friend I am, and hope to remain always, no matter what may happen to
+part us for a time. Nevertheless, I don&#8217;t <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span>share your fears of what
+the Moors may do against us, and I will not leave Calcutta, though I
+thank you for your offers.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>She seemed as if about to say more, but stopped abruptly. Of the deep
+distress which I felt to hear her declare that my love for her was
+hopeless, I say nothing, for what can be said? There are some to whom
+that great prize, the chief that life affords, namely the love of the
+woman they have chosen, is granted, but to most men, I suppose, it is
+denied; and I but shared the common lot. These things are the most
+important in our lives, they leave bruises whose marks are never quite
+effaced; yet all passes secretly; the business of life goes on, the
+world sees our actions, our outward triumphs and losses, and knows of
+nothing else. There was not a soul in Calcutta who ever knew what had
+passed between Marian and me on this occasion, and yet those few words
+were a worse grief to me than all the other sufferings I had to
+endure; and in that single hour I was changed from a boy into a man.</p>
+
+<p>After this I dared not press her again on the subject of leaving
+Calcutta. With a heavy heart I watched the last ship go down the
+Hooghley on the way to England, and the very day after it had gone I
+received a message in writing from Mr. Holwell, in these words&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot">&#8220;Haste to the Council meeting, and ask for me. We are in receipt of
+threatening letters from Moorshedabad, and need your services.&#8221;</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span></p><p>Not a little agitated, I thrust the letter into my pocket, and
+hastened round to Mr. Drake&#8217;s, the Governor&#8217;s house, where the Council
+was assembled, he being confined indoors by an illness. I sent in my
+name to Mr. Holwell, who immediately came out and fetched me into the
+room where they were met.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Drake lay on a couch against one of the windows, while the other
+gentlemen were seated around in a circle, facing him. He was a stout
+man with a red face, who had spent many years in the East Indies, and
+by dint of an important manner and never having been placed in any
+situation of real difficulty, had passed down to this time for a very
+prudent and capable person. On my entrance he spoke to me rather
+peremptorily&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You are Mr. Ford, are you not?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I nodded.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I am told that you speak the Indostanee language. Is that so?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, sir,&#8221; I said. &#8220;Mr. Holwell and Mr. Byng are aware of it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Very good.&#8221; He nodded his head once or twice. &#8220;Those gentlemen have
+recommended you to the Council as a discreet, intelligent young man,
+which I do not doubt you are. There is an employment which I have to
+propose to you, one which calls for those qualities, and also for
+courage. The question is, young man&#8221;&mdash;he fixed his eyes on me very
+sternly&mdash;&#8220;do you think you possess courage?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span></p><p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; I answered bluntly, not much liking his manner of
+questioning me.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Ha!&#8221; He gave a sort of sniff, and looked about him scornfully.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But I have fought one duel, and am ready to fight another with any
+one who doubts me,&#8221; I said, speaking in a modest voice. And some of
+the gentlemen laughed and clapped their hands.</p>
+
+<p>The Governor frowned severely.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I believe, Mr. Ford, that you intend no disrespect to this Council by
+your answer?&#8221; To this challenge I made no response. &#8220;Very good, I
+daresay you may be equal to the commission we have to offer you. You
+must know that we have received letters from the newly proclaimed
+Nabob of Bengal, complaining of certain improvements we have made in
+our defences. Those improvements were made in the prospect of the
+French war, but the Nabob chooses to regard them as directed against
+him. Now the point is this, that we believe information has been
+supplied to Surajah Dowlah by some person in this town, not one of the
+Indians, but a European, who must have some means unknown to us of
+coming to and fro. We have set a watch, but are unable to detect him.
+Mr. Holwell has suggested that you might undertake this task, and by
+reason of your ability to communicate with the Gentoos in their own
+language, succeed in discovering this person; in which case we are
+prepared to pay you a very handsome reward.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span></p><p>I did not feel much inclined to this proposal at the first blush,
+considering that it carried little honour with it. But Mr. Holwell,
+who no doubt divined my objections, set himself to remove them.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You will render the Company and the whole settlement a great service
+if you are able to effect this, Ford,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The fact is that the
+presence of a European spy, most probably a Frenchman, is a source of
+very great danger. There are many weak points in the fort, for
+instance, which would be overlooked by a Moor, but of which fatal
+advantage may be taken if they are communicated to an enemy by an
+intelligent observer. I think it is your plain duty to assist the
+Council if you can.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That is enough, sir; I will do my best,&#8221; I replied.</p>
+
+<p>The Governor then dismissed me, and the Council broke up. I believe
+letters were sent to Surajah Dowlah, to explain the circumstances
+which had awaked his suspicions, but without any good effect.
+Meanwhile Mr. Holwell carried me to his house, where we laid our plans
+for the detection of the spy.</p>
+
+<p>It was settled that I should assume the dress of a Moor, and in that
+character should pass my time about the fort and adjacent grounds,
+that being the place to which a person seeking information would be
+most likely to repair. Mr. Holwell provided me with a turban, jacket,
+and blue trousers, and I stained my face with a pigment which he
+assured me would <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span>not easily come off. At the same time I wore a
+scymetar in my belt, and put a pair of pistols in my bosom. Thus
+disguised I went out for a walk through the bazaars, and had the
+satisfaction to observe that I was everywhere taken for a Moor. But
+when I spoke I was not so successful, my practise in the language not
+being sufficient to impose upon the Indians.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as I had satisfied myself by this experiment that my disguise
+was accurate, I returned towards the fort, and commenced walking about
+it, observing the persons who came in and out on their business. But
+though my suspicions were once or twice attracted to different ones,
+yet I found nothing to go upon. In this way not only one day passed,
+but several others, and I began to despair of success.</p>
+
+<p>On the fourth day of my watch, however, about seven o&#8217;clock in the
+evening, as I happened to be looking abroad of the river, which is
+here pretty wide, and contained a good deal of small shipping, I
+noticed a man in a boat, which he rowed himself, who appeared to be
+lurking about for no very honest purpose. Instead of either landing or
+going off in some fixed direction, this man plied to and fro, close
+under the wall of the fort, which he seemed to examine very closely
+from time to time. As well as I could make out he was a Moor, and my
+instructions were to watch for a Frenchman, yet I was rendered so
+uneasy by the movements of this individual that I resolved to go out
+on the water, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span>and examine him more closely. Accordingly I left the
+place where I was, near the north gate of the fort, and strolled down
+to a small flight of stairs on the river bank, where some boats lay
+for hire. Stepping into one of these, I cast off, and taking the oars,
+which I had learned to handle during my term of service on board the
+<i>Talisman</i>, rowed slowly out towards the spy, as I believed him to be.</p>
+
+<p>When he saw me coming towards him, he at first pulled a few strokes as
+if to make away, but being, as I suppose, reassured by the sight of my
+costume, he ceased rowing and waited for me to come up alongside.
+Glancing round from time to time as I drew near, I soon perceived that
+I had no Frenchman to deal with, or at least that, if I had, he had
+taken the same precaution as myself in assuming the dress of the
+country. Feeling desirous to test him, I hailed as soon as I came up,
+in the native tongue.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Does my lord seek for anything that his servant may procure him?&#8221; I
+said, using their fulsome style.</p>
+
+<p>He at once replied, in what was evidently a phrase learnt by rote&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I cannot speak your language, but I am a friend of Omichund.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Now this Omichund was a great, rich Gentoo, a banker and merchant who,
+having made huge profits as a broker in the matter of the Company&#8217;s
+investment for many years, had recently had his services dispensed
+with, and was believed to be disaffected <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span>on that account, and in
+correspondence with the Moorish Court. I needed no more to convince me
+that this was most likely the man whom I had been employed to
+apprehend. Not daring to speak English, and it being useless to
+address him in the Indostanee, I made signs that he should follow me,
+and commenced to row to the shore.</p>
+
+<p>But here I was disappointed, for the fellow, instead of following me,
+at once began to move off in the opposite direction. Seeing this I at
+once turned, shouting after him, and pointing where I would have him
+go. He merely grinned and rowed further off, nor was it any better
+when I showed him one of my pistols, for he then merely increased his
+speed, so that I was obliged to pick up my oars again pretty quickly
+in order to pursue him.</p>
+
+<p>Seeing that it was become a race between us, he bent to his oars, and
+I did the same, so that the two boats flew down the river, one about
+twelve lengths behind the other. But taking advantage of a string of
+barges which lay anchored out in the stream, he presently dodged me,
+running in round the tail of the line, and so altering his course up
+the stream. If I had not turned my head constantly to watch him, I
+should soon have lost him among the shipping, and these frequent
+turnings hindered my rowing, so that I could not gain on the other
+boat so fast as I should otherwise have done. For I soon perceived
+that I was the better rower of the two, or else had the quicker boat;
+and the spy seemed to perceive it <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span>too, for after taking me some
+distance up the middle of the river, he suddenly struck off towards
+the bank, rowing hard for a house which had come in sight, standing on
+the river&#8217;s edge.</p>
+
+<p>As we approached this house I could just see (for it was growing dark)
+a large window standing open, not above a man&#8217;s height from the water.
+To this my fellow rowed, and having brought his boat beneath it, threw
+down his oars, stood up on the gunwale, and with a desperate leap
+which nearly sunk the boat, gained the sill of the window and
+disappeared inside.</p>
+
+<p>But I was close behind, running up against the side of his boat at the
+moment when he passed in at the window, so that by imitating his
+tactics I was able to leap through immediately after him. I stumbled
+in alighting, picked myself up, and glanced round, to perceive the man
+I had been pursuing standing over against me with a pistol in his
+hand. The next moment I had recognised the room, and there was Marian
+standing up with a distressed face, one hand on her bosom and the
+other stretched out between us.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Stand back!&#8221; shouted the spy to her in English, in a voice that I
+could have recognised anywhere in the world. &#8220;This is a damned Indian
+spy, whom I will kill as soon as I have questioned him.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You lie, Rupert Gurney,&#8221; says I, quite calm and cold, as I drew out
+my own pistols and stood facing him. &#8220;&#8217;Tis you are the spy, in the
+service of a vile, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span>treacherous, Moorish tyrant, to whom you would
+betray your countrymen.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I do not think I have ever seen a man so overwhelmed as was Rupert by
+those words, though the surprise of this encounter must in reality
+have been less to him than it was to me, since Marian had of course
+told him of my being in Calcutta. His jaw dropped, and he ceased to
+present his pistol at me, no doubt being well aware that I would not
+take him at a disadvantage.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; I continued, &#8220;not satisfied with your piracies and murders, for
+which you are justly afraid to show your face in any English
+community, you are now become a traitor and a public enemy. You have
+hired yourself out to that bad man, Surajah Dowlah, and go about to
+deliver your fellow Christians into the hands of Mussalmans and
+heathen.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not so fast, young man,&#8221; says Rupert, resuming his natural insolence.
+&#8220;Your reproaches are unfair in one particular at least. I am no longer
+a Christian, having exchanged that religion for the more convenient
+and profitable one of the Alcoran.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He added a coarse jest which I am ashamed to write down, and which a
+year or two before I believe he would have been ashamed to utter. I
+have heard that residence in the East Indies has this effect upon some
+men, to change their characters to evil, so that when they return to
+Europe they are no longer fit for the decent society of their own
+country. And <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span>though my cousin Gurney was an unscrupulous and daring
+young man before ever he left Norfolk, yet I believe he was altered
+for the worse after his visiting those parts.</p>
+
+<p>Marian, standing terrified between us, now interfered to say&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Be silent, Rupert, if you please. And you, Athelstane, since you
+perceive your cousin is here under my father&#8217;s roof, I entreat you to
+retire as you came.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I cannot, Marian,&#8221; says I, very firm. &#8220;I am charged to take that
+traitor and villain, and I will do it, dead or alive.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>In spite of his bravado I could see Gurney wince under these words,
+though he affected to make light of them.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Leave us together, girl,&#8221; he said to Marian. &#8220;I will tame this young
+cockerel, as I would have done before if he had fought me fairly, with
+the weapons agreed to be used by us.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>My blood boiled to hear this shameful taunt.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You coward!&#8221; I cried, &#8220;I spared your life once, as you well know, and
+then you would have murdered me in cold blood because the cutlass
+broke that I had of a Jew! But I will fight you now with sword,
+pistol, or both, and this time I swear that you shall not escape with
+your life.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But Marian would not consent to this.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You are not to fight,&#8221; she exclaimed. &#8220;Do you hear me, Athelstane
+Ford? Your cousin wants nothing but to be allowed to go away in
+safety; and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span>would you be the one to deliver your own blood up to
+justice? For shame!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Shame, indeed!&#8221; I retorted bitterly, all the anguish that was pent up
+in my heart breaking out. &#8220;Shame that I who have loved and served you,
+and delivered you out of the prison where this very man had put you,
+should be asked to spare him now by you, whom he has never truly
+loved, whom he has betrayed and slighted, and is ready to betray
+again. I know not, though I can guess, by what wheedling tale he has
+cozened you to forgive him, and to lend him shelter and protection in
+his base designs; but do you think, Marian, that that villain standing
+there will care for you one moment longer than you can be of use to
+him, and that he will not leave you to a worse fate than before when
+he has done with you, and that without the least compunction? I have
+loved you a long time, Marian, but I have never understood you, and if
+this is your intention then I think you cannot be in your true mind.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I looked to see her break out and weep, but she did not. She cast her
+eyes to the ground, and said, when I had finished, speaking low&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I think you are right, and that perhaps I am not in my true mind. For
+there are times when I know and see all the falsehood and wickedness
+of this man&#8217;s heart as well as ever you can tell it me, and yet I tell
+you, to my own bitter shame, that I love him so that if he bids me
+follow him into any disgrace or crime, God help me, I cannot refuse!&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2>
+
+<h3><i>TAKEN CAPTIVE</i></h3>
+
+<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">R</span>upert, when he heard those words of Marian, gave a laugh, and
+advanced a step towards me.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There now, you see how it is,&#8221; he said, &#8220;as I told you long ago in
+Yarmouth; but you wouldn&#8217;t believe me. Come, why need we keep up our
+quarrel any longer, when the girl tells you to your face that she
+prefers me? After all, we are of the same blood, good Norfolk
+dumplings both; and if I have done you any injury in the past, I am
+here ready to tender my best amends for it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He spoke this with a brave air, and I believe was going to offer me
+his hand. I must confess that I was a little touched with compunction
+at that mention of Norfolk, where I was born. Something, too, of that
+old superiority and fascination which this man had exercised over me
+in my boyhood revived as he spoke. But the memory of his subsequent
+treacheries and crimes was too strong for me to feel more than a
+momentary inclination towards yielding. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span>I drew back from him,
+therefore, and shook my head.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;If we are related, it is a thing I cannot help, though it is to my
+shame,&#8221; I answered him. &#8220;But I will have no more part nor lot with
+you, were you the last of my kin left on earth. Do not suppose that,
+because Marian is so far bewitched that she has forgiven you your
+wicked treatment of her, I shall do the same. What are you now but a
+traitor to your countrymen, and a spy in the service of a bloody
+Indian tyrant? Rupert Gurney, I must tell you that I hold you for a
+detestable villain and a coward, and I will pursue you without truce
+and without rest till I have rid the earth of such a wretch. And I am
+here now ready to begin.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>My anger against him gathered and swelled as I spoke, recalling his
+base actions, so different from his words. He immediately let me see
+that his behaviour was not changed, for before I had well done
+speaking he suddenly raised his pistol and discharged it in my face;
+after which he turned and ran out through the doorway, without waiting
+to see the result of his shot. To do my cousin justice, I believe he
+had plenty of natural courage, being of the right Ford strain, as he
+said. But after that great combat which we had in the boat off
+Yarmouth river, he never faced me again without a certain reluctance
+and blenching, as though his conscience misgave him.</p>
+
+<p>I was very little hurt on this occasion, for the ball <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span>entered my
+mouth sideways, merely depriving me of two teeth, and issuing again
+through the left cheek. But the sudden pain and bleeding incommoded me
+so far as to hinder my pursuit of Rupert, so that he got clear away
+and left the town that night, it seems, for Moorshedabad.</p>
+
+<p>I reported the affair to Mr. Drake, merely concealing some details, as
+that this was my kinsman; and he was so well satisfied to have got rid
+of him that he promised me I should receive half the reward offered
+for his capture. But the subsequent events doubtless put it out of his
+mind, for I never received anything. And on the whole I was satisfied
+with this, not wishing to make a profit, as it were, out of the
+treachery of one of my own family, however unworthy.</p>
+
+<p>Even had I succeeded in taking Gurney, and had he been executed, it
+was now too late to have altered the course of events. Every day
+brought fresh intelligence confirming the hostility of the Nabob
+towards the English. One day he sent to demand the levelling of Fort
+William to the ground, the next he threatened the withdrawal of the
+Company&#8217;s privileges, and in particular the dustucks, which he said
+were abused by being lent to Gentoos, his own subjects. Finally word
+came that Surajah Dowlah had marched out of Moorshedabad with his
+army, and had sat down before Cossimbuzar, where we had a factory and
+a small fort.</p>
+
+<p>All this time the Governor and others of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span>Council had refused to
+believe that anything was intended beyond extorting a sum of money
+from the Company. But the wiser and more prudent ones, among whom were
+Messrs. Byng and Holwell, took a different view, which they made me
+share. Now at last Mr. Drake seemed to rouse from his supineness, and
+gave orders for the town and fort to be prepared against attack.
+Before these orders could be carried out, however, arrived the news
+that Mr. Watts, chief of the Cossimbuzar party, was a prisoner in the
+Nabob&#8217;s hands, that the place was surrendered, and plundered by the
+Moors, and that our garrison, though promised security, had been so
+barbarously used by them that Mr. Elliott, the commanding officer, had
+taken his own life.</p>
+
+<p>And now men began to tell each other fearful stories of Surajah Dowlah
+and his career. It was said that when he was a child his favourite
+pastime had been the torturing of birds and animals, from which, while
+still in his boyhood, he had passed to mutilating slaves; that not
+only had he given himself from his earliest years to every species of
+oriental lust&mdash;some too vile to be named&mdash;but he was even a drunkard,
+a vice forbidden by the Alcoran and foreign to the manners of
+Indostan. To his great-uncle, the late Nabob, who doted on him to
+distraction, he had shown, it was said, the basest ingratitude,
+insolently taking advantage of the old man&#8217;s affection to accomplish
+his crimes and murders with impunity, and, if restrained in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span>any of
+his desires, to withdraw from the Court and threaten rebellion,
+knowing that his uncle would yield anything rather than endure the
+absence of his darling. At the present moment, it was affirmed, he had
+quarrelled with and set aside all the wisest and principal men in his
+dominions, and was governed by minions of his own, buffoons and such
+creatures, sprung from the lowest class and promoted to high stations
+as a reward for their participation in his guilty orgies. Such was the
+young man, incapable of reason or mercy, and passing from one
+transport of passion to another, who was now in full march with all
+his force against Calcutta, having sworn to exterminate the English
+from Bengal.</p>
+
+<p>Immediately I found there was talk of resistance and fighting, I went
+to Mr. Byng and begged to be allowed to serve with the garrison. This
+offer he thankfully accepted, and in the course of a day or two every
+other Englishman in the town either volunteered or was pressed into
+the same service. Our regular garrison consisted of only two hundred
+European troops, to which were added some Topasses, a mixed breed of
+Indians and Portuguese, very suitable to be used as mercenaries, and
+about a thousand of the black natives armed as buxerries, or matchlock
+men. Out of regard to my having been the first to volunteer and to my
+former service on board a man-of-war, I was presently appointed a
+sergeant, and put in charge of a party of twelve men, assigned to the
+defence of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span>rope-walk which joins the main east road from the fort
+to the Morattoe ditch.</p>
+
+<p>Besides this ditch, begun to be dug many years before at a time when
+the Morattoe armies were invading Bengal, and never finished, there
+was no fortification of any kind round the town; so that barricades
+had now to be thrown up, and guns planted in the streets at whatever
+points seemed most favourable for intercepting the advance of the
+enemy. The plan of defence, so far as any plan was adhered to in the
+confusion and panic which prevailed, was to defend these outposts as
+long as possible, then to retire into Fort William itself and stand a
+siege, and when the fort could be maintained no longer to take to the
+ships which lay in the river, and drop down the stream out of reach of
+the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>My own post was, as I have said, at the rope-walk. At one end of this
+place, on the main road into the town, was a battery under the command
+of a captain, so disposed as to check any advance. But in case the
+enemy should try to creep round through some side streets and take the
+battery in flank, our little party of twelve was stationed at the
+other end of the rope-walk, ready to detect and resist any such
+attempt.</p>
+
+<p>The first notice we had of the arrival of the Moors&#8217; army was by a
+cannon fired on the north side of the town, at a place where the
+Morattoe ditch joined the river Hooghley. This being the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span>direct way
+for an army coming from Moorshedabad to enter Calcutta, the Moors here
+made their first attack, and all that day the sound of cannon and
+musketry came to us on the breeze, without our seeing the enemy or
+knowing how the fortune of the day was turning. But with evening came
+the good news that the enemy had been repulsed and had drawn off to
+the other side of the ditch.</p>
+
+<p>That night we did not dare to retire to rest indoors, but slept at our
+post, under a shed put up over some wheels on which the twine was
+wound. At four in the morning we were up and eating some bread and
+cold meat sent to us from the fort for our breakfast, when suddenly we
+heard a fearful rattle and crash of musketry close at hand. The enemy
+had been informed of the gap in the Morattoe ditch further south, had
+swarmed across it, and were now attacking our outposts all along the
+line.</p>
+
+<p>Leaving our meal half-eaten, we sprang to our feet and took our
+weapons. I ordered the men not to expose themselves more than was
+needed, an order which one or two of them obeyed so zealously as to
+place themselves where they could neither see nor be seen by the
+enemy, and where all they did was to load their muskets and discharge
+them into the air in the direction from which the attack seemed to
+come. However, I found some braver than that, and as the Moors seemed
+much <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span>afraid of our fire we held them at bay well enough. Their own
+fire was more frightening than dangerous, the noise being out of all
+proportion to the number of persons hit. So much was this the case
+that after some hours had gone by without a single ball taking effect
+on any member of our party, their first fears wore off and all began
+to expose themselves in a very reckless manner.</p>
+
+<p>There was a wall forming the side of the rope-walk, about four feet
+high, and behind this wall we stood and fired at the Moors as they
+showed themselves in any of the streets commanded by our position. I
+cannot describe how interested and excited I got in this cruel sport,
+for such it resembled. I chose for myself a long, narrow street
+leading to the southward, with about a dozen lanes crossing it from
+east to west. Loading my gun and resting it on the coping of the wall
+with the muzzle pointed down this street, I kept my eyes on the
+various openings. Every quarter of an hour, perhaps, a small party of
+soldiers in bright silk turbans, with glittering arms and armour,
+would pass out from one of the lanes into this street, either crossing
+it or moving up or down. Each time I would wait till a whole group
+emerged, so as to have a bigger target, and then discharge my piece.
+Almost invariably a man would fall, and the whole party, terrified and
+not understanding the smallness of our force, would run into one of
+the lanes adjoining, leaving a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span>wounded or dead man lying in the
+deserted street. This went on till, I think, fifteen or twenty bodies
+lay at different points along the roadway, besides those who, being
+slightly hurt, had crawled away into shelter.</p>
+
+<p>In the end I suppose the Moorish leader in this part of the attack
+must have had notice of our proceedings; for presently a force of some
+thirty or forty Indians emerged suddenly from a corner very near the
+rope-walk and advanced towards us at a run, firing freely as they
+came. Now it was that one of our men was hit for the first time, a
+Company&#8217;s servant named Parkes, a young lad who had arrived in Bengal
+only six weeks before from England. A ball struck him under the right
+eye, and he died in a few minutes.</p>
+
+<p>This accident caused the rest of us to take more care. Nevertheless,
+we managed to get off a good volley before the enemy could arrive as
+far as the wall, wounding several. The rest wavered, and would,
+perhaps, have fled but for the action of their leader, a tall, fine
+man, having a great scymetar in his hand, with which he struck his men
+violently on the shoulders to urge them forward. Seeing them resume
+their rush at our position, I looked round at my own men, and to my
+disgust found several preparing to desert their places and retire
+further back.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Stop!&#8221; I shouted angrily. &#8220;Let us show these black villains we are
+not afraid of them! Fix bayonets! Forward! Charge!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span></p><p>With these words I leaped over the wall and ran at the enemy, followed
+by my whole party, except one man, who actually threw down his piece
+and fled, not stopping till he reached the fort. But he need not have
+done this, for had he stood a moment he would have seen the whole
+party of Moors break and fly without waiting to close with us, so much
+were they terrified by the way in which we sprang over the wall to
+come at them. And this is, indeed, the nature of all the natives of
+Indostan&mdash;to give way instantly that they meet an enemy who is more
+bent on fighting than they are themselves.</p>
+
+<p>The only person to stand his ground was the leader of the party, who
+waited for us to come up, and then, singling me out, aimed a blow at
+me with his scymetar. Up to this moment I had been too busy to observe
+his face, and my rage knew no bounds when I discovered that I had to
+do with my renegade kinsman himself, who, it appears, had been
+searching for me from the very beginning of the battle. How it would
+now have gone between us I cannot say, for several of my men closing
+in round us almost immediately, Rupert saw his danger and ran off, and
+my duty to defend the rope-walk forbade me from following.</p>
+
+<p>For the rest of that day we were not much disturbed, except by the
+continual pattering of bullets, which seemed to come from all quarters
+of the compass. When night came, being anxious to learn how the siege
+had progressed in other quarters, I sent a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span>messenger to the fort, who
+brought back word that the enemy had made no very great impression so
+far, but that everything was in such a state of confusion and dismay
+at the headquarters that it was impossible we could hold out much
+longer.</p>
+
+<p>Not to dwell on these particulars, the next day saw the end of this
+unhappy affair. Early in the forenoon the Moors made a very hot attack
+on the battery at the far end of our rope-walk, and at the same time a
+fresh party, headed by my wicked cousin, assailed our position. I
+restrained my men from discharging their muskets till the Indians were
+within a few paces of us, with the result that we did great execution,
+nearly a dozen of them falling. The rest fell back for a moment, but
+Gurney urging them on, they rushed up and made a desperate attempt to
+clamber over the wall.</p>
+
+<p>While we were hard at work keeping them off with our bayonets, I heard
+a tremendous crash and shouting in the rear, from the point where the
+battery was placed. This noise seemed greatly to encourage our
+assailants, several of whom managed to get over the wall and engage in
+hand to hand conflicts with the men under me. Nevertheless, I stirred
+up my fellows to continue their resistance, and myself beat back two
+Moors, one of whom I ran through the body with my bayonet. So absorbed
+was I that I did not observe the approach of a young ensign from the
+battery, who came running along the rope-walk, shouting out&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span></p><p>&#8220;Fall back! fall back! The battery is abandoned to the enemy, and they
+will cut off your retreat.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>At this the men with me began to slacken their exertions, and some
+fairly took to their heels. However, I had just caught sight of Rupert
+advancing towards me and did not feel inclined to budge.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come back, you fool!&#8221; shouted the little ensign, pale and breathless.
+&#8220;We are beaten, don&#8217;t you hear?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I turned my head and scowled at him.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You seem to be beaten, sir,&#8221; I said. &#8220;For my part, I am very
+comfortable where I am, and intend to go on fighting.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>With these words I turned to defend myself from Rupert, who was coming
+at me eagerly enough, as it seemed. The ensign fled without further
+parley, and I believe saved his life. So also did most of my
+companions, though two others were badly wounded, and unable to stir.
+For my part I was resolved to sell my life dearly, but this privilege
+was denied me. For Gurney, as soon as he saw how the land lay, and
+that I was left there alone, instantly drew back and ordered his men
+to take me a prisoner, which, being by this time about thirty or forty
+against one, they effected, whether I would or not.</p>
+
+<p>My cousin&#8217;s exultation was very great when he thus had me for the
+second time in his power.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now, Master Athelstane,&#8221; he cried, &#8220;we shall see whether you get off
+as lightly as you did at <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span>Gheriah. You are not likely, I think, to be
+rescued by a fleet this time. But perhaps you will be glad that I
+should take you without more ado before the Nabob. He has a high
+opinion of the English, and no doubt will be glad to take you into his
+service and give you many handsome rewards.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Rupert Gurney,&#8221; I answered, &#8220;in mocking at one who is your prisoner,
+owing to no valour of yours, you merely show yourself to be a coward
+as well as a traitor. I care nothing for what the Nabob may do to me;
+and this I know, that I would rather he put me to death outright than
+enjoy his favour by such services as yours.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Thank you, cousin,&#8221; says Rupert, who was able to keep his temper now
+that he had the better of me. &#8220;I am glad to learn that you will not
+seek to undermine my credit with his Highness. But now, if you are
+sufficiently rested, let us proceed.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Speaking these mocking words, he made his men bind my wrists together
+with a cord, and conducted me out of the streets of the town towards
+Surajah Dowlah&#8217;s camp.</p>
+
+<p>The tent of the Nabob was a fine great pavilion of yellow and crimson
+cloth. All about the entrance stood his guards, very handsomely
+dressed, with silver and gold ornaments, and armed with all sorts of
+curious weapons, some of which I had not seen before. Inside, when we
+were presently admitted, the spectacle was still more striking. The
+Nabob sat on a high cushion, called the musnud, placed on <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span>a da&iuml;s
+which was raised several feet above the ground. On the da&iuml;s beside him
+stood three of his principal courtiers, in silk robes and turbans
+incrusted with gems, while others of inferior rank stood below the
+steps of the da&iuml;s. A slave beat the air with a fan of peacock&#8217;s
+feathers over the Nabob&#8217;s head.</p>
+
+<p>I gazed with great curiosity and awe upon this young prince, who was
+now making his name terrible through Bengal. I was amazed to see that
+he was extremely young, scarce older than myself, with a face, I
+think, the handsomest of any Indian&#8217;s I ever saw: yet his face was
+marred, and his youthfulness made unnatural by the ugly traces of his
+passions. His skin appeared coarse and blotched, his lips were thick
+and purple-coloured, and his teeth&mdash;an unusual thing among Moors&mdash;very
+black and dirty, when he spoke. He lay back somewhat on his throne,
+with his chin leaning on his breast and his heavy eyes turned to the
+ground. In spite of the waving of the fan, the heat seemed to oppress
+him; or else it was the weight of his turban, for he passed his hand
+over his brow every now and then as if he would have lifted it off.
+His fingers, I noticed, were much encumbered with rings, besides which
+he wore bracelets, and ear-rings in his ears. But when he lifted his
+eyes from the floor and looked at me, I was appalled by the expression
+in them, which was not that of common ferocity, but rather dreadful
+despair, like a lost soul that is goaded on to assuage its own pangs
+by the torture of others.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p><p>&#8220;Who is this dog?&#8221; he asked in a husky, soddened tone, as I was
+brought up to the foot of his da&iuml;s.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It is one of the ungrateful wretches who have dared to resist the
+slaves of your sublime Highness,&#8221; was the answer. Rupert had come in
+with me, so as to take the credit of my capture, but the conversation
+with the Nabob was carried on by one of the Indians, who seemed to be
+the lieutenant of the party.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Is he one of the English?&#8221; demanded Surajah, casting an angry glance
+at me.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Your exalted wisdom has said the word. Undoubtedly he belongs to that
+vile nation, whom the breath of your anger has even now destroyed.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Ask him why his people have dared to resist my commands. Who is he?
+Is he one of their principal men? Ask him where is their treasure?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Before the Indian could translate these questions I answered them in
+the same language.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I am an interpreter in the service of the Company, may it please your
+Highness. I am but newly arrived in your country, and know nothing of
+the other matters you have asked about.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The Nabob gave a sullen frown.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Take the wretch away out of my sight. He is a worthless capture,&#8221; he
+said.</p>
+
+<p>But one of the three men on the da&iuml;s, a young, handsome Gentoo, with a
+cruel, cunning face&mdash;I afterwards heard he was Lal Moon, the Nabob&#8217;s
+chief favourite&mdash;bent over his master and whispered something <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span>in his
+ear. Instantly Surajah Dowlah sat up, furious.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You have lied to me!&#8221; he screamed. &#8220;You speak our language, and yet
+you say you are but newly arrived. That must be a lie!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He looked round at his courtiers, and there was a murmur of admiration
+at his sagacity.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Your Highness is mistaken,&#8221; I said, keeping cool. &#8220;I learned the
+Indostanee language on my way out to the East Indies, from the
+secretary of Colonel Clive.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>As I pronounced this name I saw a movement among those present. The
+Nabob stared, not understanding to whom I referred; but an older man,
+with a proud, discontented, and yet apprehensive air, who also stood
+on the da&iuml;s, and was, I found out, Meer Jaffier, Surajah Dowlah&#8217;s
+uncle, and commander of his armies, this man, I say, spoke in
+explanation&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The youth means that he came on the ship with Sabat Jung.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>No sooner did the Nabob hear this than he changed colour.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Are you a friend of Sabat Jung&#8217;s? Is he coming to Bengal?&#8221; he asked,
+with scarcely concealed anxiety.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Sabat Jung is my protector,&#8221; I replied, putting on a bolder air. &#8220;If
+he hears that any wrong has been done to the English in Calcutta, he
+will surely come here and avenge them.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span></p><p>The courtiers exchanged looks of amazement at these words of defiance,
+doubtless expecting to see me led to instant execution. But I have an
+instinct which tells me when a man is afraid of me, and I could see
+that, for the time, Surajah Dowlah was cowed.</p>
+
+<p>My cousin Gurney seized this opportunity to attract the Nabob&#8217;s
+attention, and take credit for his exploit. He stepped towards me and
+said, in such Indostanee as he could command&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Silence, wretch! Sabat Jung is in the Carnatic, nor would he dare to
+come into Bengal without the permission of the Lord of the English,
+Surajah Dowlah. When he hears of the conquest of Cossimbuzar and Fort
+William the heart of Sabat Jung will become as water.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I gave him a scornful look.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;If his Highness judges of the English by you he will be deceived,&#8221; I
+said. &#8220;If you were ever to show your face in any place where Sabat
+Jung was he would have you hanged, as you very well know.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I kept my eyes fixed on the young Nabob&#8217;s face as I spoke, and was
+pleased to see that I had made an impression. He looked uneasily from
+one to the other of us, and then, before Rupert could reply, ordered
+us both from his presence.</p>
+
+<p>I found myself kept a close prisoner for that night and a part of the
+next day in the house of a rich Indian, which stood beside the
+Morattoe ditch. From this place I could hear some noise of guns
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span>occasionally, and was obliged to conjecture how the fight was going
+on. There was something very trying and painful in being near enough
+to a battle-field to share its anxieties without being allowed to join
+in the work. But I had a pretty sure presentiment that the affair
+would end badly for us, and so indeed it proved; for about four in the
+afternoon there was a great commotion outside the place where I was
+confined, and my guards came in to fetch me, telling me with cruel
+pleasure that Fort William had surrendered, and I was to be brought
+there to join the other prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>I will not stay to describe the confused spectacle of the streets
+through which we passed on our way to the fort. What struck me most,
+and put a deep depression upon my spirits, was to see the fierce
+exultation of the native Indians in our discomfiture. In this hour of
+our overthrow these men, who had lived unmolested beneath our
+government, and thriven by means of our commerce, openly revealed all
+that vehement malice and hatred toward us which is, I suppose, part of
+their nature, and not to be eradicated by any fairness of dealing. I
+should be ashamed to relate the vile things they said, and their gross
+behaviour, as I was led along a prisoner. I thank God I have since
+walked through those same streets in a different trim, and had those
+same wretches bowing and grovelling on the earth as I passed.</p>
+
+<p>When I arrived at the fort I was horrified to find <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span>gathered there a
+large company of other English prisoners, to the number of about a
+hundred and fifty. Among them were both the Honourable Robert Byng and
+Mr. Holwell, who received me with surprise, having been assured by
+those men who had fought under me that they had seen me slain.
+Immediately after my joining them Mr. Holwell, who had become the
+chief of the party, was sent for by the Nabob to be examined. While he
+was away Mr. Byng told me the miserable circumstances of the capture
+of the fort, and how the Governor, Mr. Drake, had shamefully fled away
+overnight in a boat to the ships on the first alarm of the enemy&#8217;s
+approach. Not content with this, he had carried off the whole of the
+shipping down the river to Govindpore, thus rendering hopeless the
+case of the English who had not escaped along with him, and that
+although it would have been easy to rescue them by sending a few boats
+to the shore. Of this, which I believe to be the most signal act of
+cowardice ever heard of, I forbear to write, lest I should fall into
+the use of opprobrious language. Yet I have often marvelled that those
+who had poor Mr. Byng&mdash;I mean the Admiral&mdash;shot on his own quarterdeck
+for his failure at Minorca, should have refused a gallows and a hempen
+noose to one who so richly deserved it as Governor Drake.</p>
+
+<p>While Mr. Holwell was with the Nabob the rest of us stood under a
+strong guard in the courtyard of the fort, where we began to find the
+heat very burdensome, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span>the more so as it was difficult to get anything
+to eat or drink. While we were thus situated I saw my cousin Rupert go
+by, wearing a rich new turban, to wait upon the Nabob. At this period
+he appeared to be in high favour at the Court. No doubt he had
+acquired influence with Surajah Dowlah by flattering his superiority
+to the English.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Holwell presently returned with the news that Surajah Dowlah was
+very much incensed against him, on account of the small sum found in
+the treasury of the fort, which amounted only to 54,000 Rs. The prince
+was firmly persuaded that the Company had somewhere concealed a vast
+treasure, which had been his principal motive to push the attack of
+the place. He had threatened Mr. Holwell very severely unless this
+treasure were found, and dismissed him to consult with his
+fellow-prisoners. This was bad news, for it was evidently impossible
+to persuade Surajah Dowlah that there was no such treasure, and he
+would therefore be inclined to look upon Mr. Holwell&#8217;s failure to
+discover it as mere obstinacy.</p>
+
+<p>We were discussing our prospects very gloomily when a party of Moors
+arrived, bringing two fresh prisoners. I felt a sudden sickness when I
+recognised that these were none other than Marian herself with her
+father. Old Mr. Rising seemed to be dazed, and unconscious of what was
+happening to him, but Marian was suffering from visible terror. I
+hastened to her side, exclaiming&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span></p><p>&#8220;Marian, what do you do here? Why are you not gone with the other
+women?&#8221;&mdash;for all the Englishwomen and children had been put aboard the
+ships as soon as the Moors arrived outside the town.</p>
+
+<p>Marian looked surprised and a little comforted to meet me in the same
+situation as herself.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;So you are a prisoner too!&#8221; she cried. &#8220;I confess I do not understand
+what has happened to my father and me, for Rupert especially enjoined
+and urged us to remain in our house, assuring us that his credit with
+the Nabob would serve not merely to protect us, but to secure high
+places and rewards for himself, which he intended I should share.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>She said this with a certain shame, but I was too anxious for her
+safety to retain my feelings of jealousy at such a moment.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I will send for Gurney to come here,&#8221; I said. &#8220;I have just seen him
+go into the Nabob&#8217;s presence.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I called one of the men who kept guard over us, and bade him go
+instantly and fetch my cousin. The Moor showed some disinclination to
+obey me, but I repeated my command in a tone so firm that he gave way,
+and sullenly complied.</p>
+
+<p>In a minute or two Rupert came out, looking bewildered, and, I
+thought, somewhat alarmed. As soon as he saw who it was that had sent
+for him, however, his assurance returned, and he came to us with a
+jaunty air.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span></p><p>&#8220;Ha! Marian,&#8221; he said, taking no notice of me, &#8220;so you have found your
+way here, have you? I am pleased to greet you; but if you have sent
+for me to ask me to procure the release of your other admirer, whom I
+took prisoner yesterday, I must tell you fairly that I am not the
+least inclined to do it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Nay, Rupert,&#8221; she answered, &#8220;I am ashamed to say that I had not
+thought of asking you anything on your cousin Athelstane&#8217;s behalf.
+&#8217;Tis I and my father who are now prisoners, in spite of your pledges
+to us. Surely you will not suffer this!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Thus she spoke to him, but, ah! not in the old self-confident strain,
+but with a certain mournful submission which wrung my very
+heartstrings.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What do you say? You amaze me, Marian! This is a gross breach of the
+Serdar&#8217;s own promise to me, but I doubt not that it will at once be
+righted. As for your father, I do not say; it may be that the old man
+would be better off in captivity. But I take it on myself that you
+shall be released without delay. I will go straight and speak about
+it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He said all this so readily that I could not feel sure he was not
+sincere. Marian, poor girl, gladly believed him, and gave me a look
+which was plainly meant to protest against my entertaining evil
+thoughts of Rupert. He hurried away, as he had said, and at the same
+time Mr. Holwell was sent for again to the Nabob.</p>
+
+<p>By this time it was getting to be near evening. The sun was dropping
+down on the other side of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span>the river, and the long shadows of the palm
+trees rocked on the water. From where we stood we could see the
+soldiers going to and fro getting ready their evening meal, and hear
+an occasional shot in the town, where some Indian was letting off his
+musket by way of triumph for the victory. It was still hot, but a
+little breeze began to move up the river and flutter some pieces of
+linen that hung out drying in the lower courtyard, yesterday having
+been washing day in the fort.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Holwell and Rupert returned together, the former more cheerful,
+but Gurney very sulky, and making a show of being much annoyed.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I have spoken to the Serdar, Marian, and could do nothing for
+to-night. He says that you are to remain with the other English till
+he can take the Nabob&#8217;s pleasure, who is now getting drunk, and
+difficult to deal with.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Holwell confirmed the story, adding&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Surajah Dowlah may scarce be spoken to. His looks are dreadful. Yet
+he has sworn to me on the faith of a soldier that no hair of any of
+our heads shall be injured.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That is right,&#8221; quoth Rupert. &#8220;So you see, Marian, it is but staying
+here with your other friends&#8221;&mdash;he gave me a jeering smile as he said
+this&mdash;&#8220;till to-morrow morning, when I will speak to the Nabob myself,
+at all hazards, and have you released.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Poor Marian glanced at him in despair.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span></p><p>&#8220;Rupert, you won&#8217;t desert me!&#8221; she cried. &#8220;You don&#8217;t mean to leave me
+as you did in Gheriah in that horrid cell, from which I scarcely
+escaped alive?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Pooh, pooh, girl! No,&#8221; he answered lightly, &#8220;I shall be at hand. It
+is nothing. What is one night&#8217;s captivity? The soldiers will have
+orders to find you some comfortable room in the fort. I will see about
+your accommodation myself.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>With this promise on his lips he disappeared, and returned no more.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2>
+
+<h3><i>THE BLACK HOLE</i></h3>
+
+<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">I</span> have now to tell how we passed through that night, the memory of
+which to this day moves me to tremble and sicken like a man in strong
+fear.</p>
+
+<p>At sunset the Moorish soldiers who had charge of the prisoners marched
+us all together into a covered gallery or verandah that ran along one
+side of the courtyard, from which it was screened off by a row of
+arches. While we waited here a part of the soldiers ran to and fro, as
+if looking for accommodation for us. Surajah Dowlah&#8217;s promises,
+reported to us by Mr. Holwell, had so far raised our spirits that some
+of the prisoners made merry at the difficulty the guard seemed to be
+in. One man asked if we were to pass the night in that gallery.
+Another, who stood near me, observed in jest&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;They don&#8217;t seem to know of the Black Hole.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m afraid we shouldn&#8217;t all go into that,&#8221; replied another, laughing.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What place do you mean?&#8221; I asked out of curiosity.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span></p><p>&#8220;It is the cell where they confine the soldiers of the garrison,&#8221;
+explained the person next me. &#8220;It won&#8217;t hold more than one or two
+persons.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Hardly had he given me this information before the officer in charge
+of our guard came hurrying up. He gave some directions to his men, who
+commenced pushing and urging us along the gallery to a small door in
+the wall at our back. This they threw open, and beckoned to the
+prisoners to enter.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;By heaven, it is the Black Hole!&#8221; exclaimed some one in the throng.</p>
+
+<p>There was a murmur of disbelief, followed by one of indignation, as
+those who were in front looked in. The room was barely seven paces
+across each way, and very low. The only openings it contained, beside
+the doorway, were two small windows giving, not on to the open air,
+but merely on to the covered passage in which we had been standing.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But this is absurd!&#8221; cried Mr. Holwell, remonstrating with the
+soldiers. &#8220;There is not even standing-room for a hundred and fifty
+persons in there.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;They cannot intend that we are all to go in. We should be
+suffocated,&#8221; said another.</p>
+
+<p>The soldiers beginning to show anger, some of the company walked in to
+demonstrate how restricted the space was. Nevertheless the Moors
+continued to press us towards the doorway, and seeing that they were
+in earnest, I whispered to Marian to give me her arm, and went in with
+the first. By this <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span>means I was just in time to secure Marian a place
+at the corner of one of the windows, where she would have a chance to
+breathe. I took up my position next to her, and we were quickly
+surrounded and closely pressed on by those who followed. Before we had
+well realised what was happening to us, the whole of the prisoners had
+been thrust into the cell, and the door, which opened inwards, pulled
+to with a slam and locked.</p>
+
+<p>The moment this happened I found myself bursting out into a most
+prodigious sweat&mdash;the water running out of my skin as though squeezed
+from a sponge&mdash;by the mere press of people in that confined space; and
+near as I stood to the window I soon began to experience a difficulty
+in breathing, so foul did the air immediately become. The sufferings
+of those further back in the apartment must of course have been much
+worse. The door was no sooner closed than those next to it began to
+make frantic efforts to open it again; but we were so closely packed
+that, even if the door had not been locked, it would have been
+scarcely possible to open it wide enough to allow of any persons going
+through. Every mind seemed to become at once possessed with a sense of
+our desperate situation, and the groans and cries for mercy became
+heartrending.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Holwell, having been the first to enter, had been fortunate enough
+to secure a place at the other window. He now exerted himself, as the
+leader of the party, to calm the tumult.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span></p><p>&#8220;Gentlemen,&#8221; he said earnestly, &#8220;let me urge you to keep still. The
+only hope for us in this emergency is to behave quietly, and do what
+we can to relieve each other&#8217;s sufferings. I will use my endeavours
+with the guard to procure our release, and in the meantime do you
+refrain from giving way to despair.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>It was now dark within the room, but outside some of the guards had
+lit torches, by whose light I distinguished one old man, a Jemautdar,
+who appeared a little touched with pity for our distress. To this man
+Mr. Holwell appealed, through the window, offering him large rewards
+if he would have us transferred to some more tolerable prison. At
+first the old Moor merely shook his head, but finally, when Mr.
+Holwell offered him a thousand rupees if he would remove even half the
+prisoners to another room, he shrugged his shoulders, muttered that he
+would see what could be done, and walked off.</p>
+
+<p>During the few minutes which had already elapsed since our coming into
+the cell, the heat had increased to that degree as to be no longer
+tolerable. My skin and throat felt as though scorched by fire, and the
+atmosphere was so noxious that it became painful to breathe. I looked
+at Marian. She was very white, and stood moving her lips silently as
+though praying. Being the only female among us, those immediately
+round the window showed some desire to respect her weakness, but the
+pressure <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span>from behind was such that they were driven against her, in
+spite of themselves, and I had hard work to defend her from being
+crushed against the wall.</p>
+
+<p>But when I glanced back into the room the sights revealed by the
+flickering torchlight convinced me that our sufferings were almost
+light in comparison with those of others. I saw one man, a few paces
+behind me, turn purple in the face, as if some one were strangling
+him. Two or three others had already fainted from the heat, and I
+heard some one whisper that they had fallen to the ground.</p>
+
+<p>The Jemautdar presently returned, shaking his head, and said to Mr.
+Holwell&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I can do nothing. It is by the Nabob&#8217;s orders that you are locked up,
+and I dare not interfere.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But we are dying, man!&#8221; cried Mr. Holwell. &#8220;The Nabob swore that he
+would spare our lives. Listen! I will give you two thousand
+rupees&mdash;anything&mdash;if you will procure us some relief!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The old man went off once more, and hope revived for a moment. While
+we were thus waiting some one at the back of the room suddenly said
+aloud&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Let us take off our clothes!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Hardly were the words out of his mouth than in an instant, as it
+seemed, nearly every one was stark naked. They tore their things off
+furiously and cast them to the ground. I resisted the contagion as
+long as I could, but when I saw even Mr. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span>Holwell, though nearer the
+air than myself, stripped to his shirt, I could not resist following
+his example; and in our dreadful extremity my unhappy companion was
+presently forced to do the same, hiding her face with her hands and
+choking down great sobs.</p>
+
+<p>When the Jemautdar returned for the second time he made it appear that
+our case was hopeless.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No one dares help you,&#8221; he said, speaking with evident compunction.
+&#8220;Surajah Dowlah is asleep, and it is as much as any man&#8217;s life is
+worth to awake him.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>As soon as the meaning of these words was understood by the hundred
+and fifty miserable wretches inside, a pitiful, low wail went up. Then
+commenced that long, dreadful agony which so few were to survive, and
+which I only remember in successive glimpses of horror spread over
+hours that were like years.</p>
+
+<p>One of the last things we did, before all self-control was lost, was
+to try and make a current of air by all sitting down together, and
+then suddenly rising; but unhappily by this time several had grown so
+weak that, having once gone down, they proved unequal to the effort of
+getting up again, and fell under the feet of their companions. Among
+these unfortunates was Marian&#8217;s father, Mr. Rising, who had come in
+with us, and stood a little way off in the press. Although preserving
+his dazed, unconscious air in the midst of these calamities, he <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span>had
+exhibited many symptoms of physical distress. He now remained sitting
+helpless on the floor, and while I was trying to contrive some means
+of assisting him, I saw the next man behind him very coolly step over
+his body, spurning it with his foot. Poor Mr. Rising fell on his back,
+groaning, and was instantly trodden out of sight.</p>
+
+<p>My first impulse was to spare Marian the knowledge of her father&#8217;s
+shocking fate. Turning round hastily, I whispered&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t look behind you, for God&#8217;s sake!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The words came too late. She turned her head, saw what had happened,
+and shrieked aloud.</p>
+
+<p>That shriek was the signal for fifty others, like wild beasts
+answering each other in a wood, as the manhood of that tortured mob
+suddenly forsook it, to be succeeded by brute despair. Some began to
+hurl themselves against the door, others broke into frantic prayers
+and imprecations. The clamour died down, rose again, and finally
+settled into a monotonous, incessant cry for water.</p>
+
+<p>All this time I had preserved my self-control very well, but when this
+cry for water was raised, either the excessive pain I endured, or else
+the mere example of so many persons around me, so shook me that I
+could no longer command my motions, and I found myself screaming the
+words in Indostanee at the old Jemautdar as though I would have torn
+him in pieces.</p>
+
+<p>The old man seemed to be really moved by our <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span>sufferings. He sent two
+or three of the soldiers to fetch water, and they presently came to
+the windows bearing it in skins.</p>
+
+<p>It was a fatal act of mercy. The mere sight of the water instantly
+overthrew the reason of half the unhappy wretches behind us. A wild
+howl went up, and a frantic struggle commenced to get to the windows.
+Those who a few minutes before had been rational Christian beings were
+now to be seen fighting and striking each other as they leaped and
+plunged to climb over those in front. Marian, terror-stricken by the
+outburst, put her hands before her eyes, and would have been swept
+away from her place like a leaf if I had not set my back to hers and
+fought furiously against the lunatics behind. I can see now the dark,
+flushed face of one man, his parched tongue dropping out of his mouth,
+and his eyes rolling horribly, quite mad, as he flung himself upon me
+and tried to tear me down. To add to the horror, the Indian soldiers
+brought their torches to the windows in order to gloat on this scene.
+I heard them laugh like devils as the red light flashed on the naked
+heap of infuriated Englishmen writhing and fighting in that narrow
+hell.</p>
+
+<p>After ten minutes the struggles began to die down through sheer
+exhaustion, and then those of us who stood next the windows were
+allowed to drink from the skins; after which we filled hats with the
+water and passed them into the back of the apartment. In this way
+every one obtained some, but no good <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span>effect was wrought thereby. So
+far as I was concerned, the heat and drought were so fearful that no
+sooner had I swallowed my share of the fluid than my throat became as
+dry as it had been before&mdash;the momentary relief served only to
+aggravate my torments.</p>
+
+<p>Then as the fever gained upon me, my thoughts broke bounds, and there
+danced confusedly through my brain odd scraps of memories and pictures
+of other scenes. For whole moments together I lost the knowledge of
+where I was; those dark walls and haggard faces passed, and in their
+stead came visions of the pleasant places I used to know, the ruffling
+of the wind upon the Breydon Water and the dykes, the stir among the
+reeds and rushes, and the cattle browsing in the Norfolk fields.
+Instead of the swarthy Indian soldiers with their torches I saw the
+friendly, homely figures of the carters as they rode their horses to
+the pool at sundown after the day&#8217;s work was over, and the familiar
+groups of villagers, and the face of little Patience Thurstan as she
+looked up at me, ready to weep, that time I said goodbye to her on my
+last day at home; and there rose before me the likeness of the dear
+old homestead, the gables and the crooked chimney, and the porch with
+jasmine growing over one side and boys&#8217; love on the other; and I saw
+my father and my mother where they sat and faced each other across the
+hearthplace, and thought, maybe, of their son, so that there came over
+me a great and miserable <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span>longing to return to them; and, like the
+prodigal son when he ate husks among the swine, I repented of my
+rebellion and running away, and in that hour I took a resolution that
+if I ever outlived the night I would leave the wicked land of India
+for ever, and go back to my own country, and ask my father to forgive
+me, as I knew my mother had forgiven me long ago.</p>
+
+<p>Such were the thoughts that, by fits and starts, passed through me
+during the first hours of the death struggle; but the worst horror of
+that awful night came presently. In the recesses of the chamber,
+furthest from the windows, a harder evil than the heat was the
+intolerable foulness of the air. Even where I was standing it had
+become an excruciating pain to breathe, and my breast felt as though
+laced about with iron bands. In the interior many had by this time
+dropped down, not so much suffocated as poisoned by the fetid gas they
+were compelled to inhale. And now at length I detected a new,
+indescribably nauseous odour, added to the acrid smell of the place.
+At first I tried to conceal even from my own mind what this was. But
+not for long. In a very few minutes the secret was known to all there.
+The unhappy man I had seen trodden down had been dead for about half
+an hour, and his body was already corrupt.</p>
+
+<p>Then that whole den of madmen broke loose, raving and cursing; some
+imploring God to strike them dead, others casting the most foul and
+savage <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>insults at the guards without, if by that means they might
+tempt them to fire in through the windows and put an end to what they
+endured. They struck at one another, they clutched each other&#8217;s hair,
+surging and trampling one another down to gain an inch nearer the
+miserable air-holes which afforded the only chance of life. The floor
+was choked with corpses, among which the survivors were entangled in
+one seething mass. As for me, I became light-headed, and had only one
+blind instinct left, to strike down any man who attempted to thrust
+Marian from her breathing ground. I was aware that she had lost her
+senses and sunk down between me and the wall; yet I went on battling,
+as in some dreadful nightmare, with the furious forms that rose up and
+loomed out of the darkness. When I could no longer make out their
+faces I still struck out blindly, and heard them go down heavily upon
+the pile of bodies behind which I stood entrenched. Hour after hour
+that ghastly combat raged, till the corpses were thrice and four times
+more numerous than those who still breathed; and at last an awful
+lethargy settled down over the scene, broken only when one of the
+survivors roused himself for an expiring effort that sent a quiver
+through the dead and dying heap.</p>
+
+<p>After that I know no more, for when the morning broke, and the
+officers came to release the handful left alive, the energy that had
+held me up so long forsook me, and I sank down unconscious.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2>
+
+<h3><i>RUPERT IN A NEW LIGHT</i></h3>
+
+<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">W</span>hen I came to my senses again I was lying on the ground under the
+gallery. The door of that Gehenna was standing open, twenty paces from
+me, and the stench from the corpses piled within tainted the air of
+the whole court.</p>
+
+<p>My first thought was of Marian. I looked round as well as I was able,
+but could see no signs of her. The great weakness in which I found
+myself was such as to prevent me from standing on my feet, but I
+lifted myself up so far as to lean on one elbow, and in that posture
+glanced round over the little group of those who survived.</p>
+
+<p>I counted twenty-two in all, less than one-sixth of the number of
+those who had been promised the mercy of Surajah Dowlah on the evening
+of yesterday. Close beside me lay Mr. Holwell, seeming to breathe
+painfully, as he laboured to gain his self-command. I heard afterwards
+that this worthy gentleman had been found unconscious and almost
+lifeless, on the floor; and that a lane had had to be <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span>cleared through
+the dead to bring out the twenty-three of us that remained alive.</p>
+
+<p>But, look where I would, Marian was not there, and my heart misgave me
+that that beautiful form was lying in the loathsome charnel-house
+whence I had so hardly come out. A man near me, who appeared to have
+preserved his strength better than most of us, presently observing my
+trouble, and guessing its cause, undertook to enlighten me.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You look for Mistress Rising?&#8221; he said. &#8220;She was among the survivors;
+I saw her brought out immediately before you. But she is not here; one
+of the Moors&#8217; officers led her away out of the fort, no doubt to
+bestow her in safe keeping somewhere in the town.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>This intelligence served to remove my worst apprehensions, yet it left
+me not a little uneasy as to what next might befall Marian among those
+in whose hands we were still captives. At the moment of which I speak,
+however, I was too ill to pursue the inquiry as to what had become of
+her. The fever I had taken during the night was still strong upon me,
+indeed we were all in a very pitiful state, scarce able to move or
+speak, and looking more like ghosts than men. It was not till above a
+week had passed that I began to shake off the effects of those few
+hours&#8217; torture; and I sometimes think that I have never yet wholly
+recovered from them.</p>
+
+<p>Nor must I spare to mention those other changes which were wrought in
+me by that night, passed, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span>I may say, in the Valley of the Shadow of
+Death. Up to this time, I perceived on looking back over my previous
+adventures, I had been no better than a mad young fool, following
+after a will-o&#8217;-the-wisp to my own hurt and destruction. And though I
+cannot say that that ill-starred and calamitous love of mine for
+Marian, which had haunted me since I first saw her in the tavern of
+the &#8220;Three-decker&#8221; at Yarmouth, was abated at this time, yet I think I
+did now begin to perceive how evil an influence it had exerted over my
+life, and to gradually bring myself to a manlier frame of mind. So
+that I no longer hugged myself with false and pernicious hopes of what
+could never be brought to pass, but set myself resolutely to uproot
+this my besetting weakness, and thus to transfer Marian, as it might
+be, from the place of a mistress to that of an old and dear friend.</p>
+
+<p>In all which resolves and efforts at amendments I found myself greatly
+helped and encouraged by the recollection of those better thoughts
+which had come to me in my distress, when my eyes were opened to the
+wickedness of which I had been guilty towards my parents. And from
+this time on, through all the vicissitudes I was yet to encounter, I
+looked forward steadily to the day when I should turn my feet once
+more towards home, and behold my father and my mother, and the simple,
+loving face of little Patience Thurstan.</p>
+
+<p>But before that day came there were many things to be done, nor would
+I have willingly left the land <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span>of Indostan till I had seen the blood
+of the English he had so barbarously murdered revenged upon Surajah
+Dowlah&#8217;s head. How this was to be brought about I did not then know,
+yet I had a confidence that it would be so, which sustained me. For I
+felt that I had witnessed, and been partly victim of, a most heinous
+and devilish crime, scarcely to be matched in the annals of mankind,
+and such as scarce any punishment within the power of man to inflict
+could wholly purge. It was as if there had been revealed to me, in the
+light of those flaring torches thrust in mockery between the bars of
+our prison windows, a whole secret hell of cruelty and darkness, such
+as our Christian land knows nothing of, which we can never understand,
+but which for ever lies waiting for the moment to burst forth, under
+the obsequious and servile behaviour of the natives of India. Since
+that time, I confess, I have never regarded, nor can regard, them as
+my fellow-beings; I look upon all faith or mercy shown to them as
+wasted, and were it possible for the English to overthrow every one of
+their governments, and to reduce the whole peninsula into slavery, I
+should not think enough had been done to extinguish the memory of that
+one misdeed.</p>
+
+<p>The cup of the Nabob&#8217;s cruelty was even yet not full. In the morning,
+as soon as we had partaken of a little food and wine, merely enough to
+give us strength to stand up, our miserable remnant was ordered to
+come before him, to be questioned again.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p><p>We found Surajah Dowlah enthroned in the principal apartment of the
+fort, in even greater state than I had before seen him in, flushed
+with all the triumph of a conqueror. He looked to have just awakened
+from sleeping off a debauch, and glanced at us, as we came in, with a
+heavy, lowering eye. The supple, handsome Lal Moon was standing beside
+his master as usual, and close behind the favourite I saw my kinsman,
+with a countenance somewhat discomposed. He turned a very scrutinising
+look on our party, frowned when he caught sight of me, and was
+evidently disturbed at not perceiving Marian amongst the rest.</p>
+
+<p>The Nabob, instead of displaying any interest in our condition, or
+pretending any regret for the massacre of our fellow prisoners, at
+once addressed Mr. Holwell in a very peremptory manner.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now, English dog, you have had a night to consider,&#8221; he said
+insolently, &#8220;are you disposed to behave more civilly to me in the
+matter of the treasure?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Poor Mr. Holwell had scarce strength enough to answer him. He said
+feebly&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I can only repeat what I told you last night. Your Highness has been
+deceived. There is no treasure here of the Company.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You are a liar, and the son of a liar!&#8221; returned Surajah fiercely.
+&#8220;Do you think I am a fool to believe that the English come all the way
+from your country here to amass a paltry sum of fifty thousand
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span>rupees? Such a sum would not pay the expense of your establishment
+here. I know well that you have a treasure somewhere hidden; but you
+are resolved to keep it from me, the rightful master of this country.
+I swear I will teach you that it is safer to stand in the path of a
+mad elephant than to disobey the least command of Surajah Dowlah!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He rolled his eyes savagely as he made these threats, which struck
+dismay into the stoutest of us. Mr. Holwell attempted no further
+answer, and presently the Nabob rose in a fury and marched out of the
+hall, giving no orders concerning our disposal.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as he was gone the general of his army, Meer Jaffier, came
+down off the da&iuml;s and approached us. He began offering some
+expressions of sympathy to Mr. Holwell, and assured him that he would
+use his influence with his nephew to procure our release.</p>
+
+<p>While Meer Jaffier was talking to Mr. Holwell, I saw my cousin slowly
+approaching me. I turned my back, so loth was I to hold intercourse
+with him, but he came up, and persisted in addressing me.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Athelstane, what has become of Marian Rising?&#8221; he asked abruptly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Nay, I leave that to you to find out, who delivered her to Surajah
+Dowlah to be tortured and killed,&#8221; I answered bitterly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;See here, cousin,&#8221; he said, infusing a touch of natural feeling into
+his voice, &#8220;I swear to you, on the faith of a Ford, that I had not so
+much as the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span>least suspicion of the horrid treachery about to be
+practised on you last night by these damned black devils. If I could
+have had any notice of what was going forward, I would have returned
+last night at all hazards, and delivered you. As regards Marian, I had
+the most sacred pledges from both Meer Jaffier and Lal Moon that not
+one hair of her head should be injured. I swear it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You swear very plentifully, it appears to me,&#8221; I returned, preserving
+a tone of mere contempt and hatred; &#8220;but I know not how your oaths can
+serve you at the present time. Thanks to your evil persuasions, the
+woman for whom you have many times pretended affection was last night
+brought to the very door of death, and is now ill and captive among
+the Moors. Me, your cousin, whom you first tempted to leave his home
+and friends, and have since betrayed and misused and many times
+attempted to slay, you see before you, in the power of those black
+fiends, as you call them, who appear to be your good friends. Had you
+not better prevail with them to put us both to death, and thus make an
+end of it?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, by G&mdash;&mdash;, Athelstane, you are wrong!&#8221; he exclaimed very
+earnestly. &#8220;I bear you no malice, nor ever should have done, had you
+not set yourself up as my rival and thwarted me on several
+occasions&mdash;and I am a man that will not brook opposition. As it is, if
+I have ever attempted anything against you, it was in hot blood, and
+had I hated you ten <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span>times worse than I did, yet last night&#8217;s business
+would have been too much for me to stomach.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I gazed at him, doubtful whether to believe in his sincerity or no. It
+was difficult for me to refrain from some softening towards him as he
+thus spoke, and yet I asked myself whether these fair words were not
+the prelude to some new piece of knavery or treachery, for which he
+stood in need of my assistance.</p>
+
+<p>He continued urging me.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Have you forgot all those ties that are between us&mdash;our blood, and
+bringing-up in the same country, and the pleasant times we have had
+together when you were a youngster, and I was used to ride over to
+your house from Lynn, for my holidays? You were then content enough to
+call yourself your cousin Rupert&#8217;s little squire, and if it were a
+question of robbing orchards or taking bird&#8217;s-nests, you grudged to be
+left out. Can you not overlook the differences that have since arisen
+between us, and let us return to our former good comradeship and
+affection?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Now I well knew that this man was a most accomplished villain, and an
+hour before I should have no more thought of sparing or making terms
+with him than with a speckled snake. Yet no sooner did he thus begin
+to wheedle me, than I found my just anger and hatred against him
+insensibly desert me.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why do you hold this language to me?&#8221; I said, as sullen as I could,
+so as to hide my secret relenting. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span>&#8220;What need have you of me now?
+What fellowship can there be between a miserable prisoner in the
+Indians&#8217; power, and you, their trusted friend and servant?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He gave me a significant glance, and then stooped towards me,
+whispering&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, cousin, you are mistaken there, I tell you again. Either these
+Moors have all along meant to play me false, or else they consider
+themselves betrayed by me in the matter of the treasure which they
+expected to find. Instead of now enjoying their confidence, I find I
+am looked upon with distrust. They tell me nothing, and no longer
+consult with me about their dealings with the English. I tell you
+fairly, I am uneasy to find myself so much in their power as I am, and
+if I could I would gladly make my peace with my fellow-countrymen, and
+enter the service of the Company.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>This confession sounded to me sufficiently probable to be believed. I
+could now see plainly enough what was Rupert&#8217;s object in thus seeking
+to be reconciled with me. It was because I was the only witness
+against him in the English camp, able to denounce the crimes and
+treasons which he had committed, to the governor and his council. It
+was evidently necessary for him to have some person to answer for him,
+in case he should seek service with the Company, and for this reason,
+I concluded, he had decided that it would be of more profit to him <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span>to
+have my friendship than to get rid of me altogether.</p>
+
+<p>With these thoughts I suffered myself to entertain his proposals. But
+there was another question of more importance to me than Rupert
+Gurney&#8217;s friendship or enmity.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What of Marian?&#8221; I demanded. &#8220;Were you not the person who came for
+her this morning, and led her out of the fort?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; he cried, much disturbed. &#8220;Do you know what has happened to her?
+I have inquired everywhere, and been unable to gather the smallest
+information. It is this which has convinced me that I no longer
+possess the confidence of those about the Nabob. And I fear&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He stopped, biting his lips, and looked at me, as if he would know
+what I suspected. I returned his look with interest.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And I, too, fear,&#8221; I answered solemnly. &#8220;And pray heaven that my fear
+is unfounded, for if it should turn out otherwise, after your
+persuading her to trust in your protection, I tell you plainly, Rupert
+Gurney, that I will never rest till I see you dead at my feet.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Though I thus threatened him, nevertheless I believed that he was
+really at a loss and anxious to find out what had become of Marian. He
+presently said to me&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I will go now and make a further search, and if I hear any news, will
+let you know. And do you, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span>on your part, trust me. If in the meantime
+I can do anything to effect your release, I will.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>With that he went off. About the same time an order arrived for our
+removal, and we were carried away to another part of the fort.</p>
+
+<p>Whether in consequence of my cousin&#8217;s representations or of Meer
+Jaffier&#8217;s, as is more probable, Surajah Dowlah suddenly decided to
+release all his English prisoners, except three or four of the
+principal ones, including Mr. Holwell. This intelligence was brought
+us about supper time, and an officer shortly after attended, to make
+the selection of those who were to be continued in captivity.</p>
+
+<p>Not apprehending that any importance could be attached to me, I rose
+joyfully to go out with those who were being dismissed, when, to my
+surprise, the officer told me in their language, very sharply, to keep
+my place.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But why do you seek to detain this young man?&#8221; inquired Mr. Holwell.
+&#8220;He is not a person of any consequence among us.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The Moor shook his head.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;This youth is to be kept in the Nabob&#8217;s hands because he is a friend
+of Sabat Jung&#8217;s,&#8221; he answered.</p>
+
+<p>It may be imagined how mortified I was to find my boasting of the
+friendship of Colonel Clive thus turned against me. There was no help
+for it, however. With a heavy heart we saw our fellow-prisoners
+depart, some of them to examine their houses in Calcutta, others to
+take refuge with the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span>English fleet, which about this time dropped
+down the river to Fulta, where it lay.</p>
+
+<p>I heard afterwards that when the refugees arrived on board, and told
+the woeful tale of what had followed on the capture of Fort William,
+Mr. Drake and those with him bitterly repented of their cowardice and
+desertion. Messengers, that is to say, Indian spies, had already been
+despatched by land to Madras, the voyage thither being impossible at
+this time on account of the prevalent monsoon. Others were now sent
+after them, with letters recounting the whole of these transactions,
+and urgently entreating the Madras council to despatch succour at the
+earliest possible moment.</p>
+
+<p>In the meanwhile, to pass over the next few days, Surajah Dowlah,
+finding no further mischief to execute in Calcutta, after he had
+plundered all the principal merchants, placed a force there under the
+command of an officer named Monichund, and marched back to
+Moorshedabad, carrying me in his train. My fellow prisoners,
+consisting of Mr. Holwell and two other gentlemen, named Walcot and
+Court (for poor Mr. Byng had been among those who perished in that
+cell of death), were despatched separately in irons, by a boat up the
+river.</p>
+
+<p>If I had been traversing this strange, and in many parts beautiful,
+country under other circumstances I might have found much to interest
+me. But being, as I was, still weak and wretched from the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span>effects of
+the night passed in the Black Hole, and, moreover, very anxious and
+troubled in mind about the fate of Marian (besides my own), I heeded
+little of it. The country was extremely flat, and much overgrown with
+trees, particularly mangoes, which tree hath a most delicious fruit,
+very grateful after toiling along the barren roads in the intolerable
+heat of this climate. Travelling in company with an army, we were not
+able to see much of the country people, who feared the Nabob&#8217;s
+character, and for the most part deserted their villages and retired
+into the woods while we passed. One day we lay without the walls of
+Chander Nugger, the French settlement in Bengal. These Frenchmen had
+managed to propitiate Surajah by aiding him with a supply of
+ammunition when he was on his march against Calcutta. To this they now
+added a large sum of money, and by this means prevailed on him to pass
+on without entering their town. They no doubt rejoiced, like true
+Frenchmen, at the misfortunes which had overtaken the English, not
+foreseeing at this time the happy revolution in our affairs which was
+to make them sing to another tune.</p>
+
+<p>Our progress through the country was so gradual that it was about
+three weeks before we at last reached the Nabob&#8217;s capital. During our
+long march I had not once seen my cousin, nor did I know what had
+become of him, nor whether he had stayed behind in Calcutta or
+attached himself to the Moors&#8217; army.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span></p><p>Moorshedabad is a great, rich place, very oriental in character, there
+being no foreigners resident in it, except a few Armenians, a race of
+thieves and pedlars, worse than Jews, who also infested Calcutta. But
+I had little opportunity of exploring its bazaars and palaces at this
+time, being conveyed straight to a filthy hut, formerly used as a
+cowshed, standing outside the Nabob&#8217;s palace, where I found my
+companions already arrived, and where I was forced to lie on straw,
+and not allowed to move abroad.</p>
+
+<p>In this miserable place, guarded by sentries, we lay for some days,
+being all of us too feeble to contrive any plan of escape. Each
+morning Surajah Dowlah sent a messenger to us, to ask if we were yet
+prepared to disclose the truth about the treasure. We were informed
+that he was deeply incensed at the failure of his raid on Fort
+William, to which it seems he had looked to bring enormous sums into
+his treasury.</p>
+
+<p>On the third or fourth night, just as I was settling myself to sleep
+on a rude heap of straw which I had gathered together against the wall
+of the shed, the door softly opened and a man entered. As soon as he
+spoke I knew him at once to be my cousin Rupert.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Which of you is named Ford?&#8221; he asked, speaking in the Indian
+language; for it was too dark for him to see my face.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I am,&#8221; I answered in English, sitting up.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span></p><p>He placed his finger to his lips, and stepped across the hut to where
+I was, while my three companions raised themselves eagerly on their
+elbows, to know what passed.</p>
+
+<p>Rupert, who still wore his Moor&#8217;s dress, kneeled down on the straw
+beside me, and whispered in my ear&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hist! I am come to arrange for your escape, but you must say no word
+to these others, lest they should want to join you, which would only
+serve to ruin our chance.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;In that case,&#8221; said I, answering him aloud in English, for I
+mistrusted him, &#8220;it is useless to proceed. I will entertain no project
+to escape which does not include these gentlemen here with me.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Rupert ground his teeth, cursing me beneath his breath for a fool. But
+Mr. Holwell promptly rebuked me.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You are not to act like that, Ford,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Neither I, nor, I am
+sure, either of these other gentlemen would consent that you should
+refuse any offer of escape merely because it is not extended to us
+also.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>My cousin, seeing that I was resolved not to have the conversation
+private between us two, now addressed himself to the others.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I heartily wish it were in my power to deliver you all, gentlemen,
+but unfortunately that is what I can&#8217;t do. I have secured a means by
+which I <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span>may carry off my young kinsman here, though at great danger
+to myself. But if it comes to the four of you, then I confess I must
+abandon the scheme.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>On this Mr. Holwell renewed his protestations, urging me by no means
+to neglect Rupert&#8217;s offer.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But how is it, sir,&#8221; he added, speaking not unkindly, &#8220;that I find
+you, an Englishman, and a relation of young Mr. Ford, in these parts,
+and apparently in a position of influence with the natives?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, as to that, it is an old story,&#8221; replied my cousin, coolly.
+&#8220;I came to Bengal first by land from the Malabar coast, in the time
+of the late Nabob, and for that reason I was not at first included
+in the hatred which Surajah Dowlah bore to the English on the
+Hooghley. However, the efforts which I made to restrain the Nabob&#8217;s
+vindictive proceedings, and the disgust which I showed at his late
+barbarities, have greatly weakened my credit with him. I believe he
+knows or suspects that I am merely casting about for an opportunity
+to quit his service, and has set spies on me accordingly. I have at
+last devised measures for making my way down to the coast, to our
+fellow-countrymen, and have bribed your gaolers to allow my cousin
+Ford to escape with me to-night, if he will.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>So earnestly did Gurney tell this tale that I could see Mr. Holwell
+and the others were very favourably impressed, and took him for an
+honourably behaved <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span>man. As for me, I felt my cheeks burn with shame
+as I sat and listened, yet I neither felt inclined to admit to these
+gentlemen that I was cousin to a villain and a traitor, nor did I
+consider it to be my duty to denounce my own blood.</p>
+
+<p>I therefore held my peace, while the conversation went on between the
+others. Mr. Holwell insisted that I should take Rupert&#8217;s offer, and be
+the means of conveying news to our friends of where the other three
+lay. I demurred, and should perhaps have rejected the invitation in
+the end, had not my cousin taken advantage to slyly whisper in my
+ear&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you understand, fool? I have news of Marian, and want your aid
+to carry her off from Surajah Dowlah&#8217;s harem!&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2>
+
+<h3><i>A NIGHT ADVENTURE</i></h3>
+
+<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">A</span>s soon as I had heard that name from Rupert&#8217;s lips, all my hesitation
+was at once overcome, as he no doubt foresaw would be the case.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come,&#8221; I said, springing upon my feet with an energy I had not felt
+for some time, &#8220;let us be going, then.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>My fellow prisoners looked not a little astonished at this sudden
+change in my resolution. However, they offered me their good wishes
+for the journey, and Mr. Holwell in particular entrusted me with some
+messages to Mr. Drake, in case I should succeed in penetrating to him.
+We had no certain information at this time as to the whereabouts of
+the English ships, but supposed them to be lying somewhere about the
+mouth of the Hooghley. It was judged best that I should carry no
+writing.</p>
+
+<p>We two then crept softly out of the hut, my cousin going first, and I
+following. There was no moon abroad, but a sufficiency of light was
+afforded us by <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span>the extraordinary brilliancy of the stars, which
+appear much bigger, as well as thicker in the sky, in these latitudes
+than in England. At a short distance from the door of the shed I could
+perceive the sentinel, seated with his back towards us, his hands
+resting on his matchlock.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;This way,&#8221; whispered Rupert in my ear. And turning in the opposite
+direction from the sentry, he stooped down and ran along under the
+shadow of a high wall which bordered a winding road.</p>
+
+<p>The wall was about eight feet high, and enclosed a garden. Here and
+there it was overhung by branches of trees, whose foliage I failed to
+distinguish in the darkness, but I once or twice thought I smelt the
+fragrance of lemons. Within the garden behind the wall we could hear
+the tinkle of a fountain and a noise like the singing of some bird.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What is this place?&#8221; I asked in a whisper, as I ran along by Rupert&#8217;s
+side.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hush!&#8221; he answered crossly. &#8220;We shall be overheard. This is the
+Nabob&#8217;s garden, where are the pavilions of his women.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>We ran on in silence for some little time longer, when we arrived at
+the end of the garden, and plunged into a narrow and dark lane that
+led out of the town. This passage we followed till we came out upon a
+deserted nook immediately under the walls of Moorshedabad, which were
+here much damaged, and matted with ivy and other weeds.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now,&#8221; said Rupert, as he flung himself panting <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span>on the ground, in a
+little grassy place, &#8220;we can talk over our plans without fear of being
+disturbed.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I sat down beside him, inly marvelling at that great transformation
+which had so quickly converted us from deadly enemies seeking each
+other&#8217;s lives, into allies, if not friends. After all our hostilities
+against each other in Great Yarmouth, at Gheriah, and in Calcutta, we
+were now in Moorshedabad, bound together by a common purpose, and that
+purpose concerned with her who had originally been the cause of our
+enmity.</p>
+
+<p>I have often thought since that the change which took place in my
+cousin&#8217;s behaviour about this time was due, not so much to any tardy
+pricks of conscience, as to a sort of dizziness of mind, brought about
+by the spectacle of the prodigious crimes of Surajah Dowlah. His own
+spirit, however bold and wicked, was daunted in the presence of this
+being who, though so much younger in years, was so greatly superior in
+evil; so that he shrank back, like one brought suddenly to the edge of
+a precipice. Perhaps he had a secret apprehension of his coming fate;
+at all events, it is certain that for a short time he manifested a
+hearty longing to return to the society of honest men.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as we were seated his first act was to pluck off the turban he
+wore on his head, and cast it to the ground.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Faugh!&#8221; he exclaimed. &#8220;What an intolerable thing to wear! If it were
+not for their turbans and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span>their abstinence, I declare Mahometanism
+would suit me well enough.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I gazed at him in horror.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Do you mean, Rupert, that you have really embraced that idolatrous
+sect?&#8221; I demanded.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You need not look so scandalised, cousin,&#8221; he retorted. &#8220;In the first
+place you are quite wrong to call it idolatrous, images of every kind
+being strictly forbidden by the Alcoran. In the second place it is a
+very decent, respectable religion, as religions go, and extremely
+convenient for seafaring men who sometimes need an excuse for
+overhauling a Christian cargo.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Rupert Gurney,&#8221; I replied sternly, &#8220;you have within the hour brought
+me away out of prison, and for that I thank you. But I will neither
+listen to your blasphemous talk, nor suffer it, and rather than
+consent to do so I will go back to the place from which you took me
+but now.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Fair and softly, young Athelstane,&#8221; he answered grinning. &#8220;I see you
+are as fierce a Puritan as ever, and as I have lost the wish to
+quarrel with you I will endeavour to refrain from saying anything
+offensive to your delicacy. But do you, on your part, abstain from
+flying into a passion at every word that does not happen to sound to
+your liking; for patience is a virtue recommended, as I believe, by
+your religion as well as mine, and it seems to me that your stock of
+it is rather scant.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I cannot say how deeply mortified I was by this <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span>rebuke, which, coming
+from one whose evil life I held in just detestation, wrought more
+conviction in me than all the sermons I had heard from good Mr. Peter
+Walpole of Norwich, when I was a boy. I discovered, as though by a
+flash of light, how unchristian was the temper I had too often shown
+in my dealings, not only with my cousin, but with other persons, and
+from that moment I set an earnest watch on myself in this respect.</p>
+
+<p>Forcing myself to acknowledge my error at once, though much against
+the grain, I said&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I ask your pardon, Rupert, if I spoke harshly. But let us leave these
+questions, and come to the business in hand. What of Marian, and how
+do you propose that we should effect her escape?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He looked at me surprised.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, Athelstane, my boy, give me your hand!&#8221; he exclaimed, in a more
+cordial tone than I had ever heard him use before. &#8220;Curse me if I
+don&#8217;t heartily wish we had never quarrelled!&#8221; I gave him my hand with
+some reluctance, and he proceeded. &#8220;You saw that garden which we
+passed on our way to this spot? The girl is detained a prisoner in one
+of the Nabob&#8217;s summer-houses which stand within it. I have found means
+to corrupt one of the eunuchs who is a friend of mine, and anxious to
+stand well with the English. For I must tell you, Athelstane, that all
+is not working smoothly in the government here. Surajah Dowlah, by his
+arrogance and violence, has made many enemies, among whom <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span>are his own
+uncle, Meer Jaffier, and Roy Dullub, the most important of the
+Gentoos. These men have a just apprehension of the vengeance which the
+English may take for the late invasion of their settlements, and
+moreover they stand in dread of the young Nabob&#8217;s reckless temper,
+sometimes bordering on insanity. So that we have more friends than we
+know of in the Court. This eunuch, then, as I was going to say, has
+agreed to introduce me into the garden to-night, in about an hour&#8217;s
+time through a small postern in the wall of which he has the key. He
+is going to conduct me to the summer-house where Marian is. There it
+may be necessary to use force to overpower the eunuchs in charge of
+the place, but if we succeed in doing that, as I think there is little
+doubt we shall, we have nothing to do but to carry her off and retire
+by the way we came. I have provided a safe retreat afterwards to the
+coast.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I fell in heartily with this scheme, which seemed to present a
+tolerable chance of success. Rupert went on to explain to me the means
+by which he hoped that we might afterwards be able to pass through the
+country without being stopped. He proposed that we should give it out
+that we were a party of Mahometan pilgrims bound for the mouth of the
+river, to take ship for Mecca; and he told me he had three horses
+already hired, with a driver, waiting for us in a certain place. In
+order that this scheme might be carried through it was necessary <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span>that
+I should be disguised to pass for a Moor, like himself. He now
+produced from his bosom a brown pigment, such as he had already used
+with good enough success on his own complexion, and carefully stained
+the skin of my face, also my feet and hands.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Remember, above all,&#8221; he said, while he was thus engaged, &#8220;if you
+would be taken for a Mahometan, never to wash your hands without
+washing your feet at the same time, for this custom is inveterate with
+them, and is, I think, the principal point of difference between the
+two religions.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>When he had finished, I asked&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And now what shall I do for a suitable dress?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>For I was still clad in the garments of rough canvas which the Moors
+had given to us on the morning after our release from the Black Hole.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;By the Lord Harry, I don&#8217;t know what you can do!&#8221; cried Rupert. &#8220;I
+had overlooked that part of it. Unless you were to cut down one of
+these black rascals in the dark, and exchange suits with him?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I declined to do what I thought would amount to committing a murder,
+although it were to be done upon an Indian; whereupon my cousin
+offered to kill the man, if I would wear the clothes. At last we
+agreed to procure the dress by peaceful means, if that should be
+possible, and set out on our return to the centre of the town.</p>
+
+<p>Sure enough we had not gone a great way when we met a man of the city,
+a Gentoo, wearing a loose <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span>woollen robe and white turban, which we
+thought would pass, and which he agreed very easily to part with for
+five rupees. I offered him my canvas suit into the bargain, but this
+he rejected with disdain, on account of his religion, and walked off
+from us stark naked, but for a loin-cloth.</p>
+
+<p>It was now time that we should repair to the meeting appointed by the
+eunuch. We found the postern without any difficulty, and as soon as my
+cousin had knocked twice in a peculiar manner the eunuch came and
+admitted us. This eunuch appeared to be a very civil, worthy person,
+very different to most of his kind, whom I have found to be full of
+spite and malice, and untrustworthy in all their dealings.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as we were entered in the garden the eunuch conducted us
+through an orchard and down a grove of persimmons, to where there was
+a fountain, and close by it a square marble tank bordered by roses in
+white marble boxes. Here he left us for a moment, while he went
+forward to examine the summer-house, if there were any one stirring
+within. While we were waiting I took an interest in gazing at the
+clear water of the tank, and picturing the scene when the Nabob&#8217;s
+women came thither to bathe, as I heard was their daily custom.</p>
+
+<p>Presently the eunuch returned, and beckoned to us.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The Sahibs may go forward now,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The cage is shut and the
+birds are asleep.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span></p><p>We followed him, and he brought us out upon an open space, and in the
+midst of it a small pavilion, like a temple, built in white stone or
+marble, in two storeys, very elegantly, with small pillars before it
+and a dome above, the whole covered over with fantastical designs of
+trees and flowers, curiously wrought in the stone.</p>
+
+<p>The door of the pavilion was closed. In the upper storey I saw several
+lattices open, but no lights.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What are we to do in the next place?&#8221; I asked of the eunuch.</p>
+
+<p>He gave me an expressive look out of his black eyes, and silently
+delivered to me a scymetar which he carried.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Let the Sahib knock, and when they who keep the door put forth their
+heads, let the Sahib strike them off,&#8221; he said, seeing me hesitate.</p>
+
+<p>It had been well for us, as it turned out, if I had done as he bid me,
+for the squeamishness which we feel about shedding blood is not
+understood amongst Indians, and they despise us for it. However,
+before I could say anything further, my cousin stepped up to the door
+and knocked boldly.</p>
+
+<p>There was a commotion inside. I drew my scymetar, and Rupert did the
+same. As soon as the door was unfastened from within, without waiting
+to parley, we flung ourselves through the opening, striking out
+blindly in the dark.</p>
+
+<p>Instantly there went up a howl for mercy, and the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span>eunuchs inside&mdash;for
+there were two of them, both well-armed&mdash;cast themselves down writhing
+on the floor, evidently in the expectation that they were immediately
+to be put to death. Rupert aimed a deadly blow at one of them, but I,
+like a fool, struck up his weapon.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Stay,&#8221; I said, using the Gentoo language purposely that they might
+understand, &#8220;it may save us trouble to spare their lives, on condition
+that they strictly obey our instructions.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The wretches hearing this, instantly broke into all sorts of
+grovelling entreaties and oaths of fidelity. Quite disgusted by their
+slavish cowardice, I said to them&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hold your tongues! You have in this house a prisoner, an
+Englishwoman, whom we have come to carry away. Let one of you go at
+once and bring her here.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The eunuch furthest in from the door immediately leaped to his feet
+and made off down the passage. But Rupert, who knew more about these
+sort of creatures than I did at this time, strode after him, calling
+out&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Stay! I will go with you!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But the fellow, without turning his head, sprang up a narrow staircase
+at the end, and darting into the first room he came to above, slammed
+the door to, and had it fastened before Rupert could catch him up. In
+another moment we heard him yelling and squalling out of the window
+for assistance to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span>come and take the murderers and ravishers that were
+broken into the garden.</p>
+
+<p>My cousin came jumping down the stairs three steps at a time.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;This comes of your cursed softness!&#8221; he growled out savagely. &#8220;As
+though it were not a Christian act to cut the throats of as many of
+these hell-hounds as possible!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He fetched a slash at the man who lay whining at our feet that nearly
+severed his head from his trunk.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now we must save ourselves if we can!&#8221; he muttered. And indeed it was
+time. The screams of the eunuch overhead had brought the whole place
+about our ears. As we stepped out of the pavilion again, we saw lights
+glittering through the trees all round us, and heard shouting and the
+running of feet. Our friendly eunuch had taken to flight, and we were
+left to extricate ourselves as best we could.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We must not stay here or we shall be surrounded,&#8221; cried Rupert.
+&#8220;Which way is the gate?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I strove to recollect, and then, taking what I thought to be the
+direction, we started off at a run.</p>
+
+<p>Instantly that fiend who had betrayed us, leaning further out of the
+window to discover which way we fled, redoubled his cries. Looking
+back for a moment as we ran, I saw him pointing, and at the same time
+there was a movement of one of the other lattices, and I caught a
+glimpse of a white face and two hands thrust out with a despairing
+gesture, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span>knew that Marian was aware of our enterprise and that we
+had failed. Then the clamour on all sides grew louder, and men bearing
+lanterns and armed with swords and matchlocks burst out from the trees
+around the pavilion, and ran hither and thither, some towards the
+building, others searching for our track.</p>
+
+<p>We ran like deer, bending down so as not to be seen, and dodging in
+among the trees and bushes. By this means we preserved ourselves from
+immediate capture, but soon missed our way, and found ourselves
+wandering about in the garden, stealing from one patch of cover to
+another; while every now and then a party of our pursuers would go
+past, so close that we could hear them speak, and see the sparks of
+lantern-light drip off the naked blades of their weapons as they
+thrust them into the bushes.</p>
+
+<p>After several close escapes of this kind, when we at last stumbled on
+the postern, more by luck than skill, we found it barred and locked,
+and the key removed. Before we could decide what next to do, on a
+sudden a party of four gigantic blacks burst out upon us, brandishing
+their weapons at our heads and calling on us, by all manner of filthy
+names, to surrender. I believe they expected us to prove an easy prey,
+but I was now grown desperate, and rushed so fiercely on him that came
+first and carried a lantern, that I fairly bore him to earth at the
+first shock. And when I looked round for another <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span>I found all three in
+full flight, one of them leaving his right hand behind, which Rupert
+had managed to slice off at the wrist with the first blow. They ran
+for their lives, shouting out that they had to do with two demons from
+the pit. Rupert, seeing the man I had struck down move, stepped over
+to him, quite cool, drew his blade across the poor wretch&#8217;s throat,
+and wiped it on his turban. After this we lost no time in shifting our
+ground before the rest of the pursuers came up.</p>
+
+<p>With the chase so hot after us, it had become plain that we must be
+taken before long, unless we could hit upon some means of escaping
+from the garden. In this strait I bethought myself of the trees whose
+boughs I had noticed from outside overhanging the wall, when we passed
+it earlier that night. I reminded Rupert of this, who exclaimed
+joyfully&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well done, cousin, I declare you have saved us now! I believe I can
+find that part of the garden easily enough, when it will be a simple
+matter to climb the trees and drop down on the other side of the
+wall.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>We set out at once, Rupert leading the way, and turning from side to
+side as we heard the Moors shouting after us. They now felt pretty
+sure of our whereabouts, and began discharging their pieces where we
+went, so that the balls tore the leaves off the trees all round us,
+but luckily without doing us any damage. We arrived at the wall, and
+seeing a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span>tree suitable for our purpose, made for it, but just as we
+reached it one of those black rascals we had put to flight espied us.
+He raised the cry, and instantly we found ourselves surrounded by the
+whole band, at least twenty of them rushing at us out of the dark, and
+all with the most murderous looks I have ever seen.</p>
+
+<p>I now gave up all for lost, and planting myself with my back against
+the tree prepared to sell my life dear. Not so Rupert, who was already
+off the ground, climbing like a cat up the smooth trunk. He was out of
+sight among the branches directly, and in another minute would have
+been safely over the wall, when at a signal from their leader, about a
+dozen of the Moors who had firearms discharged them all together into
+the tree. I heard a groan and a sound of scrambling above, and
+presently Rupert dropped, falling heavily straight on to the ground,
+where he lay quite still.</p>
+
+<p>When I saw what had happened, I abandoned all further thoughts of
+resistance, and throwing away my weapon bade them do what they would
+with me. Even then, so great was the awe we had struck into them, that
+they advanced slowly, narrowing their circle all round, till at length
+the foremost took courage to lay his hand on my shoulder. They then
+led me away, jabbering the most horrid threats in my ear, while others
+picked up my unfortunate cousin, and carried him after, groaning
+miserably.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span></p><p>We were brought into a sort of guard-house, situated, as well as I
+could judge, in the centre of the garden, and there kept till morning,
+to await the Nabob&#8217;s pleasure. Poor Rupert, who had broken his leg,
+tossed and moaned till daybreak, but I was so much exhausted that I
+could not keep awake, and fell into a sleep on the floor. In the
+morning, to my astonishment, I was offered some food, after which my
+captors dragged me pretty roughly into the palace. I said farewell to
+my cousin, doubting greatly whether I should ever see him again.</p>
+
+<p>Surajah Dowlah, contrary to his custom, had me brought into him in his
+private apartments, there being present besides only some of the
+minions and low buffoons he kept by him to amuse him. He rolled his
+bloodshot eyes on me, as I was led in, looking as though he could have
+bit me, and played with a sharp, crooked knife which he had in his
+hand.</p>
+
+<p>After overwhelming me with a torrent of imprecations which I should be
+ashamed to write down, he ordered me to tell him how I had got into
+his garden. Being well assured that nothing could make my position
+worse than it already was, and having some experience of the Nabob&#8217;s
+character by this time, I resolved on defying him. I therefore
+answered boldly&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I got into the garden by means which I have, and which I shall not
+disclose. Your Highness may rest assured that you cannot keep me out
+of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span>any place into which I choose to penetrate. Nevertheless I
+intended no outrage on you. You hold prisoner a countrywoman of mine,
+whom I intended to deliver out of your hands; and let me warn your
+Highness that whatever you may order to be done with me, the English
+will never leave you in peace till you have set that woman free.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I was scarce prepared for the effect which these words produced on the
+intoxicated youth. He rose half way from his seat, raging like a
+fiend, then fell back again white and crouching, as if I had been
+about to deal him a blow, then passed into a fresh paroxysm of rage,
+and so from one state of mind to another in a way at once alarming and
+pitiful to behold.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Do you know in whose presence you stand, infidel?&#8221; he shrieked. &#8220;Do
+you know that I am lord and Subhadar of Bengal, of Behar, and Orissa;
+and that I have a million men who would die at my bidding? I will have
+you torn piecemeal, I will have your eyes picked out with knives and
+your flesh torn by hot pincers! I will plunge this knife into you, I
+will rip you up as I would a wild boar, I will strew your entrails on
+the earth, I will give your heart to dogs to devour!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He went on in this terrifying manner till he was out of breath. During
+the whole time I stood regarding him with a cool, undismayed
+expression which, I believe, disconcerted him more than any words I
+could have used. Then I said&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span></p><p>&#8220;Surajah Dowlah, your words are the words of a boaster, who is bold
+only when he sees his enemy before him disarmed. Beware of what you
+do; you are walking in the dark! Do you believe the paltry handful of
+English whom you drove out of Calcutta count for anything in the
+strength of our nation? If so, let me tell you there are men about
+you, men who have your trust, who could teach you otherwise. You are
+being deceived if your spies have not already told you of the armament
+which he whom you call Sabat Jung is already preparing to invade your
+dominions, when every hair of an Englishman&#8217;s head that you have
+injured will have to be reckoned for. And it will be well for you if,
+among all those who crouch before you, you find any to fight for you
+in that day.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The servile crew that stood round the tyrant here began to cry out at
+me, and drown my voice. But I was satisfied with the impression I had
+made on the mind of their master. He listened, hanging his head, and
+casting meaning glances at me, as if doubtful how far I had authority
+for what I said. Finally he ordered me to be kept under a strong
+guard, and I was conveyed back to the same prison I had escaped from
+overnight.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2>
+
+<h3><i>IN A STRANGE LAND</i></h3>
+
+<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">I</span> have now come to a period which was in many respects the strangest
+of my whole life, so that I often look back on it with wonder; and
+sitting here at the open window, framed in honeysuckle and sweetbriar,
+with the sounds of the farm in my ears and the prospect of the
+peaceful broad in front of me, I ask myself if I be truly that
+adventurous youth who once dwelt in captivity for many months in the
+court of an Indian prince, half victim and half plaything, one day
+caressed and loaded with rich gifts, the next threatened with death
+and torture.</p>
+
+<p>Yet so it was. After the attempt whose miscarriage I have just
+related, the demeanour of the Nabob underwent a singular change. He
+relented from his severity towards us, and in fact a few days after,
+riding past our place of imprisonment one morning, he stopped at the
+door and calling Mr. Holwell out to him, bade him and his two
+companions <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span>betake themselves where they would, since he desired never
+to hear of them again.</p>
+
+<p>However, in this dismissal he did not include me, choosing to put me
+on a different footing from the other prisoners he had taken at Fort
+William, and to hold me as a hostage&mdash;for so I am sure he considered
+me&mdash;for the friendship of Colonel Clive. He offered me the choice
+between being kept in chains or giving him my parole not to leave
+Moorshedabad without his consent. The Moors do not accept each other&#8217;s
+parole, but they trust that of a European, than which there can be no
+stronger proof of the dishonesty of their whole nation. I chose to
+comply with the Nabob&#8217;s condition, as I considered that I ought not to
+quit the place without having effected something for Marian. And by
+giving my parole I trusted to obtain opportunities for communicating
+with her, as well as with my luckless cousin Gurney, whom I had not
+seen since the morning after our adventure.</p>
+
+<p>Whether Surajah Dowlah suspected my designs, and took particular
+measures for baffling them, I cannot say. But during the time that now
+followed, try as I would, I never succeeded in so much as hearing the
+smallest news of either of the two persons whom I knew to be in
+Moorshedabad. So close is the secrecy maintained by Orientals that
+they might have both been carried off into the recesses of Tartary,
+and yet not been more utterly out of my reach than they were, abiding
+in the same city.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span></p><p>Neither was I able to gain any certain tidings of my fellow
+countrymen. I only knew that the Nabob, intoxicated with the pride of
+his victory at Fort William, had neglected to take measures for
+pursuing the refugees and driving them from his country. So that they
+lay all together at Fulta, very miserably, wishing for succour to
+arrive from Madras, and passed the time, as I have since understood,
+in recriminations upon each other, for the misconduct and weakness
+which had brought about the fall of Calcutta. What were the real
+feelings of Surajah Dowlah towards myself I found it then, and find it
+still, very difficult to estimate. On many occasions he behaved
+towards me with the greatest kindness, and as though he had a real
+affection for me. He would send for me sometimes, when he was sober,
+and question me about the various kingdoms of Europe, particularly the
+French, English, and Dutch, those being the three nations which had
+factories in his dominions. It was plain that he did not believe very
+much of what I told him, supposing no doubt that I exaggerated in
+order to astonish him. I told him that the French were the most
+powerful military nation on the continent of Europe, but that we were
+their masters, having several times invaded and conquered their
+country. And I said that at sea the English had ever been reckoned the
+first of all nations, so much so that no foreign warship was allowed
+to pass through our seas without striking her topsails to any British
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span>vessel she might meet. When I spoke in this manner he would mock, and
+ask whether I supposed that a Frenchman would confirm these accounts,
+to which I made answer that such was scarcely to be expected, the
+French being a vain people, and given to boasting of their greatness.</p>
+
+<p>When the Nabob had exhausted his questions&mdash;and he seldom asked me
+about any but military affairs&mdash;he would bestow on me a jewel, or a
+rich dress, and dismiss me with every mark of kindness. But on the
+very next day, perhaps, being sent for again, I found him in a drunken
+rage, ready to curse my nation and myself, and threatening to have my
+tongue pulled out for having abused him with lies and inventions about
+my miserable country. On these occasions I often heard him declare
+that the whole of Europe did not contain ten thousand men, and that as
+for King George, he was only fit to be a dewan or zamindar under
+himself.</p>
+
+<p>It did not take me long to discover that the Nabob was entirely
+governed by those about him. When he could be prevailed on to listen
+to his uncle, Meer Jaffier, or to his aunt, the widow of Allaverdy
+Khan, his behaviour was rational enough; but more often he fell under
+the influence of his detestable Gentoo favourite Lal Moon, and other
+scoundrels of that stamp, when he became little more than a drunken
+sot. I felt during this period as though I was shut in the same cage
+with a capricious tiger, who one moment purred and fawned on me and
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span>the next showed his teeth with horrid snarls, nor was there ever a
+day on which I could feel secure that I should not be delivered to the
+executioner before the sun set.</p>
+
+<p>Through all these changes of demeanour I adhered to the firm conduct I
+had at first taken up, and by never permitting the tyrant to see that
+I feared him, succeeded time after time in damping his frenzy. At the
+same time I acquired the friendship and esteem of some of the most
+considerable persons of his Court, particularly Roy Dullub, the dewan
+already mentioned, and the famous Meer Jaffier. My hold on the
+friendship of this distinguished Moor was strengthened by an incident
+which I am about to relate.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as the rainy season was over, which lasted till the month of
+October, Surajah Dowlah marched out with his army into the country of
+Purneah, for the purpose of attacking his cousin, who was Phouzdar of
+that territory. The young Nabob bore a great hatred to this relation
+of his, and had frequently announced his intention of destroying him
+as soon as the weather should permit of his moving against him. At the
+head of the army, as usual, was the general, Meer Jaffier, and at my
+earnest request I was allowed to accompany him as one of his train.</p>
+
+<p>We arrived at length, after a tedious march, at the foot of some
+hills, on the slope of which the Phouzdar&#8217;s army lay encamped. Our own
+force was much <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span>more numerous, but the Phouzdar&#8217;s position being a
+very strong one the Meer judged it not prudent to make an attack till
+he had had an opportunity of thoroughly examining the ground. With
+this view he chose out a small party, of whom I was one, and departed
+secretly from the camp at sunset, to explore the enemy&#8217;s
+neighbourhood.</p>
+
+<p>The distance between the two armies was not very great; as near as I
+could judge it was about three miles. But we had no guide to direct
+us, and lost our way in the darkness, getting entangled first in the
+wood, and afterwards among a network of small, deep streams, too broad
+to jump, and dangerous to wade on account of the steepness of their
+banks and the slippery boulders with which their beds were strewn. So
+long did it take us to extricate ourselves out of these difficulties
+that when the sun rose we found ourselves close to the Phouzdar&#8217;s
+camp, and within full view of his army. We turned to retreat, but at
+the same time a loud halloo was raised behind us, and a troop of
+horsemen, with waving ensigns and steel accoutrements shining in the
+sun, dashed out from the enemy&#8217;s ranks and rode down upon us.</p>
+
+<p>Meer Jaffier at once gave the order to face round, and form into a
+solid body to receive their onset. As they approached there was a tall
+young man in a high turban that blazed with diamonds, mounted on a
+noble white horse, who spurred swiftly in front, and rode straight for
+where our commander was posted, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span>with me beside him. The Meer, who did
+not want courage, perceiving that this young man sought him out,
+instantly galloped forward to meet him, and cast his javelin. The
+javelin passed by the young man&#8217;s ear; he pulled up his horse, and
+threw his own in return with such good aim that he struck Meer Jaffier
+on the shoulder, who reeled and fell off his horse on to the ground.
+The other instantly rode up and leaped off his white horse to despatch
+his enemy, but I was on the spot just in time, and without
+dismounting, succeeded in striking the young man on the neck with my
+scymetar with such force that he fell down dead.</p>
+
+<p>No sooner did they see him fall than the whole troop of the enemy&#8217;s
+horse turned round and went off, casting away their banners as they
+rode. Meer Jaffier, who had merely been stunned for the moment, came
+to himself directly afterwards, and on looking at the dead man&#8217;s face
+recognised him to be no other than the Phouzdar of Purneah himself. We
+were informed afterwards that he had mistaken us for the Nabob&#8217;s own
+bodyguard, and had come out to attack the Nabob himself.</p>
+
+<p>This lucky accident put an end to the campaign, the whole country at
+once submitting to Surajah Dowlah. The ungrateful young tyrant chose
+to resent my action, declaring that it was his design to have put his
+cousin to death with his own hand, but Meer Jaffier expressed himself
+very handsomely about the service I had rendered him, and presented
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span>me with the white horse which the Phouzdar had ridden.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as we were returned to Moorshedabad Surajah Dowlah marked his
+sense of resentment against me by withdrawing my liberty on parole,
+and ordering me into close confinement again. I thus learnt how
+dangerous is the path of those who would advance themselves at courts
+where everything depends on the personal favour of the monarch, and
+not, as in our own happy country, where the power is distributed among
+the Houses of Parliament and great Ministers, so that no man hath it
+in his power unduly to depress another. However, I had not lain in my
+new prison very long before I had reason to rejoice at the Nabob&#8217;s
+caprice, which had restored to me the right of plotting my escape from
+him. For one evening, when it began to be dusk, the door of my cell
+was suddenly opened, and the gaolers ushered in a person closely
+veiled and disguised, who, as soon as we were left alone, removed the
+wrappings from his face and showed himself to be none other than the
+Meer Jaffier in person.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;My son,&#8221; he said to me, regarding me with a look of some concern,
+&#8220;there has this day arrived at the palace a messenger from Monichund,
+who brings tidings that Sabat Jung, with a great armament of ships and
+men, has arrived in the mouth of the Hooghley, breathing vengeance
+against our lord Surajah Dowlah. And this news has so infuriated <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span>him
+against the whole English nation that, unless you can contrive to get
+away from Moorshedabad to-night you are like to forfeit your life on
+the morrow.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Now whether this distinguished Moor was moved to this action by
+gratitude for my former service to him, or whether, as some of my
+friends think, he was already aiming at the treaty into which he
+afterwards entered with the English, and therefore wished to show his
+good will to us; yet of this I am sure, that he preserved my life on
+this night, an action for which I must always hold him in grateful
+remembrance. Under his directions I collected together my property,
+consisting chiefly of the gems which the Nabob had given me, and which
+I secreted on my person. He then brought me out of the prison, past
+the gaolers, whom he had bribed and dismissed, and took me by a back
+way to his own house. Here I found the beautiful white horse he had
+given me, which was named Ali, ready saddled and bridled for a
+journey. I had for some months been accustomed to wear the Moorish
+dress, so that I wanted nothing in the shape of disguise, save another
+application of my cousin Rupert&#8217;s paint, which was not to be had.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Mount,&#8221; said the Meer, &#8220;and I will myself ride with you as far as the
+gate of the city and see you safely on your way.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly he had his own horse made ready, a small, powerful, black
+mare, like a jennet, and on <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span>this led the way through the streets of
+the city, now nearly empty, to the southern gate. As we rode along
+together he gave me advice as to how I should proceed.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You may now pass well enough among the Mahometans,&#8221; he said, &#8220;for you
+have learned a good deal of our manners, and if you had been willing
+to forsake your degrading idolatry, and embrace the true worship of
+Allah, you might have attained to a high position among us. But now
+you are to pass through the country parts of Bengal, in which there
+are few or no Moors, but only Gentoos, of whom I would have you
+beware. For the secret hatred of these people for us, their rulers and
+governors, is very great, so that though you should pass among them
+for a Moor, you would fare little better than if they knew you to be a
+Christian and a foreigner. Above all, beware of their Bramins, a
+faithless, perjured race, given over to all kinds of vile, heathen
+practices, such as you have no notion of. Let a Bramin once raise his
+finger against you among these people and you are lost, for by means
+of their manifold sorceries they have reduced the whole Gentoo
+population to be their slaves.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He gave me some directions as to the road I was to travel, telling me
+I should have to make a circuit so as not to pass through Calcutta,
+which lay directly in the way to Fulta. The whole distance he
+estimated as a little more than two hundred miles, and he advised me
+to ride only at night, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span>conceal myself in the jungle during the
+day. I asked him what I should do to procure food.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That will require some address,&#8221; he answered, &#8220;but you must avoid
+entering a village. You will have to keep your eyes open as you ride
+along, and when you come to some hut standing by itself with no others
+near, enter boldly and demand provisions for yourself and your horse.
+Beware of offering any money in payment, or they will suspect you to
+be a fugitive and fall upon you; but if you hold yourself towards them
+with pride and sternness, giving them only curses and blows, they will
+respect and grovel before you, for such is the nature of the
+Bengalese.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>As soon as we were arrived at the gate of the town Meer Jaffier bade
+me farewell.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;When you come before Sabat Jung you may salute him privately from
+me,&#8221; he said at parting. &#8220;Tell him that my nephew&#8217;s violence towards
+the English is far from commanding the approval of the elder and more
+prudent among us, and that we earnestly desire to see your factories
+restored and trade once more flourishing.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>In these last expressions I knew him to be sincere. For since the
+destruction of the English factories there had been a great falling
+off in the revenues of Bengal, so much so that even the Nabob himself
+was now inclined to repent of his action.</p>
+
+<p>I thanked and saluted my protector, and giving the rein to my willing
+steed, galloped forth into the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span>night. And now it would be easy for me
+to make a long story of those four days and nights which I spent in
+travelling through the unknown parts of Bengal, riding along dark
+forest paths with nothing to guide me but the stars, under mighty
+trees whose boughs arched overhead like caverns and grew downwards
+into the earth again, past sleeping Indian villages, where the dogs
+bayed behind prickly fences, swimming dark rivers on whose surface the
+reflections of strange idol temples rose and fell, and creeping
+through thick jungles where my ears were stunned by the screams of
+trooping jackals, and where my heart would sometimes come into my
+mouth as I saw the brown grass bend and shake with the passage of some
+great beast, and caught a glimpse of dark red stripes moving behind
+the reeds, and heard the heavy padding of its paws. But only once
+during this journey did I come into real danger, and that through a
+neglect of the wise advice given to me by my good friend at starting.</p>
+
+<p>For though Meer Jaffier had so strictly warned me against the Indians,
+and particularly the Bramins, yet on the third night after my flight,
+beginning to feel somewhat confident by having got so far in safety,
+nothing would do but I must thrust my head into the lion&#8217;s den, by
+which I mean venture into one of their temples, at the very time they
+were busy about a great religious ceremony. I had been on my way since
+sundown, and had made very good progress, so that I supposed myself to
+have got over <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span>the greater part of my journey, when towards the middle
+of the night I came unexpectedly upon a great building, standing by
+itself on the edge of a stream, which building I at once knew to be a
+temple of the Gentoo religion.</p>
+
+<p>Having passed several places of the same kind already I should not
+have taken much notice of this one, perhaps, if my attention had not
+been attracted by a peculiar drumming noise which seemed to proceed
+from the inside, and sounded very strange and awful in the darkness. I
+rode up as near as I dared, and then stopped, listening. The drumming
+grew louder and louder, and I presently began to distinguish a purpose
+in it. The sounds rose and fell in a certain regular order, very
+unlike the melody of our musical instruments, but yet very impressive
+to the ear. I found myself affected by a feeling of suspense as I
+listened, which quickly passed into one of fear, and at the same time
+I noticed that my horse had begun to shiver and sweat violently. The
+only effect of this was to fill me with a burning curiosity to know
+what this music was for. I tethered poor Ali to a tree, and though he
+seemed to be greatly distressed at being left alone, plunged into the
+undergrowth that surrounded the sides of the temple.</p>
+
+<p>The whole place appeared to be in darkness. I groped my way at last to
+the foot of a flight of steps leading up to the front, and finding
+nobody on guard climbed up softly on all fours, only staying <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span>now and
+then to breathe deeply, and to try and still the excessive beating of
+my heart. The drums continued to sound, the notes becoming harsher and
+more distinct as I approached. At the top of the steps I found myself
+before a little stone doorway, through which a very faint dusky
+glimmer emerged. I passed in, treading on tiptoe, and came along a
+narrow stone passage, down which the sound of the drumming made a
+dismal echo. At the further end of the passage the way was closed by a
+thick curtain made of a substance that felt like stiff leather, and
+was, I believe, the hide of an elephant. I pushed this back far enough
+to let me through, and passed straight into the midst of the place.</p>
+
+<p>As I did so the beating of the tom-toms broke on my ears with such
+vehemence that I was well-nigh stunned, and a waving dance of torches
+and cressets bewildered my eyes. I stood on the edge of a range of
+steps looking down upon an amphitheatre crowded with men. On the other
+side, over against me, rose a hideous idol, as high as the roof, with
+many heads, each grinning horribly, whilst from its body there
+protruded a monstrous array of clutching arms and hands, with other
+disfigurements too loathsome to be set down. The persons underneath me
+were all leaping and whirling round, with many gestures of homage to
+the idol, and they uttered cries and screams which were drowned by the
+noise of the drums.</p>
+
+<p>In the midst of their frenzy I saw a man dart out <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span>stark naked,
+prostrate himself for a moment at the idol&#8217;s feet, and then inflict a
+terrible gash on himself with a knife which he had in his hand.
+Instantly the yellings and drummings were redoubled, the mass of
+worshippers whirled themselves round more furiously than ever, and
+then another and another man leaped forward and cut himself, each one
+more savagely than his fellow. Though I have never known what it is to
+be faint or sick in battle at the sight of wounds, nor even in a
+hospital, the spectacle of these ghastly mutilations offered up by
+these Indians in their madness to the idol turned me cold. I stood
+there watching them, and saw the stones of the temple all bloody like
+a shambles, and the dark faces of the worshippers distorted like
+maniacs, amid the smoke and flare of the torches, and a din like that
+of the pit; and remembering the different worship in which I had been
+brought up, and the pious services conducted by good Mr. Walpole, I
+thanked the Almighty who had granted me the blessed privilege of being
+born in a Christian land.</p>
+
+<p>And with this prayer in my heart I was turning to go when all at once
+I was aware that I had been spied; the noise of the tom-toms and the
+screaming dropped as if by magic, the torches were extinguished as
+though a wind had suddenly passed through the place, and as I turned
+and fled I heard the pattering of innumerable naked feet behind me on
+the stones.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2>
+
+<h3><i>THE COMING OF SABAT JUNG</i></h3>
+
+<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">I</span>f ever I felt afraid in my life it was when I fled out of the Indian
+temple with the whole swarm of devil-worshippers in full pursuit. I
+never thought I should have escaped alive, yet by the aid of
+Providence I did so, leaping down the steps by great bounds, finding
+my horse and unloosing him in the nick of time, and galloping off out
+of their reach. They kept up the pursuit for at least a mile, running
+with extraordinary swiftness, and tracking me like wolves;
+nevertheless in the end I got clean away.</p>
+
+<p>This adventure served as a wholesome lesson to me to beware of
+meddling with the ways of strange peoples in a strange land. By dint
+of following Meer Jaffier&#8217;s wise and prudent directions I got over the
+rest of my journey without hindrance, and as day was breaking at the
+end of the following night I rode down on to the shore of the
+Hooghley.</p>
+
+<p>There the first thing that met my eyes was the pennant of my old
+commander, Admiral Watson, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span>flying from the main truck of his
+Majesty&#8217;s ship <i>Kent</i>, where she lay in the river, surrounded by a
+fleet, comprising the <i>Tyger</i>, <i>Salisbury</i>, <i>Bridgewater</i>, and a
+number of merchantmen. I gloated over this welcome sight almost with
+tears, as I realised that I was restored to my countrymen once more,
+after all my perils and wanderings. It did not take me long to reach
+the English camp on the edge of the river, where the spectacle of a
+turbaned Moor riding in on a white horse excited no small commotion.</p>
+
+<p>I inquired for Colonel Clive, and was quickly brought to the door of
+his tent, where my kind friend Mr. Scrafton came out to speak to me. I
+was on the point of offering him my hand, but observing that he had no
+suspicions as to who it was I merely told him in Indostanee that I
+came from Moorshedabad, with a message from the Meer Jaffier, and
+suffered him to bring me in to Mr. Clive.</p>
+
+<p>The famous Sabat Jung sat writing at a small table, from which he
+looked up as we entered, and cast a sharp glance over me. Mr. Scrafton
+spoke in English.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Colonel, here is a Moor from the Nabob&#8217;s capital, with a message from
+his general to you.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Clive laid down his pen.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Tell him to deliver it,&#8221; he said.</p>
+
+<p>Before Mr. Scrafton could interpret this command, which he was about
+to do, I interposed, addressing Mr. Clive in English.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span></p><p>&#8220;The Meer Jaffier bade me salute you privately, sir. Is it your
+pleasure that Mr. Scrafton should be present?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The Colonel and his secretary stared at each other, as they well
+might.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Who are you, man?&#8221; demanded Mr. Clive. &#8220;And how do you know this
+gentleman&#8217;s name?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I know his name very well, sir,&#8221; said I, &#8220;and I think he knows mine,
+unless by this time he has forgot his former pupil, Athelstane Ford.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;By the Lord, if it isn&#8217;t my little purser!&#8221; exclaimed Colonel Clive.</p>
+
+<p>And this great man was pleased to rise from his chair and shake me
+very warmly by the hand, declaring himself pleased to see me safe and
+sound again. Mr. Scrafton did the same, after which they made me sit
+down and tell the history of my adventures. They questioned me very
+closely about the character of Surajah Dowlah and the strength of his
+government, and after I had expressed my opinions, Mr. Clive told me
+that he believed he understood the Nabob&#8217;s character, and had written
+him a letter such as would send his heart into his boots.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And that the whole of Indostan may know what I think of the young
+monster, I mean to send the letter open to his lieutenant, Monichund,&#8221;
+he said. &#8220;These barbarous nations shall be made to learn the English
+are their masters, and that every outrage upon an Englishman shall
+cost them dear.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span></p><p>So at last there had come a man able to deal with the bloodthirsty
+savage Moors and their prince as they deserved; and a new page was
+turned over in the history of Bengal. And but for the anxiety that
+continually harassed my mind as to the fate of those two whom I had
+left in Moorshedabad, I mean Marian and my cousin, who, in spite of
+many crimes, had at last done something to atone for his past
+misconduct; but for this, the time which followed would have been full
+of satisfaction. For I was now to witness the closing acts of that
+great historic drama of which I have already chronicled the
+commencement. I was to assist at the execution of justice on a great
+malefactor, and to see his victims repaid a hundredfold for the
+injuries they had suffered at his hands.</p>
+
+<p>I had arrived in the English camp just in time to take part in the
+first of those celebrated operations by which the disgraceful
+surrender of Fort William was to be redeemed, and the English name was
+to be so signally advanced throughout the East Indies. Colonel Clive
+had despatched the letter he spoke of, to demand redress from the
+Nabob, but its language was so high and peremptory that Monichund, the
+Nabob&#8217;s governor in Fort William, returned it, saying that he dared
+not transmit it to his master. Thereupon Mr. Clive, not sorry to have
+an excuse for hostilities, ordered an immediate advance on Calcutta.</p>
+
+<p>The total number of troops employed on this <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span>memorable expedition was
+a little more than two thousand, of whom the most part were Telingies,
+or Sepoys, the English troops being between six and seven hundred.
+Most of these were Company&#8217;s soldiers, though we had about one hundred
+men of Adlercron&#8217;s regiment from Madras. We had also two field-pieces;
+the rest had been lost through the unfortunate grounding of the
+<i>Cumberland</i> outside the river. To this force was afterwards added a
+body of three hundred seamen from the ships, as I shall presently
+relate. This little army under Colonel Clive marched slowly up the
+bank of the Hooghley, while Admiral Watson followed and escorted us
+with his fleet.</p>
+
+<p>On the second afternoon we lay at a place called Mayapore, between
+which and Calcutta, on the river&#8217;s edge, stood the strong place of
+Budge-Budge, or Buz-Buzia as it is written by the learned. The Admiral
+had announced his intention of sailing up to attack this fort on the
+next day with the guns of the ships, and in order to prevent the
+garrison escaping Mr. Clive decided to march round during the night,
+and lay an ambush in the rear of the fort.</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly we marched out of Mayapore about sunset, and were
+conducted by some Indian guides inland through a part of the country
+much broken up by swamps and watercourses, which made our progress so
+excessively tedious that it was not till the following sunrise that we
+arrived at the place appointed for the ambush. This was a hollow in
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span>the plain, where there was a deserted village, the hollow being
+surrounded by banks covered with thickets which, it was supposed,
+would conceal our presence from the enemy. The troops by this time
+being quite worn out, Colonel Clive gave them leave to lay down their
+arms and repose themselves, and so eagerly was the permission availed
+of that not a single sentinel was posted to give notice of the enemy&#8217;s
+approach.</p>
+
+<p>I was with Mr. Clive himself, who had allowed me to accompany him as a
+sort of military secretary, Mr. Scrafton not being a soldier. We lay
+down side by side, and I for one had no sooner closed my eyes than I
+fell asleep. But the very next moment, as it seemed to me, I awoke
+with a start, to the sound of a battle going on around me.</p>
+
+<p>I sprang to my feet and took in the whole scene. A whole Indian army
+appeared to have surrounded the sleeping camp. The banks of the hollow
+were lined with swarthy troops, armed with matchlocks, from which they
+poured a steady fire upon our bewildered men, just roused from
+slumber, and groping in confusion after their arms. On an eminence a
+short way behind I espied an officer, whom I took to be Monichund
+himself, seated on an elephant, issuing orders to his troops. Our two
+field-pieces stood deserted in the way of the enemy, who advanced to
+take them, while the terrified artillerymen ran for shelter among the
+troops of the line. Our position looked desperate, and I <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span>turned
+anxiously to Colonel Clive to see what he would do.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Clive had sprung to his feet at the same moment with myself. For a
+moment he stood in an attitude of stern attention, his hands clenched,
+his lips compressed, and his eyes darting from point to point over the
+field. The next instant his voice rang out like the sound of a
+trumpet.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Steady! Form in line! Face this way! Captain Campbell, form your men
+on the right. Captain Coote, take yours to the left. Where is
+Kilpatrick?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He sprang forward among the disordered troops, rattling out commands
+and words of encouragement, and infusing a new spirit into them by his
+very presence and the air of cool resolution with which he moved and
+spoke. Like magic the little force disposed itself under his orders,
+and began to return the enemy&#8217;s fire. Astonished by this sudden
+transformation, the Moors halted in their attack, and seemed contented
+to hold the rest of the ridge. Colonel Clive instantly detected their
+hesitation, drew up two small detachments opposite the points where
+the enemy seemed to be in the greatest numbers and ordered them to
+charge. They dashed forward with a ringing cheer, gained the bank, and
+drove the enemy back into the village.</p>
+
+<p>Taking advantage of this success, Mr. Clive turned his attention to
+the two field-pieces, which had been surrounded by a party of
+Monichund&#8217;s force.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span></p><p>&#8220;Go,&#8221; he said to me, &#8220;order up the volunteers, and rescue those guns.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Elated by this commission I darted towards a little squad composed of
+some fifty of the Company&#8217;s civil servants who had volunteered before
+we left Fulta.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come on,&#8221; I shouted, &#8220;and take the guns!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>They responded with an answering shout, we charged on the Indians at
+the double and drove them off. The artillerymen came up, turned the
+guns on the village, and began to shell out the enemy. A minute
+afterwards a loud cheer announced a general advance of our whole
+force, and Monichund, turning his elephant, fled, followed by all his
+men.</p>
+
+<p>While this was taking place the thunder of guns from the direction of
+the river told us that the fleet had come up, and was already at work
+silencing the artillery of the fort. Colonel Clive called back his men
+from the pursuit, and then, finding them utterly exhausted, he
+deferred the assault on the fort till the next day, and we again
+betook ourselves to repose.</p>
+
+<p>The result of this affair was greatly to encourage us, while we
+afterwards learned that it had as much disheartened the Moors. That
+presumption which they had felt ever since the fall of Calcutta was
+now exchanged for a different feeling, so much so that it may not be
+too much to say that the fate of Bengal was decided by that morning&#8217;s
+work. The admiration <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span>which I felt for Mr. Clive&#8217;s conduct on this
+occasion emboldened me to offer him my congratulations on his victory,
+but he rebuked me for doing do.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I will tell you what it is, young gentleman,&#8221; he said to me, &#8220;I
+deserved to have been defeated for my carelessness in letting the
+beggars surprise me. It is true we beat them off, but that is no
+defence. A general should not allow himself to be caught napping in
+that fashion, and you may depend on it I shall say as little as
+possible about this day&#8217;s work in my despatches to the Directors.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>In this confidential way he was pleased to talk with me, a freedom
+which it was his habit to indulge in with all those of his
+subordinates whom he really liked. For this hero, as I must have leave
+to call him, was not one of those little great men who find it
+necessary to keep up their authority by a show of reserve and
+pompousness, but feeling that confidence in himself which would enable
+him to rely upon his actions as the proofs of his greatness, he
+despised the arts of inferior minds.</p>
+
+<p>And now there happened an event, not only singular in itself, but
+interesting to me as bringing me back the company of an old friend
+whom I had never looked to see again. In the evening of this same day,
+while the soldiers were at supper, a party of sailors were landed from
+the ships, being the force I have already mentioned, to be ready to
+take part in the assault the next day. Thinking it possible <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span>that some
+of my old comrades from the <i>Talisman</i> might be among them, about
+eight o&#8217;clock I strolled down to their quarters, where I found them
+all drinking together, without much appearance of discipline.</p>
+
+<p>I walked past several groups without recognising any face that I knew,
+and was about to give up the quest, when I noticed a group of half a
+dozen who were straying in the direction of the silent fort. This
+seemed to me a very dangerous proceeding, and as I could see none of
+their officers near, I determined to follow and remonstrate with them.
+Accordingly I hastened after them as fast as I could go. By the way in
+which they walked, or rather staggered along, I saw they had been
+drinking pretty freely. Presently they set off at a run, paying no
+heed to my shouts, and I was obliged to follow till they stopped on
+the very edge of the ditch which went round the fort. Here I caught up
+with them, greatly surprised that the garrison had shown no signs of
+life. But before I could speak, or even distinctly see their faces,
+the tallest of the party, a man of great frame, began rolling down
+into the ditch, which was nearly dry.</p>
+
+<p>I dared not call out for fear of drawing the attention of those in the
+fort, and watched him breathlessly as he plunged through the mud at
+the bottom of the ditch and scrambled up the opposite side.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What is he doing?&#8221; I demanded in a whisper <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span>of the man who appeared
+to be the most sober of the group.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a bet,&#8221; he answered; &#8220;we bet him a quart of rum he wouldn&#8217;t get
+to the top of the wall.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I stared at the fellow, hardly able to believe in such recklessness.
+Then I turned my eyes to the huge seaman on the opposite side of the
+ditch. He had just made good his footing on the top of the bank, and
+now he began climbing up the masonry like a cat, till at last his
+herculean figure stood out clear on the summit.</p>
+
+<p>The next moment we saw him draw his cutlass and brandish it over his
+head, and a loud shout came across to us in a voice I knew full well.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come on, you beggars, I&#8217;ve taken the &mdash;&mdash; fort!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>It was old Muzzy, the boatswain of the <i>Fair Maid</i>.</p>
+
+<p>Not for long did we hesitate, but rushing down into the ditch after
+him we were speedily in the fort. There our shouts roused first a
+company of Sepoys, and finally the whole force, who came trooping in,
+to find the place deserted, and the garrison fled secretly under cover
+of the darkness to Calcutta.</p>
+
+<p>While this was going on I had approached my old friend, for so I
+cannot but call him. Indeed, in spite of his evil character and
+manifold breaches of the laws of God and man, the old fellow had shown
+me much kindness, for which I was not ungrateful, and this perhaps
+inclined me to look <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span>with an unduly lenient eye on his misdeeds. Going
+up to him, I clapped him on the back, and cried out&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;How goes it, old Muzzy? and what of the <i>Fair Maid</i> and the rest of
+her crew?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The boatswain gave a great start, and turned round to me with a look
+of astonishment which quickly passed into one of delight.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, drown me, if it ain&#8217;t that young cockerel again!&#8221; he exclaimed.</p>
+
+<p>And before I knew what he would be at, he cast his arms around me, and
+gave me a most evil-smelling kiss, fragrant of rum and tobacco. Then,
+still holding me firmly with his great hairy hands, as though he
+feared I should vanish into air, he put me back far enough for him to
+gaze at my face.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Stab my vitals if I didn&#8217;t think as you was suffocated in that there
+Black Hole!&#8221; He garnished his speech with many other expressions which
+I am ashamed to remember, far less to write here. &#8220;So we all heard
+aboard the ship. But you&#8217;re alive, ain&#8217;t ye now?&#8221; he added. &#8220;It&#8217;s not
+the rum as makes me think I sees you?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I am Athelstane Ford,&#8221; I answered, trying to shake myself free from
+his grasp, &#8220;and not a little glad to meet you again. But how did you
+come to be on a King&#8217;s ship? Is the <i>Fair Maid</i>&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hist!&#8221; He interrupted me with a warning frown, and cast an
+apprehensive glance behind him. &#8220;Not a word about her! It might be a
+hanging <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span>matter if it was known I had been in the boat that escaped
+from Gheriah. I&#8217;ll tell you all about it by our two selves.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I took advantage of this offer to lead the way out of the fort. We
+walked back to the British lines together, old Muzzy still clutching
+me with one hand, and as soon as we had reached a quiet spot out of
+earshot we sat down and he commenced his tale.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You see, it&#8217;s this way. Arter what happened when we was coming out of
+the river, where we lost you overboard, I come to the conclusion that
+that cousin o&#8217; yours warn&#8217;t what I calls a honest man. Nobody can&#8217;t
+say as how I&#8217;m one of your squeamish sort, &#8217;cause I ain&#8217;t. As fur as a
+bit o&#8217; smuggling goes, or a bit of privateering, or even a bit o&#8217;
+piracy, in a general way, I don&#8217;t say nothin&#8217;, but when it comes to
+taking and firing a culverin at your own ship, with your own mates
+aboard of her, why, d&#8217;ye see, I don&#8217;t call that honest. And when I
+find out as a man ain&#8217;t what I calls honest, I don&#8217;t sail in his
+company. Mind you, I&#8217;m not the man to deny that Captain Gurney has his
+good points; he ain&#8217;t no lawyer, that I&#8217;ll admit, and he&#8217;s as free
+with his rum-cask as any man I ever wish to sail under. But arter that
+business what I&#8217;ve mentioned, me and my mates swore we wouldn&#8217;t have
+nothing more to do with him.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, when we got outside the river, we pointed her head for the
+nor&#8217;ard, and by keeping pretty <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span>close along the shore, though we
+hadn&#8217;t a soul on board that could navigate, we managed to bring the
+old <i>Fair Maid</i> safe into port&mdash;that&#8217;s Bombay. You may strike me blind
+as I set here, when I tells you that no sooner did we bring up in the
+harbour than who should we see carmly settin&#8217; on the quay a-waiting
+for us but that eternal cousin of yourn! How on earth he got there&#8217;s a
+mystery, but there he was; and as soon as he sights the <i>Fair Maid</i> he
+comes off in a boat as cool as you please and takes the command
+again.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why did you let him?&#8221; I asked, with a touch of my old resentment
+against Rupert. &#8220;Why didn&#8217;t you refuse to take him on board?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Old Muzzy gave me a reproachful look and shook his head gravely.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, no, boy, we couldn&#8217;t go for to do that. That would ha&#8217; been flat
+mutiny; and remember his name was on the ship&#8217;s books as first
+officer, and he might have pistolled us every one and had the law on
+his side. We didn&#8217;t dare leave him neither, &#8217;cause that would ha&#8217; been
+desertion, d&#8217;ye see, and he might have got out a warrant and had us
+brought on board again in irons.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What did you do, then?&#8221; I demanded as he paused, and a smile of deep
+cunning slowly overspread his face.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll tell you what we did, Athelstane, my hearty. We got ourselves
+pressed!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Pressed?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span></p><p>&#8220;Took by the crimps, you understand, and pressed to serve King George.
+Oh, but it was a rare spree to see them crimps a-laying in wait for
+us, and enticing us into their dens, and filling us up with rum till
+we nearly bust where we sat, so that they could go and bring the
+pressgang down upon us. And us all the time asking nothing better, and
+ready to serve of our own accord, only it might ha&#8217; looked suspicious,
+d&#8217;ye see, it being agin natur for a honest seaman to want to go on
+board a man-o&#8217;-war.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The boatswain began to quiver and roll to and fro with spasms of
+inward laughter at the recollection of his strategy.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And you should ha&#8217; seen your cousin&#8217;s face when he stood all alone on
+the deck of the <i>Fair Maid</i>, and saw a boatload of us being rowed past
+him to the <i>Tyger</i>, every man jack of us in irons, and laughing in his
+face as we went by! And so that&#8217;s how it is as I&#8217;m in King George&#8217;s
+uniform, and right glad I am to find you in company again. For if ever
+I took a fancy to a young feller, I took one to you from the moment I
+first clapped eyes on you, and says I to myself, &#8217;I&#8217;ll make that lad a
+tight sailor yet,&#8217; I says, and I&#8217;d ha&#8217; done it, my boy, but for that
+scrub of a cousin of yours. And I&#8217;ve taken a blessed fort to-night for
+King George; and I&#8217;ll tell &#8217;em you was with me, and in command of the
+party, and they&#8217;ll put your name in the despatches, and make you an
+admiral yet, or my name ain&#8217;t Muzzy!&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2>
+
+<h3><i>A BATTLE IN THE DARK</i></h3>
+
+<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">W</span>ith some difficulty I persuaded my zealous friend to change his
+intention of ascribing to me the capture of Budge-Budge. It was well I
+did so, for Mr. Clive, when he heard the particulars of the affair,
+chose to resent the breach of discipline on the part of the sailors
+more than he approved of their reckless enterprise. So that old Muzzy,
+to his surprise, instead of being rewarded for his achievement, found
+himself lucky to get off with nothing worse than a reprimand for his
+drunkenness and disobedience to orders.</p>
+
+<hr class="medium" />
+
+<p>The next day we marched upon Calcutta.</p>
+
+<p>The ships went before us to clear the way, but they met with no
+resistance, all the Indian forces retiring before our advance. In the
+affair before Budge-Budge it seems that one of the shots from the guns
+had passed close to the turban of Monichund, and this had so terrified
+him that he never halted in his retreat till he came to Moorshedabad,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span>all the way communicating his own fears to the garrisons he passed.
+When we entered the town of Calcutta, therefore, we saw the English
+colours already flying again from the fort, Admiral Watson having sent
+a party ashore to take possession.</p>
+
+<p>I am sorry to say that some bad blood arose between the gallant
+Admiral and Mr. Clive over this incident. In fact there had been
+already several jealousies between the two services, the Admiral and
+his officers affecting to regard the Company&#8217;s forces as on an
+inferior footing to themselves. This feeling was heightened by the
+fact that Mr. Watson&#8217;s rank in the navy was higher than that of
+Colonel Clive in the army, which gave him the precedence, though
+everybody knew that the real leader and director of the campaign was
+the Colonel.</p>
+
+<p>I was with Mr. Clive when he came up to the entrance to the fort, and
+can still see the stern look on his face when the sentinel stationed
+there by Captain Coote refused him admission.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Do you know who I am, fellow?&#8221; he cried. &#8220;I bid you let me pass this
+instant, or I will have you court-martialled as sure as my name is
+Robert Clive!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The sentinel drew back, and we passed in, but were immediately met in
+the courtyard by Mr. Coote himself.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What is the meaning of this performance, sir?&#8221; the Colonel asked him
+sternly. &#8220;Are you aware that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span>I hold his Majesty&#8217;s commission as
+lieutenant-colonel, and that you and all your men are therefore under
+my commands?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I am very sorry sir,&#8221; replied the other, beginning to blench a
+little, &#8220;but I was put into possession of this place by Admiral
+Watson, who has given me his commission as governor, and bid me hold
+it on his behalf till the arrival of Mr. Drake.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then, Captain Coote,&#8221; retorted Mr. Clive, turning pale, &#8220;I order you
+to give up this fort to me, as your superior officer on land, failing
+which I shall order you to be arrested.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The Captain gave way at this threat, but contrived to despatch a
+message to Mr. Watson of what had occurred. The Admiral, whose spirit
+was as high as Mr. Clive&#8217;s, at once sent on shore to say that unless
+Mr. Clive instantly quitted the fort, leaving Captain Coote in
+possession, he should open fire on it from the <i>Kent</i>.</p>
+
+<p>In the end, however, a compromise was effected, by virtue of which the
+Admiral was to hold the fort for the remainder of that day, in
+compliment to his services in having taken it, but at the end of that
+period he was to deliver it up to Mr. Clive as the military
+representative of the Company.</p>
+
+<p>Such were some of the difficulties with which this distinguished man
+had to contend. He would sometimes say to me, in his moments of
+confidence&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I declare to you, Ford, that if I had known how <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span>I was to be vexed
+and thwarted by those whose duty it is to assist me, I would never
+have undertaken this command. After ruining their own affairs these
+Bengal gentlemen criticise and hamper every step I take to restore
+them; and Admiral Watson is more zealous in maintaining what he
+considers the honours due to his profession, than he is in beating the
+Moors.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But in spite of this occasional bitterness, the Colonel entertained a
+great respect for Mr. Watson&#8217;s courage and abilities as a seaman, more
+especially after the celebrated affair of Chander Nugger. Whilst Mr.
+Clive, with the other members of the committee, was engaged in
+settling the affairs of Calcutta, some spies came in with the news
+that the town of Hooghley lay very open to attack, the garrison being
+greatly dismayed and ready to give up the place on very slight
+provocation. Accordingly the Admiral sailed up the river against it
+with his fleet, and some troops under Major Kilpatrick and Captain
+Coote, attacking it on the land side, it was taken with very little
+loss on our side, and destroyed. But as I was not present on this
+occasion, so I shall say little about it, except to remark that it
+served to yet further impress the Indians with a sense of our power,
+and put Surajah Dowlah on marching from Moorshedabad to crush us with
+all his force.</p>
+
+<p>The state in which we found Calcutta was indeed pitiable. The native
+quarter, especially that inhabited by the meaner sort of people, was
+not <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span>much injured, but all the English mansions and factories lay in
+ruins. The unfortunate servants of the Company, although thus restored
+to their former home, found themselves without shelter or money, the
+traffic having, of course, entirely ceased. It was fortunate for me
+that I had been able to bring away the jewels which Surajah Dowlah had
+given me in his fits of maudlin friendship, for these fetched a good
+price among the Gentoo merchants, and procured me as much money as I
+had occasion for. But with most of the others, from Mr. Drake
+downwards, it was different; and if the plunder of Hooghley had not
+brought in about a lac and a half of rupees, about this time, into the
+Company&#8217;s coffers, I scarce know what they would have done.</p>
+
+<p>News arrived from Aleppo, shortly after these transactions, that war
+had again broken out in Europe between us and the French. This raised
+the prospect of a fresh peril for us, it being feared that the French
+in Chander Nugger would join forces with the Nabob. So seriously did
+Colonel Clive regard this outlook, that he consented to send proposals
+for an accommodation to Surajah, who was now in full march to the
+southward. To these proposals the Nabob pretended to return a
+favourable answer, nevertheless he continued advancing, and in order
+to be prepared against him Mr. Clive fortified an entrenched camp just
+outside the Morattoe ditch, to the northward, by which the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span>Moors
+would have to pass before they could attack the town.</p>
+
+<p>Things were in this position when one morning about the beginning of
+February, rising at daybreak, and strolling outside the camp, I saw
+the whole horizon to the northward lit with the flames of burning
+villages. I hastened to rouse Mr. Clive, and he came out and stood
+beside me, watching, while from a cloud of dust along the road the van
+of the approaching army emerged, one blaze of gorgeous uniforms and
+tossing spears, marching towards the Morattoe ditch.</p>
+
+<p>For some time we stood in silence, as troop after troop came on,
+crowding along the high road, and casting fierce looks towards our
+encampment as they passed. A frown gathered on the Colonel&#8217;s brow, and
+he began to think aloud, as was his custom sometimes, when we were
+alone.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Shall I attack them now? I might cut off their vanguard, and again I
+might be caught between two fires. The rest of the army cannot be far
+behind&mdash;better wait and ascertain their numbers. Besides, it is too
+soon to say whether or no the Nabob means to play me false. An attack
+now would hazard everything; I am bound to wait and give them time to
+show their true inclinations.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He raised his head, and looked at me.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Go round the town, Ford, rouse the outposts everywhere, and bid them
+stand on the defensive. If the Moors attempt to cross the ditch and
+enter the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span>town, they are to beat them back, and send me word, but not
+to follow them. Then return to me.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I hastened away to execute these orders, which were duly carried out.
+In one or two places the Moors attempted incursions, but were speedily
+checked. This contented them for that day. On the following morning
+the main army, accompanied by Surajah Dowlah in person, debouched on
+the plains, and proceeded to spread itself round the threatened town.</p>
+
+<p>In the afternoon Mr. Clive summoned me to him. I found him in the tent
+with Mr. Scrafton, and he held a letter in his hand.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The Nabob has sent to me,&#8221; he said, &#8220;desiring me to appoint some
+persons to treat with him of the peace, and I have chosen Mr. Scrafton
+and you as my deputies. What do you say, Ford? Are you ready to trust
+your head in the tiger&#8217;s jaws again, after your late adventures?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;If you think fit to send me, sir, I am ready at all times to obey any
+orders I may receive from Colonel Clive.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He smiled, well pleased.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well said, my lad. I knew you were something better than a purser,
+and as soon as this business is over I will see to it that you get a
+commission in the Company&#8217;s forces, if that will serve your turn.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I thanked him, and Mr. Scrafton and I at once set out for Surajah&#8217;s
+quarters, which we were informed <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span>were at a place called Nabob-gunge.
+But on arriving there we found that the treacherous Moor had pursued
+his march towards the town and when we at last overtook him, late in
+the evening, we found him with his headquarters established in a house
+belonging to the Gentoo merchant Omichund, which house lay actually
+within the Morattoe ditch, and was therefore included in the
+territories of Calcutta.</p>
+
+<p>We were here received by Roy Dullub, the Dewan, who instantly
+recognised me, and manifested some alarm at my thus appearing in the
+character of Colonel Clive&#8217;s emissary. He glanced over us both with an
+air of suspicion, and desired to know whether we had pistols concealed
+in our dress.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Scrafton laughed in his face.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We are not assassins,&#8221; he said severely. &#8220;We do not deal with our
+enemies in that way. If our employer, Mr. Clive, desires to kill the
+Nabob, rest assured he will come in broad daylight, at the head of his
+army, and do it that way.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Roy Dullub gave way after this rebuke, and led us into the presence of
+his master. The Nabob was seated in full durbar, with all his officers
+round him and the evil Lal Moon crouched like a snake beside his ear.
+All the way round the walls of the apartment was placed a row of huge
+guards, men of formidable size and ferocious countenances, who, to
+appear still more dreadful, had their dresses stuffed out and their
+turbans of twice the common size. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span>Throughout the audience they kept
+their eyes fixed on us with a most bloodthirsty expression, as though
+expecting the signal to fall upon and slay us.</p>
+
+<p>Surajah Dowlah was little changed from when I had last seen him. His
+features still preserved that aspect of ruined handsomeness and marred
+and minished glory, which is ascribed to the fallen archangel by our
+great poet Milton&mdash;whom I, for one, will never stoop to compare with
+your writer of lascivious stage-plays and sonnets, after whom all the
+world is now running frantic. Roy Dullub handed the paper which we had
+brought containing our proposals to the Nabob, who read it over before
+he condescended to glance at us.</p>
+
+<p>No sooner did he see me, however, than his face changed. He turned his
+head, and whispered something to his favourite, pointing to me at the
+same time. Then he addressed us, with smooth civility, pretending to
+ignore our previous acquaintance.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I will desire my ministers to consider your proposals,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The
+Dewan shall confer with you, and let you know my pleasure.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That is not enough for us,&#8221; replied Mr. Scrafton. He naturally took
+it on himself to speak, as my elder and superior. &#8220;Your Highness has
+committed a breach of good faith in crossing the English boundary
+while negotiations are in progress.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You need have no fear about that,&#8221; the Nabob responded. &#8220;My
+intentions towards the English <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span>are friendly. I come among you simply
+as a guest. Tell Sabat Jung that he may lay down his sword and confide
+in my goodwill.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>To this Mr. Scrafton replied by a fresh remonstrance, but he soon saw
+that nothing was to be got from Surajah, whose answers were evidently
+being inspired by his secret adviser, Lal Moon. At length the Nabob
+dismissed us, and we retired from the durbar.</p>
+
+<p>As we were passing out we saw, standing in the doorway, the Gentoo
+Omichund, whose house we were in. This man, well known in Bengal,
+possessed large interests in Calcutta, as well as in other parts of
+the Nabob&#8217;s territories. For this reason he had long played a double
+game between the Moors and English, seeking to keep in with both
+sides. Now, as we came past, he fixed a significant look upon us, and
+whispered in English in my ear&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Take care of yourself!&#8221; Then, as I stood still for an instant he
+added in the same sly tone, &#8220;Does your commander know that the Nabob&#8217;s
+cannon are not yet come up?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Before I could answer he slipped away in the crowd. I followed on
+after Mr. Scrafton, and whispered to him what I had heard, as we were
+on our way to the Dewan&#8217;s tent.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It is my opinion,&#8221; I added, &#8220;that we are to be detained as prisoners.
+The Nabob is merely amusing Mr. Clive till his batteries have
+arrived.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span></p><p>Mr. Scrafton was alarmed. We looked round, and finding nobody near us
+ordered our attendants to put out their torches. We then turned aside
+among the other tents, threaded our way through them in the darkness
+till we came out on to the road running towards the English lines, and
+in this way contrived to escape and get back to camp.</p>
+
+<p>In order to the better understanding of what now took place, in
+default of a chart, I must explain how the two armies were situated.
+The river Hooghley, which here runs pretty straight north and south,
+forms, as it were, the string of a bent bow, the bow itself being
+represented by the Morattoe ditch of which I have so often had
+occasion to speak. The whole of the territory thus enclosed belonged
+to the Company, and measured about five miles in length, and one and a
+half miles in breadth at its widest part. The fort and town of
+Calcutta occupied only a small space in the centre, the rest of the
+ground being broken up into gardens with a few country residences
+scattered about. Of these Omichund&#8217;s house, now occupied by the Nabob,
+lay about a quarter of the way along the ditch, from the point where
+it joins the river Hooghley at the north end of the enclosure. The
+remainder of their army lay in tents along a space of three miles, but
+on the outside of the ditch. Colonel Clive, as I have before
+explained, had entrenched his camp also on the further side, next to
+the river, lying between that and the Moors&#8217; encampment.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span></p><p>The moment we had made our report to Colonel Clive his mind was made
+up. Springing on to his feet, and striding up and down in the tent, he
+exclaimed&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That settles it, if we are to strike a blow at all it must be now! I
+have done my best to procure a peace, knowing the risk I run by
+undertaking the attack of an army of forty thousand men with the
+little handful I have here under my command. But it is plain that I
+have to choose between that and yielding everything to the Nabob. Mr.
+Scrafton, write a letter in my name to the Admiral, asking him for as
+many seamen as he can spare; and do you, Ford, go and summon the
+officers here to receive their orders.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The news that an attack was intended spread like wild-fire through the
+little camp, and caused the greatest excitement, many regarding it as
+a desperate venture from which we should never return alive. Our total
+force was 650 Englishmen, with 800 Sepoys, and another 100 to serve
+the artillery. These were reinforced by 600 men from the ships, armed
+with matchlocks, who were put ashore secretly at midnight. Our guns
+were six-pounders, and as we had no horses, except one which had come
+with the expedition from Madras, the cannon had to be drawn by seamen.</p>
+
+<p>Old Muzzy was among the party, and was given charge of one of the
+guns, of which there were six altogether. I went up to speak to him
+before he set <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span>out, and found him much discontented with the service.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s this way, my lad,&#8221; he said, addressing me with a freedom which I
+could not resent, considering what he had done for me in the past, &#8220;I
+understand sailing on salt water, and I understand fighting, but when
+they puts me in charge of this here craft on wheels, with neither
+spars nor yet oars to work it, and tells me to navigate it, I ain&#8217;t
+exactly sure of my soundings. It seems to me that there ought to be a
+windlass to draw her up. Bust my stays if I can make out how I&#8217;m to
+make her answer her helm!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>With these grumblings he entertained me till the signal was given to
+start, when I repaired to the side of Mr. Clive, who took his station
+in the centre of the column. We marched three abreast, four hundred of
+the Sepoys going in front, then the European troops, then the second
+half of the Sepoys, and last of all the guns escorted by the sailors.
+Mr. Clive&#8217;s plan, so far as he permitted it to be known, was to strike
+right through the Nabob&#8217;s army, before they were prepared to receive
+us, and attack the Nabob himself in Omichund&#8217;s enclosure.</p>
+
+<p>It was just before daybreak when the head of our little column came
+upon the advance guard of the enemy. These at once fled, after
+discharging their pieces, but one of their shots, striking a Sepoy&#8217;s
+cartouch box, caused a slight explosion, which threw our advance into
+some confusion for a moment. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span>We pressed forward, picking our way as
+we best could in the obscurity; for no sooner was it day than a thick
+fog, such as is common in this season of the year in Bengal, descended
+upon us, wrapping everything in darkness. We had gone perhaps half a
+mile without molestation, dispersing the scattered parties of the
+Indians as we advanced, when there broke upon our ears the sound of
+heavy galloping from the quarter where we supposed Omichund&#8217;s house to
+lie. Colonel Clive at once ordered a halt; we faced to the right,
+whence the sound proceeded, and as soon as the dim forms of the
+approaching squadron loomed upon us out of the mist, the word was
+given to fire. The whole line delivered a volley at a distance of
+about thirty paces, whereupon the phantom horsemen at once turned and
+fled back, uttering loud cries as they were swallowed up again in the
+darkness.</p>
+
+<p>By this time it was evident that our position had become extremely
+perilous. We resumed our march, as nearly as we could keep it in the
+former direction, and continued groping our way in the mist through
+the heart of the enemy&#8217;s camp, firing volleys by platoons to right and
+left, but without knowing where our bullets went, while the men with
+the guns discharged single shots from time to time along the sides of
+the column into the darkness ahead.</p>
+
+<p>After we had gone on in this fashion for some time, not receiving much
+interruption from the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span>enemy, but greatly troubled by the increasing
+obscurity, which rendered it difficult to see so much as a yard in
+front, there suddenly arose a murmur from amongst the Sepoys at the
+head of the column. Colonel Clive sent to demand the meaning of this,
+and the messenger returned with the intelligence that the men had
+stumbled upon a causeway, crossing our line of march, and leading to
+the Morattoe ditch on our right. He at once gave the order that the
+troops should mount upon this causeway and march towards the ditch.
+Unfortunately, however, no notice of this change in the direction was
+given to the artillerymen in the rear, who continued to fire, as they
+supposed, to the side of the column. A cannon ball came among the
+Sepoys on the causeway, killing several of them. Thereupon the rest
+sought shelter by leaping down on the other side of the causeway, and
+the whole forward part of the troops was huddled together in
+confusion.</p>
+
+<p>The darkness made it difficult to ascertain at first what had
+happened, but as soon as Mr. Clive understood he gave the order to
+cease firing, and brought the whole force across the causeway, where
+he strove to restore their formation. It was his intention to have
+advanced along the causeway, driven away the Moors stationed to defend
+it, and forced his way through to the English side of the ditch. But
+while he was engaged in restoring order among the troops, the enemy,
+no doubt overhearing our movements, commenced a discharge on us from
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span>some cannon loaded with langrain, which they seemed to have brought
+up within a few hundred yards of us. The shot striking the troops
+while still bundled together, did us the most damage we received that
+day; indeed it was a very terrifying thing to suddenly hear the roar
+of artillery so close at hand, and see men falling right and left from
+shots fired by an invisible foe.</p>
+
+<p>Under these circumstances it was wonderful to see the coolness of
+Colonel Clive, who continued to give his orders without appearing the
+least dismayed, and deployed the men into line again as steadily as
+though we were in our own camp, and not in the midst of the Moors.
+Abandoning all thoughts of the causeway, he ordered the column to
+resume its course to the southward, so as to reach the main road into
+Calcutta, by which we might cross the ditch and return in safety. This
+necessitated our leaving the wounded, about twenty in number, who
+broke into grievous cries at the prospect of being deserted to the
+cruelty of the Moors.</p>
+
+<p>Among the voices raised in complaint I heard one which I believed I
+knew. I hastened to look among the figures on the ground, and
+presently made out the form of old Muzzy himself, who lay with his
+right leg doubled up under him.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Is that you?&#8221; I exclaimed, bending over him. &#8220;Where have you been
+hurt? Is it serious?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Athelstane!&#8221; He looked up, turning his eyes on me with an appeal
+which went to my heart. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span>&#8220;They&#8217;ve riddled my leg with their cursed
+heathenish small shot, curse them! If it had been a Christian bullet,
+now, I shouldn&#8217;t ha&#8217; minded so much. Give me a hand, my boy, and I&#8217;ll
+see if I can stand up.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I put my arms round him and lifted him partly from the ground, while
+he clutched at me with both hands. The next instant a groan broke from
+his clenched teeth.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s no good, lad, I can&#8217;t do it. Go, and save yourself if you can;
+and leave old Muzzy to take his rating below decks at last!&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2>
+
+<h3><i>A MISSION OF DANGER</i></h3>
+
+<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">I</span> got up and called to some sailors who were falling into the rear of
+the now departing column.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Here, my men, here&#8217;s a comrade wounded and unable to walk. Will you
+leave him to be butchered by the Indians?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>They stopped, and cast hesitating looks at the old boatswain, where he
+lay groaning.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s a-many of &#8217;em about,&#8221; observed one man. &#8220;We can&#8217;t save them
+all, sir.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But this is an old friend of mine, who has saved my life before now,&#8221;
+I pleaded. And seeing them undecided, I went on, &#8220;What do you say; I
+will give you a hundred rupees&mdash;two hundred&mdash;apiece if you carry him
+safe into Calcutta?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>They brisked up when they heard this offer. A small tree with dark
+green leaves stood close by, from which they tore some branches, and
+quickly made out a rude litter. On to this they lifted my poor <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span>old
+friend, and so carried him off, renewing his groans at every step.</p>
+
+<p>I marched alongside till we caught up with the rear of the column.
+Luckily we were not molested, for which I blessed the fog, though it
+was now showing signs of lifting away. Our progress was here extremely
+slow, the ground being broken up into a number of small rice-fields,
+separated by mud walls or mounds of earth, over which the field-pieces
+had to be lifted with infinite trouble, and in fact two of them were
+abandoned altogether, the sailors being too exhausted to draw them
+further. During this time I forbore to rejoin Colonel Clive, but used
+my freedom as a volunteer to remain with the sailors bearing old
+Muzzy, where I found my presence and encouragement very necessary to
+induce them to persevere in their task. As it was I was obliged to
+raise my offer to three hundred rupees before we had got to the high
+road.</p>
+
+<p>The fog gradually clearing, we beheld parties of the enemy&#8217;s horse
+from time to time, threatening us, but they were easily dispersed by a
+few discharges of musketry, and gave us far less annoyance than the
+impediments of the ground. At the end of another hour of this toilsome
+work we at length arrived at the road, where we found a considerable
+body of horse and foot posted in front of the bridge across the
+Morattoe ditch into the Company&#8217;s territories, to prevent our passing.</p>
+
+<p>At the same time the fog finally broke, and disclosed <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span>another
+numerous squadron coming down against our rear. The sailors at once
+faced about to defend the artillery, and I took my place among them,
+bidding the men with the litter press on towards the centre of the
+column. The Moors rode up with great determination, notwithstanding
+our fire, and one of them got near enough to me to aim a cut at my
+helmet, which I only avoided by bending my head to one side. At the
+same time I thrust my bayonet into his groin, and had the satisfaction
+of seeing him reel and fall from his horse as it turned and galloped
+off.</p>
+
+<p>This charge being repulsed, we turned about again and rejoined our
+comrades, who had quickly dislodged the force opposed to them in
+front. The whole column then crossed the ditch, in broad daylight, and
+marched without further mishap into the town, where we arrived about
+midday, having been on the march for more than six hours, through the
+midst of a great army.</p>
+
+<p>Such was this extraordinary exploit, to which, as I am assured, a
+parallel is scarcely to be found in the history of any age or nation.
+Nevertheless, at the moment its effect was to cast a gloom over the
+spirits of the troops. The officers, who could never forgive Colonel
+Clive for not having been, like themselves, regularly bred to the
+military profession, grumbled at and criticised his action, which they
+described as that of a mere braggadocio, who knew nothing of war. The
+fact was that the rules of war <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span>contained no prescription for the
+conquest of an army of forty thousand men by one of barely two
+thousand; and though the hero who led us was ever ready to attempt
+impossibilities, he could not always perform them.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as I had seen old Muzzy safely bestowed in the hospital, where
+the surgeons declared that it would be necessary to amputate his leg,
+I hastened to report myself to my commander. He received me with
+kindness and no little surprise, having fully believed that I was
+killed. Indeed he told me that a soldier of Adlercron&#8217;s regiment had
+assured him he had seen me fall. However, he fully approved of what I
+had done in rescuing my old comrade, only regretting it had not been
+in his power to save the rest of the wounded.</p>
+
+<p>I found him much dispirited with the result of the morning&#8217;s work.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I have done nothing, Ford,&#8221; he declared, &#8220;nothing. I have marched
+into the Nabob&#8217;s camp, and marched out again, like the King of France
+in the nursery rhyme. And here are these gentlemen of the committee
+clamouring for peace, that they may get their revenues back again, and
+their dustucks, and I know not what else, with the Nabob and his army
+at their gates. You see what it is to be a commander&mdash;would to God I
+were back in England, enjoying my rest!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The next day put a different complexion on our affairs. Secret
+messages arrived from Omichund <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span>to say that the Nabob had been
+terrified out of his wits, that he no longer considered himself safe
+even in the midst of his troops, and that we might depend on a peace
+being speedily concluded. Shortly afterwards a letter arrived, written
+by Surajah Dowlah&#8217;s instructions to Colonel Clive, in which he
+referred to the treaty on foot between them, and complained bitterly
+of the attack upon his camp.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now, Ford,&#8221; said the Colonel to me, when he had shown me this letter,
+&#8220;I feel a different man to what I did yesterday. Sit down and write my
+answer to this insolent Moor.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I took the pen, and he dictated the following letter, of which I have
+the draft still in my possession:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>&#8220;<i>To his Highness Surajah Dowlah, Nabob of Bengal,<br />
+Bahar, and Orissa.</i></p>
+
+<p>&#8220;<span class="smcap">Sir</span>,&mdash;I have received your letter, and am unable to understand
+what it is that you complain of. I merely marched with a few of
+my troops through your camp to show you of what Englishmen are
+capable, but I had no hostile intentions, and was careful to
+refrain from hurting any of your soldiers, except such as
+imprudently opposed me. I have been, and still am, perfectly
+willing to make peace with you upon proper conditions.&mdash;I have
+the honour to remain your Highness&#8217;s obedient servant,</p>
+
+<p class="right">
+&#8220;<span class="smcap">Robert Clive.</span>&#8221;<br />
+</p></div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span></p><p>This bitter jest completed the effect produced by the previous day&#8217;s
+work. That very evening we heard that the Nabob had broken up his
+quarters, and withdrawn to a distance of several miles from the
+Company&#8217;s territories; and a few days later he signed a treaty
+granting full restitution to the Company of all that they had lost by
+the sack of Calcutta. This was just six weeks from the time we had
+started from Fulta.</p>
+
+<p>During the period that followed I spent much of my time in the
+hospital, sitting by old Muzzy&#8217;s bedside. He had borne the removal of
+his leg with great courage, but now that he began to mend I found him
+much depressed in his spirits.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;My day is over, boy,&#8221; he would say, &#8220;I shall never sail salt water
+more. Old Muzzy is a dismasted hulk, only fit to be hauled up on the
+mud, and broken up for tinder. Drown me if I don&#8217;t a&#8217;most wish the
+dogs had put a ball through my hull while they were about it, so that
+I could ha&#8217; gone down in deep water, with colours flying and all hands
+on deck, and heard the broadsides roaring over me to the last! That&#8217;s
+the death for a British tar, my fine fellow, in action gallantly, and
+not to lie on the mud and rot away by inches like I&#8217;m fair to do.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I tried to cheer him up as best I could, though indeed I felt sorry
+enough myself to see that strong man laid helpless as a child. I
+thought it my duty to try and rouse him to some interest in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span>better
+things, and brought a Bible to read to him.</p>
+
+<p>In this I succeeded after a fashion. He listened very readily to the
+history of the Israelites, and expressed a huge admiration for Joshua
+and some of the Judges. But when I tried to pass on to the New
+Testament I must confess I met with more difficulties.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, no, don&#8217;t read me that; it&#8217;s too good for an old rakehelly tar
+like me,&#8221; he persisted in saying. &#8220;Them apostles was fishermen, d&#8217;ye
+see, and the fishermen and longshore folk always was more peaceable
+and quieter-like than us deep-sea bilboes. You read me about that
+there fellow as slaughtered the Camelites; I understands him better.
+By Gosh, he gave &#8217;em a warm time of it, on my swow, didn&#8217;t he! Not
+much use them Camelites showing their heads when Joshua was in the
+offing! He swept their decks for &#8217;em, clean, every time.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He meant the Amalekites. I could not quite approve of the spirit in
+which he took the sacred history, but still I felt that to get him to
+listen to the Scriptures at all was something, and the good seed might
+come up later on.</p>
+
+<p>I pleased myself with these efforts to reform my poor old friend, and
+yet perhaps I should have been better employed in seeking to amend my
+own life. For though I can truly say that I lived honestly and
+soberly, yet all this time my heart was given up to thoughts of
+ambition and revenge, and the desire <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span>of riches; and the good
+impressions wrought upon me by my sufferings in the Black Hole had
+almost faded clean out of my mind.</p>
+
+<p>I was not present at the taking of Chander Nugger, which was the next
+great event in the East Indies, and therefore forbear from describing
+it. But this affair served to display yet further the duplicity and
+shifting policy of Surajah Dowlah, whose conduct evidently changed
+from day to day as the passion of hatred of the English, or fear of
+Colonel Clive, obtained the mastery in his bosom. On one day he sent
+permission for us to attack the French, on the next he wrote strictly
+forbidding it. Colonel Clive would have gone against them without
+waiting for the Nabob&#8217;s leave, but Admiral Watson was more scrupulous,
+considering that to do so would be a violation of our recent treaty.
+Yet he did not shrink from upbraiding the Nabob in round terms, and
+sent him one letter in which he threatened, with the bluntness of a
+seaman, to kindle such a fire in his country as all the water in the
+Ganges should not be able to extinguish.</p>
+
+<p>Finally the Nabob gave way, induced partly by his fears of the Pitans,
+a savage predatory tribe on the borders of Afghanistan, who from time
+to time broke into the Great Mogul&#8217;s dominions, and were now
+threatening to march as far as Behar. Accordingly a joint expedition
+was made, and Chander Nugger taken after a brilliant action, in which,
+as Colonel Clive fully acknowledged, the Admiral <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span>signalised himself
+by conspicuous courage and seamanship.</p>
+
+<p>All this time I lay ill in Calcutta of a low fever, which I had
+contracted in the hospital while attending on old Muzzy. It was now
+his turn to nurse me, which he did most assiduously, being now
+recovered, and able to get about well enough by means of a wooden leg.</p>
+
+<p>As I lay there sick day after day I began once more to see things in a
+truer light. I longed most painfully to be at home among the scenes
+and friends of my youth, and I resolved, once I had risen from my sick
+bed, to let no motives of ambition or interest detain me any further
+in Indostan.</p>
+
+<p>I communicated these sensible resolutions to old Muzzy, who thoroughly
+approved of them.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And I tell you what, Athelstane, lad, we&#8217;ll make our passage home in
+company,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I&#8217;ve got a tidy bit o&#8217; prize-money left somewhere,
+enough to take me back to England, and mayhap a bit over, to keep me
+out of the workhouse when I gets there.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He put his hands into his hairy bosom and drew out a small canvas bag,
+which he shook out upon the coverlid of the bed. The contents made a
+small heap of gold and silver, amounting, as near as I could judge, to
+about &pound;100 or &pound;150 in English money, though the coins were of all
+countries&mdash;rupees, French crowns, moidores, and many others.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span></p><p>The old boatswain put his head on one side, casting looks of
+affectionate pride on his treasure.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There, my lad, that&#8217;s my little fortin&#8217;, enough to pay my freight
+through to Davy Jones&#8217;s locker, I daresay. And if there&#8217;s any of it
+left over, by Gosh! you shall have it, for I&#8217;ve neither parent nor
+friend in the world, nor I don&#8217;t so much as know the place where I was
+born. And drown me if I don&#8217;t love you, my young matey!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I was so weak at the time that these hearty expressions of the old
+fellow fairly melted me, though I could scarce refrain from smiling at
+the thoughts of the legacy which I was like to inherit.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You shall come with me and welcome,&#8221; I told him. &#8220;We will start
+together as soon as ever I can get off this bed; and when we get to
+England I will bring you to my own home, and ask my parents to provide
+you with a shelter for my sake.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right enough,&#8221; he answered, &#8220;and very kind of you. But, mind,
+old Muzzy ain&#8217;t looking for no charity. Where I goes, I takes my
+little fortin&#8217;, and them as takes care of me will get the benefit of
+it, d&#8217;ye see.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He swept up the money into his bag again, and had just restored it to
+his bosom when there came a sound outside the door, and who should
+walk in but Colonel Clive!</p>
+
+<p>I strove to raise myself in the bed as he entered, but this he at once
+prevented.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Lie still, youngster!&#8221; he exclaimed, walking up <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span>to the bedside,
+followed by Mr. Scrafton. &#8220;Why, how&#8217;s this; they never told me you
+were ill till I was on the point of starting for Chander Nugger, when
+I had no time to come and see you? But you are on the high road to
+recovery by this time, surely?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Thank you, sir, I am much improved,&#8221; I managed to stammer out,
+overwhelmed by this condescension on the part of so great a man. &#8220;And
+are the French beaten?&#8221; I asked anxiously, for I had not heard the
+news.</p>
+
+<p>The Colonel turned to Mr. Scrafton and laughed.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s my little purser all over!&#8221; he exclaimed, with evident
+goodwill. &#8220;The French are beaten, and driven out of Bengal, I trust
+for ever, and their factories are become ours. And since you were
+unable to be present at the action, and to share in the spoil, I have
+remembered my promise to you, and brought you a sword instead.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He took the weapon from the hands of Mr. Scrafton, who was carrying
+it, and laid it on the bed beside me. At the same time Mr. Scrafton
+handed me a paper, duly signed, containing my commission as an ensign
+in the service of the East India Company.</p>
+
+<p>I could only murmur out my gratitude for these marks of consideration;
+while Mr. Clive went on to say&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And now you must make haste and get about again, for as soon as you
+are able to travel <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span>I have an important mission for you to discharge.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And what is that, sir?&#8221; I asked, not very heartily.</p>
+
+<p>The Colonel noticed my diffidence, and gave me a searching look.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I ought to have said it is a very dangerous mission,&#8221; he observed.</p>
+
+<p>I felt my cheeks turn red.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then sir, I think I am well enough to undertake it,&#8221; I replied, with
+some little temper. And I sat up in the bed.</p>
+
+<p>Colonel Clive burst out laughing, and seizing me by the shoulders
+thrust me down again.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There, that is right; there is not so much hurry about it as to drag
+you out of bed just yet. But as soon as you are well enough I mean you
+to go to Moorshedabad.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I uttered a cry of surprise.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I have some messages to send to Mr. Watts, who is acting there on our
+behalf,&#8221; Mr. Clive explained. &#8220;The affair is too risky for me to trust
+the ordinary service, and besides, from all I hear, you have made a
+great impression on the Nabob, and may serve a useful purpose by
+remaining in Moorshedabad for awhile. But I will tell you no more till
+you are better able to hear it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>And with this, and many kind expressions about my health, he withdrew.</p>
+
+<p>It did not take long for me to shake off the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span>remains of my fever
+under these circumstances, and the moment I was able to go out of the
+house where I lay, I went to wait on my patron.</p>
+
+<p>Colonel Clive received me in his private room in the fort, and
+dismissing everybody else, opened to me the nature of the mission
+entrusted to me. The late proceedings of his enemies against him in
+Parliament have made this business so notorious to the world that I
+shall be excused for expressing it very shortly in this place.</p>
+
+<p>To be brief, the Colonel informed me that the moment for our
+long-delayed vengeance upon the wicked and bloodthirsty Surajah Dowlah
+was at length arrived. Tired with his cruelties, his own subjects had
+cast about for a means of getting rid of him, and overtures had been
+received from the principal men of the Nabob&#8217;s Court inviting Colonel
+Clive to take part in a concerted scheme for his overthrow. A treaty
+had been drawn up between the parties, whereby it was provided that
+Colonel Clive should march against the Nabob&#8217;s army with his whole
+force, now increased by the arrival of other ships from the Coromandel
+coast, and should be joined on the battle-field by Meer Jaffier, who
+undertook to desert from his nephew and bring over the part of the
+army under his command to the English side. In return for these
+services, supposing the victory should be obtained, the Company was to
+receive a crore of rupees in compensation for the injuries inflicted
+by the Nabob, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span>while many millions were to be divided among Colonel
+Clive, the gentlemen of the Council and the officers and men of both
+services. Surajah Dowlah was to be deposed from the musnud, and his
+uncle, Meer Jaffier, elevated in his stead, the Meer binding himself
+to pay these sums out of the Nabob&#8217;s treasure, and the payment being
+further guaranteed by Jugget Seet, the great banker of Moorshedabad,
+whose connexions extended over all parts of Indostan.</p>
+
+<p>This treaty having been signed and executed by Colonel Clive and the
+other gentlemen of the Company, he now required me to carry it to
+Moorshedabad, were it was to be sworn to by Jugget Seet, the Meer
+Jaffier, and the other high officers of the Court who were parties to
+the design. At the same time he enjoined on me to observe the utmost
+secrecy.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Remember,&#8221; he said, &#8220;that if once Surajah Dowlah or his minion Lal
+Moon should get an inkling of this plot, his rage would break loose
+against every one concerned in it. As it is Mr. Watts has had great
+difficulty in lulling his suspicions, and has several times been in
+great peril. But I suppose you are not the man to shrink back on that
+account.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Give me the treaty, sir,&#8221; I replied, &#8220;and I undertake to carry it to
+Moorshedabad. Am I to deliver it into Mr. Watts&#8217;s hands?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, yes; that is, if you find him still there when you arrive. But
+you must use the greatest <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span>caution in communicating with him. Above
+all, beware of the Gentoo Omichund, who has already once threatened to
+betray us. We have been obliged to provide a duplicate treaty to
+satisfy him, in which is included a stipulation for three millions of
+rupees to be paid to him on our success. But you will explain to Meer
+Jaffier that this is merely a trick to which we have been obliged by
+Omichund&#8217;s knavery. He shall not have a farthing.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Clive spoke these words very sternly. At the same time he handed
+me the two treaties, one drawn up upon white paper and the other on
+red.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The red treaty is the one to be shown to Omichund,&#8221; he explained.
+&#8220;Both must be executed by the parties to the conspiracy in
+Moorshedabad, but only the white one is to be sworn to. Do you
+understand?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Perfectly, sir.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I rolled up the two papers and put them into my pocket. I did not then
+feel, nor have I since been able to understand, all the indignation
+which has been poured on Lord Clive&#8217;s head for this artifice, by which
+a treacherous, overreaching scoundrel was robbed of the blackmail he
+had tried to extort. As to the charge which has been made against that
+great man of having caused Admiral Watson&#8217;s name to be forged to the
+second treaty, I can only say that it was the general opinion at the
+time that the gallant Admiral was fully aware of what was being <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span>done,
+and, since he took no steps to restrain the use of his name, it
+appears to be all the same as though he had affixed it with his own
+hand.</p>
+
+<p>However, it is not my intention to dwell upon these disputes, to which
+I am only induced to refer by a spirit of loyalty to my old commander
+and friend, for such he permitted me to call him.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Remember,&#8221; the Colonel said to me at parting, &#8220;above all, to show no
+fear of Surajah Dowlah. Mr. Watts is too modest in his behaviour, and
+for that reason the young tyrant despises and ill-uses him. But I
+think that is not a fault you are likely to fall into; indeed, I have
+heard that during your former residence there you fairly awed the
+Nabob; so I have good hope that you will do the same again. The moment
+you have secured the execution of the treaties it will be time to fly,
+and as soon as I hear you are safe I shall put my troops on the march
+to Plassy.&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2>
+
+<h3><i>MEER JAFFIER&#8217;S OATH</i></h3>
+
+<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">I</span> arrived in Moorshedabad without accident, and at once repaired to
+the house of the Company&#8217;s agent, Mr. Watts.</p>
+
+<p>I found this gentleman in a state of the utmost apprehension. The air
+was full of suspicion. Moorshedabad swarmed with the Nabob&#8217;s spies,
+who watched the going in and coming out of every person whom their
+master had reason to distrust, and carried their reports to his
+infamous minion, Lal Moon. Mr. Watts assured me that he did not
+consider his own life to be worth a day&#8217;s purchase, and the Nabob had
+uttered such threats against him on the last occasion of his going to
+the palace that he dared not present himself there again.</p>
+
+<p>Fortunately for me Colonel Clive had provided me with an excuse for my
+journey in the shape of a letter to Surajah Dowlah, in which the
+Colonel renewed his expressions of friendship, but demanded the
+withdrawal of the Nabob&#8217;s army from Plassy. This was a step which the
+conspirators <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span>considered indispensable to their design, as they had no
+expectation that Colonel Clive could overcome this force of forty
+thousand men as long as it kept the field.</p>
+
+<p>Armed with the Colonel&#8217;s letter I went to wait upon the Nabob, leaving
+Mr. Watts to exert his utmost diligence in procuring the necessary
+signatures to the treaties, which I delivered to him for the purpose.</p>
+
+<p>Nothing could exceed the astonishment of the Nabob&#8217;s officers when I,
+who had fled secretly from the city six months before, presented
+myself before them in the character of an ambassador from Sabat Jung
+and boldly demanded an audience. They hastened to carry the news to
+the Nabob, and after a short time they returned and conducted me into
+his presence.</p>
+
+<p>Although scarcely three months had elapsed since I had last seen
+Surajah Dowlah, I observed a change for the worse in his appearance.
+He sat on the royal musnud with the same state as formerly, clad in
+his gold-embroidered robes and turban sparkling with the light of many
+gems, surrounded by the same obsequious throng of courtiers and
+attended by his ferocious guards ready to take the life of any man
+present, at a nod from their despotic lord. Yet I discovered something
+in his countenance which I had not seen there before. His head hung
+down with an air of weariness, and his gaze, instead of darting
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span>fiercely to and fro, seemed to shift and hesitate as if with a
+lurking distrust of those about him. He appeared to be in ill-health,
+and shifted fretfully about in his seat as he talked. On my part, I
+regarded him with different eyes from the time when I had come before
+him as a captive in his hands, when I had viewed him as a powerful
+tyrant, invested with all the horror of his recent crimes, and
+especially of that never-to-be-forgotten atrocity of the Black Hole of
+Calcutta. Now, on the last occasion on which I was ever to confront
+him, I did so as the emissary of one whose power was yet greater than
+his own, as the agent of an intrigue that menaced his throne and
+perhaps his life. And beneath the surface of pomp and power and the
+outward show of sovereignty, I looked deeper, and beheld merely a
+young man, scarce older than myself&mdash;in his nineteenth year&mdash;the
+victim of an evil education, corrupted by the possession of despotic
+power, rent and exhausted by his own evil passions, and surrounded by
+traitors secretly scheming for his downfall. Some of the dread and
+hatred which I had formerly felt for him was replaced by milder
+sentiments, and I could have found it in my heart to pity Surajah
+Dowlah.</p>
+
+<p>As if to strengthen these impressions in my mind, the young Nabob was
+in a singularly amiable mood, and appeared glad to see me.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;So it is you again!&#8221; he was pleased to say when I was introduced. &#8220;I
+see that you have told me the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span>truth, and that you are a friend of
+Sabat Jung&#8217;s. But why did you flee from me before? I regarded you with
+favour, and would not have put you to death.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Sir,&#8221; I answered, &#8220;I am obliged by your kind expressions, but I am an
+Englishman, and in my country there is no man who can put me to death
+unless I commit some crime against the laws; nor do I choose to live
+in any place where I hold my life by the favour of a prince.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>A murmur ran through the throng of courtiers at this reply, some of
+the high officers whom I knew to be concerned in the plot pretending
+to be especially shocked.</p>
+
+<p>Surajah Dowlah raised his head and looked at me in some surprise.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I should not care to be king of your country if I could not put a man
+to death when I wished to. Allah has created kings, and has put men&#8217;s
+lives into our hands. It is destiny. Those who fall by my hands would
+perish instead by pestilence or famine or wild beasts if I forbore to
+slay them. They die because it is the will of Allah.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I listened in consternation to this frightful profession of fatalism
+by which Surajah Dowlah sought to decline the responsibility of his
+wicked acts. In the meantime he read the letter which I had brought
+from Colonel Clive.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why does Sabat Jung so earnestly desire me to disband my troops?&#8221; he
+asked presently.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span></p><p>&#8220;Your Highness&#8217;s own conscience must tell you that,&#8221; I returned. &#8220;So
+long as you keep your army in the field, threatening Calcutta, it is
+impossible to believe that you are in earnest in your professions of
+friendship towards the English. The present state of things keeps the
+minds of the merchants unsettled and prevents the resumption of trade,
+without which our factories cannot subsist in Bengal.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, no,&#8221; the Nabob broke out, speaking very earnestly, &#8220;I design
+nothing against you. But I am in fear of the Morattoes, who meditate
+another invasion.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Have no fear of that, sir. Colonel Clive will protect you, if
+necessary, against the Morattoes. But you may depend upon it he will
+never believe in your friendship till your troops are withdrawn from
+Plassy.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The Nabob seemed to meditate upon these words for a few minutes,
+during which nobody ventured to speak to him. Then he looked at me
+again, seeming as if he would search my heart.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And suppose I comply with this demand, what security have I that the
+Colonel will not advance against this city? How do I know that he is
+not deceiving me? There are plots&mdash;yes, there are plots in the air!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I felt a touch of contempt for him as I answered&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That is a matter which I must take leave not <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span>to discuss. It is for
+your Highness to consider whether your conduct has been such as to
+conciliate the affections of your subjects, or whether it has not
+rather been calculated to make every man your secret enemy.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Surajah Dowlah started, and sank back on his seat, terrified by this
+unexpected plainness, which caused little less alarm among his suite.
+But I soon saw that my words had been rightly judged. Being an
+Oriental, the Nabob could not believe that I should have spoken like
+that if I had really been privy to any intrigues against him. He
+therefore dismissed his fears, and finally promised to issue orders
+for his whole army to retire to Moorshedabad.</p>
+
+<p>Satisfied with this success, I took my leave of him, his last words to
+me as I withdrew being&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Tell the Colonel I trust him; I look upon him as my friend.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Moved by these words more than I cared to admit even to myself, I
+returned to Mr. Watts, and, all being now in train, we pushed forward
+the affair of the signatures as rapidly as we dared.</p>
+
+<p>During these few eventful days I neglected no means of inquiring after
+the fate of those whom I had left in the Nabob&#8217;s hands on my former
+flight from Moorshedabad. But though I questioned not merely the great
+officers of the Court, but also many of the eunuchs and inferior
+servants about the palace, I could learn nothing definite either of
+Marian or of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span>Rupert. That they had not succeeded in recovering their
+freedom I was pretty well assured, but what had become of them, and
+whether they were alive or dead, was more than I could learn. The
+shadow and the secrecy of the East had closed like a curtain over
+their fates, and I was left to torment myself with miserable guesses
+in the darkness.</p>
+
+<p>The business of signing the treaty went on as rapidly as it could be
+pushed. But the greed of the Gentoos at every step of the transaction
+was most disgusting, and the cowardice and treachery of the Moors
+scarcely less so. The Dewan, Roy Dullub, at first objected that all
+the Nabob&#8217;s treasure was not enough to satisfy the gratuities provided
+for in the treaty, but no sooner did Mr. Watts offer to make him agent
+for the distribution, with a commission of five in the hundred on all
+sums passing through his hands, than his scruples instantly vanished.</p>
+
+<p>But at last everything was settled except the swearing of the treaty
+by Meer Jaffier, on which the whole affair turned. The Meer was just
+now arrived in Moorshedabad from Plassy, where he had been in command
+of one division of the Nabob&#8217;s army, the remainder having before been
+taken from him and given to Roy Dullub. It was reported that Surajah
+Dowlah had received his uncle very scurvily, and spoken to him with so
+much harshness that Meer Jaffier had at once retired to his palace, at
+the other end of the city, and surrounded <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span>himself with his guards.
+This palace resembled a fortress, having regular walls and towers, and
+being provided with cannons and other munitions for a siege.</p>
+
+<p>Thither, on the following day, Mr. Watts went to visit him, but
+returned in much alarm to say that the Meer had received him in
+public, in the hall of audience, surrounded by his officers, and had
+given him no chance to refer to the subject of the treaty.</p>
+
+<p>While we were discussing what this could mean an Indian arrived, who
+proved to be a private messenger from Meer Jaffier himself.</p>
+
+<p>This man informed us that Meer Jaffier had been obliged to receive Mr.
+Watts as he had done to deceive Lal Moon&#8217;s spies, the Nabob&#8217;s
+suspicions causing him to watch very strictly all intercourse between
+his great men and the English agents. What he now proposed was that
+Mr. Watts should come to his palace in the evening in a curtained
+litter, by which means he might be introduced unsuspected into the
+women&#8217;s apartments, and there have a private conference with the Meer.</p>
+
+<p>I could see that Mr. Watts regarded this invitation with very little
+confidence, his experiences in the Nabob&#8217;s Court having rendered him
+cautious to an extreme. I therefore undertook to go in his place, an
+offer which he gladly accepted.</p>
+
+<p>As there was nothing to detain either of us in Moorshedabad after the
+treaty had been confirmed, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span>and every hour that passed rendered our
+situation more precarious, it was further arranged that Mr. Watts
+should take his departure at once, leaving me to follow during the
+night. Accordingly he gave out that he was going on a visit to
+Cossimbuzar on business connected with the Company&#8217;s investment, and
+set out the same afternoon.</p>
+
+<p>I waited till it was quite dark before I got into the litter, which
+had been prepared for me by two Indian servants on whose fidelity I
+depended. They bore me through the streets on their shoulders at a
+great pace, and, thanks to the respect which these people have for
+their women, I passed undiscovered. Once, indeed, we were stopped for
+a moment, and there was a short discussion, in which I heard the
+voices of my attendants, though I could not distinguish what was said.
+It terminated in a laugh, and they were suffered to proceed without
+the curtains having been withdrawn. But it may be imagined how my
+heart came into my mouth during the brief halt, and what relief I
+experienced when the palanquin was set down within the gates of Meer
+Jaffier&#8217;s palace and I was able to step out.</p>
+
+<p>The Meer received me in the presence of his son Meeram, a youth of
+sixteen, who bore a strong resemblance to his cousin the Nabob, a
+resemblance, as I was afterwards to learn, not confined to mere looks.
+He sat apart, staring at me with <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span>a sullen air of dislike, while his
+father perused the treaty.</p>
+
+<p>Its terms appeared to give Meer Jaffier perfect satisfaction. As soon
+as he had read it, he asked&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;How soon will Colonel Clive be ready to take the field?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He is ready now,&#8221; I answered. &#8220;All he is waiting for is information
+from you as to the steps which you propose to take to support him.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Meer Jaffier looked a little uneasy.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You are my friend, I know,&#8221; he said. &#8220;You must speak good words on my
+behalf to Sabat Jung. Everything depends on him. Let him strike the
+first blow, and he will find every one prepared to join him.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I shook my head.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I am your friend, it is true,&#8221; I responded, &#8220;but I am still more the
+friend of Sabat Jung, and I must know the grounds on which he is to
+proceed. What force have you ready to bring to his assistance?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Do you mean what is the number of my division?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I mean the number on whom you can rely.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Three thousand horsemen.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He glanced at me in some doubt as he spoke. I heard this number with
+dismay.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Only three thousand! What succour is that?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But those are only my own men. There are several commanders who have
+been affronted by Surajah Dowlah, and are ready to turn their swords
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span>against him at the first opportunity. On the day of battle these will
+come over to us with their troops.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What assurance have you of that?&#8221; I asked.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I know my countrymen. They judge a man by his deeds, and there is
+nothing that commands their respect like daring and success. Already
+they fear the Colonel; let them see him boldly attacking the Nabob,
+with me by his side, and they will quickly join us. Tell Sabat Jung my
+words.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And when do you intend to join the Colonel?&#8221; I inquired, beginning to
+fear that Meer Jaffier was likely to prove a broken reed to lean upon.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I will join him as soon as the English troops come in sight of the
+city. Or if the Nabob keeps his army at Plassy, then I will join you
+as soon as the signal for battle is given. I will march over to you
+with a great part of the army, as many as I can persuade to join me,
+and the others will then take to flight. If I see an opportunity I
+will seize my nephew in his tent.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>With these promises he beguiled me into some confidence in him. Then
+placing a copy of the Alcoran upon his head, and resting one hand upon
+the head of his son Meeram, he solemnly swore to perform all that he
+had undertaken. He also signed the treaty, writing these words upon it
+in Persian&mdash;&#8220;In the name of Allah, and of the Prophet of Allah, I
+swear to abide by the terms of this treaty while I have life.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span>As soon as this business was completed, the Meer said to me&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And now, before you go, tell me what reward I may give you for your
+services in this affair?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I hesitated. He evidently expected that I should name some large sum
+in rupees, such as was promised by the terms of the treaty to Mr.
+Watts and others of those privy to it.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What I ask for is neither money nor jewels,&#8221; I said, &#8220;but the lives
+of the two persons who, I believe, are now kept somewhere concealed in
+the palace of the Nabob.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Meer Jaffier understood me.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You mean the Englishwoman who was brought here from Calcutta, and the
+Englishman who was formerly a spy in Surajah Dowlah&#8217;s service?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I nodded my head.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It may be that the woman is, as you say, still in the Nabob&#8217;s harem.
+But I cannot think that the man is alive. He has most probably been
+secretly put to death for his offence in breaking into the garden of
+the seraglio.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I took part in that offence, and yet I am alive still,&#8221; I answered.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, what is it you ask of me?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I ask your promise that the moment Surajah Dowlah is overthrown, and
+the power has passed into your hands, you will aid me to ransack the
+palace of Moorshedabad in search of that woman and that man.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span></p><p>Meer Jaffier bowed his head.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You shall do so. Nay, more, to convince you that I am in earnest I
+will write you an authority now, before you leave me, which will
+become of effect as soon as Colonel Clive has driven my nephew from
+the musnud.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>A few minutes afterwards I had re-entered the palanquin, and was being
+conveyed back to Mr. Watts&#8217;s house.</p>
+
+<p>The next day, rising early, I pretended some business with Mr. Watts,
+and followed after him on horseback to Cossimbuzar. Here I was met by
+some of his native servants, who told me that he had gone hunting the
+evening before, and had not returned. Desiring them to show me the way
+he had gone, I went on till I was out of sight, and then, striking
+into a gallop, rode southward for my life towards the English lines.</p>
+
+<p>The sun was low down in the western sky, as, riding slowly on my
+exhausted beast, I drew near the village of Cutwah, and espied the
+uniforms of the English sentries gleaming through the trees. The first
+men who I came up to stood in a little group together, their muskets
+resting on the ground, while they talked together in low tones. They
+looked up as I approached, and seeing the Company&#8217;s uniform, saluted
+me, while I stopped to show them the pass which I carried. But they
+said nothing, and as I passed on further into the camp I was struck by
+the silence that prevailed. All round me <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span>I saw the men cooking their
+suppers, or passing to and fro with water vessels, but their heads
+hung down, and I heard none of the cheering and singing which
+generally prevailed when Colonel Clive had his troops upon the march
+against an enemy.</p>
+
+<p>Pressing forward to the headquarters, I found the same evidences of
+dejection increased on all sides, till at last I met Major Coote
+walking with two other officers away from the commander&#8217;s tent. The
+Major at once stopped me, and asked me how I did, but in so dull a
+fashion that I could see he was as dispirited as the rest.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I am quite well, I thank you, sir,&#8221; I answered him, &#8220;but a little
+surprised at the state of the camp. I am but this moment arrived from
+Moorshedabad. Can you tell me if anything untoward has taken place?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Major Coote turned to the two young officers, and signed to them to
+withdraw. As soon as they were out of earshot he stepped up to the
+side of my horse, and laying his hand on the saddle addressed me in a
+low tone&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Harkye, Ford, I know you to be a discreet youngster, and so I&#8217;ll tell
+you my mind plainly. I don&#8217;t know what news you bring from
+Moorshedabad, and I don&#8217;t ask, but we&#8217;ve had such accounts from that
+cursed place lately that Colonel Clive has begun to believe that not a
+single man of them all is to be trusted, from Meer Jaffier down. He
+doesn&#8217;t think them worth fighting for, and what&#8217;s more, he doesn&#8217;t
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span>think they mean to join him as they have promised. The long and short
+of it is, he has just called a council of war of all his officers&mdash;you
+would have been there if you had arrived an hour sooner, and therefore
+it&#8217;s no breach of confidence to tell you&mdash;he called the council to
+decide whether we should go forward and fight, or give it up and go
+back. And he gave his own voice for going back, and the d&mdash;d council,
+two-thirds of &#8217;em, followed suit; and the upshot of it is we&#8217;re to put
+our tails between our legs and <i>go</i> back&mdash;and that&#8217;s why you see the
+whole army ready to throw down their arms like so many children!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I was aghast at this intelligence, hardly believing it possible that
+the courage of Colonel Clive should have failed him, though I was
+better able than most to estimate the worries and cares thrust upon
+his shoulders by the mingled folly and malice of those who should have
+given him their best support.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Where is the Colonel?&#8221; I exclaimed. &#8220;I must see him at once! I have
+news that may induce him to change his mind. At all events, I&#8217;ll take
+the liberty to persuade him.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He wandered off by himself,&#8221; Major Coote answered, brisking up a
+little. &#8220;He went into that grove of trees across there, as soon as the
+council was dismissed, and he has been there ever since.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I turned and looked at the grove. As I did so I saw some bushes
+parted, and the figure of my beloved chief emerged, walking with a
+swift, firm tread.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span></p><p>Instantly I flung myself from my horse, and rushed towards him. But he
+advanced of his own accord to where Major Coote stood watching us.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I have altered my mind,&#8221; he said briefly, with the martial ring in
+his voice that I had heard first on the morning of Monichund&#8217;s
+attempted surprise before Budge-Budge. &#8220;I have come round to your
+opinion, Coote. To-morrow morning we march forward, and engage the
+enemy wherever we find him.&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2>
+
+<h3><i>PLASSY</i></h3>
+
+<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">A</span>nd now it befalls to me to relate what I saw of that famous day which
+changed the relations between the English and Moors throughout the
+whole empire of Indostan. And I think that never before nor since was
+such a singular engagement fought, and so little really done to effect
+so tremendous a result.</p>
+
+<p>After I had communicated to Colonel Clive what had passed between Meer
+Jaffier and myself at our secret interview, he believed less than ever
+in the Meer&#8217;s promises of assistance.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I do not think the man means to betray me, but like all the Bengalese
+he is a coward, and dares not carry out his promises when the moment
+comes.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Such was his judgment, in which I was obliged to agree; though I
+confess I had a liking for Meer Jaffier, and felt much pity for him in
+his subsequent misfortunes.</p>
+
+<p>It was one o&#8217;clock, an hour after midnight, when our little army of
+three thousand men arrived and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span>took up their quarters in the grove of
+Plassy. Of these, two thousand were Sepoys, the remainder being
+European troops, with some sailors from the fleet and about one
+hundred Topasses: we had also eight field-pieces and two howitzers.
+The grove in which we encamped was enclosed in a bank and ditch,
+within which were mango trees, very regularly planted in straight
+rows, the whole place being about half a mile in length, and less than
+a quarter in breadth. It stood near the edge of the river, which
+defended it from approach on the left, where there was a small house
+or hunting lodge, which Colonel Clive chose as his headquarters.
+Facing the grove to the north was the entrenched camp where the
+Nabob&#8217;s army had lain ever since their retreat from Calcutta. The
+troops had been partly withdrawn a few days before, but they were now
+returned; and we heard their drums and cymbals beating all night long.</p>
+
+<p>Colonel Clive, who had restored me to my former position as his
+secretary, and kept me near him, bade me lie down and sleep in the
+lodge. But though I lay down, I was too excited to do more than doze
+off for a minute at a time, and every time that I opened my eyes I saw
+the Colonel either walking to and fro, as if impatient for the day to
+break, or sitting at a table with maps spread out before him, studying
+them by the light of a torch. Sometimes he went out of the lodge for a
+few minutes to see that all was quiet, but soon returned and resumed
+his meditations.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span></p><p>As soon as it was light enough to see, I got up, unable to lie still
+any longer, and joined Mr. Clive.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Ah, Ford, so you are awake, eh!&#8221; he observed smiling. &#8220;You don&#8217;t look
+as though you had slept very soundly. Let us get on to the roof, and
+perhaps we may see what those fellows are about.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>We mounted together by a narrow stair leading on to a flat roof, and
+looked about us. On the left the mist was slowly rising from the
+river, on the right the foliage of the trees hid our own troops from
+view. But in front of us to the north we beheld spread out a scene of
+such magnificence that I confess I trembled, and even Colonel Clive
+uttered an exclamation of surprise.</p>
+
+<p>The Nabob&#8217;s army lay in their entrenched camp, one angle of the
+rampart, that nearest to us, being strengthened with a small redoubt
+armed with cannon. Behind and away almost as far as we could see,
+stretched the tents and lines of armed men, the whole just beginning
+to stir with the first movements of the day. In the midst rose a
+splendid pavilion, adorned by flags, before the door of which stood a
+train of horses and attendants, while lesser tents were pitched all
+round it, each one displaying the ensign of some great officer. Crowds
+of men could be seen pushing to and fro, catching up their weapons and
+falling into some sort of military order, while others brought up
+horses and elephants, the caparisons of which shone gaily with silk of
+many <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span>colours. So great was the throng, and so confused were their
+motions, that I could not even guess their numbers, but Colonel Clive,
+glancing over them with the eye of a veteran, declared that there must
+be at least fifty thousand men, of whom upwards of fifteen thousand
+were cavalry. Their guns I counted myself up to forty-three, and they
+had others which they left in the camp.</p>
+
+<p>As we stood and watched, this great host began to slowly pour out from
+different openings in the rampart and advance on the plain, forming a
+sort of bow round the front and right flank of our position. The
+river, as I have said, protected the left, and they made no attempt to
+close round the rear.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I wonder which is Meer Jaffier&#8217;s division?&#8221; muttered Colonel Clive
+anxiously, as the array extended itself. The infantry remained for the
+most part between the camp and our front, while the masses of cavalry
+spread away to our right, forming their left wing. The army was not in
+one line, but seemed to advance in a number of detached bodies, the
+intervals between them being filled up with the guns.</p>
+
+<p>This artillery was a truly formidable spectacle. Our own few guns were
+merely six-pounders, nor had we the means of transport for larger
+pieces. But many of the Nabob&#8217;s cannon were of immense calibre, 24 and
+even 32-pounders, more suitable for siege guns than to be brought into
+action. They were mounted on high wooden stages, which bore <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span>not
+merely the cannon but the artillerymen and ammunition as well, and
+each of these carriages was drawn along by as many as eighty or a
+hundred huge white oxen, of the famous Purneah breed. Moreover, in
+case the oxen should not prove sufficient, an elephant walked behind
+each of these moving platforms, and butted it with his forehead from
+behind whenever it stuck from any difficulty of the ground.</p>
+
+<p>Between the grove where we lay and the enemy&#8217;s camp there were a
+couple of tanks, such as the Indians build to contain rain water.
+These tanks, being protected by banks of earth, served the purpose of
+redoubts, and we saw a small body of men, about forty or fifty,
+advance to the tank nearest us, dragging two light guns, with which
+they at once began playing on the grove.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Those are white men!&#8221; exclaimed Colonel Clive, who had been watching
+this movement. &#8220;They must be Frenchmen sent from Brassy&mdash;unless they
+are some of those that escaped from Chander Nugger.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>While he was speaking the fire from the tank was taken up by the rest
+of the Nabob&#8217;s artillery, and a roar arose from the whole face of the
+advancing army. Colonel Clive watched the result closely for a few
+minutes.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;They are doing very little harm,&#8221; he observed. &#8220;They fire too high.
+Most of the balls are passing over the heads of our men. But it will
+not do for <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span>us to stay in the shelter of the grove; they may think we
+are afraid of them.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He hurried down to the ground, bidding me keep near him, and went to
+where our men were waiting, just within the ditch which enclosed the
+grove. One Sepoy had been killed by the discharge from the tank, and
+three or four wounded, but otherwise we had not suffered.</p>
+
+<p>The Colonel quickly made his dispositions, and the little force
+marched boldly out from its shelter and faced the enemy. At this the
+whole Moorish army halted, still out of point-blank range, and
+contented themselves with continuing their artillery fire, which we
+returned as best we could with our few guns. Colonel Clive passed to
+and fro along the line several times, noting everything that happened,
+and anxiously watching for some symptom of the promised desertion by
+Meer Jaffier. But nothing happened, the Moor&#8217;s infantry remained
+steady in our front, and the dark masses of cavalry continued to hang
+threateningly on our flank.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I have brought my men out to give Meer Jaffier his chance,&#8221; said
+Colonel Clive to me in a low tone, &#8220;but if he is afraid to move, we
+are done. It is impossible to order an advance in face of that army.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He walked down the line once again, and counted our casualties. By
+this time we had lost ten Europeans, and about twice as many Sepoys.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That is enough,&#8221; the Colonel exclaimed sharply. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span>&#8220;It is useless to
+expose the men for nothing. Retire into the grove again.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>This order was executed, and the enemy, appearing to gather courage
+from our retreat, advanced their artillery nearer, and quickened their
+fire. However, their aim continued very bad, most of the shot merely
+struck the branches of the trees, and the men were ordered to lie down
+for the sake of greater safety. I was pleased to observe that all,
+even the Sepoys and Topasses, displayed the utmost coolness and
+confidence. Several powder explosions happened about this time in
+different places in the enemy&#8217;s ranks, and this served to increase the
+contempt of our own men for the Nabob&#8217;s forces.</p>
+
+<p>About eleven o&#8217;clock Colonel Clive called some of the officers
+together, and communicated his plans to them.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It is quite clear that the Nabob is afraid to attack us at close
+quarters,&#8221; he said, &#8220;or he would have ordered a further advance before
+this. Still I do not consider we are justified in quitting our shelter
+for the present, in the absence of any demonstration from Meer
+Jaffier. It will be better to let the cannonade go on for the rest of
+the day, and then try a night attack on their camp.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Most of the officers concurred in this opinion. As the Colonel and I
+were walking back to the lodge he turned to me suddenly, and asked me
+what I thought.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, sir, to be plain with you, I think the only <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span>men we have to
+regard are those forty Frenchmen in the tank,&#8221; I answered. &#8220;As far as
+the rest are concerned, I very much doubt if they would stand five
+minutes against a charge.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The Colonel nodded.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I shouldn&#8217;t be surprised if you were right. But remember, Ford, that
+those nine hundred men are the only European troops in Bengal, and if
+I lose even two hundred of them this will be an expensive victory for
+me. What I want is to hold on till Surajah Dowlah&#8217;s own troops desert
+him, and then I may win everything without loss of life.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I was much impressed by this glimpse into Mr. Clive&#8217;s mind, which
+showed him as something very different from the reckless, hot-headed
+soldier some of his enemies have called him.</p>
+
+<p>Just at this time a shower of rain fell, and soon after the fire of
+the enemy sensibly slackened, some of their powder evidently having
+been spoiled. Towards two o&#8217;clock a stranger thing took place, for the
+firing ceased altogether, and the Moors were perceived yoking their
+white oxen to the gun-stages again; and immediately after the whole
+army commenced to fall back slowly and re-enter the camp.</p>
+
+<p>I was standing by myself outside the door of the lodge when this
+singular movement commenced, and I at once stepped inside to inform
+Colonel Clive. To my astonishment I found him asleep. The exhausting
+work of the last few days, followed by the total absence of rest on
+the previous night, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span>had proved too much for him. He had fallen on to
+a chair, and dropped asleep unawares.</p>
+
+<p>While I was hesitating whether to awaken him I heard some one
+approaching without. I went out softly, and found a sergeant of Major
+Kilpatrick&#8217;s company, with a message for the Colonel.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I will take your message, sergeant,&#8221; I said, not wishing him to know
+of Mr. Clive&#8217;s slumber.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Faith, then, sir, it&#8217;s just this,&#8221; said the fellow, who was an
+Irishman, &#8220;that the enemy&#8217;s beat, and runnin&#8217; away entirely, and Major
+Kilpathrick&#8217;s just after starting to take the tank from those
+murderin&#8217; Frenchies, so as to annoy the Nabob&#8217;s retreat.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I turned red at this insolent message, which did not even request
+Colonel Clive&#8217;s permission for the movement. Dismissing the sergeant,
+I darted in and woke up my commander.</p>
+
+<p>The Colonel was broad awake in an instant. When he heard what had
+happened he compressed his lips, without making any remark, and ran
+out of the lodge, and across the ground to where Kilpatrick was
+leading his company towards the tank.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Halt!&#8221; shouted Colonel Clive, as he approached.</p>
+
+<p>The Major stopped, and looked confused.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I thought, sir, as every moment was precious&mdash;&mdash;&#8221; he began, when Mr.
+Clive sharply cut him short.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I will receive your apologies this evening, sir. At present my orders
+to you are to return and order up the whole force to support this
+movement which you have so rashly begun.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span></p><p>He waited till the discomfited officer had retired, and then turning
+to me, he added with a touch of glee&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now, Ford, you and I will take the tank!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The word was given to double, and we advanced at a run, whereupon the
+Frenchmen, after one discharge, evacuated their position, and retired
+upon the camp.</p>
+
+<p>The rest of the English force now marched out from the grove, and
+advanced in line, pursuing the retreating enemy. But there was one
+part of the Nabob&#8217;s army which did not join in the movement of the
+rest. A large division of cavalry, one of those which had formed the
+threatening left wing, drew off from the rest and advanced towards our
+right rear.</p>
+
+<p>Colonel Clive watched their movements with suspicion.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Are these fellows trying to take our baggage?&#8221; he murmured. &#8220;Captain
+Grant, take three platoons and a field-piece, and see if you can fight
+off those horse.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The order as given was obeyed, the slight demonstration proved
+sufficient, and the mysterious division drew away again out of range.
+In the meantime our main body advanced steadily, and kept up a brisk
+fire on the Nabob&#8217;s camp with our artillery. On this some of the
+retiring troops showed a disposition to come out again and renew the
+attack, encouraged by the example of the Frenchmen, who <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span>had got
+possession of the redoubt in the angle of the rampart, and were plying
+us well with their guns. Seeing this disposition on the part of the
+enemy, Colonel Clive ordered some shot to be thrown among their
+cumbrous artillery trains. This was done with such effect that,
+numbers of the oxen being killed, the trains were thrown into
+confusion. At the same time some of the Moorish horse made a few
+ineffectual offers to charge, but were easily driven off, without ever
+coming to close quarters.</p>
+
+<p>Whatever cause had prompted the strange retreat of the enemy, it was
+evident that the same cause was now operating to take all heart out of
+their defence. The only thing that gave us pause was the attitude of
+the Frenchmen in the redoubt, whose spirit communicated itself to the
+troops in their immediate neighbourhood. While things were in this
+doubtful posture, I happened to glance round to see what had become of
+the cavalry division repulsed by Captain Grant. To my surprise I saw
+them retiring slowly in an opposite direction to the Nabob&#8217;s camp.</p>
+
+<p>Instantly I grasped the situation.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Colonel,&#8221; I whispered hurriedly, &#8220;don&#8217;t you see that that must be
+Meer Jaffier&#8217;s division!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Clive turned and stared for a moment in the direction I pointed
+in.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You are right,&#8221; he responded. &#8220;Meer Jaffier, of course! Well, since
+he has put off his assistance so long, he shall see how little we
+needed it!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span></p><p>A thrill of fresh energy seemed to sweep through him as he began
+issuing his orders for the final charge. Two columns were told off,
+one to clear a small eminence to the right, the other to attack the
+French in their redoubt, while the main body was directed to follow up
+in a grand attack on the whole camp. By my special request I was
+allowed to join the column marching against the Frenchmen. We made a
+dash forward&mdash;once, twice, thrice the Frenchmen fired at us as we came
+on, then we saw them drop their linstocks and run, and in another five
+minutes it was all over. The entire English force was over the
+ramparts together, the army which had marched out so gallantly against
+us that morning was suddenly become a mere herd, a wretched mob of
+fugitives crushing one another in their eagerness to escape from us,
+and we picked our way amid the plunder of Surajah Dowlah&#8217;s rich
+pavilion, victors of Plassy, masters and law-givers of Indostan!</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2>
+
+<h3><i>RETRIBUTION</i></h3>
+
+<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">A</span>lthough, judged by the standard of such great battles as the King of
+Prussia&#8217;s, or the famous victories won by Marlborough over the French,
+this affair of Plassy may seem to be but a trifling skirmish, yet the
+country whose fate was decided upon that field, namely the
+Subahdarship of Bengal, Orissa, and Behar, is equal in magnitude to
+the whole of King Frederic&#8217;s dominions. In fact the blow struck that
+day resounded throughout the entire East Indies, procuring for the
+English an authority in every Court of Indostan, and for Mr. Clive the
+rank of Omrah, with many rich presents, from the Great Mogul himself.</p>
+
+<p>For eight miles we kept up the pursuit of the flying Moors, and only
+rested from sheer weariness. The next morning Meer Jaffier rode into
+our camp at Daudpore, ill at ease. But Colonel Clive received him with
+friendship, and caused him to be saluted as the Nabob of Bengal. From
+him we learned the particulars of what had taken place on the previous
+day in Surajah Dowlah&#8217;s camp.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span></p><p>The night before the battle the young Nabob had some suspicions that
+there was treachery going on round him. When the next morning he saw
+his army halting at a distance from the English lines, and refusing to
+come to close quarters, his suspicions were confirmed. One of his
+generals on whom he most relied was slain soon after the artillery
+combat commenced, and this further terrified him. Without quitting his
+tent he sent for Meer Jaffier, whose division was posted on the
+extreme right, and implored him to save the day. He even took off his
+turban, than which there can be no greater humiliation for an
+Oriental, and cast it at his uncle&#8217;s feet, bidding him defend it. Meer
+Jaffier left the tent, and at once despatched a message of
+encouragement to Colonel Clive, which, however, never reached him.
+Shortly afterwards the unhappy Surajah Dowlah, vanquished by his own
+fears, or, it may be, by the stings of his remorseful conscience,
+mounted a swift camel and fled, and this was the signal for that
+general movement of retreat which had given us the victory.</p>
+
+<p>After Colonel Clive and the new Nabob had discussed the situation for
+a short time, it was agreed between them that Meer Jaffier should
+proceed at once with his force to the capital to check any attempt at
+rallying on the part of Surajah Dowlah. Colonel Clive, with the
+English army, was to follow more slowly.</p>
+
+<p>The moment I heard of these arrangements, I <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span>asked the Colonel for
+permission to go forward in advance.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, what do you desire to do?&#8221; he asked.</p>
+
+<p>I showed him the written authority I had received from Meer Jaffier,
+and then, in as few words as possible, told him the story of Rupert
+and Marian, and of my resolution to deliver or avenge them.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Go, my boy,&#8221; he said when I had finished. &#8220;I will give you an order
+in my own name, as well as that you have from the Meer Jaffier; and
+God grant you may be in time to save your cousin and your sweetheart
+from the fury of that young tiger we have driven into his lair.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>It was late at night that I came for the last time, riding on an
+elephant, into the city of Moorshedabad. Through the crowded streets I
+urged my way, escorted by a handful of Meer Jaffier&#8217;s horsemen, and
+seeing on every hand the tokens of the anarchy which had followed upon
+the news of Plassy. The people were abroad, lights gleamed in every
+direction, men ran hither and thither, and doors stood open with no
+one to guard the entrance.</p>
+
+<p>As we drew near to the palace of the Nabob the confusion increased.
+From the shouts of the crowd in answer to our questions we gathered
+that Surajah Dowlah had entered the city secretly after his flight
+from the field of battle, that he had called his parasites around him,
+that there had been rumours of another levy and another battle, that
+his heart <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span>had again failed him, that he was expected to fly once
+more, that he might at that very moment be making his escape before
+the approach of his successor.</p>
+
+<p>As the palace came into view it was evident that if Surajah Dowlah
+were not already gone, his presence had ceased to act as a restraint
+on his former servants. The courtyard was crammed with a struggling
+throng of palace menials and robbers out of the streets, all engaged
+in the work of plunder. Some were staggering down the steps, entangled
+in the folds of brocades and sumptuous shawls, others bore tulwars and
+scymetars encrusted with gems, some were stripping the gold off robes,
+others picking rubies and sapphires out of their sockets with the
+points of daggers, and secreting them about their persons. The ground
+was strewn with plunder thrown away in favour of something more
+valuable, rich vessels of green jade lay broken in one place, and
+silken garments were trodden underfoot in another. And all this was
+merely the loot of the outer rooms of the palace, for the treasury was
+not yet touched.</p>
+
+<p>At our approach the work ceased. The rioters began to escape, and the
+eunuchs and soldiers belonging to the palace shrank back to their
+quarters. Leaving Meer Jaffier&#8217;s officer to deal with them, I
+dismounted from my elephant and pressed my way through into the
+deserted palace, taking with me only two men as a protection. I did
+not stay to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span>explore the empty halls and dismantled chambers, but
+hurried as fast as I could go into the garden, and on to the
+well-remembered summer-house where I had caught my last glimpse of
+Marian on that night a year ago. I ran up to the door at which we had
+knocked the same night. It was standing open. I darted through, ran
+into each room, climbed the stair, and searched every nook and cranny
+above. Not a trace of her I sought was there.</p>
+
+<p>Without lingering a moment I went on and explored the other buildings
+in the garden. In some of them I found frightened women, left alone,
+and expecting that I had come to slay them. But from none could I hear
+anything of the English captive. Here and there a frightened eunuch,
+dragged cowering from his hiding-place, recalled Marian&#8217;s presence a
+year before, but could or would tell me nothing of her fate. I raved
+and stormed through the seraglio like one possessed, but it was all in
+vain.</p>
+
+<p>I turned back to the main building, by this time in the hands of the
+new Nabob&#8217;s servants, who were restoring it to some sort of order.
+They told me that Surajah Dowlah had got away an hour previously,
+having let himself down by a rope from a lattice into a boat on the
+river, with only two attendants. When I showed them the papers I had
+received from their master and also from Colonel Clive, they offered
+me every assistance, and even joined in the search. During several
+hours we ransacked <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span>every part of the palace, but found no signs of
+either of the English prisoners. The principal eunuchs were called and
+questioned. At first they declined to speak, but when one of the Moors
+with me threatened them with torture they became more communicative,
+and finally one of them asked if we had gone down into the secret
+dungeons.</p>
+
+<p>This hint sent a cold shiver through my veins. I bade the eunuch lead
+the way, and he conducted us through a secret door, down a narrow
+winding stair into a horrible basement, constructed under the bed of
+the Ganges, where no light could come by day or night, except that
+brought by the torches of the gaolers. The place was like a maze, with
+branching passages and cells, almost every one of which held some
+victim of Oriental tyranny. But I had neither eyes nor thoughts for
+what was around me, as we hurried down passage after passage and
+opened door after door in the search for those two whom I had come to
+save. Finally the eunuch stopped at a certain door at the very end of
+the darkest passage we had yet traversed. It was opened, and I looked
+in.</p>
+
+<p>I could not at first believe that what I beheld was a human being.
+Stretched out on the damp soil of the den lay a miserable, shrunken
+object, a thing like a skeleton wrapped in parchment, with the faint
+outlines of a man. On our entrance it moved and just raised its head.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What do you want?&#8221; it asked in Indostanee. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span>And then in English it
+breathed, &#8220;Is this the end?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>It was the voice of my cousin Rupert!</p>
+
+<p>With a cry, I was on my knees by his side, lifting his woeful head in
+my arms.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Rupert! Look! It is your cousin Athelstane!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He moved slowly and sat up. Then a shudder went through his attenuated
+frame.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you see what they have done to me?&#8221; he groaned. &#8220;The devils
+have put out my eyes!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>And the devils had. Rupert Gurney, the bold, handsome, careless,
+wicked, swaggering Rupert, whom I had loved and feared and hated all
+my life, would never be bold nor handsome nor swaggering any more, and
+I should never need to fear or hate him again. His wickedness had been
+rewarded; his crimes had met a heavier retribution than any I had ever
+thought to inflict. He had fallen into the hands of one compared to
+whom he had been but a beginner in iniquity; one fit of Surajah
+Dowlah&#8217;s cruel frenzy had struck upon him, and had left him branded
+for life.</p>
+
+<p>Of Marian&#8217;s fate he knew nothing. As soon as I had given directions to
+have him carried up out of the dungeon I renewed my search for her
+with a heart ready to burst at the thought of what I might find.</p>
+
+<p>When we did find her I was almost relieved. After the frightful
+apprehensions I had entertained, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span>it seemed to be good fortune that
+she should be merely wasted away, without any outward disfigurement of
+that face that had been my beacon in dreams and raptures for those
+vain years. In my own arms I bore her out of that doleful place and up
+into the open air, through the palace now swarming with the stir and
+bustle of the newly arrived Nabob&#8217;s Court, into the garden where the
+day was breaking and the birds were beginning to sing, and laid her
+down, at her own desire, on a bed in that very summer-house where I
+had tried&mdash;ah, why had I failed?&mdash;to rescue her on the night that
+seemed so long ago.</p>
+
+<p>There for two days I never left her. Some of the eunuchs first, and
+afterwards some Indian women, came and waited on us, and brought us
+all the food we needed&mdash;and that was not much for either of us. She
+lay still, saying little, and sometimes holding my hand while she
+slept, and then waking up to shed tears upon it, and to murmur the
+gratitude which I had done so little to deserve. On the second day I
+had Rupert brought to her. He was better by this time, though still
+very weak, and just able to walk across the room with his arm resting
+in mine. I guided him to a seat beside her, and placed their hands in
+one another&#8217;s, and then I came out quickly. I left them together; for
+if I had loved Marian, he had loved her too, and if my love for her
+had been the stronger, so had been hers for <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span>him. And I could not feel
+jealousy any longer now that Marian was dying.</p>
+
+<p>For this was the end of it all, the end of my stormy love and rivalry
+and my adventures in the Indian realms. Marian, the beautiful Marian,
+the woman whose fascination had led me so far, and involved me among
+such strange events in such unwonted scenes, was dying. I had come too
+late to save her, and all I had done or attempted for her sake had
+been in vain. And when I knew this, when I looked back over those
+three troubled years and saw the outcome, there came borne in upon my
+mind a great resignation; I beheld myself as if I had been another
+person, and the folly and wickedness that was in my heart stood
+revealed to me as they had never been even in those dreadful hours in
+the Calcutta dungeon, when I sank down, as I believed, to die.
+Standing beside that bedside of the woman I had loved and sinned for,
+watching the grey stain of mortality creep out upon those glorious
+features, the world and all its prizes and possessions became to me a
+mockery, and all that remained to comfort me was the memory of words I
+had read in that old Book at home: there, in that heathen palace,
+surrounded by the temples and trophies of false gods, was vouchsafed
+to me the light which I had refused to receive when I dwelt among
+Christians in a Christian land, and the Divine mercy which had
+followed me through so many wanderings overtook me at the last.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span></p><p>On the morning of the third day one of the Indian servants who waited
+upon us took me aside and whispered something in my ear&mdash;something
+which made my heart beat fiercely and sent a tingle through my veins.</p>
+
+<p>I left the summer-house and took my way into the palace. Through the
+stately halls and along the marble pavements, amid the servile crowd
+that swarmed to pay homage to Meer Jaffier, I passed, and on till I
+came to that hideous stair up which I had brought two of Surajah
+Dowlah&#8217;s victims such a short time before. On the way I gathered
+something of what had taken place.</p>
+
+<p>One of Surajah Dowlah&#8217;s former subjects, a man whose ears the young
+Nabob had barbarously cut off for some offence, had recognised him in
+his flight, and had betrayed him to the agents of his successor. He
+was brought back in chains to Moorshedabad and carried before Meer
+Jaffier, at whose feet he flung himself, sobbing, and beseeching that
+his miserable life might be spared. Meer Jaffier, partly moved by his
+entreaties, partly restrained by regard for Colonel Clive, had shown a
+wish to spare him. But in Meer Jaffier&#8217;s son, young Meeram, the fallen
+tyrant had found a spirit as ferocious and ungovernable as his own.
+This boy&mdash;for he was scarcely sixteen&mdash;thirsted for his cousin&#8217;s
+blood, and even attempted to stab him in Meer Jaffier&#8217;s presence. Meer
+Jaffier, afraid of his son, had ordered the prisoner to be removed
+into <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span>the dungeons under a guard, and this was done. But the fury of
+Meeram was not to be appeased. In the dark hours of the night, unknown
+to his father, he had descended into the dungeon, bribed or overawed
+the guards, and&mdash;&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>They threw open the door. They held up their torches over a dark
+object lying on the ground. There, with a dozen red rents in the bosom
+of his tunic, with blood thickly soaked into the dye of his silk robe,
+with blood caked upon the rubies and emeralds in his turban, I saw
+Surajah Dowlah, dead!</p>
+
+<p>For some minutes I stood still in the presence of this impressive
+retribution, recalling the brief but terrible career which had thus
+tragically ended. There lay the cruellest despot of his age, the
+practitioner of horrible debaucheries, the sworn enemy of the English
+name, who had driven us out of Bengal, and perpetrated the
+never-to-be-forgotten massacre in which I had been so nearly included.
+I was but newly come out of the presence of two of his victims, and
+here I beheld him cut off from light more surely than the man he had
+blinded, dead while the woman he had murdered still breathed. I gazed,
+and was satisfied. The evil desires of vengeance which had tormented
+me for so long were utterly extinguished. I beheld before me the
+justice of high Heaven, and I came away, not exulting, but awed and
+subdued.</p>
+
+<p>I returned to Marian&#8217;s bedside, and from that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span>time I did not leave
+her till the end. Occasionally she would talk to me in a low, sweet
+voice, calling back memories of the old town of Yarmouth and the
+pleasant scenes of her youth. Once she spoke to me of myself.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I have treated you very ill, Athelstane. I knew that I could never
+repay you for your love, but it made me proud to have it; I liked to
+count upon your devotion to me, and I deceived and tempted you.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I tried to protest, but she would have it so.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I have been wrong in everything I did to you,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I ought
+never to have treated you as a friend, but as a stranger. Then you
+would have grown out of your foolish passion, and have forgotten me;
+for, believe me, Athelstane, I was not fit for you, nor you for me.
+Beneath your hot temper and adventurous spirit, in which you resemble
+your cousin, you are a very different nature. You are a Puritan at
+bottom, and your conscience will not let you rest except in sober,
+honest ways of life. It is better that you should take a wife from
+among your own people, one whose nature is in accord with what is
+deepest and best in you, and not with what is worst. Forgive me,
+Athelstane, and forget me, as one that crossed your life by an evil
+chance and wrought you only harm.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But that, as I told her with tears, I never could do, nor would
+believe. And even now, when I look back across the years with calmer
+vision and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span>a wiser judgment, I am still glad that I knew and loved
+Marian Rising, and never wish to root the memory of that wild romance
+out of my heart.</p>
+
+<p>She spoke to me also of my cousin Rupert, saying that she had long ago
+forgiven&mdash;indeed, I think she never was really able to resent&mdash;his
+wrongs done towards her, and asking me to do the same. I assured her
+that I had long ago buried all remains of ill-will between us, and I
+promised her that I would take him back to England with me, and
+endeavour to make his peace with his father at Lynn.</p>
+
+<p>Soon afterwards she became very weak, and, seeing that the last moment
+was approaching, I fetched Rupert in to her. He stood with his head
+bowed above the bed, his hair streaked with grey and the marks of the
+agony he had suffered on his face, while Marian caught hold of his
+hand, and, with the feeble remains of her strength, carried it to her
+lips and kissed it. In the doorway stood an Indian, gazing at the
+sight with solemn, unmoved visage. Outside we could hear the distant
+clash of the temple gongs in honour of some sacrifice, and through the
+lattices there was a glimpse of high white walls, with narrow slits of
+windows, shaded over by the dark-green foliage of a teak tree. Was it
+all real? I asked myself, or some vision which had come to me in the
+night, and from which I should awake to find myself abed in my own
+little room at home in Brandon?</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span></p><p>So the hour passed, and the last minute came.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Pray for me, Athelstane,&#8221; Marian whispered to me, &#8220;for I have been a
+great sinner, and for myself I hardly dare to pray.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>So I knelt down upon the floor, and the blind man opposite me did the
+same; and as I used the familiar phrases which I had learned
+unconsciously in my youth from many repetitions, a peace stole over
+the room, and Rupert&#8217;s great sobs ceased to shake him, and the hand I
+held in my own grew very still and cold. And presently I looked up,
+and saw that Marian was dead.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI</h2>
+
+<h3><i>COLONEL CLIVE&#8217;S MESSAGE</i></h3>
+
+<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">S</span>o now my career in the East Indies was over, and I set my face to
+return home.</p>
+
+<p>The first person to whom I communicated my intention was Colonel
+Clive. He was at first astonished, and told me so.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why do you mean to leave me now, when all our affairs are prospering,
+and you have nothing to do but to stay on and enrich yourself? I have
+had it in my mind to promote you; indeed, I think you know that I am
+your good friend.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I do, indeed, sir,&#8221; I answered, &#8220;and I am most grateful for all your
+kindness to me. But it is right that I should tell you I am here in
+consequence of wrong-doing, which has, as I can now see, pursued my
+steps and caused me to be harassed with troubles and misfortunes from
+the very beginning to this hour.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, what wrong have you been guilty of?&#8221; asked the Colonel, much
+interested. &#8220;I could <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span>have sworn you were the most honest young man in
+my company.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I have run away from my home, sir. I have deceived and disobeyed my
+father and, I fear, caused great sorrow to my loving mother. I allowed
+myself to be tempted to leave them secretly, under cover of a
+falsehood, and to join a crew of privateers, who turned out to be
+pirates, the comrades of those whom you destroyed at Gheriah. In their
+company I fell into evil courses, and finally plunged into a murderous
+contest with one of my own flesh and blood. These things have long sat
+heavy on my mind. I have perceived their evil consequences, I have
+been visited with a bitter punishment, and I am now determined to go
+back to my parents and to obtain their forgiveness before it is too
+late.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Colonel Clive looked at me with some sympathy, mingled with wonder.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I believe you have decided rightly,&#8221; he said at last, when I had
+finished. &#8220;God forbid that I should keep you from making your peace
+with those who love you.&#8221; His tone softened as he added: &#8220;My story is
+different to yours. I didn&#8217;t run away; I was driven, pitchforked out
+of doors, and stuck into a miserable billet at Madras, where I nearly
+ate my heart out with loneliness and repining. When I returned to
+England it was not to ask forgiveness, but to give it, if a son can
+take it upon himself to forgive his parent. No matter, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span>all that is
+past now, and I believe my family have found out that I am worth the
+love they have to give me. Look here, my boy, I have no business to
+talk like this to you; but, after all, we can&#8217;t be always thinking of
+rupees and Moorish tricks. Since you are bent on going to England, you
+shall start in the ship which I am sending from Calcutta with the news
+of our late proceedings, and I will give you a letter, which you are
+to deliver privately into the hands of Mr. Pitt.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>At this name I looked up with flushing cheeks.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The great Mr. Pitt?&#8221; I exclaimed.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, the great Mr. Pitt,&#8221; returned Colonel Clive, with a slight
+inflection of bitterness in his tone. &#8220;But you are right, Ford, he is
+a very great man, and though his battles have been won within the four
+walls of St. Stephen&#8217;s Chapel, while we lesser men have to fight in
+very different scenes, far be it from me to grudge all honour to the
+man who was the first to do honour to me. He is fortunate in having
+for his theatre the senate of a great kingdom of Europe, I unfortunate
+in having for mine a remote country of which half Europe has never
+heard. Still, I recognise his merits, and it is for that reason I am
+addressing myself to him on a subject which is near to my heart.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The Colonel paused for a few moments.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But I cannot have you return to England empty-handed,&#8221; he resumed.
+&#8220;What is your share of the gratuity promised to the army I do not yet
+know, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span>but I tell you what you shall do: go into the treasury, and
+help yourself while there is time.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I stared at this permission, but Colonel Clive merely nodded his head,
+and turned to write the letter he had spoken of. Perceiving that he
+was in earnest, I went off to the Nabob&#8217;s palace, and made my way to
+the treasury, where I found Mr. Watts and some others busily engaged
+in taking an inventory of everything it contained, which was to be
+shipped down the river in boats to Calcutta.</p>
+
+<p>I walked through the rooms looking about me. Never in my life have I
+seen, nor am I like to see such a sight again. So much treasure was
+there scattered around me, that I could scarce believe it when Mr.
+Watts told me that the whole was insufficient to meet the sums pledged
+by Meer Jaffier. In every room I feasted my eyes upon the light of
+countless jewels. Silver was heaped on every floor, and gold on every
+shelf. Great green jade jars contained nothing but uncut gems. All
+kinds of weapons were there, their very shapes disguised under the
+gold and jewel-work which loaded them. There were chairs of ivory, and
+a table of solid agate-stone. Massy chains of gold trailed from
+drawers, and bricks of silver were built up into banks along the
+walls. It was a confusion of magnificence, a very litter of precious
+things.</p>
+
+<p>I informed Mr. Watts of the permission which Colonel Clive had given
+me to help myself, and he confirmed it.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span></p><p>&#8220;Take what you please,&#8221; he said carelessly. &#8220;You will find the
+emeralds run larger than any other stone, but some of them are flawed.
+There is a pretty string of rubies somewhere that it might be worth
+while to choose. The biggest diamond is already promised, but there
+are several lesser ones, uncut, which I should judge to be worth from
+twenty to forty thousand rupees each.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He returned to his catalogue, and I to my exploration. After rejecting
+many necklaces and crowns that I did not deem to be of sufficient
+splendour, I finally fixed upon a tulwar, which I found in a box of
+mother-of-pearl by itself. The handle was set with an enormous
+sapphire, and the hilt incrusted with diamonds, some of them as big as
+my thumbnail. I was afterwards offered three thousand pounds for it by
+a Gentoo merchant in Calcutta, but preferred to bring it home with me,
+where it afterwards fetched more than double that sum at a goldsmith&#8217;s
+in Covent Garden.</p>
+
+<p>Nor was this all that I brought away with me, for when I went to take
+leave of Meer Jaffier, he presented me, as a mark of his esteem, with
+a very handsome dress of gold cloth, and a string of pearls, valued
+afterwards at a thousand pounds. So that I was now become a rich man.</p>
+
+<p>We buried Marian at night, by the Nabob&#8217;s permission, in a corner of
+the garden of the seraglio. The chaplain of the thirty-ninth regiment
+conducted the service, and I caused a slab of marble to be set <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span>up to
+mark the grave, inscribed simply with her name and the date of her
+death. This tomb, I have been told, still stands, and is pointed out
+to English visitors to Moorshedabad as the grave of the Englishwoman
+who was imprisoned in the Black Hole.</p>
+
+<p>The following day, having received Colonel Clive&#8217;s letter, and bidden
+him an affectionate farewell, I embarked with Rupert upon one of the
+barges which were carrying the treasure down to Calcutta. The fleet
+started in procession, and went down the river, with music playing on
+deck, flying flags by day, and coloured lanterns by night, till we
+reached the English settlement. There I found old Muzzy, patiently
+waiting for me, and full of pride in the victory, in which he was
+prone to attribute a great share to me.</p>
+
+<p>Five months later we sailed up the Thames, and set foot once more on
+English soil.</p>
+
+<p>One thing only detained me in London. This was the delivery of the
+letter which Colonel Clive had entrusted to me for Mr. Pitt.</p>
+
+<p>It was a privilege which I could not rate too highly to be thus made
+the intermediary between the two greatest Englishmen of my time, men
+of a type that seems now to be lost among us. Since Colonel Clive we
+have had no victorious captain, and since Mr. Pitt, no mighty
+minister, and hence it is that our country, which under the rule of a
+Cromwell or a Pitt, hath risen to be the arbiter of Europe, and held
+all nations in awe, is now sunk, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span>under the sway of feeble intellects,
+to a precarious position, the mock of every power, and saved only by
+her fleets from absolute destruction.</p>
+
+<p>I do not find it easy to describe my sensations when I was ushered
+into the presence of the Great Commoner, and saw before me that
+majestic figure, with the profile of a Roman conqueror, and a glance
+hardly less terrible to encounter than the full blaze of the sun. When
+I have stood before the Nabob of Bengal, throned in the midst of his
+Court, I have seen in front of me nothing but a peevish, debauched
+young man, but when I came into the room where Mr. Pitt was I felt
+that I was in the presence of a ruler of men. His attitude, his
+commanding gestures, and the stately manner he had of slowly moving
+his head round upon his neck to look at you, made a most tremendous
+impression; and I found it easy to believe the stories of men having
+risen to speak against him in the House of Commons, and then shrunk
+back miserably into their seats at a mere look from this extraordinary
+person.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Pitt&#8217;s manner of reading Colonel Clive&#8217;s despatch further
+impressed me. He broke the seals, seemed to do no more than give it a
+few devouring glances, and then laid it aside as though he were
+already master of its contents.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You are Ensign Ford?&#8221; he demanded abruptly, fixing his eye upon me.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I am, sir.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Colonel Clive tells me in this letter that you <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span>possess his
+confidence. Do you think, if I were to tell you my sentiments
+verbally, you could transmit them faithfully to your employer?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I will do my best, sir,&#8221; I replied, not a little astonished at this
+proposal. But I have considered the matter since, and I can see that
+there were many things which Mr. Pitt might not wish to write with his
+own hand, though he had no objection to their being repeated by me.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;In this letter,&#8221; he proceeded, &#8220;Colonel Clive makes a very startling
+proposal, which is no less than that English troops should be sent out
+sufficient to conquer the whole of Bengal, and that thereafter the
+administration of all the Indian territories should be taken out of
+the hands of the Company and brought immediately under the Crown. Now
+what I wish you to tell him from me in reply is this, that I am bound
+to consider his proposal not merely as it affects our situation
+abroad, but also as it bears upon our government at home. I am the
+minister, not of a despotic empire like France or Spain, but of a free
+people, and I must not suffer anything which may assist the Crown to
+encroach upon our liberties. Those liberties rest upon the necessity
+which our kings are under of asking us to tax ourselves for their
+support. Give them a foreign empire like that of Spain in the
+Americas, and you run a danger of rendering them independent. The
+wealth arising from the revenues of Indostan would enable the Crown to
+keep up a standing army in time of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span>peace, without the consent of
+Parliament. Moreover, the administration of these territories would
+give occasion for the creation of great numbers of offices and
+pensions, by means of which our people might be fatally corrupted.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I would have you further point out to Colonel Clive on my behalf,&#8221;
+continued Mr. Pitt, &#8220;that those Indians, whom he proposes to make our
+fellow subjects, are accustomed to be the slaves of a despot, and
+being such, they may become dangerous instruments to make slaves of
+us. I should dread to see the sovereigns of this country calling
+themselves emperors in the Indies, and valuing that character above
+that of kings of Great Britain. Believe me, young man, it is not easy
+for a nation to play the despot abroad without losing its freedom at
+home; as I have frequently observed that those who had returned to
+this country after holding great places in the East, have shown
+themselves indifferent to the rights of the subject here.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>All this, and much more, did Mr. Pitt say to me, of which I have
+preserved only these meagre recollections. But how feeble an image do
+the written words preserve of the eloquence with which he spoke, the
+enthusiasm which kindled in his eye when he touched upon our
+liberties, and the warning emphasis he laid upon his expressions about
+the power of the Crown! I felt almost as though I had been the bearer
+of propositions for some unnatural treason, and I was not a little
+relieved when Mr. Pitt finally <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span>concluded by bidding me thank Colonel
+Clive very heartily for his civility in writing to him, and promised
+to carefully consider of his suggestions.</p>
+
+<p>To this he added some very high compliments to the Colonel&#8217;s great
+abilities and military glory, all of which I transmitted in a letter
+to Mr. Clive shortly afterwards. And I have set down the above warning
+of the great patriot minister in this place, for the instruction of
+posterity, in case a time should ever arrive when the people of this
+country, in their too eager grasping after foreign conquests contrary
+to the nature of an island, which is to rest content within the
+borders of its own seas, shall find they have bartered away the
+priceless heritage of their own freedom, and sunk into a mere unheeded
+fraction of a dominion which they no longer wield.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII</h2>
+
+<h3><i>AFTER MANY DAYS</i></h3>
+
+<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">I</span>t was about the hour of five o&#8217;clock in the afternoon, and being
+winter it was already dusk, when I came at last to my native place,
+and rode up to the gate of my father&#8217;s house.</p>
+
+<p>I had journeyed down as far as Norwich in company with my cousin
+Rupert, who was on his way to Lynn, and with my faithful friend, old
+Muzzy, who had sworn never to leave me, and whom I was not less loth
+to part with. And finding myself, as I came back into that country
+where I was born, utterly overmastered by a strong passion of
+home-sickness, I had no sooner procured comfortable lodgings for my
+companions in the Maid&#8217;s Head Inn, of Norwich, than I got upon
+horseback and rode over by myself to look upon my father and mother
+again.</p>
+
+<p>But as I came towards the house, the greater my longing was to enter
+it again, so much the more was I daunted by a fearful apprehension of
+the reception <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span>I should meet with, as well as of the changes which
+might have been wrought during my absence. So that at the last I dared
+not ride up boldly to the door, but came along softly, and dismounted
+and tied my horse to the outer gate. After which I slipped inside
+quietly, and round the side of the house to the window of the great
+parlour, through which I could see the warm glow of a fire illuminate
+the wintry mist without.</p>
+
+<p>When I had come to the window I raised myself up till my head was on a
+level with the bottom panes, and looked within.</p>
+
+<p>The room held four persons. On one side of the fire sat my father,
+seeming to be much older than I remembered him, in his great
+arm-chair, with pillows at the back. Standing up on the opposite side
+of the hearth was a figure which I quickly recognised for Mr. Peter
+Walpole, though his back was towards me. It was Saturday night, and he
+had plainly arrived a short time before me, from Norwich. Between the
+two was my mother, sitting placidly as of old, and unchanged except
+for a wistful sadness in her eyes, which it smote me to the heart to
+notice, and beside her a young woman, scarce more than a girl, with a
+singular sweet expression on her face, who was at first strange to me.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Walpole was speaking when I first looked in upon them.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We are like to have more news from the East Indies. The <i>Norwich
+Journal</i> announces that a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span>Company&#8217;s ship has entered the Thames,
+bringing news of a great victory over the Moors of Bengal.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>My mother looked round sharply, and cried out&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Tell me at once, Mr. Walpole, if you have heard anything of our boy?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The good old man shook his head.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, no, ma&#8217;am, there is no news of that sort. I fear it will be long
+before we hear of him. Indeed, it is but a chance that he is out in
+the East Indies at all. We did but hear a rumour that he had been seen
+in Calcutta.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>My mother let her head droop upon her breast. The girl bent over to
+her and laid her hand upon my mother&#8217;s shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t let yourself think that Athelstane has come to harm,&#8221; she said
+in a sweet, clear voice. (And if I had not recognised the face I
+recognised the voice. It was my little playmate, Patience Thurstan.)
+&#8220;I have a faith which makes me sure that he is still alive, and will
+some day come back to us again.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; It was my father&#8217;s voice I heard, coming sternly from where he
+sat upright in his chair. &#8220;He will not come back here. He left this
+house of his own free will, left it in treachery and deceit. He has
+cast its dust from off his feet, and this is his home no more.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>My heart sank within me at these bitter words. But Patience pleaded
+for me still.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Ah, but he will return, I know he will, and if he does you will
+forgive him, won&#8217;t you, Mr. Ford? <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span>After all he was but a boy when he
+ran away, too young to know what he was doing. How can we tell what
+suffering he has gone through since, how often he has repented of what
+he did, and longed to come back and be forgiven.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Peter Walpole gave a groan.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It is I was to blame, as much as the boy, come, brother Ford.
+Remember how I held out for that premium with him. Not but what the
+sum I named was just, mind you; but I loved the lad and would have
+taken him without a premium at all, rather than he should have gone
+wandering about the world, to be murdered by heathen men and
+cannibals.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I cannot express how surprised and touched I was to hear Mr. Walpole
+speak thus of me. For I had ever regarded him as a cold, hard man,
+with no affections beyond money and religion. I looked anxiously for
+my father&#8217;s reply.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Nay, you were in no wise to blame, if you considered that what you
+asked was your right, though to my mind it savoured of extortion. It
+is my unhappy son whom I cannot excuse. Had he but come to me, and
+told me what was in his heart, it would have gone hard but I would
+have provided for him in some honest career. But to let himself be
+enticed away by pirates, as there is little doubt they were, and to
+dissemble his flight with falsehood, that was unworthy of a son of
+mine, and cannot be atoned for.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span></p><p>He gave a glance, half angry, half questioning, at my mother, as he
+concluded. I did the same, but was surprised to observe that her face
+was returned to its former placid composure, and she seemed not to
+heed my father&#8217;s stern expressions.</p>
+
+<p>Poor little Patience took them more to heart, and the tears shone in
+her eyes.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t say you won&#8217;t forgive him!&#8221; she implored. &#8220;Think, for aught we
+know he may now be pining in a Moorish dungeon, or lying wounded on
+the battle-field. Oh, Mr. Ford, he was your only son, and you loved
+him&mdash;you must love him still!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Silence, girl!&#8221; cried my father, very fierce. &#8220;How dare you tell me I
+love a rebellious child! I should wrong my conscience, and be false to
+my profession as a Christian man, if I were weak enough to do what you
+say.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Patience turned and appealed to my mother.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Won&#8217;t you speak to him, mother? Why do you sit there so quietly? You
+love Athelstane as much as&mdash;as much as any one.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>My mother cast a tender glance at my father.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hush, child! There is no need to speak. Athelstane&#8217;s father forgave
+him long ago.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I saw my father start and tremble.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Woman! What is it you say? What do you know?&#8221; he exclaimed. &#8220;You saw
+me cross his name out of the Bible with my own hand!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, dear,&#8221; my mother answered very softly, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span>&#8220;but you wrote it in
+again that very night, when you thought I was asleep.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>And rising out of her chair she crossed over and took down the book
+from where it had lain those three years and more, and opened the page
+where, as I have often seen it since, my name was written in again in
+large letters, and underneath in a shaken hand, the words, &#8220;Oh,
+Athelstane, my son, my son!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Then, whether because of the flickering of the firelight, or the steam
+of my breath upon the pane, I ceased to see very distinctly, and came
+away from the window, and went round to the door, where I gave a loud
+knock.</p>
+
+<p>The door was opened by Patience, and seeing before her, as she
+thought, a stranger in a uniform coat, she uttered a cry of surprise.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Who are you, sir?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I am an ensign in the East India Company&#8217;s service, as you see,&#8221; I
+answered, jesting to conceal the fullness of my heart.</p>
+
+<p>But I suppose there was that within her which told her more quickly
+than her eyes who it was, for before I had spoken two words the little
+silly thing fell a-sobbing and crying, and I had to take her in my
+arms, without more ado, and bring her in with me.</p>
+
+<p>My mother has always affirmed that she knew I was to return that
+night, even when I was outside by the window, and that the first step
+I made across <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span>the threshold told her all. But instead of running out
+to meet me, in her beautiful wisdom she went over to where my father
+sat still, and leant against his chair and put her arm round his neck.</p>
+
+<p>So I found them when I came in alone, leaving Patience in the hall,
+and walked straight over, and would have knelt down before my father.
+But he prevented me, and rose out of his chair with a great cry, and
+drew me to him, and so stood holding me in silence, while my mother
+wept; and presently I saw his lips moving, and found that he was
+whispering to himself, &#8220;This my son was dead, and is alive again; he
+was lost, and is found.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Afterwards we all knelt down together, while Mr. Walpole offered up a
+prayer; and then I sat in the midst and told them the whole story of
+my wanderings and perils as I have written it here. And later on,
+noting that Patience was dressed in black, I inquired, and found that
+she had lost her father nearly a year before, and was become my
+father&#8217;s ward till she should attain the age of twenty-one, or marry
+with his consent.</p>
+
+<p>It was not for a long time after that I surprised her little secret,
+and discovered that depth of true affection which had been waiting for
+me all those years beside my own hearth, while I was pursuing phantoms
+far away. But being alone with her one day, and our talk turning on
+the riches I had brought back with me, and how I was to bestow them, I
+said to her&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span></p><p>&#8220;For one thing, I must buy you a fairing, Patience, like I used to do
+when we were children together. Have you forgotten, I wonder, the
+guinea which I gave you to spend, on the last day I ever spent at
+home?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, indeed, I have not. I remember it very well,&#8221; she answered,
+blushing.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, is that so? And pray what did you buy with it?&#8221; I asked smiling.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Nothing at all,&#8221; said Patience shortly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Nothing! What then&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I have it by me, somewhere.&#8221; She pretended to speak carelessly, but
+my suspicions were aroused.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I insist on knowing where, Patience,&#8221; I said in a tone of command,
+such as I have never known her to resist.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You must find out for yourself, then,&#8221; says she, trying to defy me.
+(For the first and last time, God bless her!)</p>
+
+<p>I took her by the arms and held her firmly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now, Patience, tell me what you have done with my guinea,&#8221; I
+demanded, quite stern.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I kept it&mdash;for a keepsake. Oh, Athelstane, don&#8217;t laugh at me, I have
+it on the ribbon round my neck!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>I didn&#8217;t laugh at her. But I kissed her, and&mdash;well, well!&mdash;she kissed
+me back. And I was surprised to find how little anybody else was
+surprised when they heard of it, and how they all seemed to take it as
+a matter of course, and my father told me quite <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span>coolly that he
+intended me to marry as soon as Patience should be eighteen, and to
+live on Abner Thurstan&#8217;s farm, which she had inherited by his will.</p>
+
+<hr class="medium" />
+
+<p>Of Rupert, as well as of old Muzzy, I must briefly speak. I conducted
+my cousin to his father, as I had promised, and sought to reconcile
+them. But I found my uncle to be harsher than I had expected. He had,
+besides, married again, and his wife looked sourly on the blind man
+she was asked to entertain in her house. The upshot of it was that I
+told her if she would take care of Rupert till I was married I would
+then have him to live with me. And in our house he still abides, a
+much altered man, given to the hearing of sermons, and never so happy
+as when Patience sits down to read him a piece from the Bible or the
+<i>Norwich Journal</i>; though sometimes a flash of his old spirit returns
+when I sit beside him after supper and talk over our old adventures in
+the East.</p>
+
+<p>I found it more difficult at first to befriend old Muzzy. For though
+the old man professed to be, and I am sure really was, anxious to
+reform and lead a better life, he made but a poor business of it, and
+his constant profane oaths and habits of rum-drinking proved a severe
+trial to my mother and Patience. I had told them of his many services
+to me, including his having saved my life, and therefore they made it
+a duty to show kindness to the old <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span>man, and endeavour to bear with
+his ways. But I think they would have failed, and I should have been
+obliged to find a home for him elsewhere, but for his having
+accidentally told them of the affair outside Calcutta. No sooner did
+these tender-hearted women learn that I had saved old Muzzy&#8217;s life (as
+they chose to consider it) than they instantly conceived a strong
+affection for the old man, and instead of finding him a burden nothing
+pleased them better than to sit in his company while the boatswain
+related the story of my prowess, interrupting it at every minute to
+excuse himself for some dreadful expression which had brought the
+tears into their eyes. The tale lost nothing in the telling, and I am
+ashamed to say that he so improved upon it in course of time as to
+make it appear that I had marched single-handed through the Nabob&#8217;s
+entire army, severely wounded the Nabob himself, and slain many of his
+principal generals, and finally emerged, carrying old Muzzy himself
+across my shoulders like a suckling lamb.</p>
+
+<p>Peace to old Muzzy! His heart was as innocent as his life and
+conversation were depraved. I believe my mother used to buy tobacco
+for him; and I am certain I once detected my wife secretly giving him
+rum.</p>
+
+<p>In this peaceful manner my adventures ended, and I found myself, far
+beyond my deserts, settled at last in the land where I was born, among
+those who loved me and whom I loved.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span></p><p>And we are so made, and this life of ours is so strange a thing, that
+sometimes, when I walk abroad in the evening, as I was wont to do in
+my boyhood, and stand beside the lonely, rippling water of the broad,
+and watch the reflection of the sunset upon the distant walls of
+Yarmouth town; sometimes, I say, I ask myself whether all this has
+really been as I have thus written it, or whether all these events
+from my first running away from my father&#8217;s roof; and those nights and
+days in the streets of yonder town and beneath the roof of the old
+&#8220;Three-decker&#8221;; and the woman I loved and fought for; and my cousin
+Rupert&#8217;s enmity; and the voyage which I took to the East Indies, and
+the battles and perils which I passed through; and last of all that
+white tomb in the seraglio garden in far-off Moorshedabad; whether
+they are not dreams and visions which have come to me while I have
+slept.</p>
+
+<p class="center">UNWIN BROTHERS, THE GRESHAM PRESS, WOKING AND LONDON.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" />
+
+<div class="centerbox bbox">
+<h3>A SELECTION FROM</h3>
+
+<h2>Messrs. C. ARTHUR PEARSON&#8217;S PUBLICATIONS.</h2>
+
+<p><b>THE LAND OF THE PIGMIES.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By Capt. <span class="smcap">Guy Burrows</span>. Dedicated, by permission, to His Majesty the
+King of the Belgians. With Introduction by <span class="smcap">H. M. Stanley</span>, M.P.
+Demy 8vo, cloth, with over 200 Illustrations. Price 21s.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>SPINIFEX AND SAND, a Narrative of Five Years&#8217; Pioneering and
+Exploration in Western<br />Australia.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By the Hon. <span class="smcap">David W. Carnegie</span>. With numerous Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Ernest
+Smythe</span> and four Photographs, together with four Maps. Demy 8vo, cloth.
+Price 21s.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>TUNISIA.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Herbert Vivian</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;Servia.&#8221; With Maps and numerous
+Illustrations. Demy 8vo, cloth. Price 15s.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>WITH PEARY NEAR THE POLE.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Eivind Astrup</span>. Illustrated with Sketches and Photographs by the
+Author. Demy 8vo, cloth gilt, gilt top. Price 10s. 6d.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>IN JOYFUL RUSSIA.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">John A. Logan</span>, Jun. Second Edition. Crown 8vo, cloth, bevelled
+boards, gilt top. With numerous Illustrations. Price 10s. 6d.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>THE CYCLOP&AElig;DIA OF HOME ARTS.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Edited and compiled by <span class="smcap">Montague Marks</span>. Crown 4to, cloth. With hundreds
+of Illustrations, Models, and Practical Designs (including many large
+ones, full working size). Price 7s. 6d.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>THE PILGRIM&#8217;S PROGRESS.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>With many Full-page Illustrations, Borders, and Initials by <span class="smcap">George
+Woolliscroft Rhead</span>, R.E., <span class="smcap">Frederick A. Rhead</span>, and <span class="smcap">Louis Rhead</span>. Special
+Preface by the Rev. <span class="smcap">H. R. Haweis</span>, M.A. Demy 4to, cloth gilt. Price 7s.
+6d.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>MAD HUMANITY. Its Forms: Apparent and Obscure.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By Dr. <span class="smcap">Forbes Winslow</span>. Illustrated with Portraits, &amp;c. Large crown
+8vo, cloth. Price 7s. 6d.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>MEN WHO HAVE MADE THE EMPIRE: From William Duke of Normandy, to Cecil<br />
+Rhodes of Rhodesia.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">George Griffith</span>. Second Edition. With sixteen Full-page
+Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Stanley L. Wood</span>. Demy 8vo, cloth gilt, gilt edges.
+Price 7s. 6d.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>THE DOMESTIC BLUNDERS OF WOMEN.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By &#8220;A Mere Man.&#8221; Crown 8vo, cloth. Illustrated with Thumb Nail
+Sketches. Price 3s. 6d.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>PRISONS AND PRISONERS.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By Rev. <span class="smcap">J. W. Horsley</span>, M.A., Author of &nbsp;&#8220;Jottings from Jail.&#8221; Crown
+8vo, cloth. Price 3s. 6d.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>PIRATE GOLD.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">J. R. Hutchinson</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;Romance of a Regiment,&#8221; &#8220;Quest of the
+Golden Pearl,&#8221; &amp;c. Crown 8vo, cloth, with eight Illustrations by
+<span class="smcap">Ernest Smythe</span>. Price 5s.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;A real good old tale of adventure.... There is plenty of incident and
+life in the book.&#8221;&mdash;<i>Belfast Northern Whig.</i></p></div>
+
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+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By Mrs. <span class="smcap">George Corbett</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;The Adventures of an Ugly Girl,&#8221;
+&#8220;The Young Stowaway,&#8221; &amp;c. With Illustrations by <span class="smcap">A. Kemp Tebby</span>. Crown
+8vo, cloth gilt. Price 3s. 6d.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>THE GREAT HOUSE OF CASTLETON.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Winifred Graham</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;When the Birds begin to Sing,&#8221; &amp;c.
+Crown 8vo, cloth. Illustrated. Price 3s. 6d.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>PRINCE UNO: Uncle Frank&#8217;s Visit to Fairyland.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Illustrated by <span class="smcap">W. D. Stevens</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth gilt, gilt edges. Price
+3s. 6d.</p></div>
+
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+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">One of Her Majesty&#8217;s Servants.</span> With Portrait and numerous
+Illustrations. Crown 8vo, cloth. Price 2s. 6d.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It gives a charming sketch of Her Majesty as the mistress of her own
+household and as the head of her large family.&#8221;&mdash;<i>Pall Mall Gazette.</i></p></div>
+
+<p><b>JUMBLES: A Book for the Children.</b></p>
+
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+colours, and bound in paper boards with cloth back. Price 2s. 6d.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>IN A CHINESE GARDEN.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Annis Lennoys.</span> Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Lawson Wood.</span> Fcap. 8vo. Price 1s. 6d.</p></div>
+
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+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Compiled by <span class="smcap">C. E. Clark</span>, with Index. Fcap. 8vo, cloth. Price 1s. 6d.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>THE BOOK OF SURPRISES.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>In stiff wrapper, tastefully printed in colours. Price 1s.</p></div>
+
+<h2>&#8220;LATTER-DAY STORIES.&#8221;</h2>
+
+<h3><i>A series of daintily produced Novels. Price</i> <b>2s. 6d.</b> <i>each.</i></h3>
+
+<p>
+<b>MISS BETTY.</b> By <span class="smcap">Bram Stoker.</span><br />
+<b>VAN WAGENER&#8217;S WAYS.</b> By <span class="smcap">W. L. Alden.</span><br />
+<b>AN EGYPTIAN COQUETTE.</b> By <span class="smcap">Clive Holland.</span><br />
+<b>AN EPISODE IN ARCADY.</b> By <span class="smcap">Halliwell Sutcliffe.</span><br />
+<b>TRINCOLOX.</b> By <span class="smcap">Douglas Sladen.</span><br />
+<b>A RUSSIAN VAGABOND.</b> By <span class="smcap">Fred Whishaw.</span><br />
+<b>TAMMER&#8217;S DUEL.</b> By <span class="smcap">E.</span> and <span class="smcap">H. Heron.</span><br />
+<b>A ROMANCE OF A GROUSE MOOR.</b> By <span class="smcap">M. E. Stevenson.</span><br />
+<b>THE SHADOW OF LIFE.</b> By <span class="smcap">Marten Strong.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<h3>MESSRS. C. ARTHUR PEARSON&#8217;S</h3>
+
+<h2>New Six Shilling Novels.</h2>
+
+<p><b>FORTUNE&#8217;S MY FOE.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">J. Bloundelle Burton</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;The Hispaniola Plate,&#8221; &#8220;In the Day
+of Adversity,&#8221; &amp;c.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>DESPAIR&#8217;S LAST JOURNEY.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">David Christie Murray</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;Joseph&#8217;s Coat,&#8221; &amp;c.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>ATHELSTANE FORD.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Allen Upward</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;A Crown of Straw,&#8221; &#8220;A Bride&#8217;s Madness,&#8221;
+&amp;c.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>THE VIBART AFFAIR.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">G. Manville Fenn</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;The New Mistress,&#8221; &#8220;The Tiger Lily,&#8221;
+&amp;c.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>THE NEWSPAPER GIRL.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By Mrs. <span class="smcap">C. N. Williamson</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;Fortune&#8217;s Sport,&#8221; &#8220;A Woman in
+Grey,&#8221; &amp;c.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>THE HERMITS OF GRAY&#8217;S INN.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">G. B. Burgin</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;Fortune&#8217;s Footballs,&#8221; &#8220;Settled Out of
+Court,&#8221; &amp;c. Illustrated by <span class="smcap">A. Kemp Tebby</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>DAVID HARUM: A Story of American Life.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Edward Noyes Westcott</span>. With Preface by <span class="smcap">Forbes Heermans</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>ROSALBA.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Olive Pratt Rayner</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;The Typewriter Girl.&#8221;</p></div>
+
+<p><b>THE GOLDEN SCEPTRE.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">G. H. Thornhill.</span></p></div>
+
+<p><b>THE KNIGHT OF &#8220;KING&#8217;S GUARD.&#8221;</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Ewan Martin.</span></p></div>
+
+<p><b>A MILLIONAIRE&#8217;S DAUGHTER.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Percy White</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;Mr. Bailey Martin,&#8221; &#8220;The Passionate
+Pilgrim,&#8221; &amp;c.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>FRANCOIS, THE VALET.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">G. W. Appleton</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;The Co-Respondent,&#8221; &amp;c., &amp;c.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>NEW VOLUME OF STORIES.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Bret Harte</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;Stories in Light and Shadow.&#8221;</p></div>
+
+<p><b>A STRANGE EXECUTOR.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Bennett Coll</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;My Churchwardens,&#8221; &amp;c.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>CALUMNIES.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">E. M. Davy</span>, Author of &nbsp;
+&#8220;A Prince of Como,&#8221; &#8220;Jack Dudley&#8217;s Wife,&#8221; &amp;c.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>AT A WINTER&#8217;S FIRE.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Bernard Capes</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;The Lake of Wine,&#8221; &amp;c.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>TRANSGRESSION.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">S. S. Thorburn</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;Asiatic Neighbours,&#8221; &#8220;His Majesty&#8217;s
+Greatest Servant,&#8221; &amp;c.</p></div>
+
+<h3>MESSRS. C. ARTHUR PEARSON&#8217;S</h3>
+
+<h2>List of Popular Six Shilling Novels.</h2>
+
+<p><b>THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN KETTLE.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">C. J. Cutcliffe Hyne</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;The Paradise Coal Boat,&#8221; &amp;c.
+Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Stanley L. Wood.</span></p></div>
+
+<p><b>THE PHANTOM ARMY.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Max Pemberton</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;Queen of the Jesters,&#8221; &amp;c.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>SETTLED OUT OF COURT.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">G. B. Burgin</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;Fortune&#8217;s Footballs,&#8221; &amp;c.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>BROTHERS OF THE PEOPLE.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Fred Whishaw</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;A Russian Vagabond,&#8221; &amp;c.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>THE KNIGHT OF THE GOLDEN CHAIN.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">R. D. Chetwode</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;John of Strathbourne.&#8221;</p></div>
+
+<p><b>THE KEY OF THE HOLY HOUSE.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Albert Lee</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;The Black Disc,&#8221; &amp;c.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>THE SEED OF THE POPPY.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Clive Holland</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;An Egyptian Coquette,&#8221; &amp;c.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>THE ARCHDEACON.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By Mrs. <span class="smcap">L. B. Walford</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;Mr. Smith,&#8221; &amp;c.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>STORIES IN LIGHT AND SHADOW.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Bret Harte</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;Tales of the Pacific Slope,&#8221; &amp;c.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>THE MEMBER&#8217;S WIFE.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By the Hon. Mrs. <span class="smcap">Chetwynd</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;A Brilliant Woman,&#8221; &#8220;A Dutch
+Cousin,&#8221; &amp;c.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>THE LOST PROVINCES (Sequel to &#8220;The American Emperor&#8221;).</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Louis Tracy</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;The Final War,&#8221; &amp;c. Illustrated by H.
+Piffard.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>FORTUNE&#8217;S SPORT.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By Mrs. <span class="smcap">C. N. Williamson</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;The Barn Stormers,&#8221; &amp;c.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>THE OPTIMIST.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Herbert Morrah</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;The Faithful City,&#8221; &amp;c.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>MORD EM&#8217;LY.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">W. Pett Ridge</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;Three Women and Mr. Frank Cardwell.&#8221;</p></div>
+
+<p><b>TURKISH BONDS. Stories of the Armenian Atrocities.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">May Kendall.</span></p></div>
+
+<p><b>THE INCIDENTAL BISHOP.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">By Grant Allen,</span> Author of &nbsp;&#8220;What&#8217;s Bred in the Bone,&#8221; &amp;c.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>THE REV. ANNABEL LEE.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">By Robert Buchanan</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;God and the Man,&#8221; &amp;c.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>HAGAR OF HOMERTON.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By Mrs. <span class="smcap">Henry E. Dudeney,</span> Author of &nbsp;&#8220;A Man with a Maid.&#8221;</p></div>
+
+<p><b>THE VIRGIN OF THE SUN. A Tale of the Conquest of Peru.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">George Griffith,</span> Author of &nbsp;&#8220;Valdar, the Oft-Born,&#8221; &#8220;Men Who Have
+Made the Empire,&#8221; &amp;c. With Frontispiece by <span class="smcap">Stanley L. Wood.</span></p></div>
+
+<p><b>THE HOPE OF THE FAMILY.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Alphonse Daudet.</span> Translated by <span class="smcap">Levin Carnac.</span></p></div>
+
+<p><b>LADY JEZEBEL.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Fergus Hume,</span> Author of &nbsp;&#8220;The Mystery of a Hansom Cab.&#8221;</p></div>
+
+<p><b>THE KEEPERS OF THE PEOPLE.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Edgar Jepson,</span> Author of &nbsp;&#8220;Sybil Falcon,&#8221; &#8220;The Passion for Romance.&#8221;</p></div>
+
+<p><b>THE SHROUDED FACE.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Owen Rhoscomyl</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;Battlement and Tower,&#8221; &#8220;The Jewel of
+Ynys Galon.&#8221;</p></div>
+
+<p><b>A MAORI MAID.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">H. B. Vogel.</span></p></div>
+
+<p><b>THE MASTER-KEY.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Florence Warden,</span> Author of &nbsp;&#8220;The House on the Marsh.&#8221;</p></div>
+
+<p><b>AN AMERICAN EMPEROR.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Louis Tracy,</span> Author of &nbsp;&#8220;The Final War.&#8221; Sixteen Full-page
+Illustrations.</p></div>
+
+<p><b>THE FINAL WAR. A Story of the Great Betrayal.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Louis Tracy.</span> Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Ernest E. Sherie.</span></p></div>
+
+<p><b>THE RAID OF THE &#8220;DETRIMENTAL.&#8221;</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Being the True History of the Great Disappearance of 1862. Related by
+Several of those Implicated and Others, and now first set forth by the
+<span class="smcap">Earl of Desart.</span></p></div>
+
+<p><b>THE ZONE OF FIRE.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Headon Hill,</span> Author of &nbsp;&#8220;Guilty Gold.&#8221;</p></div>
+
+<p><b>GUILTY GOLD. A Romance of Financial Fraud and City Crime.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">Headon Hill,</span> Author of &nbsp;&#8220;The Zone of Fire.&#8221; Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Raymond
+Potter.</span></p></div>
+
+<p><b>VALDAR, THE OFT-BORN. A Saga of Seven Ages.</b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">George Griffith,</span> Author of &nbsp;&#8220;The Angel of the Revolution,&#8221; &amp;c.
+Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Harold Piffard.</span></p></div>
+
+<h2>Popular 3s. 6d. Fiction.</h2>
+
+<p><b>THE INVISIBLE MAN.</b> By <span class="smcap">H. G. Wells</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;The Time Machine,&#8221; &amp;c.
+Second Edition.</p>
+
+<p><b>THE SKIPPER&#8217;S WOOING and the Brown Man&#8217;s Servant.</b> By <span class="smcap">W. W. Jacobs</span>,
+Author of &nbsp;&#8220;Many Cargoes.&#8221; Second Edition.</p>
+
+<p><b>THE TYPEWRITER GIRL.</b> By <span class="smcap">Olive Pratt Rayner.</span></p>
+
+<p><b>THE DUKE AND THE DAMSEL.</b> By <span class="smcap">Richard Marsh</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;The Beetle,&#8221; &amp;c.</p>
+
+<p><b>THREE WOMEN AND MR. FRANK CARDWELL.</b> By <span class="smcap">W. Pett Ridge</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;A
+Clever Wife.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><b>JOHN OF STRATHBOURNE. A Romance of the Days of Francis I.</b> By <span class="smcap">R. D.
+Chetwode</span>. With eight Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Ernest Smythe</span>.</p>
+
+<p><b>FORTUNE&#8217;S FOOTBALLS.</b> By <span class="smcap">G. B. Burgin</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;&#8216;Old Man&#8217;s&#8217;
+Marriage,&#8221; &amp;c.</p>
+
+<p><b>HER ROYAL HIGHNESS&#8217;S LOVE AFFAIR.</b> By <span class="smcap">J. Maclaren Cobban</span>, Author of
+&#8220;The Cure of Souls,&#8221; &amp;c.</p>
+
+<p><b>THE IRON CROSS.</b> By <span class="smcap">R. H. Sherard</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;Rogues,&#8221; &amp;c.</p>
+
+<p><b>QUEEN OF THE JESTERS.</b> By <span class="smcap">Max Pemberton</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;Christine of the
+Hills,&#8221; &amp;c., &amp;c. With eight Full-page Illustrations.</p>
+
+<p><b>LUCKY BARGEE.</b> By <span class="smcap">Harry Lander</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;Weighed in the Balance,&#8221; &amp;c.</p>
+
+<p><b>THE MARQUIS OF VALROSE.</b> From the French of <span class="smcap">Charles Foley</span>. Translated
+by <span class="smcap">Alys Hallard</span>.</p>
+
+<p><b>WHEN THE BIRDS BEGIN TO SING.</b> By <span class="smcap">Winifred Graham</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;Meresia.&#8221;
+With sixteen Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Harold Piffard</span>. Square crown 8vo.</p>
+
+<p><b>THE MYSTERY OF THE &#8220;MEDEA.&#8221;</b> By <span class="smcap">Alexander Vaughan</span>.</p>
+
+<p><b>KNAVES OF DIAMONDS, being Tales of the Mine and Veld.</b> By <span class="smcap">George
+Griffith</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;Virgin of the Sun,&#8221; &#8220;Valdar,&#8221; &amp;c. Illustrated by
+<span class="smcap">E. F. Sherie</span>.</p>
+
+<p><b>TANDRA.</b> By <span class="smcap">Andrew Quantock</span>.</p>
+
+<p><b>LOST: A MILLIONAIRE.</b> By <span class="smcap">Austin Fryers</span>.</p>
+
+<p><b>SPIES OF THE WIGHT.</b> By <span class="smcap">Headon Hill</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;The Zone of Fire,&#8221; &amp;c.</p>
+
+<p><b>HANDS IN THE DARKNESS.</b> By <span class="smcap">Arnold Golsworthy</span>.</p>
+
+<p><b>JOCK&#8217;S WARD.</b> By <span class="smcap">Mrs. Herbert Martin</span>, Author of &nbsp;&#8220;Gentleman George,&#8221; &#8220;A
+Low Born Lass,&#8221; &amp;c.</p>
+
+<h3>C. ARTHUR PEARSON LIMITED, Henrietta Street, W.C.</h3></div>
+
+<hr class="large" />
+<h2><a name="TRANSCRIBER8217S_NOTE" id="TRANSCRIBER8217S_NOTE"></a>TRANSCRIBER&#8217;S NOTE:</h2>
+
+<p>Minor changes have been made to correct typesetters&#8217; errors;
+otherwise, every effort has been made to remain true to the author&#8217;s
+words and intent.</p>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Athelstane Ford, by Allen Upward
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ATHELSTANE FORD ***
+
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+</body>
+</html>
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@@ -0,0 +1,9153 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Athelstane Ford, by Allen Upward
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Athelstane Ford
+
+Author: Allen Upward
+
+Release Date: September 21, 2008 [EBook #26677]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ATHELSTANE FORD ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by D Alexander and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was
+produced from images generously made available by The
+Internet Archive)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Athelstane Ford
+
+ BY
+
+ ALLEN UPWARD
+
+ AUTHOR OF "THE PRINCE OF BALKISTAN," "A CROWN OF STRAW,"
+ "SECRETS OF THE COURTS OF EUROPE," ETC
+
+ London
+ C. ARTHUR PEARSON LIMITED
+ HENRIETTA STREET W.C.
+ 1899
+
+
+
+
+ CONTENTS
+
+
+ CHAP.                                                      PAGE
+
+     I.  COUSIN RUPERT GAINS A RECRUIT                        1
+    II.  THE TAVERN OF THE "THREE-DECKER"                    14
+   III.  THE BEGINNING OF THE RIVALRY                        27
+    IV.  "A LA MORT"                                         41
+     V.  ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP                            55
+    VI.  IN THE POWER OF THE ENEMY                           69
+   VII.  THE SIEGE OF GHERIAH                                83
+  VIII.  IN THE COMPANY'S SERVICE                            96
+    IX.  THE SPY                                            112
+     X.  TAKEN CAPTIVE                                      128
+    XI.  THE BLACK HOLE                                     152
+   XII.  RUPERT IN A NEW LIGHT                              163
+  XIII.  A NIGHT ADVENTURE                                  180
+   XIV.  IN A STRANGE LAND                                  197
+    XV.  THE COMING OF SABAT JUNG                           212
+   XVI.  A BATTLE IN THE DARK                               227
+  XVII.  A MISSION OF DANGER                                244
+ XVIII.  MEER JAFFIER'S OATH                                260
+   XIX.  PLASSY                                             276
+    XX.  RETRIBUTION                                        288
+   XXI.  COLONEL OLIVE'S MESSAGE                            302
+  XXII.  AFTER MANY DAYS                                    312
+
+
+
+
+ATHELSTANE FORD
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+_COUSIN RUPERT GAINS A RECRUIT_
+
+
+It has not happened to many men, as I think, to have fallen into the
+hands of as cruel and bloodthirsty a monster as ever defiled God's
+earth, and to have escaped to tell the tale. Yet it is of this that I
+have come to write; and of all the hardships and perils which I went
+through from the time I fled from my father's house to seek for
+treasure in the East Indies; and of the battles in which I fought; and
+of the madness of love and jealousy which I knew; and of how the man I
+trusted became my enemy, and pursued me with his vengeance; and of the
+treasure which I found in the palace of the Hindoo king; and of how I
+returned at last to my own home.
+
+Nor do I greatly expect that the hearing of these things will be
+effectual to hinder those who come after me from adventuring in their
+turn, for young blood will have its way, like sap in the veins of a
+growing tree. But there are times when I think that if I could have
+looked forward and seen what was to come, and all the dire straits
+through which I was to pass--both among my own countrymen and in those
+distant lands--I might have given a different welcome to my cousin
+Rupert when he came riding into Brandon, on the evening of that day
+which was to be the last of my boyhood.
+
+I had come out of the house before supper was laid, as I often used,
+and had made my way along the edge of the dyke which runs through our
+meadows into the broad, which we call Breydon Water; and there by the
+margin of the broad I stood, while the sun was setting behind me, and
+watched the light flush and fade over the grey spire and high red
+roofs of Yarmouth town. Many a night I had come there to the same spot
+and gazed with wistful eyes at that prospect; for though I was, in a
+manner, familiar with the old town, and had gone in there on market
+days many a time since I was a boy, yet, at this hour, and seen across
+the water in the bright blaze of the sunset, it seemed to be strangely
+removed and glorified--like that city which Christian had a prospect
+of from the Delectable Mountains--and I could never think of it as
+other than an enchanted region, the gate of the great world, where
+the hours throbbed with action, and life was more full and splendid
+than in our lonely grange among the broads; and my heart was fretted
+within me, and day by day the longing grew upon me to break out of the
+narrow limits in which my life was bound, and take my way thither into
+the glamour and the mystery of the world.
+
+Then all at once, as I stood there and gazed, I was aware of the sound
+of a horse's hoofs coming over the wet grass, and turned and saw my
+cousin riding towards me on his black mare and waving his whip to me
+as he came.
+
+I had a great affection for my cousin in those days, mingled with a
+sort of dreadful admiration for the character he bore. He was my elder
+by nearly ten years, and had been, in my eyes, a man ever since I was
+a child, so that I looked up to him with reverence, and thought
+nothing so delightful as to have him come down, bringing the air and
+rumour of the outside world into our quiet homestead. Indeed, he
+seemed to be of a superior order to us, and might almost be reckoned
+as one of the gentry, for his father came of the Gurneys of Lynn, and
+had set up a great brewery of ale there, by which he enriched himself
+past all counting. How such a man had come to marry my aunt I never
+knew, for my father kept silence on the subject, and Rupert himself
+could tell me nothing of his mother, who had died when he was but an
+infant. Nor was there much intercourse between our families, except
+that twice a year, at Lady-day and Christmas, Mr. Gurney would send
+us a barrel of his best brewing; and once a year, on the 1st of
+January--for he would give no countenance to the feasts of the
+Church--my father despatched a pair of fine turkeys to Lynn.
+
+Cousin Rupert always showed a friendship for us, and I believe would
+have given us his company more often but for my father's disapproval
+of his manner of life; for he was already known as a wild companion,
+and one who set little store by religion and respectability. There was
+even a scandalous report that he had been fined by the Aldermen of
+Yarmouth under the new statute made against profane swearing. They had
+fixed his fine, so it was said, at two shillings, being the penalty
+for common persons above the degree of a day labourer; but my cousin
+Rupert, taking out his purse with a great air, demanded to have his
+oath assessed like a gentleman's, and paid down a silver crown upon
+the table.
+
+Since then he had been away beyond seas, nor had I set eyes on him for
+the best part of three years. It was thought that he had been taking
+some part in the wars which then raged all over Europe; and difficult
+enough it was to understand what they were all about, and whom we were
+fighting; for at one time we were on the side of the great Empress
+Maria Theresa, and against the young King of Prussia, who was dubbed
+an infidel; and then later on we were fighting against the Empress--it
+is true she was a Papist--and King Frederic was in all men's mouths
+as the Protestant hero: I remember myself seeing his portrait painted
+up on the sign-board of the inn at Blundell. However, we were always
+against the French, whatever happened.
+
+But, as it turned out, all this had no concern with my cousin. I
+cannot tell how glad I was to see him back again, and I think he was
+not ill-pleased at seeing me.
+
+"Hallo, is that young Athelstane!" he called out as soon as he was
+near enough. "Come on with me, cousin, and help me to put up my horse.
+I have ridden out from Yarmouth, and I mean to sleep here to-night."
+
+He sounded his words in the mincing, London fashion, which was then
+beginning to spread among the better class in Norfolk; but I cannot
+imitate his speech, and so write it down as if it were plain English.
+
+Quick as my feet could carry me I ran forward in front of the horse,
+and was there with the gate of the yard open before my cousin came up.
+
+My father turned out of doors at the clatter, and looked not over
+pleased when he caught sight of Rupert's dark face. However, he was a
+man who would never shut the door against his own blood, and he gave
+him some sort of a friendly greeting.
+
+"Well, Nephew Rupert, how long have you been back in England?" he
+asked him, as soon as the horse had been taken in and given its feed.
+
+"It is scarce a month since I landed," my cousin answered; "but being
+in Yarmouth, and you so near, I could not forbear riding over to spend
+a night with you."
+
+By this time we were come into the house, and my mother was in the
+hall to welcome him, which she did with great kindness; for though he
+was not of her kin, I believe she loved him better than my father did.
+But that is saying little, for who was there about her that she did
+not love? Even those who held aloof from my father as a stubborn
+Independent had a kindness for my mother, who seemed to understand
+nought of differences in religion, except between Christian and
+heathen.
+
+My father was of a different stamp. It was his boast that he was
+related to the family of the famous John Bradshaw, the judge who
+pronounced sentence on King Charles I, and whose house stands on
+Yarmouth quay to this day. My father has many a time pointed it out to
+me, and told me of the secret conclave held there of the Independent
+leaders, when it was resolved to bring the unfortunate king to the
+block. I have often thought that it was well for us that my father was
+a freeholder, owning the fee simple of Brandon Farm; for the gentry
+around were now all become staunch Churchmen, though loyal to King
+George II, and showing no favour to the young Pretender in his late
+desperate rebellion. Of that, however, I remember little, being scarce
+twelve years old when it occurred.
+
+With the Rector of Brandon parish we held scant intercourse, except at
+tithing time, when my father always received him with grim civility
+and bade him take what the law gave him, since title from the Gospel
+he had none. Our only friend in the neighbourhood was one Abner
+Thurstan, a farmer who lived over the border in Blundell parish; but
+as he was an Anabaptist--or Baptist as they were then beginning to
+call themselves--and my father had a great contempt and dislike for
+the visionary ideas of that sect, even he came but seldom to our
+house. His daughter Patience was a great favourite with my mother; and
+for that matter I did not dislike the child, and would oftentimes
+pluck her an apple from our trees or cut a whistle for her out of a
+twig of elder wood.
+
+The man whom my father most held in esteem was Mr. Peter Walpole, a
+wool factor of Norwich, and a very religious man. He had a great gift
+in the expounding of Scripture and in prayer, and it was his custom
+once in every month to ride over to our house from Norwich of a
+Saturday and hold a service on the next day for such as chose to come.
+This was before the Methodists had arisen in our parts, and there was
+no other means of hearing the Gospel in country places, the Church
+clergy being for the most part men of the world.
+
+Lest I seem to be wandering from my story, let me say here that my
+father had been in treaty with this Mr. Peter Walpole concerning my
+apprenticeship to him in Norwich. After moping a long time at the
+dullness of my life in Brandon I had plucked up courage to tell my
+father that I would fain be abroad. He heard me less unkindly than I
+had feared, and contrived this plan for settling me away from home for
+a few years, after which, he was pleased to say, I might have sense
+enough to wish to come back. Good Mr. Walpole came into the scheme
+very readily, and I believe it was only a matter of fifty pounds
+between them before the thing could be carried out; but each held
+firmly to his own view of the bargain, and though there was the same
+friendship between them as ever, and Mr. Walpole prayed over the
+business in our house, they could by no means come to terms.
+
+Things stood at this pass, and I was sorely impatient with it all,
+when, as I have said, my cousin Rupert arrived, and, for good or evil,
+gave my life a far different turn.
+
+As soon as my father had seen to it that the cloth was laid for four,
+and sent down the maid with orders to fill a jug from the barrel on
+the right-hand side of the cellar door, he turned to Rupert.
+
+"You shall taste your father's brewing," he said. "I trust all is well
+with him?"
+
+"I have no doubt it is, and I am much obliged to you, sir," answered
+he carelessly. "To tell you the truth, I have not yet found my way to
+Lynn."
+
+"What, nephew! Have you come here before paying your respects to your
+own father?"
+
+"I am afraid it is even so; and I will not pay you so poor a
+compliment as to remark that Brandon Grange lies forty miles nearer to
+Yarmouth than King's Lynn."
+
+"Fie, young man, I am ashamed to hear you! I doubt whether I ought to
+have let you cross my threshold if I had known of this. Jessica," he
+added, turning to my mother, "here is a youth who comes to pay you a
+visit before he has so much as set eyes on Lynn brewery, after three
+years!"
+
+And thrice during the evening he returned to the same subject, each
+time rating master Rupert soundly for his filial neglect, and pointing
+out the many advantages which his father's rich house at Lynn had over
+what it pleased him to call the homely grange of Brandon.
+
+He questioned Rupert while we supped concerning his adventures, and
+what quarter of the world he had been in. But as to this my cousin
+maintained a singular reserve, merely stating that he had spent most
+of the time on a voyage round the Cape of Good Hope to the factories
+of the great East India Company, of Leadenhall Street in the City of
+London.
+
+All this time I listened, saying nothing, for it was not my father's
+custom to permit me to speak in his presence, unless I was first
+questioned. I cared for this the less because I knew that as soon as
+we were upstairs together my cousin would unburden himself to me
+freely. And already I scented some mystery under his guarded speech,
+which made me impatient for the time when we should be alone. I
+listened with an ill grace to the chapter which my father read to the
+household after supper, and it seemed to me that he had never prayed
+at such length and to so little purpose. I thought it especially
+needless that he should petition, for the space of full five minutes,
+for the fruitfulness of our flocks, for by this time the ewes had all
+dropped their lambs, and not one of them was a weakling.
+
+Nevertheless it was over at last, and I quickly lighted the candle and
+conducted my cousin upstairs. He was always my bedfellow on the
+occasions of his visits to Brandon, and never spared to keep me awake
+as long as it pleased him to talk to me.
+
+As soon as we were snugly settled in bed, Rupert, as I had expected,
+laid aside his reserve.
+
+"Now, Cousin Athelstane, what do you suppose it is that has brought me
+here?"
+
+I could only shake my head in sign of pure ignorance.
+
+"I will tell you. I have come here to offer you a berth on board my
+ship, the _Fair Maid_, now lying in Yarmouth river."
+
+My breath was fairly taken away by this announcement. All the dreams I
+had cherished for so long seemed suddenly to have put on substance,
+and what was yesterday a thousand miles away had come at one word
+within my reach. Yet I could only stammer out--
+
+"The _Fair Maid_? Is that the ship in which you went to the East
+Indies? And is she bound thither again?"
+
+Rupert nodded his head.
+
+"She sails as soon as ever she can be fitted out, and we are shipping
+the bravest fellows in all Norfolk for our crew. A word in your ear,
+cousin: we sail with letters of marque against the Frenchmen, and it
+will go hard if you or I come back with less than a thousand pounds to
+our share."
+
+"What! Is the _Fair Maid_ a privateer?"
+
+I spoke in some dismay, for in those days privateers bore a bad name.
+They were commissioned only to prey upon the commerce of such
+countries as we were at war with, but it was currently believed that
+they did not always look too closely at the flag of a vessel which
+fell in their way, and that if peace was proclaimed while they were
+abroad on a cruise they took care not to hear of it till such time as
+suited their convenience. Among good men, therefore, they were
+esteemed little better than pirates, and I could understand why my
+cousin had been so chary in speaking about his voyage to my father.
+
+"You needn't look so scared, youngster," he said, noting my behaviour.
+"Our commission was signed by his Majesty King George himself; and
+even the Frenchmen we took had nothing to complain of beyond the loss
+of their property, and occasionally their lives when we found that
+necessary to our own safety."
+
+I felt my flesh creep, and yet the fascination of it was stronger than
+the dread.
+
+"You mean you killed them?" I asked, gazing into his face as if I had
+never seen it before.
+
+"We had to, sometimes, lest they should tell tales against us. Off
+Mauritius we were chased more than once by a sloop of war, and it
+would have gone hard with us if we had been captured. The French there
+have got a devil of a governor, La Bourdonnais, and he has vessels
+perpetually prowling up and down in those seas, and as far as
+Pondicherry and Chandernagore. But what do you say, cousin? Are you
+man enough to join us? You have the right stuff in you, I warrant--all
+the Fords have. Our great-grandfather fought at Naseby, and though he
+was a scurvy Roundhead, I'll swear he gave a good account of himself."
+
+I hesitated, my whole heart on fire to accept, and yet held back by a
+subtle distrust for which I could in no way account.
+
+"Come, boy, you have only to slip away to-morrow night, after I have
+gone, and join me privately in Yarmouth, at the sign of the
+'Three-decker.' I will tell my worthy uncle in the morning that I am
+on my way to East Dereham and Lynn, so it will be long enough before
+they suspect where you are gone. And by the time the hue and cry
+reaches Yarmouth you shall be safely stowed in the hold of the _Fair
+Maid_, or maybe in a snug attic of the tavern, where only a bird could
+find you out."
+
+I made little more ado, but gave my consent, whereupon my cousin,
+reaching down to the pocket of his breeches which he had cast on the
+foot of the bed, drew out a golden guinea, which he pressed into my
+hand.
+
+"Here is handsel for your engagement," he said. And that settled, he
+turned over and betook himself to sleep, leaving me to get out of bed
+and extinguish the light.
+
+But I could not sleep so easily, and lay there tossing and turning far
+into the night, while I speculated on the new life that lay before me
+and all the great deeds I would do.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+_THE TAVERN OF THE "THREE-DECKER"_
+
+
+Early in the morning after breakfast Cousin Rupert left us, giving
+out, as he had promised, that he was on the way to see his father at
+Lynn. And as he told me afterwards, he kept his horse on that road
+till he had passed through the village, when he turned, and skirting
+the river as far as Raynham ferry, crossed it there, and so rode into
+Yarmouth.
+
+All that day I went about with a strange lightness in my breast,
+so that I could scarce keep from laughing out. And when my father
+admonished me, pretty roughly, for not having mended the fence of the
+fowl walk to his liking, I minded it no more than if it had been old
+Sugden the rat-catcher. Once or twice during the dinner I caught my
+mother looking at me with a certain apprehension, as if she observed
+somewhat unusual in my behaviour. I fancy she thought I might be
+sickening for the ague, which was very rife in those parts. My mother
+was a great physician, and always kept ready a store of the Jesuits'
+bark--the only good thing, my father was accustomed to say, that had
+ever come out of Rome.
+
+In the afternoon I walked into Blundell to bid a sort of farewell to
+little Patience Thurstan. I found her set on a stool in the porch,
+threading beads, for she was but a child; and to see her jump up when
+I drew nigh, and run to meet me, was a pleasant sight to carry away in
+my memory through the stormy days which were to follow.
+
+Knowing her to be faithful, from her behaviour in many a childish
+confidence we had had together, I made no scruple to tell her I was
+leaving Brandon; though I forbore to say whither I was bound, lest
+they should torment the girl with questions afterwards. And I knew
+that Patience would not tell a lie, and deny the knowledge if she
+possessed it. But I half repented what I had done when the poor little
+thing fell a-crying, and besought me not to go away. I had nothing
+else to bestow upon her, so I was forced to give her my cousin
+Rupert's guinea for a keepsake, telling her to buy a doll or a ribbon
+with it next time she went into Norwich fair.
+
+With that I came away, beginning for the first time to feel how
+serious was the step I contemplated. But I had given my word, and I
+could not now draw back even if I had felt inclined.
+
+The chapter my father read to us that night, I remember well, was out
+of the book of Ezekiel, in which the prophet dealt with the city of
+Tyrus, and denounced the judgments of the Lord on her pride and
+luxury, on her ships of fir and cedar with sails of purple embroidery,
+on her mariners and men of war, on her merchandise of silver and
+brass, of horses and mules, of ebony and precious stones, and of honey
+and oil and wine and spices and white wool. And the words sounded in
+my ear like a denunciation of the places I had chosen to go among; and
+I was glad when it was all over; and I went upstairs to my bedroom,
+hearing my father shoot the great bolts of the house door for the last
+time.
+
+I made shift to take off my coat and shoes, and got into the bed, lest
+my mother should come in to bid me good-night, as she sometimes did.
+And well it was that I had thought of this, for in her anxiety about
+me she followed me up soon after with a dose of the Jesuits' bark,
+which she compelled me to swallow, though sorely against my will. Then
+she sat down by the bedside for the space of, I daresay, fifteen
+minutes, or longer as it seemed to me then, and fell to stroking my
+hair, which I wore without a queue, my father setting his face against
+that French fashion.
+
+I fidgetted so much that at length my mother perceived that I would be
+alone. I heard her draw a sigh as she rose to go away, and then,
+tucking the bedclothes round me with great care, she gave me a kiss
+and left me.
+
+I waited as long as I could contain my impatience, for my parents to
+fall asleep. Then I arose softly, without rekindling the light, which
+my mother had blown out, completed my dress, and filled a small
+knapsack with such few things as I had immediate need for. I
+remembered also to put in my pocket a bright guinea which good Mr.
+Walpole had presented me with in my twelfth year as a reward for
+having repeated the 119th Psalm, and which my father had strictly
+forbidden me to spend.
+
+Thus provided, I opened the door of my bedroom and crept out, carrying
+my shoes in my hand. I crossed the landing, treading like a thief, to
+the door of the room where my parents slept, and laid my lips against
+the panel that was nearest to my mother's side. And with that I found
+my eyes were smarting, and a lump rose in my throat, so that I turned
+away hastily, and made the best of my way down the stairs, and by
+unbarring the kitchen door, out into the open air. Then I turned my
+back on the house where I was born, and set out to walk through the
+night to Yarmouth.
+
+Lest my father should surmise where I was, I had got ready a feigned
+letter in which I pretended--I am ashamed to say so--that seeing no
+likelihood of Mr. Walpole's receiving me without that extra fifty
+pounds which stuck so in my father's gizzard, I had taken the
+resolution of going up to London to seek my fortune; and I promised to
+send him news as soon as I should arrive there; which promise, as it
+turned out, I had no opportunity of keeping or breaking, for I did not
+set foot in that great city until years had passed, and I had gone
+through the wonderful adventures which were to make a man of me, and
+had come thither as the messenger of the second greatest Englishman,
+as I think, who has lived in my time; aye, and had speech of him who
+was the greatest of all. But of this hereafter.
+
+The clammy air of the marshes clung about me and chilled my spirits,
+as I proceeded through the desolate region which lay between me and
+the town. The road hereabouts runs straight along for miles, without
+hedge or fence, save for a couple of upright posts, with three or four
+crossbars, rising up here and there at the corners of the fields where
+the dykes run into one another. A hundred years before all this part
+of Norfolk had been little better than a fen, which the Brandon Water
+overflowed at spring tides, till engineers had come over to us from
+Holland, who taught us to make these dykes and embankments after the
+fashion of their country. And, indeed, the people of Bury have a
+tradition that the ocean itself once came up over these parts, and
+that their hamlet, however since decayed, was then a flourishing town
+and seaport; but I could never find that any one outside of Bury
+believed in this legend.
+
+Be that as it may, I had but a doleful walk of it; moreover, I was
+fain to button up my coat and pull my collar close about my neck, by
+reason of the cutting wind which blew across from the German seas. Nor
+did I meet any adventure on the way, but in avoiding the turnpike at
+Broxall I was forced to leap a dyke in the dark, and missing the
+further bank by about a foot, I fell into the water knee-deep. I got a
+sound drenching, but no other damage except for the mud bespattering
+my clothes, which must have presented a sorry spectacle had there been
+any there to observe me.
+
+The noise of my splash brought out the pike-man, uttering many oaths,
+to see who it was that had been defrauding his gate. But I got nimbly
+on to my legs and ran past, and though he made a show of chasing me
+for a short space, he soon thought better of it, and went back to his
+bed.
+
+It must have been, I suppose, half-way between midnight and dawn when
+I arrived in Yarmouth. And well pleased I was when I had safely
+crossed the bridge across the Bure river and felt the pavement of the
+town underneath my feet. For though there was not another soul abroad
+in the streets at that hour, that I could perceive, yet the knowledge
+that the houses on either hand were full of sleeping folks seemed to
+be some company after the desolateness I had just come through.
+
+I had never before been in a great town at night, and I was much
+amazed by the splendour of the illumination from the lamps which hung
+across the high streets, and made almost as much brightness as if
+there had been a moon. Being somewhat afraid of meeting with the
+watch, for I did not then know the habits of these gentry as well as I
+did afterwards, I soon left the region of the lights, and turned down
+into the lanes, which the men of Yarmouth call rows, and of which they
+are not a little proud, and to my mind with some warrant, for, though
+strait, these passages are very regularly built, and beautifully paved
+with cobblestones, and are besides so numerous that I have never seen
+the like in any city I have visited, neither in Europe nor in the
+Indies.
+
+In the end I got out from among the houses, and arrived upon the
+sea-beach, where I discovered a sheltered pit among the sand hillocks,
+which they call denes, and there I lay down and slept off my
+weariness.
+
+When I awoke the sun was so far up that I judged it to be nearly nine
+o'clock. Taking shame that I had proved such a sluggard, I rose up
+quickly, and brushed away the sand, which I was rejoiced to perceive
+had finely cleansed away the mud from the dyke at Broxall. This done I
+made the best of my way into the town to keep my rendezvous with
+Cousin Rupert, for I was sharply beset by hunger.
+
+I had to ask my way more than once before I could find out the tavern,
+which lay down on the quay, over against the river Yare. By this I
+soon saw that the "Three-decker" had a reputation not over and above
+savoury among the townsfolk, for the more respectable of those I
+addressed myself to gave me harsh looks before answering my question.
+And no doubt the soberness of my dress and carriage must have made it
+seem strange that I should be seeking the whereabouts of such a haunt.
+
+I will not deny that this observation a little daunted me when I found
+myself at the door of the house. The tavern was by way of being an
+ancient one, for the oak props were blackened with age and the upper
+storeys jutted out one above the other, in the way our forefathers
+were used to build in walled towns, where every foot of space was of
+account. Nor did the place look to be ill-kept, though situated in a
+mean part of the town beside the fish market. However, it was no time
+for me to make reflections, having come so far, wherefore I quickly
+drew the latch and stepped inside.
+
+I had no need of a guide to conduct me to the parlour, for I caught a
+hubbub of voices coming from my right hand, above which rose a roaring
+stave in chorus, interspersed with a clapping of hands and a rapping
+of mugs upon the table. I undid the door, meaning to slip in quietly,
+but no sooner did I pass my head into the room than the entertainment
+suddenly ceased, and the whole crew turned to observe my entrance.
+
+Truly it was easier for them to discern me than for me to do the same
+by them, for besides the dismay of meeting so many faces at once, the
+whole room was filled with the smoke of tobacco, a thing which was
+strange to me, and which caused my eyes to tingle, besides tempting me
+to cough. I made out, however, that there was at least a score of men
+present, the most part of them seated round a table in the middle of
+the room, at the head of which table stood a high arm-chair, and in
+it, as I believe, the biggest man I had ever seen. The looks of the
+company are past my power to describe, being such as to make me feel
+as if I had broke into Bedlam. Their faces were all red and blotched
+with drink, and their heads covered with extravagant ringlets, which
+might never have seen a comb, while their dress was disordered to
+indecency, and the whole table was covered with a confusion of
+tankards and bottles and tobacco-pipes, not to mention playing-cards
+and dice. The huge man at their head bore a most terrifying aspect. He
+had an immense head set on a neck so short and thick that it seemed as
+if he must infallibly choke at every morsel he swallowed, and a belly
+capacious enough to have held a firkin of liquor. He had made himself
+easy by unbuttoning his waistcoat and the upper part of his breeches,
+and lolled back in his seat as if he had no mind to stir for the rest
+of the morning. One of his eyes was closed up, and had a French
+plaister across it, but the other stared and rolled enough for two.
+
+On a bench in the window there were two other men withdrawn by
+themselves; but these I did not at first notice, being taken up with
+attending to this one-eyed ruffian.
+
+"Who in the foul fiend's name have we here?" he called out as soon as
+I was come in, using many other oaths beside, which I have no need to
+set forth. "Is this some sprouting soul-catcher come to bestow upon us
+a word in season? Speak, boy, your name and business? Show your
+colours, d'ye hear! Or will you mount the table and pitch up a godly
+psalm for our sinful ears? A blister on the brat's tongue; why don't
+he answer?"
+
+I stood aghast at this scurrilous address, the like of which I had
+never yet heard. The others followed it up with shouts of applause,
+and one of those at my end of the table rose and came towards me,
+making as if he would catch me by the shoulder to drag me forward.
+
+But this I was not inclined to suffer.
+
+"My name need not concern you," I said, replying to their chairman.
+"As for my business here, I have come to inquire after a kinsman of
+mine who uses this house. Stand back, sir, I am not to be mauled by
+you!"
+
+I spoke these last words sharply to the fellow who had tried to
+lay hold of me. Though some years my senior he was but a lean,
+spindle-shanked creature, whom I felt better able to give a buffet to
+than to take one from him.
+
+The big man let loose a round dozen of oaths.
+
+"Here's a fine cockerel come into our own house of call to beard us!"
+he exclaimed between his profanities. "I should like to know who uses
+the 'Three-decker,' when the crew of the _Fair Maid_ are here, without
+our licence? What is the matter with you, Trickster Tim? Are you
+afraid to handle the yokel?"
+
+Thus egged on, the man, who had given way under my angry looks, made
+at me again. But my blood was now up, and I dealt him a blow on the
+jaw which sent him down fairly to the floor. He got up, spluttering
+blood, his clothes all smeared with the sawdust and the stains of
+liquor, and the whole party leaped to their feet at the same time, as
+if they would set upon me.
+
+I doubt but I should have fared roughly at their hands if I had not
+been delivered by a most unexpected diversion.
+
+"Stand clear, you cowards, and leave Tim Watts to fight his own
+corner, if he can!"
+
+I turned round to the window at these words and beheld to my joy my
+cousin Rupert, who had been one of the two sitting there apart, and
+who had now risen, pale and very angry, with his hand on the basket of
+a cutlass which he wore at his belt.
+
+Though I should have thought it kinder if he had come to my assistance
+earlier, instead of leaving me to show what I was made of first, I
+hailed his interference with much relief, and stepped quickly to his
+side.
+
+But the fellows he had rebuked looked sourly in our direction and
+began to grumble to each other.
+
+"No orders here!" came from one man. "No lieutenants over us ashore!"
+said another. "We're all equal in the 'Three-decker.'"
+
+"Silence, Jim Palmer!" cried Rupert sternly. "And you too, Andrews; I
+thought you had more manhood in you! What reason had you for baiting
+this young man when he came in civilly? Do you know who he is, you
+fools? This is my own cousin, who has just given the slip to his sour
+old Puritan of a father, and come here to join our jolly fellowship!"
+
+I felt some pricks of shame at this lewd reference to my father. But
+Rupert's words completely turned the tide in my favour; and when he
+went on to call for the potman and order a quart of ale and a noggin
+of gin all round the table, I became the most popular man in the
+assembly for at least half an hour. My health was called for by the
+man in the chair who had so abused me, and who, as I now found out,
+was the boatswain, or foreman of the crew. They even would have
+Trickster Tim to apologise and shake me by the hand. He tried to go
+through this performance with an air of cordiality, but succeeded very
+ill.
+
+After this my cousin drew me aside and presented me to his companion,
+whom he named to me as Mr. Sims, the captain of the _Fair Maid_.
+However, it did not take me long to see that though Mr. Sims commanded
+the vessel, by reason of his skill in navigation, yet my cousin was
+the real moving spirit of the entire ship's company, and could turn
+the captain round his little finger, if he had a mind.
+
+Pens and ink were then sent for, and a sheet of parchment, on which
+Captain Sims, who was an old hand at this work, himself drew up the
+articles of my apprenticeship. It was necessary that I should ship
+before the mast, he explained, in order to avoid provoking the
+jealousy of the crew; but they both promised me that I should be rated
+as an officer as soon as a fair excuse offered itself for my
+promotion. The others present were all called round to witness me sign
+the indenture, after which, like a vain young fool, I must needs
+produce Mr. Walpole's guinea and order a fresh supply of liquor as far
+as it would go. This display of spirit, as they esteemed it, did my
+business with the crew, who having now been ashore for four weeks had
+spent most of their money, without in any degree lessening their
+thirst. But I fear good Mr. Walpole would have been but ill-satisfied
+if he could have known how his money was spent.
+
+This business disposed of, Rupert thought it prudent to take me inside
+and have me bestowed in some safe corner of the house till the search
+after me should have blown over. And the first person whose help he
+must needs obtain in this was the tavern keeper's niece, Marian, whom
+I thought then, and think to this day, the most handsome creature that
+there was in the world, and whom I loved desperately from that hour.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+_THE BEGINNING OF THE RIVALRY_
+
+
+And now, lest it be wondered what was done by them at home in the
+matter of my flight, I will tell here so much as I afterwards came to
+know.
+
+When the letter which I had left behind me was put into my father's
+hands, it appears, he read it once through, and delivered it to my
+mother. Next, without saying one word, he went out by himself into the
+stable, saddled his great horse, Gustavus, which stood seventeen hands
+high, presently mounted it, and rode off at a strong gallop, setting
+his face towards the London road.
+
+It was not till the end of the second day that he came back, the horse
+covered with dirt to the shoulders. He said nothing of where he had
+been, but walked into the house with a stern face, and called for the
+family Bible, which had belonged to his grandfather in the time of the
+Commonwealth. This book was bound in parchment and fastened with iron
+clasps, and lay always on the top shelf of the old oak press, whence
+it had not been taken down once in a dozen years.
+
+My mother brought it to him trembling, and when she saw him open it at
+the blank page within the cover, whereon were written the names of all
+the Fords for four generations, she fell upon her knees and implored
+him not to carry out what he had in his mind. But he heeded her no
+more than if he had been stone deaf, and taking a pen in his right
+hand drew it through my name and the date of my birth and baptism,
+making a line right across the page, which looks as if it had been
+drawn with a ruler to this day. Then he threw the sand upon it, and as
+soon as it was dry closed the book and handed it back to my mother,
+who was fain to restore it to its place.
+
+All this time not a word had passed his lips. At supper my father ate
+but little, and drank still less. When it was time for prayers he bade
+my mother read the chapter instead of him, as was his wont when
+greatly fatigued. Whereupon that sweet saint, as I must ever have
+leave to call her, turned, not to the prophecy of Ezekiel, but to the
+gospel of Saint Luke, and read out from that chapter which contains
+the parable of the Prodigal Son. And when she came to the words, "For
+this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is
+found"--when she had come to this place, my father, who had sat and
+listened hitherto, cried out in a harsh voice--
+
+"Stop, woman!"
+
+And he took the Bible from her and turned over the leaves till he was
+at the book of Ezekiel, and read the chapter in order as usual.
+
+Nevertheless in the night my mother, who lay awake weeping, heard him
+give more than one sigh; and presently, while it was still dark, he
+rose up and went out of the room and downstairs, and stayed away above
+an hour; after which he came back and lay down again. And he strictly
+forbade her ever to utter my name in his hearing from that time.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+I lay in hiding above a week before I durst venture abroad except at
+night. And very soothing to my spirit those night rambles were, though
+melancholy; for the look of all things was so changed and solemn under
+the black sky, or in the silent radiance of the moon, the houses were
+so oppressively still, and the masts of the ships so spectral upon the
+water, that it seemed to me by the end of those few days, that I had
+been exploring another world, and had got at last to be familiar with
+its ways.
+
+In the daytime I was safe enough in my snug quarters in the tavern,
+for not a soul knew I was there save the privateer's crew. And to do
+those ruffians justice, though there were few other crimes they stuck
+at, I believe that a thousand pounds would not have tempted one of
+them to give me up after I had been duly embodied in their company.
+Indeed, I found some of them to be good fellows enough, and grew not
+to dislike old Muzzy, the boatswain--for so he was called, though I
+know not if it was his proper name or one bestowed upon him by his
+mates. He was, if I mistake not, a foundling. He had conceived a huge
+friendship for me, and would come upstairs to the garret where I was
+secluded, and give me lessons in the broadsword exercise by the hour,
+the knowledge of which stood me in good stead in not very long.
+
+But practise how I might, I never reached that perfection which the
+boatswain had attained, who was, I do think, the most complete master
+of his weapon then alive. I have heard, not from his mouth only, but
+from others of the crew, of the duel which he fought with three
+Frenchmen together, at a time of peace between the countries, in
+Civita Vecchia, and how he left them all dead upon the ground. For
+such were English tars in those days, a manly race of whom we have but
+few left now.
+
+The rest of the crew I pass over as being of a class common enough in
+all our seaports. The profane language they constantly employed grew,
+by dint of repetition, to have no meaning in my ears, as I am sure it
+had none, for the most part, in theirs. The thing which I found it
+hardest to accustom myself to was the smoking of tobacco. Indeed,
+after I had lit my first pipe I fell so ill that I looked upon it as a
+judgment of Providence, and vowed I would never light another. But
+seeing all the rest at it day by day, I soon ventured again, and came
+at last to enjoy it no less than they did. And no doubt if there were
+anything mischievous in this habit when pursued in moderation, it
+would have been denounced by the sacred writers, who would, by means
+of their inspiration, have foreseen its introduction into these
+regions, though not then known.
+
+But what will for ever make memorable to me the days which I spent in
+Yarmouth, waiting for the _Fair Maid_ to be equipped for sea, was the
+deep joy of my first love for the woman whose lot was to be so
+strangely cast in with mine. I do not know whether she at first failed
+to perceive this passion, or whether she slighted it as the heedless
+fancy of a lad, for she behaved towards me as if there could be no
+such thoughts between us, caressing me openly before company, and
+thereby causing me the keenest joy and anguish at the same time.
+
+Mistress Marian Rising, to give her her full description, was, as I
+have said, the niece of my host. Her own parents were settled in the
+East India Company's factory at Fort William, on the river Hooghley,
+where her father did business in drugs and was amassing, according to
+report, a considerable fortune. She told me that her people had
+refused to carry her out with them to the East, on account of the
+unhealthiness of that climate, but being now grown of age she was
+resolved to take the first occasion of going out there to join them.
+
+She spoke much of the marvels of that great region which we now call
+Indostan, and of which little then was known in my part of Norfolk,
+describing the vast wealth and luxury of its people, the power and
+splendour of the nabobs and princes, and the curiosity of their
+buildings and manufactures. Of all these she spoke as familiarly as if
+she had dwelt among them, deeming, I suppose, that the connection
+between her and that region invested her with authority on the
+subject. I need scarce say that I drank in every word with greedy
+ears, and was become daily more inflamed with desire to voyage
+thither.
+
+My cousin Rupert was frequently a third party in our conversations. He
+used a tone of familiarity with Marian which I was inclined to resent,
+though she took it in good part. But he deeply offended me one day
+that we were together by referring openly to what I thought my secret
+passion for the girl.
+
+We had been discussing the question of how far it was safe for me to
+venture abroad into the streets, and he wound up by saying--
+
+"To speak my mind plainly, Mistress Marian, I think it is high time my
+cousin got further out of reach of your fascination. You and he have
+been too much together of late; and if I mistake not Master Athelstane
+would not object to prolong his captivity for ever on such terms."
+
+"What do you mean?" I cried angrily.
+
+But the girl only laughed.
+
+"Be quiet, sir!" she said. "You ought to be ashamed of yourself for
+showing jealousy of a mere boy like this! Why, he is scarce old enough
+to notice whether I have brown eyes or black."
+
+This made me still more angry with Rupert.
+
+"Mere boy as I am, I will thank you not to meddle between me and any
+lady who may choose to favour me with her goodwill!" I told him.
+
+"I crave your pardon, my venerable cousin," sneered Rupert. "I was not
+aware that matters between Mrs. Rising and you had made such progress.
+I would offer to go to Saint Nicholas, and bid them put up the banns
+next Sunday, if I were not afraid it might bring my worthy uncle over
+from Brandon with a whip and a dog-collar."
+
+I sprang to my feet as red as fire, and was as likely to have answered
+him with a blow as a word, if Marian had not come between us.
+
+"Sit down, you foolish boy," she said, giving me a look that turned my
+wrath into secret exultation. "As for you, Rupert Gurney, I have told
+you before that I will not endure your hectoring temper. If you cannot
+behave more civilly, there are plenty of other inns in Great Yarmouth,
+and you had better betake yourself to one of them."
+
+Rupert now saw he had gone too far, and passed off the thing as a
+pleasantry. After that he became as friendly to me as ever; but I
+could not so soon get over his ungenerous words, and I think I never
+felt quite the same love and admiration for him afterwards.
+
+About this time I overheard a conversation between Mr. Sims and my
+cousin which I by no means liked. They were seated in the parlour of
+the inn by themselves, overhauling the ship's papers, which they took
+out of a tin case, such as is used by mariners to guard against the
+chances of a wetting. I had come in to join them, for they sometimes
+used me as a clerk in the business of the ship, and found them too
+busy to heed my presence.
+
+"I tell you, Gurney, I mislike it," Captain Sims was saying. "Here is
+the date of our commission, by which, as you may see, it has run out
+since the conclusion of the peace. The _Fair Maid_ cannot sail under
+that."
+
+Rupert cursed the commission, and cursed the date upon it, with much
+heartiness.
+
+"We must sail without it, then, that's all!" he said, as soon as he
+had finished cursing. "It will be all one by the time we make Gheriah.
+Thanks to this cursed peace we might as well whistle for another as
+apply to the Admiralty Commissioners."
+
+"Nay, not so fast!" exclaimed the other, drawing back in his chair.
+"That were to proclaim ourselves pirates at once."
+
+"Well, and pray what else have we been till now?" returned my cousin,
+giving him a nasty look.
+
+Mr. Sims shook his head gravely.
+
+"No; I have been a privateersman all my life, barring a few smuggling
+ventures in the late peace, but I have never put to sea without my
+letters of marque and reprisal, duly signed and sealed."
+
+Rupert curled his lip as he looked at the other.
+
+"And what did your letters of marque say as to the Portuguese slaver
+we sank in the Gaboons?" he demanded scornfully. "And what of that
+Bristol schooner we mistook for a Frenchman off Finisterre, and had a
+thousand pounds of coffee out of, before we discovered the error?"
+
+"No matter," said Sims, setting his fist upon the table with an angry
+thump; "I don't profess to be more particular than other men when I
+get on the high seas; but I've always got my letters of marque on
+board, and as long as I have them, d'ye see, they can't hang me."
+
+Rupert seemed to be casting about for some way to satisfy his
+scruples. Presently he said--
+
+"There's no other way for it, then--we must alter the date."
+
+Mr. Sims gave a start, and let drop an oath.
+
+"You're a strange man, Gurney," he said; "I can't make you out this
+morning. You talk of forging the king's commission as if it were no
+more than altering the log. Why, man, that's a worse hanging matter
+than sailing with no papers at all!"
+
+My cousin fairly lost his temper at this, and cursed the other for a
+thin-skinned numbskull.
+
+"Either we sail or we don't," he concluded by saying, "and either we
+sail with a commission or without it. I am ready here to alter the
+date with my own hand--it is but turning a IV into a VI--to give us
+two years more, and you need know nothing of the matter."
+
+The captain came into this with surprising readiness thinking, no
+doubt, that he had sufficiently guarded his own neck in the business.
+Then for the first time they perceived me; and Sims was for making me
+take an oath on the gospels not to betray what I had heard. But Rupert
+rebuked him sharply, bidding him to know that no Ford had ever
+committed treachery or dishonour within the memory of man, any more,
+he was good enough to say, than the Gurneys themselves.
+
+And this testimony of his so soothed me that I allowed my conscience
+to slumber in the matter of the forged commission. Yet it was plain
+enough to me by this time that my cousin was a desperate scoundrel,
+and that the company I had enlisted among were little better than a
+gang of pirates, if better they could be called.
+
+I daresay it was not to be expected that I should associate for long
+with such men without falling into their ways. But what prevailed most
+to change me from my former character, and wrought on me for evil was,
+I verily believe, the frenzy of the passion which possessed me for
+Marian.
+
+By this time I had gathered courage to let her know how she stood in
+my regard, and with the worst result for me that could have happened.
+For she would listen well-pleased to all the desperate love I poured
+into her ear, and then the next day I would find her closeted with my
+cousin Rupert, who was become her bold and notorious wooer, or else
+with one of the flash young gentlemen of the town, who frequented the
+tavern for no other purpose but to make love to her, and brought her
+presents of rings and lockets and suchlike matters, which she never
+scrupled to accept. And when I upbraided her for this wantonness, she
+gave me cruel words.
+
+"I would have you to know that I am not your mistress, pert young sir,
+any more than I am your cousin's! And I suppose I am free to do as I
+please, without your leave first had! If it likes me to entertain the
+society of other young gentlemen, be sure I shall do so; and as for
+the trinkets you are pleased to be jealous of, it will be time enough
+to cast them in my teeth when you have better to bestow on me
+yourself."
+
+With that she flung away, leaving me sore distressed and amazed. But
+though this speech removed somewhat of my blindness, yet the love I
+had for her was no whit lessened, but rather increased in vehemence.
+And seeing that I had but little money of my own to procure her such
+toys as she spoke of, I forthwith betook me to dicing and gambling,
+which hitherto I had refrained from, in the hopes of bettering my
+estate.
+
+The luck I had in this was very various, so that at one time guineas
+seemed to be dropping out of my pockets, whereas at others I might
+ransack them through without finding so much as a silver penny. And
+according to the state of my fortunes, so did I prosper in Marian's
+regard; and in this ill-state of my affairs I grew reckless, and drank
+to drive away better thoughts, and so came on rapidly to the evil hour
+which was to end it all.
+
+For, as it happened, I was one night throwing the dice with my cousin
+Rupert, and he had won of me, and as I went on, drinking in between
+whiles, I lost what little coolness I had started with, and finally
+staked my last penny on the last throw, and lost that too. Then I
+flung myself back from the table with an oath.
+
+"Fair and softly, cousin," said Rupert, picking up the money I had
+thrown before him. "It does not much matter who wins, seeing that it
+all goes into the same pocket afterwards."
+
+"What do you mean?" I cried sharply. For nothing angered me more than
+to have him say anything which glanced at our rivalry for Marian, in
+which business I had too much reason to suspect he was more fortunate
+than myself. That very day, moreover, I had found them together, and
+they had looked ill-pleased at being disturbed.
+
+"Faith, I think you must know my meaning well enough by this time,"
+answered Rupert, with an insulting smile. "Before you try to play the
+gallant you must line your pocket better."
+
+"Hold your tongue!" I said fiercely. "I am not used to buy favours,
+like some who have nothing but their purse to commend them."
+
+"Then you should go where favours are not sold," he sneered, with an
+evil smile.
+
+"Those words in your teeth!" I shouted, starting up and clapping my
+hand on my sword, which I had bought two days before of a Jew.
+
+By this time the noise of our quarrel had aroused the whole room, and
+the company were crowding round us, the men of the _Fair Maid_ in the
+front. Rupert bit his lip as he saw where he stood.
+
+"Peace, youngster," he said, with a threatening look which belied his
+words. "I will not be forced into a quarrel here."
+
+"Here or outside, I care not," says I, "but I swear you shall take
+back the slander you have cast upon a woman you are not fit to speak
+with!"
+
+"D--n you!" says Rupert, "do you want me to fight for a----"
+
+He got no farther, for with that I caught up the dice-box and dashed
+it between his eyes, so that he fairly staggered back, and the blood
+started from his nostrils. And then, almost before I knew what was
+happening, his sword was out, and mine was clashing against it, and
+the table was overturned on the floor, and then there was a rush and a
+shout, and some one was holding me back from behind, while Mr. Sims
+and the boatswain stood between us, and Rupert, with a look on his
+face which I had never seen there before, was saying in a very steady
+voice--
+
+"Gentlemen, you may arrange it as you please, but take notice that it
+must be _a la mort_."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+"_A LA MORT_"
+
+
+So it had come to this, that before the dust of my father's fields was
+well off my shoes I was committed to a duel to the death with a
+desperate, vindictive man, who had been steeped in bloodshed before I
+had ever handled a sword, and that man my own near kinsman.
+
+At the time I was less frightened than I have often been since in
+thinking over it. The others were more alarmed for me than I was for
+myself, and I heard Mr. Sims and old Muzzy urging upon Rupert to let
+the matter go no further. But this he would not now hear of, and in
+the state of mind I was then in I should have been little better
+satisfied than he to have had the affair patched up.
+
+At last they saw it was of no use to seek an accommodation between us,
+and they withdrew together to settle how we were to fight, Captain
+Sims, as I understood, acting in my cousin's interest, while the
+boatswain did the same office for me.
+
+While they were discussing it, which it took them some time to do,
+Rupert and I sat on opposite sides of the room. He put on a great air
+of indifference, talking familiarly with those of his friends who
+stood about him, while I could do nothing but stare across at him with
+a horrible fascination, as the man by whose hand, in all likelihood, I
+was to die within the next half-hour. I remember noting for the first
+time what a finely formed person he had, tall and supple as a lath of
+steel. As far as that went I was no weakling, and I have been told
+that at that time we greatly resembled each other, though I do not
+think I can ever have shared my cousin's good looks.
+
+I was becoming feverish over the delay of our seconds, if such they
+can be called, when they rose from their corner, and the boatswain
+came across to me with a very grave air, Mr. Sims at the same time
+going over to Rupert.
+
+"We have arranged," the boatswain said to me, in a serious voice,
+"that you are to fight out at sea. A boat is to be moored to the buoy
+off the mouth of the river, and you will be rowed out and put into it
+together, one at each end. You are to be armed with cutlasses and left
+there together. There will be a pair of sculls on board, and the one
+who kills the other will throw his body overboard, so as to leave no
+trace, and then row ashore. If the boat does not return at the end of
+an hour, we shall come out to her to see what has happened. Do you
+agree to this?"
+
+He spoke these words in a distinct, loud voice, so as to be overheard
+by those who stood next. Then, before I could answer, he bent over
+quickly and laid his lips to my ear, whispering--
+
+"Refuse it, boy, refuse it! It will be a narrow match enough between
+you with the cutlass, which was the weapon I stuck out for for your
+sake. But out in a trumpery rocking boat, with you a landlubber
+against a man that has been at sea these ten years, I would not give a
+farden for your life."
+
+He said this with many strong oaths, for I honestly believe the old
+pirate had got an affection for me. But he wasted his breath as far as
+I was concerned, my pride being then too fierce to admit of my
+shrinking from any terms that might be offered by the other side.
+
+"Tell them I accept," I said sullenly, "and make no more ado about it.
+How soon can we reach this place?"
+
+The old fellow cursed me roundly for an obstinate, bloody-minded young
+fool.
+
+"Give me a hug," he wound up by saying, "for blast me if you ain't a
+youngster after my own heart!" And he fell to and embraced me
+heartily, kissing me on both cheeks, and shedding tears plentifully;
+for he was three-parts drunk, and clearly looked upon me as a dead
+man.
+
+And in that light I saw that the company present regarded me, my
+cousin's prowess being well known by many duels which he had fought in
+the past; and though I had pretty well made up my mind that I was to
+die, I suffered no small discouragement and chagrin from the
+compassionate looks which were cast upon me. My old enemy, Trickster
+Tim, also thought this a safe occasion to insult me, coming up close
+before me and peering into my face, as if I were already so much
+carrion. Nor had I the spirit to resent his insolence.
+
+Captain Sims now led the way out of the house, holding Rupert by the
+arm, while I followed with my friend. The rest of the crew swarmed out
+after us, but old Muzzy sharply ordered them back, taking only two men
+to pull the oars, for we had a long way to row before the buoy could
+be reached.
+
+It was a miserable voyage for me, sitting there in the stern, not
+three paces from Rupert, shivering in the cold night air, and perhaps
+from fear as well, as we dropped slowly down the river, past the black
+piles of the landing jetties and the sleeping ships. Our course was
+lit only by the stars, save where a ship's light cast a sickly gleam
+upon the water as we approached it, and faded away as we rowed on. The
+whole way I never once opened my lips, but the others talked together
+in low voices, turning themselves away from me in the same manner as
+if I were a convict being led to execution. And as for my own
+thoughts, they were distracted enough, especially when I called to
+mind my dear mother and my good and upright father, and how little
+they imagined the business in which I was now engaged. These
+reflections so softened me that I believe if my cousin had made the
+least move towards a reconcilement my whole wrath would have melted
+away. But no doubt he had made up his mind that only my death could
+restore his authority amongst the ruffians whom he led.
+
+At last our dreary passage was ended, and we were arrived at the place
+agreed on for the encounter. We had towed down a smaller boat in our
+wake, and this they now fastened to the buoy, and we stepped into it,
+Rupert at the bows and I at the stern. Then the boatswain gripped my
+hand for the last time, whispering to me to beware of Gurney's
+upper-cut, and so they bade us farewell and rowed off quickly in the
+darkness, like men who would avoid the sight of a murder.
+
+So there were we, left alone in that frail compartment, out there upon
+the heaving water, with nothing but death in our hearts. I had but
+time to breathe a prayer, which I did with some misgiving as to how it
+would be received, when my cousin drew his cutlass and stepped into
+the centre of the boat. I rose to meet him with my weapon in my hand,
+and we stood there facing one another, with only the width of the seat
+between us.
+
+"Are you ready?" says Rupert quickly. And before I had time to answer
+he brought down his cutlass with such force that unless I had guarded
+it the blade would have split open my head.
+
+It was now that I had reason to be thankful for the lessons I had
+received at the hands of the boatswain, for Rupert's blows came so
+thick and fast that I had all I could do to parry them. I bore his
+last caution to me in mind, and soon found the importance of it, for
+though my cousin made many feints at my shoulder and other parts of my
+body, yet the only blow into which he put his real force was the
+upper-cut at my head.
+
+I kept my eyes fixed upon his, as I had been taught, and soon saw a
+savage light arising therein when he found he made so little
+impression on me. Indeed, if we had fought on firm ground I believe
+that, as the boatswain said, I should have been his match, but the
+rocking of the boat gave him an advantage, and presently he pursued a
+feint further than I expected, and gave me a gash of about three
+inches long in my left thigh.
+
+The first smart of the wound made me gasp for breath, but the next
+moment it had so raised my fury that I left off the defensive and fell
+upon my enemy with all my might, hitting and slashing so desperately
+that, do what he would, I broke down his guard and laid open his
+forehead over his right eye, and the blood began to trickle down his
+face.
+
+This transformed his own anger into a tempest, and now, indeed, we
+went at it more like two savages than Christian men. For the cutlass,
+by the very reason that it is not so deadly an instrument as the
+small-sword, is capable of inflicting a very great many wounds before
+any fatal effect takes place. And so, becoming less heedful of our
+guard as we warmed to it, we wounded each other all over the body in a
+most desperate manner, till my cousin seemed to me to be covered with
+blood from head to foot, and I can have been little better, for I felt
+the blood running from me at above a dozen places.
+
+My enemy was the first to see the folly of this, for he began to
+change his tactics, drawing back from my assault and keeping on the
+defensive till he should lure me on to give him an advantage. And in
+this at length he had nearly succeeded, but happening to forget the
+seat which lay behind him in the bows of the boat, he overbalanced
+himself against it and fell backwards, still gripping his weapon in
+his hand.
+
+I scorned to take advantage of this accident, but stayed where I was
+to give him time to get up. He lay upon his back for a minute, glaring
+sullenly at me to see if I would kill him. But finding that I had no
+such mind he recovered himself nimbly enough. And being, no doubt,
+still further enraged at this accident having put him, as it were,
+into my power, he now made at me with the most terrible vehemence,
+raining down blows upon me sufficient to have felled an ox. And then
+in the midst of it all, while I was warding off his fury, and the
+sparks flew from our weapons every instant, I suddenly felt my hand
+jarred as though I had touched a conger, and the blade of my cutlass
+snapped off at the hilt with a crash, and I stood there at his mercy.
+
+He stopped short, as much astonished as I was, while I sank down on
+the seat next the stern, ready to sob, and put up my hands before my
+face.
+
+"That cursed Jew has cheated me of my life!" I groaned between my set
+teeth.
+
+Rupert rested the point of his cutlass upon the seat in front of him
+and looked over at me curiously.
+
+"Young man," he said, "your life is forfeit to me, and it hath never
+been said that Rupert Gurney spared an enemy. Yet, inasmuch as you are
+of my blood and but raw in the world, I have half a mind to make terms
+with you. Will you make your apology for the violence you put upon me
+in the tavern, and swear to repeat its terms before all those who were
+witnesses of our dispute?"
+
+I looked up at him and smiled bitterly in his face.
+
+"Do you understand me so little, and you a Ford by the mother's side?"
+I answered him. "Now that I have no weapon you may murder me if you
+will, but apology you shall have none from me--unless," I added, "you
+take back your insult to the woman I love."
+
+"You young fool!" he ground out savagely. "That drab you make such a
+to-do about has been mine this two months past."
+
+I leave it unsaid how these words affected me, both then and for long
+afterwards. For up to that moment I had looked upon the girl with as
+pure a reverence as any boy ever cherished for a maid, and my cousin's
+vile boast, cast it back to him as I might, sank into my mind and
+worked there like a poison.
+
+"I believe you lie," I said to him with marvellous coldness. For what
+with the loss of blood, and the despair which had seized upon me at
+the breaking of my weapon, and the news I had just received, I was
+become quite dispirited, and was indifferent to what he might do with
+me.
+
+"Die, then, since you will have me kill you!" he exclaimed, and began
+advancing down the boat towards me.
+
+But as he stepped over the middle seat it chanced that he struck his
+foot against one of the oars which lay along the boat's bottom; and
+the rattling of this oar put a new thought into my mind.
+
+It so happened that I had been used to play with the quarterstaff at
+home, and old Sugden, the rat-catcher, who was esteemed the greatest
+proficient in this sort of exercise in our part of the country, had
+had many a bout with me, in which, before I ran away, he had been
+forced to confess that I was very well able to cope with him. Now,
+therefore, in my extremity, seeing death so near at hand--for up to
+this moment I had hardly believed that my cousin would kill me--I made
+shift to snatch at an oar, and drawing it to me just in time put
+myself in a posture of defence before he could strike me.
+
+He drew back, greatly astounded, and swore beneath his breath.
+
+"What fool's game is this, boy? Would you break honour with me? We
+were agreed to fight with cutlasses."
+
+"And now that my cutlass is broke foully you would take and murder
+me!" I retorted, and being now incensed at his bloodthirstiness, after
+I had once spared his life, I cursed him in the face for a coward.
+
+This was more than he could bear. He leaped across the seat, with his
+head stooped, to come inside the sweep of my weapon, but this was a
+trick I had had experience of, and though I found my oar very heavy
+and cumbrous I yet managed to repulse him with a crack on the head.
+And immediately he raised his cutlass to strike back I caught him a
+very smart blow on the knuckles, and sent his weapon flying over the
+side of the boat into the water, where it instantly sank.
+
+By this time I think we were both too furious to be willing to end the
+combat without one or the other's death. Rupert, as soon as he knew
+what had happened, fairly sprang upon me, and clutched my throat,
+bearing me down with him into the boat. Here he knelt above me,
+squeezing my windpipe, and emitting horrid snarls like a wild beast.
+My senses began to forsake me, and I was as good as lost, when, by the
+direct mercy of Providence, my right hand encountered the blade of my
+own cutlass, lying close beside us, which I instantly snatched at,
+and plunged as hard as I could thrust into Rupert's side. And with
+that, feeling his fingers relax themselves as he tottered sideways
+from off me, I raised myself half up, lifted him by the thighs, and
+cast him clean over the side of the boat into the sea. And that done I
+sank down again in a bloody swoon, and perceived nothing more.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+It was, as I learned, above a week afterwards when I fully came to
+myself, and discovered that I was lying in my former garret at the
+"Three-decker." There was an old woman coming into the room to wait
+upon me, who told me that I had been brought ashore on the night of
+the duel by men wearing masks; and one of them, whom she knew by his
+voice and carriage to be the boatswain of the _Fair Maid_, had given
+money out of his pocket for me to be taken care of till such time as I
+should recover.
+
+In the state of weakness to which I was reduced I shed tears at
+hearing of this kindness on the part of that rough man, who was, I
+sadly feared, a great scoundrel, of most villainous evil life. My next
+business was to ask what had become of him and the rest of the _Fair
+Maid's_ crew.
+
+"The _Fair Maid_ sailed yesterday," the crone answered. "They warped
+her out on the afternoon ebb. 'Tis said she sails under a privateer's
+commission against the French."
+
+I scarce knew whether to be glad of this news, or sorry. I told
+myself that I could hardly have looked for a welcome among those men
+after being the means of their lieutenant's death; and, moreover, I
+had learnt enough of their character to feel strongly averse to a
+cruise in such company. Yet they were the only friends I had, and I
+was grown used to them; and the thought that I was left there, as it
+were, alone, with nothing to turn to, made me very dismal after all.
+
+It seemed somewhat strange to me, during the rest of that day, that
+Marian had never once come to inquire for me; but I put off speaking
+about it to the morrow. In the morning I awoke greatly refreshed, and
+feeling well enough to leave my bed, which I did, and came down into
+the bar of the house to look for her.
+
+I found only her uncle, a weazened, peevish man, who had showed
+himself very little while the privateersmen were about his house. I
+bade him a courteous good morrow.
+
+"Good morrow t'ye," he snapped out churlishly. "I'm glad to see you're
+about again, as I daresay you know your reckoning has run out."
+
+This I did not believe, but thought it beneath me to pick a quarrel
+with such a man. Besides, he was Marian's uncle.
+
+"Any charges you may have against me shall be fairly met," I answered
+proudly. "But where is Mistress Marian? I have not seen her these two
+days."
+
+"And you're not like to see her again, I take it," he returned
+disagreeably. "At least, not in my house; I've had enough of the
+impudent baggage."
+
+"What are you saying, man?" I demanded, much dismayed. "You need not
+miscall your own niece, I should think. But what of her? Do you mean
+she has left you?"
+
+"Aye, what else should I mean? And right glad I am to be rid of such a
+trollop, drawing all the rapscallions of the port in here, and
+bringing my tavern into disrepute."
+
+He spoke so bitterly that I believe he was trying to talk himself into
+thinking he had profited by her departure. For in reality she had
+brought him the chief part of his custom, and there was at that
+moment, as I could perceive, not a soul in the tavern beside
+ourselves. But I did not stop to reflect on this.
+
+"Where has she gone? What has happened?" I questioned breathlessly,
+with a terrible fear in my heart.
+
+"Nay, whither she has gone is more than I can tell you, for as likely
+as not the jade has lied to me. But she left this place two days ago,
+in the afternoon, and all the account she gave me was that she had
+taken her passage in the _Fair Maid_ for her father's house in
+Calcutta."
+
+I fell down on a bench, like a man stunned, and groaned aloud. Then I
+sprang to my feet again and made for the door.
+
+"I will follow her!" I cried out madly. "If she has gone to the end of
+the world I will go after her, and all the devils in hell shall not
+hold me back!"
+
+And leaving the man there, staring at me as if he thought I was
+crazed, I ran out of the house, and so stumbled right into the arms of
+a pressgang come ashore off a king's ship which had that morning
+dropped anchor in Yarmouth Roads.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+_ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_
+
+
+The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made
+familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first
+of escaping their clutches. It is true they were only authorised to
+impress seamen and fishermen, and that after proving their commission
+before justices of the peace. But if report did not belie them, they
+looked not too closely into a man's seamanship; but, if they found a
+likely fellow, regarded all as fish which came into their net.
+
+There was a lieutenant set above the fellows into whose hands I had
+fallen, a tall, lantern-jawed, middle-aged man, with a most abominable
+squint, and to him I addressed myself:
+
+"Sir, I am not in a condition to be pressed by you, I am not a mariner
+by calling; and, moreover, I am but just risen from a bed of
+sickness."
+
+He glanced over my dress before he answered, with something of a
+smile. And, indeed, for a landsman, my costume was something out of
+the way, for during the time since I had signed articles to Captain
+Sims I had done my best to equip myself in true sea-dog fashion.
+
+"You surprise me, young sir," the lieutenant said presently, when he
+had surveyed me. "Your dress tallies but ill with your professions. If
+you wore but a cutlass, and had a pistol to your belt, I could have
+sworn you to be a smuggler at the least."
+
+I hung my head at this, for it was my own vanity that had led me into
+the mess. I could only fall back on my second excuse.
+
+"Nevertheless, you are mistaken, sir," I said. "But however that may
+be, be pleased to believe me when I tell you that I am scarce yet
+recovered from several severe wounds."
+
+"Indeed! I thought I had seen you coming out of yonder tavern at a
+marvellous nimble gait. But my eyes are indifferent bad. Here, Master
+Veale, what say you, does this young man look too sick for our
+purpose? He says he is not recovered of his wounds."
+
+The man he applied to, who was master of the ship's cutter, answered
+him in the same jesting manner.
+
+"I see nothing the matter with un, your honour. But perhaps we had
+best carry un aboard and let the ship's doctor feel his pulse."
+
+"I protest against this treatment," I said angrily. "In the name of
+his Majesty, I say, unhandle me."
+
+"Nay," quoth the lieutenant, "my hearing is as indifferent as my
+eyesight, and I follow you not. Master Veale, if this youngster uses
+any blasphemy or indecency let him be gagged till we come aboard
+again."
+
+This threat was enough to silence me, if I had not been otherwise
+afraid to make a stir. For though I might have got some of the
+passers-by to succour me, it being broad daylight, and these
+impressments most unpopular among seafaring men, yet I foresaw that it
+would quickly come to a question of who I was, and if my name once
+became bruited abroad there were friends of my father's in the town
+who would have made short work of sending me back to him. And sooner
+than face the disgrace of this, as I considered it, I was willing to
+try my luck with King George.
+
+I therefore walked along with the pressgang, by the side of Master
+Veale, who used me civilly enough when he found I had given up the
+thoughts of resisting.
+
+I was not a little amazed and delighted when we came out upon the
+shore, and I caught sight of the _Talisman_, as she was called, riding
+at her anchor. For she was a great line-of-battle ship, such as I had
+never yet seen, carrying seventy-four guns upon her three decks, which
+rose above the water like a huge wall, with the muzzles of the cannon
+plainly visible through the opening of her portholes. This majestic
+mass lay like a floating fortress upon the waves, and overhead her
+three masts towered up into the very clouds, with their yards set in
+order, and the ropes crossing from one to the other as intricate as a
+spider's web. Last of all, from a flagstaff on the stern, brandished
+the ensign of Great Britain, in defiance of her enemies. And my heart
+swelled as I gazed upon it, and remembered how that banner had struck
+terror into the Frenchmen, and Dutch, and Spaniards, in so many great
+and memorable fights. Perhaps in that moment I had a foretaste of
+those glorious triumphs of the British arms in which I was hereafter
+to take a part.
+
+As soon as we were brought on board this fine vessel--and by this time
+we had pressed two or three others of the Yarmouth men--we were
+presented to the captain for his inspection.
+
+The captain, it was easy to perceive, was a man of great quality,
+being, as I learned before long, a nephew of Lord Saxmundham, in
+Suffolk, who at that time sat upon the Board of Admiralty. He had the
+most elegant hands and feet of any man I ever saw, and was dressed
+with great care, having long ruffles of the finest lace to his neck
+and wrists, and a gold-hilted small-sword by his side. Even my cousin
+Rupert beside him would have looked but a country boor.
+
+He spoke to the lieutenant who had headed our party, drawling out his
+words in a fashion absurd in a London fop, but disgusting in the
+commander of a man-o'-war.
+
+"Well, Mr. Griffiths, what sort of scum have you got hold of this
+time? Faugh!" he continued, taking out a pocket napkin to wipe his
+nose, "I declare the fellows all stink of herrings!"
+
+This last was a downright lie, for I had never so much as stepped into
+a fishing smack. And besides, the herring fishery was not yet begun.
+
+"Sir, that is a fault which can soon be amended," returned the
+lieutenant, biting his lip at the other's insolence. "For the rest,
+they looked to me to be sturdy rascals enough, and, I doubt, will make
+good seamen."
+
+"Yes, looked to you, my good sir; but then, you know, your sight is
+none of the best," sneered the captain, between whom and his officer
+there appeared to be some jealousy.
+
+Mr. Griffiths, though he had jested at his infirmity in speaking to
+me, writhed under this allusion to it from another. He gave his answer
+with spirit.
+
+"Captain Wilding, I have done what you ordered me in impressing these
+men. If you don't think them serviceable I shall be happy to set them
+ashore again."
+
+The other waved his napkin between them as if he would have brushed
+away a fly.
+
+"There, there, my worthy man, that is quite enough! I have seen the
+tarry scoundrels, and as long as they have not the smallpox, I am
+content. Bestow them as you please."
+
+Thereupon we were led into the fore part of the ship, to be rated
+according to our several abilities. And it fell out luckily for me,
+for the lieutenant, when he discovered that I had had some education,
+and could cast accounts--a business of which he plainly knew
+nothing--informed me that he believed the purser stood in need of an
+assistant, and offered to recommend me to him. This kindness on his
+part I gladly closed with, not that I liked the duty better than the
+common service of a ship, but because I guessed that I should thereby
+be delivered from the molestations of the crew, there being no greater
+pleasure to the vulgar of every profession than to rough-handle and
+abuse those who come newly amongst them. And herein, as it turned out,
+I had judged rightly, and for so long as I remained upon that ship I
+suffered no ill-usage, except at the hands of my superiors.
+
+But before this was settled I had a favour to ask of the worthy
+lieutenant.
+
+"One thing I must bargain for, with your leave, Lieutenant Griffiths,"
+I said to him, speaking boldly, as I discerned him to be favourable to
+me, "and that is, that if we should come to fighting with the enemy I
+am to take part with the rest."
+
+Mr. Griffiths laughed when he heard this demand.
+
+"Why, there now," he cried, slapping his thigh, "if I couldn't have
+sworn that you were one of the sort we wanted directly I clapped eyes
+on you! Never fear, lad, you shall have your fill of fighting before
+we go into dock again; for--I will tell you so much--we are under
+orders to join Admiral Watson's fleet at the Nore, and a man with a
+healthier stomach for such work never hoisted pennant on a
+three-decker."
+
+"I am glad, at all events, that we shall sail under a fighting
+admiral," I responded saucily, "for, as for our captain----"
+
+He stopped me at this point in a manner which terrified me, hurling a
+string of curses at my head sufficient to have sunk me through the
+deck.
+
+"Hold your impertinent tongue!" he said in conclusion. "I would have
+you know better than to pass remarks on your officers in my hearing. I
+have had men put in irons for less. Follow me this minute to the
+purser, and remember you are on board of one of his Majesty's ships,
+and not a dirty herring smack."
+
+By which I saw that, however this gentleman secretly despised his
+commanding officer, he was too honourable to encourage the tattle of
+his inferiors. In this no doubt he showed his breeding; for it was his
+boast that he was sprung from one of the most ancient families in
+Wales, where the gentry, he was wont to say, are of older lineage than
+those of any other country in the world.
+
+The purser proved to be a Scotchman, against which nation I had taken
+a strong prejudice, on account of the wicked and unnatural support
+given by them to the Chevalier in his bloody invasion of this kingdom,
+and which prejudice has since been further confirmed in me by the late
+mean and notorious conduct of Lord Bute. However, I found Mr.
+Sanders, the purser, to be a respectable, religious man, having as
+little love for Papists and Jacobites as I had myself. He received me
+without much civility, but if he showed me no great favour neither did
+he do me any injury, and in his accounts he cheated the crew as little
+as any purser I ever heard of.
+
+But not to linger over these matters, the only thing that befell me
+during our voyage to the Nore was an extraordinary painful sickness
+and retching, the anguish of which I could not have believed possible
+to be borne, and which many times made me wish I had never quitted my
+father's house. During the continuance of this malady I was rendered
+quite unable to do my duty, to Mr. Sanders's no small discontent, and
+was left to the sole companionship of an Irishman, one Michael
+Sullivan, who became much attached to me, and soothed my sufferings by
+every means in his power. He was a corporal of the Marines, and had
+been three times promoted to be sergeant for his bravery in action,
+and three times degraded again for drunkenness. Among his comrades he
+was known as Irish Mick: and here I observed a peculiarity which I
+have found amongst others of that nation; for though he would
+continually be boasting of his country, and exalting the Irish race
+above every other on the face of the earth, yet no sooner did any of
+us remark on it to him that he was an Irishman than he straightway
+fell into a violent passion, as if we had laid some insult upon him.
+
+While I lay thus ill, as I have said, I lost all thoughts of the quest
+I had meant to undertake for Marian, and would not have cared if the
+ship had been bound for the infernal regions. But as soon as I was
+recovered sufficiently to come on deck, whither I was very kindly
+assisted by the Irishman, I grew exceedingly curious as to our
+destination.
+
+"Does any one know whither we are bound when we have joined the
+Admiral's fleet?" I asked of Sullivan.
+
+"Faith, and it's that same question I'm just after putting to the
+boatswain's mate," he answered, "and the sorrow a soul on board that
+knows any better than myself and yourself."
+
+He pronounced his speech with a very rich brogue, which I shall no
+more attempt to imitate than Captain Wilding's affectation. For indeed
+there seem to be as many ways of pronouncing English as there are
+people that speak it, and even in Norfolk itself I have met with
+people who were not free from something like the Suffolk twang.
+Seeing, I suppose, that I was disappointed by this answer, he leant
+over and whispered in my ear--
+
+"But it's my belief that King George is tired of the peace with the
+French, and that he's sending us out to sink a few of their ships and
+maybe bombard a town or two, just by way of letting them know that
+we're ready to begin again."
+
+I answered him impatiently, for my sickness had made me fretful.
+
+"I believe you are a fool, Mick! It is well known that we never go to
+war with the French unless they have first provoked us."
+
+"Well, and sure haven't they provoked us enough by all their doings in
+America and the Indies, not to mention the battle of Fontenoy, which
+my own cousin Dennis helped them to win, more by token; though he got
+a bullet in his left arm before the fighting begun, and had to content
+himself with cheering while the others were at it."
+
+"That will do," I said crossly, for I had heard of the battle of
+Fontenoy and his cousin Dennis before, and it was a sore point between
+us. Nor could I understand how a man who had the privilege of being
+born a British subject, though liable to the proper severities of the
+penal code against Papists, could traitorously desert his allegiance
+and take service with our natural enemies.
+
+However, I learned nothing further of our destination till we reached
+the Nore, which we did about the end of the third day. Here we found
+the rest of the squadron a-waiting us, and, the _Talisman_ being the
+biggest ship in company, Admiral Watson immediately hauled down his
+pennant off the _Victory_, of fifty guns, and came aboard of us.
+
+I was leaning over the chains with Sullivan when the barge came
+alongside, and could see a gentleman in the stern, sitting beside the
+Admiral, in a military uniform, and having a very resolute and
+commanding countenance.
+
+"Who is that?" I asked.
+
+"That? Why that's Charlie Watson," he replied, mistaking my meaning.
+"It's myself that ought to know, for I sailed under him against the
+Spaniards in '44, and a devil of a beating we gave them. Hooray!"
+
+The cheer was taken up by the rest of the crew as they caught sight of
+this gallant seaman, who had been made Rear-Admiral of the Blue in his
+thirty-fifth year, and that without any influence at his back, but
+solely on account of his splendid services in the Spanish wars. Mr.
+Wilding, who had come up on deck to receive the Admiral, looked round
+very sourly when he heard the cheer, but was ashamed to openly rebuke
+us.
+
+"Nay, but who is the other beside him," I went on to ask, being
+strongly moved to interest by the sight of this gentleman. He appeared
+to be by some years junior to Mr. Watson, who was now somewhat over
+forty, but in spite of that, and of his treating the Admiral with much
+ceremony, there was that in the air of this officer which made an
+impression of authority, and which drew all eyes towards him as soon
+as they were arrived upon the quarterdeck.
+
+Sullivan professed himself as ignorant as to the stranger's identity
+as I was myself, nor was I near enough to hear what passed when
+Admiral Watson presented him to Mr. Wilding and the other officers.
+Nevertheless, I could see that they received him with extraordinary
+respect, even the captain seeming to brisk up and to put on a more
+manly carriage under this gentleman's eye.
+
+After giving one or two keen glances round the deck, which set us all
+on the alert, the officer walked quickly forward, and the whole party
+following him, they went below, immediately after which the signal for
+weighing anchor was made to the squadron, and the crew was set to work
+putting on all sail. In the midst of which business the report ran
+round the ship, and reached me I know not from what lips, that the
+passenger we had received on board was no other than the famous Mr.
+Robert Clive, who had just been created a lieutenant-colonel by the
+king, and whom we were carrying out to India to take up his government
+of Fort St. David in the Carnatic.
+
+At this time, though Mr. Clive had not yet reached to that height of
+eminence which he afterwards attained, he was already known as one of
+the bravest Englishmen of his time, and I had heard from many quarters
+of his glorious exploits in the Indies. Although a civilian by
+profession, when the settlements of the East India Company in Madras
+were threatened with destruction by the French, he had exchanged his
+pen for a sword, and, with a mere handful of English and Sepoys, had
+captured and maintained the town of Arcot against a great army of the
+French and their allies, after which he had beaten them in many
+engagements, and in the end wrested the entire province of the
+Carnatic from their hands. Since then he had been in England, where he
+had stood for the Parliament, and, as it was thought, had given up all
+intentions of returning to Indostan. Now the news that we had him on
+board with us, and that he was on his way out, no doubt to drive the
+last remains of the French power from that quarter of the world, came
+on my ears like the summons of a trumpet, and went far to make me
+content with the accident that had thrown me in the way of the
+pressgang.
+
+Mr. Griffiths, the lieutenant, who had continued to take some notice
+of me, for which I was not ungrateful, chanced to come by while I was
+full of these thoughts, and after confirming the news which I had
+heard, fell to talking with me about our cruise.
+
+"You see I did you a good turn by bringing you off from that muddy
+fishing-hole," he was pleased to observe presently. "Now you are
+likely to see some service, and, if luck serves, to bring home a good
+share of prize-money."
+
+By this time I had called to mind the sailing of the _Fair Maid_, and
+the destination of that passenger of hers, to see whom once more I
+would have given all the prize-money in the world.
+
+"Are we like to make the Hooghley river, do you think, sir, when we
+get out to the Indies?" I ventured to ask.
+
+"That's as it may be," he answered, friendly enough. "All I can tell
+you--for I believe this to be no secret--is that our first port in
+those seas is Bombay. And further, since we cannot attack the French
+till war breaks out, I may give you to know that our first business is
+to root out certain pirates that infest that coast, and who have their
+headquarters at the citadel of Gheriah, in the Morattoes' country."
+
+I turned silent at this, remembering how I had heard the name of
+Gheriah pronounced between my cousin and Mr. Sims in the parlour of
+the "Three-decker", and feeling a dreadful apprehension that I was to
+meet with the privateers (as they called themselves) in circumstances
+which I had little desired.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Eleven months later--for we were beset by contrary winds all round the
+continent of Africa, and put in at divers places on the way--we came
+to an anchor in the harbour of Bombay. And there, riding at a mooring
+under the very walls of the fort, the first vessel that I saw was the
+_Fair Maid_ herself, looking as peaceful as if she had never fired a
+gun.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+_IN THE POWER OF THE ENEMY_
+
+
+On our voyage outward one thing had occurred to me which, as it turned
+out afterwards, was to prove of very great consequence; this was my
+learning of the native Indian language.
+
+Colonel Clive, who had never been at the pains to acquire it himself,
+had brought out in his train as secretary a Mr. Scrafton, who was well
+versed in the Indostanee, and who was obliging enough to offer to
+impart it to me, I having rendered him some services in the
+transcribing of his papers and accounts. Having much time on my hands
+on so long a voyage, I very thankfully accepted his proposal, though
+little then foreseeing the benefit I was to derive from it.
+
+This connection between us brought me a good deal under the notice of
+Mr. Clive, who was several times pleased to address his conversation
+to me, and to inquire my name and what had brought me into that
+service.
+
+When I told him I had run away from home he seemed not a little
+amused, though he affected to rebuke me.
+
+"I perceive you are a young man of a reckless spirit," he observed,
+but whether in irony or not I could not tell. "And pray what do you
+intend to do when we get to the Indies?"
+
+"Why, sir," I answered hardily, "as soon as war breaks out I mean to
+run away from the ship and enlist under your honour."
+
+"The devil you do!" he cried, a smile showing itself on his stern
+face. "Mr. Scrafton, do you hear my little purser here? I have a mind
+to report your speech to Mr. Sanders."
+
+But though he said this, I could see that he was not ill-pleased. And
+whether from that occasion or another, by the time our voyage was
+ended I was known all over the ship as Colonel Clive's purser. And how
+proud the title made me I forbear to say, but I know that if Mr. Clive
+had ordered me to march into Delhi, and pluck the Great Mogul by the
+beard, I should have thought it a little thing to do.
+
+The first thing I did after we had dropped our anchor was to beg for
+leave to go ashore, which Mr. Sanders granted with some difficulty.
+Mr. Griffiths was good enough to give me a place in the cutter, and as
+soon as we were landed I separated myself from the rest, and without
+staying to examine the curiosities of Bombay, which is a fine great
+city, built on an island, I procured a boatman to take me off
+privately to the _Fair Maid_.
+
+The boatman I applied to was an Indian. He used me with wondrous
+civility, calling me Sahib, which is an oriental term of respect, and
+bowing before me to the very ground. When we were got into the boat,
+however, he proved but a poor oarsman, and indeed all the natives of
+that country seem but a feeble race, owing, no doubt, to their
+idolatrous religion, which forbids them to eat flesh.
+
+We arrived at the stern of the _Fair Maid_ without accident, but to my
+surprise I could see nobody on the deck. Bidding the Indian wait for
+me I scrambled on board without hailing, and proceeded to examine the
+cabin. I found this likewise to be deserted, and was beginning to
+think the vessel was empty when, on turning to come out, I found
+myself face to face with a dark man in a turban, bearing a naked
+scymetar in his hand, who had crept in behind me.
+
+"Who are you?" I demanded, addressing him in Indostanee.
+
+But he shook his head, for, as I was to find out, the Morattoes, to
+which nation he belonged, speak a different dialect of their own.
+
+While I was considering what to do with him, since his behaviour was
+very threatening, I was greatly relieved by seeing an Englishman come
+in after him, who proved, indeed, to be no other than my old
+acquaintance, Trickster Tim.
+
+The sight of me gave him a great shock, and at first I believe he
+mistook me for a spirit from the other world, which perhaps was not
+strange, considering that he had last seen me on the other side of the
+globe, and lying very near to death's door.
+
+I spoke him friendly, nothing doubting that he would be pleased to
+welcome a fellow-countryman.
+
+"Well, Tim, how d'ye do, and how are all aboard the _Fair Maid_?"
+
+As soon as he had heard my voice his apprehensions vanished. He gazed
+at me for a minute, as if undecided what to do, and then, putting on a
+smile, stepped forward and shook me by the hand.
+
+"And how did you get here?" he asked. "We thought we had left you in
+Yarmouth."
+
+Not thinking any concealment needful, I told him my story, which he
+listened to very attentively. At the end he spoke some words to the
+Morattoe, who went out of the cabin.
+
+"Sit down and make yourself comfortable," he said to me. "Our men are
+all gone ashore, but the captain will come off presently and be right
+glad to see you safe again."
+
+"I can't stay long," I told him, "because I have only got leave for a
+couple of hours."
+
+At this he smiled a little queerly, but pulled out a bottle of rum and
+some glasses, and prevailed on me to take a drink with him. We sat
+thus for some time, talking, and he told me that the ship had been out
+there for more than a month, having escaped some of the headwinds we
+had had to contend with.
+
+"And what of Mrs. Rising?" I said at last, for I had been shy of
+putting this question to such a man. "I understand she took passage
+with you."
+
+He grinned at this, rather maliciously.
+
+"I thought you'd come to that," he said. "I didn't suppose it was for
+love of your comrades that you had come on board so quickly. As for
+Mistress Marian, she's ashore, and for her address I may refer you to
+the captain when he finds you here."
+
+"The captain is rather slow in coming," I observed, getting on to my
+feet. "I think I must be going ashore."
+
+With that I walked out of the cabin, Trickster Tim following at my
+heels. When I got on to the deck, I stared about me in dismay. Not a
+sign could I see of my boatman.
+
+"What's become of that fellow who brought me out?" I cried, turning to
+my companion.
+
+The scoundrel laughed in my face.
+
+"I sent word to him not to wait for you," he coolly replied, "as I
+thought maybe you'd rather stay with us."
+
+"Rascal!" I shouted, taking him roughly by the arm. "What is the
+meaning of this villainy?"
+
+"There's the captain; you'd better ask him," he answered.
+
+And turning round as the sound of oars smote on my ears, I perceived a
+boat coming alongside, and seated upright in the stern the very man of
+all others whom I had never thought or wished to see again. It was my
+cousin Rupert.
+
+He caught sight of me at the same moment, and a fierce scowl passed
+across his brow.
+
+"Whom have you got there, Tim?" he called out, standing up in the boat
+to get a view of me.
+
+"Mr. Ford, sir, purser's assistant of his Majesty's ship _Talisman_."
+
+At that moment the boat came alongside and my cousin leaped on to the
+deck, followed by four or five of the crew. He surveyed me with a
+glance of bitter hatred, mingled with triumph.
+
+"So, cousin, I did not kill you after all! Never mind, I am glad you
+have remembered your old articles and are come to join us once more.
+We have lacked a cabin-boy since your desertion, and if his Majesty
+can spare you, we shall be glad of your services."
+
+I was too confounded to reply, or to take much heed of this mocking
+harangue. I had as firmly believed Rupert to be dead as, it seems, he
+had believed me. The truth, as I gathered it by degrees afterwards,
+seemed to be this: At the moment of my casting him out of the boat in
+which we had fought, the other boat was returning to find out what had
+been the result of the battle. They had first picked up Rupert out of
+the water, when he was on the point of death, and had then found me
+senseless, and to all appearance mortally wounded, where I had fallen.
+They carried us both back with them, and finding Rupert revived, had
+concealed him on the _Fair Maid_ till she should sail. The boatswain,
+out of a kindness for me, and knowing the other's vindictive nature,
+had persuaded him that it was impossible for me to recover, and so
+they had left me.
+
+As soon as I was able to collect myself I demanded to have speech with
+Mr. Sims, the captain.
+
+"You will meet with Mr. Sims where you are going," retorted Rupert.
+"In the meantime any business you have with the captain of this vessel
+may be transacted with me."
+
+"Then I insist that you put me ashore instantly," I said, with
+resolution. "Would you kidnap me under the very guns of his Majesty's
+fleet?"
+
+"Not so fast," returned Rupert, keeping his temper, as he could afford
+to do, having the upper hand. "You have forgot your indentures, by
+which you are bound apprentice to the good ship _Fair Maid_, sailing
+under his Majesty's letters of marque and commission."
+
+"Under a forged commission," I retorted hotly. "I refuse to be bound
+by indentures to a pirate!"
+
+This outburst was, no doubt, what my cousin had been waiting for, to
+set the opinion of the crew against me. He now turned to his
+followers, very stern.
+
+"Take this youth down to the forecastle and put him in irons. If he
+repeats his scandalous aspersions, I will bring him to trial as a
+deserter and mutineer."
+
+I had no means of resistance, and his orders were carried out, the
+scoundrel who had tricked me into waiting for Rupert's return, taking
+especial pleasure to see that my irons were made secure. I scorned to
+question the dirty rascals further as to how my cousin came to be in
+command, but I guessed there had been some foul work on board since
+the vessel had left Yarmouth; and the next morning I learnt the whole
+story.
+
+Old Muzzy, my firm friend, had been ashore all that night, very drunk,
+but soon after dawn he came off to the ship, and hearing of my plight,
+at once betook himself to where I was imprisoned. He embraced me very
+heartily, and as soon as I had satisfied him as to my recovery and
+subsequent adventures, he disclosed to me the situation of the _Fair
+Maid_.
+
+"You see it's like this, my boy. Mr. Sims is a good seaman, no one
+can't say he's not, but he's too much of a lawyer to handle a craft
+like this. Now that cousin of yours, though he be a bloodthirsty,
+revengeful beast, as you should know by this time, yet he's no lawyer.
+Captain Sims, there, he was all for letters of marque and such, but
+then, once a peace breaks out, where's your letters of marque? They
+ain't no more use than so much ballast. Now when we came out here, the
+lieutenant he says, 'Let's go into Gheriah, and join the pirates
+there'--though according to him they aren't what you may call pirates,
+being under a king of their own, who has as much right to give them
+commissions as King George himself. But Captain Sims he wouldn't hear
+of it, the more so as there was a British squadron under Commodore
+Porter had been out from Bombay in the spring, and knocked some of
+their forts about their ears for them. But, you see, unless we joined
+them, we had nothing to do till such time as the war began again,
+unless we chose to take the risk of standing up and down the coast, as
+you may say, on our own hook. So the crew they sided with the
+lieutenant, that's your cousin, and the end of it was there was a sort
+of a mutiny, and Captain Sims he was carried ashore at Gheriah and
+given up to the pirates, leastways to their king, and the lieutenant
+took his place."
+
+"Then the long and short of it is that this is a pirate ship," was all
+I could say.
+
+"Well, we are, and, in a manner of speaking, we aren't. When we want
+to come into Bombay here we sail under King George's flag, and when
+we're in company with the pirates we fly theirs. Any way, we've taken
+two Dutch ships and an English one since we got out here, and that's
+put money in our pockets, which is more than Captain Sims would have
+done with his lawyering."
+
+"And I suppose I am to be carried to Gheriah and given up to the
+pirates, like Mr. Sims," I said bitterly.
+
+But this the boatswain swore with many oaths he would not permit.
+Nevertheless I could see that he was strongly attached to my cousin's
+interest, and not disposed to venture anything openly against him.
+Indeed, he tried very hard to persuade me to come into their plans,
+offering to reconcile me with Rupert if I would consent to do this. To
+these proposals, however, I would by no means consent, being more
+experienced by this time than when I had joined them at Yarmouth, and
+having a pretty shrewd notion of how Mr. Clive would regard my former
+comrades if they should fall into his hands. Finally, I besought the
+boatswain for news of Marian.
+
+He drew a grave face at this name.
+
+"Athelstane, lad, I would rather you'd ask me any other question than
+that. Plague take the girl, she was the cause of all the mischief
+between you and the lieutenant! Forget her, lad, forget her, she's not
+worth your troubling after."
+
+But he might as well have pressed me to forget who I was, and the
+situation into which my eagerness to hear of Marian had brought me.
+
+Finding me resolute to know about her, he told me this much:--
+
+"She came aboard while the _Fair Maid_ was in the river, to nurse your
+cousin as he lay ill of his wounds. But I believe he had been tempting
+her before that to come out to the Indies with him, and she held back
+for him to go to church with her first, and this he didn't care enough
+for her to do. Anyhow, it ended in his getting round her to trust
+herself with him, and he swore he would carry her straight to Calcutta
+and hand her over to her people there. When we got out here, and she
+found he had no such purpose, but meant to keep her in the fortress as
+long as it suited his pleasure, there was a terrible business betwixt
+them. But you know what the lieutenant is, and that it ain't a few
+tears from a woman that'll turn him from anything he has a mind to do.
+So he just set her ashore by force, and there she is, as much a
+prisoner as Mr. Sims himself."
+
+I was overcome with the horror of this news, though I suppose it was
+what I should have expected from my cousin's character.
+
+"Good heavens!" I cried out in my distraction. "Do you mean that she
+is in the hands of the pirates at Gheriah?"
+
+"That's about what it comes to. And the sooner you give up all
+thoughts of her the better for you, says I."
+
+Before I could frame any answer--and, indeed, I know not what answer I
+could have made--there was a great noise and trampling upon deck, and
+a man came down to tell us that the vessel was about to weigh anchor,
+and that the boatswain was wanted to attend to the service of the
+ship. Whereupon he left me, in the company of bitterer thoughts than a
+man can have more than once in his life.
+
+I pass over the dreary time spent by me in that dismal confinement
+during our voyage. Old Muzzy visited me pretty often, and once Rupert
+himself came down and made offers towards a reconcilement.
+
+"Say that you will join us honestly, and I will take off the irons,
+and rate you as one of the crew. And when occasion serves, I will
+cause you to be made lieutenant under me," he promised, "for after all
+you are my own kinsman, and blood is thicker than water."
+
+Whether he was sincere in this, or was compelled to it by my friend
+the boatswain, I do not know. But I had only one reply to give him.
+
+"And Marian, what of her?" I said indignantly.
+
+A dark look came on his brow.
+
+"Leave that business alone," he said. "It were better for you, I warn
+you fairly. That woman is mine, and I will not suffer the Almighty
+Himself to come between us."
+
+At this blasphemous avowal I turned my back on him, and would
+entertain no further proposals. However, I knew from the boatswain
+that Rupert was first for throwing me overboard; and when Muzzy, who
+had much authority with the crew, would not consent to that, he was
+for putting me into the castle at Gheriah, along with the late
+captain. But this my sturdy champion also opposed, and the end of it
+was that I was left in my present quarters when the _Fair Maid_
+arrived in the pirates' harbour, and brought them the news that a
+British squadron was on its way to besiege the place.
+
+This intelligence Rupert had acquired before leaving Bombay, and it
+was this which had caused him to set sail with so much haste. Becoming
+very busied in preparations for the defence, I luckily slipped
+somewhat out of his mind, and the boatswain took advantage of this to
+soften the rigour of my imprisonment, allowing me to take the air on
+deck, and even going so far as to release me from my irons.
+
+I was thus enabled to gain some idea of the place I had been brought
+to. When I first came up from below, after so long a time passed in
+obscurity, the daylight proved too much for my eyes, and I was obliged
+to close them, and accustom myself to the glare by degrees. As soon as
+I was able to look about me, however, I perceived that the _Fair Maid_
+was lying in a very spacious river, not far from the mouth, and over
+against a sort of rocky islet or peninsula, joined to the left bank of
+the river by a strip of sand. On the rock there was built a very
+strong castle, having a double wall and towers to protect it, but the
+cannons of rather poor calibre. Alongside of us lay the fleet of the
+pirates, composed of strange-looking vessels, having for the most part
+two masts, one very much in the stern, and rigged with a huge sail,
+the peak of which came much above the top of the mast. The prows of
+these vessels stretched a great way forward out of the water having
+the appearance of a bird's beak. The larger of these vessels, of which
+there were about ten, are called grabs, and the smaller, of which I
+counted upwards of sixty, gallivats. These latter are managed with
+oars as well as sails, and when there is no wind they are employed to
+tow the grabs behind them, so that in light weather it is easy for
+them to overtake the ship of which they are in pursuit. They were all
+armed with cannon, the grabs carrying as many as twenty or thirty
+12-pounders, and the gallivats swivel-guns of 6 or 9 pounds.
+
+We had lain in this position for more than a month, and I was
+beginning to be afraid that Admiral Watson had altered his intention
+of coming to reduce the pirates' stronghold, when one evening, as I
+sat on the deck, just at the time that the wind changed and began to
+blow in from the sea, I discerned a great commotion on shore in the
+fortress, and turning my eyes towards the river's mouth I beheld a
+most welcome sight, namely, a fleet of no less than fourteen ships,
+arranged in two lines, with the _Talisman_ at their head, sailing
+proudly in, with the British flag flying at their peaks, and their
+tops all full of men, their guns run out through their portholes, and
+their decks cleared for action.
+
+As silently and as orderly as if they were in mid-ocean without a foe
+in sight, they came sweeping up the river, doubled the rocky point,
+and anchored one after the other, within two hundred yards of the
+north wall of the fort.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+_THE SIEGE OF GHERIAH_
+
+
+Hardly had the fleet taken up its position, when I saw on the land
+side a great army of Indians march down to the edge of the river and
+pitch their camp at the end of the sandy neck, so as to cut off all
+chance of escape from the defenders of the fort.
+
+These, as I found out, were Morattoes, the king of that country,
+though not friendly to the English, having agreed to join them in this
+enterprise. Indeed, it appeared that the pirates themselves were
+revolted subjects of this king, having their origin in the treachery
+of one Angria, the Morattoe admiral, who cast off his allegiance and
+seized and fortified divers strong places along the coast, where he
+set up an independent power. For this reason the Morattoes had
+despatched an army under their principal general, Ramagee Punt, to
+assist in extirpating the pirates and regaining their former
+dominions.
+
+As soon as the ships had swung to their anchors I saw a boat put off,
+bearing a flag of truce, to summon the pirates to yield up their
+fastness. But this proposal evidently miscarried, for the boat
+returned shortly, without any motions being made towards a surrender.
+At the same time I saw the gate on the landward side of the fortress
+opened and a chieftain wearing a rich dress come forth, accompanied by
+a train of attendants, and cross over the sand spit into the
+Morattoes' camp, from which he did not return that night.
+
+This looked to me like a piece of treachery, as though the pirates
+were seeking to make terms with their fellow-countrymen behind the
+backs of the English. No doubt this transaction bore the same look to
+those on board the fleet, for when I came up on deck in the morning to
+see if any change had taken place during the night, I was astonished
+to see the space between the Morattoes' camp and the sand spit covered
+with tents, in which were about two thousand troops newly landed from
+the fleet, the last of the boats that had put them ashore being then
+half-way back, and rowing right round the grabs and gallivats, which
+were moored altogether close in under the walls of the fortress. It
+was not difficult for me to guess that this bold exploit was the work
+of Colonel Clive, who had thus placed himself between his treacherous
+allies and the enemy, effectually putting a stop to all underhand
+communications between them. And I learned afterwards that but for
+this determined action on his part, the fortress would have been
+delivered up to Ramagee Punt that very morning, and the English
+excluded from all share of the prize.
+
+I saw some messengers pass to and fro between the ships and the land,
+but nothing seemed to come of it, and finally, about ten o'clock I saw
+a signal run up on the _Talisman_, and immediately the side of every
+ship drove forth a vast cloud of smoke across the water, and the air
+was shaken by the discharge of at least three hundred guns.
+
+Now the cowardice of the pirates was made manifest, for instead of
+manning their own fleet, which might have given much trouble if well
+handled, they left it exposed to the British fire, and withdrew behind
+the walls of their fort, from which they made a feeble reply to the
+broadsides of the squadron. The consequence was that before long one
+of the shells from the fleet set fire to a large grab, and the whole
+of the pirates' vessels, being made fast side by side, caught fire
+together, and were burnt to the water's edge, amid a continual noise
+of explosions every time the flames reached a loaded cannon or a
+powder barrel. Thus was destroyed in a few hours a navy which had for
+fifty years been the terror of the Malabar coast, and had preyed upon
+the commerce of every nation trading in those seas.
+
+So taken up was I in watching this scene of destruction that I did not
+at first notice what was happening to the _Fair Maid_. Being anchored
+some way off the other vessels, and further up towards the sand spit,
+we escaped the damage that had been done to them, but now we attracted
+the attention of the British Fleet, and those on board naturally
+considering us as a prize captured by the pirates, one of the ships
+began to open fire on us, and sent a ball clean through the deck.
+
+Up to this time the crew had lain inactive, taking no part in the
+fight. My cousin had gone ashore into the fort the night before,
+taking a part of the ship's company with him, and had not returned.
+The boatswain was left in command, with about twenty men under him,
+and these now began to see that they were in a trap, being too few to
+fight the ship to any purpose, while any attempt to land would expose
+them to a destructive fire either from the fleet or from Mr. Clive's
+troops, which would come along the sand spit to cut them off.
+
+In this extremity old Muzzy took what was perhaps the boldest
+resolution any man could have come to. He decided to set sail, and
+pass right between the fort and the ships, running the gauntlet of the
+whole squadron, and thus escape down the river and out to the open
+sea. The breeze blowing out to sea, as it always does for the first
+half of the day on this coast, the plan seemed a good one, if once
+they could pass through the fire of the squadron.
+
+This course commending itself to the crew, the sails were hoisted
+accordingly, I lending a hand, for I had no desire either to take
+refuge with the pirates or to be sunk where we were; and having
+slipped our cable the _Fair Maid_ got under weigh. This proceeding
+must have struck surprise into those who were watching us, for the
+frigate which had commenced to bombard us at once stopped fire, and
+waited to see what we would do. As we had no colours flying, it was
+difficult for them to know what we would be at, or whether we did not
+mean to surrender. Had we been only concerned with the fleet, our best
+course might have been to hoist the Union Jack; but in that case we
+had to fear the guns of the fort, close under which we meant to pass.
+
+In this way we got along till we were right in the range of fire
+between the ships and the fort, and here for a minute all seemed over
+with us and I had fairly given myself up for lost. A whole broadside
+of thirty guns was fired right across us, and the only thing that
+saved us from being sunk instantly was our lying so low on the water
+that the bullets, being aimed at the walls of the fort, passed over
+our heads. As it was they did great damage to the rigging. The main
+topmast was shot away, the shrouds were torn to threads, and the gaff
+of the fore-topsail was badly wounded. Luckily for us the next vessel
+of the squadron had discharged its broadside just before we came into
+the line of fire, and the third merely signalled to know if we would
+surrender. Old Muzzy refused to answer the signal, and his conduct in
+this, and in not using the _Fair Maid's_ own guns, clearly puzzled
+those on board the fleet.
+
+By this time we had begun to round the corner of the rock, and paying
+away before the wind to go down the river, presented our stern to the
+remaining ships of the squadron. One of them gave us a broadside, but
+it was ill-directed, and only three balls took effect. They had aimed
+this time at the hull, luckily for the _Fair Maid_, as she could ill
+have stood another discharge at her rigging, and though the tiller was
+shot away, and some damage was done to the stern, it was not serious
+enough to cripple her.
+
+But just as we were beginning to breathe we were dismayed at suddenly
+receiving a bullet from one of the guns of the fort, which ploughed
+right into the deck within two feet of where I stood. I looked up
+astonished, and beheld my cousin Rupert, with the match still in his
+hand, looking over to watch the effect of his shot. The other men on
+board caught sight of him at the same moment, and a howl went up at
+this act of cold-blooded treachery. One of the fellows snatched up a
+loaded musket which lay on the deck, and discharged it at him, and I
+had the satisfaction to see him fall back swiftly, but whether
+actually struck by the bullet or no I could not tell.
+
+Distracted by this unlooked-for attack, we had not noticed a fresh
+danger from the fleet. But now we perceived that the launch of the
+Admiral's own ship, the _Talisman_, had been manned, and was bearing
+right down on us, the men on board coming with great coolness and
+daring right past the guns of the fort. In this they were fortunately
+protected by the fact that the gunners were all engaged in replying to
+the fire of the fleet, which lay anchored above, and we being now past
+the direct line of fire, and out on the middle of the river, the
+garrison paid no attention to us. However, the launch would have had
+no chance of overtaking us but for the unlucky accident to the tiller,
+which had made the _Fair Maid_ unmanageable for the moment, and caused
+her to come up to the wind. They were thus able to draw very near us
+before the man at the helm had contrived to rig up a makeshift tiller
+out of a splinter off the gunwale. Just as he began to get the ship's
+head round again the launch approached within hailing distance, and
+bade us surrender.
+
+Old Muzzy strictly forbidding any reply, they fired a bullet at us
+from a small swivel gun in the bows. Thereupon one of the crew--the
+same man who had fired at Rupert--wanted to discharge the _Fair
+Maid's_ stern gun at them; but this the boatswain would not permit.
+
+"If we're caught running away, they may let us off," he said
+prudently; "but if we're caught after firing on the king's uniform,
+it's hanging for every mother's son of us."
+
+The men saw the wisdom of this, and now the sails began to draw
+again, and give a fair chance of leaving the launch behind. No sooner
+did this happen, than I experienced a keen feeling of regret. I had
+aided heartily in our escape so far, believing it to be the only thing
+I could do, but now I thought I saw a chance of being restored to my
+ship I could not resist the temptation. I measured the distance
+between the _Fair Maid_ and the launch with my eye, and, though a poor
+swimmer, considered I might manage to keep afloat till the launch
+should pick me up. I turned round, shook hands with old Muzzy, and
+before he knew what I had in mind, plunged over the side into the
+water.
+
+I heard a cry go up from the crew, who at first thought it was an
+accident, my zeal in helping to work the ship having put it out of
+their minds that I was merely a prisoner. However, they had too much
+to do in looking after their own escape to give much thought to me;
+and in the end they got very fairly away, and disappeared outside the
+river's mouth.
+
+In the meantime the launch came on towards me, and then a thing
+happened which I may truly say brought my heart into my mouth. For one
+of the marines in her, looking on me no doubt as one of the pirates,
+raised his musket and aimed it directly at my head. The sun was behind
+me, but fell full upon his face, and I could see the narrowing of his
+eye as he took aim, also the flash of the sunlight along the barrel. I
+had made up my mind that I was a dead man, and was even hoping that
+my death would be too swift for me to feel the pain of the wound, when
+I saw the gun struck up and heard the voice of Irish Mick crying out
+in a mixture of terror and laughter--
+
+"Sure, don't you know him? It's the little purser!"
+
+The recognition came almost as near killing as saving me, for in their
+amazement the men of the launch ceased rowing, and as in my expectancy
+of death I had lost all power of motion I was like to have been
+drowned. However, they rescued me just in time, and welcomed me on
+board with a heartiness which did much to make amends for the
+suffering I had gone through since I had left their company.
+
+I told them my story, and had to tell it again to Mr. Griffiths and
+the purser when I reached the ship. Mr. Sanders received me coldly,
+and pronounced that I had been rightly served for hankering after my
+former evil companions, but the lieutenant spoke to me more kindly,
+and praised me for my refusal to join myself to the privateers, or
+rather pirates, for such they were now openly become.
+
+I claimed his promise to let me take part in the fighting, to which he
+willingly consented; though, indeed, there was but little glory to be
+gained, as the pirates were now so cowed as to have pretty well ceased
+to return our fire, and before night they had made some fresh attempts
+towards a capitulation.
+
+It fell through, however, and our bombardment was renewed the
+following day. The castle was so strong, the walls being hewn in many
+places out of the solid rock that we were unable to make much
+impression, but luckily if their walls were strong, the hearts of the
+pirates were too weak to prolong the defence, and it became merely a
+question of whether they should surrender to us or to Ramagee Punt.
+The Morattoes struggled hard, but Colonel Clive stood at his post like
+a wall between them and the fort, and after two days the pirates saw
+that they had met their master, and opened the gates to him.
+
+As soon as I knew that Mr. Clive's force would be the first to enter,
+I took Mr. Griffiths aside, and explained to him that there was an
+Englishwoman, in whom I was interested, inside the fortress, and after
+I had related the whole story to him he sent me ashore to the camp to
+lay the case before Mr. Clive.
+
+That brave man--who was good enough to express his pleasure at seeing
+me safe again--heard me with great attention. As soon as I had told my
+story he turned to his secretary.
+
+"Mr. Scrafton, you have heard what this young man says. I desire you
+will send at once for Angria's envoy, and tell him that if I find one
+hair of this girl's head has been injured I will hang him from his own
+walls."
+
+He spoke this in a stern and terrible manner, which imparted some fear
+even to me. Within an hour the message came back from the pirates'
+chief that the Colonel's orders should be strictly obeyed.
+
+This was while the negotiations for the surrender were still in
+progress. By the end of the second day's bombardment all was over, and
+Colonel Clive marched into the place at the head of 800 English and
+1,000 Indian soldiers, who formed his whole army. I was allowed to
+enter at the same time.
+
+We found the pirates drawn up inside to the number of several
+thousands. In so vast a crowd I could not distinguish the faces of any
+of the _Fair Maid_ men, nor was there a sign to be seen of my cousin
+Rupert. Out of a feeling of shame I had concealed from Colonel Clive
+that this villain was among the pirates, but I made a strict search
+for him presently all through the place, without any result. I could
+only conclude that he must have been killed during the siege, unless
+he had made his escape in some way not easy to guess.
+
+As soon as we had passed through the ranks of the pirates, whom Mr.
+Clive ordered to be disarmed and handed over to their Morattoe
+countrymen, we came into the inner court of the place, where we found
+Angria himself, surrounded by his chief men. He was a tall, handsome
+Indian, with a fierce, threatening countenance, surmounted by a
+crimson turban, which blazed with rich gems. His whole treasure lay
+beside him, and amounted, when it came to be reckoned up, to L120,000,
+which was divided among the fleet and army, I getting L6 for my own
+share. It was considered a paltry booty by the men, and some hinted
+that the officers had taken more than their portion. There was also a
+dispute between the two services as to the amount of Mr. Clive's
+share, which the army insisted should be equal to a rear-admiral's,
+while the navy would not allow it to be more than a post-captain's. In
+order to settle the matter Admiral Watson very handsomely offered to
+make up the difference out of his own share, which the Colonel with
+equal handsomeness declined; and so the affair passed off.
+
+But the greatest prize we gained in that action, to my thinking, was
+the woman whom I found crouched in terror upon the floor of a dark,
+stifling hut, built against one of the walls of the castle, and
+expecting every moment to find herself in the clutches of some savage
+enemy. For Rupert had cruelly forborne to tell her that the fortress
+was besieged by an English fleet, and when I entered the place where
+she was confined, she no doubt believed me to be some marauder of the
+same stamp as those among whom she had been kept a prisoner.
+
+I stepped up beside her with a bursting heart, and laid a hand upon
+her shoulder.
+
+"Marian," I said, "I am Athelstane Ford, who has come to set you
+free."
+
+She trembled all over as she gave a quick look up at me, and then rose
+tottering on to her feet. And when I saw her face, how it was all
+shrunken from its former roundness, and the colour had gone from her
+cheeks, and the brightness from her eyes, as she stood there before
+me, with her dress all dishevelled, and her beautiful long hair ragged
+and wild, the tears started to my eyes, and I swore a deep oath that
+if my cousin Rupert ever met me face to face again he should not
+depart alive.
+
+"Athelstane," she said presently, when we had stood gazing at each
+other like that for above a minute, "that detestable villain who is
+your kinsman has cruelly used me and betrayed me; but I believe you
+are a true man. Take me to my father, and I will bless the day that I
+ever saw you first." And before I knew what she would be at, she had
+knelt down and kissed my hand, with a passion of weeping, that proud,
+beautiful creature whom I had last seen in all the glory of her youth
+and loveliness, the jewel of her native town.
+
+I raised her up tenderly, and drew her forth out of that vile place. A
+week later the Admiral carried his fleet back to Bombay; but I had got
+my discharge, and was with Marian on board the sloop _Thetis_, of
+twenty-six guns, bound for the river Hooghley with despatches.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+_IN THE COMPANY'S SERVICE_
+
+
+And now I must pass quickly over that time of my life on which I
+should most love to linger, those halcyon hours when, with Marian by
+my side and the prospect bright before us, we voyaged through those
+Indian seas, down the long coast of Malabar and up the long coast of
+Coromandel, past the Isle of Serendib, and the reefs and foaming seas,
+to where the tangled banyan roots overgrow the muddy mouth of the
+Hooghley.
+
+Being, as we were, the only two idle persons on board that ship, we
+were thrown upon each other's company day after day, and in the long
+talks we had together she gave me her account of the injuries which
+she had suffered at the hands of my cousin Gurney. And what pleased me
+most in these conversations was not to hear her kind and loving
+professions towards myself, so much as that bitterness which she now
+manifested against Rupert, for whom, she told me, she cherished a
+hatred as strong as her former liking and attachment.
+
+"You are not to think," she said, "that I ever held your cousin in
+that regard which he was vain enough to believe and boast of. It is
+true we were good friends, and had been such before I had yet made
+your acquaintance. But he was a man for whom I had a strong distrust,
+and that in spite of his swaggering airs and gallant speeches, fit to
+turn the head of some silly, vain girl who knew nothing of the world."
+
+"How came you to put yourself in that villain's hands," I asked, with
+some reproachfulness, "by venturing on board the _Fair Maid_?"
+
+"I own that was a wrong, foolish act," she answered, "of which the
+wrongs I have suffered in consequence are sufficient proof. But when I
+first yielded to Rupert Gurney's solicitations to take my passage in
+that ship, I looked to the fact that Captain Sims was her commander,
+and it was him I relied on to afford me protection. Can you not
+understand how tired I was of my life in Yarmouth, in that old, dreary
+inn; and how I wished to be abroad and see the great world, and also
+to embrace my own parents, from whom I have been separated these
+twelve years?"
+
+Thus she made her defence. Nor was I like to gainsay it, loving her as
+I did, with the same folly and blindness as of old, and ready to see
+and to hear just as she bade me, so that I might only be let hug
+myself in the belief that I had her affection in return.
+
+"For the first part of our voyage," she told me further, "all went
+well enough, until your cousin recovered of those wounds you had given
+him. Then he began to take a tone with me which I could ill brook; and
+you may imagine my uneasiness when I perceived that he had greater
+interest with the men than Mr. Sims, and that I was fairly in his
+power. As soon as we had got out in these seas he threw off all
+pretence of taking me to Fort William; and when I implored him at
+least to set me ashore in Bombay, where I might find another ship, he
+flatly refused, and told me plainly that I was nothing more than his
+prisoner. I applied to Mr. Sims for protection, but he answered that
+it was none of his business, and since I had come aboard freely there
+was nothing penal in detaining me. This man, I could see, was afraid
+of Gurney, who shortly after raised a mutiny against him, put him in
+irons, and carried him into Gheriah."
+
+I had forgotten to say that when we took the pirates' castle, Captain
+Sims was found among the prisoners, who, producing his papers, and
+making out a long tale about his being an innocent merchant skipper,
+fallen into the hands of the Moors, not only got his freedom, but a
+handsome compensation out of the plunder of the place, with which he
+took passage home to England.
+
+Marian told me that her complaints and anger at last drove Rupert to
+put her ashore, where he gave her, like Sims, into Angria's custody.
+
+"And the horrors of that prison," she said, "are not to be described,
+nor even conceived by one who has not had experience of it. I was
+locked into a small cell, with scarce room to move or breathe, and the
+insufferable heat was such that I was forced to strip naked and lie on
+the floor, with scarce a rag to cover me. What would have happened to
+me if the fort had not been taken I dare not think. I must have gone
+mad or died."
+
+"Do not let us speak of it," I said, soothing her. "All those horrors
+are passed, and not likely to return. Where we are going, in Calcutta,
+you will find friends and English customs; and your faithful servant,
+if you will have him as such, Athelstane Ford, will stand guard over
+you with his life."
+
+This was the nearest approach which I made to a declaration of my
+love, choosing rather to drift by force of circumstances into the
+position of Marian's accepted lover than hazard all I had gained by
+seeking to pluck the fruit before it was ripe. It was sufficient for
+me in the meantime to elicit from her those expressions of abhorrence
+towards my cousin (and late rival), which assured me that she was
+effectually cured of her unhappy tenderness for that villain.
+
+"Thank heaven, you are not likely to be troubled with any further
+sight of him," I said, to clinch the matter. "After these events
+Master Rupert will be no such fool as to endanger his neck by
+trespassing on the Company's territories."
+
+"I wish never to see him, nor so much as to hear of him again," Marian
+answered warmly.
+
+With such assurances she satisfied me. Perhaps my hopes played me
+false, and made me take gratitude for something dearer; or it may be
+that Marian, who knew well enough what were my feelings towards her,
+did return me some fondness at this time, and was resigned to accept
+my suit. Even if I deceived myself, I will not repent it. For I know
+that this life of ours is but a series of illusions, where we stand
+like children at a peepshow in a fair, beholding pictures which we
+mistake for real things. So that I say that he who falsely thinks
+himself beloved is just as well off for that time as he who really is
+beloved. Yet so far as I was concerned, if any man had said to me then
+that Marian did not love me, I should have scorned him.
+
+Of my love for her I must not speak at all, or I shall never have
+done. Long before we reached the Hooghley she had recovered from the
+ill effects of her imprisonment, and moved about the ship with that
+command which her beauty gave to her. Her charm was such as I have
+never seen in any other woman: compared with them she seemed like a
+bright child among old, sleeping men, almost like a living body among
+the withered tenants of the tombs. And before we had been upon our
+voyage above a fortnight the commander and both lieutenants of the
+_Thetis_ were at her beck and call, while as for the little
+midshipmen, down to one youngster of twelve, they swore by her as if
+she were a goddess, and fought duels about her in the cockpit with
+their dirks.
+
+Before we arrived in Bengal she talked to me much about her parents,
+who had been settled at Fort William for nearly twenty years. It was a
+long time since she had had news of them, she told me, but when she
+last heard her father was prospering in his business, which was that
+of a drug factor, not in the civil service of the East Indian Company,
+but trading under their licence, and shipping his merchandise in their
+bottoms. So much she knew, but nothing besides, and it was with as
+much curiosity as myself that she saw the Sunderbunds drawing near,
+and our sloop anchoring off Falta to wait for a pilot up the river.
+
+The Hooghley, famous as it is, is only one of the mouths of that great
+river the Ganges, sacred and renowned throughout Indostan. Yet it is
+upwards of forty miles long, for so great was the distance which
+separated us from our destination. By means of a fair wind we
+accomplished this difficult navigation, dangerous on account of the
+numerous shoals, in a very few hours, passing on our way the fort of
+Budge-Budge, where the Company kept a small garrison.
+
+The scene along the banks of the river was most strange to me at this
+time, and made an impression not easy to be effaced. The trees which
+overhung the most part of the banks, of a character quite unlike
+those we have in Norfolk, were gloomy and forbidding in the extreme;
+but when we came to one of the people of the country's villages, and
+saw the men dressed in gay turbans, the women walking about with
+curious earthen vessels on their heads, and the stark naked black
+children playing in the water, I was altogether bewildered, and could
+scarcely credit that I, who saw these things and had come to dwell
+amongst them, was the same boy who had been bred up so peacefully in
+that English village among the flat meadows bordered by the shallow
+broad.
+
+However, we came at last to that place since so celebrated, though
+then considered only as the third among the Company's settlements in
+the East; I mean Fort William. The fort itself was at this date of no
+great size or consequence; but in the neighbourhood along the river
+bank were many fine warehouses erected by the English. In the rear of
+these was built the native town, which the Moors call Calcutta. Here
+the houses are generally mean and dirty; but some of the rich Indians
+lived in very noble style, having fine gardens round their houses,
+ornamented with fountains and groves of tulip trees and mangoes.
+
+Marian and I were put ashore in the ship's gig, having first bid adieu
+to the officers, and set about inquiring the way to Mr. Rising's
+house. In this at first we were unsuccessful, but at last I found an
+obliging person on the quay who directed his native servant to guide
+us to it.
+
+This man, to whom I gave a handful of pice, conducted us through some
+narrow streets of the town, very ill-paved, and full of a most evil
+smell, to a lonely neighbourhood on the side of the river further up,
+where there was a house built in the Moorish fashion, and enclosed in
+a wild garden much overrun with weeds. All round this garden was a
+high wall, conformable to the jealous disposition of these people. The
+entrance was by a narrow gate, and there was a miserable dwelling
+crouched against the wall inside, the door of which stood open. Some
+black children were playing in front of this hovel, who cried out when
+they saw us, and ran indoors. An Indian came out, very gaunt and
+fierce, who demanded in English what we did there.
+
+"We are come to see Mr. Rising," I told him, using his own language
+which Mr. Scrafton had taught me. "Is this his house?"
+
+"It is, my lord," says the fellow, much surprised, and giving a low
+bow, which they call a salawm.
+
+With that I dismissed our conductor, and Mr. Rising's gardener--for
+such he was--brought us to the house. We now saw that though
+originally a fine mansion it was sadly decayed. The walls should have
+been white, but excessive heat had cracked and blistered them, and
+turned everything to a yellowish hue. The Indian brought us inside,
+and into a long, low-ceilinged room with a great window opening on to
+the river. This room had no furniture except two small tables; but all
+round the walls was a covered settee, very broad, such as the Moors
+are used to sit on with their legs tucked up beneath them. To a
+European it is uncomfortable at first, but by degrees I grew
+accustomed to it. In this room presently Marian's father came to us.
+
+The first sight of Mr. Rising gave me a shock, and must, I think, have
+given a worse one to my companion. He was, as I knew, a man of middle
+age, yet he looked very, very old, being bent down and much wrinkled,
+with his hair nearly white. Moreover, his eyes wandered as if he were
+uncertain which way to look, and while he spoke his fingers worked
+strangely up and down his bosom, as if groping over the strings of
+some musical instrument.
+
+"Well, sir," he said in a thin, halting voice, seeming to find each
+word an effort, "what is your pleasure with me?"
+
+"I have come here, sir," I said, "with one whom you will rejoice to
+see. This is Mistress Marian Rising, your daughter, who has come out
+from England in my company."
+
+For at Marian's prayer I had strictly promised to say nothing about
+the manner of her voyage, which might have done her some discredit
+with the Calcutta folk.
+
+As I pronounced the above words the girl herself sprang forward and
+cast her arms about her father's neck.
+
+"Father!" she said. "Don't you know me--your little Marian, who has
+come home!" And she wept on his bosom.
+
+Then it was a pity to see that ancient, stricken man wakening, as it
+seemed, out of his trance, and gradually making sure who it was that
+embraced him.
+
+"My child! My child! Why have you come here?" he said presently. And
+then shed some tears himself, and clasped her to him, and kissed her.
+
+"Where is my mother?" asked Marian, as soon as she had raised her
+head.
+
+"Poor child! Your mother has been dead these eighteen months," he
+answered sadly. "I should have written to tell you of it, but I was
+preparing for my passage home--indeed, I don't know why I have not
+started before this."
+
+He gazed round him as he spoke, so as to convince me that indeed he
+did not know, and had lost the power--poor man!--to understand his
+circumstances or to take any resolution whatsoever.
+
+I came away from that strange scene terrified, not so much by what I
+saw, as by an instinct I had that this man's dreadful wreck was only a
+sign of that great and abiding horror which lay like a shadow all over
+the land; just as in the fable the glimpse of one monstrous foot was
+sufficient to warn the spectator that a giant came along. Which
+feeling in my mind was rather confirmed than dispelled when I came to
+learn, as I soon did, that Mr. Rising's sad condition was brought
+about by the drug called opium, a staple of this country, the magical
+properties of which herb seemed to me then of a piece with the
+frightful sorceries and dark secret practices of the people, as I
+afterwards came to know them, and which, with their abominable
+idolatrous superstitions, used often to make me wonder that the
+Almighty did not destroy them with His plagues of fire and brimstone,
+like those wicked Cities of the Plain. Yet one good result of my
+observance of these people's horrid customs was to inspire me with a
+becoming and devout gratitude that I had been born a citizen of
+Christian England, a blessing which we should the more prize since
+Providence has seen fit to deny it to so many millions of His
+creatures, and to bestow it upon a few. Sad it is that even among
+those few there should be found multitudes unmindful of their
+opportunities, who give themselves up to dissolute lives, or who turn
+away from the blessed truths of Scripture to hanker after liturgies
+and Romish inventions.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+And now, having arrived safe in Calcutta, I looked forward to a period
+of rest and security not only for Marian, but myself, after the rough
+taste we had both had of fortune in her cantankerous mood. As soon as
+I had seen Marian lodged in her father's house, I sought out Mr.
+Holwell, one of the principal Company's servants in Calcutta, and
+commissioner over the police of the town. To this gentleman I brought
+a letter from Mr. Scrafton, to recommend me to his good offices, and
+having read it he at once received me very civilly and promised me his
+friendship.
+
+He asked me many questions about the taking of Gheriah, and also about
+Mr Robert Clive, whose character stood high in the estimation of every
+one in Bengal, even the Moors having bestowed on him the name of Sabat
+Jung, signifying the daring in war.
+
+"We had heard of this affair before you came," Mr. Holwell told me.
+"The man Angria was famous in these parts, and supposed to be
+invincible, so that his sudden destruction by our armament has given
+the natives here an altogether new idea of the English power. It will
+be well if this doesn't do us more harm than good, for the Moors are a
+jealous, suspicious race. Our agent in the neighbourhood of
+Moorshedabad, the Nabob's capital, has warned us that the English have
+many enemies at the Court, who seek to poison the Nabob's mind against
+us. I believe there are some spies come down here to examine our
+defences and the strength of our garrison."
+
+"What!" I said. "Do you think the Nabob intends anything against us?"
+
+"No, I don't say that," Mr. Holwell answered. "The present Nabob,
+Allaverdy Khan, has always been our good friend. But he is old and
+sick, and his nephew, who is likely to succeed him, is a dangerous
+young man, puffed up with pride and conceit. If he should come to the
+throne he is only too likely to find some pretext for harassing the
+Company."
+
+To these forebodings I paid but little attention at the time, though I
+was soon to learn that they were not idle fears. Mr. Holwell, after
+having ascertained that I was acquainted with the Gentoo language,
+offered to procure me employment under the Company in one of their
+counting-houses, as interpreter, which offer I gladly accepted for the
+time. I was to receive a salary of 200 rupees by the month, in
+addition to which Mr. Holwell undertook to procure me a dustuck from
+the Governor, enabling any merchandise I chose to trade in to pass
+through the province of Bengal free of taxes or duties to the Nabob's
+government.
+
+I soon found out that this privilege of trading on their own account
+proved, together with the presents they received from native merchants
+who did business with the Company, the most valuable part of the
+livelihood of the Company's servants. Their salaries were so
+wretchedly small as to be insufficient for the necessities of life in
+this climate, where the poorest European is obliged to keep half a
+dozen black servants in his pay. For my part, I did not embark in
+trade myself, having no capital, but I accepted the offer of a Gentoo
+merchant to lend him the use of my dustuck to cover his goods, for
+which he paid me handsomely.
+
+These Gentoos, as they are called in that part of India, are the
+original natives of the country, who follow the idolatrous religion
+taught by their Bramins, practising human sacrifices and other rites
+too vile for description. Over them the Moors have established their
+empire by force, but being a military race, incapable of business,
+they commit the details of their government to certain of the Gentoos,
+who collect their revenues, and amass great fortunes. They are very
+dishonest scoundrels, as I discovered, and at first, finding me new to
+the Company's business, I have no doubt they overreached me. At the
+same time I received many handsome gratifications from them, so that I
+came to consider myself ill-used when I did not pocket a hundred or
+two rupees over a transaction involving some thousands. But in the
+course of a few weeks, as I began to understand the trade better, and
+to cut down their exorbitant demands, these men marvellously abated
+their complaisance. Some of them, even, who had professed to know no
+English, suddenly showed themselves to be conversant with it, and
+chose to conduct their negotiations with some other servant of the
+Company.
+
+During this time I was lodged, upon Mr. Holwell's recommendation, in
+the house of a respectable, God-fearing widow, Mrs. Bligh, whose son
+had recently gone up country to our factory at Cossimbuzar. Every day
+I attended at the counting-house, where I was placed under the orders
+of the Honourable Robert Byng, brother of the ill-fated admiral of the
+same name, and who managed the business of the Company's investment in
+rice, one of the principal branches of their trade. The Gentoo
+merchants came to us there to make contracts for the provision of such
+quantities as we required, after which they travelled about Bengal,
+purchasing the crops, and sending the grain down the river in barges,
+to be shipped at Calcutta for England.
+
+Another staple of the Company's commerce, and the most valuable of
+all, is silk. The Bengalee Indians are renowned for this manufacture,
+yet they have no regular places set apart for it, but in their
+villages scattered up and down the country, every man works for
+himself in his own hut, doing no more--such is the natural laziness of
+this people--than just sufficient to support him. The merchants are
+consequently obliged to travel about from place to place, collecting
+the stuff, which they do chiefly at the country fairs, where the
+peasantry assemble once a year, bringing their work to be disposed of.
+It is these customs of the people which have made it necessary for us
+to set up an establishment in their country, like the Dutch at
+Chinsurah and the French at Chander Nugger; for unless there were some
+English on the spot to collect this merchandise and have it ready
+against the arrival of the Company's fleet, the ships would often
+return empty, or be obliged to pay extravagant prices to the native
+monopolists of the trade.
+
+While I was thus employed in the daytime, I seldom allowed an evening
+to pass without visiting Marian at her father's house. Here I was most
+kindly received, and for a time my hopes ran high. But, I cannot tell
+how it was, I began presently to discover a change in Marian for which
+I could not account. While her friendship towards me was in no way
+lessened, but if possible increased, I gradually became aware that I
+did not possess her entire confidence. She would sometimes look up
+disturbed, I had nearly said frightened, at my entrance. At other
+times when we were in the midst of conversation her attention seemed
+to wander, and her expression became troubled, as if she had some
+secret anxiety preying on her mind. I cannot say how unhappy I was
+made by these symptoms, though I was far indeed from guessing at their
+cause.
+
+Suddenly, in the midst of these private disquietudes, an event
+happened which cast a shadow over the whole community of Calcutta.
+Intelligence arrived that Allaverdy Khan was dead, and his nephew
+Surajah Dowlah proclaimed Nabob of Bengal.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+_THE SPY_
+
+
+So many accounts have been written of the events which took place in
+Bengal about this time, that I shall omit as much as possible of the
+public transactions in which I was concerned, dealing rather with my
+own particular adventures in the midst of them.
+
+Of Surajah Dowlah, at the time of his accession, I knew only what was
+reported about him by common rumour in the settlement, which was that
+he was a young man of cruel and vicious propensities, ill-disposed
+towards the English in his country, and greedy for plunder. This was
+enough to make me share the uneasiness about his intentions towards
+us, which I found to prevail in the minds of Mr. Holwell, Mr. Byng,
+and other prudent persons. On the evening of the day on which I heard
+this news, therefore, I went round to Mr. Rising's house, to speak
+with Marian about her situation.
+
+It was not quite dusk when I arrived, being the month of April. To my
+surprise I found the outer gate leading into the garden close shut,
+and it was not till after knocking and shouting for many minutes that
+the Indian porter condescended to come and open it. Being angry with
+the man for this unreasonable delay, I cuffed him as I passed in--for
+without some severities of this kind there is nothing to be done with
+the natives of Bengal. The fellow, instead of cringing before me as is
+the wont of these people, gave me a black look, and muttered
+sullenly--
+
+"The lord is harsh to his servant, but another may be harsher to the
+lord."
+
+Not knowing at this time the wonderful intelligence which prevails
+among the Indians, so that news of all kinds travels about among them
+by underground channels of which Europeans are not permitted to know,
+I did not sufficiently understand the gravity of this threat.
+Dismissing it as a mere piece of insolence, however unusual, I walked
+up to the house and opening the door for myself, came into the room
+where Marian usually received me and which was the same I have already
+described.
+
+I found her sitting alone by the open window, in the dusk, looking out
+into the river. As I walked in she turned with the uneasy start I had
+remarked on former occasions, and rising hurriedly, came to meet me.
+
+"Good evening, Marian," I said, taking her by the hand. "I should have
+been here sooner but for that surly gardener of yours, who kept me
+waiting at the gate."
+
+"I will speak to him about it," she answered.
+
+It was not light enough for me to see her face, but I observed that
+she spoke in a tone of indifference, as if scarcely heeding what she
+said. At the same time she took her seat on the divan, and asked me to
+sit by her.
+
+"Is your father well?" I asked, putting the question out of courtesy,
+for by this time we both knew that the poor man was ruined by his
+dreadful habit, from which it was impossible he should ever be
+released.
+
+"Yes, I think so. I have not seen him lately," she said, still with
+the same distracted air.
+
+I will confess, plainly, that I had begun to have fears for her, lest
+either the ravages of the climate, or the sufferings she had
+undergone, had wrought upon her mind.
+
+"I come to bring you bad news," I went on. "The Nabob has died."
+
+"So I have understood," Marian replied in the same listless way. Then,
+seeming to recollect herself, she added quickly--"I learnt the news
+this afternoon from a friend."
+
+Since her arrival I knew that some of the ladies of the settlement had
+shown Marian some kindness, inviting her to their houses occasionally.
+One of these ladies, I concluded, had been beforehand with me in my
+intelligence.
+
+"I am glad to see you so easy under the circumstances," I said,
+feeling perhaps a little jealous. "I suppose you know that the new
+Nabob is no friend to the Company, and that we may have trouble with
+him before many months are past."
+
+"I suppose it may be so. But though Surajah Dowlah may have grounds
+for complaint against the Council here, I can't think he will carry
+his resentment so far as to injure the peaceable inhabitants of
+Calcutta."
+
+I turned towards her, amazed.
+
+"What do you say?" I cried. "You speak as though you were in the
+Nabob's interests! Have you been listening to the talk of some Moor or
+other? If so, let me tell you that they are nothing but liars and
+traitors, every mother's son of them!"
+
+"You needn't be so fierce!" she returned, more warmly than she had yet
+spoken. "I have had no conversation with any Moor, or Gentoo either,
+upon the subject. Surely I may have leave to think as I choose,
+without being bound to take my opinions from Mr. Athelstane Ford!"
+
+"Oh Marian, Marian!" I exclaimed bitterly, wounded by these unkind
+words. "What have I done to forfeit your confidence? Have I not been
+faithful and true to you from the first hour of our acquaintance till
+now? You know that I am the best friend you have, and one who would
+die to serve you. Yet these several days past you have behaved to me
+as if you had plans which you wished to keep from me. Do you doubt of
+my being ready to do anything you should bid me, even if it were to go
+to Moorshedabad and enlist with Surajah Dowlah himself? Why are we not
+to be open with each other? You know I love you; I have told you so
+often enough before we ever came out to this dreadful land; and I
+think I have shown myself ready to prove it as well. Even now I have
+come here simply to provide for your safety. In a few days the
+unfavourable monsoon will set in, after which no ship can leave the
+coast, but this week there is a vessel sailing for Madras, on which I
+am able to secure a passage for you, and for Mr. Rising as well, if he
+will go. I have come to offer you this opportunity, and entreat you to
+accept of it. And if there are any who would persuade you to remain,
+depend upon it, they are your enemies and not your friends."
+
+She heard me out, sitting quite still and showing no sign of
+impatience. But when I had finished she said--
+
+"I thank you, Athelstane, for your kind intentions, and for your
+goodness in the past, of which I do not need to be reminded. As for
+what you say about your love for me, since you have spoken so plainly,
+I must needs tell you that I am not able to return it. I have tried,
+both on the voyage hither and since; and I have failed. Your loving
+friend I am, and hope to remain always, no matter what may happen to
+part us for a time. Nevertheless, I don't share your fears of what
+the Moors may do against us, and I will not leave Calcutta, though I
+thank you for your offers."
+
+She seemed as if about to say more, but stopped abruptly. Of the deep
+distress which I felt to hear her declare that my love for her was
+hopeless, I say nothing, for what can be said? There are some to whom
+that great prize, the chief that life affords, namely the love of the
+woman they have chosen, is granted, but to most men, I suppose, it is
+denied; and I but shared the common lot. These things are the most
+important in our lives, they leave bruises whose marks are never quite
+effaced; yet all passes secretly; the business of life goes on, the
+world sees our actions, our outward triumphs and losses, and knows of
+nothing else. There was not a soul in Calcutta who ever knew what had
+passed between Marian and me on this occasion, and yet those few words
+were a worse grief to me than all the other sufferings I had to
+endure; and in that single hour I was changed from a boy into a man.
+
+After this I dared not press her again on the subject of leaving
+Calcutta. With a heavy heart I watched the last ship go down the
+Hooghley on the way to England, and the very day after it had gone I
+received a message in writing from Mr. Holwell, in these words--
+
+    "Haste to the Council meeting, and ask for me. We are in receipt
+    of threatening letters from Moorshedabad, and need your
+    services."
+
+Not a little agitated, I thrust the letter into my pocket, and
+hastened round to Mr. Drake's, the Governor's house, where the Council
+was assembled, he being confined indoors by an illness. I sent in my
+name to Mr. Holwell, who immediately came out and fetched me into the
+room where they were met.
+
+Mr. Drake lay on a couch against one of the windows, while the other
+gentlemen were seated around in a circle, facing him. He was a stout
+man with a red face, who had spent many years in the East Indies, and
+by dint of an important manner and never having been placed in any
+situation of real difficulty, had passed down to this time for a very
+prudent and capable person. On my entrance he spoke to me rather
+peremptorily--
+
+"You are Mr. Ford, are you not?"
+
+I nodded.
+
+"I am told that you speak the Indostanee language. Is that so?"
+
+"Yes, sir," I said. "Mr. Holwell and Mr. Byng are aware of it."
+
+"Very good." He nodded his head once or twice. "Those gentlemen have
+recommended you to the Council as a discreet, intelligent young man,
+which I do not doubt you are. There is an employment which I have to
+propose to you, one which calls for those qualities, and also for
+courage. The question is, young man"--he fixed his eyes on me very
+sternly--"do you think you possess courage?"
+
+"I don't know," I answered bluntly, not much liking his manner of
+questioning me.
+
+"Ha!" He gave a sort of sniff, and looked about him scornfully.
+
+"But I have fought one duel, and am ready to fight another with any
+one who doubts me," I said, speaking in a modest voice. And some of
+the gentlemen laughed and clapped their hands.
+
+The Governor frowned severely.
+
+"I believe, Mr. Ford, that you intend no disrespect to this Council by
+your answer?" To this challenge I made no response. "Very good, I
+daresay you may be equal to the commission we have to offer you. You
+must know that we have received letters from the newly proclaimed
+Nabob of Bengal, complaining of certain improvements we have made in
+our defences. Those improvements were made in the prospect of the
+French war, but the Nabob chooses to regard them as directed against
+him. Now the point is this, that we believe information has been
+supplied to Surajah Dowlah by some person in this town, not one of the
+Indians, but a European, who must have some means unknown to us of
+coming to and fro. We have set a watch, but are unable to detect him.
+Mr. Holwell has suggested that you might undertake this task, and by
+reason of your ability to communicate with the Gentoos in their own
+language, succeed in discovering this person; in which case we are
+prepared to pay you a very handsome reward."
+
+I did not feel much inclined to this proposal at the first blush,
+considering that it carried little honour with it. But Mr. Holwell,
+who no doubt divined my objections, set himself to remove them.
+
+"You will render the Company and the whole settlement a great service
+if you are able to effect this, Ford," he said. "The fact is that the
+presence of a European spy, most probably a Frenchman, is a source of
+very great danger. There are many weak points in the fort, for
+instance, which would be overlooked by a Moor, but of which fatal
+advantage may be taken if they are communicated to an enemy by an
+intelligent observer. I think it is your plain duty to assist the
+Council if you can."
+
+"That is enough, sir; I will do my best," I replied.
+
+The Governor then dismissed me, and the Council broke up. I believe
+letters were sent to Surajah Dowlah, to explain the circumstances
+which had awaked his suspicions, but without any good effect.
+Meanwhile Mr. Holwell carried me to his house, where we laid our plans
+for the detection of the spy.
+
+It was settled that I should assume the dress of a Moor, and in that
+character should pass my time about the fort and adjacent grounds,
+that being the place to which a person seeking information would be
+most likely to repair. Mr. Holwell provided me with a turban, jacket,
+and blue trousers, and I stained my face with a pigment which he
+assured me would not easily come off. At the same time I wore a
+scymetar in my belt, and put a pair of pistols in my bosom. Thus
+disguised I went out for a walk through the bazaars, and had the
+satisfaction to observe that I was everywhere taken for a Moor. But
+when I spoke I was not so successful, my practise in the language not
+being sufficient to impose upon the Indians.
+
+As soon as I had satisfied myself by this experiment that my disguise
+was accurate, I returned towards the fort, and commenced walking about
+it, observing the persons who came in and out on their business. But
+though my suspicions were once or twice attracted to different ones,
+yet I found nothing to go upon. In this way not only one day passed,
+but several others, and I began to despair of success.
+
+On the fourth day of my watch, however, about seven o'clock in the
+evening, as I happened to be looking abroad of the river, which is
+here pretty wide, and contained a good deal of small shipping, I
+noticed a man in a boat, which he rowed himself, who appeared to be
+lurking about for no very honest purpose. Instead of either landing or
+going off in some fixed direction, this man plied to and fro, close
+under the wall of the fort, which he seemed to examine very closely
+from time to time. As well as I could make out he was a Moor, and my
+instructions were to watch for a Frenchman, yet I was rendered so
+uneasy by the movements of this individual that I resolved to go out
+on the water, and examine him more closely. Accordingly I left the
+place where I was, near the north gate of the fort, and strolled down
+to a small flight of stairs on the river bank, where some boats lay
+for hire. Stepping into one of these, I cast off, and taking the oars,
+which I had learned to handle during my term of service on board the
+_Talisman_, rowed slowly out towards the spy, as I believed him to be.
+
+When he saw me coming towards him, he at first pulled a few strokes as
+if to make away, but being, as I suppose, reassured by the sight of my
+costume, he ceased rowing and waited for me to come up alongside.
+Glancing round from time to time as I drew near, I soon perceived that
+I had no Frenchman to deal with, or at least that, if I had, he had
+taken the same precaution as myself in assuming the dress of the
+country. Feeling desirous to test him, I hailed as soon as I came up,
+in the native tongue.
+
+"Does my lord seek for anything that his servant may procure him?" I
+said, using their fulsome style.
+
+He at once replied, in what was evidently a phrase learnt by rote--
+
+"I cannot speak your language, but I am a friend of Omichund."
+
+Now this Omichund was a great, rich Gentoo, a banker and merchant who,
+having made huge profits as a broker in the matter of the Company's
+investment for many years, had recently had his services dispensed
+with, and was believed to be disaffected on that account, and in
+correspondence with the Moorish Court. I needed no more to convince me
+that this was most likely the man whom I had been employed to
+apprehend. Not daring to speak English, and it being useless to
+address him in the Indostanee, I made signs that he should follow me,
+and commenced to row to the shore.
+
+But here I was disappointed, for the fellow, instead of following me,
+at once began to move off in the opposite direction. Seeing this I at
+once turned, shouting after him, and pointing where I would have him
+go. He merely grinned and rowed further off, nor was it any better
+when I showed him one of my pistols, for he then merely increased his
+speed, so that I was obliged to pick up my oars again pretty quickly
+in order to pursue him.
+
+Seeing that it was become a race between us, he bent to his oars, and
+I did the same, so that the two boats flew down the river, one about
+twelve lengths behind the other. But taking advantage of a string of
+barges which lay anchored out in the stream, he presently dodged me,
+running in round the tail of the line, and so altering his course up
+the stream. If I had not turned my head constantly to watch him, I
+should soon have lost him among the shipping, and these frequent
+turnings hindered my rowing, so that I could not gain on the other
+boat so fast as I should otherwise have done. For I soon perceived
+that I was the better rower of the two, or else had the quicker boat;
+and the spy seemed to perceive it too, for after taking me some
+distance up the middle of the river, he suddenly struck off towards
+the bank, rowing hard for a house which had come in sight, standing on
+the river's edge.
+
+As we approached this house I could just see (for it was growing dark)
+a large window standing open, not above a man's height from the water.
+To this my fellow rowed, and having brought his boat beneath it, threw
+down his oars, stood up on the gunwale, and with a desperate leap
+which nearly sunk the boat, gained the sill of the window and
+disappeared inside.
+
+But I was close behind, running up against the side of his boat at the
+moment when he passed in at the window, so that by imitating his
+tactics I was able to leap through immediately after him. I stumbled
+in alighting, picked myself up, and glanced round, to perceive the man
+I had been pursuing standing over against me with a pistol in his
+hand. The next moment I had recognised the room, and there was Marian
+standing up with a distressed face, one hand on her bosom and the
+other stretched out between us.
+
+"Stand back!" shouted the spy to her in English, in a voice that I
+could have recognised anywhere in the world. "This is a damned Indian
+spy, whom I will kill as soon as I have questioned him."
+
+"You lie, Rupert Gurney," says I, quite calm and cold, as I drew out
+my own pistols and stood facing him. "'Tis you are the spy, in the
+service of a vile, treacherous, Moorish tyrant, to whom you would
+betray your countrymen."
+
+I do not think I have ever seen a man so overwhelmed as was Rupert by
+those words, though the surprise of this encounter must in reality
+have been less to him than it was to me, since Marian had of course
+told him of my being in Calcutta. His jaw dropped, and he ceased to
+present his pistol at me, no doubt being well aware that I would not
+take him at a disadvantage.
+
+"Yes," I continued, "not satisfied with your piracies and murders, for
+which you are justly afraid to show your face in any English
+community, you are now become a traitor and a public enemy. You have
+hired yourself out to that bad man, Surajah Dowlah, and go about to
+deliver your fellow Christians into the hands of Mussalmans and
+heathen."
+
+"Not so fast, young man," says Rupert, resuming his natural insolence.
+"Your reproaches are unfair in one particular at least. I am no longer
+a Christian, having exchanged that religion for the more convenient
+and profitable one of the Alcoran."
+
+He added a coarse jest which I am ashamed to write down, and which a
+year or two before I believe he would have been ashamed to utter. I
+have heard that residence in the East Indies has this effect upon some
+men, to change their characters to evil, so that when they return to
+Europe they are no longer fit for the decent society of their own
+country. And though my cousin Gurney was an unscrupulous and daring
+young man before ever he left Norfolk, yet I believe he was altered
+for the worse after his visiting those parts.
+
+Marian, standing terrified between us, now interfered to say--
+
+"Be silent, Rupert, if you please. And you, Athelstane, since you
+perceive your cousin is here under my father's roof, I entreat you to
+retire as you came."
+
+"I cannot, Marian," says I, very firm. "I am charged to take that
+traitor and villain, and I will do it, dead or alive."
+
+In spite of his bravado I could see Gurney wince under these words,
+though he affected to make light of them.
+
+"Leave us together, girl," he said to Marian. "I will tame this young
+cockerel, as I would have done before if he had fought me fairly, with
+the weapons agreed to be used by us."
+
+My blood boiled to hear this shameful taunt.
+
+"You coward!" I cried, "I spared your life once, as you well know, and
+then you would have murdered me in cold blood because the cutlass
+broke that I had of a Jew! But I will fight you now with sword,
+pistol, or both, and this time I swear that you shall not escape with
+your life."
+
+But Marian would not consent to this.
+
+"You are not to fight," she exclaimed. "Do you hear me, Athelstane
+Ford? Your cousin wants nothing but to be allowed to go away in
+safety; and would you be the one to deliver your own blood up to
+justice? For shame!"
+
+"Shame, indeed!" I retorted bitterly, all the anguish that was pent up
+in my heart breaking out. "Shame that I who have loved and served you,
+and delivered you out of the prison where this very man had put you,
+should be asked to spare him now by you, whom he has never truly
+loved, whom he has betrayed and slighted, and is ready to betray
+again. I know not, though I can guess, by what wheedling tale he has
+cozened you to forgive him, and to lend him shelter and protection in
+his base designs; but do you think, Marian, that that villain standing
+there will care for you one moment longer than you can be of use to
+him, and that he will not leave you to a worse fate than before when
+he has done with you, and that without the least compunction? I have
+loved you a long time, Marian, but I have never understood you, and if
+this is your intention then I think you cannot be in your true mind."
+
+I looked to see her break out and weep, but she did not. She cast her
+eyes to the ground, and said, when I had finished, speaking low--
+
+"I think you are right, and that perhaps I am not in my true mind. For
+there are times when I know and see all the falsehood and wickedness
+of this man's heart as well as ever you can tell it me, and yet I tell
+you, to my own bitter shame, that I love him so that if he bids me
+follow him into any disgrace or crime, God help me, I cannot refuse!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+_TAKEN CAPTIVE_
+
+
+Rupert, when he heard those words of Marian, gave a laugh, and
+advanced a step towards me.
+
+"There now, you see how it is," he said, "as I told you long ago in
+Yarmouth; but you wouldn't believe me. Come, why need we keep up our
+quarrel any longer, when the girl tells you to your face that she
+prefers me? After all, we are of the same blood, good Norfolk
+dumplings both; and if I have done you any injury in the past, I am
+here ready to tender my best amends for it."
+
+He spoke this with a brave air, and I believe was going to offer me
+his hand. I must confess that I was a little touched with compunction
+at that mention of Norfolk, where I was born. Something, too, of that
+old superiority and fascination which this man had exercised over me
+in my boyhood revived as he spoke. But the memory of his subsequent
+treacheries and crimes was too strong for me to feel more than a
+momentary inclination towards yielding. I drew back from him,
+therefore, and shook my head.
+
+"If we are related, it is a thing I cannot help, though it is to my
+shame," I answered him. "But I will have no more part nor lot with
+you, were you the last of my kin left on earth. Do not suppose that,
+because Marian is so far bewitched that she has forgiven you your
+wicked treatment of her, I shall do the same. What are you now but a
+traitor to your countrymen, and a spy in the service of a bloody
+Indian tyrant? Rupert Gurney, I must tell you that I hold you for a
+detestable villain and a coward, and I will pursue you without truce
+and without rest till I have rid the earth of such a wretch. And I am
+here now ready to begin."
+
+My anger against him gathered and swelled as I spoke, recalling his
+base actions, so different from his words. He immediately let me see
+that his behaviour was not changed, for before I had well done
+speaking he suddenly raised his pistol and discharged it in my face;
+after which he turned and ran out through the doorway, without waiting
+to see the result of his shot. To do my cousin justice, I believe he
+had plenty of natural courage, being of the right Ford strain, as he
+said. But after that great combat which we had in the boat off
+Yarmouth river, he never faced me again without a certain reluctance
+and blenching, as though his conscience misgave him.
+
+I was very little hurt on this occasion, for the ball entered my
+mouth sideways, merely depriving me of two teeth, and issuing again
+through the left cheek. But the sudden pain and bleeding incommoded me
+so far as to hinder my pursuit of Rupert, so that he got clear away
+and left the town that night, it seems, for Moorshedabad.
+
+I reported the affair to Mr. Drake, merely concealing some details, as
+that this was my kinsman; and he was so well satisfied to have got rid
+of him that he promised me I should receive half the reward offered
+for his capture. But the subsequent events doubtless put it out of his
+mind, for I never received anything. And on the whole I was satisfied
+with this, not wishing to make a profit, as it were, out of the
+treachery of one of my own family, however unworthy.
+
+Even had I succeeded in taking Gurney, and had he been executed, it
+was now too late to have altered the course of events. Every day
+brought fresh intelligence confirming the hostility of the Nabob
+towards the English. One day he sent to demand the levelling of Fort
+William to the ground, the next he threatened the withdrawal of the
+Company's privileges, and in particular the dustucks, which he said
+were abused by being lent to Gentoos, his own subjects. Finally word
+came that Surajah Dowlah had marched out of Moorshedabad with his
+army, and had sat down before Cossimbuzar, where we had a factory and
+a small fort.
+
+All this time the Governor and others of the Council had refused to
+believe that anything was intended beyond extorting a sum of money
+from the Company. But the wiser and more prudent ones, among whom were
+Messrs. Byng and Holwell, took a different view, which they made me
+share. Now at last Mr. Drake seemed to rouse from his supineness, and
+gave orders for the town and fort to be prepared against attack.
+Before these orders could be carried out, however, arrived the news
+that Mr. Watts, chief of the Cossimbuzar party, was a prisoner in the
+Nabob's hands, that the place was surrendered, and plundered by the
+Moors, and that our garrison, though promised security, had been so
+barbarously used by them that Mr. Elliott, the commanding officer, had
+taken his own life.
+
+And now men began to tell each other fearful stories of Surajah Dowlah
+and his career. It was said that when he was a child his favourite
+pastime had been the torturing of birds and animals, from which, while
+still in his boyhood, he had passed to mutilating slaves; that not
+only had he given himself from his earliest years to every species of
+oriental lust--some too vile to be named--but he was even a drunkard,
+a vice forbidden by the Alcoran and foreign to the manners of
+Indostan. To his great-uncle, the late Nabob, who doted on him to
+distraction, he had shown, it was said, the basest ingratitude,
+insolently taking advantage of the old man's affection to accomplish
+his crimes and murders with impunity, and, if restrained in any of
+his desires, to withdraw from the Court and threaten rebellion,
+knowing that his uncle would yield anything rather than endure the
+absence of his darling. At the present moment, it was affirmed, he had
+quarrelled with and set aside all the wisest and principal men in his
+dominions, and was governed by minions of his own, buffoons and such
+creatures, sprung from the lowest class and promoted to high stations
+as a reward for their participation in his guilty orgies. Such was the
+young man, incapable of reason or mercy, and passing from one
+transport of passion to another, who was now in full march with all
+his force against Calcutta, having sworn to exterminate the English
+from Bengal.
+
+Immediately I found there was talk of resistance and fighting, I went
+to Mr. Byng and begged to be allowed to serve with the garrison. This
+offer he thankfully accepted, and in the course of a day or two every
+other Englishman in the town either volunteered or was pressed into
+the same service. Our regular garrison consisted of only two hundred
+European troops, to which were added some Topasses, a mixed breed of
+Indians and Portuguese, very suitable to be used as mercenaries, and
+about a thousand of the black natives armed as buxerries, or matchlock
+men. Out of regard to my having been the first to volunteer and to my
+former service on board a man-of-war, I was presently appointed a
+sergeant, and put in charge of a party of twelve men, assigned to the
+defence of the rope-walk which joins the main east road from the fort
+to the Morattoe ditch.
+
+Besides this ditch, begun to be dug many years before at a time when
+the Morattoe armies were invading Bengal, and never finished, there
+was no fortification of any kind round the town; so that barricades
+had now to be thrown up, and guns planted in the streets at whatever
+points seemed most favourable for intercepting the advance of the
+enemy. The plan of defence, so far as any plan was adhered to in the
+confusion and panic which prevailed, was to defend these outposts as
+long as possible, then to retire into Fort William itself and stand a
+siege, and when the fort could be maintained no longer to take to the
+ships which lay in the river, and drop down the stream out of reach of
+the enemy.
+
+My own post was, as I have said, at the rope-walk. At one end of this
+place, on the main road into the town, was a battery under the command
+of a captain, so disposed as to check any advance. But in case the
+enemy should try to creep round through some side streets and take the
+battery in flank, our little party of twelve was stationed at the
+other end of the rope-walk, ready to detect and resist any such
+attempt.
+
+The first notice we had of the arrival of the Moors' army was by a
+cannon fired on the north side of the town, at a place where the
+Morattoe ditch joined the river Hooghley. This being the direct way
+for an army coming from Moorshedabad to enter Calcutta, the Moors here
+made their first attack, and all that day the sound of cannon and
+musketry came to us on the breeze, without our seeing the enemy or
+knowing how the fortune of the day was turning. But with evening came
+the good news that the enemy had been repulsed and had drawn off to
+the other side of the ditch.
+
+That night we did not dare to retire to rest indoors, but slept at our
+post, under a shed put up over some wheels on which the twine was
+wound. At four in the morning we were up and eating some bread and
+cold meat sent to us from the fort for our breakfast, when suddenly we
+heard a fearful rattle and crash of musketry close at hand. The enemy
+had been informed of the gap in the Morattoe ditch further south, had
+swarmed across it, and were now attacking our outposts all along the
+line.
+
+Leaving our meal half-eaten, we sprang to our feet and took our
+weapons. I ordered the men not to expose themselves more than was
+needed, an order which one or two of them obeyed so zealously as to
+place themselves where they could neither see nor be seen by the
+enemy, and where all they did was to load their muskets and discharge
+them into the air in the direction from which the attack seemed to
+come. However, I found some braver than that, and as the Moors seemed
+much afraid of our fire we held them at bay well enough. Their own
+fire was more frightening than dangerous, the noise being out of all
+proportion to the number of persons hit. So much was this the case
+that after some hours had gone by without a single ball taking effect
+on any member of our party, their first fears wore off and all began
+to expose themselves in a very reckless manner.
+
+There was a wall forming the side of the rope-walk, about four feet
+high, and behind this wall we stood and fired at the Moors as they
+showed themselves in any of the streets commanded by our position. I
+cannot describe how interested and excited I got in this cruel sport,
+for such it resembled. I chose for myself a long, narrow street
+leading to the southward, with about a dozen lanes crossing it from
+east to west. Loading my gun and resting it on the coping of the wall
+with the muzzle pointed down this street, I kept my eyes on the
+various openings. Every quarter of an hour, perhaps, a small party of
+soldiers in bright silk turbans, with glittering arms and armour,
+would pass out from one of the lanes into this street, either crossing
+it or moving up or down. Each time I would wait till a whole group
+emerged, so as to have a bigger target, and then discharge my piece.
+Almost invariably a man would fall, and the whole party, terrified and
+not understanding the smallness of our force, would run into one of
+the lanes adjoining, leaving a wounded or dead man lying in the
+deserted street. This went on till, I think, fifteen or twenty bodies
+lay at different points along the roadway, besides those who, being
+slightly hurt, had crawled away into shelter.
+
+In the end I suppose the Moorish leader in this part of the attack
+must have had notice of our proceedings; for presently a force of some
+thirty or forty Indians emerged suddenly from a corner very near the
+rope-walk and advanced towards us at a run, firing freely as they
+came. Now it was that one of our men was hit for the first time, a
+Company's servant named Parkes, a young lad who had arrived in Bengal
+only six weeks before from England. A ball struck him under the right
+eye, and he died in a few minutes.
+
+This accident caused the rest of us to take more care. Nevertheless,
+we managed to get off a good volley before the enemy could arrive as
+far as the wall, wounding several. The rest wavered, and would,
+perhaps, have fled but for the action of their leader, a tall, fine
+man, having a great scymetar in his hand, with which he struck his men
+violently on the shoulders to urge them forward. Seeing them resume
+their rush at our position, I looked round at my own men, and to my
+disgust found several preparing to desert their places and retire
+further back.
+
+"Stop!" I shouted angrily. "Let us show these black villains we are
+not afraid of them! Fix bayonets! Forward! Charge!"
+
+With these words I leaped over the wall and ran at the enemy, followed
+by my whole party, except one man, who actually threw down his piece
+and fled, not stopping till he reached the fort. But he need not have
+done this, for had he stood a moment he would have seen the whole
+party of Moors break and fly without waiting to close with us, so much
+were they terrified by the way in which we sprang over the wall to
+come at them. And this is, indeed, the nature of all the natives of
+Indostan--to give way instantly that they meet an enemy who is more
+bent on fighting than they are themselves.
+
+The only person to stand his ground was the leader of the party, who
+waited for us to come up, and then, singling me out, aimed a blow at
+me with his scymetar. Up to this moment I had been too busy to observe
+his face, and my rage knew no bounds when I discovered that I had to
+do with my renegade kinsman himself, who, it appears, had been
+searching for me from the very beginning of the battle. How it would
+now have gone between us I cannot say, for several of my men closing
+in round us almost immediately, Rupert saw his danger and ran off, and
+my duty to defend the rope-walk forbade me from following.
+
+For the rest of that day we were not much disturbed, except by the
+continual pattering of bullets, which seemed to come from all quarters
+of the compass. When night came, being anxious to learn how the siege
+had progressed in other quarters, I sent a messenger to the fort, who
+brought back word that the enemy had made no very great impression so
+far, but that everything was in such a state of confusion and dismay
+at the headquarters that it was impossible we could hold out much
+longer.
+
+Not to dwell on these particulars, the next day saw the end of this
+unhappy affair. Early in the forenoon the Moors made a very hot attack
+on the battery at the far end of our rope-walk, and at the same time a
+fresh party, headed by my wicked cousin, assailed our position. I
+restrained my men from discharging their muskets till the Indians were
+within a few paces of us, with the result that we did great execution,
+nearly a dozen of them falling. The rest fell back for a moment, but
+Gurney urging them on, they rushed up and made a desperate attempt to
+clamber over the wall.
+
+While we were hard at work keeping them off with our bayonets, I heard
+a tremendous crash and shouting in the rear, from the point where the
+battery was placed. This noise seemed greatly to encourage our
+assailants, several of whom managed to get over the wall and engage in
+hand to hand conflicts with the men under me. Nevertheless, I stirred
+up my fellows to continue their resistance, and myself beat back two
+Moors, one of whom I ran through the body with my bayonet. So absorbed
+was I that I did not observe the approach of a young ensign from the
+battery, who came running along the rope-walk, shouting out--
+
+"Fall back! fall back! The battery is abandoned to the enemy, and they
+will cut off your retreat."
+
+At this the men with me began to slacken their exertions, and some
+fairly took to their heels. However, I had just caught sight of Rupert
+advancing towards me and did not feel inclined to budge.
+
+"Come back, you fool!" shouted the little ensign, pale and breathless.
+"We are beaten, don't you hear?"
+
+I turned my head and scowled at him.
+
+"You seem to be beaten, sir," I said. "For my part, I am very
+comfortable where I am, and intend to go on fighting."
+
+With these words I turned to defend myself from Rupert, who was coming
+at me eagerly enough, as it seemed. The ensign fled without further
+parley, and I believe saved his life. So also did most of my
+companions, though two others were badly wounded, and unable to stir.
+For my part I was resolved to sell my life dearly, but this privilege
+was denied me. For Gurney, as soon as he saw how the land lay, and
+that I was left there alone, instantly drew back and ordered his men
+to take me a prisoner, which, being by this time about thirty or forty
+against one, they effected, whether I would or not.
+
+My cousin's exultation was very great when he thus had me for the
+second time in his power.
+
+"Now, Master Athelstane," he cried, "we shall see whether you get off
+as lightly as you did at Gheriah. You are not likely, I think, to be
+rescued by a fleet this time. But perhaps you will be glad that I
+should take you without more ado before the Nabob. He has a high
+opinion of the English, and no doubt will be glad to take you into his
+service and give you many handsome rewards."
+
+"Rupert Gurney," I answered, "in mocking at one who is your prisoner,
+owing to no valour of yours, you merely show yourself to be a coward
+as well as a traitor. I care nothing for what the Nabob may do to me;
+and this I know, that I would rather he put me to death outright than
+enjoy his favour by such services as yours."
+
+"Thank you, cousin," says Rupert, who was able to keep his temper now
+that he had the better of me. "I am glad to learn that you will not
+seek to undermine my credit with his Highness. But now, if you are
+sufficiently rested, let us proceed."
+
+Speaking these mocking words, he made his men bind my wrists together
+with a cord, and conducted me out of the streets of the town towards
+Surajah Dowlah's camp.
+
+The tent of the Nabob was a fine great pavilion of yellow and crimson
+cloth. All about the entrance stood his guards, very handsomely
+dressed, with silver and gold ornaments, and armed with all sorts of
+curious weapons, some of which I had not seen before. Inside, when we
+were presently admitted, the spectacle was still more striking. The
+Nabob sat on a high cushion, called the musnud, placed on a dais
+which was raised several feet above the ground. On the dais beside him
+stood three of his principal courtiers, in silk robes and turbans
+incrusted with gems, while others of inferior rank stood below the
+steps of the dais. A slave beat the air with a fan of peacock's
+feathers over the Nabob's head.
+
+I gazed with great curiosity and awe upon this young prince, who was
+now making his name terrible through Bengal. I was amazed to see that
+he was extremely young, scarce older than myself, with a face, I
+think, the handsomest of any Indian's I ever saw: yet his face was
+marred, and his youthfulness made unnatural by the ugly traces of his
+passions. His skin appeared coarse and blotched, his lips were thick
+and purple-coloured, and his teeth--an unusual thing among Moors--very
+black and dirty, when he spoke. He lay back somewhat on his throne,
+with his chin leaning on his breast and his heavy eyes turned to the
+ground. In spite of the waving of the fan, the heat seemed to oppress
+him; or else it was the weight of his turban, for he passed his hand
+over his brow every now and then as if he would have lifted it off.
+His fingers, I noticed, were much encumbered with rings, besides which
+he wore bracelets, and ear-rings in his ears. But when he lifted his
+eyes from the floor and looked at me, I was appalled by the expression
+in them, which was not that of common ferocity, but rather dreadful
+despair, like a lost soul that is goaded on to assuage its own pangs
+by the torture of others.
+
+"Who is this dog?" he asked in a husky, soddened tone, as I was
+brought up to the foot of his dais.
+
+"It is one of the ungrateful wretches who have dared to resist the
+slaves of your sublime Highness," was the answer. Rupert had come in
+with me, so as to take the credit of my capture, but the conversation
+with the Nabob was carried on by one of the Indians, who seemed to be
+the lieutenant of the party.
+
+"Is he one of the English?" demanded Surajah, casting an angry glance
+at me.
+
+"Your exalted wisdom has said the word. Undoubtedly he belongs to that
+vile nation, whom the breath of your anger has even now destroyed."
+
+"Ask him why his people have dared to resist my commands. Who is he?
+Is he one of their principal men? Ask him where is their treasure?"
+
+Before the Indian could translate these questions I answered them in
+the same language.
+
+"I am an interpreter in the service of the Company, may it please your
+Highness. I am but newly arrived in your country, and know nothing of
+the other matters you have asked about."
+
+The Nabob gave a sullen frown.
+
+"Take the wretch away out of my sight. He is a worthless capture," he
+said.
+
+But one of the three men on the dais, a young, handsome Gentoo, with a
+cruel, cunning face--I afterwards heard he was Lal Moon, the Nabob's
+chief favourite--bent over his master and whispered something in his
+ear. Instantly Surajah Dowlah sat up, furious.
+
+"You have lied to me!" he screamed. "You speak our language, and yet
+you say you are but newly arrived. That must be a lie!"
+
+He looked round at his courtiers, and there was a murmur of admiration
+at his sagacity.
+
+"Your Highness is mistaken," I said, keeping cool. "I learned the
+Indostanee language on my way out to the East Indies, from the
+secretary of Colonel Clive."
+
+As I pronounced this name I saw a movement among those present. The
+Nabob stared, not understanding to whom I referred; but an older man,
+with a proud, discontented, and yet apprehensive air, who also stood
+on the dais, and was, I found out, Meer Jaffier, Surajah Dowlah's
+uncle, and commander of his armies, this man, I say, spoke in
+explanation--
+
+"The youth means that he came on the ship with Sabat Jung."
+
+No sooner did the Nabob hear this than he changed colour.
+
+"Are you a friend of Sabat Jung's? Is he coming to Bengal?" he asked,
+with scarcely concealed anxiety.
+
+"Sabat Jung is my protector," I replied, putting on a bolder air. "If
+he hears that any wrong has been done to the English in Calcutta, he
+will surely come here and avenge them."
+
+The courtiers exchanged looks of amazement at these words of defiance,
+doubtless expecting to see me led to instant execution. But I have an
+instinct which tells me when a man is afraid of me, and I could see
+that, for the time, Surajah Dowlah was cowed.
+
+My cousin Gurney seized this opportunity to attract the Nabob's
+attention, and take credit for his exploit. He stepped towards me and
+said, in such Indostanee as he could command--
+
+"Silence, wretch! Sabat Jung is in the Carnatic, nor would he dare to
+come into Bengal without the permission of the Lord of the English,
+Surajah Dowlah. When he hears of the conquest of Cossimbuzar and Fort
+William the heart of Sabat Jung will become as water."
+
+I gave him a scornful look.
+
+"If his Highness judges of the English by you he will be deceived," I
+said. "If you were ever to show your face in any place where Sabat
+Jung was he would have you hanged, as you very well know."
+
+I kept my eyes fixed on the young Nabob's face as I spoke, and was
+pleased to see that I had made an impression. He looked uneasily from
+one to the other of us, and then, before Rupert could reply, ordered
+us both from his presence.
+
+I found myself kept a close prisoner for that night and a part of the
+next day in the house of a rich Indian, which stood beside the
+Morattoe ditch. From this place I could hear some noise of guns
+occasionally, and was obliged to conjecture how the fight was going
+on. There was something very trying and painful in being near enough
+to a battle-field to share its anxieties without being allowed to join
+in the work. But I had a pretty sure presentiment that the affair
+would end badly for us, and so indeed it proved; for about four in the
+afternoon there was a great commotion outside the place where I was
+confined, and my guards came in to fetch me, telling me with cruel
+pleasure that Fort William had surrendered, and I was to be brought
+there to join the other prisoners.
+
+I will not stay to describe the confused spectacle of the streets
+through which we passed on our way to the fort. What struck me most,
+and put a deep depression upon my spirits, was to see the fierce
+exultation of the native Indians in our discomfiture. In this hour of
+our overthrow these men, who had lived unmolested beneath our
+government, and thriven by means of our commerce, openly revealed all
+that vehement malice and hatred toward us which is, I suppose, part of
+their nature, and not to be eradicated by any fairness of dealing. I
+should be ashamed to relate the vile things they said, and their gross
+behaviour, as I was led along a prisoner. I thank God I have since
+walked through those same streets in a different trim, and had those
+same wretches bowing and grovelling on the earth as I passed.
+
+When I arrived at the fort I was horrified to find gathered there a
+large company of other English prisoners, to the number of about a
+hundred and fifty. Among them were both the Honourable Robert Byng and
+Mr. Holwell, who received me with surprise, having been assured by
+those men who had fought under me that they had seen me slain.
+Immediately after my joining them Mr. Holwell, who had become the
+chief of the party, was sent for by the Nabob to be examined. While he
+was away Mr. Byng told me the miserable circumstances of the capture
+of the fort, and how the Governor, Mr. Drake, had shamefully fled away
+overnight in a boat to the ships on the first alarm of the enemy's
+approach. Not content with this, he had carried off the whole of the
+shipping down the river to Govindpore, thus rendering hopeless the
+case of the English who had not escaped along with him, and that
+although it would have been easy to rescue them by sending a few boats
+to the shore. Of this, which I believe to be the most signal act of
+cowardice ever heard of, I forbear to write, lest I should fall into
+the use of opprobrious language. Yet I have often marvelled that those
+who had poor Mr. Byng--I mean the Admiral--shot on his own quarterdeck
+for his failure at Minorca, should have refused a gallows and a hempen
+noose to one who so richly deserved it as Governor Drake.
+
+While Mr. Holwell was with the Nabob the rest of us stood under a
+strong guard in the courtyard of the fort, where we began to find the
+heat very burdensome, the more so as it was difficult to get anything
+to eat or drink. While we were thus situated I saw my cousin Rupert go
+by, wearing a rich new turban, to wait upon the Nabob. At this period
+he appeared to be in high favour at the Court. No doubt he had
+acquired influence with Surajah Dowlah by flattering his superiority
+to the English.
+
+Mr. Holwell presently returned with the news that Surajah Dowlah
+was very much incensed against him, on account of the small sum found
+in the treasury of the fort, which amounted only to 54,000 Rs. The
+prince was firmly persuaded that the Company had somewhere concealed
+a vast treasure, which had been his principal motive to push the
+attack of the place. He had threatened Mr. Holwell very severely
+unless this treasure were found, and dismissed him to consult with his
+fellow-prisoners. This was bad news, for it was evidently impossible
+to persuade Surajah Dowlah that there was no such treasure, and he
+would therefore be inclined to look upon Mr. Holwell's failure to
+discover it as mere obstinacy.
+
+We were discussing our prospects very gloomily when a party of Moors
+arrived, bringing two fresh prisoners. I felt a sudden sickness when I
+recognised that these were none other than Marian herself with her
+father. Old Mr. Rising seemed to be dazed, and unconscious of what was
+happening to him, but Marian was suffering from visible terror. I
+hastened to her side, exclaiming--
+
+"Marian, what do you do here? Why are you not gone with the other
+women?"--for all the Englishwomen and children had been put aboard the
+ships as soon as the Moors arrived outside the town.
+
+Marian looked surprised and a little comforted to meet me in the same
+situation as herself.
+
+"So you are a prisoner too!" she cried. "I confess I do not understand
+what has happened to my father and me, for Rupert especially enjoined
+and urged us to remain in our house, assuring us that his credit with
+the Nabob would serve not merely to protect us, but to secure high
+places and rewards for himself, which he intended I should share."
+
+She said this with a certain shame, but I was too anxious for her
+safety to retain my feelings of jealousy at such a moment.
+
+"I will send for Gurney to come here," I said. "I have just seen him
+go into the Nabob's presence."
+
+I called one of the men who kept guard over us, and bade him go
+instantly and fetch my cousin. The Moor showed some disinclination to
+obey me, but I repeated my command in a tone so firm that he gave way,
+and sullenly complied.
+
+In a minute or two Rupert came out, looking bewildered, and, I
+thought, somewhat alarmed. As soon as he saw who it was that had sent
+for him, however, his assurance returned, and he came to us with a
+jaunty air.
+
+"Ha! Marian," he said, taking no notice of me, "so you have found your
+way here, have you? I am pleased to greet you; but if you have sent
+for me to ask me to procure the release of your other admirer, whom I
+took prisoner yesterday, I must tell you fairly that I am not the
+least inclined to do it."
+
+"Nay, Rupert," she answered, "I am ashamed to say that I had not
+thought of asking you anything on your cousin Athelstane's behalf.
+'Tis I and my father who are now prisoners, in spite of your pledges
+to us. Surely you will not suffer this!"
+
+Thus she spoke to him, but, ah! not in the old self-confident strain,
+but with a certain mournful submission which wrung my very
+heartstrings.
+
+"What do you say? You amaze me, Marian! This is a gross breach of the
+Serdar's own promise to me, but I doubt not that it will at once be
+righted. As for your father, I do not say; it may be that the old man
+would be better off in captivity. But I take it on myself that you
+shall be released without delay. I will go straight and speak about
+it."
+
+He said all this so readily that I could not feel sure he was not
+sincere. Marian, poor girl, gladly believed him, and gave me a look
+which was plainly meant to protest against my entertaining evil
+thoughts of Rupert. He hurried away, as he had said, and at the same
+time Mr. Holwell was sent for again to the Nabob.
+
+By this time it was getting to be near evening. The sun was dropping
+down on the other side of the river, and the long shadows of the palm
+trees rocked on the water. From where we stood we could see the
+soldiers going to and fro getting ready their evening meal, and hear
+an occasional shot in the town, where some Indian was letting off his
+musket by way of triumph for the victory. It was still hot, but a
+little breeze began to move up the river and flutter some pieces of
+linen that hung out drying in the lower courtyard, yesterday having
+been washing day in the fort.
+
+Mr. Holwell and Rupert returned together, the former more cheerful,
+but Gurney very sulky, and making a show of being much annoyed.
+
+"I have spoken to the Serdar, Marian, and could do nothing for
+to-night. He says that you are to remain with the other English till
+he can take the Nabob's pleasure, who is now getting drunk, and
+difficult to deal with."
+
+Mr. Holwell confirmed the story, adding--
+
+"Surajah Dowlah may scarce be spoken to. His looks are dreadful. Yet
+he has sworn to me on the faith of a soldier that no hair of any of
+our heads shall be injured."
+
+"That is right," quoth Rupert. "So you see, Marian, it is but staying
+here with your other friends"--he gave me a jeering smile as he said
+this--"till to-morrow morning, when I will speak to the Nabob myself,
+at all hazards, and have you released."
+
+Poor Marian glanced at him in despair.
+
+"Rupert, you won't desert me!" she cried. "You don't mean to leave me
+as you did in Gheriah in that horrid cell, from which I scarcely
+escaped alive?"
+
+"Pooh, pooh, girl! No," he answered lightly, "I shall be at hand. It
+is nothing. What is one night's captivity? The soldiers will have
+orders to find you some comfortable room in the fort. I will see about
+your accommodation myself."
+
+With this promise on his lips he disappeared, and returned no more.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+_THE BLACK HOLE_
+
+
+I have now to tell how we passed through that night, the memory of
+which to this day moves me to tremble and sicken like a man in strong
+fear.
+
+At sunset the Moorish soldiers who had charge of the prisoners marched
+us all together into a covered gallery or verandah that ran along one
+side of the courtyard, from which it was screened off by a row of
+arches. While we waited here a part of the soldiers ran to and fro,
+as if looking for accommodation for us. Surajah Dowlah's promises,
+reported to us by Mr. Holwell, had so far raised our spirits that some
+of the prisoners made merry at the difficulty the guard seemed to be
+in. One man asked if we were to pass the night in that gallery.
+Another, who stood near me, observed in jest--
+
+"They don't seem to know of the Black Hole."
+
+"I'm afraid we shouldn't all go into that," replied another, laughing.
+
+"What place do you mean?" I asked out of curiosity.
+
+"It is the cell where they confine the soldiers of the garrison,"
+explained the person next me. "It won't hold more than one or two
+persons."
+
+Hardly had he given me this information before the officer in charge
+of our guard came hurrying up. He gave some directions to his men, who
+commenced pushing and urging us along the gallery to a small door in
+the wall at our back. This they threw open, and beckoned to the
+prisoners to enter.
+
+"By heaven, it is the Black Hole!" exclaimed some one in the throng.
+
+There was a murmur of disbelief, followed by one of indignation, as
+those who were in front looked in. The room was barely seven paces
+across each way, and very low. The only openings it contained, beside
+the doorway, were two small windows giving, not on to the open air,
+but merely on to the covered passage in which we had been standing.
+
+"But this is absurd!" cried Mr. Holwell, remonstrating with the
+soldiers. "There is not even standing-room for a hundred and fifty
+persons in there."
+
+"They cannot intend that we are all to go in. We should be
+suffocated," said another.
+
+The soldiers beginning to show anger, some of the company walked in to
+demonstrate how restricted the space was. Nevertheless the Moors
+continued to press us towards the doorway, and seeing that they were
+in earnest, I whispered to Marian to give me her arm, and went in with
+the first. By this means I was just in time to secure Marian a place
+at the corner of one of the windows, where she would have a chance
+to breathe. I took up my position next to her, and we were quickly
+surrounded and closely pressed on by those who followed. Before we had
+well realised what was happening to us, the whole of the prisoners had
+been thrust into the cell, and the door, which opened inwards, pulled
+to with a slam and locked.
+
+The moment this happened I found myself bursting out into a most
+prodigious sweat--the water running out of my skin as though squeezed
+from a sponge--by the mere press of people in that confined space; and
+near as I stood to the window I soon began to experience a difficulty
+in breathing, so foul did the air immediately become. The sufferings
+of those further back in the apartment must of course have been much
+worse. The door was no sooner closed than those next to it began to
+make frantic efforts to open it again; but we were so closely packed
+that, even if the door had not been locked, it would have been
+scarcely possible to open it wide enough to allow of any persons going
+through. Every mind seemed to become at once possessed with a sense of
+our desperate situation, and the groans and cries for mercy became
+heartrending.
+
+Mr. Holwell, having been the first to enter, had been fortunate enough
+to secure a place at the other window. He now exerted himself, as the
+leader of the party, to calm the tumult.
+
+"Gentlemen," he said earnestly, "let me urge you to keep still. The
+only hope for us in this emergency is to behave quietly, and do what
+we can to relieve each other's sufferings. I will use my endeavours
+with the guard to procure our release, and in the meantime do you
+refrain from giving way to despair."
+
+It was now dark within the room, but outside some of the guards had
+lit torches, by whose light I distinguished one old man, a Jemautdar,
+who appeared a little touched with pity for our distress. To this man
+Mr. Holwell appealed, through the window, offering him large rewards
+if he would have us transferred to some more tolerable prison. At
+first the old Moor merely shook his head, but finally, when Mr.
+Holwell offered him a thousand rupees if he would remove even half the
+prisoners to another room, he shrugged his shoulders, muttered that he
+would see what could be done, and walked off.
+
+During the few minutes which had already elapsed since our coming into
+the cell, the heat had increased to that degree as to be no longer
+tolerable. My skin and throat felt as though scorched by fire, and the
+atmosphere was so noxious that it became painful to breathe. I looked
+at Marian. She was very white, and stood moving her lips silently as
+though praying. Being the only female among us, those immediately
+round the window showed some desire to respect her weakness, but the
+pressure from behind was such that they were driven against her, in
+spite of themselves, and I had hard work to defend her from being
+crushed against the wall.
+
+But when I glanced back into the room the sights revealed by the
+flickering torchlight convinced me that our sufferings were almost
+light in comparison with those of others. I saw one man, a few paces
+behind me, turn purple in the face, as if some one were strangling
+him. Two or three others had already fainted from the heat, and I
+heard some one whisper that they had fallen to the ground.
+
+The Jemautdar presently returned, shaking his head, and said to Mr.
+Holwell--
+
+"I can do nothing. It is by the Nabob's orders that you are locked up,
+and I dare not interfere."
+
+"But we are dying, man!" cried Mr. Holwell. "The Nabob swore that he
+would spare our lives. Listen! I will give you two thousand
+rupees--anything--if you will procure us some relief!"
+
+The old man went off once more, and hope revived for a moment. While
+we were thus waiting some one at the back of the room suddenly said
+aloud--
+
+"Let us take off our clothes!"
+
+Hardly were the words out of his mouth than in an instant, as it
+seemed, nearly every one was stark naked. They tore their things off
+furiously and cast them to the ground. I resisted the contagion as
+long as I could, but when I saw even Mr. Holwell, though nearer the
+air than myself, stripped to his shirt, I could not resist following
+his example; and in our dreadful extremity my unhappy companion was
+presently forced to do the same, hiding her face with her hands and
+choking down great sobs.
+
+When the Jemautdar returned for the second time he made it appear that
+our case was hopeless.
+
+"No one dares help you," he said, speaking with evident compunction.
+"Surajah Dowlah is asleep, and it is as much as any man's life is
+worth to awake him."
+
+As soon as the meaning of these words was understood by the hundred
+and fifty miserable wretches inside, a pitiful, low wail went up. Then
+commenced that long, dreadful agony which so few were to survive, and
+which I only remember in successive glimpses of horror spread over
+hours that were like years.
+
+One of the last things we did, before all self-control was lost, was
+to try and make a current of air by all sitting down together, and
+then suddenly rising; but unhappily by this time several had grown so
+weak that, having once gone down, they proved unequal to the effort of
+getting up again, and fell under the feet of their companions. Among
+these unfortunates was Marian's father, Mr. Rising, who had come in
+with us, and stood a little way off in the press. Although preserving
+his dazed, unconscious air in the midst of these calamities, he had
+exhibited many symptoms of physical distress. He now remained sitting
+helpless on the floor, and while I was trying to contrive some means
+of assisting him, I saw the next man behind him very coolly step over
+his body, spurning it with his foot. Poor Mr. Rising fell on his back,
+groaning, and was instantly trodden out of sight.
+
+My first impulse was to spare Marian the knowledge of her father's
+shocking fate. Turning round hastily, I whispered--
+
+"Don't look behind you, for God's sake!"
+
+The words came too late. She turned her head, saw what had happened,
+and shrieked aloud.
+
+That shriek was the signal for fifty others, like wild beasts
+answering each other in a wood, as the manhood of that tortured mob
+suddenly forsook it, to be succeeded by brute despair. Some began to
+hurl themselves against the door, others broke into frantic prayers
+and imprecations. The clamour died down, rose again, and finally
+settled into a monotonous, incessant cry for water.
+
+All this time I had preserved my self-control very well, but when this
+cry for water was raised, either the excessive pain I endured, or else
+the mere example of so many persons around me, so shook me that I
+could no longer command my motions, and I found myself screaming the
+words in Indostanee at the old Jemautdar as though I would have torn
+him in pieces.
+
+The old man seemed to be really moved by our sufferings. He sent two
+or three of the soldiers to fetch water, and they presently came to
+the windows bearing it in skins.
+
+It was a fatal act of mercy. The mere sight of the water instantly
+overthrew the reason of half the unhappy wretches behind us. A wild
+howl went up, and a frantic struggle commenced to get to the windows.
+Those who a few minutes before had been rational Christian beings were
+now to be seen fighting and striking each other as they leaped and
+plunged to climb over those in front. Marian, terror-stricken by the
+outburst, put her hands before her eyes, and would have been swept
+away from her place like a leaf if I had not set my back to hers and
+fought furiously against the lunatics behind. I can see now the dark,
+flushed face of one man, his parched tongue dropping out of his mouth,
+and his eyes rolling horribly, quite mad, as he flung himself upon me
+and tried to tear me down. To add to the horror, the Indian soldiers
+brought their torches to the windows in order to gloat on this scene.
+I heard them laugh like devils as the red light flashed on the naked
+heap of infuriated Englishmen writhing and fighting in that narrow
+hell.
+
+After ten minutes the struggles began to die down through sheer
+exhaustion, and then those of us who stood next the windows were
+allowed to drink from the skins; after which we filled hats with the
+water and passed them into the back of the apartment. In this way
+every one obtained some, but no good effect was wrought thereby. So
+far as I was concerned, the heat and drought were so fearful that no
+sooner had I swallowed my share of the fluid than my throat became as
+dry as it had been before--the momentary relief served only to
+aggravate my torments.
+
+Then as the fever gained upon me, my thoughts broke bounds, and there
+danced confusedly through my brain odd scraps of memories and pictures
+of other scenes. For whole moments together I lost the knowledge of
+where I was; those dark walls and haggard faces passed, and in their
+stead came visions of the pleasant places I used to know, the ruffling
+of the wind upon the Breydon Water and the dykes, the stir among the
+reeds and rushes, and the cattle browsing in the Norfolk fields.
+Instead of the swarthy Indian soldiers with their torches I saw the
+friendly, homely figures of the carters as they rode their horses to
+the pool at sundown after the day's work was over, and the familiar
+groups of villagers, and the face of little Patience Thurstan as she
+looked up at me, ready to weep, that time I said goodbye to her on my
+last day at home; and there rose before me the likeness of the dear
+old homestead, the gables and the crooked chimney, and the porch with
+jasmine growing over one side and boys' love on the other; and I saw
+my father and my mother where they sat and faced each other across the
+hearthplace, and thought, maybe, of their son, so that there came over
+me a great and miserable longing to return to them; and, like the
+prodigal son when he ate husks among the swine, I repented of my
+rebellion and running away, and in that hour I took a resolution that
+if I ever outlived the night I would leave the wicked land of India
+for ever, and go back to my own country, and ask my father to forgive
+me, as I knew my mother had forgiven me long ago.
+
+Such were the thoughts that, by fits and starts, passed through me
+during the first hours of the death struggle; but the worst horror of
+that awful night came presently. In the recesses of the chamber,
+furthest from the windows, a harder evil than the heat was the
+intolerable foulness of the air. Even where I was standing it had
+become an excruciating pain to breathe, and my breast felt as though
+laced about with iron bands. In the interior many had by this time
+dropped down, not so much suffocated as poisoned by the fetid gas they
+were compelled to inhale. And now at length I detected a new,
+indescribably nauseous odour, added to the acrid smell of the place.
+At first I tried to conceal even from my own mind what this was. But
+not for long. In a very few minutes the secret was known to all there.
+The unhappy man I had seen trodden down had been dead for about half
+an hour, and his body was already corrupt.
+
+Then that whole den of madmen broke loose, raving and cursing; some
+imploring God to strike them dead, others casting the most foul and
+savage insults at the guards without, if by that means they might
+tempt them to fire in through the windows and put an end to what they
+endured. They struck at one another, they clutched each other's hair,
+surging and trampling one another down to gain an inch nearer the
+miserable air-holes which afforded the only chance of life. The floor
+was choked with corpses, among which the survivors were entangled in
+one seething mass. As for me, I became light-headed, and had only one
+blind instinct left, to strike down any man who attempted to thrust
+Marian from her breathing ground. I was aware that she had lost her
+senses and sunk down between me and the wall; yet I went on battling,
+as in some dreadful nightmare, with the furious forms that rose up and
+loomed out of the darkness. When I could no longer make out their
+faces I still struck out blindly, and heard them go down heavily upon
+the pile of bodies behind which I stood entrenched. Hour after hour
+that ghastly combat raged, till the corpses were thrice and four times
+more numerous than those who still breathed; and at last an awful
+lethargy settled down over the scene, broken only when one of the
+survivors roused himself for an expiring effort that sent a quiver
+through the dead and dying heap.
+
+After that I know no more, for when the morning broke, and the
+officers came to release the handful left alive, the energy that had
+held me up so long forsook me, and I sank down unconscious.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+_RUPERT IN A NEW LIGHT_
+
+
+When I came to my senses again I was lying on the ground under the
+gallery. The door of that Gehenna was standing open, twenty paces from
+me, and the stench from the corpses piled within tainted the air of
+the whole court.
+
+My first thought was of Marian. I looked round as well as I was able,
+but could see no signs of her. The great weakness in which I found
+myself was such as to prevent me from standing on my feet, but I
+lifted myself up so far as to lean on one elbow, and in that posture
+glanced round over the little group of those who survived.
+
+I counted twenty-two in all, less than one-sixth of the number of
+those who had been promised the mercy of Surajah Dowlah on the evening
+of yesterday. Close beside me lay Mr. Holwell, seeming to breathe
+painfully, as he laboured to gain his self-command. I heard afterwards
+that this worthy gentleman had been found unconscious and almost
+lifeless, on the floor; and that a lane had had to be cleared through
+the dead to bring out the twenty-three of us that remained alive.
+
+But, look where I would, Marian was not there, and my heart misgave me
+that that beautiful form was lying in the loathsome charnel-house
+whence I had so hardly come out. A man near me, who appeared to have
+preserved his strength better than most of us, presently observing my
+trouble, and guessing its cause, undertook to enlighten me.
+
+"You look for Mistress Rising?" he said. "She was among the survivors;
+I saw her brought out immediately before you. But she is not here; one
+of the Moors' officers led her away out of the fort, no doubt to
+bestow her in safe keeping somewhere in the town."
+
+This intelligence served to remove my worst apprehensions, yet it left
+me not a little uneasy as to what next might befall Marian among those
+in whose hands we were still captives. At the moment of which I speak,
+however, I was too ill to pursue the inquiry as to what had become of
+her. The fever I had taken during the night was still strong upon me,
+indeed we were all in a very pitiful state, scarce able to move or
+speak, and looking more like ghosts than men. It was not till above a
+week had passed that I began to shake off the effects of those few
+hours' torture; and I sometimes think that I have never yet wholly
+recovered from them.
+
+Nor must I spare to mention those other changes which were wrought in
+me by that night, passed, I may say, in the Valley of the Shadow of
+Death. Up to this time, I perceived on looking back over my previous
+adventures, I had been no better than a mad young fool, following
+after a will-o'-the-wisp to my own hurt and destruction. And though I
+cannot say that that ill-starred and calamitous love of mine for
+Marian, which had haunted me since I first saw her in the tavern of
+the "Three-decker" at Yarmouth, was abated at this time, yet I think I
+did now begin to perceive how evil an influence it had exerted over my
+life, and to gradually bring myself to a manlier frame of mind. So
+that I no longer hugged myself with false and pernicious hopes of what
+could never be brought to pass, but set myself resolutely to uproot
+this my besetting weakness, and thus to transfer Marian, as it might
+be, from the place of a mistress to that of an old and dear friend.
+
+In all which resolves and efforts at amendments I found myself greatly
+helped and encouraged by the recollection of those better thoughts
+which had come to me in my distress, when my eyes were opened to the
+wickedness of which I had been guilty towards my parents. And from
+this time on, through all the vicissitudes I was yet to encounter, I
+looked forward steadily to the day when I should turn my feet once
+more towards home, and behold my father and my mother, and the simple,
+loving face of little Patience Thurstan.
+
+But before that day came there were many things to be done, nor would
+I have willingly left the land of Indostan till I had seen the blood
+of the English he had so barbarously murdered revenged upon Surajah
+Dowlah's head. How this was to be brought about I did not then know,
+yet I had a confidence that it would be so, which sustained me. For I
+felt that I had witnessed, and been partly victim of, a most heinous
+and devilish crime, scarcely to be matched in the annals of mankind,
+and such as scarce any punishment within the power of man to inflict
+could wholly purge. It was as if there had been revealed to me, in the
+light of those flaring torches thrust in mockery between the bars of
+our prison windows, a whole secret hell of cruelty and darkness, such
+as our Christian land knows nothing of, which we can never understand,
+but which for ever lies waiting for the moment to burst forth, under
+the obsequious and servile behaviour of the natives of India. Since
+that time, I confess, I have never regarded, nor can regard, them as
+my fellow-beings; I look upon all faith or mercy shown to them as
+wasted, and were it possible for the English to overthrow every one of
+their governments, and to reduce the whole peninsula into slavery, I
+should not think enough had been done to extinguish the memory of that
+one misdeed.
+
+The cup of the Nabob's cruelty was even yet not full. In the morning,
+as soon as we had partaken of a little food and wine, merely enough to
+give us strength to stand up, our miserable remnant was ordered to
+come before him, to be questioned again.
+
+We found Surajah Dowlah enthroned in the principal apartment of the
+fort, in even greater state than I had before seen him in, flushed
+with all the triumph of a conqueror. He looked to have just awakened
+from sleeping off a debauch, and glanced at us, as we came in, with a
+heavy, lowering eye. The supple, handsome Lal Moon was standing beside
+his master as usual, and close behind the favourite I saw my kinsman,
+with a countenance somewhat discomposed. He turned a very scrutinising
+look on our party, frowned when he caught sight of me, and was
+evidently disturbed at not perceiving Marian amongst the rest.
+
+The Nabob, instead of displaying any interest in our condition, or
+pretending any regret for the massacre of our fellow prisoners, at
+once addressed Mr. Holwell in a very peremptory manner.
+
+"Now, English dog, you have had a night to consider," he said
+insolently, "are you disposed to behave more civilly to me in the
+matter of the treasure?"
+
+Poor Mr. Holwell had scarce strength enough to answer him. He said
+feebly--
+
+"I can only repeat what I told you last night. Your Highness has been
+deceived. There is no treasure here of the Company."
+
+"You are a liar, and the son of a liar!" returned Surajah fiercely.
+"Do you think I am a fool to believe that the English come all the way
+from your country here to amass a paltry sum of fifty thousand
+rupees? Such a sum would not pay the expense of your establishment
+here. I know well that you have a treasure somewhere hidden; but you
+are resolved to keep it from me, the rightful master of this country.
+I swear I will teach you that it is safer to stand in the path of a
+mad elephant than to disobey the least command of Surajah Dowlah!"
+
+He rolled his eyes savagely as he made these threats, which struck
+dismay into the stoutest of us. Mr. Holwell attempted no further
+answer, and presently the Nabob rose in a fury and marched out of the
+hall, giving no orders concerning our disposal.
+
+As soon as he was gone the general of his army, Meer Jaffier, came
+down off the dais and approached us. He began offering some
+expressions of sympathy to Mr. Holwell, and assured him that he would
+use his influence with his nephew to procure our release.
+
+While Meer Jaffier was talking to Mr. Holwell, I saw my cousin slowly
+approaching me. I turned my back, so loth was I to hold intercourse
+with him, but he came up, and persisted in addressing me.
+
+"Athelstane, what has become of Marian Rising?" he asked abruptly.
+
+"Nay, I leave that to you to find out, who delivered her to Surajah
+Dowlah to be tortured and killed," I answered bitterly.
+
+"See here, cousin," he said, infusing a touch of natural feeling into
+his voice, "I swear to you, on the faith of a Ford, that I had not so
+much as the least suspicion of the horrid treachery about to be
+practised on you last night by these damned black devils. If I could
+have had any notice of what was going forward, I would have returned
+last night at all hazards, and delivered you. As regards Marian, I had
+the most sacred pledges from both Meer Jaffier and Lal Moon that not
+one hair of her head should be injured. I swear it."
+
+"You swear very plentifully, it appears to me," I returned, preserving
+a tone of mere contempt and hatred; "but I know not how your oaths can
+serve you at the present time. Thanks to your evil persuasions, the
+woman for whom you have many times pretended affection was last night
+brought to the very door of death, and is now ill and captive among
+the Moors. Me, your cousin, whom you first tempted to leave his home
+and friends, and have since betrayed and misused and many times
+attempted to slay, you see before you, in the power of those black
+fiends, as you call them, who appear to be your good friends. Had you
+not better prevail with them to put us both to death, and thus make an
+end of it?"
+
+"No, by G----, Athelstane, you are wrong!" he exclaimed very
+earnestly. "I bear you no malice, nor ever should have done, had
+you not set yourself up as my rival and thwarted me on several
+occasions--and I am a man that will not brook opposition. As it is, if
+I have ever attempted anything against you, it was in hot blood, and
+had I hated you ten times worse than I did, yet last night's business
+would have been too much for me to stomach."
+
+I gazed at him, doubtful whether to believe in his sincerity or no. It
+was difficult for me to refrain from some softening towards him as he
+thus spoke, and yet I asked myself whether these fair words were not
+the prelude to some new piece of knavery or treachery, for which he
+stood in need of my assistance.
+
+He continued urging me.
+
+"Have you forgot all those ties that are between us--our blood, and
+bringing-up in the same country, and the pleasant times we have had
+together when you were a youngster, and I was used to ride over to
+your house from Lynn, for my holidays? You were then content enough to
+call yourself your cousin Rupert's little squire, and if it were a
+question of robbing orchards or taking bird's-nests, you grudged to be
+left out. Can you not overlook the differences that have since arisen
+between us, and let us return to our former good comradeship and
+affection?"
+
+Now I well knew that this man was a most accomplished villain, and an
+hour before I should have no more thought of sparing or making terms
+with him than with a speckled snake. Yet no sooner did he thus begin
+to wheedle me, than I found my just anger and hatred against him
+insensibly desert me.
+
+"Why do you hold this language to me?" I said, as sullen as I could,
+so as to hide my secret relenting. "What need have you of me now?
+What fellowship can there be between a miserable prisoner in the
+Indians' power, and you, their trusted friend and servant?"
+
+He gave me a significant glance, and then stooped towards me,
+whispering--
+
+"No, cousin, you are mistaken there, I tell you again. Either these
+Moors have all along meant to play me false, or else they consider
+themselves betrayed by me in the matter of the treasure which they
+expected to find. Instead of now enjoying their confidence, I find I
+am looked upon with distrust. They tell me nothing, and no longer
+consult with me about their dealings with the English. I tell you
+fairly, I am uneasy to find myself so much in their power as I am, and
+if I could I would gladly make my peace with my fellow-countrymen, and
+enter the service of the Company."
+
+This confession sounded to me sufficiently probable to be believed. I
+could now see plainly enough what was Rupert's object in thus seeking
+to be reconciled with me. It was because I was the only witness
+against him in the English camp, able to denounce the crimes and
+treasons which he had committed, to the governor and his council. It
+was evidently necessary for him to have some person to answer for him,
+in case he should seek service with the Company, and for this reason,
+I concluded, he had decided that it would be of more profit to him to
+have my friendship than to get rid of me altogether.
+
+With these thoughts I suffered myself to entertain his proposals. But
+there was another question of more importance to me than Rupert
+Gurney's friendship or enmity.
+
+"What of Marian?" I demanded. "Were you not the person who came for
+her this morning, and led her out of the fort?"
+
+"No!" he cried, much disturbed. "Do you know what has happened to her?
+I have inquired everywhere, and been unable to gather the smallest
+information. It is this which has convinced me that I no longer
+possess the confidence of those about the Nabob. And I fear----"
+
+He stopped, biting his lips, and looked at me, as if he would know
+what I suspected. I returned his look with interest.
+
+"And I, too, fear," I answered solemnly. "And pray heaven that my fear
+is unfounded, for if it should turn out otherwise, after your
+persuading her to trust in your protection, I tell you plainly, Rupert
+Gurney, that I will never rest till I see you dead at my feet."
+
+Though I thus threatened him, nevertheless I believed that he was
+really at a loss and anxious to find out what had become of Marian. He
+presently said to me--
+
+"I will go now and make a further search, and if I hear any news, will
+let you know. And do you, on your part, trust me. If in the meantime
+I can do anything to effect your release, I will."
+
+With that he went off. About the same time an order arrived for our
+removal, and we were carried away to another part of the fort.
+
+Whether in consequence of my cousin's representations or of Meer
+Jaffier's, as is more probable, Surajah Dowlah suddenly decided to
+release all his English prisoners, except three or four of the
+principal ones, including Mr. Holwell. This intelligence was brought
+us about supper time, and an officer shortly after attended, to make
+the selection of those who were to be continued in captivity.
+
+Not apprehending that any importance could be attached to me, I rose
+joyfully to go out with those who were being dismissed, when, to my
+surprise, the officer told me in their language, very sharply, to keep
+my place.
+
+"But why do you seek to detain this young man?" inquired Mr. Holwell.
+"He is not a person of any consequence among us."
+
+The Moor shook his head.
+
+"This youth is to be kept in the Nabob's hands because he is a friend
+of Sabat Jung's," he answered.
+
+It may be imagined how mortified I was to find my boasting of the
+friendship of Colonel Clive thus turned against me. There was no help
+for it, however. With a heavy heart we saw our fellow-prisoners
+depart, some of them to examine their houses in Calcutta, others to
+take refuge with the English fleet, which about this time dropped
+down the river to Fulta, where it lay.
+
+I heard afterwards that when the refugees arrived on board, and told
+the woeful tale of what had followed on the capture of Fort William,
+Mr. Drake and those with him bitterly repented of their cowardice and
+desertion. Messengers, that is to say, Indian spies, had already been
+despatched by land to Madras, the voyage thither being impossible at
+this time on account of the prevalent monsoon. Others were now sent
+after them, with letters recounting the whole of these transactions,
+and urgently entreating the Madras council to despatch succour at the
+earliest possible moment.
+
+In the meanwhile, to pass over the next few days, Surajah Dowlah,
+finding no further mischief to execute in Calcutta, after he had
+plundered all the principal merchants, placed a force there under
+the command of an officer named Monichund, and marched back to
+Moorshedabad, carrying me in his train. My fellow prisoners,
+consisting of Mr. Holwell and two other gentlemen, named Walcot and
+Court (for poor Mr. Byng had been among those who perished in that
+cell of death), were despatched separately in irons, by a boat up the
+river.
+
+If I had been traversing this strange, and in many parts beautiful,
+country under other circumstances I might have found much to interest
+me. But being, as I was, still weak and wretched from the effects of
+the night passed in the Black Hole, and, moreover, very anxious and
+troubled in mind about the fate of Marian (besides my own), I heeded
+little of it. The country was extremely flat, and much overgrown with
+trees, particularly mangoes, which tree hath a most delicious fruit,
+very grateful after toiling along the barren roads in the intolerable
+heat of this climate. Travelling in company with an army, we were not
+able to see much of the country people, who feared the Nabob's
+character, and for the most part deserted their villages and retired
+into the woods while we passed. One day we lay without the walls of
+Chander Nugger, the French settlement in Bengal. These Frenchmen
+had managed to propitiate Surajah by aiding him with a supply of
+ammunition when he was on his march against Calcutta. To this they now
+added a large sum of money, and by this means prevailed on him to pass
+on without entering their town. They no doubt rejoiced, like true
+Frenchmen, at the misfortunes which had overtaken the English, not
+foreseeing at this time the happy revolution in our affairs which was
+to make them sing to another tune.
+
+Our progress through the country was so gradual that it was about
+three weeks before we at last reached the Nabob's capital. During our
+long march I had not once seen my cousin, nor did I know what had
+become of him, nor whether he had stayed behind in Calcutta or
+attached himself to the Moors' army.
+
+Moorshedabad is a great, rich place, very oriental in character, there
+being no foreigners resident in it, except a few Armenians, a race of
+thieves and pedlars, worse than Jews, who also infested Calcutta. But
+I had little opportunity of exploring its bazaars and palaces at this
+time, being conveyed straight to a filthy hut, formerly used as a
+cowshed, standing outside the Nabob's palace, where I found my
+companions already arrived, and where I was forced to lie on straw,
+and not allowed to move abroad.
+
+In this miserable place, guarded by sentries, we lay for some days,
+being all of us too feeble to contrive any plan of escape. Each
+morning Surajah Dowlah sent a messenger to us, to ask if we were yet
+prepared to disclose the truth about the treasure. We were informed
+that he was deeply incensed at the failure of his raid on Fort
+William, to which it seems he had looked to bring enormous sums into
+his treasury.
+
+On the third or fourth night, just as I was settling myself to sleep
+on a rude heap of straw which I had gathered together against the wall
+of the shed, the door softly opened and a man entered. As soon as he
+spoke I knew him at once to be my cousin Rupert.
+
+"Which of you is named Ford?" he asked, speaking in the Indian
+language; for it was too dark for him to see my face.
+
+"I am," I answered in English, sitting up.
+
+He placed his finger to his lips, and stepped across the hut to where
+I was, while my three companions raised themselves eagerly on their
+elbows, to know what passed.
+
+Rupert, who still wore his Moor's dress, kneeled down on the straw
+beside me, and whispered in my ear--
+
+"Hist! I am come to arrange for your escape, but you must say no word
+to these others, lest they should want to join you, which would only
+serve to ruin our chance."
+
+"In that case," said I, answering him aloud in English, for I
+mistrusted him, "it is useless to proceed. I will entertain no project
+to escape which does not include these gentlemen here with me."
+
+Rupert ground his teeth, cursing me beneath his breath for a fool. But
+Mr. Holwell promptly rebuked me.
+
+"You are not to act like that, Ford," he said. "Neither I, nor, I am
+sure, either of these other gentlemen would consent that you should
+refuse any offer of escape merely because it is not extended to us
+also."
+
+My cousin, seeing that I was resolved not to have the conversation
+private between us two, now addressed himself to the others.
+
+"I heartily wish it were in my power to deliver you all, gentlemen,
+but unfortunately that is what I can't do. I have secured a means by
+which I may carry off my young kinsman here, though at great danger
+to myself. But if it comes to the four of you, then I confess I must
+abandon the scheme."
+
+On this Mr. Holwell renewed his protestations, urging me by no means
+to neglect Rupert's offer.
+
+"But how is it, sir," he added, speaking not unkindly, "that I find
+you, an Englishman, and a relation of young Mr. Ford, in these parts,
+and apparently in a position of influence with the natives?"
+
+"Oh, as to that, it is an old story," replied my cousin, coolly.
+"I came to Bengal first by land from the Malabar coast, in the time
+of the late Nabob, and for that reason I was not at first included
+in the hatred which Surajah Dowlah bore to the English on the
+Hooghley. However, the efforts which I made to restrain the Nabob's
+vindictive proceedings, and the disgust which I showed at his late
+barbarities, have greatly weakened my credit with him. I believe he
+knows or suspects that I am merely casting about for an opportunity
+to quit his service, and has set spies on me accordingly. I have at
+last devised measures for making my way down to the coast, to our
+fellow-countrymen, and have bribed your gaolers to allow my cousin
+Ford to escape with me to-night, if he will."
+
+So earnestly did Gurney tell this tale that I could see Mr. Holwell
+and the others were very favourably impressed, and took him for an
+honourably behaved man. As for me, I felt my cheeks burn with shame
+as I sat and listened, yet I neither felt inclined to admit to these
+gentlemen that I was cousin to a villain and a traitor, nor did I
+consider it to be my duty to denounce my own blood.
+
+I therefore held my peace, while the conversation went on between the
+others. Mr. Holwell insisted that I should take Rupert's offer, and be
+the means of conveying news to our friends of where the other three
+lay. I demurred, and should perhaps have rejected the invitation in
+the end, had not my cousin taken advantage to slyly whisper in my
+ear--
+
+"Don't you understand, fool? I have news of Marian, and want your aid
+to carry her off from Surajah Dowlah's harem!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+_A NIGHT ADVENTURE_
+
+
+As soon as I had heard that name from Rupert's lips, all my hesitation
+was at once overcome, as he no doubt foresaw would be the case.
+
+"Come," I said, springing upon my feet with an energy I had not felt
+for some time, "let us be going, then."
+
+My fellow prisoners looked not a little astonished at this sudden
+change in my resolution. However, they offered me their good wishes
+for the journey, and Mr. Holwell in particular entrusted me with some
+messages to Mr. Drake, in case I should succeed in penetrating to him.
+We had no certain information at this time as to the whereabouts of
+the English ships, but supposed them to be lying somewhere about the
+mouth of the Hooghley. It was judged best that I should carry no
+writing.
+
+We two then crept softly out of the hut, my cousin going first, and I
+following. There was no moon abroad, but a sufficiency of light was
+afforded us by the extraordinary brilliancy of the stars, which
+appear much bigger, as well as thicker in the sky, in these latitudes
+than in England. At a short distance from the door of the shed I could
+perceive the sentinel, seated with his back towards us, his hands
+resting on his matchlock.
+
+"This way," whispered Rupert in my ear. And turning in the opposite
+direction from the sentry, he stooped down and ran along under the
+shadow of a high wall which bordered a winding road.
+
+The wall was about eight feet high, and enclosed a garden. Here and
+there it was overhung by branches of trees, whose foliage I failed to
+distinguish in the darkness, but I once or twice thought I smelt the
+fragrance of lemons. Within the garden behind the wall we could hear
+the tinkle of a fountain and a noise like the singing of some bird.
+
+"What is this place?" I asked in a whisper, as I ran along by Rupert's
+side.
+
+"Hush!" he answered crossly. "We shall be overheard. This is the
+Nabob's garden, where are the pavilions of his women."
+
+We ran on in silence for some little time longer, when we arrived at
+the end of the garden, and plunged into a narrow and dark lane that
+led out of the town. This passage we followed till we came out upon a
+deserted nook immediately under the walls of Moorshedabad, which were
+here much damaged, and matted with ivy and other weeds.
+
+"Now," said Rupert, as he flung himself panting on the ground, in a
+little grassy place, "we can talk over our plans without fear of being
+disturbed."
+
+I sat down beside him, inly marvelling at that great transformation
+which had so quickly converted us from deadly enemies seeking each
+other's lives, into allies, if not friends. After all our hostilities
+against each other in Great Yarmouth, at Gheriah, and in Calcutta, we
+were now in Moorshedabad, bound together by a common purpose, and that
+purpose concerned with her who had originally been the cause of our
+enmity.
+
+I have often thought since that the change which took place in my
+cousin's behaviour about this time was due, not so much to any tardy
+pricks of conscience, as to a sort of dizziness of mind, brought about
+by the spectacle of the prodigious crimes of Surajah Dowlah. His own
+spirit, however bold and wicked, was daunted in the presence of this
+being who, though so much younger in years, was so greatly superior in
+evil; so that he shrank back, like one brought suddenly to the edge of
+a precipice. Perhaps he had a secret apprehension of his coming fate;
+at all events, it is certain that for a short time he manifested a
+hearty longing to return to the society of honest men.
+
+As soon as we were seated his first act was to pluck off the turban he
+wore on his head, and cast it to the ground.
+
+"Faugh!" he exclaimed. "What an intolerable thing to wear! If it were
+not for their turbans and their abstinence, I declare Mahometanism
+would suit me well enough."
+
+I gazed at him in horror.
+
+"Do you mean, Rupert, that you have really embraced that idolatrous
+sect?" I demanded.
+
+"You need not look so scandalised, cousin," he retorted. "In the first
+place you are quite wrong to call it idolatrous, images of every kind
+being strictly forbidden by the Alcoran. In the second place it is a
+very decent, respectable religion, as religions go, and extremely
+convenient for seafaring men who sometimes need an excuse for
+overhauling a Christian cargo."
+
+"Rupert Gurney," I replied sternly, "you have within the hour brought
+me away out of prison, and for that I thank you. But I will neither
+listen to your blasphemous talk, nor suffer it, and rather than
+consent to do so I will go back to the place from which you took me
+but now."
+
+"Fair and softly, young Athelstane," he answered grinning. "I see you
+are as fierce a Puritan as ever, and as I have lost the wish to
+quarrel with you I will endeavour to refrain from saying anything
+offensive to your delicacy. But do you, on your part, abstain from
+flying into a passion at every word that does not happen to sound to
+your liking; for patience is a virtue recommended, as I believe, by
+your religion as well as mine, and it seems to me that your stock of
+it is rather scant."
+
+I cannot say how deeply mortified I was by this rebuke, which, coming
+from one whose evil life I held in just detestation, wrought more
+conviction in me than all the sermons I had heard from good Mr. Peter
+Walpole of Norwich, when I was a boy. I discovered, as though by a
+flash of light, how unchristian was the temper I had too often shown
+in my dealings, not only with my cousin, but with other persons, and
+from that moment I set an earnest watch on myself in this respect.
+
+Forcing myself to acknowledge my error at once, though much against
+the grain, I said--
+
+"I ask your pardon, Rupert, if I spoke harshly. But let us leave these
+questions, and come to the business in hand. What of Marian, and how
+do you propose that we should effect her escape?"
+
+He looked at me surprised.
+
+"Why, Athelstane, my boy, give me your hand!" he exclaimed, in a more
+cordial tone than I had ever heard him use before. "Curse me if I
+don't heartily wish we had never quarrelled!" I gave him my hand with
+some reluctance, and he proceeded. "You saw that garden which we
+passed on our way to this spot? The girl is detained a prisoner in one
+of the Nabob's summer-houses which stand within it. I have found means
+to corrupt one of the eunuchs who is a friend of mine, and anxious to
+stand well with the English. For I must tell you, Athelstane, that all
+is not working smoothly in the government here. Surajah Dowlah, by his
+arrogance and violence, has made many enemies, among whom are his own
+uncle, Meer Jaffier, and Roy Dullub, the most important of the
+Gentoos. These men have a just apprehension of the vengeance which the
+English may take for the late invasion of their settlements, and
+moreover they stand in dread of the young Nabob's reckless temper,
+sometimes bordering on insanity. So that we have more friends than we
+know of in the Court. This eunuch, then, as I was going to say, has
+agreed to introduce me into the garden to-night, in about an hour's
+time through a small postern in the wall of which he has the key. He
+is going to conduct me to the summer-house where Marian is. There it
+may be necessary to use force to overpower the eunuchs in charge of
+the place, but if we succeed in doing that, as I think there is little
+doubt we shall, we have nothing to do but to carry her off and retire
+by the way we came. I have provided a safe retreat afterwards to the
+coast."
+
+I fell in heartily with this scheme, which seemed to present a
+tolerable chance of success. Rupert went on to explain to me the means
+by which he hoped that we might afterwards be able to pass through the
+country without being stopped. He proposed that we should give it out
+that we were a party of Mahometan pilgrims bound for the mouth of the
+river, to take ship for Mecca; and he told me he had three horses
+already hired, with a driver, waiting for us in a certain place. In
+order that this scheme might be carried through it was necessary that
+I should be disguised to pass for a Moor, like himself. He now
+produced from his bosom a brown pigment, such as he had already used
+with good enough success on his own complexion, and carefully stained
+the skin of my face, also my feet and hands.
+
+"Remember, above all," he said, while he was thus engaged, "if you
+would be taken for a Mahometan, never to wash your hands without
+washing your feet at the same time, for this custom is inveterate with
+them, and is, I think, the principal point of difference between the
+two religions."
+
+When he had finished, I asked--
+
+"And now what shall I do for a suitable dress?"
+
+For I was still clad in the garments of rough canvas which the Moors
+had given to us on the morning after our release from the Black Hole.
+
+"By the Lord Harry, I don't know what you can do!" cried Rupert. "I
+had overlooked that part of it. Unless you were to cut down one of
+these black rascals in the dark, and exchange suits with him?"
+
+I declined to do what I thought would amount to committing a murder,
+although it were to be done upon an Indian; whereupon my cousin
+offered to kill the man, if I would wear the clothes. At last we
+agreed to procure the dress by peaceful means, if that should be
+possible, and set out on our return to the centre of the town.
+
+Sure enough we had not gone a great way when we met a man of the city,
+a Gentoo, wearing a loose woollen robe and white turban, which we
+thought would pass, and which he agreed very easily to part with for
+five rupees. I offered him my canvas suit into the bargain, but this
+he rejected with disdain, on account of his religion, and walked off
+from us stark naked, but for a loin-cloth.
+
+It was now time that we should repair to the meeting appointed by the
+eunuch. We found the postern without any difficulty, and as soon as my
+cousin had knocked twice in a peculiar manner the eunuch came and
+admitted us. This eunuch appeared to be a very civil, worthy person,
+very different to most of his kind, whom I have found to be full of
+spite and malice, and untrustworthy in all their dealings.
+
+As soon as we were entered in the garden the eunuch conducted us
+through an orchard and down a grove of persimmons, to where there was
+a fountain, and close by it a square marble tank bordered by roses in
+white marble boxes. Here he left us for a moment, while he went
+forward to examine the summer-house, if there were any one stirring
+within. While we were waiting I took an interest in gazing at the
+clear water of the tank, and picturing the scene when the Nabob's
+women came thither to bathe, as I heard was their daily custom.
+
+Presently the eunuch returned, and beckoned to us.
+
+"The Sahibs may go forward now," he said. "The cage is shut and the
+birds are asleep."
+
+We followed him, and he brought us out upon an open space, and in the
+midst of it a small pavilion, like a temple, built in white stone or
+marble, in two storeys, very elegantly, with small pillars before it
+and a dome above, the whole covered over with fantastical designs of
+trees and flowers, curiously wrought in the stone.
+
+The door of the pavilion was closed. In the upper storey I saw several
+lattices open, but no lights.
+
+"What are we to do in the next place?" I asked of the eunuch.
+
+He gave me an expressive look out of his black eyes, and silently
+delivered to me a scymetar which he carried.
+
+"Let the Sahib knock, and when they who keep the door put forth their
+heads, let the Sahib strike them off," he said, seeing me hesitate.
+
+It had been well for us, as it turned out, if I had done as he bid me,
+for the squeamishness which we feel about shedding blood is not
+understood amongst Indians, and they despise us for it. However,
+before I could say anything further, my cousin stepped up to the door
+and knocked boldly.
+
+There was a commotion inside. I drew my scymetar, and Rupert did the
+same. As soon as the door was unfastened from within, without waiting
+to parley, we flung ourselves through the opening, striking out
+blindly in the dark.
+
+Instantly there went up a howl for mercy, and the eunuchs inside--for
+there were two of them, both well-armed--cast themselves down writhing
+on the floor, evidently in the expectation that they were immediately
+to be put to death. Rupert aimed a deadly blow at one of them, but I,
+like a fool, struck up his weapon.
+
+"Stay," I said, using the Gentoo language purposely that they might
+understand, "it may save us trouble to spare their lives, on condition
+that they strictly obey our instructions."
+
+The wretches hearing this, instantly broke into all sorts of
+grovelling entreaties and oaths of fidelity. Quite disgusted by their
+slavish cowardice, I said to them--
+
+"Hold your tongues! You have in this house a prisoner, an
+Englishwoman, whom we have come to carry away. Let one of you go at
+once and bring her here."
+
+The eunuch furthest in from the door immediately leaped to his feet
+and made off down the passage. But Rupert, who knew more about these
+sort of creatures than I did at this time, strode after him, calling
+out--
+
+"Stay! I will go with you!"
+
+But the fellow, without turning his head, sprang up a narrow staircase
+at the end, and darting into the first room he came to above, slammed
+the door to, and had it fastened before Rupert could catch him up. In
+another moment we heard him yelling and squalling out of the window
+for assistance to come and take the murderers and ravishers that were
+broken into the garden.
+
+My cousin came jumping down the stairs three steps at a time.
+
+"This comes of your cursed softness!" he growled out savagely. "As
+though it were not a Christian act to cut the throats of as many of
+these hell-hounds as possible!"
+
+He fetched a slash at the man who lay whining at our feet that nearly
+severed his head from his trunk.
+
+"Now we must save ourselves if we can!" he muttered. And indeed it was
+time. The screams of the eunuch overhead had brought the whole place
+about our ears. As we stepped out of the pavilion again, we saw lights
+glittering through the trees all round us, and heard shouting and the
+running of feet. Our friendly eunuch had taken to flight, and we were
+left to extricate ourselves as best we could.
+
+"We must not stay here or we shall be surrounded," cried Rupert.
+"Which way is the gate?"
+
+I strove to recollect, and then, taking what I thought to be the
+direction, we started off at a run.
+
+Instantly that fiend who had betrayed us, leaning further out of the
+window to discover which way we fled, redoubled his cries. Looking
+back for a moment as we ran, I saw him pointing, and at the same time
+there was a movement of one of the other lattices, and I caught a
+glimpse of a white face and two hands thrust out with a despairing
+gesture, and knew that Marian was aware of our enterprise and that we
+had failed. Then the clamour on all sides grew louder, and men bearing
+lanterns and armed with swords and matchlocks burst out from the trees
+around the pavilion, and ran hither and thither, some towards the
+building, others searching for our track.
+
+We ran like deer, bending down so as not to be seen, and dodging in
+among the trees and bushes. By this means we preserved ourselves from
+immediate capture, but soon missed our way, and found ourselves
+wandering about in the garden, stealing from one patch of cover to
+another; while every now and then a party of our pursuers would go
+past, so close that we could hear them speak, and see the sparks of
+lantern-light drip off the naked blades of their weapons as they
+thrust them into the bushes.
+
+After several close escapes of this kind, when we at last stumbled on
+the postern, more by luck than skill, we found it barred and locked,
+and the key removed. Before we could decide what next to do, on a
+sudden a party of four gigantic blacks burst out upon us, brandishing
+their weapons at our heads and calling on us, by all manner of filthy
+names, to surrender. I believe they expected us to prove an easy prey,
+but I was now grown desperate, and rushed so fiercely on him that came
+first and carried a lantern, that I fairly bore him to earth at the
+first shock. And when I looked round for another I found all three in
+full flight, one of them leaving his right hand behind, which Rupert
+had managed to slice off at the wrist with the first blow. They ran
+for their lives, shouting out that they had to do with two demons from
+the pit. Rupert, seeing the man I had struck down move, stepped over
+to him, quite cool, drew his blade across the poor wretch's throat,
+and wiped it on his turban. After this we lost no time in shifting our
+ground before the rest of the pursuers came up.
+
+With the chase so hot after us, it had become plain that we must be
+taken before long, unless we could hit upon some means of escaping
+from the garden. In this strait I bethought myself of the trees whose
+boughs I had noticed from outside overhanging the wall, when we passed
+it earlier that night. I reminded Rupert of this, who exclaimed
+joyfully--
+
+"Well done, cousin, I declare you have saved us now! I believe I can
+find that part of the garden easily enough, when it will be a simple
+matter to climb the trees and drop down on the other side of the
+wall."
+
+We set out at once, Rupert leading the way, and turning from side to
+side as we heard the Moors shouting after us. They now felt pretty
+sure of our whereabouts, and began discharging their pieces where we
+went, so that the balls tore the leaves off the trees all round us,
+but luckily without doing us any damage. We arrived at the wall, and
+seeing a tree suitable for our purpose, made for it, but just as we
+reached it one of those black rascals we had put to flight espied us.
+He raised the cry, and instantly we found ourselves surrounded by the
+whole band, at least twenty of them rushing at us out of the dark, and
+all with the most murderous looks I have ever seen.
+
+I now gave up all for lost, and planting myself with my back against
+the tree prepared to sell my life dear. Not so Rupert, who was already
+off the ground, climbing like a cat up the smooth trunk. He was out of
+sight among the branches directly, and in another minute would have
+been safely over the wall, when at a signal from their leader, about a
+dozen of the Moors who had firearms discharged them all together into
+the tree. I heard a groan and a sound of scrambling above, and
+presently Rupert dropped, falling heavily straight on to the ground,
+where he lay quite still.
+
+When I saw what had happened, I abandoned all further thoughts of
+resistance, and throwing away my weapon bade them do what they would
+with me. Even then, so great was the awe we had struck into them, that
+they advanced slowly, narrowing their circle all round, till at length
+the foremost took courage to lay his hand on my shoulder. They then
+led me away, jabbering the most horrid threats in my ear, while others
+picked up my unfortunate cousin, and carried him after, groaning
+miserably.
+
+We were brought into a sort of guard-house, situated, as well as I
+could judge, in the centre of the garden, and there kept till morning,
+to await the Nabob's pleasure. Poor Rupert, who had broken his leg,
+tossed and moaned till daybreak, but I was so much exhausted that I
+could not keep awake, and fell into a sleep on the floor. In the
+morning, to my astonishment, I was offered some food, after which my
+captors dragged me pretty roughly into the palace. I said farewell to
+my cousin, doubting greatly whether I should ever see him again.
+
+Surajah Dowlah, contrary to his custom, had me brought into him in his
+private apartments, there being present besides only some of the
+minions and low buffoons he kept by him to amuse him. He rolled his
+bloodshot eyes on me, as I was led in, looking as though he could have
+bit me, and played with a sharp, crooked knife which he had in his
+hand.
+
+After overwhelming me with a torrent of imprecations which I should be
+ashamed to write down, he ordered me to tell him how I had got into
+his garden. Being well assured that nothing could make my position
+worse than it already was, and having some experience of the Nabob's
+character by this time, I resolved on defying him. I therefore
+answered boldly--
+
+"I got into the garden by means which I have, and which I shall not
+disclose. Your Highness may rest assured that you cannot keep me out
+of any place into which I choose to penetrate. Nevertheless I
+intended no outrage on you. You hold prisoner a countrywoman of mine,
+whom I intended to deliver out of your hands; and let me warn your
+Highness that whatever you may order to be done with me, the English
+will never leave you in peace till you have set that woman free."
+
+I was scarce prepared for the effect which these words produced on the
+intoxicated youth. He rose half way from his seat, raging like a
+fiend, then fell back again white and crouching, as if I had been
+about to deal him a blow, then passed into a fresh paroxysm of rage,
+and so from one state of mind to another in a way at once alarming and
+pitiful to behold.
+
+"Do you know in whose presence you stand, infidel?" he shrieked. "Do
+you know that I am lord and Subhadar of Bengal, of Behar, and Orissa;
+and that I have a million men who would die at my bidding? I will have
+you torn piecemeal, I will have your eyes picked out with knives and
+your flesh torn by hot pincers! I will plunge this knife into you, I
+will rip you up as I would a wild boar, I will strew your entrails on
+the earth, I will give your heart to dogs to devour!"
+
+He went on in this terrifying manner till he was out of breath. During
+the whole time I stood regarding him with a cool, undismayed
+expression which, I believe, disconcerted him more than any words I
+could have used. Then I said--
+
+"Surajah Dowlah, your words are the words of a boaster, who is bold
+only when he sees his enemy before him disarmed. Beware of what you
+do; you are walking in the dark! Do you believe the paltry handful of
+English whom you drove out of Calcutta count for anything in the
+strength of our nation? If so, let me tell you there are men about
+you, men who have your trust, who could teach you otherwise. You are
+being deceived if your spies have not already told you of the armament
+which he whom you call Sabat Jung is already preparing to invade your
+dominions, when every hair of an Englishman's head that you have
+injured will have to be reckoned for. And it will be well for you if,
+among all those who crouch before you, you find any to fight for you
+in that day."
+
+The servile crew that stood round the tyrant here began to cry out at
+me, and drown my voice. But I was satisfied with the impression I had
+made on the mind of their master. He listened, hanging his head, and
+casting meaning glances at me, as if doubtful how far I had authority
+for what I said. Finally he ordered me to be kept under a strong
+guard, and I was conveyed back to the same prison I had escaped from
+overnight.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+_IN A STRANGE LAND_
+
+
+I have now come to a period which was in many respects the strangest
+of my whole life, so that I often look back on it with wonder; and
+sitting here at the open window, framed in honeysuckle and sweetbriar,
+with the sounds of the farm in my ears and the prospect of the
+peaceful broad in front of me, I ask myself if I be truly that
+adventurous youth who once dwelt in captivity for many months in the
+court of an Indian prince, half victim and half plaything, one day
+caressed and loaded with rich gifts, the next threatened with death
+and torture.
+
+Yet so it was. After the attempt whose miscarriage I have just
+related, the demeanour of the Nabob underwent a singular change. He
+relented from his severity towards us, and in fact a few days after,
+riding past our place of imprisonment one morning, he stopped at the
+door and calling Mr. Holwell out to him, bade him and his two
+companions betake themselves where they would, since he desired never
+to hear of them again.
+
+However, in this dismissal he did not include me, choosing to put me
+on a different footing from the other prisoners he had taken at Fort
+William, and to hold me as a hostage--for so I am sure he considered
+me--for the friendship of Colonel Clive. He offered me the choice
+between being kept in chains or giving him my parole not to leave
+Moorshedabad without his consent. The Moors do not accept each other's
+parole, but they trust that of a European, than which there can be no
+stronger proof of the dishonesty of their whole nation. I chose to
+comply with the Nabob's condition, as I considered that I ought not to
+quit the place without having effected something for Marian. And by
+giving my parole I trusted to obtain opportunities for communicating
+with her, as well as with my luckless cousin Gurney, whom I had not
+seen since the morning after our adventure.
+
+Whether Surajah Dowlah suspected my designs, and took particular
+measures for baffling them, I cannot say. But during the time that now
+followed, try as I would, I never succeeded in so much as hearing the
+smallest news of either of the two persons whom I knew to be in
+Moorshedabad. So close is the secrecy maintained by Orientals that
+they might have both been carried off into the recesses of Tartary,
+and yet not been more utterly out of my reach than they were, abiding
+in the same city.
+
+Neither was I able to gain any certain tidings of my fellow
+countrymen. I only knew that the Nabob, intoxicated with the pride of
+his victory at Fort William, had neglected to take measures for
+pursuing the refugees and driving them from his country. So that they
+lay all together at Fulta, very miserably, wishing for succour to
+arrive from Madras, and passed the time, as I have since understood,
+in recriminations upon each other, for the misconduct and weakness
+which had brought about the fall of Calcutta. What were the real
+feelings of Surajah Dowlah towards myself I found it then, and find it
+still, very difficult to estimate. On many occasions he behaved
+towards me with the greatest kindness, and as though he had a real
+affection for me. He would send for me sometimes, when he was sober,
+and question me about the various kingdoms of Europe, particularly the
+French, English, and Dutch, those being the three nations which had
+factories in his dominions. It was plain that he did not believe very
+much of what I told him, supposing no doubt that I exaggerated in
+order to astonish him. I told him that the French were the most
+powerful military nation on the continent of Europe, but that we were
+their masters, having several times invaded and conquered their
+country. And I said that at sea the English had ever been reckoned the
+first of all nations, so much so that no foreign warship was allowed
+to pass through our seas without striking her topsails to any British
+vessel she might meet. When I spoke in this manner he would mock, and
+ask whether I supposed that a Frenchman would confirm these accounts,
+to which I made answer that such was scarcely to be expected, the
+French being a vain people, and given to boasting of their greatness.
+
+When the Nabob had exhausted his questions--and he seldom asked me
+about any but military affairs--he would bestow on me a jewel, or a
+rich dress, and dismiss me with every mark of kindness. But on the
+very next day, perhaps, being sent for again, I found him in a drunken
+rage, ready to curse my nation and myself, and threatening to have my
+tongue pulled out for having abused him with lies and inventions about
+my miserable country. On these occasions I often heard him declare
+that the whole of Europe did not contain ten thousand men, and that as
+for King George, he was only fit to be a dewan or zamindar under
+himself.
+
+It did not take me long to discover that the Nabob was entirely
+governed by those about him. When he could be prevailed on to listen
+to his uncle, Meer Jaffier, or to his aunt, the widow of Allaverdy
+Khan, his behaviour was rational enough; but more often he fell under
+the influence of his detestable Gentoo favourite Lal Moon, and other
+scoundrels of that stamp, when he became little more than a drunken
+sot. I felt during this period as though I was shut in the same cage
+with a capricious tiger, who one moment purred and fawned on me and
+the next showed his teeth with horrid snarls, nor was there ever a
+day on which I could feel secure that I should not be delivered to the
+executioner before the sun set.
+
+Through all these changes of demeanour I adhered to the firm conduct I
+had at first taken up, and by never permitting the tyrant to see that
+I feared him, succeeded time after time in damping his frenzy. At the
+same time I acquired the friendship and esteem of some of the most
+considerable persons of his Court, particularly Roy Dullub, the dewan
+already mentioned, and the famous Meer Jaffier. My hold on the
+friendship of this distinguished Moor was strengthened by an incident
+which I am about to relate.
+
+As soon as the rainy season was over, which lasted till the month of
+October, Surajah Dowlah marched out with his army into the country of
+Purneah, for the purpose of attacking his cousin, who was Phouzdar of
+that territory. The young Nabob bore a great hatred to this relation
+of his, and had frequently announced his intention of destroying him
+as soon as the weather should permit of his moving against him. At the
+head of the army, as usual, was the general, Meer Jaffier, and at my
+earnest request I was allowed to accompany him as one of his train.
+
+We arrived at length, after a tedious march, at the foot of some
+hills, on the slope of which the Phouzdar's army lay encamped. Our own
+force was much more numerous, but the Phouzdar's position being a
+very strong one the Meer judged it not prudent to make an attack till
+he had had an opportunity of thoroughly examining the ground. With
+this view he chose out a small party, of whom I was one, and departed
+secretly from the camp at sunset, to explore the enemy's
+neighbourhood.
+
+The distance between the two armies was not very great; as near as I
+could judge it was about three miles. But we had no guide to direct
+us, and lost our way in the darkness, getting entangled first in the
+wood, and afterwards among a network of small, deep streams, too broad
+to jump, and dangerous to wade on account of the steepness of their
+banks and the slippery boulders with which their beds were strewn. So
+long did it take us to extricate ourselves out of these difficulties
+that when the sun rose we found ourselves close to the Phouzdar's
+camp, and within full view of his army. We turned to retreat, but at
+the same time a loud halloo was raised behind us, and a troop of
+horsemen, with waving ensigns and steel accoutrements shining in the
+sun, dashed out from the enemy's ranks and rode down upon us.
+
+Meer Jaffier at once gave the order to face round, and form into a
+solid body to receive their onset. As they approached there was a
+tall young man in a high turban that blazed with diamonds, mounted on
+a noble white horse, who spurred swiftly in front, and rode straight
+for where our commander was posted, with me beside him. The Meer, who
+did not want courage, perceiving that this young man sought him out,
+instantly galloped forward to meet him, and cast his javelin. The
+javelin passed by the young man's ear; he pulled up his horse, and
+threw his own in return with such good aim that he struck Meer
+Jaffier on the shoulder, who reeled and fell off his horse on to the
+ground. The other instantly rode up and leaped off his white horse to
+despatch his enemy, but I was on the spot just in time, and without
+dismounting, succeeded in striking the young man on the neck with my
+scymetar with such force that he fell down dead.
+
+No sooner did they see him fall than the whole troop of the enemy's
+horse turned round and went off, casting away their banners as they
+rode. Meer Jaffier, who had merely been stunned for the moment, came
+to himself directly afterwards, and on looking at the dead man's face
+recognised him to be no other than the Phouzdar of Purneah himself. We
+were informed afterwards that he had mistaken us for the Nabob's own
+bodyguard, and had come out to attack the Nabob himself.
+
+This lucky accident put an end to the campaign, the whole country at
+once submitting to Surajah Dowlah. The ungrateful young tyrant chose
+to resent my action, declaring that it was his design to have put his
+cousin to death with his own hand, but Meer Jaffier expressed himself
+very handsomely about the service I had rendered him, and presented
+me with the white horse which the Phouzdar had ridden.
+
+As soon as we were returned to Moorshedabad Surajah Dowlah marked his
+sense of resentment against me by withdrawing my liberty on parole,
+and ordering me into close confinement again. I thus learnt how
+dangerous is the path of those who would advance themselves at courts
+where everything depends on the personal favour of the monarch, and
+not, as in our own happy country, where the power is distributed among
+the Houses of Parliament and great Ministers, so that no man hath it
+in his power unduly to depress another. However, I had not lain in my
+new prison very long before I had reason to rejoice at the Nabob's
+caprice, which had restored to me the right of plotting my escape from
+him. For one evening, when it began to be dusk, the door of my cell
+was suddenly opened, and the gaolers ushered in a person closely
+veiled and disguised, who, as soon as we were left alone, removed the
+wrappings from his face and showed himself to be none other than the
+Meer Jaffier in person.
+
+"My son," he said to me, regarding me with a look of some concern,
+"there has this day arrived at the palace a messenger from Monichund,
+who brings tidings that Sabat Jung, with a great armament of ships and
+men, has arrived in the mouth of the Hooghley, breathing vengeance
+against our lord Surajah Dowlah. And this news has so infuriated him
+against the whole English nation that, unless you can contrive to get
+away from Moorshedabad to-night you are like to forfeit your life on
+the morrow."
+
+Now whether this distinguished Moor was moved to this action by
+gratitude for my former service to him, or whether, as some of my
+friends think, he was already aiming at the treaty into which he
+afterwards entered with the English, and therefore wished to show his
+good will to us; yet of this I am sure, that he preserved my life on
+this night, an action for which I must always hold him in grateful
+remembrance. Under his directions I collected together my property,
+consisting chiefly of the gems which the Nabob had given me, and which
+I secreted on my person. He then brought me out of the prison, past
+the gaolers, whom he had bribed and dismissed, and took me by a back
+way to his own house. Here I found the beautiful white horse he had
+given me, which was named Ali, ready saddled and bridled for a
+journey. I had for some months been accustomed to wear the Moorish
+dress, so that I wanted nothing in the shape of disguise, save another
+application of my cousin Rupert's paint, which was not to be had.
+
+"Mount," said the Meer, "and I will myself ride with you as far as the
+gate of the city and see you safely on your way."
+
+Accordingly he had his own horse made ready, a small, powerful, black
+mare, like a jennet, and on this led the way through the streets of
+the city, now nearly empty, to the southern gate. As we rode along
+together he gave me advice as to how I should proceed.
+
+"You may now pass well enough among the Mahometans," he said, "for you
+have learned a good deal of our manners, and if you had been willing
+to forsake your degrading idolatry, and embrace the true worship of
+Allah, you might have attained to a high position among us. But now
+you are to pass through the country parts of Bengal, in which there
+are few or no Moors, but only Gentoos, of whom I would have you
+beware. For the secret hatred of these people for us, their rulers and
+governors, is very great, so that though you should pass among them
+for a Moor, you would fare little better than if they knew you to be a
+Christian and a foreigner. Above all, beware of their Bramins, a
+faithless, perjured race, given over to all kinds of vile, heathen
+practices, such as you have no notion of. Let a Bramin once raise his
+finger against you among these people and you are lost, for by means
+of their manifold sorceries they have reduced the whole Gentoo
+population to be their slaves."
+
+He gave me some directions as to the road I was to travel, telling me
+I should have to make a circuit so as not to pass through Calcutta,
+which lay directly in the way to Fulta. The whole distance he
+estimated as a little more than two hundred miles, and he advised me
+to ride only at night, and conceal myself in the jungle during the
+day. I asked him what I should do to procure food.
+
+"That will require some address," he answered, "but you must avoid
+entering a village. You will have to keep your eyes open as you ride
+along, and when you come to some hut standing by itself with no others
+near, enter boldly and demand provisions for yourself and your horse.
+Beware of offering any money in payment, or they will suspect you to
+be a fugitive and fall upon you; but if you hold yourself towards them
+with pride and sternness, giving them only curses and blows, they will
+respect and grovel before you, for such is the nature of the
+Bengalese."
+
+As soon as we were arrived at the gate of the town Meer Jaffier bade
+me farewell.
+
+"When you come before Sabat Jung you may salute him privately from
+me," he said at parting. "Tell him that my nephew's violence towards
+the English is far from commanding the approval of the elder and more
+prudent among us, and that we earnestly desire to see your factories
+restored and trade once more flourishing."
+
+In these last expressions I knew him to be sincere. For since the
+destruction of the English factories there had been a great falling
+off in the revenues of Bengal, so much so that even the Nabob himself
+was now inclined to repent of his action.
+
+I thanked and saluted my protector, and giving the rein to my willing
+steed, galloped forth into the night. And now it would be easy for me
+to make a long story of those four days and nights which I spent in
+travelling through the unknown parts of Bengal, riding along dark
+forest paths with nothing to guide me but the stars, under mighty
+trees whose boughs arched overhead like caverns and grew downwards
+into the earth again, past sleeping Indian villages, where the dogs
+bayed behind prickly fences, swimming dark rivers on whose surface the
+reflections of strange idol temples rose and fell, and creeping
+through thick jungles where my ears were stunned by the screams of
+trooping jackals, and where my heart would sometimes come into my
+mouth as I saw the brown grass bend and shake with the passage of some
+great beast, and caught a glimpse of dark red stripes moving behind
+the reeds, and heard the heavy padding of its paws. But only once
+during this journey did I come into real danger, and that through a
+neglect of the wise advice given to me by my good friend at starting.
+
+For though Meer Jaffier had so strictly warned me against the Indians,
+and particularly the Bramins, yet on the third night after my flight,
+beginning to feel somewhat confident by having got so far in safety,
+nothing would do but I must thrust my head into the lion's den, by
+which I mean venture into one of their temples, at the very time they
+were busy about a great religious ceremony. I had been on my way since
+sundown, and had made very good progress, so that I supposed myself to
+have got over the greater part of my journey, when towards the middle
+of the night I came unexpectedly upon a great building, standing by
+itself on the edge of a stream, which building I at once knew to be a
+temple of the Gentoo religion.
+
+Having passed several places of the same kind already I should not
+have taken much notice of this one, perhaps, if my attention had not
+been attracted by a peculiar drumming noise which seemed to proceed
+from the inside, and sounded very strange and awful in the darkness. I
+rode up as near as I dared, and then stopped, listening. The drumming
+grew louder and louder, and I presently began to distinguish a purpose
+in it. The sounds rose and fell in a certain regular order, very
+unlike the melody of our musical instruments, but yet very impressive
+to the ear. I found myself affected by a feeling of suspense as I
+listened, which quickly passed into one of fear, and at the same time
+I noticed that my horse had begun to shiver and sweat violently. The
+only effect of this was to fill me with a burning curiosity to know
+what this music was for. I tethered poor Ali to a tree, and though he
+seemed to be greatly distressed at being left alone, plunged into the
+undergrowth that surrounded the sides of the temple.
+
+The whole place appeared to be in darkness. I groped my way at last to
+the foot of a flight of steps leading up to the front, and finding
+nobody on guard climbed up softly on all fours, only staying now and
+then to breathe deeply, and to try and still the excessive beating of
+my heart. The drums continued to sound, the notes becoming harsher and
+more distinct as I approached. At the top of the steps I found myself
+before a little stone doorway, through which a very faint dusky
+glimmer emerged. I passed in, treading on tiptoe, and came along a
+narrow stone passage, down which the sound of the drumming made a
+dismal echo. At the further end of the passage the way was closed by a
+thick curtain made of a substance that felt like stiff leather, and
+was, I believe, the hide of an elephant. I pushed this back far enough
+to let me through, and passed straight into the midst of the place.
+
+As I did so the beating of the tom-toms broke on my ears with such
+vehemence that I was well-nigh stunned, and a waving dance of torches
+and cressets bewildered my eyes. I stood on the edge of a range of
+steps looking down upon an amphitheatre crowded with men. On the other
+side, over against me, rose a hideous idol, as high as the roof, with
+many heads, each grinning horribly, whilst from its body there
+protruded a monstrous array of clutching arms and hands, with other
+disfigurements too loathsome to be set down. The persons underneath me
+were all leaping and whirling round, with many gestures of homage to
+the idol, and they uttered cries and screams which were drowned by the
+noise of the drums.
+
+In the midst of their frenzy I saw a man dart out stark naked,
+prostrate himself for a moment at the idol's feet, and then inflict a
+terrible gash on himself with a knife which he had in his hand.
+Instantly the yellings and drummings were redoubled, the mass of
+worshippers whirled themselves round more furiously than ever, and
+then another and another man leaped forward and cut himself, each one
+more savagely than his fellow. Though I have never known what it is to
+be faint or sick in battle at the sight of wounds, nor even in a
+hospital, the spectacle of these ghastly mutilations offered up by
+these Indians in their madness to the idol turned me cold. I stood
+there watching them, and saw the stones of the temple all bloody like
+a shambles, and the dark faces of the worshippers distorted like
+maniacs, amid the smoke and flare of the torches, and a din like that
+of the pit; and remembering the different worship in which I had been
+brought up, and the pious services conducted by good Mr. Walpole, I
+thanked the Almighty who had granted me the blessed privilege of being
+born in a Christian land.
+
+And with this prayer in my heart I was turning to go when all at once
+I was aware that I had been spied; the noise of the tom-toms and the
+screaming dropped as if by magic, the torches were extinguished as
+though a wind had suddenly passed through the place, and as I turned
+and fled I heard the pattering of innumerable naked feet behind me on
+the stones.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+_THE COMING OF SABAT JUNG_
+
+
+If ever I felt afraid in my life it was when I fled out of the Indian
+temple with the whole swarm of devil-worshippers in full pursuit. I
+never thought I should have escaped alive, yet by the aid of
+Providence I did so, leaping down the steps by great bounds, finding
+my horse and unloosing him in the nick of time, and galloping off out
+of their reach. They kept up the pursuit for at least a mile, running
+with extraordinary swiftness, and tracking me like wolves;
+nevertheless in the end I got clean away.
+
+This adventure served as a wholesome lesson to me to beware of
+meddling with the ways of strange peoples in a strange land. By dint
+of following Meer Jaffier's wise and prudent directions I got over the
+rest of my journey without hindrance, and as day was breaking at the
+end of the following night I rode down on to the shore of the
+Hooghley.
+
+There the first thing that met my eyes was the pennant of my old
+commander, Admiral Watson, flying from the main truck of his
+Majesty's ship _Kent_, where she lay in the river, surrounded by a
+fleet, comprising the _Tyger_, _Salisbury_, _Bridgewater_, and a
+number of merchantmen. I gloated over this welcome sight almost with
+tears, as I realised that I was restored to my countrymen once more,
+after all my perils and wanderings. It did not take me long to reach
+the English camp on the edge of the river, where the spectacle of a
+turbaned Moor riding in on a white horse excited no small commotion.
+
+I inquired for Colonel Clive, and was quickly brought to the door of
+his tent, where my kind friend Mr. Scrafton came out to speak to me. I
+was on the point of offering him my hand, but observing that he had no
+suspicions as to who it was I merely told him in Indostanee that I
+came from Moorshedabad, with a message from the Meer Jaffier, and
+suffered him to bring me in to Mr. Clive.
+
+The famous Sabat Jung sat writing at a small table, from which he
+looked up as we entered, and cast a sharp glance over me. Mr. Scrafton
+spoke in English.
+
+"Colonel, here is a Moor from the Nabob's capital, with a message from
+his general to you."
+
+Mr. Clive laid down his pen.
+
+"Tell him to deliver it," he said.
+
+Before Mr. Scrafton could interpret this command, which he was about
+to do, I interposed, addressing Mr. Clive in English.
+
+"The Meer Jaffier bade me salute you privately, sir. Is it your
+pleasure that Mr. Scrafton should be present?"
+
+The Colonel and his secretary stared at each other, as they well
+might.
+
+"Who are you, man?" demanded Mr. Clive. "And how do you know this
+gentleman's name?"
+
+"I know his name very well, sir," said I, "and I think he knows mine,
+unless by this time he has forgot his former pupil, Athelstane Ford."
+
+"By the Lord, if it isn't my little purser!" exclaimed Colonel Clive.
+
+And this great man was pleased to rise from his chair and shake me
+very warmly by the hand, declaring himself pleased to see me safe and
+sound again. Mr. Scrafton did the same, after which they made me sit
+down and tell the history of my adventures. They questioned me very
+closely about the character of Surajah Dowlah and the strength of his
+government, and after I had expressed my opinions, Mr. Clive told me
+that he believed he understood the Nabob's character, and had written
+him a letter such as would send his heart into his boots.
+
+"And that the whole of Indostan may know what I think of the young
+monster, I mean to send the letter open to his lieutenant, Monichund,"
+he said. "These barbarous nations shall be made to learn the English
+are their masters, and that every outrage upon an Englishman shall
+cost them dear."
+
+So at last there had come a man able to deal with the bloodthirsty
+savage Moors and their prince as they deserved; and a new page was
+turned over in the history of Bengal. And but for the anxiety that
+continually harassed my mind as to the fate of those two whom I had
+left in Moorshedabad, I mean Marian and my cousin, who, in spite of
+many crimes, had at last done something to atone for his past
+misconduct; but for this, the time which followed would have been full
+of satisfaction. For I was now to witness the closing acts of that
+great historic drama of which I have already chronicled the
+commencement. I was to assist at the execution of justice on a great
+malefactor, and to see his victims repaid a hundredfold for the
+injuries they had suffered at his hands.
+
+I had arrived in the English camp just in time to take part in the
+first of those celebrated operations by which the disgraceful
+surrender of Fort William was to be redeemed, and the English name was
+to be so signally advanced throughout the East Indies. Colonel Clive
+had despatched the letter he spoke of, to demand redress from the
+Nabob, but its language was so high and peremptory that Monichund, the
+Nabob's governor in Fort William, returned it, saying that he dared
+not transmit it to his master. Thereupon Mr. Clive, not sorry to have
+an excuse for hostilities, ordered an immediate advance on Calcutta.
+
+The total number of troops employed on this memorable expedition was
+a little more than two thousand, of whom the most part were Telingies,
+or Sepoys, the English troops being between six and seven hundred.
+Most of these were Company's soldiers, though we had about one hundred
+men of Adlercron's regiment from Madras. We had also two field-pieces;
+the rest had been lost through the unfortunate grounding of the
+_Cumberland_ outside the river. To this force was afterwards added a
+body of three hundred seamen from the ships, as I shall presently
+relate. This little army under Colonel Clive marched slowly up the
+bank of the Hooghley, while Admiral Watson followed and escorted us
+with his fleet.
+
+On the second afternoon we lay at a place called Mayapore, between
+which and Calcutta, on the river's edge, stood the strong place of
+Budge-Budge, or Buz-Buzia as it is written by the learned. The Admiral
+had announced his intention of sailing up to attack this fort on the
+next day with the guns of the ships, and in order to prevent the
+garrison escaping Mr. Clive decided to march round during the night,
+and lay an ambush in the rear of the fort.
+
+Accordingly we marched out of Mayapore about sunset, and were
+conducted by some Indian guides inland through a part of the country
+much broken up by swamps and watercourses, which made our progress so
+excessively tedious that it was not till the following sunrise that we
+arrived at the place appointed for the ambush. This was a hollow in
+the plain, where there was a deserted village, the hollow being
+surrounded by banks covered with thickets which, it was supposed,
+would conceal our presence from the enemy. The troops by this time
+being quite worn out, Colonel Clive gave them leave to lay down their
+arms and repose themselves, and so eagerly was the permission availed
+of that not a single sentinel was posted to give notice of the enemy's
+approach.
+
+I was with Mr. Clive himself, who had allowed me to accompany him as a
+sort of military secretary, Mr. Scrafton not being a soldier. We lay
+down side by side, and I for one had no sooner closed my eyes than I
+fell asleep. But the very next moment, as it seemed to me, I awoke
+with a start, to the sound of a battle going on around me.
+
+I sprang to my feet and took in the whole scene. A whole Indian army
+appeared to have surrounded the sleeping camp. The banks of the hollow
+were lined with swarthy troops, armed with matchlocks, from which they
+poured a steady fire upon our bewildered men, just roused from
+slumber, and groping in confusion after their arms. On an eminence a
+short way behind I espied an officer, whom I took to be Monichund
+himself, seated on an elephant, issuing orders to his troops. Our two
+field-pieces stood deserted in the way of the enemy, who advanced to
+take them, while the terrified artillerymen ran for shelter among the
+troops of the line. Our position looked desperate, and I turned
+anxiously to Colonel Clive to see what he would do.
+
+Mr. Clive had sprung to his feet at the same moment with myself. For a
+moment he stood in an attitude of stern attention, his hands clenched,
+his lips compressed, and his eyes darting from point to point over the
+field. The next instant his voice rang out like the sound of a
+trumpet.
+
+"Steady! Form in line! Face this way! Captain Campbell, form your men
+on the right. Captain Coote, take yours to the left. Where is
+Kilpatrick?"
+
+He sprang forward among the disordered troops, rattling out commands
+and words of encouragement, and infusing a new spirit into them by his
+very presence and the air of cool resolution with which he moved and
+spoke. Like magic the little force disposed itself under his orders,
+and began to return the enemy's fire. Astonished by this sudden
+transformation, the Moors halted in their attack, and seemed contented
+to hold the rest of the ridge. Colonel Clive instantly detected their
+hesitation, drew up two small detachments opposite the points where
+the enemy seemed to be in the greatest numbers and ordered them to
+charge. They dashed forward with a ringing cheer, gained the bank, and
+drove the enemy back into the village.
+
+Taking advantage of this success, Mr. Clive turned his attention to
+the two field-pieces, which had been surrounded by a party of
+Monichund's force.
+
+"Go," he said to me, "order up the volunteers, and rescue those guns."
+
+Elated by this commission I darted towards a little squad composed of
+some fifty of the Company's civil servants who had volunteered before
+we left Fulta.
+
+"Come on," I shouted, "and take the guns!"
+
+They responded with an answering shout, we charged on the Indians at
+the double and drove them off. The artillerymen came up, turned the
+guns on the village, and began to shell out the enemy. A minute
+afterwards a loud cheer announced a general advance of our whole
+force, and Monichund, turning his elephant, fled, followed by all his
+men.
+
+While this was taking place the thunder of guns from the direction of
+the river told us that the fleet had come up, and was already at work
+silencing the artillery of the fort. Colonel Clive called back his men
+from the pursuit, and then, finding them utterly exhausted, he
+deferred the assault on the fort till the next day, and we again
+betook ourselves to repose.
+
+The result of this affair was greatly to encourage us, while we
+afterwards learned that it had as much disheartened the Moors. That
+presumption which they had felt ever since the fall of Calcutta was
+now exchanged for a different feeling, so much so that it may not be
+too much to say that the fate of Bengal was decided by that morning's
+work. The admiration which I felt for Mr. Clive's conduct on this
+occasion emboldened me to offer him my congratulations on his victory,
+but he rebuked me for doing do.
+
+"I will tell you what it is, young gentleman," he said to me, "I
+deserved to have been defeated for my carelessness in letting the
+beggars surprise me. It is true we beat them off, but that is no
+defence. A general should not allow himself to be caught napping in
+that fashion, and you may depend on it I shall say as little as
+possible about this day's work in my despatches to the Directors."
+
+In this confidential way he was pleased to talk with me, a freedom
+which it was his habit to indulge in with all those of his
+subordinates whom he really liked. For this hero, as I must have
+leave to call him, was not one of those little great men who find
+it necessary to keep up their authority by a show of reserve and
+pompousness, but feeling that confidence in himself which would
+enable him to rely upon his actions as the proofs of his greatness,
+he despised the arts of inferior minds.
+
+And now there happened an event, not only singular in itself, but
+interesting to me as bringing me back the company of an old friend
+whom I had never looked to see again. In the evening of this same day,
+while the soldiers were at supper, a party of sailors were landed from
+the ships, being the force I have already mentioned, to be ready to
+take part in the assault the next day. Thinking it possible that some
+of my old comrades from the _Talisman_ might be among them, about
+eight o'clock I strolled down to their quarters, where I found them
+all drinking together, without much appearance of discipline.
+
+I walked past several groups without recognising any face that I knew,
+and was about to give up the quest, when I noticed a group of half a
+dozen who were straying in the direction of the silent fort. This
+seemed to me a very dangerous proceeding, and as I could see none of
+their officers near, I determined to follow and remonstrate with them.
+Accordingly I hastened after them as fast as I could go. By the way in
+which they walked, or rather staggered along, I saw they had been
+drinking pretty freely. Presently they set off at a run, paying no
+heed to my shouts, and I was obliged to follow till they stopped on
+the very edge of the ditch which went round the fort. Here I caught up
+with them, greatly surprised that the garrison had shown no signs of
+life. But before I could speak, or even distinctly see their faces,
+the tallest of the party, a man of great frame, began rolling down
+into the ditch, which was nearly dry.
+
+I dared not call out for fear of drawing the attention of those in the
+fort, and watched him breathlessly as he plunged through the mud at
+the bottom of the ditch and scrambled up the opposite side.
+
+"What is he doing?" I demanded in a whisper of the man who appeared
+to be the most sober of the group.
+
+"It's a bet," he answered; "we bet him a quart of rum he wouldn't get
+to the top of the wall."
+
+I stared at the fellow, hardly able to believe in such recklessness.
+Then I turned my eyes to the huge seaman on the opposite side of the
+ditch. He had just made good his footing on the top of the bank, and
+now he began climbing up the masonry like a cat, till at last his
+herculean figure stood out clear on the summit.
+
+The next moment we saw him draw his cutlass and brandish it over his
+head, and a loud shout came across to us in a voice I knew full well.
+
+"Come on, you beggars, I've taken the ---- fort!"
+
+It was old Muzzy, the boatswain of the _Fair Maid_.
+
+Not for long did we hesitate, but rushing down into the ditch after
+him we were speedily in the fort. There our shouts roused first a
+company of Sepoys, and finally the whole force, who came trooping in,
+to find the place deserted, and the garrison fled secretly under cover
+of the darkness to Calcutta.
+
+While this was going on I had approached my old friend, for so I
+cannot but call him. Indeed, in spite of his evil character and
+manifold breaches of the laws of God and man, the old fellow had shown
+me much kindness, for which I was not ungrateful, and this perhaps
+inclined me to look with an unduly lenient eye on his misdeeds. Going
+up to him, I clapped him on the back, and cried out--
+
+"How goes it, old Muzzy? and what of the _Fair Maid_ and the rest of
+her crew?"
+
+The boatswain gave a great start, and turned round to me with a look
+of astonishment which quickly passed into one of delight.
+
+"Why, drown me, if it ain't that young cockerel again!" he exclaimed.
+
+And before I knew what he would be at, he cast his arms around me, and
+gave me a most evil-smelling kiss, fragrant of rum and tobacco. Then,
+still holding me firmly with his great hairy hands, as though he
+feared I should vanish into air, he put me back far enough for him to
+gaze at my face.
+
+"Stab my vitals if I didn't think as you was suffocated in that there
+Black Hole!" He garnished his speech with many other expressions which
+I am ashamed to remember, far less to write here. "So we all heard
+aboard the ship. But you're alive, ain't ye now?" he added. "It's not
+the rum as makes me think I sees you?"
+
+"I am Athelstane Ford," I answered, trying to shake myself free from
+his grasp, "and not a little glad to meet you again. But how did you
+come to be on a King's ship? Is the _Fair Maid_----"
+
+"Hist!" He interrupted me with a warning frown, and cast an
+apprehensive glance behind him. "Not a word about her! It might be a
+hanging matter if it was known I had been in the boat that escaped
+from Gheriah. I'll tell you all about it by our two selves."
+
+I took advantage of this offer to lead the way out of the fort. We
+walked back to the British lines together, old Muzzy still clutching
+me with one hand, and as soon as we had reached a quiet spot out of
+earshot we sat down and he commenced his tale.
+
+"You see, it's this way. Arter what happened when we was coming out of
+the river, where we lost you overboard, I come to the conclusion that
+that cousin o' yours warn't what I calls a honest man. Nobody can't
+say as how I'm one of your squeamish sort, 'cause I ain't. As fur as a
+bit o' smuggling goes, or a bit of privateering, or even a bit o'
+piracy, in a general way, I don't say nothin', but when it comes to
+taking and firing a culverin at your own ship, with your own mates
+aboard of her, why, d'ye see, I don't call that honest. And when I
+find out as a man ain't what I calls honest, I don't sail in his
+company. Mind you, I'm not the man to deny that Captain Gurney has his
+good points; he ain't no lawyer, that I'll admit, and he's as free
+with his rum-cask as any man I ever wish to sail under. But arter that
+business what I've mentioned, me and my mates swore we wouldn't have
+nothing more to do with him.
+
+"Well, when we got outside the river, we pointed her head for the
+nor'ard, and by keeping pretty close along the shore, though we
+hadn't a soul on board that could navigate, we managed to bring the
+old _Fair Maid_ safe into port--that's Bombay. You may strike me blind
+as I set here, when I tells you that no sooner did we bring up in the
+harbour than who should we see carmly settin' on the quay a-waiting
+for us but that eternal cousin of yourn! How on earth he got there's a
+mystery, but there he was; and as soon as he sights the _Fair Maid_ he
+comes off in a boat as cool as you please and takes the command
+again."
+
+"Why did you let him?" I asked, with a touch of my old resentment
+against Rupert. "Why didn't you refuse to take him on board?"
+
+Old Muzzy gave me a reproachful look and shook his head gravely.
+
+"No, no, boy, we couldn't go for to do that. That would ha' been flat
+mutiny; and remember his name was on the ship's books as first
+officer, and he might have pistolled us every one and had the law on
+his side. We didn't dare leave him neither, 'cause that would ha' been
+desertion, d'ye see, and he might have got out a warrant and had us
+brought on board again in irons."
+
+"What did you do, then?" I demanded as he paused, and a smile of deep
+cunning slowly overspread his face.
+
+"I'll tell you what we did, Athelstane, my hearty. We got ourselves
+pressed!"
+
+"Pressed?"
+
+"Took by the crimps, you understand, and pressed to serve King George.
+Oh, but it was a rare spree to see them crimps a-laying in wait for
+us, and enticing us into their dens, and filling us up with rum till
+we nearly bust where we sat, so that they could go and bring the
+pressgang down upon us. And us all the time asking nothing better, and
+ready to serve of our own accord, only it might ha' looked suspicious,
+d'ye see, it being agin natur for a honest seaman to want to go on
+board a man-o'-war."
+
+The boatswain began to quiver and roll to and fro with spasms of
+inward laughter at the recollection of his strategy.
+
+"And you should ha' seen your cousin's face when he stood all alone on
+the deck of the _Fair Maid_, and saw a boatload of us being rowed past
+him to the _Tyger_, every man jack of us in irons, and laughing in his
+face as we went by! And so that's how it is as I'm in King George's
+uniform, and right glad I am to find you in company again. For if ever
+I took a fancy to a young feller, I took one to you from the moment I
+first clapped eyes on you, and says I to myself, 'I'll make that lad a
+tight sailor yet,' I says, and I'd ha' done it, my boy, but for that
+scrub of a cousin of yours. And I've taken a blessed fort to-night for
+King George; and I'll tell 'em you was with me, and in command of the
+party, and they'll put your name in the despatches, and make you an
+admiral yet, or my name ain't Muzzy!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+_A BATTLE IN THE DARK_
+
+
+With some difficulty I persuaded my zealous friend to change his
+intention of ascribing to me the capture of Budge-Budge. It was well I
+did so, for Mr. Clive, when he heard the particulars of the affair,
+chose to resent the breach of discipline on the part of the sailors
+more than he approved of their reckless enterprise. So that old Muzzy,
+to his surprise, instead of being rewarded for his achievement, found
+himself lucky to get off with nothing worse than a reprimand for his
+drunkenness and disobedience to orders.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The next day we marched upon Calcutta.
+
+The ships went before us to clear the way, but they met with no
+resistance, all the Indian forces retiring before our advance. In the
+affair before Budge-Budge it seems that one of the shots from the guns
+had passed close to the turban of Monichund, and this had so terrified
+him that he never halted in his retreat till he came to Moorshedabad,
+all the way communicating his own fears to the garrisons he passed.
+When we entered the town of Calcutta, therefore, we saw the English
+colours already flying again from the fort, Admiral Watson having sent
+a party ashore to take possession.
+
+I am sorry to say that some bad blood arose between the gallant
+Admiral and Mr. Clive over this incident. In fact there had been
+already several jealousies between the two services, the Admiral and
+his officers affecting to regard the Company's forces as on an
+inferior footing to themselves. This feeling was heightened by the
+fact that Mr. Watson's rank in the navy was higher than that of
+Colonel Clive in the army, which gave him the precedence, though
+everybody knew that the real leader and director of the campaign was
+the Colonel.
+
+I was with Mr. Clive when he came up to the entrance to the fort, and
+can still see the stern look on his face when the sentinel stationed
+there by Captain Coote refused him admission.
+
+"Do you know who I am, fellow?" he cried. "I bid you let me pass this
+instant, or I will have you court-martialled as sure as my name is
+Robert Clive!"
+
+The sentinel drew back, and we passed in, but were immediately met in
+the courtyard by Mr. Coote himself.
+
+"What is the meaning of this performance, sir?" the Colonel asked him
+sternly. "Are you aware that I hold his Majesty's commission as
+lieutenant-colonel, and that you and all your men are therefore under
+my commands?"
+
+"I am very sorry sir," replied the other, beginning to blench a
+little, "but I was put into possession of this place by Admiral
+Watson, who has given me his commission as governor, and bid me hold
+it on his behalf till the arrival of Mr. Drake."
+
+"Then, Captain Coote," retorted Mr. Clive, turning pale, "I order you
+to give up this fort to me, as your superior officer on land, failing
+which I shall order you to be arrested."
+
+The Captain gave way at this threat, but contrived to despatch a
+message to Mr. Watson of what had occurred. The Admiral, whose spirit
+was as high as Mr. Clive's, at once sent on shore to say that unless
+Mr. Clive instantly quitted the fort, leaving Captain Coote in
+possession, he should open fire on it from the _Kent_.
+
+In the end, however, a compromise was effected, by virtue of which the
+Admiral was to hold the fort for the remainder of that day, in
+compliment to his services in having taken it, but at the end of that
+period he was to deliver it up to Mr. Clive as the military
+representative of the Company.
+
+Such were some of the difficulties with which this distinguished man
+had to contend. He would sometimes say to me, in his moments of
+confidence--
+
+"I declare to you, Ford, that if I had known how I was to be vexed
+and thwarted by those whose duty it is to assist me, I would never
+have undertaken this command. After ruining their own affairs these
+Bengal gentlemen criticise and hamper every step I take to restore
+them; and Admiral Watson is more zealous in maintaining what he
+considers the honours due to his profession, than he is in beating the
+Moors."
+
+But in spite of this occasional bitterness, the Colonel entertained a
+great respect for Mr. Watson's courage and abilities as a seaman, more
+especially after the celebrated affair of Chander Nugger. Whilst Mr.
+Clive, with the other members of the committee, was engaged in
+settling the affairs of Calcutta, some spies came in with the news
+that the town of Hooghley lay very open to attack, the garrison being
+greatly dismayed and ready to give up the place on very slight
+provocation. Accordingly the Admiral sailed up the river against it
+with his fleet, and some troops under Major Kilpatrick and Captain
+Coote, attacking it on the land side, it was taken with very little
+loss on our side, and destroyed. But as I was not present on this
+occasion, so I shall say little about it, except to remark that it
+served to yet further impress the Indians with a sense of our power,
+and put Surajah Dowlah on marching from Moorshedabad to crush us with
+all his force.
+
+The state in which we found Calcutta was indeed pitiable. The native
+quarter, especially that inhabited by the meaner sort of people, was
+not much injured, but all the English mansions and factories lay in
+ruins. The unfortunate servants of the Company, although thus restored
+to their former home, found themselves without shelter or money, the
+traffic having, of course, entirely ceased. It was fortunate for me
+that I had been able to bring away the jewels which Surajah Dowlah had
+given me in his fits of maudlin friendship, for these fetched a good
+price among the Gentoo merchants, and procured me as much money as I
+had occasion for. But with most of the others, from Mr. Drake
+downwards, it was different; and if the plunder of Hooghley had not
+brought in about a lac and a half of rupees, about this time, into the
+Company's coffers, I scarce know what they would have done.
+
+News arrived from Aleppo, shortly after these transactions, that war
+had again broken out in Europe between us and the French. This raised
+the prospect of a fresh peril for us, it being feared that the French
+in Chander Nugger would join forces with the Nabob. So seriously did
+Colonel Clive regard this outlook, that he consented to send proposals
+for an accommodation to Surajah, who was now in full march to the
+southward. To these proposals the Nabob pretended to return a
+favourable answer, nevertheless he continued advancing, and in order
+to be prepared against him Mr. Clive fortified an entrenched camp just
+outside the Morattoe ditch, to the northward, by which the Moors
+would have to pass before they could attack the town.
+
+Things were in this position when one morning about the beginning of
+February, rising at daybreak, and strolling outside the camp, I saw
+the whole horizon to the northward lit with the flames of burning
+villages. I hastened to rouse Mr. Clive, and he came out and stood
+beside me, watching, while from a cloud of dust along the road the van
+of the approaching army emerged, one blaze of gorgeous uniforms and
+tossing spears, marching towards the Morattoe ditch.
+
+For some time we stood in silence, as troop after troop came on,
+crowding along the high road, and casting fierce looks towards our
+encampment as they passed. A frown gathered on the Colonel's brow, and
+he began to think aloud, as was his custom sometimes, when we were
+alone.
+
+"Shall I attack them now? I might cut off their vanguard, and again I
+might be caught between two fires. The rest of the army cannot be far
+behind--better wait and ascertain their numbers. Besides, it is too
+soon to say whether or no the Nabob means to play me false. An attack
+now would hazard everything; I am bound to wait and give them time to
+show their true inclinations."
+
+He raised his head, and looked at me.
+
+"Go round the town, Ford, rouse the outposts everywhere, and bid them
+stand on the defensive. If the Moors attempt to cross the ditch and
+enter the town, they are to beat them back, and send me word, but not
+to follow them. Then return to me."
+
+I hastened away to execute these orders, which were duly carried out.
+In one or two places the Moors attempted incursions, but were speedily
+checked. This contented them for that day. On the following morning
+the main army, accompanied by Surajah Dowlah in person, debouched on
+the plains, and proceeded to spread itself round the threatened town.
+
+In the afternoon Mr. Clive summoned me to him. I found him in the tent
+with Mr. Scrafton, and he held a letter in his hand.
+
+"The Nabob has sent to me," he said, "desiring me to appoint some
+persons to treat with him of the peace, and I have chosen Mr. Scrafton
+and you as my deputies. What do you say, Ford? Are you ready to trust
+your head in the tiger's jaws again, after your late adventures?"
+
+"If you think fit to send me, sir, I am ready at all times to obey any
+orders I may receive from Colonel Clive."
+
+He smiled, well pleased.
+
+"Well said, my lad. I knew you were something better than a purser,
+and as soon as this business is over I will see to it that you get a
+commission in the Company's forces, if that will serve your turn."
+
+I thanked him, and Mr. Scrafton and I at once set out for Surajah's
+quarters, which we were informed were at a place called Nabob-gunge.
+But on arriving there we found that the treacherous Moor had pursued
+his march towards the town and when we at last overtook him, late in
+the evening, we found him with his headquarters established in a house
+belonging to the Gentoo merchant Omichund, which house lay actually
+within the Morattoe ditch, and was therefore included in the
+territories of Calcutta.
+
+We were here received by Roy Dullub, the Dewan, who instantly
+recognised me, and manifested some alarm at my thus appearing in the
+character of Colonel Clive's emissary. He glanced over us both with an
+air of suspicion, and desired to know whether we had pistols concealed
+in our dress.
+
+Mr. Scrafton laughed in his face.
+
+"We are not assassins," he said severely. "We do not deal with our
+enemies in that way. If our employer, Mr. Clive, desires to kill the
+Nabob, rest assured he will come in broad daylight, at the head of his
+army, and do it that way."
+
+Roy Dullub gave way after this rebuke, and led us into the presence of
+his master. The Nabob was seated in full durbar, with all his officers
+round him and the evil Lal Moon crouched like a snake beside his ear.
+All the way round the walls of the apartment was placed a row of huge
+guards, men of formidable size and ferocious countenances, who, to
+appear still more dreadful, had their dresses stuffed out and their
+turbans of twice the common size. Throughout the audience they kept
+their eyes fixed on us with a most bloodthirsty expression, as though
+expecting the signal to fall upon and slay us.
+
+Surajah Dowlah was little changed from when I had last seen him. His
+features still preserved that aspect of ruined handsomeness and marred
+and minished glory, which is ascribed to the fallen archangel by our
+great poet Milton--whom I, for one, will never stoop to compare with
+your writer of lascivious stage-plays and sonnets, after whom all the
+world is now running frantic. Roy Dullub handed the paper which we had
+brought containing our proposals to the Nabob, who read it over before
+he condescended to glance at us.
+
+No sooner did he see me, however, than his face changed. He turned his
+head, and whispered something to his favourite, pointing to me at the
+same time. Then he addressed us, with smooth civility, pretending to
+ignore our previous acquaintance.
+
+"I will desire my ministers to consider your proposals," he said. "The
+Dewan shall confer with you, and let you know my pleasure."
+
+"That is not enough for us," replied Mr. Scrafton. He naturally took
+it on himself to speak, as my elder and superior. "Your Highness has
+committed a breach of good faith in crossing the English boundary
+while negotiations are in progress."
+
+"You need have no fear about that," the Nabob responded. "My
+intentions towards the English are friendly. I come among you simply
+as a guest. Tell Sabat Jung that he may lay down his sword and confide
+in my goodwill."
+
+To this Mr. Scrafton replied by a fresh remonstrance, but he soon saw
+that nothing was to be got from Surajah, whose answers were evidently
+being inspired by his secret adviser, Lal Moon. At length the Nabob
+dismissed us, and we retired from the durbar.
+
+As we were passing out we saw, standing in the doorway, the Gentoo
+Omichund, whose house we were in. This man, well known in Bengal,
+possessed large interests in Calcutta, as well as in other parts of
+the Nabob's territories. For this reason he had long played a double
+game between the Moors and English, seeking to keep in with both
+sides. Now, as we came past, he fixed a significant look upon us, and
+whispered in English in my ear--
+
+"Take care of yourself!" Then, as I stood still for an instant he
+added in the same sly tone, "Does your commander know that the Nabob's
+cannon are not yet come up?"
+
+Before I could answer he slipped away in the crowd. I followed on
+after Mr. Scrafton, and whispered to him what I had heard, as we were
+on our way to the Dewan's tent.
+
+"It is my opinion," I added, "that we are to be detained as prisoners.
+The Nabob is merely amusing Mr. Clive till his batteries have
+arrived."
+
+Mr. Scrafton was alarmed. We looked round, and finding nobody near us
+ordered our attendants to put out their torches. We then turned aside
+among the other tents, threaded our way through them in the darkness
+till we came out on to the road running towards the English lines, and
+in this way contrived to escape and get back to camp.
+
+In order to the better understanding of what now took place, in
+default of a chart, I must explain how the two armies were situated.
+The river Hooghley, which here runs pretty straight north and south,
+forms, as it were, the string of a bent bow, the bow itself being
+represented by the Morattoe ditch of which I have so often had
+occasion to speak. The whole of the territory thus enclosed belonged
+to the Company, and measured about five miles in length, and one and a
+half miles in breadth at its widest part. The fort and town of
+Calcutta occupied only a small space in the centre, the rest of the
+ground being broken up into gardens with a few country residences
+scattered about. Of these Omichund's house, now occupied by the Nabob,
+lay about a quarter of the way along the ditch, from the point where
+it joins the river Hooghley at the north end of the enclosure. The
+remainder of their army lay in tents along a space of three miles, but
+on the outside of the ditch. Colonel Clive, as I have before
+explained, had entrenched his camp also on the further side, next to
+the river, lying between that and the Moors' encampment.
+
+The moment we had made our report to Colonel Clive his mind was made
+up. Springing on to his feet, and striding up and down in the tent, he
+exclaimed--
+
+"That settles it, if we are to strike a blow at all it must be now! I
+have done my best to procure a peace, knowing the risk I run by
+undertaking the attack of an army of forty thousand men with the
+little handful I have here under my command. But it is plain that I
+have to choose between that and yielding everything to the Nabob. Mr.
+Scrafton, write a letter in my name to the Admiral, asking him for as
+many seamen as he can spare; and do you, Ford, go and summon the
+officers here to receive their orders."
+
+The news that an attack was intended spread like wild-fire through the
+little camp, and caused the greatest excitement, many regarding it as
+a desperate venture from which we should never return alive. Our total
+force was 650 Englishmen, with 800 Sepoys, and another 100 to serve
+the artillery. These were reinforced by 600 men from the ships, armed
+with matchlocks, who were put ashore secretly at midnight. Our guns
+were six-pounders, and as we had no horses, except one which had come
+with the expedition from Madras, the cannon had to be drawn by seamen.
+
+Old Muzzy was among the party, and was given charge of one of the
+guns, of which there were six altogether. I went up to speak to him
+before he set out, and found him much discontented with the service.
+
+"It's this way, my lad," he said, addressing me with a freedom which I
+could not resent, considering what he had done for me in the past, "I
+understand sailing on salt water, and I understand fighting, but when
+they puts me in charge of this here craft on wheels, with neither
+spars nor yet oars to work it, and tells me to navigate it, I ain't
+exactly sure of my soundings. It seems to me that there ought to be a
+windlass to draw her up. Bust my stays if I can make out how I'm to
+make her answer her helm!"
+
+With these grumblings he entertained me till the signal was given to
+start, when I repaired to the side of Mr. Clive, who took his station
+in the centre of the column. We marched three abreast, four hundred of
+the Sepoys going in front, then the European troops, then the second
+half of the Sepoys, and last of all the guns escorted by the sailors.
+Mr. Clive's plan, so far as he permitted it to be known, was to strike
+right through the Nabob's army, before they were prepared to receive
+us, and attack the Nabob himself in Omichund's enclosure.
+
+It was just before daybreak when the head of our little column came
+upon the advance guard of the enemy. These at once fled, after
+discharging their pieces, but one of their shots, striking a Sepoy's
+cartouch box, caused a slight explosion, which threw our advance into
+some confusion for a moment. We pressed forward, picking our way as
+we best could in the obscurity; for no sooner was it day than a thick
+fog, such as is common in this season of the year in Bengal, descended
+upon us, wrapping everything in darkness. We had gone perhaps half a
+mile without molestation, dispersing the scattered parties of the
+Indians as we advanced, when there broke upon our ears the sound of
+heavy galloping from the quarter where we supposed Omichund's house to
+lie. Colonel Clive at once ordered a halt; we faced to the right,
+whence the sound proceeded, and as soon as the dim forms of the
+approaching squadron loomed upon us out of the mist, the word was
+given to fire. The whole line delivered a volley at a distance of
+about thirty paces, whereupon the phantom horsemen at once turned and
+fled back, uttering loud cries as they were swallowed up again in the
+darkness.
+
+By this time it was evident that our position had become extremely
+perilous. We resumed our march, as nearly as we could keep it in the
+former direction, and continued groping our way in the mist through
+the heart of the enemy's camp, firing volleys by platoons to right and
+left, but without knowing where our bullets went, while the men with
+the guns discharged single shots from time to time along the sides of
+the column into the darkness ahead.
+
+After we had gone on in this fashion for some time, not receiving much
+interruption from the enemy, but greatly troubled by the increasing
+obscurity, which rendered it difficult to see so much as a yard in
+front, there suddenly arose a murmur from amongst the Sepoys at the
+head of the column. Colonel Clive sent to demand the meaning of this,
+and the messenger returned with the intelligence that the men had
+stumbled upon a causeway, crossing our line of march, and leading to
+the Morattoe ditch on our right. He at once gave the order that the
+troops should mount upon this causeway and march towards the ditch.
+Unfortunately, however, no notice of this change in the direction was
+given to the artillerymen in the rear, who continued to fire, as they
+supposed, to the side of the column. A cannon ball came among the
+Sepoys on the causeway, killing several of them. Thereupon the rest
+sought shelter by leaping down on the other side of the causeway, and
+the whole forward part of the troops was huddled together in
+confusion.
+
+The darkness made it difficult to ascertain at first what had
+happened, but as soon as Mr. Clive understood he gave the order to
+cease firing, and brought the whole force across the causeway, where
+he strove to restore their formation. It was his intention to have
+advanced along the causeway, driven away the Moors stationed to defend
+it, and forced his way through to the English side of the ditch. But
+while he was engaged in restoring order among the troops, the enemy,
+no doubt overhearing our movements, commenced a discharge on us from
+some cannon loaded with langrain, which they seemed to have brought
+up within a few hundred yards of us. The shot striking the troops
+while still bundled together, did us the most damage we received that
+day; indeed it was a very terrifying thing to suddenly hear the roar
+of artillery so close at hand, and see men falling right and left from
+shots fired by an invisible foe.
+
+Under these circumstances it was wonderful to see the coolness of
+Colonel Clive, who continued to give his orders without appearing the
+least dismayed, and deployed the men into line again as steadily as
+though we were in our own camp, and not in the midst of the Moors.
+Abandoning all thoughts of the causeway, he ordered the column to
+resume its course to the southward, so as to reach the main road into
+Calcutta, by which we might cross the ditch and return in safety. This
+necessitated our leaving the wounded, about twenty in number, who
+broke into grievous cries at the prospect of being deserted to the
+cruelty of the Moors.
+
+Among the voices raised in complaint I heard one which I believed I
+knew. I hastened to look among the figures on the ground, and
+presently made out the form of old Muzzy himself, who lay with his
+right leg doubled up under him.
+
+"Is that you?" I exclaimed, bending over him. "Where have you been
+hurt? Is it serious?"
+
+"Athelstane!" He looked up, turning his eyes on me with an appeal
+which went to my heart. "They've riddled my leg with their cursed
+heathenish small shot, curse them! If it had been a Christian bullet,
+now, I shouldn't ha' minded so much. Give me a hand, my boy, and I'll
+see if I can stand up."
+
+I put my arms round him and lifted him partly from the ground, while
+he clutched at me with both hands. The next instant a groan broke from
+his clenched teeth.
+
+"It's no good, lad, I can't do it. Go, and save yourself if you can;
+and leave old Muzzy to take his rating below decks at last!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+_A MISSION OF DANGER_
+
+
+I got up and called to some sailors who were falling into the rear of
+the now departing column.
+
+"Here, my men, here's a comrade wounded and unable to walk. Will you
+leave him to be butchered by the Indians?"
+
+They stopped, and cast hesitating looks at the old boatswain, where he
+lay groaning.
+
+"There's a-many of 'em about," observed one man. "We can't save them
+all, sir."
+
+"But this is an old friend of mine, who has saved my life before now,"
+I pleaded. And seeing them undecided, I went on, "What do you say; I
+will give you a hundred rupees--two hundred--apiece if you carry him
+safe into Calcutta?"
+
+They brisked up when they heard this offer. A small tree with dark
+green leaves stood close by, from which they tore some branches, and
+quickly made out a rude litter. On to this they lifted my poor old
+friend, and so carried him off, renewing his groans at every step.
+
+I marched alongside till we caught up with the rear of the column.
+Luckily we were not molested, for which I blessed the fog, though it
+was now showing signs of lifting away. Our progress was here extremely
+slow, the ground being broken up into a number of small rice-fields,
+separated by mud walls or mounds of earth, over which the field-pieces
+had to be lifted with infinite trouble, and in fact two of them were
+abandoned altogether, the sailors being too exhausted to draw them
+further. During this time I forbore to rejoin Colonel Clive, but used
+my freedom as a volunteer to remain with the sailors bearing old
+Muzzy, where I found my presence and encouragement very necessary to
+induce them to persevere in their task. As it was I was obliged to
+raise my offer to three hundred rupees before we had got to the high
+road.
+
+The fog gradually clearing, we beheld parties of the enemy's horse
+from time to time, threatening us, but they were easily dispersed by a
+few discharges of musketry, and gave us far less annoyance than the
+impediments of the ground. At the end of another hour of this toilsome
+work we at length arrived at the road, where we found a considerable
+body of horse and foot posted in front of the bridge across the
+Morattoe ditch into the Company's territories, to prevent our passing.
+
+At the same time the fog finally broke, and disclosed another
+numerous squadron coming down against our rear. The sailors at once
+faced about to defend the artillery, and I took my place among them,
+bidding the men with the litter press on towards the centre of the
+column. The Moors rode up with great determination, notwithstanding
+our fire, and one of them got near enough to me to aim a cut at my
+helmet, which I only avoided by bending my head to one side. At the
+same time I thrust my bayonet into his groin, and had the satisfaction
+of seeing him reel and fall from his horse as it turned and galloped
+off.
+
+This charge being repulsed, we turned about again and rejoined our
+comrades, who had quickly dislodged the force opposed to them in
+front. The whole column then crossed the ditch, in broad daylight, and
+marched without further mishap into the town, where we arrived about
+midday, having been on the march for more than six hours, through the
+midst of a great army.
+
+Such was this extraordinary exploit, to which, as I am assured, a
+parallel is scarcely to be found in the history of any age or nation.
+Nevertheless, at the moment its effect was to cast a gloom over the
+spirits of the troops. The officers, who could never forgive Colonel
+Clive for not having been, like themselves, regularly bred to the
+military profession, grumbled at and criticised his action, which they
+described as that of a mere braggadocio, who knew nothing of war. The
+fact was that the rules of war contained no prescription for the
+conquest of an army of forty thousand men by one of barely two
+thousand; and though the hero who led us was ever ready to attempt
+impossibilities, he could not always perform them.
+
+As soon as I had seen old Muzzy safely bestowed in the hospital, where
+the surgeons declared that it would be necessary to amputate his leg,
+I hastened to report myself to my commander. He received me with
+kindness and no little surprise, having fully believed that I was
+killed. Indeed he told me that a soldier of Adlercron's regiment had
+assured him he had seen me fall. However, he fully approved of what I
+had done in rescuing my old comrade, only regretting it had not been
+in his power to save the rest of the wounded.
+
+I found him much dispirited with the result of the morning's work.
+
+"I have done nothing, Ford," he declared, "nothing. I have marched
+into the Nabob's camp, and marched out again, like the King of France
+in the nursery rhyme. And here are these gentlemen of the committee
+clamouring for peace, that they may get their revenues back again, and
+their dustucks, and I know not what else, with the Nabob and his army
+at their gates. You see what it is to be a commander--would to God I
+were back in England, enjoying my rest!"
+
+The next day put a different complexion on our affairs. Secret
+messages arrived from Omichund to say that the Nabob had been
+terrified out of his wits, that he no longer considered himself safe
+even in the midst of his troops, and that we might depend on a peace
+being speedily concluded. Shortly afterwards a letter arrived, written
+by Surajah Dowlah's instructions to Colonel Clive, in which he
+referred to the treaty on foot between them, and complained bitterly
+of the attack upon his camp.
+
+"Now, Ford," said the Colonel to me, when he had shown me this letter,
+"I feel a different man to what I did yesterday. Sit down and write my
+answer to this insolent Moor."
+
+I took the pen, and he dictated the following letter, of which I have
+the draft still in my possession:--
+
+     "_To his Highness Surajah Dowlah, Nabob of Bengal, Bahar, and
+     Orissa._
+
+     "SIR,--I have received your letter, and am unable to understand
+     what it is that you complain of. I merely marched with a few of
+     my troops through your camp to show you of what Englishmen are
+     capable, but I had no hostile intentions, and was careful to
+     refrain from hurting any of your soldiers, except such as
+     imprudently opposed me. I have been, and still am, perfectly
+     willing to make peace with you upon proper conditions.--I have
+     the honour to remain your Highness's obedient servant,
+
+                         "ROBERT CLIVE."
+
+This bitter jest completed the effect produced by the previous day's
+work. That very evening we heard that the Nabob had broken up his
+quarters, and withdrawn to a distance of several miles from the
+Company's territories; and a few days later he signed a treaty
+granting full restitution to the Company of all that they had lost by
+the sack of Calcutta. This was just six weeks from the time we had
+started from Fulta.
+
+During the period that followed I spent much of my time in the
+hospital, sitting by old Muzzy's bedside. He had borne the removal of
+his leg with great courage, but now that he began to mend I found him
+much depressed in his spirits.
+
+"My day is over, boy," he would say, "I shall never sail salt water
+more. Old Muzzy is a dismasted hulk, only fit to be hauled up on the
+mud, and broken up for tinder. Drown me if I don't a'most wish the
+dogs had put a ball through my hull while they were about it, so that
+I could ha' gone down in deep water, with colours flying and all hands
+on deck, and heard the broadsides roaring over me to the last! That's
+the death for a British tar, my fine fellow, in action gallantly, and
+not to lie on the mud and rot away by inches like I'm fair to do."
+
+I tried to cheer him up as best I could, though indeed I felt sorry
+enough myself to see that strong man laid helpless as a child. I
+thought it my duty to try and rouse him to some interest in better
+things, and brought a Bible to read to him.
+
+In this I succeeded after a fashion. He listened very readily to the
+history of the Israelites, and expressed a huge admiration for Joshua
+and some of the Judges. But when I tried to pass on to the New
+Testament I must confess I met with more difficulties.
+
+"No, no, don't read me that; it's too good for an old rakehelly tar
+like me," he persisted in saying. "Them apostles was fishermen, d'ye
+see, and the fishermen and longshore folk always was more peaceable
+and quieter-like than us deep-sea bilboes. You read me about that
+there fellow as slaughtered the Camelites; I understands him better.
+By Gosh, he gave 'em a warm time of it, on my swow, didn't he! Not
+much use them Camelites showing their heads when Joshua was in the
+offing! He swept their decks for 'em, clean, every time."
+
+He meant the Amalekites. I could not quite approve of the spirit in
+which he took the sacred history, but still I felt that to get him to
+listen to the Scriptures at all was something, and the good seed might
+come up later on.
+
+I pleased myself with these efforts to reform my poor old friend, and
+yet perhaps I should have been better employed in seeking to amend my
+own life. For though I can truly say that I lived honestly and
+soberly, yet all this time my heart was given up to thoughts of
+ambition and revenge, and the desire of riches; and the good
+impressions wrought upon me by my sufferings in the Black Hole had
+almost faded clean out of my mind.
+
+I was not present at the taking of Chander Nugger, which was the next
+great event in the East Indies, and therefore forbear from describing
+it. But this affair served to display yet further the duplicity and
+shifting policy of Surajah Dowlah, whose conduct evidently changed
+from day to day as the passion of hatred of the English, or fear of
+Colonel Clive, obtained the mastery in his bosom. On one day he sent
+permission for us to attack the French, on the next he wrote strictly
+forbidding it. Colonel Clive would have gone against them without
+waiting for the Nabob's leave, but Admiral Watson was more scrupulous,
+considering that to do so would be a violation of our recent treaty.
+Yet he did not shrink from upbraiding the Nabob in round terms, and
+sent him one letter in which he threatened, with the bluntness of a
+seaman, to kindle such a fire in his country as all the water in the
+Ganges should not be able to extinguish.
+
+Finally the Nabob gave way, induced partly by his fears of the Pitans,
+a savage predatory tribe on the borders of Afghanistan, who from time
+to time broke into the Great Mogul's dominions, and were now
+threatening to march as far as Behar. Accordingly a joint expedition
+was made, and Chander Nugger taken after a brilliant action, in which,
+as Colonel Clive fully acknowledged, the Admiral signalised himself
+by conspicuous courage and seamanship.
+
+All this time I lay ill in Calcutta of a low fever, which I had
+contracted in the hospital while attending on old Muzzy. It was now
+his turn to nurse me, which he did most assiduously, being now
+recovered, and able to get about well enough by means of a wooden leg.
+
+As I lay there sick day after day I began once more to see things in a
+truer light. I longed most painfully to be at home among the scenes
+and friends of my youth, and I resolved, once I had risen from my sick
+bed, to let no motives of ambition or interest detain me any further
+in Indostan.
+
+I communicated these sensible resolutions to old Muzzy, who thoroughly
+approved of them.
+
+"And I tell you what, Athelstane, lad, we'll make our passage home in
+company," he said. "I've got a tidy bit o' prize-money left somewhere,
+enough to take me back to England, and mayhap a bit over, to keep me
+out of the workhouse when I gets there."
+
+He put his hands into his hairy bosom and drew out a small canvas bag,
+which he shook out upon the coverlid of the bed. The contents made a
+small heap of gold and silver, amounting, as near as I could judge, to
+about L100 or L150 in English money, though the coins were of all
+countries--rupees, French crowns, moidores, and many others.
+
+The old boatswain put his head on one side, casting looks of
+affectionate pride on his treasure.
+
+"There, my lad, that's my little fortin', enough to pay my freight
+through to Davy Jones's locker, I daresay. And if there's any of it
+left over, by Gosh! you shall have it, for I've neither parent nor
+friend in the world, nor I don't so much as know the place where I was
+born. And drown me if I don't love you, my young matey!"
+
+I was so weak at the time that these hearty expressions of the old
+fellow fairly melted me, though I could scarce refrain from smiling at
+the thoughts of the legacy which I was like to inherit.
+
+"You shall come with me and welcome," I told him. "We will start
+together as soon as ever I can get off this bed; and when we get to
+England I will bring you to my own home, and ask my parents to provide
+you with a shelter for my sake."
+
+"That's right enough," he answered, "and very kind of you. But, mind,
+old Muzzy ain't looking for no charity. Where I goes, I takes my
+little fortin', and them as takes care of me will get the benefit of
+it, d'ye see."
+
+He swept up the money into his bag again, and had just restored it to
+his bosom when there came a sound outside the door, and who should
+walk in but Colonel Clive!
+
+I strove to raise myself in the bed as he entered, but this he at once
+prevented.
+
+"Lie still, youngster!" he exclaimed, walking up to the bedside,
+followed by Mr. Scrafton. "Why, how's this; they never told me you
+were ill till I was on the point of starting for Chander Nugger, when
+I had no time to come and see you? But you are on the high road to
+recovery by this time, surely?"
+
+"Thank you, sir, I am much improved," I managed to stammer out,
+overwhelmed by this condescension on the part of so great a man. "And
+are the French beaten?" I asked anxiously, for I had not heard the
+news.
+
+The Colonel turned to Mr. Scrafton and laughed.
+
+"There's my little purser all over!" he exclaimed, with evident
+goodwill. "The French are beaten, and driven out of Bengal, I trust
+for ever, and their factories are become ours. And since you were
+unable to be present at the action, and to share in the spoil, I have
+remembered my promise to you, and brought you a sword instead."
+
+He took the weapon from the hands of Mr. Scrafton, who was carrying
+it, and laid it on the bed beside me. At the same time Mr. Scrafton
+handed me a paper, duly signed, containing my commission as an ensign
+in the service of the East India Company.
+
+I could only murmur out my gratitude for these marks of consideration;
+while Mr. Clive went on to say--
+
+"And now you must make haste and get about again, for as soon as you
+are able to travel I have an important mission for you to discharge."
+
+"And what is that, sir?" I asked, not very heartily.
+
+The Colonel noticed my diffidence, and gave me a searching look.
+
+"I ought to have said it is a very dangerous mission," he observed.
+
+I felt my cheeks turn red.
+
+"Then sir, I think I am well enough to undertake it," I replied, with
+some little temper. And I sat up in the bed.
+
+Colonel Clive burst out laughing, and seizing me by the shoulders
+thrust me down again.
+
+"There, that is right; there is not so much hurry about it as to drag
+you out of bed just yet. But as soon as you are well enough I mean you
+to go to Moorshedabad."
+
+I uttered a cry of surprise.
+
+"I have some messages to send to Mr. Watts, who is acting there on our
+behalf," Mr. Clive explained. "The affair is too risky for me to trust
+the ordinary service, and besides, from all I hear, you have made a
+great impression on the Nabob, and may serve a useful purpose by
+remaining in Moorshedabad for awhile. But I will tell you no more till
+you are better able to hear it."
+
+And with this, and many kind expressions about my health, he withdrew.
+
+It did not take long for me to shake off the remains of my fever
+under these circumstances, and the moment I was able to go out of the
+house where I lay, I went to wait on my patron.
+
+Colonel Clive received me in his private room in the fort, and
+dismissing everybody else, opened to me the nature of the mission
+entrusted to me. The late proceedings of his enemies against him in
+Parliament have made this business so notorious to the world that I
+shall be excused for expressing it very shortly in this place.
+
+To be brief, the Colonel informed me that the moment for our
+long-delayed vengeance upon the wicked and bloodthirsty Surajah Dowlah
+was at length arrived. Tired with his cruelties, his own subjects had
+cast about for a means of getting rid of him, and overtures had been
+received from the principal men of the Nabob's Court inviting Colonel
+Clive to take part in a concerted scheme for his overthrow. A treaty
+had been drawn up between the parties, whereby it was provided that
+Colonel Clive should march against the Nabob's army with his whole
+force, now increased by the arrival of other ships from the Coromandel
+coast, and should be joined on the battle-field by Meer Jaffier, who
+undertook to desert from his nephew and bring over the part of the
+army under his command to the English side. In return for these
+services, supposing the victory should be obtained, the Company was to
+receive a crore of rupees in compensation for the injuries inflicted
+by the Nabob, while many millions were to be divided among Colonel
+Clive, the gentlemen of the Council and the officers and men of both
+services. Surajah Dowlah was to be deposed from the musnud, and his
+uncle, Meer Jaffier, elevated in his stead, the Meer binding himself
+to pay these sums out of the Nabob's treasure, and the payment being
+further guaranteed by Jugget Seet, the great banker of Moorshedabad,
+whose connexions extended over all parts of Indostan.
+
+This treaty having been signed and executed by Colonel Clive and the
+other gentlemen of the Company, he now required me to carry it to
+Moorshedabad, were it was to be sworn to by Jugget Seet, the Meer
+Jaffier, and the other high officers of the Court who were parties to
+the design. At the same time he enjoined on me to observe the utmost
+secrecy.
+
+"Remember," he said, "that if once Surajah Dowlah or his minion Lal
+Moon should get an inkling of this plot, his rage would break loose
+against every one concerned in it. As it is Mr. Watts has had great
+difficulty in lulling his suspicions, and has several times been in
+great peril. But I suppose you are not the man to shrink back on that
+account."
+
+"Give me the treaty, sir," I replied, "and I undertake to carry it to
+Moorshedabad. Am I to deliver it into Mr. Watts's hands?"
+
+"Why, yes; that is, if you find him still there when you arrive. But
+you must use the greatest caution in communicating with him. Above
+all, beware of the Gentoo Omichund, who has already once threatened to
+betray us. We have been obliged to provide a duplicate treaty to
+satisfy him, in which is included a stipulation for three millions of
+rupees to be paid to him on our success. But you will explain to Meer
+Jaffier that this is merely a trick to which we have been obliged by
+Omichund's knavery. He shall not have a farthing."
+
+Mr. Clive spoke these words very sternly. At the same time he handed
+me the two treaties, one drawn up upon white paper and the other on
+red.
+
+"The red treaty is the one to be shown to Omichund," he explained.
+"Both must be executed by the parties to the conspiracy in
+Moorshedabad, but only the white one is to be sworn to. Do you
+understand?"
+
+"Perfectly, sir."
+
+I rolled up the two papers and put them into my pocket. I did not then
+feel, nor have I since been able to understand, all the indignation
+which has been poured on Lord Clive's head for this artifice, by which
+a treacherous, overreaching scoundrel was robbed of the blackmail he
+had tried to extort. As to the charge which has been made against that
+great man of having caused Admiral Watson's name to be forged to the
+second treaty, I can only say that it was the general opinion at the
+time that the gallant Admiral was fully aware of what was being done,
+and, since he took no steps to restrain the use of his name, it
+appears to be all the same as though he had affixed it with his own
+hand.
+
+However, it is not my intention to dwell upon these disputes, to which
+I am only induced to refer by a spirit of loyalty to my old commander
+and friend, for such he permitted me to call him.
+
+"Remember," the Colonel said to me at parting, "above all, to show no
+fear of Surajah Dowlah. Mr. Watts is too modest in his behaviour, and
+for that reason the young tyrant despises and ill-uses him. But I
+think that is not a fault you are likely to fall into; indeed, I have
+heard that during your former residence there you fairly awed the
+Nabob; so I have good hope that you will do the same again. The moment
+you have secured the execution of the treaties it will be time to fly,
+and as soon as I hear you are safe I shall put my troops on the march
+to Plassy."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+_MEER JAFFIER'S OATH_
+
+
+I arrived in Moorshedabad without accident, and at once repaired to
+the house of the Company's agent, Mr. Watts.
+
+I found this gentleman in a state of the utmost apprehension. The air
+was full of suspicion. Moorshedabad swarmed with the Nabob's spies,
+who watched the going in and coming out of every person whom their
+master had reason to distrust, and carried their reports to his
+infamous minion, Lal Moon. Mr. Watts assured me that he did not
+consider his own life to be worth a day's purchase, and the Nabob had
+uttered such threats against him on the last occasion of his going to
+the palace that he dared not present himself there again.
+
+Fortunately for me Colonel Clive had provided me with an excuse for my
+journey in the shape of a letter to Surajah Dowlah, in which the
+Colonel renewed his expressions of friendship, but demanded the
+withdrawal of the Nabob's army from Plassy. This was a step which the
+conspirators considered indispensable to their design, as they had no
+expectation that Colonel Clive could overcome this force of forty
+thousand men as long as it kept the field.
+
+Armed with the Colonel's letter I went to wait upon the Nabob, leaving
+Mr. Watts to exert his utmost diligence in procuring the necessary
+signatures to the treaties, which I delivered to him for the purpose.
+
+Nothing could exceed the astonishment of the Nabob's officers when I,
+who had fled secretly from the city six months before, presented
+myself before them in the character of an ambassador from Sabat Jung
+and boldly demanded an audience. They hastened to carry the news to
+the Nabob, and after a short time they returned and conducted me into
+his presence.
+
+Although scarcely three months had elapsed since I had last seen
+Surajah Dowlah, I observed a change for the worse in his appearance.
+He sat on the royal musnud with the same state as formerly, clad in
+his gold-embroidered robes and turban sparkling with the light of many
+gems, surrounded by the same obsequious throng of courtiers and
+attended by his ferocious guards ready to take the life of any man
+present, at a nod from their despotic lord. Yet I discovered something
+in his countenance which I had not seen there before. His head hung
+down with an air of weariness, and his gaze, instead of darting
+fiercely to and fro, seemed to shift and hesitate as if with a
+lurking distrust of those about him. He appeared to be in ill-health,
+and shifted fretfully about in his seat as he talked. On my part, I
+regarded him with different eyes from the time when I had come before
+him as a captive in his hands, when I had viewed him as a powerful
+tyrant, invested with all the horror of his recent crimes, and
+especially of that never-to-be-forgotten atrocity of the Black Hole of
+Calcutta. Now, on the last occasion on which I was ever to confront
+him, I did so as the emissary of one whose power was yet greater than
+his own, as the agent of an intrigue that menaced his throne and
+perhaps his life. And beneath the surface of pomp and power and the
+outward show of sovereignty, I looked deeper, and beheld merely a
+young man, scarce older than myself--in his nineteenth year--the
+victim of an evil education, corrupted by the possession of despotic
+power, rent and exhausted by his own evil passions, and surrounded by
+traitors secretly scheming for his downfall. Some of the dread and
+hatred which I had formerly felt for him was replaced by milder
+sentiments, and I could have found it in my heart to pity Surajah
+Dowlah.
+
+As if to strengthen these impressions in my mind, the young Nabob was
+in a singularly amiable mood, and appeared glad to see me.
+
+"So it is you again!" he was pleased to say when I was introduced. "I
+see that you have told me the truth, and that you are a friend of
+Sabat Jung's. But why did you flee from me before? I regarded you with
+favour, and would not have put you to death."
+
+"Sir," I answered, "I am obliged by your kind expressions, but I am an
+Englishman, and in my country there is no man who can put me to death
+unless I commit some crime against the laws; nor do I choose to live
+in any place where I hold my life by the favour of a prince."
+
+A murmur ran through the throng of courtiers at this reply, some of
+the high officers whom I knew to be concerned in the plot pretending
+to be especially shocked.
+
+Surajah Dowlah raised his head and looked at me in some surprise.
+
+"I should not care to be king of your country if I could not put a man
+to death when I wished to. Allah has created kings, and has put men's
+lives into our hands. It is destiny. Those who fall by my hands would
+perish instead by pestilence or famine or wild beasts if I forbore to
+slay them. They die because it is the will of Allah."
+
+I listened in consternation to this frightful profession of fatalism
+by which Surajah Dowlah sought to decline the responsibility of his
+wicked acts. In the meantime he read the letter which I had brought
+from Colonel Clive.
+
+"Why does Sabat Jung so earnestly desire me to disband my troops?" he
+asked presently.
+
+"Your Highness's own conscience must tell you that," I returned. "So
+long as you keep your army in the field, threatening Calcutta, it is
+impossible to believe that you are in earnest in your professions of
+friendship towards the English. The present state of things keeps the
+minds of the merchants unsettled and prevents the resumption of trade,
+without which our factories cannot subsist in Bengal."
+
+"No, no," the Nabob broke out, speaking very earnestly, "I design
+nothing against you. But I am in fear of the Morattoes, who meditate
+another invasion."
+
+"Have no fear of that, sir. Colonel Clive will protect you, if
+necessary, against the Morattoes. But you may depend upon it he will
+never believe in your friendship till your troops are withdrawn from
+Plassy."
+
+The Nabob seemed to meditate upon these words for a few minutes,
+during which nobody ventured to speak to him. Then he looked at me
+again, seeming as if he would search my heart.
+
+"And suppose I comply with this demand, what security have I that the
+Colonel will not advance against this city? How do I know that he is
+not deceiving me? There are plots--yes, there are plots in the air!"
+
+I felt a touch of contempt for him as I answered--
+
+"That is a matter which I must take leave not to discuss. It is for
+your Highness to consider whether your conduct has been such as to
+conciliate the affections of your subjects, or whether it has not
+rather been calculated to make every man your secret enemy."
+
+Surajah Dowlah started, and sank back on his seat, terrified by this
+unexpected plainness, which caused little less alarm among his suite.
+But I soon saw that my words had been rightly judged. Being an
+Oriental, the Nabob could not believe that I should have spoken like
+that if I had really been privy to any intrigues against him. He
+therefore dismissed his fears, and finally promised to issue orders
+for his whole army to retire to Moorshedabad.
+
+Satisfied with this success, I took my leave of him, his last words to
+me as I withdrew being--
+
+"Tell the Colonel I trust him; I look upon him as my friend."
+
+Moved by these words more than I cared to admit even to myself, I
+returned to Mr. Watts, and, all being now in train, we pushed forward
+the affair of the signatures as rapidly as we dared.
+
+During these few eventful days I neglected no means of inquiring after
+the fate of those whom I had left in the Nabob's hands on my former
+flight from Moorshedabad. But though I questioned not merely the great
+officers of the Court, but also many of the eunuchs and inferior
+servants about the palace, I could learn nothing definite either of
+Marian or of Rupert. That they had not succeeded in recovering their
+freedom I was pretty well assured, but what had become of them, and
+whether they were alive or dead, was more than I could learn. The
+shadow and the secrecy of the East had closed like a curtain over
+their fates, and I was left to torment myself with miserable guesses
+in the darkness.
+
+The business of signing the treaty went on as rapidly as it could be
+pushed. But the greed of the Gentoos at every step of the transaction
+was most disgusting, and the cowardice and treachery of the Moors
+scarcely less so. The Dewan, Roy Dullub, at first objected that all
+the Nabob's treasure was not enough to satisfy the gratuities provided
+for in the treaty, but no sooner did Mr. Watts offer to make him agent
+for the distribution, with a commission of five in the hundred on all
+sums passing through his hands, than his scruples instantly vanished.
+
+But at last everything was settled except the swearing of the treaty
+by Meer Jaffier, on which the whole affair turned. The Meer was just
+now arrived in Moorshedabad from Plassy, where he had been in command
+of one division of the Nabob's army, the remainder having before been
+taken from him and given to Roy Dullub. It was reported that Surajah
+Dowlah had received his uncle very scurvily, and spoken to him with so
+much harshness that Meer Jaffier had at once retired to his palace, at
+the other end of the city, and surrounded himself with his guards.
+This palace resembled a fortress, having regular walls and towers, and
+being provided with cannons and other munitions for a siege.
+
+Thither, on the following day, Mr. Watts went to visit him, but
+returned in much alarm to say that the Meer had received him in
+public, in the hall of audience, surrounded by his officers, and had
+given him no chance to refer to the subject of the treaty.
+
+While we were discussing what this could mean an Indian arrived, who
+proved to be a private messenger from Meer Jaffier himself.
+
+This man informed us that Meer Jaffier had been obliged to receive Mr.
+Watts as he had done to deceive Lal Moon's spies, the Nabob's
+suspicions causing him to watch very strictly all intercourse between
+his great men and the English agents. What he now proposed was that
+Mr. Watts should come to his palace in the evening in a curtained
+litter, by which means he might be introduced unsuspected into the
+women's apartments, and there have a private conference with the Meer.
+
+I could see that Mr. Watts regarded this invitation with very little
+confidence, his experiences in the Nabob's Court having rendered him
+cautious to an extreme. I therefore undertook to go in his place, an
+offer which he gladly accepted.
+
+As there was nothing to detain either of us in Moorshedabad after the
+treaty had been confirmed, and every hour that passed rendered our
+situation more precarious, it was further arranged that Mr. Watts
+should take his departure at once, leaving me to follow during the
+night. Accordingly he gave out that he was going on a visit to
+Cossimbuzar on business connected with the Company's investment, and
+set out the same afternoon.
+
+I waited till it was quite dark before I got into the litter, which
+had been prepared for me by two Indian servants on whose fidelity I
+depended. They bore me through the streets on their shoulders at a
+great pace, and, thanks to the respect which these people have for
+their women, I passed undiscovered. Once, indeed, we were stopped for
+a moment, and there was a short discussion, in which I heard the
+voices of my attendants, though I could not distinguish what was said.
+It terminated in a laugh, and they were suffered to proceed without
+the curtains having been withdrawn. But it may be imagined how my
+heart came into my mouth during the brief halt, and what relief I
+experienced when the palanquin was set down within the gates of Meer
+Jaffier's palace and I was able to step out.
+
+The Meer received me in the presence of his son Meeram, a youth of
+sixteen, who bore a strong resemblance to his cousin the Nabob, a
+resemblance, as I was afterwards to learn, not confined to mere looks.
+He sat apart, staring at me with a sullen air of dislike, while his
+father perused the treaty.
+
+Its terms appeared to give Meer Jaffier perfect satisfaction. As soon
+as he had read it, he asked--
+
+"How soon will Colonel Clive be ready to take the field?"
+
+"He is ready now," I answered. "All he is waiting for is information
+from you as to the steps which you propose to take to support him."
+
+Meer Jaffier looked a little uneasy.
+
+"You are my friend, I know," he said. "You must speak good words on my
+behalf to Sabat Jung. Everything depends on him. Let him strike the
+first blow, and he will find every one prepared to join him."
+
+I shook my head.
+
+"I am your friend, it is true," I responded, "but I am still more the
+friend of Sabat Jung, and I must know the grounds on which he is to
+proceed. What force have you ready to bring to his assistance?"
+
+"Do you mean what is the number of my division?"
+
+"I mean the number on whom you can rely."
+
+"Three thousand horsemen."
+
+He glanced at me in some doubt as he spoke. I heard this number with
+dismay.
+
+"Only three thousand! What succour is that?"
+
+"But those are only my own men. There are several commanders who have
+been affronted by Surajah Dowlah, and are ready to turn their swords
+against him at the first opportunity. On the day of battle these will
+come over to us with their troops."
+
+"What assurance have you of that?" I asked.
+
+"I know my countrymen. They judge a man by his deeds, and there is
+nothing that commands their respect like daring and success. Already
+they fear the Colonel; let them see him boldly attacking the Nabob,
+with me by his side, and they will quickly join us. Tell Sabat Jung my
+words."
+
+"And when do you intend to join the Colonel?" I inquired, beginning to
+fear that Meer Jaffier was likely to prove a broken reed to lean upon.
+
+"I will join him as soon as the English troops come in sight of the
+city. Or if the Nabob keeps his army at Plassy, then I will join you
+as soon as the signal for battle is given. I will march over to you
+with a great part of the army, as many as I can persuade to join me,
+and the others will then take to flight. If I see an opportunity I
+will seize my nephew in his tent."
+
+With these promises he beguiled me into some confidence in him. Then
+placing a copy of the Alcoran upon his head, and resting one hand upon
+the head of his son Meeram, he solemnly swore to perform all that he
+had undertaken. He also signed the treaty, writing these words upon it
+in Persian--"In the name of Allah, and of the Prophet of Allah, I
+swear to abide by the terms of this treaty while I have life."
+
+As soon as this business was completed, the Meer said to me--
+
+"And now, before you go, tell me what reward I may give you for your
+services in this affair?"
+
+I hesitated. He evidently expected that I should name some large sum
+in rupees, such as was promised by the terms of the treaty to Mr.
+Watts and others of those privy to it.
+
+"What I ask for is neither money nor jewels," I said, "but the lives
+of the two persons who, I believe, are now kept somewhere concealed in
+the palace of the Nabob."
+
+Meer Jaffier understood me.
+
+"You mean the Englishwoman who was brought here from Calcutta, and the
+Englishman who was formerly a spy in Surajah Dowlah's service?"
+
+I nodded my head.
+
+"It may be that the woman is, as you say, still in the Nabob's harem.
+But I cannot think that the man is alive. He has most probably been
+secretly put to death for his offence in breaking into the garden of
+the seraglio."
+
+"I took part in that offence, and yet I am alive still," I answered.
+
+"Well, what is it you ask of me?"
+
+"I ask your promise that the moment Surajah Dowlah is overthrown, and
+the power has passed into your hands, you will aid me to ransack the
+palace of Moorshedabad in search of that woman and that man."
+
+Meer Jaffier bowed his head.
+
+"You shall do so. Nay, more, to convince you that I am in earnest I
+will write you an authority now, before you leave me, which will
+become of effect as soon as Colonel Clive has driven my nephew from
+the musnud."
+
+A few minutes afterwards I had re-entered the palanquin, and was being
+conveyed back to Mr. Watts's house.
+
+The next day, rising early, I pretended some business with Mr. Watts,
+and followed after him on horseback to Cossimbuzar. Here I was met by
+some of his native servants, who told me that he had gone hunting the
+evening before, and had not returned. Desiring them to show me the way
+he had gone, I went on till I was out of sight, and then, striking
+into a gallop, rode southward for my life towards the English lines.
+
+The sun was low down in the western sky, as, riding slowly on my
+exhausted beast, I drew near the village of Cutwah, and espied the
+uniforms of the English sentries gleaming through the trees. The first
+men who I came up to stood in a little group together, their muskets
+resting on the ground, while they talked together in low tones. They
+looked up as I approached, and seeing the Company's uniform, saluted
+me, while I stopped to show them the pass which I carried. But they
+said nothing, and as I passed on further into the camp I was struck by
+the silence that prevailed. All round me I saw the men cooking their
+suppers, or passing to and fro with water vessels, but their heads
+hung down, and I heard none of the cheering and singing which
+generally prevailed when Colonel Clive had his troops upon the march
+against an enemy.
+
+Pressing forward to the headquarters, I found the same evidences of
+dejection increased on all sides, till at last I met Major Coote
+walking with two other officers away from the commander's tent. The
+Major at once stopped me, and asked me how I did, but in so dull a
+fashion that I could see he was as dispirited as the rest.
+
+"I am quite well, I thank you, sir," I answered him, "but a little
+surprised at the state of the camp. I am but this moment arrived from
+Moorshedabad. Can you tell me if anything untoward has taken place?"
+
+Major Coote turned to the two young officers, and signed to them to
+withdraw. As soon as they were out of earshot he stepped up to the
+side of my horse, and laying his hand on the saddle addressed me in a
+low tone--
+
+"Harkye, Ford, I know you to be a discreet youngster, and so I'll tell
+you my mind plainly. I don't know what news you bring from
+Moorshedabad, and I don't ask, but we've had such accounts from that
+cursed place lately that Colonel Clive has begun to believe that not a
+single man of them all is to be trusted, from Meer Jaffier down. He
+doesn't think them worth fighting for, and what's more, he doesn't
+think they mean to join him as they have promised. The long and short
+of it is, he has just called a council of war of all his officers--you
+would have been there if you had arrived an hour sooner, and therefore
+it's no breach of confidence to tell you--he called the council to
+decide whether we should go forward and fight, or give it up and go
+back. And he gave his own voice for going back, and the d--d council,
+two-thirds of 'em, followed suit; and the upshot of it is we're to put
+our tails between our legs and _go_ back--and that's why you see the
+whole army ready to throw down their arms like so many children!"
+
+I was aghast at this intelligence, hardly believing it possible that
+the courage of Colonel Clive should have failed him, though I was
+better able than most to estimate the worries and cares thrust upon
+his shoulders by the mingled folly and malice of those who should have
+given him their best support.
+
+"Where is the Colonel?" I exclaimed. "I must see him at once! I have
+news that may induce him to change his mind. At all events, I'll take
+the liberty to persuade him."
+
+"He wandered off by himself," Major Coote answered, brisking up a
+little. "He went into that grove of trees across there, as soon as the
+council was dismissed, and he has been there ever since."
+
+I turned and looked at the grove. As I did so I saw some bushes
+parted, and the figure of my beloved chief emerged, walking with a
+swift, firm tread.
+
+Instantly I flung myself from my horse, and rushed towards him. But he
+advanced of his own accord to where Major Coote stood watching us.
+
+"I have altered my mind," he said briefly, with the martial ring in
+his voice that I had heard first on the morning of Monichund's
+attempted surprise before Budge-Budge. "I have come round to your
+opinion, Coote. To-morrow morning we march forward, and engage the
+enemy wherever we find him."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+_PLASSY_
+
+
+And now it befalls to me to relate what I saw of that famous day which
+changed the relations between the English and Moors throughout the
+whole empire of Indostan. And I think that never before nor since was
+such a singular engagement fought, and so little really done to effect
+so tremendous a result.
+
+After I had communicated to Colonel Clive what had passed between Meer
+Jaffier and myself at our secret interview, he believed less than ever
+in the Meer's promises of assistance.
+
+"I do not think the man means to betray me, but like all the Bengalese
+he is a coward, and dares not carry out his promises when the moment
+comes."
+
+Such was his judgment, in which I was obliged to agree; though I
+confess I had a liking for Meer Jaffier, and felt much pity for him in
+his subsequent misfortunes.
+
+It was one o'clock, an hour after midnight, when our little army of
+three thousand men arrived and took up their quarters in the grove of
+Plassy. Of these, two thousand were Sepoys, the remainder being
+European troops, with some sailors from the fleet and about one
+hundred Topasses: we had also eight field-pieces and two howitzers.
+The grove in which we encamped was enclosed in a bank and ditch,
+within which were mango trees, very regularly planted in straight
+rows, the whole place being about half a mile in length, and less than
+a quarter in breadth. It stood near the edge of the river, which
+defended it from approach on the left, where there was a small house
+or hunting lodge, which Colonel Clive chose as his headquarters.
+Facing the grove to the north was the entrenched camp where the
+Nabob's army had lain ever since their retreat from Calcutta. The
+troops had been partly withdrawn a few days before, but they were now
+returned; and we heard their drums and cymbals beating all night long.
+
+Colonel Clive, who had restored me to my former position as his
+secretary, and kept me near him, bade me lie down and sleep in the
+lodge. But though I lay down, I was too excited to do more than doze
+off for a minute at a time, and every time that I opened my eyes I saw
+the Colonel either walking to and fro, as if impatient for the day to
+break, or sitting at a table with maps spread out before him, studying
+them by the light of a torch. Sometimes he went out of the lodge for a
+few minutes to see that all was quiet, but soon returned and resumed
+his meditations.
+
+As soon as it was light enough to see, I got up, unable to lie still
+any longer, and joined Mr. Clive.
+
+"Ah, Ford, so you are awake, eh!" he observed smiling. "You don't look
+as though you had slept very soundly. Let us get on to the roof, and
+perhaps we may see what those fellows are about."
+
+We mounted together by a narrow stair leading on to a flat roof, and
+looked about us. On the left the mist was slowly rising from the
+river, on the right the foliage of the trees hid our own troops from
+view. But in front of us to the north we beheld spread out a scene of
+such magnificence that I confess I trembled, and even Colonel Clive
+uttered an exclamation of surprise.
+
+The Nabob's army lay in their entrenched camp, one angle of the
+rampart, that nearest to us, being strengthened with a small redoubt
+armed with cannon. Behind and away almost as far as we could see,
+stretched the tents and lines of armed men, the whole just beginning
+to stir with the first movements of the day. In the midst rose a
+splendid pavilion, adorned by flags, before the door of which stood a
+train of horses and attendants, while lesser tents were pitched all
+round it, each one displaying the ensign of some great officer. Crowds
+of men could be seen pushing to and fro, catching up their weapons and
+falling into some sort of military order, while others brought up
+horses and elephants, the caparisons of which shone gaily with silk of
+many colours. So great was the throng, and so confused were their
+motions, that I could not even guess their numbers, but Colonel Clive,
+glancing over them with the eye of a veteran, declared that there must
+be at least fifty thousand men, of whom upwards of fifteen thousand
+were cavalry. Their guns I counted myself up to forty-three, and they
+had others which they left in the camp.
+
+As we stood and watched, this great host began to slowly pour out from
+different openings in the rampart and advance on the plain, forming a
+sort of bow round the front and right flank of our position. The
+river, as I have said, protected the left, and they made no attempt to
+close round the rear.
+
+"I wonder which is Meer Jaffier's division?" muttered Colonel Clive
+anxiously, as the array extended itself. The infantry remained for the
+most part between the camp and our front, while the masses of cavalry
+spread away to our right, forming their left wing. The army was not in
+one line, but seemed to advance in a number of detached bodies, the
+intervals between them being filled up with the guns.
+
+This artillery was a truly formidable spectacle. Our own few guns were
+merely six-pounders, nor had we the means of transport for larger
+pieces. But many of the Nabob's cannon were of immense calibre, 24 and
+even 32-pounders, more suitable for siege guns than to be brought into
+action. They were mounted on high wooden stages, which bore not
+merely the cannon but the artillerymen and ammunition as well, and
+each of these carriages was drawn along by as many as eighty or a
+hundred huge white oxen, of the famous Purneah breed. Moreover, in
+case the oxen should not prove sufficient, an elephant walked behind
+each of these moving platforms, and butted it with his forehead from
+behind whenever it stuck from any difficulty of the ground.
+
+Between the grove where we lay and the enemy's camp there were a
+couple of tanks, such as the Indians build to contain rain water.
+These tanks, being protected by banks of earth, served the purpose of
+redoubts, and we saw a small body of men, about forty or fifty,
+advance to the tank nearest us, dragging two light guns, with which
+they at once began playing on the grove.
+
+"Those are white men!" exclaimed Colonel Clive, who had been watching
+this movement. "They must be Frenchmen sent from Brassy--unless they
+are some of those that escaped from Chander Nugger."
+
+While he was speaking the fire from the tank was taken up by the rest
+of the Nabob's artillery, and a roar arose from the whole face of the
+advancing army. Colonel Clive watched the result closely for a few
+minutes.
+
+"They are doing very little harm," he observed. "They fire too high.
+Most of the balls are passing over the heads of our men. But it will
+not do for us to stay in the shelter of the grove; they may think we
+are afraid of them."
+
+He hurried down to the ground, bidding me keep near him, and went to
+where our men were waiting, just within the ditch which enclosed the
+grove. One Sepoy had been killed by the discharge from the tank, and
+three or four wounded, but otherwise we had not suffered.
+
+The Colonel quickly made his dispositions, and the little force
+marched boldly out from its shelter and faced the enemy. At this the
+whole Moorish army halted, still out of point-blank range, and
+contented themselves with continuing their artillery fire, which we
+returned as best we could with our few guns. Colonel Clive passed to
+and fro along the line several times, noting everything that happened,
+and anxiously watching for some symptom of the promised desertion by
+Meer Jaffier. But nothing happened, the Moor's infantry remained
+steady in our front, and the dark masses of cavalry continued to hang
+threateningly on our flank.
+
+"I have brought my men out to give Meer Jaffier his chance," said
+Colonel Clive to me in a low tone, "but if he is afraid to move, we
+are done. It is impossible to order an advance in face of that army."
+
+He walked down the line once again, and counted our casualties. By
+this time we had lost ten Europeans, and about twice as many Sepoys.
+
+"That is enough," the Colonel exclaimed sharply. "It is useless to
+expose the men for nothing. Retire into the grove again."
+
+This order was executed, and the enemy, appearing to gather courage
+from our retreat, advanced their artillery nearer, and quickened their
+fire. However, their aim continued very bad, most of the shot merely
+struck the branches of the trees, and the men were ordered to lie down
+for the sake of greater safety. I was pleased to observe that all,
+even the Sepoys and Topasses, displayed the utmost coolness and
+confidence. Several powder explosions happened about this time in
+different places in the enemy's ranks, and this served to increase the
+contempt of our own men for the Nabob's forces.
+
+About eleven o'clock Colonel Clive called some of the officers
+together, and communicated his plans to them.
+
+"It is quite clear that the Nabob is afraid to attack us at close
+quarters," he said, "or he would have ordered a further advance before
+this. Still I do not consider we are justified in quitting our shelter
+for the present, in the absence of any demonstration from Meer
+Jaffier. It will be better to let the cannonade go on for the rest of
+the day, and then try a night attack on their camp."
+
+Most of the officers concurred in this opinion. As the Colonel and I
+were walking back to the lodge he turned to me suddenly, and asked me
+what I thought.
+
+"Why, sir, to be plain with you, I think the only men we have to
+regard are those forty Frenchmen in the tank," I answered. "As far as
+the rest are concerned, I very much doubt if they would stand five
+minutes against a charge."
+
+The Colonel nodded.
+
+"I shouldn't be surprised if you were right. But remember, Ford, that
+those nine hundred men are the only European troops in Bengal, and if
+I lose even two hundred of them this will be an expensive victory for
+me. What I want is to hold on till Surajah Dowlah's own troops desert
+him, and then I may win everything without loss of life."
+
+I was much impressed by this glimpse into Mr. Clive's mind, which
+showed him as something very different from the reckless, hot-headed
+soldier some of his enemies have called him.
+
+Just at this time a shower of rain fell, and soon after the fire of
+the enemy sensibly slackened, some of their powder evidently having
+been spoiled. Towards two o'clock a stranger thing took place, for the
+firing ceased altogether, and the Moors were perceived yoking their
+white oxen to the gun-stages again; and immediately after the whole
+army commenced to fall back slowly and re-enter the camp.
+
+I was standing by myself outside the door of the lodge when this
+singular movement commenced, and I at once stepped inside to inform
+Colonel Clive. To my astonishment I found him asleep. The exhausting
+work of the last few days, followed by the total absence of rest on
+the previous night, had proved too much for him. He had fallen on to
+a chair, and dropped asleep unawares.
+
+While I was hesitating whether to awaken him I heard some one
+approaching without. I went out softly, and found a sergeant of Major
+Kilpatrick's company, with a message for the Colonel.
+
+"I will take your message, sergeant," I said, not wishing him to know
+of Mr. Clive's slumber.
+
+"Faith, then, sir, it's just this," said the fellow, who was an
+Irishman, "that the enemy's beat, and runnin' away entirely, and Major
+Kilpathrick's just after starting to take the tank from those
+murderin' Frenchies, so as to annoy the Nabob's retreat."
+
+I turned red at this insolent message, which did not even request
+Colonel Clive's permission for the movement. Dismissing the sergeant,
+I darted in and woke up my commander.
+
+The Colonel was broad awake in an instant. When he heard what had
+happened he compressed his lips, without making any remark, and ran
+out of the lodge, and across the ground to where Kilpatrick was
+leading his company towards the tank.
+
+"Halt!" shouted Colonel Clive, as he approached.
+
+The Major stopped, and looked confused.
+
+"I thought, sir, as every moment was precious----" he began, when Mr.
+Clive sharply cut him short.
+
+"I will receive your apologies this evening, sir. At present my orders
+to you are to return and order up the whole force to support this
+movement which you have so rashly begun."
+
+He waited till the discomfited officer had retired, and then turning
+to me, he added with a touch of glee--
+
+"Now, Ford, you and I will take the tank!"
+
+The word was given to double, and we advanced at a run, whereupon the
+Frenchmen, after one discharge, evacuated their position, and retired
+upon the camp.
+
+The rest of the English force now marched out from the grove, and
+advanced in line, pursuing the retreating enemy. But there was one
+part of the Nabob's army which did not join in the movement of the
+rest. A large division of cavalry, one of those which had formed the
+threatening left wing, drew off from the rest and advanced towards our
+right rear.
+
+Colonel Clive watched their movements with suspicion.
+
+"Are these fellows trying to take our baggage?" he murmured. "Captain
+Grant, take three platoons and a field-piece, and see if you can fight
+off those horse."
+
+The order as given was obeyed, the slight demonstration proved
+sufficient, and the mysterious division drew away again out of range.
+In the meantime our main body advanced steadily, and kept up a brisk
+fire on the Nabob's camp with our artillery. On this some of the
+retiring troops showed a disposition to come out again and renew the
+attack, encouraged by the example of the Frenchmen, who had got
+possession of the redoubt in the angle of the rampart, and were plying
+us well with their guns. Seeing this disposition on the part of the
+enemy, Colonel Clive ordered some shot to be thrown among their
+cumbrous artillery trains. This was done with such effect that,
+numbers of the oxen being killed, the trains were thrown into
+confusion. At the same time some of the Moorish horse made a few
+ineffectual offers to charge, but were easily driven off, without ever
+coming to close quarters.
+
+Whatever cause had prompted the strange retreat of the enemy, it was
+evident that the same cause was now operating to take all heart out of
+their defence. The only thing that gave us pause was the attitude of
+the Frenchmen in the redoubt, whose spirit communicated itself to the
+troops in their immediate neighbourhood. While things were in this
+doubtful posture, I happened to glance round to see what had become of
+the cavalry division repulsed by Captain Grant. To my surprise I saw
+them retiring slowly in an opposite direction to the Nabob's camp.
+
+Instantly I grasped the situation.
+
+"Colonel," I whispered hurriedly, "don't you see that that must be
+Meer Jaffier's division!"
+
+Mr. Clive turned and stared for a moment in the direction I pointed
+in.
+
+"You are right," he responded. "Meer Jaffier, of course! Well, since
+he has put off his assistance so long, he shall see how little we
+needed it!"
+
+A thrill of fresh energy seemed to sweep through him as he began
+issuing his orders for the final charge. Two columns were told off,
+one to clear a small eminence to the right, the other to attack the
+French in their redoubt, while the main body was directed to follow up
+in a grand attack on the whole camp. By my special request I was
+allowed to join the column marching against the Frenchmen. We made a
+dash forward--once, twice, thrice the Frenchmen fired at us as we came
+on, then we saw them drop their linstocks and run, and in another five
+minutes it was all over. The entire English force was over the
+ramparts together, the army which had marched out so gallantly against
+us that morning was suddenly become a mere herd, a wretched mob of
+fugitives crushing one another in their eagerness to escape from us,
+and we picked our way amid the plunder of Surajah Dowlah's rich
+pavilion, victors of Plassy, masters and law-givers of Indostan!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+_RETRIBUTION_
+
+
+Although, judged by the standard of such great battles as the King of
+Prussia's, or the famous victories won by Marlborough over the French,
+this affair of Plassy may seem to be but a trifling skirmish, yet the
+country whose fate was decided upon that field, namely the
+Subahdarship of Bengal, Orissa, and Behar, is equal in magnitude to
+the whole of King Frederic's dominions. In fact the blow struck that
+day resounded throughout the entire East Indies, procuring for the
+English an authority in every Court of Indostan, and for Mr. Clive the
+rank of Omrah, with many rich presents, from the Great Mogul himself.
+
+For eight miles we kept up the pursuit of the flying Moors, and only
+rested from sheer weariness. The next morning Meer Jaffier rode into
+our camp at Daudpore, ill at ease. But Colonel Clive received him with
+friendship, and caused him to be saluted as the Nabob of Bengal. From
+him we learned the particulars of what had taken place on the previous
+day in Surajah Dowlah's camp.
+
+The night before the battle the young Nabob had some suspicions that
+there was treachery going on round him. When the next morning he saw
+his army halting at a distance from the English lines, and refusing to
+come to close quarters, his suspicions were confirmed. One of his
+generals on whom he most relied was slain soon after the artillery
+combat commenced, and this further terrified him. Without quitting his
+tent he sent for Meer Jaffier, whose division was posted on the
+extreme right, and implored him to save the day. He even took off his
+turban, than which there can be no greater humiliation for an
+Oriental, and cast it at his uncle's feet, bidding him defend it. Meer
+Jaffier left the tent, and at once despatched a message of
+encouragement to Colonel Clive, which, however, never reached him.
+Shortly afterwards the unhappy Surajah Dowlah, vanquished by his own
+fears, or, it may be, by the stings of his remorseful conscience,
+mounted a swift camel and fled, and this was the signal for that
+general movement of retreat which had given us the victory.
+
+After Colonel Clive and the new Nabob had discussed the situation for
+a short time, it was agreed between them that Meer Jaffier should
+proceed at once with his force to the capital to check any attempt at
+rallying on the part of Surajah Dowlah. Colonel Clive, with the
+English army, was to follow more slowly.
+
+The moment I heard of these arrangements, I asked the Colonel for
+permission to go forward in advance.
+
+"Why, what do you desire to do?" he asked.
+
+I showed him the written authority I had received from Meer Jaffier,
+and then, in as few words as possible, told him the story of Rupert
+and Marian, and of my resolution to deliver or avenge them.
+
+"Go, my boy," he said when I had finished. "I will give you an order
+in my own name, as well as that you have from the Meer Jaffier; and
+God grant you may be in time to save your cousin and your sweetheart
+from the fury of that young tiger we have driven into his lair."
+
+It was late at night that I came for the last time, riding on an
+elephant, into the city of Moorshedabad. Through the crowded streets I
+urged my way, escorted by a handful of Meer Jaffier's horsemen, and
+seeing on every hand the tokens of the anarchy which had followed upon
+the news of Plassy. The people were abroad, lights gleamed in every
+direction, men ran hither and thither, and doors stood open with no
+one to guard the entrance.
+
+As we drew near to the palace of the Nabob the confusion increased.
+From the shouts of the crowd in answer to our questions we gathered
+that Surajah Dowlah had entered the city secretly after his flight
+from the field of battle, that he had called his parasites around him,
+that there had been rumours of another levy and another battle, that
+his heart had again failed him, that he was expected to fly once
+more, that he might at that very moment be making his escape before
+the approach of his successor.
+
+As the palace came into view it was evident that if Surajah Dowlah
+were not already gone, his presence had ceased to act as a restraint
+on his former servants. The courtyard was crammed with a struggling
+throng of palace menials and robbers out of the streets, all engaged
+in the work of plunder. Some were staggering down the steps, entangled
+in the folds of brocades and sumptuous shawls, others bore tulwars and
+scymetars encrusted with gems, some were stripping the gold off robes,
+others picking rubies and sapphires out of their sockets with the
+points of daggers, and secreting them about their persons. The ground
+was strewn with plunder thrown away in favour of something more
+valuable, rich vessels of green jade lay broken in one place, and
+silken garments were trodden underfoot in another. And all this was
+merely the loot of the outer rooms of the palace, for the treasury was
+not yet touched.
+
+At our approach the work ceased. The rioters began to escape, and the
+eunuchs and soldiers belonging to the palace shrank back to their
+quarters. Leaving Meer Jaffier's officer to deal with them, I
+dismounted from my elephant and pressed my way through into the
+deserted palace, taking with me only two men as a protection. I did
+not stay to explore the empty halls and dismantled chambers, but
+hurried as fast as I could go into the garden, and on to the
+well-remembered summer-house where I had caught my last glimpse of
+Marian on that night a year ago. I ran up to the door at which we had
+knocked the same night. It was standing open. I darted through, ran
+into each room, climbed the stair, and searched every nook and cranny
+above. Not a trace of her I sought was there.
+
+Without lingering a moment I went on and explored the other buildings
+in the garden. In some of them I found frightened women, left alone,
+and expecting that I had come to slay them. But from none could I hear
+anything of the English captive. Here and there a frightened eunuch,
+dragged cowering from his hiding-place, recalled Marian's presence a
+year before, but could or would tell me nothing of her fate. I raved
+and stormed through the seraglio like one possessed, but it was all in
+vain.
+
+I turned back to the main building, by this time in the hands of the
+new Nabob's servants, who were restoring it to some sort of order.
+They told me that Surajah Dowlah had got away an hour previously,
+having let himself down by a rope from a lattice into a boat on the
+river, with only two attendants. When I showed them the papers I had
+received from their master and also from Colonel Clive, they offered
+me every assistance, and even joined in the search. During several
+hours we ransacked every part of the palace, but found no signs of
+either of the English prisoners. The principal eunuchs were called and
+questioned. At first they declined to speak, but when one of the Moors
+with me threatened them with torture they became more communicative,
+and finally one of them asked if we had gone down into the secret
+dungeons.
+
+This hint sent a cold shiver through my veins. I bade the eunuch lead
+the way, and he conducted us through a secret door, down a narrow
+winding stair into a horrible basement, constructed under the bed of
+the Ganges, where no light could come by day or night, except that
+brought by the torches of the gaolers. The place was like a maze, with
+branching passages and cells, almost every one of which held some
+victim of Oriental tyranny. But I had neither eyes nor thoughts for
+what was around me, as we hurried down passage after passage and
+opened door after door in the search for those two whom I had come to
+save. Finally the eunuch stopped at a certain door at the very end of
+the darkest passage we had yet traversed. It was opened, and I looked
+in.
+
+I could not at first believe that what I beheld was a human being.
+Stretched out on the damp soil of the den lay a miserable, shrunken
+object, a thing like a skeleton wrapped in parchment, with the faint
+outlines of a man. On our entrance it moved and just raised its head.
+
+"What do you want?" it asked in Indostanee. And then in English it
+breathed, "Is this the end?"
+
+It was the voice of my cousin Rupert!
+
+With a cry, I was on my knees by his side, lifting his woeful head in
+my arms.
+
+"Rupert! Look! It is your cousin Athelstane!"
+
+He moved slowly and sat up. Then a shudder went through his attenuated
+frame.
+
+"Don't you see what they have done to me?" he groaned. "The devils
+have put out my eyes!"
+
+And the devils had. Rupert Gurney, the bold, handsome, careless,
+wicked, swaggering Rupert, whom I had loved and feared and hated all
+my life, would never be bold nor handsome nor swaggering any more, and
+I should never need to fear or hate him again. His wickedness had been
+rewarded; his crimes had met a heavier retribution than any I had ever
+thought to inflict. He had fallen into the hands of one compared to
+whom he had been but a beginner in iniquity; one fit of Surajah
+Dowlah's cruel frenzy had struck upon him, and had left him branded
+for life.
+
+Of Marian's fate he knew nothing. As soon as I had given directions to
+have him carried up out of the dungeon I renewed my search for her
+with a heart ready to burst at the thought of what I might find.
+
+When we did find her I was almost relieved. After the frightful
+apprehensions I had entertained, it seemed to be good fortune that
+she should be merely wasted away, without any outward disfigurement of
+that face that had been my beacon in dreams and raptures for those
+vain years. In my own arms I bore her out of that doleful place and up
+into the open air, through the palace now swarming with the stir and
+bustle of the newly arrived Nabob's Court, into the garden where the
+day was breaking and the birds were beginning to sing, and laid her
+down, at her own desire, on a bed in that very summer-house where I
+had tried--ah, why had I failed?--to rescue her on the night that
+seemed so long ago.
+
+There for two days I never left her. Some of the eunuchs first, and
+afterwards some Indian women, came and waited on us, and brought us
+all the food we needed--and that was not much for either of us. She
+lay still, saying little, and sometimes holding my hand while she
+slept, and then waking up to shed tears upon it, and to murmur the
+gratitude which I had done so little to deserve. On the second day I
+had Rupert brought to her. He was better by this time, though still
+very weak, and just able to walk across the room with his arm resting
+in mine. I guided him to a seat beside her, and placed their hands in
+one another's, and then I came out quickly. I left them together; for
+if I had loved Marian, he had loved her too, and if my love for her
+had been the stronger, so had been hers for him. And I could not feel
+jealousy any longer now that Marian was dying.
+
+For this was the end of it all, the end of my stormy love and rivalry
+and my adventures in the Indian realms. Marian, the beautiful Marian,
+the woman whose fascination had led me so far, and involved me among
+such strange events in such unwonted scenes, was dying. I had come too
+late to save her, and all I had done or attempted for her sake had
+been in vain. And when I knew this, when I looked back over those
+three troubled years and saw the outcome, there came borne in upon my
+mind a great resignation; I beheld myself as if I had been another
+person, and the folly and wickedness that was in my heart stood
+revealed to me as they had never been even in those dreadful hours in
+the Calcutta dungeon, when I sank down, as I believed, to die.
+Standing beside that bedside of the woman I had loved and sinned for,
+watching the grey stain of mortality creep out upon those glorious
+features, the world and all its prizes and possessions became to me a
+mockery, and all that remained to comfort me was the memory of words I
+had read in that old Book at home: there, in that heathen palace,
+surrounded by the temples and trophies of false gods, was vouchsafed
+to me the light which I had refused to receive when I dwelt among
+Christians in a Christian land, and the Divine mercy which had
+followed me through so many wanderings overtook me at the last.
+
+On the morning of the third day one of the Indian servants who waited
+upon us took me aside and whispered something in my ear--something
+which made my heart beat fiercely and sent a tingle through my veins.
+
+I left the summer-house and took my way into the palace. Through the
+stately halls and along the marble pavements, amid the servile crowd
+that swarmed to pay homage to Meer Jaffier, I passed, and on till I
+came to that hideous stair up which I had brought two of Surajah
+Dowlah's victims such a short time before. On the way I gathered
+something of what had taken place.
+
+One of Surajah Dowlah's former subjects, a man whose ears the young
+Nabob had barbarously cut off for some offence, had recognised him in
+his flight, and had betrayed him to the agents of his successor. He
+was brought back in chains to Moorshedabad and carried before Meer
+Jaffier, at whose feet he flung himself, sobbing, and beseeching that
+his miserable life might be spared. Meer Jaffier, partly moved by his
+entreaties, partly restrained by regard for Colonel Clive, had shown a
+wish to spare him. But in Meer Jaffier's son, young Meeram, the fallen
+tyrant had found a spirit as ferocious and ungovernable as his own.
+This boy--for he was scarcely sixteen--thirsted for his cousin's
+blood, and even attempted to stab him in Meer Jaffier's presence. Meer
+Jaffier, afraid of his son, had ordered the prisoner to be removed
+into the dungeons under a guard, and this was done. But the fury of
+Meeram was not to be appeased. In the dark hours of the night, unknown
+to his father, he had descended into the dungeon, bribed or overawed
+the guards, and----
+
+They threw open the door. They held up their torches over a dark
+object lying on the ground. There, with a dozen red rents in the bosom
+of his tunic, with blood thickly soaked into the dye of his silk robe,
+with blood caked upon the rubies and emeralds in his turban, I saw
+Surajah Dowlah, dead!
+
+For some minutes I stood still in the presence of this impressive
+retribution, recalling the brief but terrible career which had thus
+tragically ended. There lay the cruellest despot of his age, the
+practitioner of horrible debaucheries, the sworn enemy of the English
+name, who had driven us out of Bengal, and perpetrated the
+never-to-be-forgotten massacre in which I had been so nearly included.
+I was but newly come out of the presence of two of his victims, and
+here I beheld him cut off from light more surely than the man he had
+blinded, dead while the woman he had murdered still breathed. I gazed,
+and was satisfied. The evil desires of vengeance which had tormented
+me for so long were utterly extinguished. I beheld before me the
+justice of high Heaven, and I came away, not exulting, but awed and
+subdued.
+
+I returned to Marian's bedside, and from that time I did not leave
+her till the end. Occasionally she would talk to me in a low, sweet
+voice, calling back memories of the old town of Yarmouth and the
+pleasant scenes of her youth. Once she spoke to me of myself.
+
+"I have treated you very ill, Athelstane. I knew that I could never
+repay you for your love, but it made me proud to have it; I liked to
+count upon your devotion to me, and I deceived and tempted you."
+
+I tried to protest, but she would have it so.
+
+"I have been wrong in everything I did to you," she said. "I ought
+never to have treated you as a friend, but as a stranger. Then you
+would have grown out of your foolish passion, and have forgotten me;
+for, believe me, Athelstane, I was not fit for you, nor you for me.
+Beneath your hot temper and adventurous spirit, in which you resemble
+your cousin, you are a very different nature. You are a Puritan at
+bottom, and your conscience will not let you rest except in sober,
+honest ways of life. It is better that you should take a wife from
+among your own people, one whose nature is in accord with what is
+deepest and best in you, and not with what is worst. Forgive me,
+Athelstane, and forget me, as one that crossed your life by an evil
+chance and wrought you only harm."
+
+But that, as I told her with tears, I never could do, nor would
+believe. And even now, when I look back across the years with calmer
+vision and a wiser judgment, I am still glad that I knew and loved
+Marian Rising, and never wish to root the memory of that wild romance
+out of my heart.
+
+She spoke to me also of my cousin Rupert, saying that she had long ago
+forgiven--indeed, I think she never was really able to resent--his
+wrongs done towards her, and asking me to do the same. I assured her
+that I had long ago buried all remains of ill-will between us, and I
+promised her that I would take him back to England with me, and
+endeavour to make his peace with his father at Lynn.
+
+Soon afterwards she became very weak, and, seeing that the last moment
+was approaching, I fetched Rupert in to her. He stood with his head
+bowed above the bed, his hair streaked with grey and the marks of the
+agony he had suffered on his face, while Marian caught hold of his
+hand, and, with the feeble remains of her strength, carried it to her
+lips and kissed it. In the doorway stood an Indian, gazing at the
+sight with solemn, unmoved visage. Outside we could hear the distant
+clash of the temple gongs in honour of some sacrifice, and through the
+lattices there was a glimpse of high white walls, with narrow slits of
+windows, shaded over by the dark-green foliage of a teak tree. Was it
+all real? I asked myself, or some vision which had come to me in the
+night, and from which I should awake to find myself abed in my own
+little room at home in Brandon?
+
+So the hour passed, and the last minute came.
+
+"Pray for me, Athelstane," Marian whispered to me, "for I have been a
+great sinner, and for myself I hardly dare to pray."
+
+So I knelt down upon the floor, and the blind man opposite me did the
+same; and as I used the familiar phrases which I had learned
+unconsciously in my youth from many repetitions, a peace stole over
+the room, and Rupert's great sobs ceased to shake him, and the hand I
+held in my own grew very still and cold. And presently I looked up,
+and saw that Marian was dead.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+_COLONEL CLIVE'S MESSAGE_
+
+
+So now my career in the East Indies was over, and I set my face to
+return home.
+
+The first person to whom I communicated my intention was Colonel
+Clive. He was at first astonished, and told me so.
+
+"Why do you mean to leave me now, when all our affairs are prospering,
+and you have nothing to do but to stay on and enrich yourself? I have
+had it in my mind to promote you; indeed, I think you know that I am
+your good friend."
+
+"I do, indeed, sir," I answered, "and I am most grateful for all your
+kindness to me. But it is right that I should tell you I am here in
+consequence of wrong-doing, which has, as I can now see, pursued my
+steps and caused me to be harassed with troubles and misfortunes from
+the very beginning to this hour."
+
+"Why, what wrong have you been guilty of?" asked the Colonel, much
+interested. "I could have sworn you were the most honest young man in
+my company."
+
+"I have run away from my home, sir. I have deceived and disobeyed my
+father and, I fear, caused great sorrow to my loving mother. I allowed
+myself to be tempted to leave them secretly, under cover of a
+falsehood, and to join a crew of privateers, who turned out to be
+pirates, the comrades of those whom you destroyed at Gheriah. In their
+company I fell into evil courses, and finally plunged into a murderous
+contest with one of my own flesh and blood. These things have long sat
+heavy on my mind. I have perceived their evil consequences, I have
+been visited with a bitter punishment, and I am now determined to go
+back to my parents and to obtain their forgiveness before it is too
+late."
+
+Colonel Clive looked at me with some sympathy, mingled with wonder.
+
+"I believe you have decided rightly," he said at last, when I had
+finished. "God forbid that I should keep you from making your peace
+with those who love you." His tone softened as he added: "My story is
+different to yours. I didn't run away; I was driven, pitchforked out
+of doors, and stuck into a miserable billet at Madras, where I nearly
+ate my heart out with loneliness and repining. When I returned to
+England it was not to ask forgiveness, but to give it, if a son can
+take it upon himself to forgive his parent. No matter, all that is
+past now, and I believe my family have found out that I am worth the
+love they have to give me. Look here, my boy, I have no business to
+talk like this to you; but, after all, we can't be always thinking of
+rupees and Moorish tricks. Since you are bent on going to England, you
+shall start in the ship which I am sending from Calcutta with the news
+of our late proceedings, and I will give you a letter, which you are
+to deliver privately into the hands of Mr. Pitt."
+
+At this name I looked up with flushing cheeks.
+
+"The great Mr. Pitt?" I exclaimed.
+
+"Yes, the great Mr. Pitt," returned Colonel Clive, with a slight
+inflection of bitterness in his tone. "But you are right, Ford, he is
+a very great man, and though his battles have been won within the four
+walls of St. Stephen's Chapel, while we lesser men have to fight in
+very different scenes, far be it from me to grudge all honour to the
+man who was the first to do honour to me. He is fortunate in having
+for his theatre the senate of a great kingdom of Europe, I unfortunate
+in having for mine a remote country of which half Europe has never
+heard. Still, I recognise his merits, and it is for that reason I am
+addressing myself to him on a subject which is near to my heart."
+
+The Colonel paused for a few moments.
+
+"But I cannot have you return to England empty-handed," he resumed.
+"What is your share of the gratuity promised to the army I do not yet
+know, but I tell you what you shall do: go into the treasury, and
+help yourself while there is time."
+
+I stared at this permission, but Colonel Clive merely nodded his head,
+and turned to write the letter he had spoken of. Perceiving that he
+was in earnest, I went off to the Nabob's palace, and made my way to
+the treasury, where I found Mr. Watts and some others busily engaged
+in taking an inventory of everything it contained, which was to be
+shipped down the river in boats to Calcutta.
+
+I walked through the rooms looking about me. Never in my life have I
+seen, nor am I like to see such a sight again. So much treasure was
+there scattered around me, that I could scarce believe it when Mr.
+Watts told me that the whole was insufficient to meet the sums pledged
+by Meer Jaffier. In every room I feasted my eyes upon the light of
+countless jewels. Silver was heaped on every floor, and gold on every
+shelf. Great green jade jars contained nothing but uncut gems. All
+kinds of weapons were there, their very shapes disguised under the
+gold and jewel-work which loaded them. There were chairs of ivory, and
+a table of solid agate-stone. Massy chains of gold trailed from
+drawers, and bricks of silver were built up into banks along the
+walls. It was a confusion of magnificence, a very litter of precious
+things.
+
+I informed Mr. Watts of the permission which Colonel Clive had given
+me to help myself, and he confirmed it.
+
+"Take what you please," he said carelessly. "You will find the
+emeralds run larger than any other stone, but some of them are flawed.
+There is a pretty string of rubies somewhere that it might be worth
+while to choose. The biggest diamond is already promised, but there
+are several lesser ones, uncut, which I should judge to be worth from
+twenty to forty thousand rupees each."
+
+He returned to his catalogue, and I to my exploration. After rejecting
+many necklaces and crowns that I did not deem to be of sufficient
+splendour, I finally fixed upon a tulwar, which I found in a box of
+mother-of-pearl by itself. The handle was set with an enormous
+sapphire, and the hilt incrusted with diamonds, some of them as big as
+my thumbnail. I was afterwards offered three thousand pounds for it by
+a Gentoo merchant in Calcutta, but preferred to bring it home with me,
+where it afterwards fetched more than double that sum at a goldsmith's
+in Covent Garden.
+
+Nor was this all that I brought away with me, for when I went to take
+leave of Meer Jaffier, he presented me, as a mark of his esteem, with
+a very handsome dress of gold cloth, and a string of pearls, valued
+afterwards at a thousand pounds. So that I was now become a rich man.
+
+We buried Marian at night, by the Nabob's permission, in a corner of
+the garden of the seraglio. The chaplain of the thirty-ninth regiment
+conducted the service, and I caused a slab of marble to be set up to
+mark the grave, inscribed simply with her name and the date of her
+death. This tomb, I have been told, still stands, and is pointed out
+to English visitors to Moorshedabad as the grave of the Englishwoman
+who was imprisoned in the Black Hole.
+
+The following day, having received Colonel Clive's letter, and bidden
+him an affectionate farewell, I embarked with Rupert upon one of the
+barges which were carrying the treasure down to Calcutta. The fleet
+started in procession, and went down the river, with music playing on
+deck, flying flags by day, and coloured lanterns by night, till we
+reached the English settlement. There I found old Muzzy, patiently
+waiting for me, and full of pride in the victory, in which he was
+prone to attribute a great share to me.
+
+Five months later we sailed up the Thames, and set foot once more on
+English soil.
+
+One thing only detained me in London. This was the delivery of the
+letter which Colonel Clive had entrusted to me for Mr. Pitt.
+
+It was a privilege which I could not rate too highly to be thus made
+the intermediary between the two greatest Englishmen of my time, men
+of a type that seems now to be lost among us. Since Colonel Clive we
+have had no victorious captain, and since Mr. Pitt, no mighty
+minister, and hence it is that our country, which under the rule of a
+Cromwell or a Pitt, hath risen to be the arbiter of Europe, and held
+all nations in awe, is now sunk, under the sway of feeble intellects,
+to a precarious position, the mock of every power, and saved only by
+her fleets from absolute destruction.
+
+I do not find it easy to describe my sensations when I was ushered
+into the presence of the Great Commoner, and saw before me that
+majestic figure, with the profile of a Roman conqueror, and a glance
+hardly less terrible to encounter than the full blaze of the sun. When
+I have stood before the Nabob of Bengal, throned in the midst of his
+Court, I have seen in front of me nothing but a peevish, debauched
+young man, but when I came into the room where Mr. Pitt was I felt
+that I was in the presence of a ruler of men. His attitude, his
+commanding gestures, and the stately manner he had of slowly moving
+his head round upon his neck to look at you, made a most tremendous
+impression; and I found it easy to believe the stories of men having
+risen to speak against him in the House of Commons, and then shrunk
+back miserably into their seats at a mere look from this extraordinary
+person.
+
+Mr. Pitt's manner of reading Colonel Clive's despatch further
+impressed me. He broke the seals, seemed to do no more than give it a
+few devouring glances, and then laid it aside as though he were
+already master of its contents.
+
+"You are Ensign Ford?" he demanded abruptly, fixing his eye upon me.
+
+"I am, sir."
+
+"Colonel Clive tells me in this letter that you possess his
+confidence. Do you think, if I were to tell you my sentiments
+verbally, you could transmit them faithfully to your employer?"
+
+"I will do my best, sir," I replied, not a little astonished at this
+proposal. But I have considered the matter since, and I can see that
+there were many things which Mr. Pitt might not wish to write with his
+own hand, though he had no objection to their being repeated by me.
+
+"In this letter," he proceeded, "Colonel Clive makes a very startling
+proposal, which is no less than that English troops should be sent out
+sufficient to conquer the whole of Bengal, and that thereafter the
+administration of all the Indian territories should be taken out of
+the hands of the Company and brought immediately under the Crown. Now
+what I wish you to tell him from me in reply is this, that I am bound
+to consider his proposal not merely as it affects our situation
+abroad, but also as it bears upon our government at home. I am the
+minister, not of a despotic empire like France or Spain, but of a free
+people, and I must not suffer anything which may assist the Crown to
+encroach upon our liberties. Those liberties rest upon the necessity
+which our kings are under of asking us to tax ourselves for their
+support. Give them a foreign empire like that of Spain in the
+Americas, and you run a danger of rendering them independent. The
+wealth arising from the revenues of Indostan would enable the Crown to
+keep up a standing army in time of peace, without the consent of
+Parliament. Moreover, the administration of these territories would
+give occasion for the creation of great numbers of offices and
+pensions, by means of which our people might be fatally corrupted.
+
+"I would have you further point out to Colonel Clive on my behalf,"
+continued Mr. Pitt, "that those Indians, whom he proposes to make our
+fellow subjects, are accustomed to be the slaves of a despot, and
+being such, they may become dangerous instruments to make slaves of
+us. I should dread to see the sovereigns of this country calling
+themselves emperors in the Indies, and valuing that character above
+that of kings of Great Britain. Believe me, young man, it is not easy
+for a nation to play the despot abroad without losing its freedom at
+home; as I have frequently observed that those who had returned to
+this country after holding great places in the East, have shown
+themselves indifferent to the rights of the subject here."
+
+All this, and much more, did Mr. Pitt say to me, of which I have
+preserved only these meagre recollections. But how feeble an image do
+the written words preserve of the eloquence with which he spoke, the
+enthusiasm which kindled in his eye when he touched upon our
+liberties, and the warning emphasis he laid upon his expressions about
+the power of the Crown! I felt almost as though I had been the bearer
+of propositions for some unnatural treason, and I was not a little
+relieved when Mr. Pitt finally concluded by bidding me thank Colonel
+Clive very heartily for his civility in writing to him, and promised
+to carefully consider of his suggestions.
+
+To this he added some very high compliments to the Colonel's great
+abilities and military glory, all of which I transmitted in a letter
+to Mr. Clive shortly afterwards. And I have set down the above warning
+of the great patriot minister in this place, for the instruction of
+posterity, in case a time should ever arrive when the people of this
+country, in their too eager grasping after foreign conquests contrary
+to the nature of an island, which is to rest content within the
+borders of its own seas, shall find they have bartered away the
+priceless heritage of their own freedom, and sunk into a mere unheeded
+fraction of a dominion which they no longer wield.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+_AFTER MANY DAYS_
+
+
+It was about the hour of five o'clock in the afternoon, and being
+winter it was already dusk, when I came at last to my native place,
+and rode up to the gate of my father's house.
+
+I had journeyed down as far as Norwich in company with my cousin
+Rupert, who was on his way to Lynn, and with my faithful friend, old
+Muzzy, who had sworn never to leave me, and whom I was not less loth
+to part with. And finding myself, as I came back into that country
+where I was born, utterly overmastered by a strong passion of
+home-sickness, I had no sooner procured comfortable lodgings for my
+companions in the Maid's Head Inn, of Norwich, than I got upon
+horseback and rode over by myself to look upon my father and mother
+again.
+
+But as I came towards the house, the greater my longing was to enter
+it again, so much the more was I daunted by a fearful apprehension of
+the reception I should meet with, as well as of the changes which
+might have been wrought during my absence. So that at the last I dared
+not ride up boldly to the door, but came along softly, and dismounted
+and tied my horse to the outer gate. After which I slipped inside
+quietly, and round the side of the house to the window of the great
+parlour, through which I could see the warm glow of a fire illuminate
+the wintry mist without.
+
+When I had come to the window I raised myself up till my head was on a
+level with the bottom panes, and looked within.
+
+The room held four persons. On one side of the fire sat my father,
+seeming to be much older than I remembered him, in his great
+arm-chair, with pillows at the back. Standing up on the opposite side
+of the hearth was a figure which I quickly recognised for Mr. Peter
+Walpole, though his back was towards me. It was Saturday night, and he
+had plainly arrived a short time before me, from Norwich. Between the
+two was my mother, sitting placidly as of old, and unchanged except
+for a wistful sadness in her eyes, which it smote me to the heart to
+notice, and beside her a young woman, scarce more than a girl, with a
+singular sweet expression on her face, who was at first strange to me.
+
+Mr. Walpole was speaking when I first looked in upon them.
+
+"We are like to have more news from the East Indies. The _Norwich
+Journal_ announces that a Company's ship has entered the Thames,
+bringing news of a great victory over the Moors of Bengal."
+
+My mother looked round sharply, and cried out--
+
+"Tell me at once, Mr. Walpole, if you have heard anything of our boy?"
+
+The good old man shook his head.
+
+"No, no, ma'am, there is no news of that sort. I fear it will be long
+before we hear of him. Indeed, it is but a chance that he is out in
+the East Indies at all. We did but hear a rumour that he had been seen
+in Calcutta."
+
+My mother let her head droop upon her breast. The girl bent over to
+her and laid her hand upon my mother's shoulder.
+
+"Don't let yourself think that Athelstane has come to harm," she said
+in a sweet, clear voice. (And if I had not recognised the face I
+recognised the voice. It was my little playmate, Patience Thurstan.)
+"I have a faith which makes me sure that he is still alive, and will
+some day come back to us again."
+
+"No!" It was my father's voice I heard, coming sternly from where he
+sat upright in his chair. "He will not come back here. He left this
+house of his own free will, left it in treachery and deceit. He has
+cast its dust from off his feet, and this is his home no more."
+
+My heart sank within me at these bitter words. But Patience pleaded
+for me still.
+
+"Ah, but he will return, I know he will, and if he does you will
+forgive him, won't you, Mr. Ford? After all he was but a boy when he
+ran away, too young to know what he was doing. How can we tell what
+suffering he has gone through since, how often he has repented of what
+he did, and longed to come back and be forgiven."
+
+Mr. Peter Walpole gave a groan.
+
+"It is I was to blame, as much as the boy, come, brother Ford.
+Remember how I held out for that premium with him. Not but what the
+sum I named was just, mind you; but I loved the lad and would have
+taken him without a premium at all, rather than he should have gone
+wandering about the world, to be murdered by heathen men and
+cannibals."
+
+I cannot express how surprised and touched I was to hear Mr. Walpole
+speak thus of me. For I had ever regarded him as a cold, hard man,
+with no affections beyond money and religion. I looked anxiously for
+my father's reply.
+
+"Nay, you were in no wise to blame, if you considered that what you
+asked was your right, though to my mind it savoured of extortion. It
+is my unhappy son whom I cannot excuse. Had he but come to me, and
+told me what was in his heart, it would have gone hard but I would
+have provided for him in some honest career. But to let himself be
+enticed away by pirates, as there is little doubt they were, and to
+dissemble his flight with falsehood, that was unworthy of a son of
+mine, and cannot be atoned for."
+
+He gave a glance, half angry, half questioning, at my mother, as he
+concluded. I did the same, but was surprised to observe that her face
+was returned to its former placid composure, and she seemed not to
+heed my father's stern expressions.
+
+Poor little Patience took them more to heart, and the tears shone in
+her eyes.
+
+"Don't say you won't forgive him!" she implored. "Think, for aught we
+know he may now be pining in a Moorish dungeon, or lying wounded on
+the battle-field. Oh, Mr. Ford, he was your only son, and you loved
+him--you must love him still!"
+
+"Silence, girl!" cried my father, very fierce. "How dare you tell me I
+love a rebellious child! I should wrong my conscience, and be false to
+my profession as a Christian man, if I were weak enough to do what you
+say."
+
+Patience turned and appealed to my mother.
+
+"Won't you speak to him, mother? Why do you sit there so quietly? You
+love Athelstane as much as--as much as any one."
+
+My mother cast a tender glance at my father.
+
+"Hush, child! There is no need to speak. Athelstane's father forgave
+him long ago."
+
+I saw my father start and tremble.
+
+"Woman! What is it you say? What do you know?" he exclaimed. "You saw
+me cross his name out of the Bible with my own hand!"
+
+"Yes, dear," my mother answered very softly, "but you wrote it in
+again that very night, when you thought I was asleep."
+
+And rising out of her chair she crossed over and took down the book
+from where it had lain those three years and more, and opened the page
+where, as I have often seen it since, my name was written in again in
+large letters, and underneath in a shaken hand, the words, "Oh,
+Athelstane, my son, my son!"
+
+Then, whether because of the flickering of the firelight, or the steam
+of my breath upon the pane, I ceased to see very distinctly, and came
+away from the window, and went round to the door, where I gave a loud
+knock.
+
+The door was opened by Patience, and seeing before her, as she
+thought, a stranger in a uniform coat, she uttered a cry of surprise.
+
+"Who are you, sir?"
+
+"I am an ensign in the East India Company's service, as you see," I
+answered, jesting to conceal the fullness of my heart.
+
+But I suppose there was that within her which told her more quickly
+than her eyes who it was, for before I had spoken two words the little
+silly thing fell a-sobbing and crying, and I had to take her in my
+arms, without more ado, and bring her in with me.
+
+My mother has always affirmed that she knew I was to return that
+night, even when I was outside by the window, and that the first step
+I made across the threshold told her all. But instead of running out
+to meet me, in her beautiful wisdom she went over to where my father
+sat still, and leant against his chair and put her arm round his neck.
+
+So I found them when I came in alone, leaving Patience in the hall,
+and walked straight over, and would have knelt down before my father.
+But he prevented me, and rose out of his chair with a great cry, and
+drew me to him, and so stood holding me in silence, while my mother
+wept; and presently I saw his lips moving, and found that he was
+whispering to himself, "This my son was dead, and is alive again; he
+was lost, and is found."
+
+Afterwards we all knelt down together, while Mr. Walpole offered up a
+prayer; and then I sat in the midst and told them the whole story of
+my wanderings and perils as I have written it here. And later on,
+noting that Patience was dressed in black, I inquired, and found that
+she had lost her father nearly a year before, and was become my
+father's ward till she should attain the age of twenty-one, or marry
+with his consent.
+
+It was not for a long time after that I surprised her little secret,
+and discovered that depth of true affection which had been waiting for
+me all those years beside my own hearth, while I was pursuing phantoms
+far away. But being alone with her one day, and our talk turning on
+the riches I had brought back with me, and how I was to bestow them, I
+said to her--
+
+"For one thing, I must buy you a fairing, Patience, like I used to do
+when we were children together. Have you forgotten, I wonder, the
+guinea which I gave you to spend, on the last day I ever spent at
+home?"
+
+"No, indeed, I have not. I remember it very well," she answered,
+blushing.
+
+"Why, is that so? And pray what did you buy with it?" I asked smiling.
+
+"Nothing at all," said Patience shortly.
+
+"Nothing! What then----"
+
+"I have it by me, somewhere." She pretended to speak carelessly, but
+my suspicions were aroused.
+
+"I insist on knowing where, Patience," I said in a tone of command,
+such as I have never known her to resist.
+
+"You must find out for yourself, then," says she, trying to defy me.
+(For the first and last time, God bless her!)
+
+I took her by the arms and held her firmly.
+
+"Now, Patience, tell me what you have done with my guinea," I
+demanded, quite stern.
+
+"I kept it--for a keepsake. Oh, Athelstane, don't laugh at me, I have
+it on the ribbon round my neck!"
+
+I didn't laugh at her. But I kissed her, and--well, well!--she kissed
+me back. And I was surprised to find how little anybody else was
+surprised when they heard of it, and how they all seemed to take it as
+a matter of course, and my father told me quite coolly that he
+intended me to marry as soon as Patience should be eighteen, and to
+live on Abner Thurstan's farm, which she had inherited by his will.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Of Rupert, as well as of old Muzzy, I must briefly speak. I conducted
+my cousin to his father, as I had promised, and sought to reconcile
+them. But I found my uncle to be harsher than I had expected. He had,
+besides, married again, and his wife looked sourly on the blind man
+she was asked to entertain in her house. The upshot of it was that I
+told her if she would take care of Rupert till I was married I would
+then have him to live with me. And in our house he still abides, a
+much altered man, given to the hearing of sermons, and never so happy
+as when Patience sits down to read him a piece from the Bible or the
+_Norwich Journal_; though sometimes a flash of his old spirit returns
+when I sit beside him after supper and talk over our old adventures in
+the East.
+
+I found it more difficult at first to befriend old Muzzy. For though
+the old man professed to be, and I am sure really was, anxious to
+reform and lead a better life, he made but a poor business of it, and
+his constant profane oaths and habits of rum-drinking proved a severe
+trial to my mother and Patience. I had told them of his many services
+to me, including his having saved my life, and therefore they made it
+a duty to show kindness to the old man, and endeavour to bear with
+his ways. But I think they would have failed, and I should have been
+obliged to find a home for him elsewhere, but for his having
+accidentally told them of the affair outside Calcutta. No sooner did
+these tender-hearted women learn that I had saved old Muzzy's life (as
+they chose to consider it) than they instantly conceived a strong
+affection for the old man, and instead of finding him a burden nothing
+pleased them better than to sit in his company while the boatswain
+related the story of my prowess, interrupting it at every minute to
+excuse himself for some dreadful expression which had brought the
+tears into their eyes. The tale lost nothing in the telling, and I am
+ashamed to say that he so improved upon it in course of time as to
+make it appear that I had marched single-handed through the Nabob's
+entire army, severely wounded the Nabob himself, and slain many of his
+principal generals, and finally emerged, carrying old Muzzy himself
+across my shoulders like a suckling lamb.
+
+Peace to old Muzzy! His heart was as innocent as his life and
+conversation were depraved. I believe my mother used to buy tobacco
+for him; and I am certain I once detected my wife secretly giving him
+rum.
+
+In this peaceful manner my adventures ended, and I found myself, far
+beyond my deserts, settled at last in the land where I was born, among
+those who loved me and whom I loved.
+
+And we are so made, and this life of ours is so strange a thing, that
+sometimes, when I walk abroad in the evening, as I was wont to do in
+my boyhood, and stand beside the lonely, rippling water of the broad,
+and watch the reflection of the sunset upon the distant walls of
+Yarmouth town; sometimes, I say, I ask myself whether all this has
+really been as I have thus written it, or whether all these events
+from my first running away from my father's roof; and those nights and
+days in the streets of yonder town and beneath the roof of the old
+"Three-decker"; and the woman I loved and fought for; and my cousin
+Rupert's enmity; and the voyage which I took to the East Indies, and
+the battles and perils which I passed through; and last of all that
+white tomb in the seraglio garden in far-off Moorshedabad; whether
+they are not dreams and visions which have come to me while I have
+slept.
+
+ UNWIN BROTHERS, THE GRESHAM PRESS, WOKING AND LONDON.
+
+
+
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+Woman in Grey," &c.
+
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+          =C. ARTHUR PEARSON LIMITED, Henrietta Street, W.C.=
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+This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements,
+metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be
+in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES.
+
+Procedures for determining public domain status are described in
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+No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in
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+Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for
+eBook #26677 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26677)