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diff --git a/old/rujub10.txt b/old/rujub10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8419aff --- /dev/null +++ b/old/rujub10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,16562 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Rujub, the Juggler, by G. A. Henty +#12 in our series by G. A. Henty + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Rujub, the Juggler + +Author: G. A. Henty + +Release Date: January, 2005 [EBook #7229] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on March 28, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RUJUB, THE JUGGLER *** + + + + +This etext was produced by Martin Robb + + + + +Rujub, the Juggler +by G. A. Henty. + + + +PUBLISHERS' INTRODUCTION. + + +"Rujub, the Juggler," is mainly an historical tale for young and +old, dealing with the Sepoy Mutiny, in India, during the years 1857 +to 1859. + +This famous mutiny occurred while the reins of British rule in +India were in the hands of Lord Canning. Chupattees (cakes of flour +and water) were circulated among the natives, placards protesting +against British rule were posted at Delhi, and when the Enfield +rifle with its greased cartridges was introduced among the Sepoy +soldiers serving the Queen it was rumored that the cartridges were +smeared with the forbidden pig's fat, so that the power of the +Sepoys might forever be destroyed. + +Fanatical to the last degree, the Sepoys were not long in bringing +the mutiny to a head. The first outbreak occurred at Meerut, where +were stationed about two thousand English soldiers and three thousand +native troops. The native troops refused to use the cartridges +supplied to them and eighty-two were placed under arrest. On the +day following the native troops rebelled in a body, broke open the +guardhouse and released the prisoners, and a severe battle followed, +and Meerut was given over to the flames. The mutineers then marched +upon Delhi, thirty-two miles away, and took possession. At Bithoor +the Rajah had always professed a strong friendship for the English, +but he secretly plotted against them, and, later on, General Wheeler +was compelled to surrender to the Rajah at Cawnpore, and did so +with the understanding that the lives of all in the place should +be spared. Shortly after the surrender the English officers and +soldiers were shot down, and all of the women and children butchered. + +The mutiny was now at its height, and for a while it was feared +that British rule in India must cease. The Europeans at Lucknow +were besieged for about three months and were on the point of giving +up, when they were relieved through the heroic march of General +Havelock. Sir Colin Campbell followed, and soon the city was once +more in the complete possession of the British. Oude was speedily +reduced to submission, many of the rebel leaders were either shot +or hanged, and gradually the mutiny, which had cost the lives of +thousands, was brought to an end. + +The tale, however, is not all of war. In its pages are given many +true to life pictures of life in India, in the barracks of the +soldiers and elsewhere. A most important part is played by Rujub, +the juggler, who is a warm friend to the hero of the narrative. +Rujub is no common conjuror, but one of the higher men of mystery, +who perform partly as a religious duty and who accept no pay for such +performances. The acts of these persons are but little understood, +even at this late day, and it is possible that many of their arts +will sooner or later be utterly lost to the world at large. That +they can do some wonderful things in juggling, mind reading, and +in second sight, is testified to by thousands of people who have +witnessed their performances in India; how they do these things +has never yet been explained. + +Strange as it may seem, the hero of the tale is a natural born +coward, who cannot stand the noise of gunfire. He realizes his +shortcomings, and they are frequently brought home to him through +the taunts of his fellow soldiers. A doctor proves that the dread +of noise is hereditary, but this only adds to the young soldier's +misery. To make himself brave he rushes to the front in a most +desperate fight, and engages in scout work which means almost certain +death. In the end he masters his fear, and gives a practical lesson +of what stern and unbending will power can accomplish. + +In many respects "Rujub, the Juggler," will be found one of the +strongest of Mr. Henty's works, and this is saying much when one +considers all of the many stories this well known author has already +penned for the entertainment of young and old. As a picture of life +in the English Army in India it is unexcelled. + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +It would be difficult to find a fairer scene. Throughout the gardens +lanterns of many shapes and devices threw their light down upon +the paths, which were marked out by lines of little lamps suspended +on wires a foot above the ground. In a treble row they encircled +a large tank or pond and studded a little island in its center. +Along the terraces were festoons and arches of innumerable lamps, +while behind was the Palace or Castle, for it was called either; +the Oriental doors and windows and the tracery of its walls lit up +below by the soft light, while the outline of the upper part could +scarce be made out. Eastern as the scene was, the actors were +for the most part English. Although the crowd that promenaded the +terrace was composed principally of men, of whom the majority were +in uniform of one sort or another, the rest in evening dress, there +were many ladies among them. + +At the end of one of the terraces a band of the 103d Bengal Infantry +was playing, and when they ceased a band of native musicians, at +the opposite end of the terrace, took up the strains. Within, the +palace was brilliantly lighted, and at the tables in one of the +large apartments a few couples were still seated at supper. Among +his guests moved the Rajah, chatting in fluent English, laughing +with the men, paying compliments to the ladies, a thoroughly good +fellow all round, as his guests agreed. The affair had been a +great success. There had first been a banquet to the officers and +civilians at the neighboring station. When this was over, the ladies +began to arrive, and for their amusement there had been a native +nautch upon a grand scale, followed by a fine display of fireworks, +and then by supper, at which the Rajah had made a speech expressive +of his deep admiration and affection for the British. This he had +followed up by proposing the health of the ladies in flowery terms. +Never was there a better fellow than the Rajah. He had English +tastes, and often dined at one or other of the officers' messes. +He was a good shot, and could fairly hold his own at billiards. He +had first rate English horses in his stables, and his turnout was +perfect in all respects. He kept a few horses for the races, and +was present at every ball and entertainment. At Bithoor he kept +almost open house. There was a billiard room and racquet courts, +and once or twice a week there were luncheon parties, at which +from twelve to twenty officers were generally present. In all India +there was no Rajah with more pronounced English tastes or greater +affection for English people. The one regret of his life, he +often declared, was that his color and his religion prevented his +entertaining the hope of obtaining an English wife. All this, as +everyone said, was the more remarkable and praiseworthy, inasmuch +as he had good grounds of complaint against the British Government. + +With the ladies he was an especial favorite; he was always ready +to show them courtesy. His carriages were at their service. He was +ready to give his aid and assistance to every gathering. His private +band played frequently on the promenade, and handsome presents of +shawls and jewelry were often made to those whom he held in highest +favor. At present he was talking to General Wheeler and some other +officers. + +"I warn you that I mean to win the cup at the races," he said; "I +have just bought the horse that swept the board on the Bombay side; +I have set my heart on winning the cup, and so secured this horse. +I am ready to back it if any of you gentlemen are disposed to wager +against it." + +"All in good time, Rajah," one of the officers laughed; "we don't +know what will be entered against it yet, and we must wait to see +what the betting is, but I doubt whether we have anything that +will beat the Bombay crack on this side; I fancy you will have to +lay odds on." + +"We shall see," the Rajah said; "I have always been unlucky, but +I mean to win this time." + +"I don't think you take your losses much to heart, Rajah," General +Wheeler said; "yet there is no doubt that your bets are generally +somewhat rash ones." + +"I mean to make a coup this time. That is your word for a big +thing, I think. The Government has treated me so badly I must try +to take something out of the pockets of its officers." + +"You do pretty well still," the General laughed; "after this splendid +entertainment you have given us this evening you can hardly call +yourself a poor man." + +"I know I am rich. I have enough for my little pleasures--I do +not know that I could wish for more--still no one is ever quite +content." + +By this time the party was breaking up, and for the next half hour +the Rajah was occupied in bidding goodby to his guests. When the +last had gone he turned and entered the palace, passed through the +great halls, and, pushing aside a curtain, entered a small room. The +walls and the columns were of white marble, inlaid with arabesque +work of colored stones. Four golden lamps hung from the ceiling, the +floor was covered with costly carpets, and at one end ran a raised +platform a foot in height, piled with soft cushions. He took a +turn or two up and down the room, and then struck a silver bell. +An attendant entered. + +"Send Khoosheal and Imambux here." + +Two minutes later the men entered. Imambux commanded the Rajah's +troops, while Khoosheal was the master of his household. + +"All has gone off well," the Rajah said; "I am pleased with you, +Khoosheal. One more at most, and we shall have done with them. +Little do they think what their good friend Nana Sahib is preparing +for them. What a poor spirited creature they think me to kiss the +hand that robbed me, to be friends with those who have deprived +me of my rights! But the day of reckoning is not far off, and then +woe to them all! Have any of your messengers returned, Imambux?" + +"Several have come in this evening, my lord; would you see them +now, or wait till morning?" + +"I will see them now; I will get the memory of these chattering +men and these women with their bare shoulders out of my mind. Send +the men in one by one. I have no further occasion for you tonight; +two are better than three when men talk of matters upon which an +empire depends." + +The two officers bowed and retired, and shortly afterwards the +attendant drew back the curtain again, and a native, in the rags +of a mendicant, entered, and bowed till his forehead touched the +carpet. Then he remained kneeling, with his arms crossed over his +chest, and his head inclined in the attitude of the deepest humility. + +"Where have you been?" the Rajah asked. + +"My lord's slave has been for three weeks at Meerut. I have obeyed +orders. I have distributed chupaties among the native regiments, +with the words, 'Watch, the time is coming,' and have then gone +before I could be questioned. Then, in another disguise, I have +gone through the bazaar, and said in talk with many that the Sepoys +were unclean and outcast, for that they had bitten cartridges anointed +with pig's fat, and that the Government had purposely greased the +cartridges with this fat in order that the caste of all the Sepoys +should be destroyed. When I had set men talking about this I left; +it will be sure to come to the Sepoys' ears." + +The Rajah nodded. "Come again tomorrow at noon; you will have your +reward then and further orders; but see that you keep silence; +a single word, and though you hid in the farthest corner of India +you would not escape my vengeance." + +Man after man entered. Some of them, like the first, were in +mendicant's attire, one or two were fakirs, one looked like a well +to do merchant. With the exception of the last, all had a similar +tale to tell; they had been visiting the various cantonments of +the native army, everywhere distributing chupaties and whispering +tales of the intention of the Government to destroy the caste of the +Sepoys by greasing the cartridges with pig's fat. The man dressed +like a trader was the last to enter. + +"How goes it, Mukdoomee?" + +"It is well, my lord; I have traversed all the districts where we +dwelt of old, before the Feringhee stamped us out and sent scores +to death and hundreds to prison. Most of the latter whom death has +spared are free now, and with many of them have I talked. They are +most of them old, and few would take the road again, but scarce one +but has trained up his son or grandson to the work; not to practice +it,--the hand of the whites was too heavy before, and the gains +are not large enough to tempt men to run the risk--but they teach +them for the love of the art. To a worshiper of the goddess there +is a joy in a cleverly contrived plan and in casting the roomal +round the neck of the victim, that can never die. Often in my young +days, when perhaps twelve of us were on the road in a party, we +made less than we could have done by labor, but none minded. + +"We were sworn brothers; we were working for Kali, and so that we +sent her victims we cared little; and even after fifteen or twenty +years spent in the Feringhee's prisons, we love it still; none +hate the white man as we do; has he not destroyed our profession? +We have two things to work for; first, for vengeance; second, for +the certainty that if the white man's Raj were at an end, once again +would the brotherhood follow their profession, and reap booty for +ourselves and victims for Kali; for, assuredly, no native prince +would dare to meddle with us. Therefore, upon every man who was +once a Thug, and upon his sons and grandsons, you may depend. I do +not say that they would be useful for fighting, for we have never +been fighters, but the stranglers will be of use. You can trust them +with missions, and send them where you choose. From their fathers' +lips they have learnt all about places and roads; they can decoy +Feringhee travelers, the Company's servants or soldiers, into +quiet places, and slay them. They can creep into compounds and into +houses, and choose their victims from the sleepers. You can trust +them, Rajah, for they have learned to hate, and each in his way +will, when the times comes, aid to stir up men to rise. The past +had almost become a dream, but I have roused it into life again, +and upon the descendants of the stranglers throughout India you +can count surely." + +"You have not mentioned my name?" the Rajah said suddenly, looking +closely at the man as he put the question. + +"Assuredly not, your highness; I have simply said deliverance is +at hand; the hour foretold for the end of the Raj of the men from +beyond the sea will soon strike, and they will disappear from the +land like fallen leaves; then will the glory of Kali return, then +again will the brotherhood take to the road and gather in victims. +I can promise that every one of those whose fathers or grandfathers +or other kin died by the hand of the Feringhee, or suffered in his +prisons, will do his share of the good work, and be ready to obey +to the death the orders which will reach him." + +"It is good," the Rajah said; "you and your brethren will have a +rich harvest of victims, and the sacred cord need never be idle. +Go; it is well nigh morning, and I would sleep." + +But not for some time did the Rajah close his eyes; his brain was +busy with the schemes which he had long been maturing, but was only +now beginning to put into action. + +"It must succeed," he said to himself; "all through India the +people will take up arms when the Sepoys give the signal by rising +against their officers. The whites are wholly unsuspicious; they +even believe that I, I whom they have robbed, am their friend. +Fools! I hold them in the hollow of my hand; they shall trust me +to the last, and then I will crush them. Not one shall escape me! +Would I were as certain of all the other stations in India as I am +of this. Oude, I know, will rise as one man; the Princes of Delhi +I have sounded; they will be the leaders, though the old King will +be the nominal head; but I shall pull the strings, and as Peishwa, +shall be an independent sovereign, and next in dignity to the Emperor. +Only nothing must be done until all is ready; not a movement must +be made until I feel sure that every native regiment from Calcutta +to the North is ready to rise." + +And so, until the day had fully broken, the Rajah of Bithoor thought +over his plans--the man who had a few hours before so sumptuously +entertained the military and civilians of Cawnpore, and the man +who was universally regarded as the firm friend of the British and +one of the best fellows going. + +The days and weeks passed on, messengers came and went, the storm +was slowing brewing; and yet to all men it seemed that India was +never more contented nor the outlook more tranquil and assured. + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +A young man in a suit of brown karkee, with a white puggaree wound +round his pith helmet, was just mounting in front of his bungalow +at Deennugghur, some forty miles from Cawnpore, when two others +came up. + +"Which way are you going to ride, Bathurst?" + +"I am going out to Narkeet; there is a dispute between the villagers +and a Talookdar as to their limits. I have got to look into the +case. Why do you ask, Mr. Hunter?" + +"I thought that you might be going that way. You know we have had +several reports of ravages by a man eater whose headquarters seem +to be that big jungle you pass through on your way to Narkeet. He +has been paying visits to several villages in its neighborhood, +and has carried off two mail runners. I should advise you to keep +a sharp lookout." + +"Yes, I have heard plenty about him; it is unfortunate we have no +one at this station who goes in for tiger hunting. Young Bloxam +was speaking to me last night; he is very hot about it; but as he +knows nothing about shooting, and has never fired off a rifle in +his life, except at the military target, I told him that it was +madness to think of it by himself, and that he had better ride down +to the regiment at Cawnpore, and get them to form a party to come +up to hunt the beast. I told him they need not bring elephants +with them; I could get as many as were necessary from some of the +Talookdars, and there will be no want of beaters. He said he would +write at once, but he doubted whether any of them would be able +to get away at present; the general inspection is just coming on. +However, no doubt they will be able to do so before long." + +"Well, if I were you I would put a pair of pistols into my holster, +Bathurst; it would be awfully awkward if you came across the beast." + +"I never carry firearms," the young man said shortly; and then +more lightly, "I am a peaceful man by profession, as you are, Mr. +Hunter, and I leave firearms to those whose profession it is to +use them. I have hitherto never met with an occasion when I needed +them, and am not likely to do so. I always carry this heavy hunting +whip, which I find useful sometimes, when the village dogs rush +out and pretend that they are going to attack me; and I fancy that +even an Oude swordsman would think twice before attacking me when +I had it in my hand. But, of course, there is no fear about the +tiger. I generally ride pretty fast; and even if he were lying by +the roadside waiting for a meal, I don't think he would be likely +to interfere with me." + +So saying, he lightly touched the horse's flanks with his spurs +and cantered off. + +"He's a fine young fellow, Garnet," Mr. Hunter said to his companion; +"full of energy, and, they say, the very best linguist in Oude." + +"Yes, he is all that," the other agreed; "but he is a sort +of fellow one does not quite understand. I like a man who is like +other fellows; Bathurst isn't. He doesn't shoot, he doesn't ride +--I mean he don't care for pig sticking; he never goes in for any +fun there may be on hand; he just works--nothing else; he does +not seem to mix with other people; he is the sort of fellow one +would say had got some sort of secret connected with him." + +"If he has, I am certain it is nothing to his personal disadvantage," +Mr. Hunter said warmly. "I have known him for the last six years-- +I won't say very well, for I don't think anyone does that, except, +perhaps, Doctor Wade. When there was a wing of the regiment up +here three years ago he and Bathurst took to each other very much +--perhaps because they were both different from other people. But, +anyhow, from what I know of Bathurst I believe him to be a very +fine character, though there is certainly an amount of reserve +about him altogether unusual. At any rate, the service is a gainer +by it. I never knew a fellow work so indefatigably. He will take +a very high place in the service before he has done." + +"I am not so sure of that," the other said. "He is a man with +opinions of his own, and all sorts of crotchets and fads. He has +been in hot water with the Chief Commissioner more than once. When +I was over at Lucknow last I was chatting with two or three men, +and his name happened to crop up, and one of them said, 'Bathurst +is a sort of knight errant, an official Don Quixote. Perhaps the best +officer in the province in some respects, but hopelessly impracticable.'" + +"Yes, that I can quite understand, Garnet. That sort of man is never +popular with the higher official, whose likings go to the man who +does neither too much nor too little, who does his work without +questioning, and never thinks of making suggestions, and is a mere +official machine. Men of Bathurst's type, who go to the bottom of +things, protest against what they consider unfair decisions, and +send in memorandums showing that their superiors are hopelessly +ignorant and idiotically wrong, are always cordially disliked. +Still, they generally work their way to the front in the long run. +Well, I must be off." + +Bathurst rode to Narkeet without drawing rein. His horse at times +slackened its pace on its own accord, but an almost mechanical motion +from its rider's heel soon started it off again at the rapid pace +at which its rider ordinarily traveled. From the time he left +Deennugghur to his arrival at Narkeet no thought of the dreaded +man eater entered Bathurst's mind. He was deeply meditating on +a memorandum he was about to draw up, respecting a decision that +had been arrived at in a case between a Talookdar in his district +and the Government, and in which, as it appeared to him, a wholly +erroneous and unjust view had been taken as to the merits of the +case; and he only roused himself when the horse broke into a walk +as it entered the village. Two or three of the head men, with many +bows and salutations of respect, came out to receive him. + +"My lord sahib has seen nothing of the tiger?" the head man said; +"our hearts were melted with fear, for the evil beast was heard +roaring in the jungle not far from the road early this morning." + +"I never gave it a thought, one way or the other," Bathurst said, +as he dismounted. "I fancy the horse would have let me know if +the brute had been anywhere near. See that he is tied up in the +shed, and has food and water, and put a boy to keep the flies from +worrying him. And now let us get to business. First of all, I must +go through the village records and documents; after that I will +question four or five of the oldest inhabitants, and then we must +go over the ground. The whole question turns, you know, upon whether +the irrigation ditch mentioned in the Talookdar's grant is the one +that runs across at the foot of the rising ground on his side, or +whether it is the one that sweeps round on this side of the grove +with the little temple in it. Unfortunately most of the best land +lies between those ditches." + +For hours Bathurst listened to the statements of the old people of +the village, cross questioning them closely, and sparing no efforts +to sift the truth from their confused and often contradictory evidence. +Then he spent two hours going over the ground and endeavoring to +satisfy himself which of the two ditches was the one named in the +village records. He had two days before taken equal pains in sifting +the evidence on the other side. + +"I trust that my lord sees there can be no doubt as to the justice +of our claim," the head man said humbly, as he prepared to mount +again. + +"According to your point of view, there is no doubt about it, Childee; +but then there is equally no doubt the other way, according to the +statements they put forward. But that is generally the way in all +these land disputes. For good hard swearing your Hindoo cultivator +can be matched against the world. Unfortunately there is nothing +either in your grant or in your neighbors' that specifies unmistakably +which of these ancient ditches is the one referred to. My present +impression is that it is essentially a case for a compromise, but +you know the final decision does not rest on me. I shall be out +here again next week, and I shall write to the Talookdar to meet +me here, and we will go over the ground together again, and see if +we cannot arrange some line that will be fair to both parties. If +we can do that, the matter would be settled without expense and +trouble; whereas, if it goes up to Lucknow it may all have to be +gone into again; and if the decision is given against you, and as +far as I can see it is just as likely to be one way as another, it +will be a serious thing for the village." + +"We are in my lord's hands," the native said; "he is the protector +of the poor, and will do us justice." + +"I will do you justice, Childee, but I must do justice to the other +side too. Of course, neither of you will be satisfied, but that +cannot be helped." + +His perfect knowledge of their language, the pains he took to sift +all matters brought before him to the bottom, had rendered the young +officer very popular among the natives. They knew they could get +justice from him direct. There was no necessity to bribe underlings: +he had the knack of extracting the truth from the mass of lying +evidence always forthcoming in native cases; and even the defeated +party admired the manner in which the fabric of falsehood was pulled +to pieces. But the main reason of his popularity was his sympathy, +the real interest which he showed in their cases, and the patience +with which he listened to their stories. + +Bathurst himself, as he rode homewards, was still thinking of the +case. Of course there had been lying on both sides; but to that +he was accustomed. It was a question of importance--of greater +importance, no doubt, to the villagers than to their opponent, but +still important to him--for this tract of land was a valuable +one, and of considerable extent, and there was really nothing in the +documents produced on either side to show which ditch was intended +by the original grants. Evidently, at the time they were made, very +many years before, one ditch or the other was not in existence; but +there was no proof as to which was the more recent, although both +sides professed that all traditions handed down to them asserted +the ditch on their side to be the more recent. + +He was riding along the road through the great jungle, at his horse's +own pace, which happened for the moment to be a gentle trot, when +a piercing cry rang through the air a hundred yards ahead. Bathurst +started from his reverie, and spurred his horse sharply; the animal +dashed forward at a gallop. At a turn in the road he saw, twenty +yards ahead of him, a tiger, standing with a foot upon a prostrate +figure, while a man in front of it was gesticulating wildly. The +tiger stood as if hesitating whether to strike down the figure in +front or to content itself with that already in its power. + +The wild shouts of the man had apparently drowned the sound of the +horse's feet upon the soft road, for the animal drew back half a +pace as it suddenly came into view. + +The horse swerved at the sight, and reared high in the air as +Bathurst drove his spurs into it. As its feet touched the ground +again, Bathurst sprang off and rushed at the tiger, and brought +down the heavy lash of his whip with all his force across its head. +With a fierce snarl it sprang back two paces, but again and again +the whip descended upon it, and bewildered and amazed at the attack +it turned swiftly and sprang through the bushes. + +Bathurst, knowing that there was no fear of its returning, turned +at once to the figure on the road. It was, as in even the momentary +glance he had noticed, a woman, or rather a girl of some fourteen +or fifteen years of age--the man had dropped on his knees beside +her, moaning and muttering incoherent words. + +"I see no blood," Bathurst said, and stooping, lifted the light +figure. "Her heart beats, man; I think she has only fainted. The +tiger must have knocked her down in its spring without striking +her. So far as I can see she is unhurt." + +He carried her to the horse, which stood trembling a few yards +away, took a flask from the holster, and poured a little brandy +and water between her lips. + +Presently there was a faint sigh. "She is coming round," he said +to the man, who was still kneeling, looking on with vacant eyes, +as though he had neither heard nor comprehended what Bathurst was +doing. Presently the girl moved slightly and opened her eyes. At +first there was no expression in them; then a vague wonder stole +into them at the white face looking down upon her. + +She closed them again, and then reopened them, and then there was +a slight struggle to free herself. He allowed her to slip through +his arms until her feet touched the ground; then her eyes fell on +the kneeling figure. + +"Father!" she exclaimed. With a cry the man leaped to his feet, +sprang to her and seized her in his arms, and poured out words +of endearment. Then suddenly he released her and threw himself +on the ground before Bathurst, with ejaculations of gratitude and +thankfulness. + +"Get up, man, get up," the latter said; "your daughter can scarce +stand alone, and the sooner we get away from this place the better; +that savage beast is not likely to return, but he may do so; let +us be off." + +He mounted his horse again, brought it up to the side of the girl, +and then, leaning over, took her and swung her into the saddle in +front of him. The man took up a large box that was lying in the +road and hoisted it onto his shoulders, and then, at a foot's pace, +they proceeded on their way--Bathurst keeping a close watch on +the jungle at the side on which the tiger had entered it. + +"How came you to travel along this road alone?" he asked the man. +"The natives only venture through in large parties, because of this +tiger." + +"I am a stranger," the man answered; "I heard at the village where +we slept last night that there was a tiger in this jungle, but +I thought we should be through it before nightfall, and therefore +there was no danger. If one heeded all they say about tigers one +would never travel at all. I am a juggler, and we are on our way +down the country through Cawnpore and Allahabad. Had it not been +for the valor of my lord sahib, we should never have got there; for +had I lost my Rabda, the light of my heart, I should have gone no +further, but should have waited for the tiger to take me also." + +"There was no particular valor about it," Bathurst said shortly. +"I saw the beast with its foot on your daughter, and dismounted to +beat it off just as if it had been a dog, without thinking whether +there was any danger in it or not. Men do it with savage beasts +in menageries every day. They are cowardly brutes after all, and +can't stand the lash. He was taken altogether by surprise, too." + +"My lord has saved my daughter's life, and mine is at his service +henceforth," the man said. "The mouse is a small beast, but he may +warn the lion. The white sahibs are brave and strong. Would one of +my countrymen have ventured his life to attack a tiger, armed only +with a whip, for the sake of the life of a poor wayfarer?" + +"Yes, I think there are many who would have done so," Bathurst +replied. "You do your countrymen injustice. There are plenty of +brave men among them, and I have heard before now of villagers, +armed only with sticks, attacking a tiger who has carried off a +victim from among them. You yourself were standing boldly before +it when I came up." + +"My child was under its feet--besides, I never thought of myself. +If I had had a weapon I should not have drawn it. I had no thought +of the tiger; I only thought that my child was dead. She works with +me, sahib; since her mother died, five years ago, we have traveled +together over the country; she plays while I conjure. She takes +round the saucer for the money, and she acts with me in the tricks +that require two persons; it is she who disappears from the basket. +We are everything to each other, sahib. But what is my lord's name? +Will he tell his servant, that he and Rabda may think of him and +talk of him as they tramp the roads together?" + +"My name is Ralph Bathurst. I am District Officer at Deennugghur. +How far are you going this evening?" + +"We shall sleep at the first village we come to, sahib; we have +walked many hours today, and this box, though its contents are not +weighty, is heavy to bear. We thought of going down tomorrow to +Deennugghur, and showing our performances to the sahib logue there." + +"Very well; but there is one thing--what is your name?" + +"Rujub." + +"Well, Rujub, if you go on to Deennugghur tomorrow say nothing to +anyone there about this affair with the tiger; it is nothing to +talk about. I am not a shikari, but a hard working official, and +I don't want to be talked about." + +"The sahib's wish shall be obeyed," the man said. + +"You can come round to my bungalow and ask for me; I shall be glad +to hear whether your daughter is any the worse for her scare. How +do you feel, Rabda?" + +"I feel as one in a dream, sahib. I saw a great yellow beast +springing through the air, and I cried out, and knew nothing more +till I saw the sahib's face; and now I have heard him and my father +talking, but their voices sound to me as if far away, though I know +that you are holding me." + +"You will be all the better after a night's rest, child; no wonder +you feel strange and shaken. Another quarter of an hour and we +shall be at the village. I suppose, Rujub, you were born a conjurer." + +"Yes, sahib, it is always so; it goes down from father to son. As +soon as I was able to walk, I began to work with my father, and +as I grew up he initiated me in the secrets of our craft, which we +may never divulge." + +"No, I know they are a mystery. Many of your tricks can be done +by our conjurers at home, but there are some that have never been +solved." + +"I have been offered, more than once, large sums by English sahibs +to tell them how some of the feats were done, but I could not; we +are bound by terrible oaths, and; in no case has a juggler proved +false to them. Were one to do so he would be slain without mercy, +and his fate in the next world would be terrible; forever and +forever his soul would pass through the bodies of the foulest and +lowest creatures, and there would be no forgiveness for him. I would +give my life for the sahib, but even to him I would not divulge +our mysteries." + +In a few minutes they came to the first village beyond the jungle. +As they approached it Bathurst checked his horse and lifted the +girl down. She took his hand and pressed her forehead to it. + +"I shall see you tomorrow, then, Rujub," he said, and shaking the +reins, went on at a canter. + +"That is a new character for me to come out in," he said bitterly; +"I do not know myself--I, of all men. But there was no bravery +in it; it never occurred to me to be afraid; I just thrashed him +off as I should beat off a dog who was killing a lamb; there was no +noise, and it is noise that frightens me; if the brute had roared +I should assuredly have run; I know it would have been so; I could +not have helped it to have saved my life. It is an awful curse that +I am not as other men, and that I tremble and shake like a girl +at the sound of firearms. It would have been better if I had been +killed by the first shot fired in the Punjaub eight years ago, or +if I had blown my brains out at the end of the day. Good Heavens! +what have I suffered since. But I will not think of it. Thank God, +I have got my work; and as long as I keep my thoughts on that there +is no room for that other;" and then, by a great effort of will, +Ralph Bathurst put the past behind him, and concentrated his thoughts +on the work on which he had been that day engaged. + +The juggler did not arrive on the following evening as he had expected, +but late in the afternoon a native boy brought in a message from +him, saying that his daughter was too shaken and ill to travel, +but that they would come when she recovered. + +A week later, on returning from a long day's work, Bathurst was +told that a juggler was in the veranda waiting to see him. + +"I told him, sahib," the servant said, "that you cared not for +such entertainments, and that he had better go elsewhere; but he +insisted that you yourself had told him to come, and so I let him +wait." + +"Has he a girl with him, Jafur?" + +"Yes, sahib." + +Bathurst strolled round to the other side of the bungalow, where +Rujub was sitting patiently, with Rabda wrapped in her blue cloth +beside him. They rose to their feet. + +"I am glad to see your daughter is better again, Rujub." + +"She is better, sahib; she has had fever, but is restored." + +"I cannot see your juggling tonight, Rujub. I have had a heavy +day's work, and am worn out, and have still much to do. You had +better go round to some of the other bungalows; though I don't think +you will do much this evening, for there is a dinner party at the +Collector's, and almost everyone will be there. My servants will +give you food, and I shall be off at seven o'clock in the morning, +but shall be glad to see you before I start. Are you in want of +money?" and he put his hand in his pocket. + +"No, sahib," the juggler said. "We have money sufficient for all +our wants; we are not thinking of performing tonight, for Rabda +is not equal to it. Before sunrise we shall be on our way again; +I must be at Cawnpore, and we have delayed too long already. Could +you give us but half an hour tonight, sahib; we will come at any +hour you like. I would show you things that few Englishmen have seen. +Not mere common tricks, sahib, but mysteries such as are known to +few even of us. Do not say no, sahib." + +"Well, if you wish it, Rujub, I will give you half an hour," and +Bathurst looked at his watch. "It is seven now, and I have to dine. +I have work to do that will take me three hours at least, but at +eleven I shall have finished. You will see a light in my room; come +straight to the open window." + +"We will be there, sahib;" and with a salaam the juggler walked +off, followed by his daughter. + +A few minutes before the appointed time Bathurst threw down his +pen with a little sigh of satisfaction. + +The memo he had just finished was a most conclusive one; it seemed +to him unanswerable, and that the Department would have trouble in +disputing his facts and figures. He had not since he sat down to +his work given another thought to the juggler, and he almost started +as a figure appeared in the veranda at the open window. + +"Ah, Rujub, is it you? I have just finished my work. Come in; is +Rabda with you?" + +"She will remain outside until I want her," the juggler said as +he entered and squatted himself on the floor. "I am not going to +juggle, sahib. With us there are two sorts of feats; there are those +that are performed by sleight of hand or by means of assistance. +These are the juggler's tricks we show in the verandas and compounds +of the white sahibs, and in the streets of the cities. There are +others that are known only to the higher order among us, that we +show only on rare occasions. They have come to us from the oldest +times, and it is said they were brought by wise men from Egypt; +but that I know not." + +"I have always been interested in juggling, and have seen many +things that I cannot understand," Bathurst said. "I have seen the +basket trick done on the road in front of the veranda, as well as +in other places, and I cannot in any way account for it." + +The juggler took from his basket a piece of wood about two feet in +length and some four inches in diameter. + +"You see this?" he said. + +Bathurst took it in his hand. "It looks like a bit sawn off a +telegraph pole," he said. + +"Will you come outside, sahib?" + +The night was very dark, but the lamp on the table threw its light +through the window onto the drive in front of the veranda. Rujub +took with him a piece of wood about nine inches square, with a soft +pad on the top. He went out in the drive and placed the piece of +pole upright, and laid the wood with the cushion on the top. + +"Now will you stand in the veranda a while?" + +Bathurst stood back by the side of the window so as not to interfere +with the passage of the light. Rabda stole forward and sat down +upon the cushion. + +"Now watch, sahib." + +Bathurst looked, and saw the block of wood apparently growing. +Gradually it rose until Rabda passed up beyond the light in the +room. + +"You may come out," the juggler said, "but do not touch the pole. +If you do, it will cause a fall, which would be fatal to my child." + +Bathurst stepped out and looked up. He could but just make out +the figure of Rabda, seemingly already higher than the top of the +bungalow. Gradually it became more and more indistinct. + +"You are there, Rabda?" her father said. + +"I am here, father!" and the voice seemed to come from a considerable +distance. + +Again and again the question was asked, and the answer became +fainter and fainter, although it sounded as if it was a distant +cry in response to Rujub's shout rather than spoken in an ordinary +voice. + +At last no response was heard. + +"Now it shall descend," the juggler said. + +Two or three minutes passed, and then Bathurst, who was staring +up into the darkness, could make out the end of the pole with the +seat upon it, but Rabda was no longer there. Rapidly it sank, until +it stood its original height on the ground. + +"Where is Rabda?" Bathurst exclaimed. + +"She is here, my lord," and as he spoke Rabda rose from a sitting +position on the balcony close to Bathurst. + +"It is marvelous!" the latter exclaimed. "I have heard of that feat +before, but have never seen it. May I take up that piece of wood?" + +"Assuredly, sahib." + +Bathurst took it up and carried it to the light. It was undoubtedly, +as he had before supposed, a piece of solid wood. The juggler had +not touched it, or he would have supposed he might have substituted +for the piece he first examined a sort of telescope of thin sheets of +steel, but even that would not have accounted for Rabda's disappearance. + +"I will show you one other feat, my lord." + +He took a brass dish, placed a few pieces of wood and charcoal in +it, struck a match, and set the wood on fire, and then fanned it +until the wood had burned out, and the charcoal was in a glow; then +he sprinkled some powder upon it, and a dense white smoke rose. + +"Now turn out the lamp, sahib." + +Bathurst did so. The glow of the charcoal enabled him still to see +the light smoke; this seemed to him to become clearer and clearer. + +"Now for the past!" Rujub said. The smoke grew brighter and +brighter, and mixed with flashes of color; presently Bathurst saw +clearly an Indian scene. A village stood on a crest, jets of smoke +darted up from between the houses, and then a line of troops in +scarlet uniform advanced against the village, firing as they went. +They paused for a moment, and then with a rush went at the village +and disappeared in the smoke over the crest. + +"Good Heavens," Bathurst muttered, "it is the battle of Chillianwalla!" + +"The future!" Rujub said, and the colors on the smoke changed. +Bathurst saw a wall surrounding a courtyard. On one side was a +house. It had evidently been besieged, for in the upper part were +many ragged holes, and two of the windows were knocked into one. +On the roof were men firing, and there were one or two women among +them. He could see their faces and features distinctly. In the +courtyard wall there was a gap, and through this a crowd of Sepoys +were making their way, while a handful of whites were defending +a breastwork. Among them he recognized his own figure. He saw +himself club his rifle and leap down into the middle of the Sepoys, +fighting furiously there. The colors faded away, and the room was +in darkness again. There was the crack of a match, and then Rujub +said quietly, "If you will lift off the globe again, I will light +the lamp, sahib." + +Bathurst almost mechanically did as he was told. + +"Well, sahib, what do you think of the pictures?" + +"The first was true," Bathurst said quietly, "though, how you knew +I was with the regiment that stormed the village at Chillianwalla +I know not. The second is certainly not true." + +"You can never know what the future will be, sahib," the juggler +said gravely. + +"That is so," Bathurst said; "but I know enough of myself to say +that it cannot be true. I do not say that the Sepoys can never be +fighting against whites, improbable as it seems, but that I was +doing what that figure did is, I know, impossible." + +"Time will show, sahib," the juggler said; "the pictures never lie. +Shall I show you other things?" + +"No, Rujub, you have shown me enough; you have astounded me. I want +to see no more tonight." + +"Then farewell, sahib; we shall meet again, I doubt not, and mayhap +I may be able to repay the debt I owe you;" and Rujub, lifting his +basket, went out through the window without another word. + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +Some seven or eight officers were sitting round the table in the +messroom of the 103d Bengal Infantry at Cawnpore. It had been a +guest night, but the strangers had left, the lights had been turned +out in the billiard room overhead, the whist party had broken up, +and the players had rejoined three officers who had remained at +table smoking and talking quietly. + +Outside, through the open French windows, the ground looked as if +sprinkled with snow beneath the white light of the full moon. Two +or three of the mess servants were squatting in the veranda, talking +in low voices. A sentry walked backwards and forwards by the gate +leading into the mess house compound; beyond, the maidan stretched +away flat and level to the low huts of the native lines on the +other side. + +"So the Doctor comes back tomorrow, Major," the Adjutant, who had +been one of the whist party, said. "I shall be very glad to have +him back. In the first place, he is a capital fellow, and keeps +us all alive; secondly, he is a good deal better doctor than the +station surgeon who has been looking after the men since we have +been here; and lastly, if I had got anything the matter with me +myself, I would rather be in his hands than those of anyone else +I know." + +"Yes, I agree with you, Prothero; the Doctor is as good a fellow as +ever stepped. There is no doubt about his talent in his profession; +and there are a good many of us who owed our lives to him when +we were down with cholera, in that bad attack three years ago. He +is good all round; he is just as keen a shikari as he was when he +joined the regiment, twenty years ago; he is a good billiard player, +and one of the best storytellers I ever came across; but his best +point is that he is such a thoroughly good fellow--always ready +to do a good turn to anyone, and to help a lame dog over a stile. +I could name a dozen men in India who owe their commissions to him. +I don't know what the regiment would do without him." + +"He went home on leave just after I joined," one of the subalterns +said. "Of course, I know, from all I have heard of him, that he is +an awfully good fellow, but from the little I saw of him myself, +he seemed always growling and snapping." + +There was a general laugh from the others. + +"Yes, that is his way, Thompson," the Major said; "he believes +himself to be one of the most cynical and morose of men." + +"He was married, wasn't he, Major?" + +"Yes, it was a sad business. It was only just after I joined. He +is three years senior to me in the regiment. He was appointed to +it a month or two after the Colonel joined. Well, as I say, a month +or two after I came to it, he went away on leave down to Calcutta, +where he was to meet a young lady who had been engaged to him before +he left home. They were married, and he brought her up country. +Before she had been with us a month we had one of those outbreaks +of cholera. It wasn't a very severe one. I think we only lost eight +or ten men, and no officer; but the Doctor's young wife was attacked, +and in three or four hours she was carried off. It regularly broke +him down. However, he got over it, as we all do, I suppose; and +now I think he is married to the regiment. He could have had staff +appointments a score of times, but he has always refused them. +His time is up next year, and he could go home on full pay, but I +don't suppose he will." + +"And your niece arrives with him tomorrow, Major," the Adjutant +said. + +"Yes, I am going to try petticoat government, Prothero. I don't +know how the experiment will succeed, but I am tired of an empty +bungalow, and I have been looking forward for some years to her +being old enough to come out and take charge. It is ten years since +I was home, and she was a little chit of eight years old at that +time." + +"I think a vote of thanks ought to be passed to you, Major. We have +only married ladies in the regiment, and it will wake us up and do +us good to have Miss Hannay among us." + +"There are the Colonel's daughters," the Major said, with a smile. + +"Yes, there are, Major, but they hardly count; they are scarcely +conscious of the existence of poor creatures like us; nothing short +of a Resident or, at any rate, of a full blown Collector, will find +favor in their eyes." + +"Well, I warn you all fairly," the Major said, "that I shall set +my face against all sorts of philandering and love making. I am +bringing my niece out here as my housekeeper and companion, and not +as a prospective wife for any of you youngsters. I hope she will +turn out to be as plain as a pikestaff, and then I may have some +hopes of keeping her with me for a time. The Doctor, in his letter +from Calcutta, says nothing as to what she is like, though he was +good enough to remark that she seemed to have a fair share of common +sense, and has given him no more trouble on the voyage than was to +be expected under the circumstances. And now, lads, it is nearly +two o'clock, and as there is early parade tomorrow, it is high time +for you to be all in your beds. What a blessing it would be if the +sun would forget to shine for a bit on this portion of the world, +and we could have an Arctic night of seven or eight months with a +full moon the whole time!" + +A few minutes later the messroom was empty, the lights turned out, +and the servants wrapped up in their blankets had disposed themselves +for sleep in the veranda. + +As soon as morning parade was over Major Hannay went back to his +bungalow, looked round to see that his bachelor quarters were as +bright and tidy as possible, then got into a light suit and went +down to the post house. A quarter of an hour later a cloud of dust +along the road betokened the approach of the Dak Gharry, and two +or three minutes later it dashed up at full gallop amid a loud and +continuous cracking of the driver's whip. The wiry little horses +were drawn up with a sudden jerk. + +The Major opened the door. A little man sprang out and grasped him +by the hand. + +"Glad to see you, Major--thoroughly glad to be back again. Here +is your niece; I deliver her safe and sound into your hands." And +between them they helped a girl to alight from the vehicle. + +"I am heartily glad to see you, my dear," the Major said, as he +kissed her; "though I don't think I should have known you again." + +"I should think not, uncle," the girl said. "In the first place, I +was a little girl in short frocks when I saw you last; and in the +second place, I am so covered with the dust that you can hardly see +what I am like. I think I should have known you; your visit made a +great impression upon us, though I can remember now how disappointed +we were when you first arrived that you hadn't a red coat and a +sword, as we had expected." + +"Well, we may as well be off at once, Isobel; it is only five +minutes' walk to the bungalow. My man will see to your luggage being +brought up. Come along, Doctor. Of course you will put up with me +until you can look round and fix upon quarters. I told Rumzan to +bring your things round with my niece's. You have had a very pleasant +voyage out, I hope, Isobel?" he went on, as they started. + +"Very pleasant, uncle, though I got rather tired of it at last." + +"That is generally the way--everyone is pleasant and agreeable +at first, but before they get to the end they take to quarreling +like cats and dogs." + +"We were not quite as bad as that," the girl laughed, "but we +certainly weren't as amiable the last month or so as we were during +the first part of the voyage. Still, it was very pleasant all along, +and nobody quarreled with me." + +"Present company are always excepted," the Doctor said. "I stood +in loco parentis, Major, and the result has been that I shall feel +in future more charitable towards mothers of marriageable daughters. +Still, I am bound to say that Miss Hannay has given me as little +trouble as could be expected." + +"You frighten me, Doctor; if you found her so onerous only for a +voyage, what have I to look forward to?" + +"Well, you can't say that I didn't warn you, Major; when you wrote +home and asked me to take charge of your niece on the way out, I +told you frankly that my opinion of your good sense was shaken." + +"Yes, you did express yourself with some strength," the Major laughed; +"but then one is so accustomed to that, that I did not take it to +heart as I might otherwise have done." + +"That was before you knew me, Dr. Wade, otherwise I should feel +very hurt," the girl put in. + +"Yes, it was," the Doctor said dryly. + +"Don't mind him, my dear," her uncle said; "we all know the Doctor +of old. This is my bungalow." + +"It is pretty, with all these flowers and shrubs round it," she +said admiringly. + +"Yes, we have been doing a good deal of watering the last few weeks, +so as to get it to look its best. This is your special attendant; +she will take you up to your room. By the time you have had a bath, +your boxes will be here. I told them to have a cup of tea ready +for you upstairs. Breakfast will be on the table by the time you +are ready." + +"Well, old friend," he said to the Doctor, when the girl had gone +upstairs, "no complications, I hope, on the voyage?" + +"No, I think not," the Doctor said. "Of course, there were lots of +young puppies on board, and as she was out and out the best looking +girl in the ship half of them were dancing attendance upon her all +the voyage, but I am bound to say that she acted like a sensible +young woman; and though she was pleasant with them all, she didn't +get into any flirtation with one more than another. I did my best +to look after her, but, of course, that would have been of no good +if she had been disposed to go her own way. I fancy about half of +them proposed to her--not that she ever said as much to me-- +but whenever I observed one looking sulky and giving himself airs +I could guess pretty well what had happened. These young puppies +are all alike, and we are not without experience of the species +out here. + +"Seriously, Major, I think you are to be congratulated. I consider +that you ran a tremendous risk in asking a young woman, of whom you +knew nothing, to come out to you; still it has turned out well. If +she had been a frivolous, giggling thing, like most of them, I had +made up my mind to do you a good turn by helping to get her engaged +on the voyage, and should have seen her married offhand at Calcutta, +and have come up and told you that you were well out of the scrape. +As, contrary to my expectations, she turned out to be a sensible +young woman, I did my best the other way. It is likely enough you +may have her on your hands some little time, for I don't think she +is likely to be caught by the first comer. Well, I must go and have +my bath; the dust has been awful coming up from Allahabad. That +is one advantage, and the only one as far as I can see, that they +have got in England. They don't know what dust is there." + +When the bell for breakfast rang, and Isobel made her appearance, +looking fresh and cool, in a light dress, the Major said, "You +must take the head of the table, my dear, and assume the reins of +government forthwith." + +"Then I should say, uncle, that if any guidance is required, there +will be an upset in a very short time. No, that won't do at all. +You must go on just as you were before, and I shall look on and +learn. As far as I can see, everything is perfect just as it is. +This is a charming room, and I am sure there is no fault to be +found with the arrangement of these flowers on the table. As for +the cooking, everything looks very nice, and anyhow, if you have +not been able to get them to cook to your taste, it is of no use +my attempting anything in that way. Besides, I suppose I must learn +something of the language before I can attempt to do anything. No, +uncle, I will sit in this chair if you like, and make tea and pour +it out, but that is the beginning and the end of my assumption of +the head of the establishment at present." + +"Well, Isobel, I hardly expected that you were going to run the +establishment just at first; indeed, as far as that goes, one's +butler, if he is a good man, has pretty well a free hand. He is +generally responsible, and is in fact what we should call at home +housekeeper--he and the cook between them arrange everything. +I say to him, 'Three gentlemen are coming to tiffen.' He nods and +says 'Atcha, sahib,' which means 'All right, sir,' and then I know +it will be all right. If I have a fancy for any special thing, of +course I say so. Otherwise, I leave it to them, and if the result +is not satisfactory, I blow up. Nothing can be more simple." + +"But how about bills, uncle?" + +"Well, my dear, the butler gives them to me, and I pay them. He +has been with me a good many years, and will not let the others-- +that is to say, the cook and the syce, the washerman, and so on, +cheat me beyond a reasonable amount. Do you, Rumzan?" + +Rumzan, who was standing behind the Major's chair, in a white turban +and dress, with a red and white sash round his waist, smiled. + +"Rumzan not let anyone rob his master." + +"Not to any great extent, you know, Rumzan. One doesn't expect more +than that." + +"It is just the same here, Miss Hannay, as it is everywhere else," +said the Doctor; "only in big establishments in England they rob +you of pounds, while here they rob you of annas, which, as I have +explained to you, are two pence halfpennies. The person who undertakes +to put down little peculations enters upon a war in which he is +sure to get the worst of it. He wastes his time, spoils his temper, +makes himself and everyone around him uncomfortable, and after all +he is robbed. Life is too short for it, especially in a climate +like this. Of course, in time you get to understand the language; +if you see anything in the bills that strikes you as showing waste +you can go into the thing, but as a rule you trust entirely to your +butler; if you cannot trust him, get another one. Rumzan has been +with your uncle ten years, so you are fortunate. If the Major +had gone home instead of me, and if you had had an entirely fresh +establishment of servants to look after, the case would have been +different; as it is, you will have no trouble that way." + +"Then what are my duties to be, uncle?" + +"Your chief duties, my dear, are to look pleasant, which will +evidently be no trouble to you; to amuse me and keep me in a good +temper as far as possible; to keep on as good terms as may be with +the other ladies of the station; and, what will perhaps be the most +difficult part of your work, to snub and keep in order the young +officers of our own and other corps." + +Isobel laughed. "That doesn't sound a very difficult programme, +uncle, except the last item; I have already had a little experience +that way, haven't I, Doctor? I hope I shall have the benefit of +your assistance in the future, as I had aboard the ship." + +"I will do my best," the Doctor said grimly; "but the British +subaltern is pretty well impervious to snubs; he belongs to the +pachydermatous family of animals; his armor of self conceit renders +him invulnerable against the milder forms of raillery. However, I +think you can be trusted to hold your own with him, Miss Hannay, +without much assistance from the Major or myself. Your real difficulty +will lie rather in your struggle against the united female forces +of the station." + +"But why shall I have to struggle with them?" Isobel asked, in +surprise, while her uncle broke into a laugh. + +"Don't frighten her, Doctor." + +"She is not so easily frightened, Major; it is just as well that +she should be prepared. Well, my dear Miss Hannay, Indian society +has this peculiarity, that the women never grow old. At least," +he continued, in reply to the girl's look of surprise, "they are +never conscious of growing old. At home a woman's family grows up +about her, and are constant reminders that she is becoming a matron. +Here the children are sent away when they get four or five years +old, and do not appear on the scene again until they are grown +up. Then, too, ladies are greatly in the minority, and they are +accustomed to be made vastly more of than they are at home, and +the consequence is that the amount of envy, hatred, jealousy, and +all uncharitableness is appalling." + +"No, no, Doctor, not as bad as that," the Major remonstrated. + +"Every bit as bad as that," the Doctor said stoutly. "I am not a +woman hater, far from it; but I have felt sometimes that if John +Company, in its beneficence, would pass a decree absolutely excluding +the importation of white women into India it would be an unmixed +blessing." + +"For shame, Doctor," Isobel Hannay said; "and to think that I should +have such a high opinion of you up to now." + +"I can't help it, my dear; my experience is that for ninety-nine +out of every hundred unpleasantnesses that take place out here, +women are in one way or another responsible. They get up sets and +cliques, and break up what might be otherwise pleasant society into +sections. Talk about caste amongst natives; it is nothing to the +caste among women out here. The wife of a civilian of high rank looks +down upon the wives of military men, the general's wife looks down +upon a captain's, and so right through from the top to the bottom. + +"It is not so among the men, or at any rate to a very much smaller +extent. Of course, some men are pompous fools, but, as a rule, if +two men meet, and both are gentlemen, they care nothing as to what +their respective ranks may be. A man may be a lord or a doctor, a +millionaire or a struggling barrister, but they meet on equal terms +in society; but out here it is certainly not so among the women +--they stand upon their husband's dignity in a way that would be +pitiable if it were not exasperating. Of course, there are plenty +of good women among them, as there are everywhere--women whom +even India can't spoil; but what with exclusiveness, and with the +amount of admiration and adulation they get, and what with the +want of occupation for their thoughts and minds, it is very hard +for them to avoid getting spoilt." + +"Well, I hope I shan't get spoilt, Doctor; and I hope, if you see +that I am getting spoilt, you will make a point of telling me so +at once." + +The Doctor grunted. "Theoretically, people are always ready to receive +good advice, Miss Hannay; practically they are always offended by +it. However, in your case I will risk it, and I am bound to say +that hitherto you have proved yourself more amenable in that way +than most young women I have come across." + +"And now, if we have done, we will go out on the veranda," the +Major said. "I am sure the Doctor must be dying for a cheroot." + +"The Doctor has smoked pretty continuously since we left Allahabad," +Isobel said. "He wanted to sit up with the driver, but, of course, +I would not have that. I had got pretty well accustomed to smoke +coming out, and even if I had not been I would much rather have +been almost suffocated than have been in there by myself. I thought +a dozen times the vehicle was going to upset, and what with the +bumping and the shouting and the cracking of the whip--especially +when the horses wouldn't start, which was generally the case at +first--I should have been frightened out of my life had I been +alone. It seemed to me that something dreadful was always going to +happen." + +"You can take it easy this morning, Isobel," the Major said, when +they were comfortably seated in the bamboo lounges in the veranda. +"You want have any callers today, as it will be known you traveled +all night. People will imagine that you want a quiet day before +you are on show." + +"What a horrid expression, uncle!" + +"Well, my dear, it represents the truth. The arrival of a fresh lady +from England, especially of a 'spin,' which is short for spinster +or unmarried woman, is an event of some importance in an Indian +station. Not, of course, so much in a place like this, because +this is the center of a large district, but in a small station it +is an event of the first importance. The men are anxious to see what +a newcomer is like for herself; the women, to look at her dresses +and see the latest fashions from home, and also to ascertain whether +she is likely to turn out a formidable rival. However, today you +can enjoy quiet; tomorrow you must attire yourself in your most +becoming costume, and I will trot you round." + +"Trot me round, uncle?" + +"Yes, my dear. In India the order of procedure is reversed, and +newcomers call in the first place upon residents." + +"What a very unpleasant custom, uncle; especially as some of the +residents may not want to know them." + +"Well, everyone must know everyone else in a station, my dear, +though they may not wish to be intimate. So. about half past one +tomorrow we will start." + +"What, in the heat of the day, uncle?" + +"Yes, my dear. That is another of the inscrutable freaks of Indian +fashion. The hours for calling are from about half past twelve to +half past two, just in the hottest hours. I don't pretend to account +for it." + +How many ladies are there in the regiment?" + +"There is the Colonel's wife, Mrs. Cromarty. She has two grown up +red headed girls," replied the Doctor. "She is a distant relation +--a second cousin--of some Scotch lord or other, and, on the +strength of that and her husband's colonelcy, gives herself prodigious +airs. Three of the captains are married. Mrs. Doolan is a merry +little Irish woman. You will like her. She has two or three children. +She is a general favorite in the regiment. + +"Mrs. Rintoul--I suppose she is here still, Major, and unchanged? +Ah, I thought so. She is a washed-out woman, without a spark of +energy in her composition.-' She believes that she is a chronic +invalid, and sends for me on an average once a week. But there is +nothing really the matter with her, if she would but only believe +it. Mrs. Roberts--" + +"Don't be ill natured, Doctor," the Major broke in. "Mrs. Roberts, +my dear, is a good-looking woman, and a general flirt. I don't think +there is any harm in her whatever. Mrs. Prothero, the Adjutant's +wife, has only been out here eighteen months, and is a pretty little +woman, and in all respects nice.-There is only one other, Mrs. +Scarsdale; she came out six months ago. She is a quiet young woman, +with, I should say, plenty of common sense: I should think you will +like her. That completes the regimental list." + +"Well, that is not so very formidable. Anyhow, it is a. comfort +that we shall have no one here today." + +"You will have the whole regiment here in a few minutes, Isobel, +but they will be coming to see the Doctor, not you; if it hadn't +been that they knew you were under his charge everyone would have +come down to meet him when he arrived. But if you feel tired, as +I am sure you must be after your journey, there is no reason why +you shouldn't go and lie down quietly for a few hours." + +"I will stop here, uncle; it will be much less embarrassing to see +them all for the first time when they come to see Dr. Wade and I am +quite a secondary consideration, than if they had to come specially +to call on me." + +"Well, I agree with you there, my dear. Ah! here come Doolan and +Prothero." + +A light trap drove into the inclosure and drew up in front of the +veranda, and two officers jumped down,-whilst the syce, who had +been standing on a step behind, ran to the horse's head. They hailed +the Doctor, as he stepped out from the veranda, with a shout. + +"Glad to see you back, Doctor. The regiment has not seemed like +itself without you." + +"We have been just pining without you, Doctor," Captain Doolan +said; "and the ladies would have got up a deputation to meet you on +your arrival, only I told them that it would be too much for your +modesty." + +"Well, it is a good thing that someone has a little of that quality +in the regiment, Doolan," the Doctor said, as he shook hands heartily +with them both. "It is very little of it that fell to the share of +Ireland when it was served out." + +As they dropped the Doctor's hand the Major said, "Now, gentlemen, +let me introduce you to my niece." The introductions were made, +and the whole party took chairs on the veranda. + +"Do you object to smoking, Miss Hannay; perhaps you have not got +accustomed to it yet? I see the Doctor is-smoking; but then he is +a privileged person, altogether beyond rule." + +"I rather like it in the open air," Isobel said. "No doubt I shall +get accustomed to it indoors before long." + +In a few minutes four or five more of the officers arrived, and +Isobel sat an amused listener to the talk; taking but little part +in it herself, but gathering a good deal of information as to +the people at the station from the answers given to the Doctor's +inquiries. It was very much like the conversation on board ship, +except that the topics of conversation were wider and more numerous, +and there was a community of interest wanting on board a ship. +In half an hour, however, the increasing warmth and her sleepless +night began to tell upon her, and her uncle, seeing that she was +beginning to look fagged, said, "The best thing that you can do, +Isobel, is to go indoors for a bit, and have a good nap. At five +o'clock I will take you round for a drive, and show you the sights +of Cawnpore." + +"I do feel sleepy," she said, "though it sounds rude to say so." + +"Not at all," the Doctor put in; "if any of these young fellows had +made the journey out from Allahabad in that wretched gharry, they +would have turned into bed as soon as they arrived, and would not +have got up till the first mess bugle sounded, and very likely +would have slept on until next morning. + +"Now," he went on, when Isobel had disappeared, "we will adjourn +with you to the mess-house. That young lady would have very small +chance of getting to sleep with all this racket here. Doolan's voice +alone would banish sleep anywhere within a distance of a hundred +yards." + +"I will join you there later, Doctor," the Major said. "I have got +a couple of hours' work in the orderly-room. Rumzan, don't let my +niece be disturbed, but if she wakes and rings the bell send up a +message by the woman that I-shall not be back until four." + +The Major walked across to the orderly room, while the rest, mounting +their buggies, drove to the mess-house, which was a quarter of a +mile away. + +"I should think Miss Hannay will prove a valuable addition to our +circle, Doctor," the Adjutant said. "I don't know why, but I gathered +from what the Major said that his niece was very young. He spoke +of her as if she were quite a child." + +"She is a very nice, sensible young woman," the Doctor said; +"clever and bright, and, as you can see for your-selves, pretty, +and yet no nonsense about her. I only hope that she won't get spoilt +here; nineteen out of twenty young women do get spoilt within six +months of their arrival in India, but I think she will be one of +the exceptions." + +"I should have liked to have seen the Doctor doing chaperon," +Captain Doolan laughed; "he would have been a brave man who would +have attempted even the faintest flirtation with anyone under his +charge." + +"That is your opinion, is it, Doolan?" the Doctor said sharply. "I +should have thought that even your common sense would have told you +that anyone who has had the misfortune to see as much of womankind +as I have would have been aware that any endeavor to check a +flirtation for which they are inclined would be of all others the +way to induce them to go in for it headlong. You are a married +man yourself, and ought to know that. A woman is a good deal like +a spirited horse; let her have her head, and, though she may for +a time make the pace pretty fast, she will go straight, and settle +down to her collar in time, whereas if you keep a tight curb she +will fret and fidget, and as likely as not make a bolt for it. I +can assure you that my duties were of The most nominal description. +There were the usual number of hollow pated lads on board, who +buzzed in their usual feeble way round Miss Hannay, and were one +after another duly snubbed. Miss Hannay has plenty of spirits, and +a considerable sense of humor, and I think that she enjoyed the +voyage thoroughly. And now let us talk of something else." + +After an hour's chat the Doctor started on his round of calls +upon the ladies; the Major had not come in from the orderly room, +and, after the Doctor left, Isobel Hannay was again the topic of +conversation. + +"She is out and out the prettiest girl in the station," the Adjutant +said to some of the officers who had not seen her. "She will make +quite a sensation; and there are five or six ladies in the station, +whose names I need hardly mention, who will not be very pleased +at her coming. She is thoroughly in good form, too; nothing +in the slightest degree fast or noisy about her. She is quiet and +self-possessed. I fancy she will be able to hold her own against +any of them. Clever? I should say 'certainly'; but, of course, +that is from her face rather than from anything she said. I expect +half the unmarried men in the station will be going wild over her. +You need not look so interested, Wilson; the matter is of no more +personal interest to you than if I were describing a new comet. +Nothing less than a big civilian is likely to carry off such a +prize, so I warn you beforehand you had better not be losing your +heart to her." + +"Well, you know, Prothero, subalterns do manage to get wives +sometimes." + +There was a laugh. + +"That is true enough, Wilson; but then, you see, I married at home; +besides, I am adjutant, which sounds a lot better than subaltern." + +"That may go for a good deal in the regiment," Wilson retorted, "but +I doubt if there are many women that know the difference between +an adjutant and a quartermaster. They know about colonels, majors, +captains, and even subalterns; but if you were to say that you +were an adjutant they would be simply mystified, though they might +understand if you said bandmaster. But I fancy sergeant major would +sound ever so much more imposing." + +"Wilson, if you are disrespectful, I shall discover tomorrow, on +parade, that No. 3 Company wants a couple of hours' extra drill +badly, and then you will feel how grievous a mistake it is to cheek +an adjutant." + +The report of those who had called at the Major's was so favorable +that curiosity was quite roused as to the new-comer, and when the +Major drove round with her the next day everyone was at home, and +the verdict on the part of the ladies was generally favorable, but +was by no means so unqualified as that of the gentlemen. + +Mrs. Cromarty admitted that she was nice looking; but was critical +as to her carriage and manner. She would be admired by young officers, +no doubt, but there was too much life and animation about her, and +although she would not exactly say that she stooped, she was likely +to do so in time. + +"She will be nothing remarkable when her freshness has worn off a +little." + +In this opinion the Misses Cromarty thoroughly assented. They had +never been accused of stooping, and, indeed, were almost painfully +upright, and were certainly not particularly admired by subalterns. + +Mrs. Doolan was charmed with her, and told her she hoped that they +would be great friends. + +"This is a very pleasant life out here, my dear," she said, "if one +does but take it in the right way. There is a great deal of tittle +tattle in the Indian stations, and some quarreling; but, you know, +it takes two to make a quarrel, and I make it a point never to +quarrel with anyone. It is too hot for it. Then, you see, I have +the advantage of being Irish, and, for some reason or other that +I don't understand we can say pretty nearly what we like. People +don't take us seriously, you know; so I keep in with them all." + +Mrs. Rintoul received her visitors on the sofa. "It is quite +refreshing to see a face straight from England, Miss Hannay. I only +hope that you may keep your bright color and healthy looks. Some +people do. Not their color, but their health. Unfortunately I am +not one of them. I do not know what it is to have a day's health. +The climate completely oppresses me, and I am fit for nothing. +You would hardly believe that I was as strong and healthy as you +are when I first came out. You came out with Dr. Wade--a clever +man--I have a very high opinion of his talent, but my case is +beyond him. It is a sad annoyance to him that it is so, and he is +continually trying to make me believe that there is nothing the +matter with me, as if my looks did not speak for themselves." + +Mrs. Rintoul afterwards told her husband she could hardly say that +she liked Miss Hannay. + +"She is distressingly brisk and healthy, and I should say, my dear, +not of a sympathetic nature, which is always a pity in a young +woman." + +After this somewhat depressing visit, the call upon Mrs. Roberts +was a refreshing one. She received her very cordially. + +"I like you, Miss Hannay," she said, when, after a quarter of +an hour's lively talk, the Major and his niece got up to go. "I +always say what I think, and it is very good natured of me to say +so, for I don't disguise from myself that you will put my nose out +of joint." + +"I don't want to put anyone's nose out of joint," Isobel laughed. + +"You will do it, whether you want to or not," Mrs. Roberts said; +"my husband as much as told me so last night, and I was prepared +not to like you, but I see that I shall not be able to help doing +so. Major Hannay, you have dealt me a heavy blow, but I forgive +you." + +When the round of visits was finished the Major said, "Well, Isobel, +what do you think of the ladies of the regiment?" + +"I think they are all very nice, uncle. I fancy I shall like Mrs. +Doolan and Mrs. Scarsdale best; I won't give any opinion yet about +Mrs. Cromarty." + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +The life of Isobel Hannay had not, up to the time when she left +England to join her uncle, been a very bright one. At the death of +her father, her mother had been left with an income that enabled +her to live, as she said, genteelly, at Brighton. She had three +children: the eldest a girl of twelve; Isobel, who was eight; and +a boy of five, who was sadly deformed, the result of a fall from +the arms of a careless nurse when he was an infant. It was at that +time that Major Hannay had come home on leave, having been left +trustee and executor, and seen to all the money arrangements, and +had established his brother's widow at Brighton. The work had not +been altogether pleasant, for Mrs. Hannay was a selfish and querulous +woman, very difficult to satisfy even in little matters, and with +a chronic suspicion that everyone with whom she came in contact was +trying to get the best of her. Her eldest girl was likely, Captain +Hannay thought, to take after her mother, whose pet she was, while +Isobel took after her father. He had suggested that both should +be sent to school, but Mrs. Hannay would not hear of parting from +Helena, but was willing enough that Isobel should be sent to a +boarding school at her uncle's expense. + +As the years went by, Helena grew up, as Mrs. Hannay proudly said, +the image of what she herself had been at her age--tall and +fair, indolent and selfish, fond of dress and gayety, discontented +because their means would not permit them to indulge in either to +the fullest extent. There was nothing in common between her and her +sister, who, when at home for the holidays, spent her time almost +entirely with her brother, who received but slight attention from +anyone else, his deformity being considered as a personal injury +and affliction by his mother and elder sister. + +"You could not care less for him," Isobel once said, in a fit +of passion, "if he were a dog. I don't think you notice him more, +not one bit. He wanders about the house without anybody to give a +thought to him. I call it cruel, downright cruel." + +"You are a wicked girl, Isobel," her mother said angrily, "a +wicked, violent girl, and I don't know what will become of you. It +is abominable of you to talk so, even if you are wicked enough to +get into a passion. What can we do for him that we don't do? What +is the use of talking to him when he never pays attention to what +we say, and is always moping. I am sure we get everything that we +think will please him, and he goes out for a walk with us every +day; what could possibly be done more for him?" + +"A great deal more might be done for him," Isobel burst out. "You +might love him, and that would be everything to him. I don't believe +you and Helena love him, not one bit, not one tiny scrap." + +"Go up to your room, Isobel, and remain there for the rest of the +day. You are a very bad girl. I shall write to Miss Virtue about +you; there must be something very wrong in her management of you, +or you would never be so passionate and insolent as you are." + +But Isobel had not stopped to hear the last part of the sentence, +the door had slammed behind her. She was not many minutes alone +upstairs, for Robert soon followed her up, for when she was at home +he rarely left her side, watching her every look and gesture with +eyes as loving as those of a dog, and happy to sit on the ground +beside her, with his head leaning against her, for hours together. + +Mrs. Hannay kept her word and wrote to Miss Virtue, and the evening +after she returned to school Isobel was summoned to her room. + +"I am sorry to say, I have a very bad account of you from your +mother. She says you are a passionate and wicked girl. How is it, +dear; you are not passionate here, and I certainly do not think +you are wicked?" + +"I can't help it when I am at home, Miss Virtue. I am sure I try to +be good, but they won't let me. They don't like me because I can't +be always tidy and what they call prettily behaved, and because I +hate walking on the parade and being stuck up and unnatural, and +they don't like me because I am not pretty, and because I am thin +and don't look, as mamma says, a credit to her; but it is not that +so much as because of Robert. You know he is deformed, Miss Virtue, +and they don't care for him, and he has no one to love him but me, +and it makes me mad to see him treated so. That is what it was she +wrote about. I told her they treated him like a dog and so they +do," and she burst into tears. + +"But that was very naughty, Isobel," Miss Virtue said gravely. "You +are only eleven years old, and too young to be a judge of these +matters, and even if it were as you say, it is not for a child to +speak so to her mother." + +"I know that, Miss Virtue, but how can I help it? I could cry out +with pain when I see Robert looking from one to the other just for +a kind word, which he never gets. It is no use, Miss Virtue; if it +was not for him I would much rather never go home at all, but stop +here through the holidays, only what would he do if I didn't go +home? I am the only pleasure he has. When I am there he will sit +for hours on my knee, and lay his head on my shoulder, and stroke +my face. It makes me feel as if my heart would break." + +"Well, my dear," Miss Virtue said, somewhat puzzled, "it is sad, if +it is as you say, but that does not excuse your being disrespectful +to your mother. It is not for you to judge her." + +"But cannot something be done for Robert, Miss Virtue? Surely they +must do something for children like him." + +"There are people, my dear, who take a few afflicted children and +give them special training. Children of that kind have sometimes +shown a great deal of unusual talent, and, if so, it is cultivated, +and they are put in a way of earning a livelihood." + +"Are there?" Isobel exclaimed, with eager eyes. "Then I know what +I will do, Miss Virtue; I will write off at once to Uncle Tom-- +he is our guardian. I know if I were to speak to mamma about Robert +going to school it would be of no use; but if uncle writes I dare +say it would be done. I am sure she and Helena would be glad enough. +I don't suppose she ever thought of it. It would be a relief to +them to get him out of their sight." + +Miss Virtue shook her head. "You must not talk so, Isobel. It is +not right or dutiful, and you are a great deal too young to judge +your elders, even if they were not related to you; and, pray, if +you write to your uncle do not write in that spirit--it would +shock him greatly, and he would form a very bad opinion of you." + +And so Isobel wrote. She was in the habit of writing once every +half year to her uncle, who had told her that he wished her to do +so, and that people out abroad had great pleasure in letters from +England. Hitherto she had only written about her school life, and +this letter caused her a great deal of trouble. + +It answered its purpose. Captain Hannay had no liking either for +his sister in law or his eldest niece, and had, when he was with +them, been struck with the neglect with which the little boy was +treated. Isobel had taken great pains not to say anything that +would show she considered that Robert was harshly treated; but had +simply said that she heard there were schools where little boys +like him could be taught, and that it would be such a great thing +for him, as it was very dull for him having nothing to do all day. +But Captain Hannay read through the lines, and felt that it was +a protest against her brother's treatment, and that she would not +have written to him had she not felt that so only would anything +be done for him. Accordingly he wrote home to his sister in law, +saying he thought it was quite time now that the boy should be +placed with some gentleman who took a few lads unfitted for the +rough life of an ordinary school. He should take the charges upon +himself, and had written to his agent in London to find out such +an establishment, to make arrangements for Robert to go there, and +to send down one of his clerks to take charge of him on the journey. +He also wrote to Isobel, telling her what he had done, and blaming +himself for not having thought of it before, winding up by saying: +"I have not mentioned to your mother that I heard from you about +it--that is a little secret just as well to keep to ourselves." + +The next five years were much happier to Isobel, for the thought +of her brother at home without her had before been constantly on +her mind. It was a delight to her now to go home and to see the +steady improvement that took place in Robert. He was brighter in +every respect, and expressed himself as most happy where he was. + +As years went on he grew into a bright and intelligent boy, though +his health was by no means good, and he looked frail and delicate. +He was as passionately attached to her as ever, and during the +holidays they were never separated; they stood quite alone, their +mother and sister interesting themselves but little in their doings, +and they were allowed to take long walks together, and to sit in +a room by themselves, where they talked, drew, painted, and read. + +Mrs. Hannay disapproved of Isobel as much as ever. "She is a most +headstrong girl," she would lament to her friends, "and is really +quite beyond my control. I do not at all approve of the school she +is at, but unfortunately my brother in law, who is her guardian, +has, under the will of my poor husband, absolute control in the +matter. I am sure poor John never intended that he should be able +to override my wishes; but though I have written to him several +times about it, he says that he sees no valid reason for any change, +and that from Isobel's letters to him she seems very happy there, +and to be getting on well. She is so very unlike dear Helena, +and even when at home I see but little of her; she is completely +wrapped up in her unfortunate brother. Of course I don't blame her +for that, but it is not natural that a girl her age should care +nothing for pleasures or going out or the things natural to young +people. Yes, she is certainly improving in appearance, and if she +would but take some little pains about her dress would be really +very presentable." + +But her mother's indifference disturbed Isobel but little. She was +perfectly happy with her brother when at home, and very happy at +school, where she was a general favorite. She was impulsive, high +spirited, and occasionally gave Miss Virtue some trouble, but +her disposition was frank and generous, there was not a tinge of +selfishness in her disposition, and while she was greatly liked +by girls of her own age, she was quite adored by little ones. The +future that she always pictured to herself was a little cottage +with a bright garden in the suburbs of London, where she and Robert +could live together--she would go out as a daily governess; +Robert, who was learning to play the organ, would, she hoped, get +a post as organist. Not, of course, for the sake of the salary, for +her earnings, and the interest of the thousand pounds that would +be hers when she came of age, would be sufficient for them both, +but as an amusement for him, and to give him a sense of independence. + +But when she was just seventeen, and was looking forward to the +time when she would begin to carry her plan into effect, a terrible +blow came. She heard from her mother that Robert was dead. + +"It is a sad blow for us all," Mrs. Hannay wrote, "but, as you +know, he has never been strong; still, we had no idea that anything +serious ailed him until we heard a fortnight since he was suffering +from a violent cough and had lost strength rapidly. A week later +we heard that the doctors were of opinion it was a case of sudden +consumption, and that the end was rapidly approaching. I went up +to town to see him, and found him even worse than I expected, and +was in no way surprised when this morning I received a letter saying +that he had gone. Great as is the blow, one cannot but feel that, +terribly afflicted as he was, his death is, as far as he is concerned, +a happy release. I trust you will now abandon your wild scheme of +teaching and come home." + +But home was less home than ever to Isobel now, and she remained +another six months at school, when she received an important letter +from her uncle. + +"My Dear Isobel: When you first wrote to me and told me that what you +were most looking forward to was to make a home for your brother, +I own that it was a blow to me, for I had long had plans of my own +about you; however, I thought your desire to help your brother was +so natural, and would give you such happiness in carrying it into +effect, that I at once fell in with it and put aside my own plan. +But the case is altered now, and I can see no reason why I cannot +have my own way. When I was in England I made up my mind that unless +I married, which was a most improbable contingency, I would, when +you were old enough, have you out to keep house for me. I foresaw, +even then, that your brother might prove an obstacle to this plan. +Even in the short time I was with you it was easy enough to see +that the charge of him would fall on your shoulders, and that it +would be a labor of love to you. + +"If he lived, then, I felt you would not leave him, and that you +would be right in not doing so, but even then it seemed likely to +me that he would not grow up to manhood. From time to time I have +been in correspondence with the clergyman he was with, and learned +that the doctor who attended them thought but poorly of him. I had +him taken to two first class physicians in London; they pronounced +him to be constitutionally weak, and said that beyond strengthening +medicines and that sort of thing they could do nothing for him. + +"Therefore, dear, it was no surprise to me when I received first +your mother's letter with the news, and then your own written a +few days later. When I answered that letter I thought it as well +not to say anything of my plan, but by the time you receive this, +it will be six months since your great loss, and you will be able +to look at it in a fairer light than you could have done then, +and I do hope you will agree to come out to me. Life here has its +advantages and disadvantages, but I think that, especially for +young people, it is a pleasant one. + +"I am getting very tired of a bachelor's establishment, and it +will be a very great pleasure indeed to have you here. Ever since +I was in England I made up my mind to adopt you as my own child. +You are very like my brother John, and your letters and all I have +heard of you show that you have grown up just as he would have +wished you to do. Your sister Helena is your mother's child, and, +without wishing to hurt your feelings, your mother and I have nothing +in common. I regard you as the only relation I have in the world, +and whether you come out or whether you do not, whatever I leave +behind me will be yours. I do hope that you will at any rate come +out for a time. Later on, if you don't like the life here, you can +fall back upon your own plan. + +"If you decide to come, write to my agent. I inclose envelope +addressed to him. Tell him when you can be ready. He will put you +in the way of the people you had better go to for your outfit, will +pay all bills, take your passage, and so on. + +"Whatever you do, do not stint yourself. The people you go to will +know a great deal better than you can do what is necessary for a +lady out here. All you will have to do will be to get measured and +to give them an idea of your likes and fancies as to colors and so +on. They will have instructions from my agent to furnish you with +a complete outfit, and will know exactly how many dozens of everything +are required. + +"I can see no reason why you should not start within a month after +the receipt of this letter, and I shall look most anxiously for a +letter from you saying that you will come, and that you will start by +a sailing ship in a month at latest from the date of your writing." + +Isobel did not hesitate, as her faith in her uncle was unbounded. +Next to her meetings with her brother, his letters had been her +greatest pleasures. He had always taken her part; it was he who, +at her request, had Robert placed at school, and he had kept her +at Miss Virtue's in spite of her mother's complaints. At home she +had never felt comfortable; it had always seemed to her that she +was in the way; her mother disapproved of her; while from Helena +she had never had a sisterly word. To go out to India to see the +wonders she had read of, and to be her uncle's companion, seemed +a perfectly delightful prospect. Her answer to her uncle was sent +off the day after she received his letter, and that day month she +stepped on board an Indiaman in the London Docks. + +The intervening time had not been a pleasant one. Mrs. Hannay had +heard from the Major of his wishes and intentions regarding Isobel, +and she was greatly displeased thereat. + +"Why should he have chosen you instead of Helena?" she said angrily +to Isobel, on the first day of her arrival home. + +"I suppose because he thought I should suit him better, mamma. I +really don't see why you should be upset about it; I don't suppose +Helena would have liked to go, and I am sure you would not have +liked to have had me with you instead of her. I should have thought +you would have been pleased I was off your hands altogether. It +doesn't seem to me that you have ever been really glad to have me +about you." + +"That has been entirely your own fault," Mrs. Hannay said. "You +have always been headstrong and determined to go your own way, you +have never been fit to be seen when anyone came, you have thwarted +me in every way." + +"I am very sorry, mamma. I think I might have been better if you +had had a little more patience with me, but even now if you really +wish me to stay at home I will do so. I can write again to uncle +and tell him that I have changed my mind." + +"Certainly not," Mrs. Hannay said. "Naturally I should wish to have +my children with me, but I doubt whether your being here would be +for the happiness of any of us, and besides, I do not wish your +uncle's money to go out of the family; he might take it into his +head to leave it to a hospital for black women. Still, it would +have been only right and proper that he should at any rate have +given Helena the first choice. As for your instant acceptance of +his offer, without even consulting me, nothing can surprise me in +that way after your general conduct towards me." + +However, although Mrs. Hannay declined to take any interest in +Isobel's preparations, and continued to behave as an injured person, +neither she nor Helena were sorry at heart for the arrangement +that had been made. They objected very strongly to Isobel's plan +of going out as a governess; but upon the other hand, her presence +at home would in many ways have been an inconvenience. Two can +make a better appearance on a fixed income than three can, and her +presence at home would have necessitated many small economies. She +was, too, a disturbing element; the others understood each other +perfectly, and both felt that they in no way understood Isobel. +Altogether, it was much better that she should go. + +As to the heirship, Captain Hannay had spoken freely as to his +monetary affairs when he had been in England after his brother's +death. + +"My pay is amply sufficient for all my wants," he said; "but +everything is expensive out there, and I have had no occasion to +save. I have a few hundred pounds laid by, so that if I break down, +and am ordered to Europe at any time on sick leave, I can live +comfortably for that time; but, beyond that, there has been no +reason why I should lay by. I am not likely ever to marry, and when +I have served my full time my pension will be ample for my wants +in England; but I shall do my best to help if help is necessary. +Fortunately the interest of the thousand apiece the girls were +left by my aunt will help your income. When it is necessary to do +anything for Robert, poor lad, I will take that expense on myself." + +"I thought all Indians came home with lots of money," Mrs. Hannay +said complainingly. + +"Not the military. We do the fighting, and get fairly paid for +it. The civilians get five times as highly paid, and run no risks +whatever. Why it should be so no one has ever attempted to explain; +but there it is, sister." + +Mrs. Hannay, therefore, although she complained of the partiality +shown to Isobel, was well aware that the Major's savings could +amount to no very great sum; although, in nine years, with higher +rank and better pay, he might have added a good bit to the little +store of which he had spoken to her. + +When, a week before the vessel sailed, Dr. Wade appeared with a +letter he had received from the Major, asking him to take charge +of Isobel on the voyage, Mrs. Hannay conceived a violent objection +to him. He had, in fact, been by no means pleased with the commission, +and had arrived in an unusually aggressive and snappish humor. +He cut short Mrs. Hannay's well turned sentences ruthlessly, and +aggrieved her by remarking on Helena's want of color, and recommending +plenty of walking exercise taken at a brisk pace, and more ease +and comfort in the matter of dress. + +"Your daughter's lungs have no room to play, madam," he said; "her +heart is compressed. No one can expect to be healthy under such +circumstances." + +"I have my own medical attendant, Dr. Wade," Mrs. Hannay said +decidedly. + +"No doubt, madam, no doubt. All I can say is, if his recommendations +are not the same as mine, he must be a downright fool. Very well, +Miss Hannay, I think we understand each other; I shall be on board +by eleven o'clock, and shall keep a sharp lookout for you. Don't be +later than twelve; she will warp out of the dock by one at latest, +and if you miss that your only plan will be to take the train down +to Tilbury, and hire a boat there." + +"I shall be in time, sir," Isobel said. + +"Well, I hope you will, but my experience of women is pretty +extensive, and I have scarcely met one who could be relied upon +to keep an appointment punctually. Don't laden yourself more than +you can help with little bags, and parcels, and bundles of all +kinds; I expect you will be three or four in a cabin, and you will +find that there is no room for litter. Take the things you will +require at first in one or two flat trunks which will stow under +your berth; once a week or so, if the weather is fine, you will be +able to get at your things in the hold. Do try if possible to pack +all the things that you are likely to want to get at during the +voyage in one trunk, and have a star or any mark you like painted +on that trunk with your name, then there will be no occasion for +the sailors to haul twenty boxes upon deck. Be sure you send all +your trunks on board, except those you want in your cabin, two days +before she sails. Do you think you can remember all that?" + +"I think so, Dr. Wade." + +"Very well then, I'm off," and the Doctor shook hands with Isobel, +nodded to Mrs. Hannay and Helena, and hurried away. + +"What a perfectly detestable little man!" Mrs. Hannay exclaimed, +as the door closed over him. "Your uncle must have been out of his +senses to select such an odious person to look after you on the +voyage. I really pity you, Isobel." + +"I have no doubt he is very much nicer than he seems, mamma. Uncle +said, you know, in his letter last week, that he had written to +Dr. Wade to look after me, if, as he thought probable, he might be +coming out in the same ship. He said that he was a little brusque +in his manner, but that he was a general favorite, and one of the +kindest hearted of men." + +"A little brusque," Mrs. Hannay repeated scornfully. "If he is only +considered a little brusque in India, all I can say is society must +be in a lamentable state out there." + +"Uncle says he is a great shikari, and has probably killed more +tigers than any man in India." + +"I really don't see that that is any recommendation whatever, Isobel, +although it might be if you were likely to encounter tigers on +board ship. However, I am not surprised that your opinion differs +from mine; we very seldom see matters in the same light. I only hope +you may be right and I may be wrong, for otherwise the journey is +not likely to be a very pleasant one for you; personally, I would +almost as soon have a Bengal tiger loose about the ship than such +a very rude, unmannerly person as Dr. Wade." + +Mrs. Hannay and Helena accompanied Isobel to the docks, and went +on board ship with her. + +The Doctor received them at the gangway. He was in a better temper, +for the fact that he was on the point of starting for India again +had put him in high spirits. He escorted the party below and saw +that they got lunch, showed Isobel which was her cabin, introduced +her to two or three ladies of his acquaintance, and made himself +so generally pleasant that even Mrs. Hannay was mollified. + +As soon as luncheon was over the bell was rung, and the partings +were hurriedly got through, as the pilot announced that the tide +was slackening nearly half an hour before its time, and that it +was necessary to get the ship out of dock at once. + +"Now, Miss Hannay, if you will take my advice," the Doctor said, +as soon as the ship was fairly in the stream, "you will go below, +get out all the things you will want from your boxes, and get +matters tidy and comfortable. In the first place, it will do you +good to be busy; and in the second place, there is nothing like +getting everything shipshape in the cabin the very first thing +after starting, then you are ready for rough weather or anything +else that may occur. I have got you a chair. I thought that very +likely you would not think of it, and a passenger without a chair +of her own is a most forlorn creature, I can tell you. When you +have done down below you will find me somewhere aft; if you should +not do so, look out for a chair with your own name on it and take +possession of it, but I think you are sure to see me." + +Before they had been a fortnight at sea Isobel came to like the +Doctor thoroughly. He knew many of the passengers on board the +Byculla, and she had soon many acquaintances. She was amused at +the description that the Doctor gave her of some of the people to +whom he introduced her. + +"I am going to introduce you to that woman in the severely plain +cloak and ugly bonnet. She is the wife of the Resident of Rajputana. +I knew her when her husband was a Collector." + +"A Collector, Dr. Wade; what did he collect?" + +"Well, my dear, he didn't collect taxes or water rates or anything +of that sort. A Collector is a civil functionary, and frequently +an important one. I used to attend her at one time when we were in +cantonments at Bhurtpore, where her husband was stationed at that +time. I pulled a tooth out for her once, and she halloaed louder +than any woman I ever heard. I don't mean to say, my dear, that +woman holloa any louder than men; on the contrary, they bear pain +a good deal better, but she was an exception. She was twelve years +younger then, and used to dress a good deal more than she does +now. That cloak and bonnet are meant to convey to the rest of the +passengers the fact that there is no occasion whatever for a person +of her importance to attend to such petty matters as dress. + +"She never mentions her husband's name without saying, 'My husband, +the Resident,' but for all that she is a kind hearted woman--a +very kind hearted woman. I pulled a child of hers through who was +down with fever at Bhurtpore; he had a very close shave of it, and +she has never forgotten it. She greeted me when she came on board +almost with tears in her eyes at the thought of that time. I told +her I had a young lady under my charge, and she said that she would +be very pleased to do anything she could for you. She is a stanch +friend is Mrs. Resident, and you will find her useful before you +get to the end of the voyage." + +The lady received Isobel with genuine kindness, and took her very +much under her wing during the voyage, and Isobel received no small +advantage from her advice and protection. + +Her own good sense, however, and the earnest life she had led +at school and with her brother at home, would have sufficed her +even without this guardianship and that of the Doctor. There was +a straightforward frankness about her that kept men from talking +nonsense to her. A compliment she simply laughed at, an attempt +at flattery made her angry, and the Doctor afterwards declared to +her uncle he would not have believed that the guardianship of a +girl upon the long Indian voyage could possibly have caused him so +little trouble and annoyance. + +"When I read your letter, Major, my hair stood on end, and if my +leave had not been up I should have canceled my passage and come +by the next ship; and indeed when I went down to see her I had +still by no means made up my mind as to whether I would not take +my chance of getting out in time by the next vessel. However, I +liked her appearance, and, as I have said, it turned out excellently, +and I should not mind making another voyage in charge of her." + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +Two days after his arrival at Cawnpore Dr. Wade moved into quarters +of his own. + +"I like Dr. Wade very much indeed, you know, uncle, still I am glad +to have you all to myself and to settle down into regular ways." + +"Yes, we have got to learn to know each other, Isobel." + +"Do you think so, uncle? Why, it seems to me that I know all about +you, just the same as if we had always been together, and I am sure +I always told you all about myself, even when I was bad at school +and got into scrapes, because you said particularly that you liked +me to tell you everything, and did not want to know only the good +side of me." + +"Yes, that is so, my dear, and no doubt I have a fair idea as to +what are your strong points and what are your weak ones, but neither +one or the other affect greatly a person's ordinary everyday character. +It is the little things, the trifles, the way of talking, the way +of listening, the amount of sympathy shown, and so on, that make a +man or woman popular. People do not ask whether he or she may be +morally sleeping volcanoes, who, if fairly roused, might slay a +rival or burn a city; they simply look at the surface--is a man +or a woman pleasant, agreeable, easily pleased, ready to take a +share in making things go, to show a certain amount of sympathy in +other people's pleasures or troubles--in fact, to form a pleasant +unit of the society of a station? + +"So in the house you might be the most angelic temper in the world, +but if you wore creaky boots, had a habit of slamming doors, little +tricks of giggling or fidgeting with your hands or feet, you would +be an unpleasant companion, for you would be constantly irritating +one in small matters. Of course, it is just the same thing with +your opinion of me. You have an idea that I am a good enough sort +of fellow, because I have done my best to enable you to carry out +your plans and wishes, but that has nothing to do at all with my +character as a man to live with. Till we saw each other, when you +got out of the gharry, we really knew nothing whatever of each +other." + +Isobel shook her head decidedly. + +"Nothing will persuade me that I didn't know everything about you, +uncle. You are just exactly what I knew you would be in look, and +voice, in manner and ways and everything. Of course, it is partly +from what I remember, but I really did not see a great deal of you +in those days; it is from your letters, I think, entirely that I +knew all about you, and exactly what you were. Do you mean to say +that I am not just what you thought I should be?" + +"Well, not so clearly as all that, Isobel. Of course you were only +a little child when I saw you, and except that you had big brown +eyes, and long eyelashes, I confess that it struck me that you were +rather a plain little thing, and I do not think that your mother's +letters since conveyed to my mind the fact that there had been +any material change since. Therefore I own that you are personally +quite different from what I had expected to find you. I had expected +to find you, I think, rather stumpy in figure, and square in build, +with a very determined and businesslike manner." + +"Nonsense, uncle, you could not have expected that." + +"Well, my dear, I did, and you see I find I was utterly wrong." + +"But you are not discontented, uncle?" Isobel asked, with a smile. + +"No, my dear, but perhaps not quite so contented as you may think +I ought to be." + +"Why is that, uncle?" + +"Well, my dear, if you had been what I had pictured you, I might +have had you four or five years to myself. Possibly you might even +have gone home with me, to keep house for me in England, when I +retire. As it is now, I give myself six months at the outside." + +"What nonsense, uncle! You don't suppose I am going to fall in +love with the first man who presents himself? Why, everyone says +the sea voyage is a most trying time, and, you see, I came through +that quite scathless. + +"Besides, uncle," and she laughed, "there is safety in multitude, +and I think that a girl would be far more likely to fall in love in +some country place, where she only saw one or two men, than where +there are numbers of them. Besides, it seems to me that in India a +girl cannot feel that she is chosen, as it were, from among other +girls, as she would do at home. There are so few girls, and so +many men here, there must be a sort of feeling that you are only +appreciated because there is nothing better to be had. + +"But, of course, uncle, you can understand that the idea of love +making and marrying never entered my head at all until I went on +board a ship. As you know, I always used to think that Robert and +I would live together, and I am quite sure that I should never have +left him if he had lived. If I had stopped in England I should have +done the work I had trained myself to do, and it might have been +years and years, and perhaps never, before anyone might have taken +a fancy to me, or I to him. It seems strange, and I really don't +think pleasant, uncle, for everyone to take it for granted that +because a girl comes out to India she is a candidate for marriage. +I think it is degrading, uncle." + +"The Doctor was telling me yesterday that you had some idea of +that sort," the Major said, with a slight smile, "and I think girls +often start with that sort of idea. But it is like looking on at +a game. You don't feel interested in it until you begin to play at +it. Well, the longer you entertain those ideas the better I shall +be pleased, Isobel. I only hope that you may long remain of the +same mind, and that when your time does come your choice will be +a wise one." + +There could be no doubt that the Major's niece was a great success +in the regiment. Richards and Wilson, two lads who had joined six +months before, succumbed at once, and mutual animosity succeeded +the close friendship they had hitherto entertained for each other. +Travers, the Senior Captain, a man who had hitherto been noted for +his indifference to the charms of female society, went so far as +to admit that Miss Hannay was a very nice, unaffected girl. Mrs. +Doolan was quite enthusiastic about her. + +"It is very lucky, Jim," she said to her husband, "that you were +a sober and respected married man before she came out, and that I +am installed here as your lawful and wedded wife instead of being +at Ballycrogin with only an engagement ring on my finger. I know +your susceptible nature; you would have fallen in love with her, +and she would not have had you, and we should both of us have been +miserable." + +"How do you know she wouldn't have had me, Norah?" + +"Because, my dear, she will be able to pick and choose just where +she likes; and though no one recognizes your virtues more than I +do, a company in an Indian regiment is hardly as attractive as a +Residency or Lieutenant Governorship. But seriously, she is a dear +girl, and as yet does not seem to have the least idea how pretty +she is. How cordially some of them will hate her! I anticipate +great fun in looking on. I am out of all that sort of thing myself." + +"That is news to me, Norah; I think you are just as fond of a quiet +flirtation as you used to be." + +"Just of a very little one, Jim; fortunately not more. So I can +look on complacently; but even I have suffered. Why, for weeks not +a day has passed without young Richards dropping in for a chat, +and when he came in yesterday he could talk about nothing but Miss +Hannay, until I shut him up by telling him it was extremely bad +form to talk to one lady about another. The boy colored up till I +almost laughed in his face; in fact, I believe I did laugh." + +"That I will warrant you did, Norah." + +"I could not help it, especially when he assured me he was perfectly +serious about Miss Hannay." + +"You did not encourage him, I hope, Norah." + +"No; I told him the Colonel set his face against married subalterns, +and that he would injure himself seriously in his profession if +he were to think of such a thing, and as I knew he had nothing but +his pay, that would be fatal to him." + +Captain Doolan went off into a burst of laughter. + +"And he took it all in, Norah? He did not see that you were humbugging +him altogether?" + +"Not a bit of it. They are very amusing, these boys, Jim. I was +really quite sorry for Richards, but I told him he would get over +it in time, for as far as I could learn you had been just as bad +thirty-three times before I finally took pity on you, and that I +only did it then because you were wearing away with your troubles. +I advised him to put the best face he could on it, for that Miss +Hannay would be the last person to be pleased, if he were to be +going about with a face as long as if he had just come from his +aunt's funeral." + +The race meeting came off three weeks after Miss Hannay arrived +at Cawnpore. She had been to several dinners and parties by this +time, and began to know most of the regular residents. + +The races served as an excuse for people to come in from all the +stations round. Men came over from Lucknow, Agra, and Allahabad, +and from many a little outlying station; every bungalow in the +cantonment was filled with guests, and tents were erected for the +accommodation of the overflow. + +Several of the officers of the 103d had horses and ponies entered +in the various races. There was to be a dance at the club on the +evening of the second day of the races, and a garden party at the +General's on that of the first. Richards and Wilson had both ponies +entered for the race confined to country tats which had never won +a race, and both had endeavored to find without success what was +Isobel's favorite color. + +"But you must have some favorite color?" Wilson urged. + +"Why must I, Mr. Wilson? One thing is suitable for one thing and +one another, and I always like a color that is suitable for the +occasion." + +"But what color are you going to wear at the races, Miss Hannay?" + +"Well, you see, I have several dresses," Isobel said gravely, "and +I cannot say until the morning arrives which I may wear; it will +depend a good deal how I feel. Besides, I might object to your +wearing the same color as I do. You remember in the old times, +knights, when they entered the lists, wore the favors that ladies +had given them. Now I have no idea of giving you a favor. You have +done nothing worthy of it. When you have won the Victoria Cross, +and distinguished yourself by some extraordinarily gallant action, +it will be quite time to think about it." + +"You see one has to send one's color in four days beforehand, in +time for them to print it on the card," the lad said; "and besides, +one has to get a jacket and cap made." + +"But you don't reflect that it is quite possible your pony won't +win after all, and supposing that I had colors, I certainly should +not like to see them come in last in the race. Mr. Richards has +been asking me just the same thing, and, of course, I gave him the +same answer. I can only give you the advice I gave him." + +"What was that, Miss Hannay?" Wilson asked eagerly. + +"Well, you see, it is not very long since either of you left school, +so I should think the best thing for you to wear are your school +colors, whatever they were." + +And with a merry laugh at his look of discomfiture, Isobel turned +away and joined Mrs. Doolan and two or three other ladies who were +sitting with her. + +"There is one comfort," Mrs. Doolan was just saying, "in this +country, when there is anything coming off, there is no occasion +to be anxious as to the weather; one knows that it will be hot, +fine, and dusty. One can wear one's gayest dress without fear. +In Ireland one never knew whether one wanted muslin or waterproof +until the morning came, and even then one could not calculate with +any certainty how it would be by twelve o'clock. This will be your +first Indian festivity, Miss Hannay." + +"Do the natives come much?" + +"I should think so! All Cawnpore will turn out, and we shall have +the Lord of Bithoor and any number of Talookdars and Zemindars with +their suites. A good many of them will have horses entered, and +they have some good ones if they could but ride them. The Rajah of +Bithoor is a most important personage. He talks English very well, +and gives splendid entertainments. He is a most polite gentleman, +and is always over here if there is anything going on. The general +idea is that he has set his mind on having an English wife, the +only difficulty being our objection to polygamy. He has every other +advantage, and his wife would have jewels that a queen might envy." + +Isobel laughed. "I don't think jewels would count for much in my +ideas of happiness." + +"It is not so much the jewels, my dear, in themselves, but the envy +they would excite in every other woman." + +"I don't think I can understand that feeling, Mrs. Doolan. I can +understand that there might be a satisfaction in being envied for +being the happiest woman, or the most tastefully dressed woman, or +even the prettiest woman, though that after all is a mere accident, +but not for having the greatest number of bright stones, however +valuable. I don't think the most lovely set of diamonds ever seen +would give me as much satisfaction as a few choice flowers." + +"Ah, but that is because you are quite young," Mrs. Doolan said. +"Eve was tempted by an apple, but Eve had not lived long. You see, +an apple will tempt a child, and flowers a young girl. Diamonds +are the bait of a woman." + +"You would not care for diamonds yourself, Mrs. Doolan?" + +"I don't know, my dear; the experiment was never tried--bog oak +and Irish diamonds have been more in my line. Jim's pay has never +run to diamonds, worse luck, but he has promised me that if he ever +gets a chance of looting the palace of a native prince he will +keep a special lookout for them for me. So far he has never had the +chance. When he was an ensign there was some hard fighting with the +Sikhs, but nothing of that sort fell to his share. I often tell him +that he took me under false pretenses altogether. I had visions of +returning some day and astonishing Ballycrogin, as a sort of begum +covered with diamonds; but as far as I can see the children are +the only jewels that I am likely to take back." + +"And very nice jewels too," Isobel said heartily; "they are dear +little things, Mrs. Doolan, and worth all the diamonds in the +world. I hear, Mrs. Prothero, that your husband has a good chance +of winning the race for Arabs; I intend to wager several pairs of +gloves on his horse." + +"Yes, Seila is very fast. She won last year. But Nana Sahib has had +the horse that won the cup at Poona last year, and is considered +one of the fastest in India, brought across from Bombay. Our only +hope is that he will put a native up, and in that case we ought to +have a fair chance, for the natives have no idea of riding a waiting +race, but go off at full speed, and take it all out of their horse +before the end of the race." + +"Well, we must hope he will, Mrs. Prothero; that seems, from what +I hear, the only chance there is of the regiment winning a prize. +So all our sympathies will be with you." + +"Hunter and his wife and their two girls are coming," the Major +said, the next morning, as he opened his letters. + +"Very well, uncle, then we will do as we arranged. The Miss Hunters +shall have my room, and I will take the little passage room." + +"I am afraid it will put you out, Isobel; but they have been here +for the last two years at the race times and I did not like not +asking them again." + +"Of course, uncle. It will make no difference to me, and I don't +require any very great space to apparel myself." + +"We must have dinners for twelve at least, the day before the races, +and on the three days of the meeting." + +Isobel looked alarmed. "I hope you don't rely on me for the +arrangements, uncle. At each of the four dinners we have been to +I have done nothing but wonder how it was all done, and have been +trembling over the thought that it would be our turn presently. It +seemed a fearful responsibility; and four, one after the other, is +an appalling prospect." + +"Rumzan will see to it all, my dear. He has always managed very well +before. I will talk it over with him; besides, these will not be +like regular set dinner parties. At race meetings everyone keeps +pretty nearly open house. One does not ask any of the people at the +station; they have all their own visitors. One trusts to chance to +fill up the table, and one never finds any difficulty about it. It +is lucky I got up a regular stock of china, and so on, in anticipation +of your coming. Of course, as a bachelor, I have not been a dinner +giver, except on occasions like this, when nobody expects anything +like state, and things are conducted to a certain extent in picnic +fashion. I have paid off my dinner obligations by having men to mess +or the club. However, I will consult Rumzan, and we will have a +regular parade of our materials, and you shall inspect our resources. +If there is anything in the way of flower vases or center dishes, +or anything of that sort, you think requisite, we must get them. +Jestonjee has got a good stock of all that sort of thing. As to +tablecloths and napkins and so on, I had a supply with the china, +so you will find that all right. Of course you will get plenty of +flowers; they are the principal things, after all, towards making +the table look well. You have had no experience in arranging them, +I suppose?" + +"None at all, uncle; I never arranged a vase of flowers in my life." + +"Then I tell you what you had better do, Isobel. You coax the Doctor +into coming in and undertaking it. He is famous in that way. He +always has the decoration of the mess table on grand occasions; +and when we give a dance the flowers and decorations are left to +him as a matter of course." + +"I will ask him, uncle; but he is the last man in the world I should +have thought of in connection with flowers and decorations." + +"He is a many sided man, my dear; he paints excellently, and has +wonderful taste in the way of dress. I can assure you that no lady +in the regiment is quite satisfied with a new costume until it has +received the stamp of the Doctor's approval. When we were stationed +at Delhi four years ago there was a fancy ball, and people who +were judges of that sort of thing said that they had never seen so +pretty a collection of dresses, and I should think fully half of +them were manufactured from the Doctor's sketches." + +"I remember now," Isobel laughed, "that he was very sarcastic on +board ship as to the dresses of some of the people, but I thought +it was only his way of grumbling at things in general, though +certainly I generally agreed with him. He told me one day that +my taste evidently inclined to the dowdy, but you see I wore half +mourning until I arrived out here." + +The Doctor himself dropped in an hour later. + +"I shall be glad, Doctor, if you will dine with us as often as +you can during the four days of the races," Major Hannay said. "Of +course, I shall be doing the hospitable to people who come in from +out stations, and as Isobel won't know any of them, it will be +a little trying to her, acting for the first time in the capacity +of hostess. As you know everybody, you will be able to make things +go. I have got Hunter and his wife and their two girls coming in to +stay. I calculate the table will hold fourteen comfortably enough. +At any rate, come first night, even if you can't come on the others." + +"Certainly I will, Major, if you will let me bring Bathurst in with +me; he is going to stay with me for the races." + +"By all means, Doctor; I like what I have seen of him very much." + +"Yes, he has got a lot in him," the Doctor said, "only he is always +head over heels in work. He will make a big mark before he has done. +He is one of the few men out here who has thoroughly mastered the +language; he can talk to the natives like one of themselves, and +understands them so thoroughly that they are absolutely afraid to +lie to him, which is the highest compliment a native can pay to +an Indian official. It is very seldom he comes in to this sort of +thing, but I seized him the other day and told him that I could +see he would break down if he didn't give himself a holiday, and I +fairly worried him into saying he would come over and stay for the +races. I believe then he would not have come if I had not written +to him that all the native swells would be here, and it would be an +excellent opportunity for him to talk to them about the establishment +of a school for the daughters of the upper class of natives; that +is one of his fads at present." + +"But it would be a good thing surely, Doctor," Isobel said. + +"No doubt, my dear, no doubt; and so would scores of other things, +if you could but persuade the natives so. But this is really one of +the most impracticable schemes possible, simply because the whole +of these unfortunate children get betrothed when they are two or +three years old, and are married at twelve. Even if all parties +were agreed, the husband's relations and the wife's relations and +everyone else, what are you going to teach a child worth knowing +before she gets to the age of twelve? Just enough to make her +discontented with her lot. Once get the natives to alter their +customs and to marry their women at the age of eighteen, and you +may do something for them; but as long as they stick to this idiotic +custom of marrying them off when they are still children, the case +is hopeless." + +"There is something I wanted to ask you, Doctor," Isobel said. +"You know this is the first time I have had anything to do with +entertaining, and I know nothing about decorating a table. Uncle +says that you are a great hand at the arrangement of flowers. Would +you mind seeing to it for me?" + +The Doctor nodded. "With pleasure, Miss Hannay. It is a thing I +enjoy. There is nothing more lamentable than to see the ignorant. +and I may almost say brutal, way in which people bunch flowers up +into great masses and call that decoration. They might just as well +bunch up so many masses of bright colored rags. The shape of the +flower, its manner of growth, and its individuality are altogether +lost, and the sole effect produced is that of a confused mass +of color. I will undertake that part of the business, and you had +better leave the buying of the flowers to me." + +"Certainly, Doctor," the Major said; "I will give you carte blanche." + +"Well, I must see your dinner service, Major, so that I may know +about its color, and what you have got to put the flowers into." + +"I will have a regular parade tomorrow morning after breakfast, if +it would be convenient for you to look in then, and at the same +time I will get you to have a talk with Rumzan and the cook. I +am almost as new to giving dinner parties as Isobel is. When one +has half a dozen men to dine with one at the club, one gives the +butler notice and chooses the wine, and one knows that it will be +all right; but it is a very different thing when you have to go +into the details yourself. Ordinarily I leave it entirely to Rumzan +and the cook, and I am bound to say they do very well, but this is +a different matter." + +"We will talk it over with them together, Major. You can seem to +consult me, but it must come from you to them, or else you will be +getting their backs up. Thank goodness, Indian servants don't give +themselves the airs English ones do; but human nature is a good +deal the same everywhere, and the first great rule, if you want +any domestic arrangements to go off well, is to keep the servants +in good temper." + +"We none of us like to be interfered with, Doctor." + +"A wise man is always ready to be taught," the Doctor said +sententiously. + +"Well, there are exceptions, Doctor. I remember, soon after I +joined, a man blew off two of his fingers. A young surgeon who was +here wanted to amputate the hand; he was just going to set about +it when a staff surgeon came in and said that it had better not +be done, for that natives could not stand amputations. The young +surgeon was very much annoyed. The staff surgeon went away next +day. There was a good deal of inflammation, and the young surgeon +decided to amputate. The man never rallied from the operation, and +died next day." + +"I said, Major, that a wise man was always ready to listen to good +advice. I was not a wise man in those days--I was a pig headed +young fool. I thought I knew all about it, and I was quite right +according to my experience in London hospitals. In the case of an +Englishman, the hand would have been amputated, and the man would +have been all right three weeks afterwards. But I knew nothing +about these soft hearted Hindoos, and never dreamt that an operation +which would be a trifle to an Englishman would be fatal to one of +them, and that simply because, although they are plucky enough in +some respects, they have no more heart than a mouse when anything +is the matter with them. Yes, if it hadn't been for the old Colonel, +who gave me a private hint to say nothing about the affair, but +merely to put down in my report, 'Died from the effect of a gunshot +wound,' I should have got into a deuce of a scrape over that affair. +As it was, it only cost me a hundred rupees to satisfy the man's +family and send them back to their native village. That was for +years a standing joke against me, Miss Hannay; except your uncle +and the Colonel, there is no one left in the regiment who was there, +but it was a sore subject for a long time. Still, no doubt, it was +a useful lesson, and my rule has been ever since, never amputate +except as a forlorn hope, and even then don't amputate, for if you +do the relatives of the man, as far as his fourth cousins, will +inevitably regard you as his murderer. Well, I must be off; I will +look in tomorrow morning, Major, and make an inspection of your +resources." + +"I am glad to see the Hunters are going to bring over their carriage," +the Major said, two days later, as he looked through a letter. "I +am very glad of that, for I put it off till too late. I have been +trying everywhere for the last two days to hire one, but they are +all engaged, and have been so for weeks, I hear. I was wondering +what I should do, for my buggy will only hold two. I was thinking +of asking Mrs. Doolan if she could take one of the Miss Hunters, and +should have tried to find a place for the other. But this settles +it all comfortably. They are going to send on their own horses +halfway the day before, and hire native ponies for the first half. +They have a good large family vehicle; I hoped that they would +bring it, but, of course, I could not trust to it." + +The Doctor presently dropped in with Captain Doolan. After chatting +for some time the former said, "I have had the satisfaction this +morning, Miss Hannay, of relieving Mrs. Cromarty's mind of a great +burden." + +"How was that, Doctor?" + +"It was in relation to you, my dear." + +"Me, Doctor! how could I have been a weight on Mrs. Cromarty's +mind?" + +"She sent for me under the pretense of being feverish; said she +had a headache, and so on. Her pulse was all right, and I told her +at once I did not think there was much the matter with her; but +I recommended her to keep out of the sun for two days. Then she +begun a chat about the station. She knows that, somehow or other, +I generally hear all that is going on. I wondered what was coming, +till she said casually, 'Do you know what arrangement Major Hannay +has made as to his niece for the races?' I said, of course, that +the Hunters were coming over to stay. I could see at once that +her spirit was instantly relieved of a heavy burden, but she only +said, 'Of course, then, that settles the question. I had intended +to send across to her this morning, to ask if she would like a seat +in my carriage; having no lady with her, she could not very well +have gone to the races alone. Naturally, I should have been very +pleased to have had her with us. However, as Mrs. Hunter will be +staying at the Major's, and will act as her chaperon, the matter +is settled.'" + +"Well, I think it was very kind of her thinking of it," Isobel +said, "and I don't think it is nice of you, Doctor, to say that it +was an evident relief to her when she found I had someone else to +take care of me. Why should it have been a relief?" + +"I have no doubt it has weighed on her mind for the last fortnight," +the Doctor said; "she must have seen that as you were freshly +joined, and the only unmarried girl in the regiment, except her +own daughters, it was only the proper thing she should offer you +a seat in her carriage. No doubt she decided to put it off as late +as possible, in hopes that you might make some other arrangement. +Had you not done so, she might have done the heroic thing and invited +you, though I am by no means sure of it. Of course, now she will +say the first time she meets you that she was quite disappointed +at having heard from me that Mrs. Hunter would be with you, as she +had hoped to have the pleasure of having you in her carriage with +her." + +"But why shouldn't she like it?" Isobel said indignantly. "Surely +I am not as disagreeable as all that! Come, Doctor!" + +Captain Doolan laughed, while the Doctor said, "It is just +the contrary, my dear; I am quite sure that if you were in Mrs. +Cromarty's place, and had two tall, washed out looking daughters, +you would not feel the slightest desire to place Miss Hannay in +the same carriage with them." + +"I call that very disagreeable of you, Doctor," Isobel said, +flushing, "and I shall not like you at all if you take such unkind +and malicious views of people. I don't suppose such an idea ever +entered into Mrs. Cromarty's head, and even if it did, it makes it +all the kinder that she should think of offering me a seat. I do +think most men seem to consider that women think of nothing but +looks, and that girls are always trying to attract men, and mothers +always thinking of getting their daughters married. It is not at all +nice, Doctor, to have such ideas, and I shall thank Mrs. Cromarty +warmly, when I see her, for her kindness in thinking about me." + +Accordingly, that afternoon, when they met at the usual hour, when +the band was playing, Isobel went up to the Colonel's wife. + +"I want to thank you, Mrs. Cromarty. Dr. Wade has told me that you +had intended to offer me a seat in your carriage to the races. It +was very kind and nice of you to think of me, and I am very much +obliged to you. I should have enjoyed it very much if it hadn't +been that Mrs. Hunter is coming to stay with us, and, of course, +I shall be under her wing. Still, I am just as much obliged to you +for having thought of it." + +Mrs. Cromarty was pleased with the girl's warmth and manner, and +afterwards mentioned to several of her friends that she thought +that Miss Hannay seemed a very nice young woman. + +"I was not quite favorably impressed at first," she admitted. "She +has the misfortune of being a little brusque in her manner, but, +of course, her position is a difficult one, being alone out here, +without any lady with her, and no doubt she feels it so. She was +quite touchingly grateful, only because I offered her a seat in +our carriage for the races, though she was unable to accept it, as +the Major will have the Hunters staying with him." + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +The clubhouse at Cawnpore was crowded on the evening before the +races. Up to eleven o'clock it had been comparatively deserted, +for there was scarcely a bungalow in the station at which dinner +parties were not going on; but, after eleven, the gentlemen for the +most part adjourned to the club for a smoke, a rubber, or a game +of billiards, or to chat over the racing events of the next day. + +Loud greetings were exchanged as each fresh contingent arrived, +for many newcomers had come into the station only that afternoon. +Every table in the whist room was occupied, black pool was being +played in the billiard room upstairs, where most of the younger +men were gathered, while the elders smoked and talked in the rooms +below. + +"What will you do, Bathurst?" the Doctor asked his guest, after +the party from the Major's had been chatting for some little time +downstairs. "Would you like to cut in at a rubber or take a ball +at pool?" + +"Neither, Doctor; they are both accomplishments beyond me; I have +not patience for whist, and I can't play billiards in the least. +I have tried over and over again, but I am too nervous, I fancy; I +break down over the easiest stroke--in fact, an easy stroke is +harder for me than a difficult one. I know I ought to make it, and +just for that reason, I suppose, I don't." + +"You don't give one the idea of a nervous man, either, Bathurst." + +"Well, I am, Doctor, constitutionally, indeed terribly so." + +"Not in business matters, anyhow," the Doctor said, with a smile. +"You have the reputation of not minding in the slightest what +responsibility you take upon yourself, and of carrying out what +you undertake in the most resolute, I won't say high handed, manner." + +"No, it doesn't come in there," Bathurst laughed. "Morally I am +not nervous so far as I know, physically I am. I would give a great +deal if I could get over it, but, as I have said, it is constitutional." + +"Not on your father's side, Bathurst. I knew him well, and he was +a very gallant officer." + +"No, it was the other side," Bathurst said; "I will tell you about +it some day." + +At this moment another friend of Bathurst's came up and entered +into conversation with him. + +"Well, I will go upstairs to the billiard room," the Doctor said; +"and you will find me there, Bathurst, whenever you feel disposed +to go." + +A pool had just finished when the Doctor entered the billiard room. + +"That is right, Doctor, you are just in time," Prothero said, as +he entered. "Sinclair has given up his cue; he is going to ride +tomorrow, and is afraid of shaking his nerves; you must come and +play for the honor of the corps. I am being ruined altogether, and +Doolan has retired discomfited." + +"I have not touched a cue since I went away," the Doctor said, "but +I don't mind adding to the list of victims. Who are the winners?" + +"Messenger and Jarvis have been carrying all before them; there is +a report they have just sent off two club waiters, with loads of +rupees, to their quarters. Scarsdale has been pretty well holding +his own, but the rest of us are nowhere." + +A year's want of practice, however, told, and the Doctor was added +to the list of victims: he had no difficulty in getting someone +else to take his cue after playing for half an hour. + +"It shows that practice is required for everything," he said; "before +I went away I could have given each of those men a life, now they +could give me two; I must devote half an hour a day to it till I +get it back again." + +"And you shall give me a lesson, Doctor," Captain Doolan, who had +also retired, said. + +"It would be time thrown away by both of us, Doolan. You would +never make a pool player if you were to practice all your life. It +is not the eye that is wrong, but the temperament. You can make a +very good shot now and then, but you are too harum scarum and slap +dash altogether. The art of playing pool is the art of placing +yourself; while, when you strike, you have not the faintest idea +where your ball is going to, and you are just as likely to run in +yourself as you are to pot your adversary. I should abjure it if I +were you, Doolan; it is too expensive a luxury for you to indulge +in." + +"You are right there, Doctor; only what is a man to do when fellows +say, 'We want you to make up a pool, Doolan'?" + +"I should say the reply would be quite simple. I should answer, 'I +am ready enough to play if any of you are ready to pay my losses +and take my winnings; I am tired of being as good as an annuity to +you all,' for that is what you have been for the last ten years. Why, +it would be cheaper for you to send home to England for skittles, +and get a ground up here." + +"But I don't play so very badly, Doctor." + +"If you play badly enough always to lose, it doesn't matter as to +the precise degree of badness," the Doctor retorted. "It is not +surprising. When you came out here, fourteen or fifteen years ago, +boys did not take to playing billiards, but they do now. Look at +that little villain, Richards. He has just cleared the table, and +done it with all the coolness of a professional marker. The young +scoundrel ought to have been in bed two hours ago, for I hear that +tat of his is really a good one. Not that it will make any difference +to him. That sort of boy would play billiards till the first bugle +sounds in the morning, and have a wash and turn out as fresh as +paint, but it won't last, Doolan, not in this climate; his cheeks +will have fallen in and he will have crow's feet at the corners of +his eyes before another year has gone over. I like that other boy, +Wilson, better. Of course he is a cub as yet, but I should say +there is good in him. Just at present I can see he is beginning to +fancy himself in love with Miss Hannay. That will do him good; it +is always an advantage to a lad like that to have a good honest +liking for a nice girl. Of course it comes to nothing, and for a +time he imagines himself the most unhappy of mortals, but it does +him good for all that; fellows are far less likely to get into +mischief and go to the bad after an affair of that sort. It gives +him a high ideal, and if he is worth anything he will try to make +himself worthy of her, and the good it does him will continue even +after the charm is broken." + +"What a fellow you are, Doctor," Captain Doolan said, looking down +upon his companion, "talking away like that in the middle of this +racket, which would be enough to bother Saint Patrick himself!" + +"Well, come along downstairs, Doolan; we will have a final peg and +then be off; I expect Bathurst is beginning to fidget before now." + +"It will do him good," Captain Doolan said disdainfully. "I have +no patience with a man who is forever working himself to death, +riding about the country as if Old Nick were behind him, and never +giving himself a minute for diversion of any kind. Faith, I would +rather throw myself down a well and have done with it, than work +ten times as hard as a black nigger." + +"Well, I don't think, Doolan," the Doctor said dryly, "you are ever +likely to be driven to suicide by any such cause." + +"You are right there, Doctor," the other said contentedly. "No man +can throw it in my teeth that I ever worked when I had no occasion +to work. If there were a campaign, I expect I could do my share +with the best of them, but in quiet times I just do what I have to +do, and if anyone has an anxiety to take my place in the rota for +duty, he is as welcome to it as the flowers of May. I had my share +of it when I was a subaltern; there is no better fellow living than +the Major, but when he was Captain of my company he used to keep +me on the run by the hour together, till I wished myself back +in Connaught, and anyone who liked it might have had the whole of +India for anything I cared; he was one of the most uneasy creatures +I ever came across." + +"The Major is a good officer, Doolan, and you were as lazy a youngster, +and as hard a bargain, as the Company ever got. You ought to thank +your stars that you had the good luck in having a Captain who knew +his business, and made you learn yours. Why, if you had had a man +like Rintoul as your Captain, you would never have been worth your +salt." + +"You are not complimentary, Doctor; but then nobody looks for +compliments from you." + +"I can pay compliments if I have a chance," the Doctor retorted, +"but it is very seldom I get one of doing so--at least, without +lying. Well, Bathurst, are you ready to turn in?" + +"Quite ready, Doctor; that is one of the advantages of not caring +for races; the merits and demerits of the horses that run tomorrow +do not in the slightest degree affect me, and even the news that +all the favorites had gone wrong would not deprive me of an hour's +sleep." + +"I think it a good thing to take an interest in racing, Bathurst. +Take men as a whole: out here they work hard--some of them work +tremendously hard--and unless they get some change to their +thoughts, some sort of recreation, nineteen out of twenty will +break down sooner or later. If they don't they become mere machines. +Every man ought to have some sort of hobby; he need not ride it to +death, but he wants to take some sort of interest in it. I don't +care whether he takes to pig sticking, or racing, or shooting, +or whether he goes in for what I may call the milder kinds of +relaxation, such as dining out, billiards, whist, or even general +philandering. Anything is better than nothing--anything that +will take his mind off his work. As far as I can see, you don't do +anything." + +"Therefore I shall either break down or become a machine, Doctor?" + +"One or the other certainly, Bathurst. You may smile, but I mean +what I say. I have seen other young fellows just as full of work +and enthusiasm as you are, but I have never seen an exception to +the rule, unless, of course, they took up something so as to give +their minds a rest." + +"The Doctor has just been scolding me because I am not fond enough +of work," Captain Doolan laughed. + +"You are differently placed, Doolan," the Doctor said. "You have +got plenty of enthusiasm in your nature--most Irishmen have-- +but you have had nothing to stir it. Life in a native regiment in +India is an easy one. Your duties are over in two or three hours +out of the twenty-four, whereas the work of a civilian in a large +district literally never ends, unless he puts a resolute stop to +it. What with seeing people from morning until night, and riding +about and listening to complaints, every hour of the day is occupied, +and then at night there are reports to write and documents of all +sorts to go through. It is a great pity that there cannot be a +better division of work, though I own I don't see how it is to be +managed." + +By this time they were walking towards the lines. + +"I should not mind taking a share of the civil work at the station," +Captain Doolan said, "if they would make our pay a little more like +that of the civilians." + +"There is something in that, Doolan," the Doctor agreed; "it is +just as hard work having nothing to do as it is having too much; +and I have always been of opinion that the tremendous disproportion +between the pay of a military man and of a civilian of the same +age is simply monstrous. Well, goodnight, Doolan; I hope you will +tell Mrs. Doolan that the credit is entirely due to me that you are +home at the reasonable hour of one o'clock, instead of dropping in +just in time to change for parade." + +"A good fellow," the Doctor said, as he walked on with Bathurst; +"he would never set the Thames on fire; but he is an honest, kindly +fellow. He would make a capital officer if he were on service. His +marriage has been an excellent thing for him. He had nothing to +do before but to pass away his time in the club or mess house, and +drink more than was good for him. But he has pulled himself round +altogether since he married. His wife is a bright, clever little +woman, and knows how to make the house happy for him; if he had +married a lackadaisical sort of a woman, the betting is he would +have gone to the bad altogether." + +"I only met him once or twice before," Bathurst said. "You see I +am not here very often, and when I am it is only on business, so +I know a very few people here except those I have to deal with, +and by the time I have got through my business I am generally so +thoroughly out of temper with the pig headed stupidity and obstinacy +of people in general, that I get into my buggy and drive straight +away." + +"I fancy you irritate them as much as they irritate you, Bathurst. +Well, here we are; now we will have a quiet cheroot and a peg, to +quiet our nerves after all that din, before we turn in. Let us get +off our coats and collars, and make ourselves comfortable; it is +a proof of the bestial stupidity of mankind that they should wear +such abominations as dress clothes in a climate like this. Here, +boy, light the candles and bring two sodas and brandies." + +"Well, Bathurst," he went on, when they had made themselves comfortable +in two lounging chairs, "what do you thing of Miss Hannay?" + +"I was prepared to admire her, Doctor, from what you said; it is +not very often that you overpraise things; but she is a charming +girl, very pretty and bright, frank and natural." + +"She is all that," the Doctor said. "We were four months on the +voyage out, and I saw enough of her in that time to know her pretty +thoroughly." + +"What puzzles me about her," Bathurst said, "is that I seemed to +know her face. Where I saw her, and under what circumstances, I +have been puzzling myself half the evening to recall, but I have +the strongest conviction that I have met her." + +"You are dreaming, man. You have been out here eight years; she was +a child of ten when you left England! You certainly have not seen +her, and as I know pretty well every woman who has been in this +station for the last five or six years, I can answer for it that +you have not seen anyone in the slightest degree resembling her." + +"That is what I have been saying to myself, Doctor, but that does +not in the slightest degree shake my conviction about it." + +"Then you must have dreamt it," the Doctor said decidedly. "Some +fool of a poet has said, 'Visions of love cast their shadows before,' +or something of that sort, which of course is a lie; still, that +is the only way that I can account for it." + +Bathurst smiled faintly. "I don't think the quotation is quite +right, Doctor; anyhow, I am convinced that the impression is far +too vivid to have been the result of a dream." + +"By the way, Bathurst," the Doctor said, suddenly changing +his conversation, "what do you think of this talk we hear about +chupaties being sent round among the native troops, and the talk +about greased cartridges. You see more of the natives than anyone +I know; do you think there is anything brewing in the air?" + +"If there is, Doctor, I am certain it is not known to the natives +in general. I see no change whatever in their manner, and I am sure +I know them well enough to notice any change if it existed. I know +nothing about the Sepoys, but Garnet tells me that the Company at +Deennugghur give him nothing to complain of, though they don't obey +orders as smartly as usual, and they have a. sullen air as they go +about their work." + +"I don't like it, Bathurst. I do not understand what the chupaties +mean, but I know that there is a sort of tradition that the sending of +them round has always preceded trouble. The Sepoys have no reason +for discontent, but there has been no active service lately, +and idleness is always bad for men. I can't believe there is any +widespread dissatisfaction among them, but there is no doubt whatever +that if there is, and it breaks out, the position will be a very +serious one. There are not half enough white troops in India, and +the Sepoys may well think that they are masters of the situation. +It would be a terrible time for everyone in India if they did take +it into their heads to rise." + +"I can't believe they would be mad enough to do that, Doctor; +they have everything to lose by it, and nothing to gain, that is, +individually; and we should be sure to win in the long run, even +if we had to conquer back India foot by foot." + +"That is all very well, Bathurst; we may know that we could do it, +but they don't know it. They are ignorant altogether of the forces +we could put into the field were there a necessity to make the +effort. They naturally suppose that we can have but a few soldiers, +for in all the battles we have fought there have always been two +or three Sepoy regiments to one English. Besides, they consider +themselves fully a match for us. They have fought by us side by side +in every battlefield in India, and have done as well as we have. I +don't see what they should rise for. I don't even see whose interest +it is to bring a rising about, but I do know that if they rise we +shall have a terrible time of it. Now I think we may as well turn +in. You won't take another peg? Well, I shall see you in the morning. +I shall be at the hospital by half past six, and shall be in at +half past eight to breakfast. You have only got to shout for my +man, and tell him whether you will have tea, coffee, or chocolate, +any time you wake." + +"I shall be about by six, Doctor; five is my general hour, but as +it is past one now I dare say I shall be able to sleep on for an +hour later, especially as there is nothing to do." + +"You can go round the hospital with me, if you like," the Doctor +said, "if you will promise not to make a dozen suggestions for the +improvement of things in general." + +Isobel Hannay came down to breakfast in high spirits upon the morning of +the races. The dinner had gone off excellently. The dinner table, +with its softly shaded lamps, and the Doctor's arrangements of +the flowers, had been, she thought, perfection, and everything had +passed off without a hitch. Her duties as a hostess had been much +lighter than she had anticipated. Mrs. Hunter was a very pleasant, +motherly woman, and the girls, who had only come out from England +four months before, were fresh and unaffected, and the other people +had all been pleasant and chatty. + +Altogether, she felt that her first dinner party had been a great +success. + +She was looking forward now with pleasant anticipation to the day. +She had seen but little of the natives so far, and she was now to +see them at their best. Then she had never been present at a race, +and everything would be new and exciting. + +"Well, uncle, what time did you get in?" she asked, as she stepped +out into the veranda to meet him on his return from early parade. +"It was too bad of you and Mr. Hunter running off instead of waiting +to chat things over." + +"I have no doubt you ladies did plenty of that, my dear." + +"Indeed, we didn't, uncle; you see they had had a very long drive, +and Mrs. Hunter insisted on the girls going to bed directly you all +went out, and as I could not sit up by myself, I had to go too." + +"We were in at half past twelve," the Major said. "I can stand a +good deal of smoke, but the club atmosphere was too thick for me." + +"Everything went off very well yesterday, didn't it?" she asked. + +"Very well, I thought, my dear, thanks to you and the Doctor and +Rumzan." + +"I had very little to do with it," she laughed. + +"Well, I don't think you had much to do with the absolute arrangements, +Isobel, but I thought you did very well as hostess; it seemed to +me that there was a good deal of laughing and fun at your end of +the table." + +"Yes; you see we had the two Miss Hunters and the Doctor there, and +Mr. Gregson, who took me in, turned out a very merry old gentleman." + +"He would not be pleased if he heard you call him old, Isobel." + +"Well, of course he is not absolutely old, but being a commissioner, +and all that sort of thing, gives one the idea of being old; but +there are the others." + +And they went into the breakfast room. + +The first race was set for two o'clock, and at half past one Mrs. +Hunter's carriage, with the four ladies, arrived at the inclosure. +The horses were taken out, and the carriage wheeled into its +place, and then Isobel and the two Miss Hunters prepared to enjoy +the scene. + +It was a very gay one. The course was at present covered with a +throng of natives in their bright colored garments, and mixed with +them were the scarlet uniforms of the Sepoys of the 103d and other +regiments. On the opposite side were a number of native vehicles +of various descriptions, and some elephants with painted faces and +gorgeous trappings, and with howdahs shaded by pavilions glittering +with gilt and silver. + +On either side of their vehicle a long line of carriages was soon +formed up, and among these were several occupied by gayly dressed +natives, whose rank gave them an entrance to the privileged inclosure. +The carriages were placed three or four yards back from the rail, +and the intervening space was filled with civilian and military +officers, in white or light attire, and with pith helmet or puggaree; +many others were on horseback behind the carriages. + +"It is a bright scene, Miss Hannay," the Doctor said, coming up to +the carriage. + +"Wonderfully pretty, Doctor!" + +"An English race course doesn't do after this, I can tell you. I +went down to the Derby when I was at home, and such an assembly of +riff raff I never saw before and never wish to see again." + +"These people are more picturesque, Dr. Wade," Mrs. Hunter said, +"but that is merely a question of garment; these people perhaps are +no more trustworthy than those you met on the racecourse at home." + +"I was speaking of them purely as a spectacle; individually I have +no doubt one would be safer among the English roughs and betting +men than among these placid looking natives. The one would pick +your pockets of every penny you have got if they had the chance, +the other would cut your throat with just as little compunction." + +"You don't really mean that, Dr. Wade?" Isobel said. + +"I do indeed, Miss Hannay; the Oude men are notorious brawlers and +fighters, and I should say that the roughs of Cawnpore and Lucknow +could give long odds to those of any European city, and three out +of four of those men you see walking about there would not only +cut the throat of a European to obtain what money he had about him, +but would do so without that incentive, upon the simple ground that +he hated us." + +"But why should he hate us, Doctor? he is none the worse off now +than he was before we annexed the country." + +"Well, yes, that class of man is worse off. In the old days every +noble and Zemindar kept up a little army for the purpose of fighting +his neighbors, just as our Barons used to do in the happy olden +times people talk of. We have put down private fighting, and the +consequence is these men's occupations are gone, and they flock to +great towns and there live as best they can, ready to commit any +crime whatever for the sum of a few rupees. + +"There is Nana Sahib." + +Isobel looked round and saw a carriage with a magnificent pair +of horses, in harness almost covered with silver ornaments, drive +up to a place that had been kept vacant for it. Four natives were +sitting in it. + +"That is the Rajah," the Doctor said, "the farther man, with that +aigrette of diamonds in his turban. He is Oriental today, but +sometimes he affects English fashions. He is a very cheery fellow, +he keeps pretty well open house at Bithoor, has a billiard table, +and a first rate cellar of wine, carriages for the use of guests +--in fact, he does the thing really handsomely." + +"Here is my opera glass," Mrs. Hunter said. Isobel looked long and +fixedly at the Rajah. + +"Well, what do you think of him?" the Doctor asked as she lowered +it. + +"I do not know what to think of him," she said; "his face does not +tell me anything, it is like looking at a mask; but you see I am +not accustomed to read brown men's characters, they are so different +from Europeans, their faces all seem so impassive. I suppose it is +the way in which they are brought up and trained." + +"Ages of tyranny have made them supple and deceitful," the Doctor +said, "but of course less so here than among the Bengallies, who, +being naturally unwarlike and cowardly, have always been the slaves +of some master or other. + +"You evidently don't like the Nana, Miss Hannay. I am rather glad +you don't, for he is no great favorite of mine, though he is so +generally popular in the station here. I don't like him because it +is not natural that he should be so friendly with us. We undoubtedly, +according to native notions, robbed him of one of the finest positions +in India by refusing to acknowledge his adoption. We have given him +a princely revenue, but that, after all, is a mere trifle to what +he would have had as Peishwa. Whatever virtues the natives of this +country possess, the forgiving of injuries is not among them, and +therefore I consider it to be altogether unnatural that he, having +been, as he at any rate and everyone round him must consider, +foully wronged, should go out of his way to affect our society and +declare the warmest friendship for us." + +The Rajah was laughing and talking with General Wheeler and the +group of officers round his carriage. + +Again Isobel raised the glasses. "You are right, Doctor," she said, +"I don't like him." + +"Well, there is one comfort, it doesn't matter whether he is sincere +or not, he is powerless to hurt us. I don't see any motive for his +pretending to be friendly if he is not, but I own that I should +like him better if he sulked and would have nothing to say to us, +as would be the natural course." + +The bell now began to ring, and the native police cleared the +course. Major Hannay and Mr. Hunter, who had driven over in the +buggy, came up and took their places on the box of the carriage. + +"Here are cards of the races," he said. "Now is the time, young +ladies, to make your bets." + +"I don't know even the name of anyone in this first race," Isobel +said, looking at the card. + +"That doesn't matter in the least, Miss Hannay," Wilson, who had +just come up to the side of the carriage, said. "There are six +horses in; you pick out any one you like, and I will lay you five +pairs of gloves to one against him." + +"But how am I to pick out when I don't know anything about them, +Mr. Wilson? I might pick out one that had no chance at all." + +"Yes; but you might pick out the favorite, Miss Hannay, so that it +is quite fair." + +"Don't you bet, Isobel," her uncle said. "Let us have a sweepstake +instead." + +"What is a sweepstake, uncle?" + +There was a general laugh. + +"Well, my dear, we each put in a rupee. There are six of us, and +there are Wilson and the Doctor. You will go in, Doctor, won't +you?" + +"Yes; I don't mind throwing away a rupee, Major." + +"Very well, that makes eight. We put eight pieces of paper in the +hat. Six of them have got the names of the horses on, the other +two are blank. Then we each pull out one. Whoever draws the name +of the horse that wins takes five rupees, the holder of the second +two, and the third saves his stake. You shall hold the stakes, Mrs. +Hunter. We have all confidence in you." + +The slips were drawn. + +"My horse is Bruce," Isobel said. + +"There he is, Miss Hannay," Wilson, who had drawn a blank, said, +as a horse whose rider had a straw colored jacket and cap came +cantering along the course. "This is a race for country horses-- +owners up. That means ridden by their owners. That is Pearson of +the 13th Native Cavalry. He brought the horse over from Lucknow." + +"What chance has he?" + +"I have not the least idea, Miss Hannay. I did not hear any betting +on this race at all." + +"That is a nice horse, uncle," Isobel said, as one with a rider in +black jacket, with red cap, came past. + +"That is Delhi. Yes, it has good action." + +"That is mine," the eldest Miss Hunter said. + +"The rider is a good looking young fellow," the Doctor said, "and +is perfectly conscious of it himself. Who is he, Wilson? I don't +know him." + +"He is a civilian. Belongs to the public works, I think." + +The other horses now came along, and after short preliminary canters +the start was made. To Isobel's disappointment her horse was never +in the race, which Delhi looked like winning until near the post, +when a rather common looking horse, which had been lying a short +distance behind him, came up with a rush and won by a length. + +"I don't call that fair," Miss Hunter said, "when the other was first +all along. I call that a mean way of winning, don't you, father?" + +"Well, no, my dear. It was easy to see for the last quarter of a +mile that the other was making what is called 'a waiting race' of +it, and was only biding his time. There is nothing unfair in that, +I fancy Delhi might have won if he had had a better jockey. His +rider never really called upon him till it was too late. He was +so thoroughly satisfied with himself and his position in the race +that he was taken completely by surprise when Moonshee came suddenly +up to him." + +"Well, I think it is very hard upon Delhi, father, after keeping +ahead all the way and going so nicely. I think everyone ought to +do their best from the first." + +"I fancy you are thinking, Miss Hunter," the Doctor said, "quite +as much that it is hard on you being beaten after your hopes had +been raised, as it is upon the horse." + +"Perhaps I am, Doctor," she admitted. + +"I think it is much harder on me," Isobel said. "You have had the +satisfaction of thinking all along that your horse was going to +win, while mine never gave me the least bit of hope." + +"The proper expression, Miss Hannay, is, your horse never flattered +you." + +"Then I think it is a very silly expression, Mr. Wilson, because +I don't see that flattery has anything to do with it." + +"Ah, here is Bathurst," the Doctor said. "Where have you been, +Bathurst? You slipped away from me just now." + +"I've just been talking to the Commissioner, Doctor. I have been +trying to get him to see--" + +"Why, you don't mean to say," the Doctor broke in, "that you have +been trying to cram your theories down his throat on a racecourse?" + + +"It was before the race began," Bathurst said, "and I don't think +the Commissioner has any more interest in racing than I have." + +"Not in racing," the Doctor agreed, "but I expect he has an +interest in enjoying himself generally, which is a thing you don't +seem to have the most remote idea of. Here we are just getting up +a sweepstake for the next race; hand over a rupee and try to get +up an interest in it. Do try and forget your work till the race is +over. I have brought you here to do you good. I regard you as my +patient, and I give you my medical orders that you are to enjoy +yourself." + +Bathurst laughed. + +"I am enjoying myself in my way, Doctor." + +"Who is that very pretty woman standing up in the next carriage +but one?" Isobel asked. + +"She comes from an out station," the Doctor repeated; "she is the +wife of the Collector there, but I think she likes Cawnpore better +than Boorgum; her name is Rose." + +"Is that her husband talking to her?" + +"No; that is a man in the Artillery here, I think." + +"Yes," the Major said, "that is Harrowby, a good looking fellow, +and quite a ladies' man." + +"Do you mean a man ladies like, uncle, or who likes the society of +ladies?" + +"Both in his case, I should fancy," the Major said; "I believe he +is considered one of the best looking men in the service." + +"I don't see why he should be liked for that," Isobel said. "As far +as I have seen, good looking men are not so pleasant as others. I +suppose it is because they are conscious of their own good looks, +and therefore do not take the trouble of being amusing. We had one +very good looking man on board ship, and he was the dullest man +to talk to on board. No, Doctor, I won't have any names mentioned, +but I am right, am I not?" + +"He was a dull specimen, certainly," the Doctor said, "but I think +you are a little too sweeping." + +"I don't mean all good looking men, of course, but men who what I +call go in for being good looking. I don't know whether you know +what I mean. What are you smiling at, Mr. Wilson?" + +"I was thinking of two or three men I know to whom your description +applies, Miss Hannay; but I must be going--they are just going +to start the next race, and mine is the one after, so I must go +and get ready. You wish me success, don't you?" + +"I wish you all the success you deserve. I can't say more than +that, can I?" + +"I am afraid that is saying very little," he laughed. "I don't +expect to win, but I do hope I shall beat Richards, because he is +so cock sure he will beat me." + +This wish was not gratified. The first and second horses made +a close race of it; behind them by ten or twelve lengths came the +other horses in a clump, Wilson and Richards singling themselves +out in the last hundred yards and making a desperate race for the +third place, for which they made a dead heat, amid great laughter +from their comrades. + +"That is excellent," Major Hannay said; "you won't see anything +more amusing than that today, girls. The third horse simply saved +his stake, so that as they will of course divide, they will have +paid twenty-five rupees each for the pleasure of riding, and the +point which of their tats is the fastest remains unsettled." + +"Well, they beat a good many of them, Major Hannay," Miss Hunter +said; "so they did not do so badly after all." + +"Oh, no, they did not do so badly; but it will be a long time +before they get over the chaff about their desperate struggle for +the third place." + +The next two races attracted but slight attention from the occupants +of the carriage. Most of their acquaintances in the station came up +one after the other for a chat. There were many fresh introductions, +and there was so much conversation and laughter that the girls had +little time to attend to what was going on around them. Wilson and +Richards both sauntered up after changing, and were the subject of +much chaff as to their brilliant riding at the finish. Both were +firm in the belief that the judge's finding was wrong, and each +maintained stoutly he had beaten the other by a good head. + +The race for Arabs turned out a very exciting one; the Rajah of +Bithoor's horse was the favorite, on the strength of its performances +elsewhere; but Prothero's horse was also well supported, especially +in the regiment, for the Adjutant was a first class rider, and was +in great request at all the principal meetings in Oude and the +Northwest Provinces, while it was known that the Rajah's horse would +be ridden by a native. The latter was dressed in strict racing +costume, and had at the last races at Cawnpore won two or three +cups for the Rajah. + +But the general opinion among the officers of the station was that +Prothero's coolness and nerve would tell. His Arab was certainly +a fast one, and had won the previous year, both at Cawnpore and +Lucknow; but the Rajah's new purchase had gained so high a reputation +in the Western Presidency as fully to justify the odds of two to +one laid on it, while four to one were offered against Prothero, +and from eight to twenty to one against any other competitor. + +Prothero had stopped to have a chat at the Hunters' carriage as he +walked towards the dressing tent. + +"Our hopes are all centered in you, Mr. Prothero," Mr. Hunter said. +"Miss Hannay has been wagering gloves in a frightfully reckless +way." + +"I should advise you to hedge if you can, Miss Hannay," he said. +"I think there is no doubt that Mameluke is a good deal faster than +Seila. I fancy he is pounds better. I only beat Vincent's horse +by a head last year, and Mameluke gave him seven pounds, and beat +him by three lengths at Poona. So I should strongly advise you to +hedge your bets if you can." + +"What does he mean by hedge, uncle?" + +"To hedge is to bet the other way, so that one bet cancels the +other." + +"Oh, I shan't do that," she said; "I have enough money to pay my +bets if I lose." + +"Do you mean to say you mean to pay your bets if you lose, Miss +Hannay?" the Doctor asked incredulously. + +"Of course I do," she said indignantly. "You don't suppose I intend +to take the gloves if I win, and not to pay if I lose?" + +"It is not altogether an uncommon practice among ladies," the Doctor +said, "when they bet against gentlemen. I believe that when they +wager against each other, which they do not often do, they are +strictly honest, but that otherwise their memories are apt to fail +them altogether." + +"That is a libel, Mrs. Hunter, is it not?" + +"Not altogether, I think. Of course many ladies do pay their bets +when they lose, but others certainly do not." + +"Then I call it very mean," Isobel said earnestly. "Why, it is +as bad as asking anyone to make you a present of so many pairs of +gloves in case a certain horse wins." + +"It comes a good deal to the same thing," Mrs. Hunter admitted, +"but to a certain extent it is a recognized custom; it is a sort +of tribute that is exacted at race time, just as in France every +lady expects a present from every gentleman of her acquaintance on +New Year's Day." + +"I wouldn't bet if I didn't mean to pay honestly," Isobel said. +"And if Mr. Prothero doesn't win, my debts will all be honorably +discharged." + +There was a hush of expectation in the crowd when the ten horses +whose numbers were up went down to the starting point, a quarter +of a mile from the stand. They were to pass it, make the circuit, +and finish there, the race being two miles. The interest of +the natives was enlisted by the fact that Nana Sahib was running +a horse, while the hopes of the occupants of the inclosure rested +principally on Seila. + +The flag fell to a good start; but when the horses came along +Isobel saw with surprise that the dark blue of the Rajah and the +Adjutant's scarlet and white were both in the rear of the group. +Soon afterwards the scarlet seemed to be making its way through +the horses, and was speedily leading them. + +"Prothero is making the running with a vengeance," the Major said. +"That is not like his usual tactics, Doctor." + +"I fancy he knows what he is doing," the Doctor replied. "He saw +that Mameluke's rider was going to make a waiting race of it, and +as the horse has certainly the turn of speed on him, he is trying +other tactics. They are passing the mile post now, and Prothero is +twelve or fourteen lengths ahead. There, Mameluke is going through +his horses; his rider is beginning to get nervous at the lead +Prothero has got, and he can't stand it any longer. He ought to +have waited for another half mile. You will see, Prothero will win +after all. Seila can stay, there is no doubt about that." + +A roar of satisfaction rose from the mass of natives on the other +side of the inclosure as Mameluke was seen to leave the group of +horses and gradually to gain upon Seila. + +"Oh, he will catch him, uncle!" Isobel said, tearing her handkerchief +in her excitement. + +The Major was watching the horses through his field glass. + +"Never mind his catching him," he said; "Prothero is riding quietly +and steadily. Seila is doing nearly her best, but he is not hurrying +her, while the fool on Mameluke is bustling the horse as if he had +only a hundred yards further to go." + +The horses were nearing the point at which they had started, when +a shout from the crowd proclaimed that the blue jacket had come +up to and passed the scarlet. Slowly it forged ahead until it was +two lengths in advance, for a few strides their relative positions +remained unaltered, then there was a shout from the carriages; +scarlet was coming up again. Mameluke's rider glanced over his +shoulder, and began to use the whip. For a few strides the horse +widened the gap again, but Prothero still sat quiet and unmoved. +Just as they reached the end of the line of carriages, Seila again +began to close up. + +"Seila wins! Seila wins!" the officers shouted. + +But it seemed to Isobel that this was well nigh impossible, but foot +by foot the mare came up, and as they passed the Hunters' carriage +her head was in advance. + +In spite of the desperate efforts of the rider of Mameluke, another +hundred yards and they passed the winning post, Seila a length +ahead. + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +The exultation of the officers of the 103d over Seila's victory +was great. They had all backed her, relying upon Prothero's riding, +but although his success was generally popular among the Europeans +at the station, many had lost considerable sums by their confidence +in Mameluke's speed. + +Isobel sat down feeling quite faint from the excitement. + +"I did not think I could have been so excited over a race between +two horses," she said to Mrs. Hunter; "it was not the bets, I never +even thought about them--it was just because I wanted to see Mr. +Prothero's horse win. I never understood before why people should +take such an interest in horse racing, but I quite understand now." + +"What is your size, Miss Hannay?" Wilson asked. + +"Oh, I don't care anything about the gloves, Mr. Wilson; I am sorry +I bet now." + +"You needn't feel any compunction in taking them from me or from +any of us, Miss Hannay; we have all won over Seila; the regiment +will have to give a ball on the strength of it. I only put on a +hundred rupees, and so have won four hundred, but most of them have +won ever so much more than that; and all I have lost is four pair +of gloves to you, and four to Mrs. Doolan, and four to Mrs. Prothero +--a dozen in all. Which do you take, white or cream, and what is +your size?" + +"Six and a half, cream." + +"All right, Miss Hannay. The Nana must have lost a good lot of +money; he has been backing his horse with everyone who would lay +against it. However, it won't make any difference to him, and it +is always a satisfaction when the loss comes on someone to whom it +doesn't matter a bit. I think the regiment ought to give a dinner +to Prothero, Major; it was entirely his riding that did it; he hustled +that nigger on Mameluke splendidly. If the fellow had waited till +within half a mile of home he would have won to a certainty; I +never saw anything better." + +"Well, Miss Hannay, what do you think of a horse race?" Bathurst, +who had only remained a few minutes at the carriage, asked, as +he strolled up again. "You said yesterday that you had never seen +one." + +"I am a little ashamed to say I was very much excited over it, +Mr. Bathurst. You have not lost, I hope? You are looking" and she +stopped. + +"Shaky?" he said. "Yes; I feel shaky. I had not a penny on the +race, for though the Doctor made me put into a sweep last night at +the club, I drew a blank; but the shouting and excitement at the +finish seemed to take my breath away, and I felt quite faint." + +"That is just how I felt; I did not know men felt like that. They +don't generally seem to know what nerves are." + +"I wish I didn't; it is a great nuisance. The Doctor tries to +persuade me that it is the effect of overwork, but I have always +been so from a child, and I can't get over it." + +"You don't look nervous, Mr. Bathurst." + +"No; when a man is a fair size, and looks bronzed and healthy, no +one will give him credit for being nervous. I would give a very +great deal if I could get over it." + +"I don't see that it matters much one way or the other, Mr. Bathurst." + +"I can assure you that it does. I regard it as being a most serious +misfortune." + +Isobel was a little surprised at the earnestness with which he +spoke. + +"I should not have thought that," she said quietly; "but I +can understand that it is disagreeable for a man to feel nervous, +simply, I suppose, because it is regarded as a feminine quality; but +I think a good many men are nervous. We had several entertainments +on board the ship coming out, and it was funny to see how many great +strong men broke down, especially those who had to make speeches." + +"I am not nervous in that way," Bathurst said, with a laugh. "My +pet horror is noise; thunder prostrates me completely, and in fact +all noises, especially any sharp, sudden sound, affect me. I really +find it a great nuisance. I fancy a woman with nerves considers +herself as a martyr, and deserving of all pity and sympathy. It is +almost a fashionable complaint, and she is a little proud of it; +but a man ought to have his nerves in good order, and as much as +that is expected of him unless he is a feeble little body. There +is the bell for the next race." + +"Are you going to bet on this race again, Miss Hannay?" Wilson +said, coming up. + +"No, Mr. Wilson. I have done my first and last bit of gambling. +I don't think it is nice, ladies betting, after all, and if there +were a hospital here I should order you to send the money the +gloves will cost you to it as conscience money, and then perhaps +you might follow my example with your winnings." + +"My conscience is not moved in any way," he laughed; "when it is +I will look out for a deserving charity. Well, if you won't bet I +must see if I can make a small investment somewhere else." + +"I shall see you at the ball, of course?" Isobel said, turning to +Mr. Bathurst, as Wilson left the carriage. + +"No, I think not. Balls are altogether out of my line, and as there +is always a superabundance of men at such affairs here, there is +no sense of duty about it." + +"What is your line, Mr. Bathurst?" + +"I am afraid I have none, Miss Hannay. The fact is, there is really +more work to be done than one can get through. When you get to +know the natives well you cannot help liking them and longing to +do them some good if they would but let you, but it is so difficult +to get them to take up new ideas. Their religion, with all its +customs and ceremonies, seems designed expressly to bar out all +improvements. Except in the case of abolishing Suttee, we have +scarcely weaned them from one of their observances; and even now, +in spite of our efforts, widows occasionally immolate themselves, +and that with the general approval. + +"I wish I had an army of ten thousand English ladies all speaking +the language well to go about among the women and make friends with +them; there would be more good done in that way than by all the +officials in India. They might not be able to emancipate themselves +from all their restrictions, but they might influence their +children, and in time pave the way for a moral revolution. But it +is ridiculous," he said, breaking off suddenly, "my talking like +this here, but you see it is what you call my line, my hobby, if you +like; but when one sees this hard working, patient, gentle people +making their lot so much harder than it need be by their customs +and observances one longs to force them even against their own will +to burst their bonds." + +Dr. Wade came up at this moment and caught the last word or two. + +"You are incorrigible, Bathurst. Miss Hannay, I warn you that this +man is a monomaniac. I drag him away from his work, and here he is +discoursing with you on reform just as a race is going to start. +You may imagine, my dear, what a thorn he is in the side of the +bigwigs. You have heard of Talleyrand's advice to a young official, +'Above all things, no zeal.' Go away, Bathurst; Miss Hannay wants +to see the race, and even if she doesn't she is powerless to assist +you in your crusade." + +Bathurst laughed and drew off. + +"That is too bad, Doctor. I was very interested. I like to talk to +people who can think of something besides races and balls and the +gossip of the station." + +"Yes, in reason, in reason, my dear; but there is a medium in all +things. I have no doubt Bathurst will be quite happy some time +or other to give you his full views on child marriages, and the +remarriages of widows, and female education, and the land settlement, +and a score of other questions, but for this a few weeks of +perfect leisure will be required. Seriously, you know that I think +Bathurst one of the finest young fellows in the service, but his +very earnestness injures both his prospects and his utility. The +officials have a horror of enthusiasm; they like the cut and dried +subordinate who does his duty conscientiously, and does not trouble +his head about anything but carrying out the regulations laid down +for him. + +"Theoretically I agree with most of Bathurst's views, practically +I see that a score of officials like him would excite a revolution +throughout a whole province. In India, of all places in the world, +the maxim festina lente--go slow--is applicable. You have the +prejudices of a couple of thousand years against change. The people +of all things are jealous of the slightest appearance of interference +with their customs. The change will no doubt come in time, but it +must come gradually, and must be the work of the natives themselves +and not of us. To try to hasten that time would be but to defer it. +Now, child, there is the bell; now just attend to the business in +hand." + +"Very well, Doctor, I will obey your orders, but it is only fair +to say that Mr. Bathurst's remarks are only in answer to something +I said," and Isobel turned to watch the race, but with an interest +less ardent than she had before felt. + +Isobel's character was an essentially earnest one, and her life up +to the day of her departure to India had been one of few pleasures. +She had enjoyed the change and had entered heartily into it, and +she was as yet by no means tired of it, but she had upon her arrival +at Cawnpore been a little disappointed that there was no definite +work for her to perform, and had already begun to feel that a +time would come when she would want something more than gossip and +amusements and the light talk of the officers of her acquaintance +to fill her life. + +She had as yet no distinct interest of her own, and Bathurst's +earnestness had struck a cord in her own nature and seemed to open +a wide area for thought. She put it aside now and chatted gayly +with the Hunters and those who came up to the carriage, but it came +back to her as she sat in her room before going to bed. + +Up till now she had not heard a remark since she had been in Cawnpore +that might not have been spoken had the cantonments there been the +whole of India, except that persons at other stations were mentioned. +The vast, seething native population were no more alluded to than +if they were a world apart. Bathurst's words had for the first time +brought home to her the reality of their existence, and that around +this little group of English men and women lay a vast population, +with their joys and sorrows and sufferings. + +At breakfast she surprised Mrs. Hunter by asking a variety of +questions as to native customs. "I suppose you have often been in +the Zenanas, Mrs. Hunter?" + +"Not often, my dear. I have been in some of them, and very depressing +it is to see how childish and ignorant the women are." + +"Can nothing be done for them, Mrs. Hunter?" + +"Very little. In time I suppose there will be schools for girls, but +you see they marry so young that it is difficult to get at them." + +"How young do they marry?" + +"They are betrothed, although it has all the force of a marriage, +as infants, and a girl can be a widow at two or three years old; +and so, poor little thing, she remains to the end of her life in +a position little better than that of a servant in her husband's +family. Really they are married at ten or eleven." + +Isobel looked amazed at this her first insight into native life. +Mrs. Hunter smiled. + +"I heard Mr. Bathurst saying something to you about it yesterday, +Miss Hannay. He is an enthusiast; we like him very much, but we +don't see much of him." + +"You must beware of him, Miss Hannay," Mr. Hunter said, "or he +will inoculate you with some of his fads. I do not say that he is +not right, but he sees the immensity of the need for change, but +does not see fully the immensity of the difficulty in bringing it +about." + +"There is no fear of his inoculating me; that is to say of setting +me to work, for what could one woman do?" + +"Nothing, my dear," her uncle said; "if all the white women in India +threw themselves into the work, they could do little. The natives +are too jealous of what they consider intruders; the Parsees are +about the only progressive people. While ladies are welcome enough +when they pay a visit of ceremony to the Zenana of a native, if +they were to try to teach their wives to be discontented with their +lots--for that is what it would be--they would be no longer +welcome. Schools are being established, but at present these are +but a drop in the ocean. Still, the work does go on, and in time +something will be done. It is of no use bothering yourself about +it, Isobel; it is best to take matters as you find them." + +Isobel made no answer, but she was much disappointed when Dr. Wade, +dropping in to tiffin, said his guest had started two hours before +for Deennugghur. He had a batch of letters and reports from his +native clerk, and there was something or other that he said he must +see to at once. + +"He begged me to say, Major, that he was very sorry to go off +without saying goodby, but he hoped to be in Cawnpore before long. +I own that that part of the message astonished me, knowing as I do +what difficulty there is in getting him out of his shell. He and +I became great chums when I was over at Deennugghur two years ago, +and the young fellow is not given to making friends. However, as +he is not the man to say a thing without meaning it, I suppose he +intends to come over again. He knows there is always a bed for him +in my place." + +"We see very little of him," Mary Hunter said; "he is always away +on horseback all day. Sometimes he comes in the evening when we +are quite alone, but he will never stay long. He always excuses +himself on the ground that he has a report to write or something +of that sort. Amy and I call him 'Timon of Athens.'" + +"There is nothing of Timon about him," the Doctor remarked +dogmatically. "That is the way with you young ladies--you think +that a man's first business in life is to be dancing attendance on +you. Bathurst looks at life seriously, and no wonder, going about +as he does among the natives and listening to their stories and +complaints. He puts his hand to the plow, and does not turn to the +right or left." + +"Still, Doctor, you must allow," Mrs. Hunter said gravely, "that +Mr. Bathurst is not like most other men." + +"Certainly not," the Doctor remarked. "He takes no interest in sport +of any kind; he does not care for society; he very rarely goes to +the club, and never touches a card when he does; and yet he is the +sort of man one would think would throw himself into what is going +on. He is a strong, active, healthy man, whom one would expect to +excel in all sorts of sports; he is certainly good looking; he talks +extremely well, and is, I should say, very well read and intelligent." + +"He can be very amusing when he likes, Doctor. Once or twice when +he has been with us he has seemed to forget himself, as it were, +and was full of fun and life. You must allow that it is a little +singular that a man like this should altogether avoid society, and +night and day be absorbed in his work." + +"I have thought sometimes," Mr. Hunter said, "that Bathurst must +have had some great trouble in his life. Of what nature I can, of +course, form no idea. He was little more than twenty when he came +out here, so I should say that it was hardly a love affair." + +"That is always the way, Hunter. If a man goes his own way, and +that way does not happen to be the way of the mess, it is supposed +that he must have had trouble of some sort. As Bathurst is the son +of a distinguished soldier, and is now the owner of a fine property +at home, I don't see what trouble he can have had. He may possibly, +for anything I know, have had some boyish love affairs, but I don't +think he is the sort of man to allow his whole life to be affected +by any foolery of that sort. He is simply an enthusiast. + +"It is good for mankind that there should be some enthusiasts. I +grant that it would be an unpleasant world if we were all enthusiasts, +but the sight of a man like him throwing his whole life and energy +into his work, and wearing himself out trying to lessen the evils he +sees around him, ought to do good to us all. Look at these boys," +and he apostrophized Wilson and Richards, as they appeared together +at the door. "What do they think of but amusing themselves and +shirking their duties as far as possible?" + +"Oh, I say, Doctor," Wilson exclaimed, astonished at this sudden +attack, "what are you pitching into us like that for? That is +not fair, is it, Major? We amuse ourselves, of course, when there +is nothing else to do, but I am sure we don't shirk our work. You +don't want us to spend our spare time in reading Greek, I suppose?" + +"No; but you might spend some of it very profitably in learning +some of these native languages," the Doctor said. "I don't believe +that you know above a dozen native words now. You can shout for +brandy and water, and for a light for your cigars, but I fancy that +that is about the extent of it." + +"We are going to have a moonshee next week, Doctor," Wilson said, +a little crestfallen, "and a horrid nuisance it will be." + +"That is only because you are obliged to pass in the vernacular, +Wilson. So you need not take any credit to yourself on that account." + +"Doctor, you are in one of your worst possible tempers this morning," +Isobel said. "You snap at us all round. You are quite intolerable +this morning." + +"I am rather put out by Bathurst running away in this fashion, Miss +Hannay. I had made up my mind that he would stop three or four days +longer, and it is pleasant to have someone who can talk and think +about something besides horses and balls. But I will go away; I +don't want to be the disturbing element; and I have no doubt that +Richards is burning to tell you the odds on some of the horses +today." + +"Shall we see you on the racecourse, Doctor?" the Major asked, as +the Doctor moved towards the door. + +"You will not, Major; one day is enough for me. If they would get +up a donkey race confined strictly to the subalterns of the station, +I might take the trouble to go and look at it." + +"The Doctor is in great form today," Wilson said good temperedly, +after the laugh which followed the Doctor's exit had subsided; "and +I am sure we did nothing to provoke him." + +"You got into his line of fire, Wilson," the Major said; "he is +explosive this morning, and has been giving it to us all round. +However, nobody minds what the Doctor says; his bark is very bad, +but he has no bite. Wait till you are down with the fever, and you +will find him devote himself to you as if he were your father." + +"He is one of the kindest men in the world," Isobel agreed warmly, +thereby effectually silencing Richards, who had just pulled up his +shirt collar preparatory to a sarcastic utterance respecting him. + +Isobel, indeed, was in full sympathy with the Doctor, for she, too, +was disappointed at Bathurst's sudden departure. She had looked +forward to learning a good deal from him about the native customs +and ways, and had intended to have a long talk with him. She was +perhaps, too, more interested generally in the man himself than +she would have been willing to admit. + +That evening the party went to an entertainment at Bithoor. Isobel +and the girls were delighted with the illuminations of the gardens +and with the palace itself, with its mixture of Eastern splendor +and European luxury. But Isobel did not altogether enjoy the evening. + +"I suppose I ought to congratulate you on your success last night, +Isobel," Dr. Wade said, when he dropped in after breakfast. "Everyone +has been telling me that the Rajah paid you the greatest attention, +and that there is the fiercest gnashing of teeth among what must +now be called the ex-queens of the station." + +"I don't know who told you such nonsense, Doctor," Isobel replied +hotly. "The Rajah quite spoilt the evening for me. I have been +telling Mrs. Hunter so. If we had not been in his own house, I +should have told him that I should enjoy the evening very much more +if he would leave me alone and let me go about and look quietly at +the place and the gardens, which are really beautiful. No doubt he +is pleasant enough, and I suppose I ought to have felt flattered +at his walking about with me and so on, but I am sure I did not. +What pleasure does he suppose an English girl can have in listening +to elaborate compliments from a man as yellow as a guinea?" + +"Think of his wealth, my dear." + +"What difference does his wealth make?" Isobel said. "As far as +I have seen, I do not think that rich Englishmen are more amusing +than others, and if he had all the wealth of India, that would not +improve Nana Sahib in my eyes. There are women, of course, who do +think a great deal about money, and who will even marry men for it, +but even women who would do that could not, I should think, care +anything about the wealth of a Hindoo they cannot marry." + +"Not directly, my dear," Mrs. Hunter said; "but people may be +flattered with the notice and admiration of a person of importance +and great wealth, even if he is a Hindoo." + +"Besides," the Doctor put in, "the Rajah is considered to be a +great connoisseur of English beauty, and has frequently expressed +his deep regret that his religion prevented his marrying an English +lady." + +"I should be very sorry for the English girl who would marry him, +religion or not." + +"I think you are rather hard upon the Nana, Isobel," the Major +said. "He is a general favorite; he is open handed and liberal; +very fond of entertaining; a great admirer of us as a nation. He +is a wonderfully well read man for a Hindoo, can talk upon almost +every subject, and is really a pleasant fellow." + +"I don't like him; I don't like him at all," Isobel said positively. + +"Ah, that is only because you thought he made you a little more +conspicuous than you liked by his attentions to you, Isobel." + +"No, indeed, uncle; that was very silly and ridiculous, but I did +not like the man himself, putting that aside altogether. It was +like talking to a man with a mask on: it gave me a creepy feeling. +It did not seem to me that one single word he said was sincere, +but that he was acting; and over and over again as he was talking +I said to myself, 'What is this man really like? I know he is not +the least bit in the world what he pretends to be. But what is the +reality?' I felt just the same as I should if I had one of those +great snakes they bring to our veranda coiling round me. The +creature might look quiet enough, but I should know that if it were +to tighten it would crush me in a moment." + +The Major and Mrs. Hunter both laughed at her earnestness, but the +Doctor said gravely, "Is that really how you felt about him when he +was talking to you, Miss Hannay? I am sorry to hear you say that. +I own that my opinion has been that of everyone here, that the +Rajah is a good fellow and a firm friend of the Europeans, and my +only doubt has arisen from the fact that it was unnatural he should +like us when he has considerable grounds for grievance against us. +We have always relied upon his influence, which is great among his +countrymen, being thrown entirely into the scale on our side if +any trouble should ever arise; but I own that what you say makes +me doubt him. I would always take the opinion of a dog or a child +about anyone in preference to my own." + +"You are not very complimentary, Doctor," Isobel laughed. + +"Well, my dear, a young girl who has not mixed much in the world +and had her instincts blunted is in that respect very much like a +child. She may be deceived, and constantly is deceived where her +heart is concerned, and is liable to be taken in by any plausible +scoundrel; but where her heart is not concerned her instincts are +true. When I see children and dogs stick to a man I am convinced +that he is all right, though I may not personally have taken to +him. When I see a dog put his tail between his legs and decline to +accept the advances of a man, and when I see children slip away from +him as soon as they can, I distrust him at once, however pleasant +a fellow he may be. As the Rajah, from all I heard, certainly laid +himself out to be agreeable to you last night, and yet in spite of +that you felt as you say you did about him, I am bound to say that +without at once admitting that my impressions about him were wrong, +I consider that there is good ground for thinking the matter over +again." + +"What nonsense, Doctor," the Major laughed. "Everyone here has known +the Rajah for years. He is a most popular man, everyone likes him, +among the ladies especially he is a great favorite. It is ridiculous +to suggest that everyone should have been wrong about him, merely +because Isobel takes a prejudice against him, and that as far as +I can see is simply because his admiration for her was somewhat +marked." + +Isobel gave a little shudder. "Don't talk about admiration, uncle; +that is not the word for it; I don't know what it was like. They +say snakes fascinate birds before they eat them by fixing their +eyes upon them. I should say it was something of that sort of look." + +"Well, my dear, he is not going to eat you, that is certain," the +Major said; "and I can assure you that his approbation goes for a +great deal here, and that after this you will go up several pegs +in Cawnpore society." + +Isobel tossed her head. "Then I am sorry for Cawnpore society; it +is a matter of entire indifference to me whether I go up or down +in its opinion." + +A fortnight later the Nana gave another entertainment. A good deal +to her uncle's vexation, Isobel refused to go when the time came. + +"But what am I to say, my dear?" he asked in some perplexity. + +"You can say anything you like, uncle; you can say that I am feeling +the heat and have got a bad headache, which is true; or you can say +that I don't care for gayety, which is also true. I shall be very +much more comfortable and happy at home by myself." + +The Hunters had by this time returned to Deennugghur, and the Major +drove over to Bithoor accompanied only by Dr. Wade. He was rather +surprised when the Doctor said he would go, as it was very seldom +that he went out to such entertainments. + +"I am not going to amuse myself, Major; I want to have a good +look at the Nana again; I am not comfortable since Isobel gave us +her opinion of him. He is an important personage, and if there is +any truth in these rumors about disaffection among the Sepoys his +friendship may be of the greatest assistance to us." + +So the Doctor was with Major Hannay when the latter made his excuses +for Isobel's absence on the ground that she was not feeling very +well. + +The Nana expressed great regret at the news, and said that with the +Major's permission he would call in the morning to inquire after +Miss Hannay's health. + +"He did not like it," the Doctor said, when they had strolled away +together. "He was very civil and polite, but I could see that he +was savage. I fancy he got up this fete principally in her honor. +It is not often he has two so close together." + +"Oh, that is nonsense, Doctor." + +"I don't think so. He has done the same sort of thing several times +before, when he has been specially taken by some fresh face from +England." + +Others besides the Doctor remarked that the Rajah was not quite +himself that evening. He was courteous and polite to his guests, but +he was irritable with his own people, and something had evidently +gone wrong with him. + +The next day he called at the Major's. The latter had not told +Isobel of his intention, for he guessed that had he done so she +would have gone across to Mrs. Doolan or one of her lady friends, +and she was sitting in the veranda with him and young Wilson when +the carriage drove up. + +"I was so sorry to hear that you were unwell, Miss Hannay," the +Nana said courteously. "It was a great disappointment to me that +you were unable to accompany your uncle last night." + +"I have been feeling the heat the last few days," Isobel said +quietly, "and, indeed, I do not care much about going out in such +hot weather as this. I have not been accustomed to much society +in England, and the crowd and the heat and the lights make my head +ache." + +"You look the picture of health, Miss Hannay, but I know that it +is trying for Englishwomen when they first come into our climate; +it is always a great pleasure to me to receive English ladies at +Bithoor. I hope upon the next occasion you will be able to come." + +"I am much obliged to your highness," she said, "but it would be +a truer kindness to let me stay quietly at home." + +"But that is selfish of you, Miss Hannay. You should think a little +of the pleasure of others as well as your own." + +"I am not conceited enough to suppose that it could make any +difference to other people's pleasure whether I am at a party or +not," Isobel said. "I suppose you mean that as a compliment, Rajah, +but I am not accustomed to compliments, and don't like them." + +"You will have to learn to become accustomed to compliments, Miss +Hannay," the Rajah said, with a smile; and then turning to the +Doctor, began to tell him of a tiger that had been doing a great +deal of harm at a village some thirty miles away, and offered to +send some elephants over to organize a hunt for him if he liked, +an invitation that the Doctor promptly accepted. + +The visit was but a short one. The Rajah soon took his leave. + +"You are wrong altogether, Isobel," the Doctor said. "I have returned +to my conviction that the Rajah is a first rate fellow." + +"That is just because he offered you some shooting, Doctor," Isobel +said indignantly. "I thought better of you than to suppose that +you could be bought over so easily as that." + +"She had you there, Doctor," the Major laughed. "However, I am glad +that you will no longer be backing her in her fancies." + +"Why did you accept his invitation for us to go over and lunch +there, uncle?" Isobel asked, in a tone of annoyance. + +"Because there was no reason in the world why we should refuse, my +dear. He very often has luncheon parties, and after that he will +show you over the place, and exhibit his jewels and curiosities. +He said there would be other ladies there, and I have no doubt we +shall have a very pleasant day." + +Even Isobel was obliged to confess that the visit was a pleasant +one. The Nana had asked Mrs. Cromarty, her daughters, and most of +the other ladies of the regiment, with their husbands. The lunch +was a banquet, and after it was over the parties were taken round +the place, paid a visit to the Zenana, inspected the gardens and +stables, and were driven through the park. The Nana saw that Isobel +objected to be particularly noticed, and had the tact to make his +attentions so general that even she could find no fault with him. + +On the drive back she admitted to her uncle that she had enjoyed +her visit very much, and that the Rajah's manners were those of a +perfect gentleman. + +"But mind, uncle," she said, "I do not retract my opinion. What the +Rajah really is I don't pretend to know, but I am quite sure that +the character of a smiling host is not his real one, and that for +some reason or other he is simply playing a part." + +"I had no idea that you were such a prejudiced little woman," the +Major said, somewhat vexed; "but as it is no use arguing with you +we had better drop the subject." + +For the next month Cawnpore suffered a little from the reaction +after the gayety of the races, but there was no lack of topics of +conversation, for the rumors of disaffection among the troops gained +in strength, and although nothing positive was known, and everyone +scoffed at the notion of any serious trouble, the subject was so +important a one that little else was talked of whenever parties of +the ladies got together. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +"I have some bad news, Isobel. At least I suppose you will consider +it bad news," the Major said one morning, when he returned from the +orderly room. "You heard me say that four companies were going to +relieve those at Deennugghur. Well, I am going with them. It seems +that the General is of opinion that in the present unsettled state +of affairs there ought to be a field officer in command there, so +I have to go. For myself I don't mind, but you will find it dull +in a small station like that, after the gayeties of Cawnpore." + +"I don't mind a bit, uncle, in that respect. I don't think I care +much for gayeties, but of course the move will be a trouble. We +have everything so nice here, it will be horrid having to leave it +all. How long will it be for?" + +"Six months, in the ordinary state of things, though of course +something may occur to bring us in before that. Still, the change +won't be as much trouble as you fancy. When we get there you can stay +for two or three days with the Hunters till we have got the things +to rights. There is one thing that you will be pleased about. Wade +is going with us, at any rate for the present; you are a favorite +of his, you know, and I think that is the principal reason for +his going. At any rate, when he heard I was in orders, he told the +Colonel that, as there was no illness in the regiment, he thought, if +he did not object, he would change places for a bit with M'Alaster, +the assistant surgeon, who has been with the detachment at Deennugghur +for the last year, so as to give him a turn of duty at Cawnpore, +and do a little shikaring himself. There is more jungle and better +shooting round Deennugghur than there is here, and you know the +Doctor is an enthusiast that way. Of course, the Colonel agreed at +once." + +"I am very glad of that, uncle; it won't seem like going to a +strange place if we have him with us, and the Hunters there, and +I suppose three or four officers of the regiment. Who are going?" + +"Both your boys," the Major laughed, "and Doolan and Rintoul." + +"When do we go, uncle?" + +"Next Monday. I shall get somebody to put us up from Friday, and +that morning we will get everything dismantled here, and send them +off by bullock carts with the servants to Deennugghur, so that they +will be there by Monday morning. I will write to Hunter to pick us +out the best of the empty bungalows, and see that our fellows get +to work to clean the place up as soon as they arrive. We shall be +two days on the march, and things will be pretty forward by the +time we get there." + +"And where shall we sleep on the march?" + +"In tents, my dear, and very comfortable you will find them. Rumzan +will go with us, and you will find everything go on as smoothly as +if you were here. Tent life in India is very pleasant. Next year, +in the cool season, we will do an excursion somewhere, and I am +sure you will find it delightful: they don't know anything about +the capabilities of tents at home." + +"Then do I quite understand, uncle, that all I have got to do is +to make a round of calls to say goodby to everyone?" + +"That is all. You will find a lot of my cards in one of those pigeon +holes; you may as well drop one wherever you go. Shall I order a +carriage from Framjee's for today?" + +"No, I think not, uncle; I will go round to our own bungalows first, +and hear what Mrs. Doolan and the others think about it." + +At Mrs. Doolan's Isobel found quite an assembly. Mrs. Rintoul had +come in almost in tears, and the two young lieutenants had dropped +in with Captain Doolan, while one or two other officers had come +round to commiserate with Mrs. Doolan. + +"Another victim," the latter said, as Isobel entered. + +"You look too cheerful, Miss Hannay. I find that we are expected +to wear sad countenances at our approaching banishment." + +"Are we, Mrs. Doolan? It seems to me that it won't make very much +difference to us." + +"Not make any difference, Miss Hannay!" Captain Doolan said. "Why, +Deennugghur is one of the dullest little stations on this side of +India!" + +"What do you mean by dull, Captain Doolan?" + +"Why, there are only about six white residents there besides the +troops. Of course, as four companies are going instead of one, it +will make a difference; but there will be no gayety, no excitement, +and really nothing to do." + +"As for the gayety, I am sure I shall not regret it, Captain Doolan; +besides, our gayeties are pretty well over, except, of course, +dinner parties, and it is getting very hot for them. We shall get +off having to go out in the heat of the day to make calls, which +seem to me terrible afflictions, and I think with a small party it +ought to be very sociable and pleasant. As for excitement, I hear +that there is much better shooting there than there is here. Mrs. +Hunter was telling me that they have had some tigers that have been +very troublesome round there, and you will all have an opportunity +of showing your skill and bravery. I know that Mr. Richards and +Mr. Wilson are burning to distinguish themselves." + +"It would be great fun to shoot a tiger," Richards said. "When +I came out to India I thought there was going to be lots of tiger +shooting, and I bought a rifle on purpose, but I have never had a +chance yet. Yes, we will certainly get up a tiger hunt, won't we, +Wilson? You will tell us how to set about it, won't you, Doolan?" + +"I don't shoot," Captain Doolan said; "and if I wanted to, I am +not sure that my wife would give me leave." + +"Certainly I would not," Mrs. Doolan said promptly. "Married men +have no right to run into unnecessary danger." + +"Dr. Wade will be able to put you in the way, Mr. Richards," Isobel +said. + +"Dr. Wade!" Mrs. Rintoul exclaimed. "You don't mean to say, Miss +Hannay, that he is going with us?" + +"Yes, he is going for a time, Mrs. Rintoul. My uncle told me that +he had applied to go with the detachment, and that the surgeon +there would come back to the regiment while he is away." + +"I do call that hard," Mrs. Rintoul said. "The only thing I was +glad we were going for was that we should be under Mr. M'Alaster, +who is very pleasant, and quite understands my case, while Dr. +Wade does not seem to understand it at all, and is always so very +brusque and unsympathetic." + +There was a general smile. + +"Wade is worth a hundred of M'Alaster," Captain Roberts said. +"There is not a man out here I would rather trust myself to if I +were ill. He is an awfully good fellow, too, all round, though he +may be, as you say, a little brusque in manner." + +"I call him a downright bear," Mrs. Rintoul said angrily. "Why, +only last week he told me that if I would get up two hours earlier +and go for a brisk walk just after sunrise, and give up eating meat +at tiffin, and confine myself to two or three dishes at dinner, +I should be perfectly well in the course of a month; just as if +I was in the habit of overeating myself, when I have scarcely the +appetite of a sparrow. I told Captain Rintoul afterwards that I +must consult someone else, for that really I could not bear such +rudeness." + +"I am afraid we are all against you, Mrs. Rintoul," Mrs. Doolan +said, with a little shake of her head at Isobel, who was, she saw, +going to speak out strongly. "No one could possibly be kinder than +he is when anyone is really ill. I mean seriously ill," she added, +as Mrs. Rintoul drew herself up indignantly. "I shall never forget +how attentive he was to the children when they were down with +fever just before he went to England. He missed his ship and lost +a month of his leave because he would not go away till they were +out of danger, and there are very few men who would have done that. +I shall never forget his kindness. And now let us talk of something +else. You will have to establish a little mess on your own account, +Mr. Wilson, as both the Captains are married men, and the Major +has also an incumbrance." + +"Yes, it will be horribly dull, Mrs. Doolan. Richards and I have +quarters together here, and, of course, it will be the same there, +and I am sure I don't know what we shall find to talk about when +we come to have to mess together. Of course, here, there are the +messroom and the club, and so we get on very well, but to be together +always will be awful." + +"You will really have to take to reading or something of that sort, +Mr. Wilson," Isobel laughed. + +"I always do read the Field, Miss Hannay, but that won't last for a +whole week, you know; and there is no billiard table, and no racquet +court, or anything else at Deennugghur, and one cannot always be +riding about the country." + +"We shall all have to take pity on you as much as we can," Mrs. +Doolan said. "I must say that, like Miss Hannay, I shall not object +to the change." + +"I think it is all very well for you, Mrs. Doolan; you have children." + +"Well, Mr. Richards, I will let you both, as a great treat, take +them out for a walk sometimes of a morning instead of their going +with the ayah. That will make a change for you." + +There was a general laugh, but Wilson said manfully, "Very well, +Mrs. Doolan; I am very fond of youngsters, and I should like to +take, anyhow, the two eldest out sometimes. I don't think I should +make much hand with the other two, but perhaps Richards would like +to come in and amuse them while we are out; he is just the fellow +for young ones." + +There was another laugh, in which Richards joined. "I could carry +them about on my back, and pretend to be a horse," he said; "but +I don't know that I could amuse them in any other way." + +"You would find that very hot work, Mr. Richards," Mrs. Doolan +said; "but I don't think we shall require such a sacrifice of you. +Well, I don't think we shall find it so bad, after all, and I don't +suppose it will be for very long; I do not believe in all this +talk about chupaties, and disaffection, and that sort of thing; I +expect in three months we shall most of us be back again." + +Ten days later the detachment was settled down in Deennugghur. +The troops were for the most part under canvas, for there was only +accommodation for a single company at the station. The two subalterns +occupied a large square tent, while the other three officers took +possession of the only three bungalows that were vacant at the +station, the Doctor having a tent to himself. The Major and Isobel +had stayed for the first three days with the Hunters, at the end +of which time the bungalow had been put in perfect order. It was +far less commodious than that at Cawnpore, but Isobel was well +satisfied with it when all their belongings had been arranged, and +she soon declared that she greatly preferred Deennugghur to Cawnpore. + +Those at the station heartily welcomed the accession to their numbers, +and there was an entire absence of the stiffness and formality of +a large cantonment like Cawnpore, and Isobel was free to run in +as she chose to spend the morning chatting and working with the +Hunters, or Mrs. Doolan, or with the other ladies, of whom there +were three at the station. + +A few days after their arrival news came in that the famous man +eater, which had for a time ceased his ravages and moved off to a +different part of the country, principally because the natives of +the village near the jungle had ceased altogether to go out after +nightfall, had returned, and had carried off herdsmen on two +consecutive days. + +The Doctor at once prepared for action, and agreed to allow Wilson +and Richards to accompany him, and the next day the three rode off +together to Narkeet, to which village the two herdsmen had belonged. +Both had been killed near the same spot, and the natives had traced +the return of the tiger to its lair in the jungle with its victims. + +The Doctor soon found that the ordinary methods of destroying the +tiger had been tried again and again without success. Cattle and +goats had been tied up, and the native shikaris had taken their +posts in trees close by, and had watched all night; but in vain. +Spring traps and deadfalls had also been tried, but the tiger +seemed absolutely indifferent to the attractions of their baits, +and always on the lookout for snares. The attempts made at a dozen +villages near the jungle had all been equally unsuccessful. + +"It is evident," the Doctor said, "that the brute cares for nothing +but human victims. No doubt, if he were very hungry he would take +a cow or a goat, but we might wait a very long time for that; so +the only thing that I can see is to act as a bait myself." + +"How will you do that, Doctor?" + +"I shall build a sort of cage near the point where the tiger has +twice entered the jungle. I will take with me in the cage a woman +or girl from the village. From time to time she shall cry out as if +in pain, and as the tiger is evidently somewhere in this neighborhood +it is likely enough he will come out to see about it. + +"We must have the cage pretty strong, or I shall never get anyone +to sit with me; besides, on a dark night, there is no calculating +on killing to a certainty with the first shot, and it is just as +well to be on the safe side. In daylight it would be a different +matter altogether. I can rely upon my weapon when I can see, but +on a dark night it is pretty well guesswork." + +The villagers were at once engaged to erect a stout cage eight feet +square and four high, of beams driven into the ground six inches +apart, and roofed in with strong bars. There was a considerable +difficulty in getting anyone to consent to sit by the Doctor, but +at last the widow of one of the men who had been killed agreed for +the sum of twenty-five rupees to pass the night there, accompanied +by her child four years old. + +The Doctor's skill with his rifle was notorious, and it was rather +the desire of seeing her husband's death avenged than for the sake +of the money that she consented to keep watch. There was but one +tree suitable for the watchers; it stood some forty yards to the +right of the cage, and it was arranged that both the subalterns +should take their station in it. + +"Now look here, lads," the Doctor said, "before we start on this +business, it must be quite settled that you do not fire till you +hear my rifle. That is the first thing; the second is that you +only fire when the brute is a fair distance from the cage. If you +get excited and blaze away anyhow, you are quite as likely to hit +me as you are the tiger. Now, I object to take any risk whatever +on that score. You will have a native shikari in the tree with you +to point out the tiger, for it is twenty to one against your making +him out for yourselves. It will be quite indistinct, and you have +no chance of making out its head or anything of that sort, and you +have to take a shot at it as best you may. + +"Remember there must not be a word spoken. If the brute does come, +it will probably make two or three turns round the cage before it +approaches it, and may likely enough pass close to you, but in no +case fire. You can't make sure of killing it, and if it were only +wounded it would make off into the jungle, and all our trouble +would be thrown away. Also remember you must not smoke; the tiger +would smell it half a mile away, and, besides, the sound of a match +striking would be quite sufficient to set him on his guard." + +"There is no objection, I hope, Doctor, to our taking up our flasks; +we shall want something to keep us from going to sleep." + +"No, there is no objection to that," the Doctor said; "but mind +you don't go to sleep, for if you did you might fall off your bough +and break your neck, to say nothing of the chance of the tiger +happening to be close at hand at the time." + +Late in the afternoon the Doctor went down to inspect the cage, and +pronounced it sufficiently strong. Half an hour before nightfall +he and the woman and child took their places in it, and the two +beams in the roof that had been left unfastened to allow of their +entry were securely lashed in their places by the villagers. Wilson +and Richards were helped up into the tree, and took their places +upon two boughs which sprang from the trunk close to each other at +a height of some twelve feet from the ground. The shikari who was +to wait with them crawled out, and with a hatchet chopped off some +of the small boughs and foliage so as to give them a clear view of +the ground for some distance round the cage, which was erected in +the center of a patch of brushwood, the lower portion of which had +been cleared out so that the Doctor should have an uninterrupted +view round. The boughs and leaves were gathered up by the villagers, +and carried away by them, and the watch began. + +"Confound it," Richards whispered to his companion after night +fell, "it is getting as dark as pitch; I can scarcely make out the +clump where the cage is. I should hardly see an elephant if it were +to come, much less a brute like a tiger." + +"We shall get accustomed to it presently," Wilson replied; "at any +rate make quite sure of the direction in which the cage is in; it +is better to let twenty tigers go than to run the risk of hitting +the Doctor." + +In another hour their eyes had become accustomed to the darkness, +and they could not only see the clump in which the cage was clearly, +but could make out the outline of the bush all round the open space +in which it stood. Both started as a loud and dismal wail rose +suddenly in the air, followed by a violent crying. + +"By Jove, how that woman made me jump!" Wilson said; "it sounded +quite awful, and she must have pinched that poor little beggar of +hers pretty sharply to make him yell like that." + +A low "hush!" from the shikari at his elbow warned Wilson that he +was speaking too loudly. Hours passed by, the cries being raised +at intervals. + +"It is enough to give one the jumps, Richards; each time she yells +I nearly fall off my branch." + +"Keep on listening, then it won't startle you." + +"A fellow can't keep on listening," Wilson grumbled; "I listen each +time until my ears begin to sing, and I feel stupid and sleepy, +and then she goes off again like a steam whistle; that child will +be black and blue all over in the morning." + +A warning hiss from the shikari again induced Wilson to silence. + +"I don't believe the brute is coming," he whispered, an hour later. +"If it wasn't for this bough being so hard I should drop off to +sleep; my eyes ache with staring at those bushes." + +As he spoke the shikari touched him on the shoulder and pointed. +"Tiger," he whispered; and then did the same to Richards. Grasping +their rifles, they gazed in the direction in which he pointed, but +could for some time make out nothing. Then they saw a dim gray mass +in front of the bushes, directly on the opposite side of the open +space; then from the cage, lying almost in a direct line between +it and them, rose the cry of the child. They were neither of them +at all certain that the object at which they were gazing was the +tiger. It seemed shapeless, the outline fading away in the bush; +but they felt sure that they had noticed nothing like it in that +direction before. + +For two or three minutes they remained in uncertainty, then the +outline seemed to broaden, and it moved noiselessly. There could +be no mistake now; the tiger had been attracted by the cries, and +as it moved along they could see that it was making a circuit of +the spot from whence the sounds proceeded, to reconnoiter before +advancing towards its prey. It kept close to the line of bushes, +and sometimes passed behind some of them. The shikari pressed +their shoulders, and a low hiss enforced the necessity for absolute +silence. The two young fellows almost held their breath; they had +lost sight of the tiger now, but knew it must be approaching them. + +For two or three minutes they heard and saw nothing, then the +shikari pointed beyond them, and they almost started as they saw +the tiger retreating, and knew that it must have passed almost +under them without their noticing it. At last it reached the spot +at which they had first seen it. The child's cry, but this time +low and querulous, again rose. With quicker steps than before it +moved on, but still not directly towards the center, to the great +relief of the two subalterns, who had feared that it might attack +from such a direction that they would not dare to fire for fear of +hitting the cage. Fortunately it passed that point, and, crouching, +moved towards the bushes. + +Wilson and Richards had their rifles now at their shoulders, but, +in the feeble and uncertain light, felt by no means sure of hitting +their mark, though it was but some thirty yards away. Almost +breathlessly they listened for the Doctor's rifle, but both started +when the flash and sharp crack broke on the stillness. There was a +sudden snarl of pain, the tiger gave a spring in the air, and then +fell, rolling over and over. + +"It is not killed!" the shikari exclaimed. "Fire when it gets up." + +Suddenly it rose to its feet, and with a loud roar sprang towards +the thicket. The two subalterns fired, but the movements of the +dimly seen creature were so swift that they felt by no means sure +that they had hit it. Then came, almost simultaneously, a loud +shriek from the woman, of a very different character to the long +wails she had before uttered, followed by a sound of rending and +tearing. + +"He is breaking down the cage!" Richards exclaimed excitedly, as +he and Wilson hastened to ram another cartridge down their rifles. +"Come, we must go and help the Doctor." + +But a moment later came another report of a rifle, and then all +was silent. Then the Doctor's voice was heard. + +"Don't get down from the tree yet, lads; I think he is dead, but +it is best to make sure first." + +There was a pause, and then another rifle shot, followed by the shout +"All right; he is as dead as a door nail now. Mind your rifles as +you climb down." + +"Fancy thinking of that," Wilson said, "when you have just killed +a tiger! I haven't capped mine yet; have you, Richards?" + +"I have just put it on, but will take it off again. Here, old man, +you get down first, and we will hand the guns to you."--this to +the shikari. + +With some difficulty they scrambled down from the tree. + +"Now we may as well cap our rifles," Richards said; "the brute may +not be dead after all." + +They approached the bush cautiously. + +"You are quite sure he is dead, Doctor?" + +"Quite sure; do you think I don't know when a tiger is dead?" + +Still holding their guns in readiness to fire, they approached the +bushes. + +"You can do no good until the villagers come with torches," the +Doctor said; "the tiger is dead enough, but it is always as well +to be prudent." + +The shikari had uttered a loud cry as he sprang down from the tree, +and this had been answered by shouts from the distance. In a few +minutes lights were seen through the trees, and a score of men with +torches and lanterns ran up with shouts of satisfaction. + +As soon as they arrived the two young officers advanced to the +cage. On the top a tiger was lying stretched out as if in sleep; +with some caution they approached it and flashed a torch in its +eyes. There was no doubt that it was dead. The body was quickly +rolled off the cage, and then a dozen hands cut the lashing and +lifted the top bars, which was deeply scored by the tiger's claws, +and the Doctor emerged. + +"I am glad to be out of that," he said; "six hours in a cage with +a woman and a crying brat is no joke." + +As soon as the Doctor had got out, the subalterns eagerly examined +the tiger, upon which the natives were heaping curses and execrations. + +"How many wounds has it got?" they asked the Doctor, who repeated +the question to the shikari in his own language. + +"Three, sahib. One full in the chest--it would have been mortal +--two others in the ribs by the heart." + +"No others?" the subalterns exclaimed in disgust, as the answer +was translated to them. The Doctor himself examined the tiger. + +"No; you both missed, lads, but you need not be ashamed of that; +it is no easy matter to hit a tiger even at a short distance on a +dark night like this, when you can scarce make him out, and can't +see the barrel of your rifle. I ought to have told you to rub a +little phosphorus off the head of a match onto the sight. I am so +accustomed to do it myself as a matter of course that I did not +think of telling you. Well, I am heartily glad we have killed it, +for by all accounts it has done an immense deal of damage." + +"It has been a fine tiger in its time, although its skin doesn't +look much," Wilson said; "there are patches of fur off." + +"That is generally the case with man eaters. They are mostly old +tigers who take, when they get past their strength, to killing men. +I don't know whether the flesh doesn't agree with them, but they +are almost always mangy." + +"We were afraid for a moment," Richards said, "that the tiger was +going to break into your cage; we heard him clawing away at the +timber, and as you didn't fire again we were afraid something was +the matter." + +"The mother was," the Doctor said testily. "The moment the tiger +sprang, the woman threw herself down at full length right on the +top of my second rifle, and when I went to push her off I think +she fancied the tiger had got hold of her, for she gave a yell that +fairly made me jump. I had to push her off by main force, and then +lie down on my back, so as to get the rifle up to fire. I was sure +the first shot was fatal, for I knew just where his heart would be, +but I dropped a second cartridge in, and gave him another bullet so +as to make sure. Well, if either of you want his head or his claws, +you had better say so at once, for the natives will be singeing +his whiskers off directly; the practice is a superstition of theirs." + +"No, I don't want them," Wilson said. "If I had put a bullet into +the brute, so that I could have said I helped to kill him, I should +have liked the head to get it preserved and sent home to my people, +but as it is the natives are welcome to it as far as I am concerned." + +Richards was of the same opinion, and so without further delay they +started back for the village, where, upon their arrival, they were +greeted with cries of joy by the women, the news having already +been carried back by a boy. + +"Poor beggars!" the Doctor said. "They have been living a life of +terror for weeks. They must feel as if they had woke from a nightmare. +Now, lads, we will have some supper. I dare say you are ready for +it, and I am sure I am." + +"Is there any chance for supper, Doctor?--why, it must be two +o'clock in the morning." + +"Of course there is," the Doctor replied. "I gave orders to my man +to begin to warm up the food as soon as he heard a gun fired, and +I will guarantee he has got everything ready by this time." + +After a hearty meal and a cigar they lay down for a few hours' +sleep, and at daybreak rode back to Deennugghur, the two subalterns +rather crestfallen at their failure to have taken any active part +in killing the tiger that had so long been a terror to the district. + +"It was an awful sell missing him, Miss Hannay; I wanted to have +had the claws mounted as a necklace; I thought you would have liked +it." + +"I am very much obliged to you, Mr. Wilson, but I would much rather +not have had them. If the tiger hadn't been a man eater I should +not have minded, but I should never have worn as an ornament claws +that had killed lots of people--women and children too." + +"No, I never thought of that, Miss Hannay; it wouldn't have been +pleasant, now one thinks of it; still, I wish I had put a bullet +into him." + +"No doubt you will do better next time, Mr. Wilson. The Doctor has +been telling me that it is extremely difficult to hit an animal +in the dark when you are not accustomed to that sort of shooting. +He says he was in a great fright all the time he was lying in the +cage, and that it was an immense relief to him when he heard your +rifles go off, and found that he wasn't hit." + +"That is too bad of him, Miss Hannay," Wilson laughed; "we were +not such duffers as all that. I don't believe he really did think +so." + +"I am sure he was in earnest, Mr. Wilson. He said he should have +felt quite safe if it had been daylight, but that in the dark +people really can't see which way the rifles are pointed, and that +he remembered he had not told you to put phosphorus on the sights." + +"It was too bad of him," Wilson grumbled; "it would have served +him right if one of the bullets had hit a timber of the cage and +given him a start; I should like to have seen the Doctor struggling +in the dark to get his second rifle from under the woman, with the +tiger clawing and growling two feet above him." + +"The Doctor didn't tell me about that," Isobel laughed; "though he +said he had a woman and child with him to attract the tiger." + +"It would have frightened any decent minded tiger, Miss Hannay, +instead of attracting it; for such dismal yells as that woman made +I never listened to. I nearly tumbled off the tree at the first of +them, it made me jump so, and it gave me a feeling of cold water +running down my back. As to the child, I don't know whether she +pinched it or the doctor stuck pins into it, but the poor little +brute howled in the most frightful way. I don't think I shall ever +want to go tiger shooting in the dark again; I ache all over today +as if I had been playing in the first football match of the season, +from sitting balancing myself on that branch; I was almost over +half a dozen times." + +"I expect you nearly went off to sleep, Mr. Wilson." + +"I think I should have gone to sleep if it hadn't been for that +woman, Miss Hannay. I should not have minded if I could have smoked, +but to sit there hour after hour and not be able to smoke, and not +allowed to speak, and staring all the time into the darkness till +your eyes ached, was trying, I can tell you; and after all that, +not to hit the brute was too bad." + +The days passed quietly at Deennugghur. They were seldom alone at +Major Hannay's bungalow in the evening, for Wilson and Richards +generally came in to smoke a cigar in the veranda; the Doctor was +a regular visitor, when he was not away in pursuit of game, and +Bathurst was also often one of the party. + +"Mr. Bathurst is coming out wonderfully, Miss Hannay," Mrs. Hunter +said one day, as Isobel sat working with her, while the two girls +were practicing duets on a piano in the next room. "We used to +call him the hermit, he was so difficult to get out of his cell. +We were quite surprised when he accepted our invitation to dinner +yesterday." + +"I think Dr. Wade has stirred him up," Isobel said calmly; "he is +a great favorite of the Doctor's." + +Mrs. Hunter smiled over her work. "Perhaps so, my dear; anyhow, I +am glad he has come out, and I hope he won't retire into his cell +again after you have all gone." + +"I suppose it depends a good deal upon his work," Isobel said. + +"My experience of men is that they can always make time if they +like, my dear. When a man says he is too busy to do this, that, or +the other, you may always safely put it down that he doesn't want +to do it. Of course, it is just the same thing with ourselves. You +often hear women say they are too busy to attend to all sorts of +things that they ought to attend to, but the same women can find +plenty of time to go to every pleasure gathering that comes off. +There is no doubt that Mr. Bathurst is really fond of work, and +that he is an indefatigable civil servant of the Company, but that +would not prevent him making an hour or two's time of an evening, +occasionally, if he wanted to. However, he seems to have turned +over a new leaf, and I hope it will last. In a small station like +this, even one man is of importance, especially when he is as +pleasant as Mr. Bathurst can be when he likes. He was in the army +at one time, you know." + +"Was he, Mrs. Hunter?" + +"Yes. I never heard him say so himself, but I have heard so from +several people. I think he was only in it for a year or so. I suppose +he did not care for it, and can quite imagine he would not, so he +sold out, and a short time afterwards obtained a civil appointment. +He has very good interest; his father was General Bathurst, who +was, you know, a very distinguished officer. So he had no difficulty +in getting into our service, where he is entirely in his element. +His father died two years ago, and I believe he came into a good +property at home. Everyone expected he would have thrown up his +appointment, but it made no difference to him, and he just went on +as before, working as if he had to depend entirely on the service." + +"I can quite understand that," Isobel said, "to a really earnest +man a life of usefulness here must be vastly preferable to living +at home without anything to do or any object in life." + +"Well, perhaps so, my dear, and in theory that is, no doubt, the +case; but practically, I fancy you would find nineteen men out of +twenty, even if they are what you call earnest men, retire from +the ranks of hard workers if they come into a nice property. By +the way, you must come in here this evening. There is a juggler in +the station, and Mr. Hunter has told him to come round. The servants +say the man is a very celebrated juggler, one of the best in India, +and as the girls have never seen anything better than the ordinary +itinerant conjurers, my husband has arranged for him to come in +here, and we have been sending notes round asking everyone to come +in. We have sent one round to your place, but you must have come +out before the chit arrived." + +"Oh, I should like that very much!" Isobel said. "Two or three men +came to our bungalow at Cawnpore and did some conjuring, but it +was nothing particular; but uncle says some of them do wonderful +things--things that he cannot account for at all. That was one +of the things I read about at school, and thought I should like +to see, more than anything in India. When I was at school we went +in a body, two or three times, to see conjurers when they came to +Cheltenham. Of course I did not understand the things they did, +and they seemed wonderful to me, but I know there are people who +can explain them, and that they are only tricks; but I have read +accounts of things done by jugglers in India that seemed utterly +impossible to explain--really a sort of magic." + +"I have heard a good many arguments about it," Mrs. Hunter said; +"and a good many people, especially those who have seen most of +them, are of opinion that many of the feats of the Indian jugglers +cannot be explained by any natural laws we know of. I have seen +some very curious things myself, but the very fact that I did not +understand how they were done was no proof they could not be explained; +certainly two of their commonest tricks, the basket trick and the +mango, have never been explained. Our conjurers at home can do +something like them, but then that is on a stage, where they can +have trapdoors and all sorts of things, while these are done anywhere +--in a garden, on a road--where there could be no possible +preparation, and with a crowd of lookers on all round; it makes me +quite uncomfortable to look at it." + +"Well, I must be off now, Mrs. Hunter; it is nearly time for uncle +to be back, and he likes me to be in when he returns." + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +Dr. Wade was sitting in the veranda smoking and reading an English +paper that had arrived by that morning's mail, when Isobel returned. + +"Good morning, Doctor. Is uncle back?" + +"Not yet. He told me he might be half an hour late, and that I was +to come round and amuse you until he came back." + +"So in my absence you have been amusing yourself, Doctor. I have +been round at Mrs. Hunter's; she is going to have a juggler there +this evening, and we are all to go." + +"Yes, I got a chit from her this morning. I have seen scores of +them, but I make a point of never missing an exhibition when I get +the chance. I hate anything I don't understand, and I go with the +faint hope of being able to find things out, though I know perfectly +well that I shall not do so." + +"Then you think it is not all quite natural, Doctor?" + +"I don't say it is not natural, because we don't know what all the +natural laws are, but I say that some of the things I have seen +certainly are not to be accounted for by anything we do know. It is +not often that the jugglers show their best tricks to the whites-- +they know that, as a rule, we are altogether skeptical; but I have +seen at native courts more than once the most astounding things +--things absolutely incomprehensible and inexplicable. I don't +suppose we are going to see anything of that sort tonight, though +Mrs. Hunter said in her note that they had heard from the native +servant that this man was a famous one. + +"There is a sect of people in India, I don't mean a caste, but a +sort of secret society, who, I believe, claim to be able by some +sort of influence to suspend altogether the laws of nature. I do +not say that I believe them--as a scientific man, it is my duty +not to believe them; but I have seen such things done by some of +the higher class of jugglers, and that under circumstances that +did not seem to admit of the possibility of deception, that I am +obliged to suspend my judgment, which, as you may imagine, my dear, +is exceedingly annoying to me; but some of them do possess to a +considerable extent what the Scotch call second sight, that is to +say, the power of foreseeing events in the future. Of that I am +morally certain; I have seen proofs of it over and over again. For +example, once an old fakir, whom I had cured of a badly ulcerated +limb, came up just as I was starting on a shooting expedition. + +"'Do not go out today,' he said. 'I foresee evil for you. I saw +you last night brought back badly wounded.' + +"'But if I don't go your dream will come wrong,' I said. + +"He shook his head. + +"'You will go in spite of what I say,' he said; 'and you will +suffer, and others too;' and he looked at a group of shikaris, who +were standing together, ready to make a start. + +"'How many men are there?' he said. + +"'Why, six of course,' I replied. + +"'I see only three,' he said, 'and three dull spots. One of those +I see is holding his matchlock on his shoulder, another is examining +his priming, the third is sitting down by the tire. Those three will +come back at the end of the day; the other three will not return +alive.' + +"I felt rather uncomfortable, but I wasn't, as I said to myself-- +I was a good deal younger then, my dear--such a fool as to be +deterred from what promised to be a good day's sport by such nonsense +as this; and I went. + +"We were going after a rogue elephant that had been doing a lot of +damage among the natives' plantations. We found him, and a savage +brute he turned out to be. He moved just as I fired, and though I +hit him, it was not on the fatal spot, and he charged right down +among us. He caught the very three men the fakir said were doomed, +and dashed the life out of them; then he came at me. The bearer +had run off with my second gun, and he seized me and flung me up +in the air. + +"I fell in a tree, but broke three of my ribs and one of my arms; +fortunately, though the beast tried to get at me, I was out of +his reach, and the tree was too strong for him to knock down. Then +another man who was with me came up and killed him, and they got +me down and carried me back, and I was weeks before I was about +again. That was something more than a coincidence, I think. There +were some twenty men out with us, and just the four he had pointed +out were hurt, and no others. + +"I have seen scores of other cases in which these predictions have +come true, especially in cases of disease; though I grant that +here the predictions often bring about their own fulfilment. If a +native is told by a fakir, or holy man, that he is going to die, +he makes no struggle to live. In several cases I have seen natives, +whose deaths have been predicted, die, without, as far as my science +could tell me, any disease or ailment whatever that should have +been fatal to them. They simply sank--died, I should say, from +pure fright. But putting aside this class, I have seen enough to +convince me that some at least among these fanatics do possess the +power of second sight." + +"That is very extraordinary, Doctor. Of course I have heard of +second sight among certain old people in Scotland, but I did not +believe in it." + +"I should not have believed in it if I had not seen the same thing +here in India. I naturally have been interested in it, and have read +pretty well everything that has been written about second sight among +the Highlanders; and some of the incidents are so well authenticated +that I scarcely see how they can be denied. Of course, there is no +accounting for it, but it is possible that among what we may call +primitive people there are certain intuitions or instincts, call +them what you like, that have been lost by civilized people. + +"The power of scent in a dog is something so vastly beyond anything +we can even imagine possible, that though we put it down to instinct, +it is really almost inexplicable. Take the case that dogs have +been known to be taken by railway journeys of many hundred miles +and to have found their way home again on foot. There is clearly +the possession of a power which is to us absolutely unaccountable. + +"But here comes your uncle; he will think I have been preaching a +sermon to you if you look so grave." + +But Major Hannay was too occupied with his own thoughts to notice +Isobel. + +"Has anything gone wrong, Major?" the Doctor asked, as he saw his +face. + +"I have just learnt," the Major said, "that some more chupaties +were brought last night. It is most annoying. I have questioned +several of the native officers, and they profess to have no idea +whence they came or what is the meaning of them. I wish we could +get to the bottom of this thing; it keeps the troops in a ferment. +If I could get hold of one of these messengers, I would get out of +him all he knew, even if I had to roast him to make him tell." + +"My dear uncle," Isobel said reprovingly, "I am sure you don't mean +what you say." + +"I don't know," he said, half laughing; "I should certainly consider +myself perfectly justified in taking uncommonly strong steps to +try to get to the bottom of this business. The thing is going on +all over India, and it must mean something, and it is all the worse +if taken in connection with this absurd idea about the greased +cartridges. I grant that it was an act of folly greasing them at +all, when we know the idiotic prejudices the natives have; still, +it could hardly have been foreseen that this stir would have been +made. The issue of the cartridges has been stopped, but when the +natives once get an idea into their minds it is next to impossible +to disabuse them of it. It is a tiresome business altogether." + +"Tiffin ready, sahib," Rumzan interrupted, coming out onto the +veranda. + +"That is right, Rumzan. Now, Isobel, let us think of more pleasant +subjects." + +"We are to go into the Hunters' this evening, uncle," Isobel said, +as she sat down. "There is going to be a famous juggler there. +There is a note for you from Mrs. Hunter on the side table." + +"Very well, my dear; some of these fellows are well worth seeing. +Bathurst is coming in to dinner. I saw him as he was starting this +morning, just as he was going down to the lines, and he accepted. +He said he should be able to get back in time. However, I don't +suppose he will mind going round with us. I hope you will come, +Doctor, to make up the table. I have asked the two boys to come +in." + +"I shall have to become a permanent boarder at your establishment, +Major. It is really useless my keeping a cook when I am in here +nearly half my time. But I will come. I am off for three days +tomorrow. A villager came in this morning to beg me to go out to rid +them of a tiger that has established himself in their neighborhood, +and that is an invitation I never refuse, if I can possibly manage +to make time for it. Fortunately everyone is so healthy here at +present that I can be very well spared." + +At dinner the subject of juggling came up again, and the two +subalterns expressed their opinion strongly that it was all humbug. + +"Dr. Wade believes in it, Mr. Wilson," Isobel said. + +"You don't say so, Doctor; I should have thought you were the last +sort of man who would have believed in conjurers." + +"It requires a wise man to believe, Wilson," the Doctor said; "any +fool can scoff; the wise man questions. When you have been here as +long as I have, and if you ever get as much sense as I have, which +is doubtful, you may be less positive in your ideas, if you can +call them ideas." + +"That is one for me," Wilson said good humoredly, while the others +laughed. + +"Well, I have never seen them, Doctor, except those fellows who +come around to the veranda, and I have seen conjurers at home do +ever so much better tricks than they." + +"What do you think of them, Mr. Bathurst?" Isobel asked. "I suppose +you have seen some of the better sort?" + +"I do not know what to think of them, Miss Hannay. I used to +be rather of Wilson's opinion, but I have seen things since that +I could not account for at all. There was a man here two or three +months back who astounded me." + +"Mrs. Hunter said that the girls had had no opportunity of seeing +a good conjurer since they came out, Mr. Bathurst. I suppose they +did know this man you are speaking of being here?" + +"He was only here for a few hours, Miss Hannay. I had happened to +meet him before, and he gave me a private performance, which was +quite different to anything I have ever seen, though I had often +heard of the feats he had performed. I was so impressed with them +that I can assure you that for a few days I had great difficulty +in keeping my mind upon my work." + +"What did he do, Mr. Bathurst?" + +Bathurst related the feat of the disappearing girl. + +"She must have jumped down when you were not looking," Richards +said, with an air or conviction. + +"Possibly," Bathurst replied quietly; "but as I was within three or +four yards of the pole, and it was perfectly distinct in the light +of my lamp, and as I certainly saw her till she was some thirty or +forty feet up in the air I don't see how she can have managed it. +For, even supposing she could have sprung down that distance without +being hurt, she would not have come down so noiselessly that I +should not have heard her." + +"Still, if she did not come down that way, how could she have come?" +Wilson said. + +"That is exactly what I can't make out," Bathurst replied. "If it +should happen to be the same man, and he will do the same thing +again, I fancy you will be as much puzzled as I was." + +After dinner was over the party walked across to Mr. Hunter's +bungalow, where, in a short time, the other officers, their wives, +and all the other residents at the station were assembled. Chairs +were placed in the veranda for the ladies, and a number of lamps +hung on the wall, so that a strong light was thrown upon the ground +in front of it. In addition, four posts had been driven into the +ground some twenty feet from the veranda, and lamps had been fastened +upon them. + +"I don't know whether the juggler will like that," Mr. Hunter said, +"and I shan't light them if he objects. I don't think myself it is +quite fair having a light behind him; still, if he agrees, it will +be hardly possible for him to make the slightest movement without +being seen." + +The juggler, who was sitting round at the other side of the house, +was now called up. He and the girl, who followed him, salaamed +deeply, and made an even deeper bow to Bathurst, who was standing +behind Isobel's chair. + +"You must have paid them well, Bathurst," Major Hannay said. "They +have evidently a lively remembrance of past favors. I suppose they +are the same you were talking about?" + +"Yes, they are the same people, Major." Then he said in the native +dialect to the juggler, "Mr. Hunter has put some posts with lamps +behind you, Rujub, but he hasn't lit them because he did not know +whether you would object." + +"They can be lighted, sahib. My feats do not depend on darkness. +Any of the sahibs who like to stand behind us can do so if they do +not come within the line of those posts." + +"Let us go out there," Wilson said to Richards, when the answer +was translated; "we will light the lamps, and we shall see better +there than we shall see here." + +The two went round to the other side and lit the lamps, and the +servants stood a short distance off on either side. + +The first trick shown was the well known mango tree. The juggler +placed a seed in the ground, poured some water upon it from a lota, +and covered it with a cloth. In two or three minutes he lifted. +this, and a plant four or five inches high was seen. He covered +this with a tall basket, which he first handed round for inspection. +On removing this a mango tree some three feet high, in full bloom, +was seen. It was again covered, and when the basket was removed it +was seen to be covered with ripe fruit, eliciting exclamations of +astonishment from those among the spectators who had not before +seen the trick performed. + +"Now, Wilson," the Doctor said, "perhaps you will be kind enough +to explain to us all how this was done?" + +"I have no more idea than Adam, Doctor." + +"Then we will leave it to Richards. He promised us at dinner to +keep his eyes well open." + +Richards made no reply. + +"How was it done, Mr. Bathurst? It seems almost like a miracle." + +"I am as ignorant as Wilson is, Miss Hannay. I can't account for +it in any way, and I have seen it done a score of times. Ah! now +he is going to do the basket trick. Don't be alarmed when you hear +the girl cry out. You may be quite sure that she is not hurt. The +father is deeply attached to her, and would not hurt a hair of her +head." + +Again the usual methods were adopted. The basket was placed on the +ground and the girl stepped into it, without the pretense of fear +usually exhibited by the performers. + +Before the trick began Major Hannay said to Captain Doolan, "Come +round with me to the side of those boys. I know the first time I +saw it done I was nearly throwing myself on the juggler, and Wilson +is a hot headed boy, and is likely as not to do so. If he did, the +man would probably go off in a huff and show us nothing more. From +what Bathurst said, we are likely to see something unusual." + +As soon as the lid was put down, an apparently angry colloquy took +place between the juggler and the girl inside. Presently the man +appeared to become enraged, and snatching up a long, straight sword +from the ground, ran it three or four times through the basket. + +A loud shriek followed the first thrust, and then all was silent. + +Some of the ladies rose to their feet with a cry of horror, Isobel +among them. Wilson and Richards both started to rush forward, but +were seized by the collars by the Major and Captain Doolan. + +"Will you open the basket?" the juggler said quietly to Mrs. +Hunter. As she had seen the trick before she stepped forward without +hesitation, opened the lid of the basket and said, "It is empty." +The juggler took it up, and held it up, bottom upwards. + +"What on earth has become of the girl?" Wilson exclaimed. + +As he spoke she passed between him and Richards back to her father's +side. + +"Well, I am dashed," Wilson murmured. "I would not have believed +it if fifty people had sworn to me they had seen it." He was too +much confounded even to reply, when the Doctor sarcastically said: +"We are waiting for your explanation, gentlemen." + +"Will you ask him, Major," Richards said, as he wiped his forehead +with his pocket handkerchief, "to make sure that she is solid?" + +The Major translated the request, and the girl at once came across, +and Richards touched her with evident doubt as to whether on not +she were really flesh and blood. + +There was much curiosity among those who had seen jugglers before +as to what would be the next feat, for generally those just seen +were the closing ones of a performance, but as these were the first +it seemed that those to follow must be extraordinary indeed. + +The next feat was the one shown to Bathurst, and was performed +exactly as upon that occasion, except that as the girl rose beyond +the circle of light she remained distinctly visible, a sort of +phosphoric light playing around her. Those in the veranda had come +out now, the juggler warning them not to approach within six feet +of the pole. + +Higher and higher the girl went, until those below judged her to be +at least a hundred and fifty feet from the ground. Then the light +died out, and she disappeared from their sight. There was silence +for a minute or two, and then the end of the pole could be seen +descending without her. Another minute, and it was reduced to the +length it had been at starting. + +The spectators were silent now; the whole thing was so strange and +mysterious that they had no words to express their feeling. + +The juggler said something which Mr. Hunter translated to be a +request for all to resume their places. + +"That is a wonderful trick," the Doctor said to Bathurst. "I have +never seen it done that way before, but I once saw a juggler throw +up a rope into the air; how high it went I don't know, for, like +this, it was done at night, but it stood up perfectly stiff, and +the juggler's attendant climbed up. He went higher and higher, and +we could hear his voice coming down to us. At last it stopped, and +then suddenly the rope fell in coils on the ground, and the boy +walked quietly in, just as that girl has done now." + +The girl now placed herself in the center of the open space. + +"You will please not to speak while this trick is being performed," +the juggler said; "harm might come of it. Watch the ground near +her feet." + +A minute later a dark object made its appearance from the ground. +It rose higher and higher with an undulating movement. + +"By Jove, it is a python!" the Doctor whispered in Bathurst's ear. +A similar exclamation broke from several of the others, but the +juggler waved his hand with an authoritative hush. The snake rose +until its head towered above that of the girl, and then began to +twine itself round her, continuously rising from the ground until +it enveloped her with five coils, each thicker than a man's arm. +It raised its head above hers and hissed loudly and angrily; then +its tail began to descend, gradually the coils unwound themselves; +lower and lower it descended until it disappeared altogether. + +It was some time before anyone spoke, so great was the feeling of +wonder. The Doctor was the first to break the silence. + +"I have never seen that before," he said, "though I have heard of +it from a native Rajah." + +"Would the sahibs like to see more?" the juggler asked. + +The two Miss Hunters, Mrs. Rintoul, and several of the others +said they had seen enough, but among the men there was expressed +a general wish to see another feat. + +"I would not have missed this for anything," the Doctor said. "It +would be simple madness to throw away such a chance." + +The ladies, therefore, with the exception of Mrs. Hunter, Mrs. +Doolan, and Isobel, retired into the house. + +"You must all go on one side now," the juggler said, "for it is +only on one side what I am now going to do can be seen." + +He then proceeded to light a fire of charcoal. When he had done +this, he said, "The lights must now be extinguished and the curtains +drawn, so that the light will not stream out from the house." + +As soon as this was done he poured a powder over the fire, and by +its faint light the cloud of white smoke could be seen. + +"Now I will show you the past," he said. "Who speaks?" + +There was silence, and then Dr. Wade said, "Show me my past." + +A faint light stole up over the smoke--it grew brighter and +brighter; and then a picture was clearly seen upon it. + +It was the sea, a house standing by itself in a garden, and +separated from the water only by a road. Presently the figure of a +girl appeared at the gate, and, stepping out, looked down the road +as if waiting for someone. They could make out all the details of +her dress and see her features distinctly. A low exclamation broke +from the Doctor, then the picture gradually faded away. + +"The future!" the juggler said, and gradually an Indian scene +appeared on the smoke. It was a long, straight road, bordered by +a jungle. A native was seen approaching; he paused in the foreground. + +"That is you, Doctor!" Mr. Hunter exclaimed; "you are got up as a +native, but it's you." + +Almost at the same moment two figures came out from the jungle. +They were also in native dress. + +"You and Miss Hannay," the Doctor said in a low tone to Bathurst, +"dressed like a native and dyed." But no one else detected the +disguise, and the picture again faded away. + +"That is enough, Rujub," Bathurst said, for he felt Isobel lean back +heavily against the hand which he held at the back of her chair, +and felt sure that she had fainted. + +"Draw back the curtains, someone; I fancy this has been too much +for Miss Hannay." + +The curtains were thrown back, and Mrs. Hunter, running in, brought +out a lamp. The Doctor had already taken his place by Isobel's +side. + +"Yes, she has fainted," he said to Bathurst; "carry her in her +chair as she is, so that she may be in the room when she comes to." + +This was done. + +"Now, gentlemen," the Doctor said, "you had better light the lamps +again out here, and leave the ladies and me to get Miss Hannay +round." + +When the lamps were lit it was evident that the whole of the men +were a good deal shaken by what they had seen. + +"Well," Mr. Hunter said, "they told me he was a famous juggler, but +that beat anything I have seen before. I have heard of such things +frequently from natives, but it is very seldom that Europeans get +a chance of seeing them." + +"I don't want to see anything of the sort again," Major Hannay said; +"it shakes one's notions of things in general. I fancy, Hunter, +that we shall want a strong peg all round to steady our nerves. +I own that I feel as shaky as a boy who thinks he sees a ghost on +his way through a churchyard." + +There was a general murmur of agreement and the materials were +quickly brought. + +"Well, Wilson, what do you and Richards think of it?" the Major went +on, after he had braced himself up with a strong glass of brandy +and water. "I should imagine you both feel a little less skeptical +than you did two hours ago." + +"I don't know what Richards feels, Major, but I know I feel like +a fool. I am sorry, Bathurst, for what I said at dinner; but it +really didn't seem to me to be possible what you told us about the +girl going up into the air and not coming down again. Well, after +I have seen what I have seen this evening, I won't disbelieve +anything I hear in future about these natives." + +"It was natural enough that you should be incredulous," Bathurst +said. "I should have been just as skeptical as you were when I first +came out, and I have been astonished now, though I have seen some +good jugglers before." + +At this moment the Doctor came out again. + +"Miss Hannay is all right again now, Major. I am not surprised at +her fainting; old hand as I am at these matters, and I think that +I have seen as much or more juggling than any man in India. I felt +very queer myself, specially at the snake business. As I said, I +have seen that ascension trick before, but how it is done I have no +more idea than a child. Those smoke scenes, too, are astonishing. +Of course they could be accounted for as thrown upon a column of +white smoke by a magic lantern, but there was certainly no magic +lantern here. The juggler was standing close to me, and the girl +was sitting at his feet. I watched them both closely, and certainly +they had no apparatus about them by which such views could be thrown +on the smoke." + +"You recognized the first scene, I suppose, Doctor?" Bathurst asked. + +"Perfectly. It took me back twenty-five years. It was a cottage +near Sidmouth, and was correct in every minute detail. The figure +was that of the young lady I married four years afterwards. Many a +time have I seen her standing just like that, as I went along the +road to meet her from the little inn at which I was stopping; the +very pattern of her dress, which I need hardly say has never been +in my mind all these years, was recalled to me. + +"Had I been thinking of the scene at the time I could have accounted +for it somehow, upon the theory that in some way or other the +juggler was conscious of my thought and reflected it upon the smoke +--how, I don't at all mean to say; but undoubtedly there exists, +to some extent, the power of thought reading. It is a mysterious +subject, and one of which we know absolutely nothing at present, +but maybe in upwards of a hundred years mankind will have discovered +many secrets of nature in that direction. But I certainly was not +thinking of that scene when I spoke and said the 'past.' I had no +doubt that he would show me something of the past, but certainly +no particular incident passed through my mind before that picture +appeared on the smoke." + +"The other was almost as curious, Doctor," Captain Doolan said, +"for it was certainly you masquerading as a native. I believe the +other was Bathurst; it struck me so; and he seemed to be running +off with some native girl. What on earth could that all mean?" + +"It is no use puzzling ourselves about it," the Doctor said. "It +may or may not come true. I have no inclination to go about dressed +out as a native at present, but there is no saying what I may come +to. There is quite enough for us to wonder at in the other things. +The mango and basket tricks I have seen a dozen times, and am no +nearer now than I was at first to understanding them. That ascension +trick beats me altogether, and there was something horribly uncanny +about the snake." + +"Do you think it was a real snake, Doctor?" + +"That I cannot tell you, Richards. Every movement was perfectly +natural. I could see the working of the ribs as it wound itself +round the girl, and the quivering of its tongue as it raised its +head above her. At any other time I should be ready to take my +affidavit that it was a python of unusual size, but at the present +moment I should not like to give a decided opinion about anything +connected with the performance." + +"I suppose it is no use asking the juggler any questions, Hunter?" +one of the other men said. + +"Not in the least; they never do answer questions. The higher +class of jugglers treat their art as a sort of religious mystery, +and there is no instance known of their opening their lips, although +large sums have frequently been offered them. In the present case +you will certainly ask no questions, for the man and girl have both +disappeared with the box and apparatus and everything connected +with them. They must have slipped off directly the last trick was +over, and before we had the lamp lighted. I sent after him at once, +but the servant could find no signs of him. I am annoyed because +I have not paid them." + +"I am not surprised at that," Dr. Wade said. "It is quite in +accordance with what I have heard of them. They live by exhibiting +what you may call their ordinary tricks; but I have heard from natives +that when they show any what I may call supernatural feats, they +do not take money. It is done to oblige some powerful Rajah, and +as I have said, it is only on a very few occasions that Europeans +have ever seen them. Well, we may as well go in to the ladies. +I don't fancy any of them would be inclined to come out onto the +veranda again this evening." + +No one was indeed inclined even for talk, and in a very short time +the party broke up and returned home. + +"Come and smoke a pipe with me, Bathurst, before you turn in," the +Doctor said, as they went out. "I don't think either of us will +be likely to go to sleep for some time. What is your impression of +all this?" + +"My impression, certainly, is that it is entirely unaccountable by +any laws with which we are acquainted, Doctor." + +"That is just my idea, and always has been since I first saw any +really good juggling out here. I don't believe in the least in +anything supernatural, but I can quite believe that there are many +natural laws of which at present we are entirely ignorant. I believe +the knowledge of them at one time existed, but has been entirely +lost, at any rate among Western peoples. The belief in magic is as +old as anything we have knowledge of. The magicians at the court +of Pharaoh threw down their rods and turned them into serpents. +The Witch of Endor called up the spirit of Samuel. The Greeks, by +no means a nation of fools, believed implicitly in the Oracles. +Coming down to comparatively later times, the workers of magic +burnt their books before St. Paul. It doesn't say, mind you, that +those who pretended to work magic did so; but those who worked +magic. + +"Early travelers in Persia and India have reported things they saw +far surpassing any we have witnessed this evening, and there is +certainly a sect in India at present, or rather a body of men, and +those, as far as I have been able to learn, of an exceptionally +intelligent class, who believe that they possess an almost absolute +mastery over the powers of nature. You see, fifty years back, +if anyone had talked about traveling at fifty miles an hour, or +sending a message five thousand miles in a minute, he would have +been regarded as a madman. There may yet be other discoveries as +startling to be made. + +"When I was in England I heard something of a set of people in +America who called themselves Spiritualists, some of whom--notably +a young man named Home--claimed to have the power of raising +themselves through the air. I am far from saying that such a power +exists; it is of course contrary to what we know of the laws +of nature, but should such a power exist it would account for +the disappearance of the girl from the top of the pole. Highland +second sight, carried somewhat farther, and united with the power +of conveying the impressions to others, would account for the pictures +on the smoke, that is, supposing them to be true, and personally +I own that I expect they will prove to be true--unlikely as it +may seem that you, I, and Miss Hannay will ever be going about in +native attire." + +By this time they had reached the Doctor's bungalow, and had +comfortably seated themselves. + +"There is one thing that flashed across me this evening," Bathurst +said. "I told you, that first evening I met Miss Hannay, that I had +a distinct knowledge of her face. You laughed at me at the time, +and it certainly seemed absurd, but I was convinced I was not wrong. +Now I know how it was; I told you at dinner today about the feat +of the girl going up and not coming down again; but I did not tell +you--for you can understand it is a thing that I should not care +to talk much about--that he showed me a picture like those we +saw tonight. + +"It was a house standing in a courtyard, with a high wall round it. +I did not particularly observe the house. It was of the ordinary +native type, and might, for anything I know, be the house in the +middle of this station used as a courthouse by Hunter, and for keeping +stores, and so on. I don't say it was that; I did not notice it. +much. There was a breach in the outside wall, and round it there +was a fierce fight going on. A party of officers and civilians were +repelling the assault of a body of Sepoys. On the terraced roof of +the house others were standing firing and looking on, and I think +engaged in loading rifles were two or three women. One of them I +particularly noticed; and, now I recall it, her face was that of +Miss Hannay; of that I am absolutely certain." + +"It is curious, lad," the Doctor said, after a pause; "and the picture, +you see, has so far come true that you have made the acquaintance +with one of the actors whom you did not previously know." + +"I did not believe in the truth of it, Doctor, and I do not believe +in it now. There was one feature in the fight which was, as I regret +to know, impossible." + +"And what was that, Bathurst?" + +Bathurst was silent for a time. + +"You are an old friend, Doctor, and you will understand my case, +and make more allowances for it than most people would. When I first +came out here I dare say you heard some sort of reports as to why +I had left the army and had afterwards entered the Civil Service." + +"There were some stupid rumors," the Doctor said, "that you had +gone home on sick leave just after the battle of Chillianwalla, +and had then sold out, because you had shown the white feather. I +need not say that I did not give any credit to it; there is always +gossip flying about as to the reasons a man leaves the army." + +"It was quite true, Doctor. It is a hideous thing to say, but +constitutionally I am a coward." + +"I cannot believe it," the Doctor said warmly. "Now that I know +you, you are the last man of whom I would credit such a thing." + +"It is the bane of my life," Bathurst went on. "It is my misfortune, +for I will not allow it is my fault. In many things I am not a +coward. I think I could face any danger if the danger were a silent +one, but I cannot stand noise. The report of a gun makes me tremble +all over, even when it is a blank cartridge that is fired. When I +was born my father was in India. A short time before I came into +the world my mother had a great fright. Her house in the country +was broken into by burglars, who entered the room and threatened +to blow out her brains if she moved; but the alarm was given, the +men servants came down armed, there was a struggle in her room, +pistol shots were fired, and the burglars were overpowered and +captured. My mother fainted and was ill for weeks afterwards-- +in fact, until the time I was born; and she died a few days later, +never having, the doctor said, recovered from the shock she had +suffered that night. + +"I grew up a weakly, timid boy--the sort of boy that is always +bullied at school. My father, as you know, was a general officer, +and did not return home until I was ten years old. He was naturally +much disappointed in me, and I think that added to my timidity, for +it grew upon me rather than otherwise. Morally, I was not a coward. +At school I can say that I never told a lie to avoid punishment, +and my readiness to speak the truth did not add to my popularity +among the other boys, and I used to be called a sneak, which was +even more hateful than being called a coward. + +"As I grew up I shook off my delicacy, and grew, as you see, into +a strong man. I then fought several battles at school; I learnt to +ride, and came to have confidence in myself, and though I had no +particular fancy for the army my father's heart was so set on it +that I offered no objection. That the sound of a gun was abhorrent +to me I knew, for the first time my father put a gun in my hand and +I fired it, I fainted, and nothing would persuade me to try again. +Still I thought that this was the result of nervousness as to firing +it myself, and that I should get over it in time. + +"A month or two after I was gazetted I went out to India with the +regiment, and arrived just in time to get up by forced marches to +take part in the battle of Chillianwalla. The consequence was that +up to that time I literally had heard no musketry practice. + +"Of the events of that battle I have no remembrance whatever; from +the moment the first gun was fired to the end of the day I was as +one paralyzed. I saw nothing, I heard nothing, I moved mechanically; +but happily my will or my instinct kept me in my place in the +regiment. When all was over, and silence followed the din, I fell +to the ground insensible. Happily for me the doctors declared I +was in a state of high fever, and I so remained for a fortnight. +As soon as I got better I was sent down the country, and I at once +sent in my papers and went home. No doubt the affair was talked +of, and there were whispers as to the real cause of my illness. +My father was terribly angry when I returned home and told him the +truth of the matter. That his son should be a coward was naturally +an awful blow to him. Home was too unhappy to be endured, and +when an uncle of mine, who was a director on the Company's Board, +offered me a berth in the Civil Service, I thankfully accepted it, +believing that in that capacity I need never hear a gun fired again. + +"You will understand, then, the anxiety I am feeling owing to these +rumors of disaffection among the Sepoys, and the possibility of +anything like a general mutiny. + +"It is not of being killed that I have any fear; upon the contrary, +I have suffered so much in the last eight years from the consciousness +that the reason why I left the army was widely known, that I should +welcome death, if it came to me noiselessly; but the thought that +if there is trouble I shall assuredly not be able to play my part +like a man fills me with absolute horror, and now more than ever. + +"So you will understand now why the picture I saw, in which I was +fighting in the middle of the Sepoys, is to me not only improbable, +but simply impossible. It is a horrible story to have to tell. +This is the first time I have opened my lips on the subject since +I spoke to my father, but I know that you, both as a friend and a +doctor, will pity rather than blame me." + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +As Bathurst brought his story to its conclusion the Doctor rose +and placed his hand kindly on his shoulder. + +"I certainly should not think of blaming you, Bathurst. What you +tell me is indeed a terrible misfortune, situated as we may be soon, +though I trust and believe that all this talk about the Sepoys is +moonshine. I own that I am surprised at your story, for I should +have said from my knowledge of you that though, as I could perceive, +of a nervous temperament, you were likely to be cool and collected +in danger. But certainly your failing is no fault of your own." + +"That is but a small consolation to me, Doctor. Men do not ask why +and wherefore--they simply point the finger of scorn at a coward. +The misfortune is that I am here. I might have lived a hundred lives +in England and never once had occasion to face danger, and I thought +that I should have been equally secure as an Indian civilian. Now +this trouble is coming upon us." + +"Why don't you take your leave, lad? You have been out seven years +now without a day's relaxation, except indeed, the three days you +were over with me at Cawnpore. Why not apply for a year's leave? +You have a good excuse, too; you did not go home at the death of +your father, two years ago, and could very well plead urgent family +affairs requiring your presence in England." + +"No, I will not do that, Doctor; I will not run away from danger +again. You understand me, I have not the least fear of the danger; +I in no way hold to my life; I do not think I am afraid of physical +pain. It seems to me that I could undertake any desperate service; +I dread it simply because I know that when the din of battle begins +my body will overmaster my mind, and that I shall be as I was at +Chillianwalla, completely paralyzed. You wondered tonight why that +juggler should have exhibited feats seldom, almost never, shown to +Europeans? He did it to please me. I saved his daughter's life-- +this is between ourselves, Doctor, and is not to go farther. But, +riding in from Narkeet, I heard a cry, and, hurrying on, came upon +that man eater you shot the other day, standing over the girl, with +her father half beside himself, gesticulating in front of him. I +jumped off and attacked the brute with my heavy hunting whip, and +he was so completely astonished that he turned tail and bolted." + +"The deuce he did," the Doctor exclaimed; "and yet you talk of +being a coward!" + +"No, I do not say that I am a coward generally; as long as I have +to confront danger without noise I believe I could do as well as +most men." + +"But why didn't you mention this business with the tiger, Bathurst?" + +"Because, in the first place, it was the work of a mere passing +impulse; and in the second, because I should have gained credit +for being what I am not--a brave man. It will be bad enough when +the truth becomes known, but it would be all the worse if I had +been trading on a false reputation; therefore I particularly charged +Rujub to say nothing about the affair to anyone." + +"Well, putting this for a time aside, Bathurst, what do you think of +that curious scene, you and I and Miss Hannay disguised as natives?" + +"Taking it with the one I saw of the attack of Sepoys upon a house, +it looks to me, Doctor, as if there would be a mutiny, and that +that mutiny would be attended with partial success, that a portion +of the garrison, at any rate, will escape, and that Miss Hannay +will be traveling down the country, perhaps to Cawnpore, in your +charge, while I in some way shall be with you, perhaps acting as +guide." + +"It may possibly be so," the Doctor agreed. "It is at any rate +very curious. I wonder whether Miss Hannay recognized herself in +the disguise." + +"I should hope not, Doctor; if it all comes true there will be +enough for her to bear without looking forward to that. I should +be glad if the detachment were ordered back to Cawnpore." + +"Well, I should not have thought that, Bathurst." + +"I know what you mean, Doctor, but it is for that reason I wish +they were gone. I believe now that you insisted on my coming down +to spend those three days with you at Cawnpore specially that I +might meet her." + +"That is so, Bathurst. I like her so much that I should be very +sorry to see her throw herself away upon some empty headed fool. +I like her greatly, and I was convinced that you were just the man +to make her happy, and as I knew that you had good prospects in +England, I thought it would be a capital match for her, although +you are but a young civilian; and I own that of late I have thought +things were going on very well." + +"Perhaps it might have been so, Doctor, had it not been for this +coming trouble, which, if our fears are realized, will entirely +put an end even to the possibility of what you are talking about. +I shall be shown to be a coward, and I shall do my best to put myself +in the way of being killed. I should not like to blow my brains out, +but if the worst comes to the worst I will do that rather than go +on living after I have again disgraced myself." + +"You look at it too seriously, Bathurst." + +"Not a bit of it, Doctor, and you know it." + +"But if the Sepoys rise, Bathurst, why should they harm their +officers? They may be discontented, they may have a grievance against +the Government, they may refuse to obey orders and may disband; +but why on earth should they attack men who have always been kind +to them, whom they have followed in battle, and against whom they +have not as much as a shadow of complaint?" + +"I hope it may be so most sincerely," Bathurst said; "but one never +can say. I can hardly bring myself to believe that they will attack +the officers, much less injure women and children. Still, I have +a most uneasy foreboding of evil." + +"You have heard nothing from the natives as to any coming trouble?" + +"Nothing at all, Doctor, and I am convinced that nothing is known +among them, or at any rate by the great bulk of them. Only one +person has ever said a word to me that could indicate a knowledge +of coming trouble, and that was this juggler we saw tonight. I +thought nothing of his words at the time. That picture he showed +me of the attack by Sepoys first gave me an idea that his words +might mean something. Since then we have heard much more of this +discontent, and I am convinced now that the words had a meaning. +They were simple enough. It was merely his assurance, two or three +times repeated, that he would be ready to repay the service I had +rendered him with his life. It might have been a mere phrase, and +so I thought at the time. But I think now he had before him the +possibility of some event occurring in which he might be able to +repay the service I had rendered him." + +"There may have been something in it and there may not," the Doctor +said; "but, at any rate, Bathurst, he ought to be a potent ally. +There doesn't seem any limit to his powers, and he might, for aught +one knows, be able to convey you away as he did his daughter." + +The Doctor spoke lightly, and then added, "But seriously, the man +might be of service. These jugglers go among people of all classes. +They are like the troubadours of the Middle Ages, welcomed everywhere; +and they no doubt have every opportunity of learning what is going +on, and it may be that he will be able to give you timely warning +should there be any trouble at hand." + +"That is possible enough," Bathurst agreed. "Well, Doctor, I shall +be on horseback at six, so it is time for me to turn in," and taking +his hat, walked across to his own bungalow. + +The Doctor sat for some time smoking before he turned into bed. He +had as he had said, heard rumors, when Bathurst first came out, that +he had shown the white feather, but he had paid little attention +to it at the time. They had been together at the first station to +which Bathurst was appointed when he came out, and he had come to +like him greatly; but his evident disinclination to join in any +society, his absorption in his work, and a certain air of gravity +unnatural in a young man of twenty, had puzzled him. He had at the +time come to the conclusion that he must have had some unfortunate +love affair, or have got into some very serious trouble at home. +In time that impression had worn off. A young man speedily recovers +from such a blow, however heavy, but no change had taken place in +Bathurst, and the Doctor had in time become so accustomed to his +manner that he had ceased to wonder over it. Now it was all explained. +He sat thinking over it deeply for an hour, and then laid down his +pipe. + +"It is a terrible pity he came out here," he said. "Of course it +is not his fault in the slightest degree. One might as well blame +a man for being born a hunchback; but if there should be a row +out here it will be terrible for him. I can quite understand his +feeling about it. If I were placed as he is, and were called upon +to fight, I should take a dose of prussic acid at once. Men talk: +about their civilization, but we are little better than savages in +our instincts. Courage is an almost useless virtue in a civilized +community, but if it is called for, we despise a man in whom it is +wanting, just as heartily as our tattooed ancestors did. Of course, +in him it is a purely constitutional failing, and I have no doubt +he would be as brave as a lion in any other circumstances--in +fact, the incident of his attacking the tiger with that dog whip +of his shows that he is so; and yet, if he should fail when the +lives of women are at stake it would be a kindness to give him that +dose of prussic acid, especially as Isobel Hannay will be here. +That is the hardest part of it to him, I can see." + +Three days later the force at Deennugghur was increased by the +arrival of a troop of native cavalry, under a Captain Forster, who +had just returned from leave in England. + +"Do you know Captain Forster, Doctor?" Isobel Hannay asked, on the +afternoon of his arrival. "Uncle tells me he is coming to dinner." + +"Then you must look after your heart, my dear. He is one of the +best looking fellows out here, a dashing soldier, and a devoted +servant of the fair sex." + +"You don't like him, Doctor," Isobel said quietly. + +"I have not said so, my dear--far from it. I think I said a good +deal for him." + +"Yes, but you don't like him, Doctor. Why is that?" + +"I suppose because he is not my sort of man," the Doctor said. "I +have not seen him since his regiment and ours were at Delhi together, +and we did not see much of each other then. Our tastes did not lie +in the same direction." + +"Well, I know what your tastes are, Doctor; what are his?" + +"I will leave you to find out, my dear. He is all I told you--a +very handsome man, with, as is perhaps natural, a very good opinion +of himself, and he distinguished himself more than once in the +Punjaub by acts of personal gallantry. I have no doubt he thinks +it an awful nuisance coming to a quiet little station like this, +and he will probably try to while away his time by making himself +very agreeable to you. But I don't think you need quite believe +all that he says." + +"I have long ago got over the weakness of believing people's +flattery, Doctor. However, now you have forewarned me I am forearmed." + +The Doctor hesitated, and then said gravely, "It is not my habit +to speak ill of people, my dear. You do me the justice to believe +that?" + +"I am sure it is not, Doctor." + +"Well, child, in a station like this you must see a good deal +of this man. He is a man who has won many hearts, and thrown them +away. Don't let him win yours. He is not a good man; he has been +mixed up in several grave scandals; he has been the ruin of more +than one young man at cards and billiards; he is in all respects a +dangerous man. Anatomically I suppose he has a heart, morally he +has not a vestige of one. Whatever you do, child, don't let him +make you like him." + +"I don't think there is much fear of that, Doctor, after what you +have said," she replied, with a quiet smile; "and I am obliged to +you indeed for warning me." + +"I know I am an old fool for meddling, but you know, my dear, I feel +a sort of personal relationship to you, after your having been in +my charge for six months. I don't know a single man in all India +whom I would not rather see you fall in love with than with Captain +Forster." + +"I thought uncle did not seem particularly pleased: when he came +in to tiffin, and said there was a new arrival." + +"I should think not," the Doctor said; "the man in notoriously +a dangerous fellow; and yet, as he has never actually outstepped +what are considered the bounds which constitute an officer and a +gentleman, he has retained his commission, but it has been a pretty +close shave once or twice. Your uncle must know all about him, +everyone does; but I don't suppose the Major will open his mouth +to you on the subject--he is one of those chivalrous sort of men +who never thinks evil of anyone unless he is absolutely obliged to; +but in a case like this I think he is wrong. At any rate, I have +done what I consider to be my duty in the matter. Now I leave it +in your hands. I am glad to see that you are looking quite yourself +again, and have got over your fainting fit of the other night. I +quite expected to be sent for professionally the next morning." + +"Oh, yes, I have quite got over it, Doctor; I can't make out how I +was so silly as to faint. I never did such a thing before, but it +was so strange and mysterious that I felt quite bewildered, and +the picture quite frightened me, but I don't know why. This is the +first chance I have had since of speaking to you alone. What do +you think of it, and why should you be dressed up as a native? and +why should?" She stopped with a heightened color on her cheeks. + +"You and Bathurst be dressed up, too? So you noticed your own +likeness; nobody else but Bathurst and myself recognized the two +figures that came out of the wood." + +"Oh, you saw it too, Doctor. I thought I might have been mistaken, +for, besides being stained, the face was all obscured somehow. +Neither uncle, nor Mrs. Hunter, nor the girls, nor anyone else I +have spoken to seem to have had an idea it was me, though they all +recognized you.. What could it mean?" + +"I. have not the slightest idea in the world," the Doctor said; +"very likely it meant nothing. I certainly should not think any +more about it. These jugglers' tricks are curious and unaccountable; +but it is no use our worrying ourselves about them. Maybe we are +all going to get up private theatricals some day, and perform an +Indian drama. I have never taken any part in tomfooleries of that +sort so far, but there is no saying what I may come to." + +"Are you going to dine here, Doctor?" + +"No, my dear; the Major asked me to come in, but I declined. I +told him frankly that I did not like Forster, and that the less I +saw of him the better I should be pleased." + +The other guests turned out to be Captain and Mrs. Doolan and Mr. +Congreave, one of the civilians at the station. The Doolans arrived +first. + +"You have not seen Captain Forster yet, Isobel," Mrs. Doolan said, +as they sat down for a chat together. "I met him at Delhi soon after +I came out. He is quite my beau ideal of a soldier in appearance, +but I don't think he is nice, Isobel. I have heard all sorts of +stories about him." + +"Is that meant as a warning for me, Mrs. Doolan?" Isobel asked, +smiling. + +"Well, yes, I think it is, if you don't mind my giving you one. +There are some men one can flirt with as much as one likes, and +there are some men one can't; he is one of that sort. Privately, +my dear, I don't mind telling you that at one time I did flirt with +him--I had been accustomed to flirt in Ireland; we all flirt +there, and mean nothing by it; but I had to give it up very suddenly. +It wouldn't do, my dear, at all; his ideas of flirtation differed +utterly from mine. I found I was playing with fire, and was +fortunate in getting off without singeing my wings, which is more +than a good many others would have done." + +"He must be a horrid sort of man," Isobel said indignantly. + +Mrs. Doolan laughed. "I don't think you will find him so; certainly +that is not the general opinion of women. However, you will see +him for yourself in a very few minutes." + +Isobel looked up with some curiosity when Captain Forster was +announced, and at once admitted to herself that the Doctor's report +as to his personal appearance was fully justified. He stood over +six feet high, with a powerful frame, and an easy careless bearing; +his hair was cut rather close, he wore a long tawny mustache, his +eyes were dark, his teeth very white and perfect. A momentary look +of surprise came across his face as his eyes fell on Isobel. + +"I had hardly expected," he said, as the Major introduced him to +her, "to find no less than three unmarried ladies at Deennugghur. +I had the pleasure of being introduced to the Miss Hunters this +afternoon. How do you do, Mrs. Doolan? I think it is four years +since I had the pleasure of knowing you in Delhi." + +"I believe that is the number, Captain Forster." + +"It seems a very long time to me," he said. + +"I thought you would say that," she laughed. "It was quite the +proper thing to say, Captain Forster; but I have no doubt it does +seem longer to you than it does to me as you have been home since." + +"We are all here," the Major broke in. "Captain Forster, will you +take my niece in?" + +"I suppose you find this very dull after Cawnpore, Miss Hannay?" +Captain Forster asked. + +"Indeed I do not," Isobel said. "I like it better here; everything +is sociable and pleasant, while at Cawnpore there was much more +formality. Of course, there were lots of dinner parties, but I don't +care for large dinner parties at all; it is so hot, and they last +such a time. I think six is quite large enough. Then there is a +general talk, and everyone can join in just as much as they like, +while at a large dinner you have to rely entirely upon one person, +and I think it is very hard work having to talk for an hour and a +half to a stranger of whom you know nothing. Don't you agree with +me?" + +"Entirely, Miss Hannay; I am a pretty good hand at talking, but at +times I have found it very hard work, I can assure you, especially +when you take down a stranger to the station, so that you have no +mutual acquaintance to pull to pieces." + +The dinner was bright and pleasant, and when the evening was over +Isobel said to her uncle, "I think Captain Forster is very amusing, +uncle." + +"Yes," the Major agreed, "he is a good talker, a regular society +man; he is no great favorite of mine; I think he will be a little +too much for us in a small station like this." + +"How do you mean too much, uncle?" + +The Major hesitated. + +"Well, he won't have much to do with his troop of horse, and time +will hang heavy on his hands." + +"Well, there is shooting, uncle." + +"Yes, there is shooting, but I don't think that is much in his +line. Tiffins and calls, and society generally occupy most of his +time, I fancy, and I think he is fonder of billiards and cards +than is good for him or others. Of course, being here by himself, +as he is, we must do our best to be civil to him, and that sort +of thing, but if we were at Cawnpore he is a man I should not care +about being intimate in the house." + +"I understand, uncle; but certainly he is pleasant." + +"Oh, yes, he is very pleasant," the Major said dryly, in a tone that +seemed to express that Forster's power of making himself pleasant +was by no means a recommendation in his eyes. + +But Captain Forster had apparently no idea whatever that his +society could be anything but welcome, and called the next day +after luncheon. + +"I have been leaving my pasteboard at all the residents," he said; +"not a very large circle. Of course, I knew Mrs. Rintoul at Delhi, +as well as Mrs. Doolan. I did not know any of the others. They seem +pleasant people." + +"They are very pleasant," Isobel said. + +"I left one for a man named Bathurst. He was out. Is that the +Bathurst, Major Hannay, who was in a line regiment--I forget its +number--and left very suddenly in the middle of the fighting in +the Punjaub?" + +"Yes; I believe Bathurst was in the army about that time," the +Major said; "but I don't know anything about the circumstances of +his leaving." + +Had Captain Forster known the Major better he would have been aware +that what he meant to say was that he did not wish to know, but he +did not detect the inflection of his voice, and went on--"They +say he showed the white feather. If it is the same man, I was at +school with him, and unless he has improved since then, I am sure +I have no wish to renew his acquaintance." + +"I like him very much," the Major said shortly; "he is great +friends with Dr. Wade, who has the very highest opinion of him, and +I believe he is generally considered to be one of the most rising +young officers of his grade." + +"Oh, I have nothing to say against him," Captain Forster said; "but +he was a poor creature at school, and I do not think that there was +any love lost between us. Did you know him before you came here?" + +"I only met him at the last races in Cawnpore," the Major said; +"he was stopping with the Doctor." + +"Quite a character, Wade." + +Isobel's tongue was untied now. + +"I think he is one of the kindest and best gentlemen I ever met," +the girl said hotly; "he took care of me coming out here, and no +one could have been kinder than he was." + +"I have no doubt he is all that," Captain Forster said gently; +"still he is a character, Miss Hannay, taking the term character +to mean a person who differs widely from other people. I believe +he is very skillful in his profession, but I take it he is a sort +of Abernethy, and tells the most startling truths to his patients." + +"That I can quite imagine," Isobel said; "the Doctor hates humbug +of all sorts, and I don't think I should like to call him in myself +for an imaginary ailment." + +"I rather put my foot in it there," Captain Forster said to himself, +as he sauntered back to his tent. "The Major didn't like my saying +anything against Bathurst, and the girl did not like my remark about +the Doctor. I wonder whether she objected also to what I said about +that fellow Bathurst--a sneaking little hound he was, and there +is no doubt about his showing the white feather in the Punjaub. +However, I don't think that young lady is of the sort to care about +a coward, and if she asks any questions, as I dare say she will, +after what I have said, she will find that the story is a true one. +What a pretty little thing she is! I did not see a prettier face +all the time I was at home. What with her and Mrs. Doolan, time is +not likely to hang so heavily here as I had expected." + +The Major, afraid that Isobel might ask him some questions about +this story of Bathurst leaving the army, went off hastily as soon +as Captain Forster had left. Isobel sat impatiently tapping the +floor with her foot, awaiting the Doctor, who usually came for half +an hour's chat in the afternoon. + +"Well, child, how did your dinner go off yesterday, and what did +you think of your new visitor? I saw him come away from here half +an hour ago. I suppose he has been calling." + +"I don't like him at all," Isobel said decidedly. + +"No? Well, then, you are an exception to the general rule." + +"I thought him pleasant enough last night," Isobel said frankly. +"He has a deferential sort of way about him when he speaks to one +that one can hardly help liking. But he made me angry today. In +the first place, Doctor, he said you were a character." + +The Doctor chuckled. "Well, that is true enough, my dear. There +was no harm in that." + +"And then he said"--and she broke off--"he said what I feel +sure cannot be true. He said that Mr. Bathurst left the army because +he showed the white feather. It is not true, is it? I am sure it +can't be true." + +The Doctor did not reply immediately. + +"It is an old story," he said presently, "and ought not to have +been brought up again. I don't suppose Forster or anyone else knows +the rights of the case. When a man leaves his regiment and retires +when it is upon active service, there are sure to be spiteful stories +getting about, often without the slightest foundation. But even +if it had been true, it would hardly be to Bathurst's disadvantage +now he is no longer in the army, and courage is not a vital necessity +on the part of a civilian." + +"You can't mean that, Doctor; surely every man ought to be brave. +Could anyone possibly respect a man who is a coward? I don't believe +it, Doctor, for a moment." + +"Courage, my dear, is not a universal endowment--it is a physical +as much as a moral virtue. Some people are physically brave and +morally cowards; others are exactly the reverse. Some people are +constitutionally cowards all round, while in others cowardice shows +itself only partially. I have known a man who is as brave as a lion +in battle, but is terrified by a rat. I have known a man brave in +other respects lose his nerve altogether in a thunderstorm. In neither +of these cases was it the man's own fault; it was constitutional, +and by no effort could he conquer it. I consider Bathurst to be +an exceptionally noble character. I am sure that he is capable of +acts of great bravery in some directions, but it is possible that +he is, like the man I have spoken of, constitutionally weak in +others." + +"But the great thing is to be brave in battle, Doctor! You would +not call a man a coward simply because he was afraid of a rat, +but you would call a man a coward who was afraid in battle. To be +a coward there seems to me to be a coward all round. I have always +thought the one virtue in man I really envied was bravery, and that +a coward was the most despicable creature living. It might not be +his actual fault, but one can't help that. It is not anyone's fault +if he is fearfully ugly or born an idiot, for example. But cowardice +seems somehow different. Not to be brave when he is strong seems +to put a man below the level of a woman. I feel sure, Doctor, there +must be some mistake, and that this story cannot be true. I have +seen a good deal of Mr. Bathurst since we have been here, and you +have always spoken so well of him, he is the last man I should have +thought would be--would be like that." + +"I know the circumstances of the case, child. You can trust me when +I say that there is nothing in Bathurst's conduct that diminishes +my respect for him in the slightest degree, and that in some respects +he is as brave a man as any I know." + +"Yes, Doctor, all that may be; but you do not answer my question. +Did Mr. Bathurst leave the army because he showed cowardice? If +he did, and you know it, why did you invite him here? why did you +always praise him? why did you not say, 'In other respects this man +may be good and estimable, but he is that most despicable thing, +a coward'?" + +There was such a passion of pain in her voice and face that the +Doctor only said quietly, "I did not know it, my dear, or I should +have told you at first that in this one point he was wanting. It +is, I consider, the duty of those who know things to speak out. +But he is certainly not what you say." + +Isobel tossed her head impatiently. "We need not discuss it, Doctor. +It is nothing to me whether Mr. Bathurst is brave or not, only it +is not quite pleasant to learn that you have been getting on friendly +terms with a man who--" + +"Don't say any more," the Doctor broke in. "You might at least +remember he is a friend of mine. There is no occasion for us to +quarrel, my dear, and to prevent the possibility of such a thing +I will be off at once." + +After he had left Isobel sat down to think over what had been said. +He had not directly answered her questions, but he had not denied +that the rumor that Bathurst had retired from the army because he +was wanting in courage was well founded. Everything he had said, in +fact, was an excuse rather than a denial. The Doctor was as stanch +a friend as he was bitter an opponent. Could he have denied it he +would have done so strongly and indignantly. + +It was clear that, much as he liked Bathurst, he believed him +wanting in physical courage. He had said, indeed, that he believed +he was brave in some respects, and had asserted that he knew of +one exceptional act of courage that he had performed; but what was +that if a man had had to leave the army because he was a coward? +To Isobel it seemed that of all things it was most dreadful that a +man should be wanting in courage. Tales of daring and bravery had +always been her special delight, and, being full of life and spirit +herself, it had not seemed even possible to her that a gentleman +could be a coward, and that Bathurst could be so was to her well +nigh incredible. + +It might, as the Doctor had urged, be in no way his fault, but this +did not affect the fact. He might be more to be pitied than to be +blamed; but pity of that kind, so far from being akin to love, was +destructive of it. + +Unconsciously she had raised Bathurst on a lofty pinnacle. The +Doctor had spoken very highly of him. She had admired the energy +with which, instead of caring, as others did, for pleasure, he +devoted himself to his work. Older men than himself listened to his +opinions. His quiet and somewhat restrained manner was in contrast +to the careless fun and good humor of most of those with whom she +came in contact. It had seemed to her that he was a strong man, +one who could be relied upon implicitly at all times, and she had +come in the few weeks she had been at Deennugghur to rely upon his +opinion, and to look forward to his visits, and even to acknowledge +to herself that he approached her ideal of what a man should be +more than anyone else she had met. + +And now this was all shattered at a blow. He was wanting in man's +first attribute. He had left the army, if not in disgrace, at least +under a cloud and even his warm friend, the Doctor, could not deny +that the accusation of cowardice was well founded. The pain of the +discovery opened her eyes to the fact which she had not before, +even remotely, admitted to herself, that she was beginning to love +him, and the discovery was a bitter one. + +"I may thank Captain Forster for that, at least," she said to +herself, as she angrily wiped a tear from her cheek; "he has opened +my eyes in time. What should I have felt if I had found too late +that I had come to love a man who was a coward--who had left the +army because he was afraid? I should have despised myself as much +as I should despise him. Well, that is my first lesson. I shall not +trust in appearances again. Why, I would rather marry a man like +Captain Forster, even if everything they say about him is true, +than a man who is a coward. At least he is brave, and has shown +himself so." + +The Doctor had gone away in a state of extreme irritation. + +"Confound the meddling scoundrel!" he said to himself, as he +surprised the horse with a sharp cut of the whip. "Just when things +were going on as I wished. I had quite set my mind on it, and though +I am sure Bathurst would never have spoken to her till he had told +her himself about that unfortunate failing of his, it would have +been altogether different coming from his own lips just as he told +it to me. Of course, my lips were sealed and I could not put the +case in the right light. I would give three months' pay for the +satisfaction of horsewhipping that fellow Forster. Still, I can't +say he did it maliciously, for he could not have known Bathurst +was intimate there, or that there was anything between them. The +question is, am I to tell Bathurst that she has heard about it? I +suppose I had better. Ah, here is the Major," and he drew up his +horse. + +"Anything new, Major? You look put out." + +"Yes, there is very bad news, Doctor. A Sowar has just brought +a letter to me from the Colonel saying that the General has got a +telegram that the 19th Native Infantry at Berhampore have refused +to use the cartridges served out to them, and that yesterday a Sepoy +of the 34th at Barrackpore raised seditious cries in front of the +lines, and when Baugh, the adjutant, and the sergeant major attempted +to seize him he wounded them both, while the regiment stood by and +refused to aid them. The 19th are to be disbanded, and no doubt +the 34th will be, too." + +"That is bad news indeed, Major, and looks as if this talk about +general disaffection were true. Had there been trouble but at one +station it might have been the effect of some local grievance, but +happening at two places, it looks as if it were part of a general +plot. Well, we must hope it will go no farther." + +"It is very bad," said the Major, "but at any rate we may hope we +shall have no troubles here; the regiment has always behaved well, +and I am sure they have no reason to complain of their treatment. +If the Colonel has a fault, it is that of over leniency with the +men." + +"That is so," the Doctor agreed; "but the fact is, Major, we know +really very little about the Hindoo mind. We can say with some sort +of certainty what Europeans will do under given circumstances, but +though I know the natives, I think, pretty nearly as well as most +men, I feel that I really know nothing about them. They appear mild +and submissive, and .have certainly proved faithful on a hundred +battlefields, but we don't know whether that is their real character. +Their own history, before we stepped in and altered its current, +shows them as faithless, bloodthirsty and cruel; whether they have +changed their nature under our rule, or simply disguised it, Heaven +only knows." + +"At any rate," the Major said, "they have always shown themselves +attached to their English officers. There are numberless instances +where they have displayed the utmost devotion for them, and although +some scheming intriguers may have sown the seeds of discontent +among them, and these lies about the cartridges may have excited +their religious prejudices, and may even lead them to mutiny, I +cannot believe for an instant that the Sepoys will lift their hands +against their officers." + +"I hope not," the Doctor said gravely. "A tiger's cub, when tamed, +is one of the prettiest of playthings, but when it once tastes blood +it is as savage a beast as its mother was before it. Of course, +I hope for the best, but if the Sepoys once break loose I would +not answer for anything they might do. They have been pretty well +spoilt, Major, till they have come to believe that it is they who +conquered India and not we." + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +That evening, after dining alone, the Doctor went in to Bathurst's. +The latter had already heard the news, and they talked it over for +some time. Then the Doctor said, "Have you seen Forster, Bathurst, +since he arrived?" + +"No, I was out when he left his card. I was at school with him.. +I heard when I was in England that he was out here in the native +cavalry, but I have never run across him before, and I own I had +no wish to do so. He was about two years older than I was, and was +considered the cock of the school. He was one of my chief tormentors. +I don't know that he was a bully generally--fellows who are really +plucky seldom are; but he disliked me heartily, and I hated him. + +"I had the habit of telling the truth when questioned, and he +narrowly escaped expulsion owing to my refusing to tell a lie about +his being quietly in bed when, in fact, he and two or three other +fellows had been out at a public house. He never forgave me for it, +for he himself would have told a lie without hesitation to screen +himself, or, to do him justice, to screen anyone else; and the mere +fact that I myself had been involved in the matter, having been +sent out by one of the bigger fellows, and, therefore, having got +myself a flogging by my admission, was no mitigation in his eyes +of my offense of what he called sneaking. + +"So you may imagine I have no particular desire to meet him again. +Unless he has greatly changed, he would do me a bad turn if he had +the chance." + +"I don't think he has greatly changed," the Doctor said. "That was +really what I came in here for this evening rather than to talk +about this Sepoy business. I am sorry to say, Bathurst, that when +he was in at the Major's today your name happened to be mentioned, +and he said at once, 'Is that the Bathurst who they say showed the +white feather at Chillianwalla and left the army in consequence?'" + +Bathurst's face grew pale and his fingers closed. He remained silent +a minute, and then said, "It does not matter; she would have been +sure to hear it sooner or later, and I should have told her myself +if he had not done so; besides, if, as I am afraid, this Berhampore +business is the beginning of trouble, and of such trouble as we have +never had since we set foot in India, it is likely that everyone +will know what she knows now. Has she spoken to you about it? I +suppose she has, or you would not have known that he mentioned it." + +"Yes, she was most indignant about it, and did not believe it." + +"And what did you say, Doctor?" he asked indifferently. + +"Well, I was sorry I could not tell her exactly what you told me. +It would have been better if I could have done so. I simply said +there were many sorts of courage, and that I was sure that you +possessed many sorts in a very high degree, but I could not, of +course, deny; although I did not admit, the truth of the report he +had mentioned." + +"I don't think it makes much difference one way or the other," +Bathurst said wearily. "I have known all along that Isobel Hannay +would not marry a coward, only I have gone on living in a fool's +paradise. However, it is over now--the sooner it is all over the +better." + +"My dear fellow," the Doctor said earnestly, "don't take this thing +too much to heart. I don't wish to try and persuade you that it +is not a grave misfortune, but even suppose this trouble takes the +very worst form possible, I do not think you will come so very badly +out of it as you anticipate. Even assuming that you are unable to +do your part in absolute fighting, there may be other opportunities, +and most likely will, in which you may be able to show that although +unable to control your nerves in the din of battle, you possess in +other respects coolness and courage. That feat of yours of attacking +the tiger with the dog whip shows conclusively that under many +circumstances you are capable of most daring deeds." + +Bathurst sat looking down for some minutes. "God grant that it may +be so," he said at last; "but it is no use talking about it any +more, Doctor. I suppose Major Hannay will keep a sharp lookout over +the men?" + +"Yes; there was a meeting of the officers this afternoon. It was +agreed to make no outward change, and to give the troops no cause +whatever to believe that they are suspected. They all feel confident +of the goodwill of the men; at the same time they will watch them +closely, and if the news comes of further trouble, they will prepare +the courthouse as a place of refuge." + +"That is a very good plan; but of course everything depends upon +whether, if the troops do rise in mutiny, the people of Oude should +join them. They are a fighting race, and if they should throw in +their lot against us the position would be a desperate one." + +"Well, there is no doubt," the Doctor said, "that the Rajah of +Bithoor would be with us; that will make Cawnpore safe, and will +largely influence all the great Zemindars, though there is no doubt +that a good many of them have been sulky ever since the disarmament +order was issued. I believe there are few of them who have not got +cannon hidden away or buried, and as for the people, the number +of arms given up was as nothing to what we know they possessed. In +other parts of India I believe the bulk of the people will be with +us; but here in Oude, our last annexation, I fear that they will +side against us, unless all the great landowners range themselves +on our side." + +"As far as I can see," Bathurst said, "the people are contented with +the change. I don't say what I may call the professional fighting +class, the crowd of retainers kept by the great landowners, who were +constantly fighting against each other. Annexation has put a stop +to all that, and the towns are crowded with these fighting men, who +hate us bitterly; but the peasants, the tillers of the soil, have +benefited greatly. They are no longer exposed to raids by their +powerful neighbors, and can cultivate their fields in peace and +quiet. Unfortunately their friendship, such as it is, will not +weigh in the slightest degree in the event of a struggle. At any +rate, I am sure they are not behind the scenes, and know nothing +whatever of any coming trouble. Going as I do among them, and +talking to them as one of themselves, I should have noticed it had +there been any change in them; and of late naturally I have paid +special notice to their manner. Well, if it is to come I hope it +will come soon, for anything is better than suspense." + +Two days later Major Hannay read out to the men on parade an +official document, assuring them that there was no truth whatever +in the statements that had been made that the cartridges served +out to them had been greased with pigs' fat. They were precisely +the same as those that they had used for years, and the men were +warned against listening to seditious persons who might try to +poison their minds and shake their loyalty to the Government. He +then told them that he was sorry to say that at one or two stations +the men had been foolish enough to listen to disloyal counsels, +and that in consequence the regiments had been disbanded and the +men had forfeited all the advantages in the way of pay and pension +they had earned by many years of good conduct. He said that he had +no fear whatever of any such trouble arising with them, as they +knew that they had been well treated, that any legitimate complaint +they might make had always been attended to, and that their officers +had their welfare thoroughly at heart. + +When he had finished, the senior native officer stepped forward, and +in the name of the detachment assured the Major that the men were +perfectly contented, and would in all cases follow their officers, +even if they ordered them to march against their countrymen. At the +conclusion of his speech he called upon the troops to give three +cheers for the Major and officers, and this was responded to with +a show of great enthusiasm. + +This demonstration was deemed very satisfactory, and the uneasiness +among the residents abated considerably, while the Major and his +officers felt convinced that, whatever happened at other stations, +there would at least be no trouble at Deennugghur. + +"Well, even you are satisfied, Doctor, I suppose?" the Major said, +as a party of them who had been dining with Dr. Wade were smoking +in the veranda. + +"I was hopeful before, Major, and I am hopeful now; but I can't say +that today's parade has influenced me in the slightest. Whatever +virtues the Hindoo may have, he has certainly that of knowing how +to wait. I believe, from what took place, that they have no intention +of breaking out at present; whether they are waiting to see what +is done at other stations, or until they receive a signal, is more +than I can say; but their assurances do not weigh with me to the +slightest extent. Their history is full of cases of perfidious +massacre. I should say, 'Trust them as long as you can, but don't +relax your watch.'" + +"You are a confirmed croaker," Captain Rintoul said. + +"I do not think so, Rintoul. I know the men I am talking about, +and I know the Hindoos generally. They are mere children, and can +be molded like clay. As long as we had the molding, all went well; +but if they fall into the hands of designing men they can be led +in another direction just as easily as we have led them in ours. +I own that I don't see who can be sufficiently interested in the +matter to conceive and carry out a great conspiracy of this kind. +The King of Oude is a captive in our hands, the King of Delhi is +too old to play such a part. Scindia and Holkar may possibly long +for the powers their fathers possessed, but they are not likely to +act together, and may be regarded as rivals rather than friends, +and yet if it is not one of these who has been brewing this storm. +I own I don't see who can be at the bottom of it, unless it has +really originated from some ambitious spirits among the Sepoys, +who look in the event of success to being masters of the destinies +of India. It is a pity we did not get a few more views from that +juggler; we might have known a little more of it then." + +"Don't talk about him, Doctor," Wilson said; "it gives me the cold +shivers to think of that fellow and what he did; I have hardly slept +since then. It was the most creepy thing I ever saw. Richards and +I have talked it over every evening we have been alone together, +and we can't make head or tail of the affair. Richards thinks +it wasn't the girl at all who went up on that pole, but a sort of +balloon in her shape. But then, as I say, there was the girl standing +among us before she took her place on the pole. We saw her sit down +and settle herself on the cushion so that she was balanced right. +So it could not have been a balloon then, and if it were a balloon +afterwards, when did she change? At any rate the light below was +sufficient to see well until she was forty or fifty feet up, and +after that she shone out, and we never lost sight of her until +she was ever so high. I can understand the pictures, because there +might have been a magic lantern somewhere, but that girl trick, and +the basket trick, and that great snake are altogether beyond me." + +"So I should imagine, Wilson," the Doctor said dryly; "and if I were +you I would not bother my head about it.. Nobody has succeeded in +finding out any of them yet, and all the wondering in the world is +not likely to get you any nearer to it." + +"That is what I feel, Doctor, but it is very riling to see things +that you can't account for anyhow. I wish he had sent up Richards +on the pole instead of the girl. I would not have minded going up +myself if he had asked me, though I expect I should have jumped off +before it got up very far, even at the risk of breaking my neck." + +"I should not mind risking that," the Doctor said, "though I doubt +whether I should have known any more about it when I came down; +but these jugglers always bring a girl or a boy with them instead +of calling somebody out from the audience, as they do at home. Well, +if things are quiet we will organize another hunt, Wilson. I have +heard of a tiger fifteen miles away from where we killed our last, +and you and Richards shall go with me if you like." + +"I should like it of all things, Doctor, provided it comes off by +day. I don't think I care about sitting through another night on a +tree, and then not getting anything like a fair shot at the beast +after all." + +"We will go by day," the Doctor said. "Bathurst has promised to get +some elephants from one of the Zemindars; we will have a regular +party this time. I have half promised Miss Hannay she shall have a +seat in a howdah with me if the Major will give her leave, and in +that case we will send out tents and make a regular party of it. +What do you say, Major?" + +"I am perfectly willing, Doctor, and have certainly no objection +to trusting Isobel to your care. I know you are not likely to miss." + +"No, I am not likely to miss, certainly; and besides, there will +be Wilson and Richards to give him the coup de grace if I don't +finish him." + +There was a general laugh, for the two subalterns had been chaffed +a good deal at both missing the tiger on the previous occasion. + +"Well, when shall it be, Major?" + +"Not just at present, at any rate," the Major said. "We must see +how things are going on. I certainly should not think of going +outside the station now, nor could I give leave to any officer +to do so; but if things settle down, and we hear no more of this +cartridge business for the next ten days or a fortnight, we will +see about it." + +But although no news of any outbreak similar to that at Barrackpore +was received for some days, the report that came showed a widespread +restlessness. At various stations, all over India, fires, believed +to be the work of incendiaries, took place, and there was little +abatement of the uneasiness. It become known, too, that a native +officer had before the rising of Berhampore given warning of the +mutiny, and had stated that there was a widespread plot throughout +the native regiments to rise, kill their officers, and then march +to Delhi, where they were all to gather. + +The story was generally disbelieved, although the actual rising +had shown that, to some extent, the report was well founded; still +men could not bring themselves to believe that the troops among whom +they had lived so long, and who had fought so well for us, could +meditate such gross treachery, without having, as far as could be +seen, any real cause for complaint. + +The conduct of the troops at Deennugghur was excellent, and the +Colonel wrote that at Cawnpore there were no signs whatever of +disaffection, and that the Rajah of Bithoor had offered to come +down at the head of his own troops should there be any symptoms +of mutiny among the Sepoys. Altogether things looked better, and a +feeling of confidence that there would be no serious trouble spread +through the station. + +The weather had set in very hot, and there was no stirring out +now for the ladies between eleven o'clock and five or six in the +afternoon. Isobel, however, generally went in for a chat, the first +thing after early breakfast, with Mrs. Doolan, whose children were +fractious with prickly heat. + +"I only wish we had some big, high mountain, my dear, somewhere +within reach, where we could establish the children through the +summer and run away ourselves occasionally to look after them. We +are very badly off here in Oude for that. You are looking very pale +yourself the last few days." + +"I suppose I feel it a little," Isobel said, "and of course this +anxiety everyone has been feeling worries one. Everyone seems to +agree that there is no fear of trouble with the Sepoys here; still, +as nothing else is talked about, one cannot help feeling nervous +about it. However, as things seem settling down now, I hope we +shall soon get something else to talk about." + +"I have not seen Mr. Bathurst lately," Mrs. Doolan said presently. + +"Nor have we," Isobel said quietly; "it is quite ten days since we +saw him last." + +"I suppose he is falling back into his hermit ways," Mrs. Doolan +said carelessly, shooting a keen glance at Isobel, who was leaning +over one of the children. + +"He quite emerged from his shell for a bit. Mrs. Hunter was saying +she never saw such a change in a man, but I suppose he has got +tired of it. Captain Forster arrived just in time to fill up the +gap. How do you like him, Isobel?" + +"He is amusing," the girl said quietly; "I have never seen anyone +quite like him before; he talks in an easy, pleasant sort of way, +and tells most amusing stories. Then, when he sits down by one he +has the knack of dropping his voice and talking in a confidential +sort of way, even when it is only about the weather. I am always +asking myself how much of it is real, and what there is under the +surface." + +Mrs. Doolan nodded approval. + +"I don't think there is much under the surface, dear, and what +there is is just as well left alone; but there is no doubt he can +be delightful when he chooses, and very few women would not feel +flattered by the attentions of a man who is said to be the handsomest +officer in the Indian army, and who has besides distinguished +himself several times as a particularly dashing officer." + +"I don't think handsomeness goes for much in a man," Isobel said +shortly. + +Mrs. Doolan laughed. + +"Why should it not go for as much as prettiness in a woman? It is +no use being cynical, Isobel; it is part of our nature to admire +pretty things, and as far as I can see an exceptionally handsome +man is as legitimate an object of admiration as a lovely woman." + +"Yes, to admire, Mrs. Doolan, but not to like." + +"Well, my dear, I don't want to be hurrying you away, but I think +you had better get back before the sun gets any higher. You may say +you don't feel the heat much, but you are looking pale and fagged, +and the less you are out in the sun the better." + +Isobel had indeed been having a hard time during those ten days. +At first she had thought of little but what she should do when +Bathurst called. It seemed impossible that she could be exactly +the same with him as she had been before, that was quite out of +the question, and yet how was she to be different? + +Ten days had passed without his coming. This was so unusual that +an idea came into her mind which terrified her, and the first time +when the Doctor came in and found her alone she said, "Of course, +Dr. Wade, you have not mentioned to Mr. Bathurst the conversation +we had, but it is curious his not having been here since." + +"Certainly I mentioned it," the Doctor said calmly; "how could I +do otherwise? It was evident to me that he would not be welcomed +here as he was before, and I could not do otherwise than warn him +of the change he might expect to find, and to give him the reason +for it." + +Isobel stood the picture of dismay. "I don't think you had any +right to do so, Doctor," she said. "You have placed me in a most +painful position." + +"In not so painful a one as it would have been, my dear, if he had +noticed the change himself, as he must have done, and asked for +the cause of it." + +Isobel stood twisting her fingers over each other before her +nervously. + +"But what am I to do?" she asked. + +"I do not see that there is anything more for you to do," the Doctor +said. "Mr. Bathurst may not be perfect in all respects, but he is +certainly too much of a gentleman to force his visits where they +are not wanted. I do not say he will not come here at all, for not +to do so after being here so much would create comment and talk +in the station, which would be as painful to you as to him, but he +certainly will not come here more often than is necessary to keep +up appearances." + +"I don't think you ought to have told him," Isobel repeated, much +distressed. + +"I could not help it, my dear. You would force me to admit there +was some truth in the story Captain Forster told you, and I was, +therefore, obliged to acquaint him with the fact or he would have +had just cause to reproach me. Besides, you spoke of despising a +man who was not physically brave." + +"You never told him that, Doctor; surely you never told him that?" + +"I only told what it was necessary he should know, my dear, namely, +that you had heard the story, that you had questioned me, and that +I, knowing the facts from his lips, admitted that there was some +foundation for the story, while asserting that I was convinced that +he was morally a brave man. He did not ask how you took the news, +nor did I volunteer any information whatever on the subject, but +he understood, I think, perfectly the light in which you would view +a coward." + +"But what am I to do when we meet, Doctor?" she asked piteously. + +"I should say that you will meet just as ordinary .acquaintances +do meet, Miss Hannay. People are civil to others they are thrown +with, however much they may distrust them at heart. You may be sure +that Mr. Bathurst will make no allusion whatever to the matter. I +think I can answer for it that you will see no shade of difference +in his manner. This has always been a heavy burden for him, as even +the most careless observer may see in his manner. I do not say that +this is not a large addition to it, but I dare say he will pull +through; and now I must be off." + +"You are very unkind, Doctor, and I never knew you unkind before." + +"Unkind!" the Doctor repeated, with an air of surprise. "In what +way? I love this young fellow. I had cherished hopes for him that +he hardly perhaps ventured to cherish for himself. I quite agree +with you that what has passed has annihilated those hopes. You +despise a man who is a coward. I am not surprised at that. Bathurst +is the last man in the world who would force himself upon a woman +who despised him. I have done my best to save you from being obliged +to make a personal declaration of your sentiments. I repudiate +altogether the accusation as being unkind. I don't blame you in +the slightest. I think that your view is the one that a young woman +of spirit would naturally take. I acquiesce in it entirely. I will +go farther, I consider it a most fortunate occurrence for you both +that you found it out in time." + +Isobel's cheeks had flushed and paled several times while he was +speaking; then she pressed her lips tightly together, and as he +finished she said, "I think, Doctor, it will be just as well not +to discuss the matter further." + +"I am quite of your opinion," he said. "We will agree not to allude +to it again. Goodby." + +And then Isobel had retired to her room and cried passionately, +while the Doctor had gone off chuckling to himself as if he were +perfectly satisfied with the state of affairs. + +During the week that had since elapsed the Major had wondered and +grumbled several times at Bathurst's absence. + +"I expect," he said one day, when a note of refusal had come from +him, "that he doesn't care about meeting Forster. You remember +Forster said they had been at school together, and from the tone in +which he spoke it is evident that they disliked each other there. +No doubt he has heard from the Doctor that Forster is frequently in +here," and the Major spoke rather irritably, for it seemed to him +that Isobel showed more pleasure in the Captain's society than she +should have done after what he had said to her about him; indeed, +Isobel, especially when the Doctor was present, appeared by no +means to object to Captain Forster's attentions. + +Upon the evening, however, of the day when Isobel had spoken to +Mrs. Doolan, Bathurst came in, rather late in the evening. + +"How are you, Bathurst?" the Major said cordially. "Why, you have +become quite a stranger. We haven't seen you for over a fortnight. +Do you know Captain Forster?" + +"We were at school together formerly, I believe," Bathurst said +quietly. "We have not met since, and I fancy we are both changed +beyond recognition." + +Captain Forster looked with surprise at the strong, well knit +figure. He had not before seen Bathurst, and had pictured him to +himself as a weak, puny man. + +"I certainly should not have known Mr. Bathurst," he said. "I have +changed a great deal, no doubt, but he has certainly changed more." + +There was no attempt on the part of either to shake hands. As they +moved apart Isobel came into the room. + +A quick flash of color spread over her face when, upon entering, +she saw Bathurst talking to her uncle. Then she advanced, shook +hands with him as usual, and said, "It is quite a time since you +were here, Mr. Bathurst. If everyone was as full of business as +you are, we should get on badly." + +Then she moved on without waiting for a reply and sat down, and +was soon engaged in a lively conversation with. Captain Forster, +whilst Bathurst, a few minutes later, pleading that as he had been +in the saddle all day he must go and make up for lost time, took +his leave. + +Captain Forster had noticed the flush on Isobel's cheeks when she +saw Bathurst, and had drawn his own conclusions. + +"There has been a flirtation between them," he said to himself; +"but I fancy I have put a spoke in his wheel. She gave him the cold +shoulder unmistakably." + +April passed, and as matters seemed to be quieting down, there +being no fresh trouble at any of the stations, the Major told Dr. +Wade that he really saw no reason why the projected tiger hunt +should not take place. The Doctor at once took the matter in hand, +and drove out the next morning to the village from which he had +received news about the tiger, had a long talk with the shikaris +of the place, took a general view of the country, settled the line +in which the beat should take place, and arranged for a large body +of beaters to be on the spot at the time agreed on. + +Bathurst undertook to obtain the elephants from two Zemindars in +the neighborhood, who promised to furnish six, all of which were +more or less accustomed to the sport; while the Major and Mr. Hunter, +who had been a keen sportsman, although he had of late given up +the pursuit of large game, arranged for a number of bullock carts +for the transport of tents and stores. + +Bathurst himself declined to be one of the party, which was to +consist of Mr. Hunter and his eldest daughter, the Major and Isobel, +the Doctor, the two subalterns, and Captain Forster. Captain Doolan +said frankly that he was no shot, and more likely to hit one of +the party than the tiger. Captain Rintoul at first accepted, but +his wife shed such floods of tears at the idea of his leaving her +and going into danger, that for the sake of peace he agreed to +remain at home. + +Wilson and Richards were greatly excited over the prospect, and +talked of nothing else; they were burning to wipe out the disgrace +of having missed on the previous occasion. Each of them interviewed +the Doctor privately, and implored him to put them in a position +where they were likely to have the first shot. Both used the same +arguments, namely, that the Doctor had killed so many tigers that +one more or less could make no difference to him, and if they +missed, which they modestly admitted was possible, he could still +bring the animal down. + +As the Doctor was always in a good temper when there was a prospect +of sport, he promised each of them to do all that he could for them, +at the same time pointing out that it was always quite a lottery +which way the tiger might break out. + +Isobel was less excited than she would have thought possible over the +prospect of taking part in a tiger hunt. She had many consultations +to hold with Mrs. Hunter, the Doctor, and Rumzan as to the food +to be taken, and the things that would be absolutely necessary for +camping out; for, as it was possible that the first day's beat would +be unsuccessful, they were to be prepared for at least two days' +absence from home. Two tents were to be taken, one for the gentlemen, +the other for Isobel and Mary Hunter. These, with bedding and camp +furniture, cooking utensils and provisions, were to be sent off +at daybreak, while the party were to start as soon as the heat of +the day was over. + +"I wish Bathurst had been coming," Major Hannay said, as, with +Isobel by his side, he drove out of the cantonment. "He seems +to have slipped away from us altogether; he has only been in once +for the last three or four weeks. You haven't had a tiff with him +about anything, have you, Isobel? It seems strange his ceasing so +suddenly to come after our seeing so much of him." + +"No, uncle, I have not seen him except when you have. What put such +an idea into your mind?" + +"I don't know, my dear; young people do have tiffs sometimes about +all sorts of trifles, though I should not have thought that Bathurst +was the sort of man to do anything of that sort. I don't think that +he likes Forster, and does not care to meet him. I fancy that is +at the bottom of it." + +"Very likely," Isobel said innocently, and changed the subject. + +It was dark when they reached the appointed spot, and indeed from +the point where they left the road a native with a torch had run +ahead to show them the way. The tents looked bright; two or three +large fires were burning round them, and the lamps had already been +lighted within. + +"These tents do look cozy," Mary Hunter said, as she and Isobel +entered the one prepared for them. "I do wish one always lived +under canvas during the hot weather." + +"They look cool," Isobel said, "but I don't suppose they are really +as cool as the bungalows; but they do make them comfortable. Here +is the bathroom all ready, and I am sure we want it after that dusty +drive. Will you have one first, or shall I? We must make haste, for +Rumzan said dinner would be ready in half an hour. Fortunately we +shan't be expected to do much in the way of dressing." + +The dinner was a cheerful meal, and everyone was in high spirits. + +The tiger had killed a cow the day before, and the villagers were +certain that he had retired to a deep nullah round which a careful +watch had been kept all day. Probably he would steal out by night +to make a meal from the carcass of the cow, but it had been arranged +that he was to do this undisturbed, and that the hunt was to take +place by daylight. + +"It is wonderful how the servants manage everything," Isobel said. +"The table is just as well arranged as it is at home. People would +hardly believe in England, if they could see us sitting here, that +we were only out on a two days' picnic. They would be quite content +there to rough it and take their meals sitting on the ground, +or anyway they could get them. It really seems ridiculous having +everything like this." + +"There is nothing like making yourself comfortable," the Doctor +said; "and as the servants have an easy time of it generally, it +does them good to bestir themselves now and then. The expense of +one or two extra bullock carts is nothing, and it makes all the +difference in comfort." + +"How far is the nullah from here, Doctor?" Wilson, who could think +of nothing else but the tiger, asked. + +"About two miles. It is just as well not to go any nearer. Not that +he would be likely to pay us a visit, but he might take the alarm +and shift his quarters. No, no more wine, Major; we shall want +our blood cool in the morning. Now we will go out to look at the +elephants and have a talk with the mahouts, and find out which of +the animals can be most trusted to stand steady. It is astonishing +what a dread most elephants have of tigers. I was on one once that +I was assured would face anything, and the brute bolted and went +through some trees, and I was swept off the pad and was half an hour +before I opened my eyes. It was a mercy I had not every rib broken. +Fortunately I was a lightweight, or I might have been killed. And +I have seen the same sort of thing happen a dozen times, so we must +choose a couple of steady ones, anyhow, for the ladies." + +For the next hour they strolled about outside. The Doctor cross +questioned the mahouts and told off the elephants for the party; +then there was a talk with the native shikaris and arrangements +made for the beat, and at an early hour all retired to rest. The +morning was just breaking when they were called. Twenty minutes +later they assembled to take a cup of coffee before starting. The +elephants were arranged in front of the tents, and they were just +about to mount when a horse was heard coming at a gallop. + +"Wait a moment," the Major said; "it may be a message of some sort +from the station." A minute later Bathurst rode in and reined up +his horse in front of the tent. + +"Why, Bathurst, what brings you here? Changed your mind at the last +moment, and found you could get away? That's right; you shall come +on the pad with me." + +"No, I have not come for that, Major; I have brought a dispatch that +arrived at two o'clock this morning. Doolan opened it and came to +me, and asked me to bring it on to you, as I knew the way and where +your camp was to be pitched." + +"Nothing serious, I hope, Bathurst," the Major said, struck with the +gravity with which Bathurst spoke. "It must be something important, +or Doolan would never have routed you off like that." + +"It is very serious, Major," Bathurst said, in a low voice. "May +I suggest you had better go into the tent to read it? Some of the +servants understand English." + +"Come in with me," the Major said, and led the way into the tent, +where the lamps were still burning on the breakfast table, although +the light had broadened out over the sky outside. It was with grave +anticipation of evil that the Major took the paper from its envelope, +but his worst fears were more than verified by the contents. + +"My Dear Major: The General has just received a telegram with terrible +news from Meerut. 'Native troops mutinied, murdered officers, women, +and children, opened jails and burned cantonments, and marched to +Delhi.' It is reported that there has been a general rising there +and the massacre of all Europeans. Although this is not confirmed, +the news is considered probable. We hear also that the native +cavalry at Lucknow have mutinied. Lawrence telegraphs that he has +suppressed it with the European troops there, and has disarmed the +mutineers. I believe that our regiment will be faithful, but none +can be trusted now. I should recommend your preparing some fortified +house to which all Europeans in station can retreat in case of +trouble. Now that they have taken to massacre as well as mutiny, +God knows how it will all end." + +"Good Heavens! who could have dreamt of this?" the Major groaned. +"Massacred their officers, women, and children. All Europeans at +Delhi supposed to have been massacred, and there must be hundreds +of them. Can it be true?" + +"The telegram as to Meerut is clearly an official one," Bathurst +said. "Delhi is as yet but a rumor, but it is too probable that +if these mutineers and jail birds, flushed with success, reached +Delhi before the whites were warned, they would have their own way +in the place, as, with the exception of a few artillerymen at the +arsenal, there is not a white soldier in the place." + +"But there were white troops at Meerut," the Major said. "What +could they have been doing? However, that is not the question now. +We must, of course, return instantly. Ask the others to come in +here, Bathurst. Don't tell the girls what has taken place; it will +be time enough for that afterwards. All that is necessary to say is +that you have brought news of troubles at some stations unaffected +before, and that I think it best to return at once." + +The men were standing in a group, wondering what the news could be +which was deemed of such importance that Bathurst should carry it +out in the middle of the night. + +"The Major will be glad if you will all go in, gentlemen," Bathurst +said, as he joined them. + +"Are we to go in, Mr. Bathurst?" Miss Hunter asked. + +"No, I think not, Miss Hunter; the fact is there have been some +troubles at two or three other places, and the Major is going to +hold a sort of council of war as to whether the hunt had not better +be given up. I rather fancy that they will decide to go back at +once. News flies very fast in India. I think the Major would like +that he and his officers should be back before it is whispered among +the Sepoys that the discontent has not, as we hoped, everywhere +ceased." + +"It must be very serious," Isobel said, "or uncle would never decide +to go back, when all the preparations are made." + +"It would never do, you see, Miss Hannay, for the Commandant and +four of the officers to be away, if the Sepoys should take it into +their heads to refuse to receive cartridges or anything of that +sort." + +"You can't give us any particulars, then, Mr. Bathurst?" + +"The note was a very short one, and was partly made up of unconfirmed +rumors. As I only saw it in my capacity of a messenger, I don't +think I am at liberty to say more than that." + +"What a trouble the Sepoys are," Mary Hunter said pettishly; "it +is too bad our losing a tiger hunt when we may never have another +chance to see one!" + +"That is a very minor trouble, Mary." + +"I don't think so," the girl said; "just at present it seems to me +to be very serious." + +At this moment the Doctor put his head out of the tent. + +"Will you come in, Bathurst?" + +"We have settled, Bathurst," the Major said, when he entered, "that +we must, of course, go back at once. The Doctor, however, is of +opinion that if, after all the preparations were made, we were to +put the tiger hunt off altogether, it would set the natives talking, +and the report would go through the country like wildfire that +some great disaster had happened. We must go back at once, and Mr. +Hunter, having a wife and daughter there, is anxious to get back, +too; but the Doctor urges that he should go out and kill this +tiger. As it is known that you have just arrived, he says that if +you are willing to go with him, it will be thought that you had +come here to join the hunt, and if that comes off, and the tiger +is killed, it does not matter whether two or sixty of us went out." + +"I shall be quite willing to do so," said Bathurst, "and I really +think that the Doctor's advice is good. If, now that you have all +arrived upon the ground, the preparations were canceled, there +can be no doubt that the natives would come to the conclusion that +something very serious had taken place, and it would be all over +the place in no time." + +"Thank you, Bathurst. Then we will consider that arranged. Now we +will get the horses in as soon as possible, and be off at once." + +Ten minutes later the buggies were brought round, and the whole +party, with the exception of the Doctor and Bathurst, started for +Deennugghur. + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +"Let us be off at once," Dr. Wade said to his companion; "we can +talk as we go along. I have got two rifles with me; I can lend you +one." + +"I shall take no rifle," Bathurst said decidedly, "or rather I will +take one of the shikaris' guns for the sake of appearance, and for +use I will borrow one of their spears." + +"Very well; I will do the shooting, then," the Doctor agreed. + +The two men then took their places on the elephants most used +to the work, and told the mahouts of the others to follow in case +the elephants should be required for driving the tiger out of the +thick jungle, and they then started side by side for the scene of +action. + +"This is awful news, Bathurst. I could not have believed it possible +that these fellows who have eaten our salt for years, fought our +battles, and have seemed the most docile and obedient of soldiers, +should have done this. That they should have been goaded into mutiny +by lies about their religion being in danger I could have imagined +well enough, but that they should go in for wholesale massacre, +not only of their officers, but of women and children, seems well +nigh incredible. You and I have always agreed that if they were +once roused there was no saying what they would do, but I don't. +think either of us dreamt of anything as bad as this." + +"I don't know," Bathurst said quietly; "one has watched this cloud +gathering, and felt that if it did break it would be something +terrible. No one can foresee now what it will be. The news that +Delhi is in the hands of the mutineers, and that these have massacred +all Europeans, and so placed themselves beyond all hope of pardon, +will fly though India like a flash of lightning, and there is no +guessing how far the matter will spread. There is no use disguising +it from ourselves, Doctor, before a week is over there may not be a +white man left alive in India, save the garrisons of strong places +like Agra, and perhaps the presidential towns, where there is always +a strong European force." + +"I can't deny that it is possible, Bathurst. If this revolt spreads +though the three Presidencies the work of conquering India will +have to be begun again, and worse than that, for we should have +opposed to us a vast army drilled and armed by ourselves, and led +by the native officers we have trained. It seems stupefying that +an empire won piecemeal, and after as hard fighting as the world +has ever seen, should be lost in a week." + +The Doctor spoke as if the question was a purely impersonal one. + +"Ugly, isn't it?" he went on; "and to think I have been doctoring +up these fellows for the last thirty years--saving their lives, +sir, by wholesale. If I had known what had been coming I would have +dosed them with arsenic with as little remorse as I should feel +in shooting a tiger's whelp. Well, there is one satisfaction, the +Major has already done something towards turning the courthouse +into a fortress, and I fancy a good many of the scoundrels will go +down before they take it, that is, if they don't fall on us unawares. +I have been a noncombatant all my life, but if I can shoot a tiger +on the spring I fancy I can hit a Sepoy. By Jove, Bathurst, that +juggler's picture you told me of is likely to come true after all!" + +"I wish to Heaven it was!" Bathurst said gloomily; "I could look +without dread at whatever is coming as far as I am concerned, if I +could believe it possible that I should be fighting as I saw myself +there." + +"Pooh, nonsense, lad!" the Doctor said. "Knowing what I know of +you, I have no doubt that, though you may feel nervous at first, +you will get over it in time." + +Bathurst shook his head. "I know myself too well, Doctor, to indulge +in any such hopes. Now you see we are going out tiger hunting. At +present, now, as far as I am concerned, I should feel much less +nervous if I knew I was going to enter the jungle on foot with only +this spear, than I do at the thought that you are going to fire +that rifle a few paces from me." + +"You will scarcely notice it in the excitement," the Doctor said. +"In cold blood I admit you might feel it, but I don't think you +will when you see the tiger spring out from the jungle at us. But +here we are. That is the nullah in which they say the tiger retires +at night. I expect the beaters are lying all round in readiness, +and as soon as we have taken up our station at its mouth they will +begin." + +A shikari came up as they approached the spot. + +"The tiger went out last night, sahib, and finished the cow; he +came back before daylight, and the beaters are all in readiness to +begin." + +The elephants were soon in position at the mouth of the ravine, +which was some thirty yards across. At about the same distance in +front of them the jungle of high, coarse grass and thick bush began. + +"If you were going to shoot, Bathurst, we would take post one each +side, but as you are not going to I will place myself nearly in +the center, and if you are between me and the rocks the tiger is +pretty certain to go on the other side, as it will seem the most +open to him. Now we are ready," he said to the shikari. + +The latter waved a white rag on the top of a long stick, and at +the signal a tremendous hubbub of gongs and tom toms, mingled with +the shouts of numbers of the men, arose. The Doctor looked across +at his companion. His face was white and set, his muscles twitched +convulsively; he was looking straight in front of him, his teeth +set hard. + +"An interesting case," the Doctor muttered to himself, "if it had +been anyone else than Bathurst. I expect the tiger will be some +little time before it is down. Bathurst," he said, in a quiet +voice. Three times he repeated the observation, each time raising +his voice higher, before Bathurst heard him. + +"The sooner it comes the better," Bathurst said, between his teeth. +"I would rather face a hundred tigers than this infernal din." + +A quarter of an hour passed, and the Doctor, rifle in hand, was +watching the bushes in front when he saw a slight movement among +the leaves on his right, the side on which Bathurst was stationed. + +"That's him, Bathurst; he has headed back; he caught sight of either +your elephant or mine; he will make a bolt in another minute now +unless he turns back on the beaters." + +A minute later there was a gleam of tawny yellow among the long +grass, and quick as thought the Doctor fired. With a sharp snarl +the tiger leaped out, and with two short bounds sprang onto the +head of the elephant ridden by Bathurst. The mahout gave a cry of +pain, for the talons of one of the forepaws were fixed in his leg. +Bathurst leaned forward and thrust the spear he held deep into +the animal's neck. At the same moment the Doctor fired again, and +the tiger, shot through the head, fell dead, while, with a start, +Bathurst lost his balance and fell over the elephant's head onto +the body of the tiger. + +It was fortunate indeed for him that the ball had passed through the +tiger's skull from ear to ear, and that life was extinct before +it touched the ground. Bathurst sprang to his feet, shaken and +bewildered, but otherwise unhurt. + +"He is as dead as a door nail!" the Doctor shouted, "and lucky for +you he was so; if he had had a kick left in him you would have been +badly torn." + +"I should never have fallen off," Bathurst said angrily, "if you +had not fired. I could have finished him with the spear." + +"You might or you might not; I could not wait to think about that; +the tiger had struck its claws into the mahout's leg, and would +have had him off the elephant in another moment. That is a first +rate animal you were riding on, or he would have turned and bolted; +if he had done so you and the mahout would have both been off to +a certainty." + +By this time the shouts of some natives, who had taken their posts +in trees near at hand, told the beaters that the shots they had +heard had been successful, and with shouts of satisfaction they +came rushing down. The Doctor at once dispatched one of them to +bring up his trap and Bathurst's horse, and then examined the tiger. + +It was a very large one, and the skin was in good condition, which +showed that he had not taken to man eating long. The Doctor bound +up the wound on the mahout's leg, and then superintended the skinning +of the animal while waiting for the arrival of the trap. + +When it came up he said, "You might as well take a seat by my side, +Bathurst; the syce will sit behind and lead your horse." + +Having distributed money among the beaters, the Doctor took his +place in his trap, the tiger skin was rolled up and placed under +the seat, Bathurst mounted beside him, and they started. + +"There, you see, Doctor," Bathurst, who had not opened his lips +from the time he had remonstrated with the Doctor for firing, said; +"you see it is of no use. I was not afraid of the tiger, for I knew +that you were not likely to miss, and that in any case it could +not reach me on the elephant. I can declare that I had not a shadow +of fear of the beast, and yet, directly that row began, my nerves +gave way altogether. It was hideous, and yet, the moment the tiger +charged, I felt perfectly cool again, for the row ceased as you +fired your first shot. I struck it full in the chest, and was about +to thrust the spear right down, and should, I believe, have killed +it, if you had not fired again and startled me so that I fell from +the elephant." + +"I saw that the shouting and noise unnerved you, Bathurst, but I +saw too that you were perfectly cool and steady when you planted +your spear into him. If it had not got hold of the mahout's leg I +should not have fired." + +"Is there nothing to be done, Doctor? You know now what it is likely +we shall have to face with the Sepoys and what it will be with me +if they rise. Is there nothing you can do for me?" + +The Doctor shook his head. "I don't believe in Dutch courage in +any case, Bathurst; certainly not in yours. There is no saying what +the effect of spirits might be. I should not recommend them, lad. +Of course, I can understand your feelings, but I still believe +that, even if you do badly to begin with, you will pull round in +the end. I have no doubt you will get a chance to show that it is +only nerve and not courage in which you are deficient." + +Bathurst was silent, and scarce another word was spoken during the +drive back to Deennugghur. + +The place had its accustomed appearance when they drove up. The +Doctor, as he drew up before his bungalow, said, "Thank God, they +have not begun yet! I was half afraid we might have found they +had taken advantage of most of us being away, and have broken out +before we got back." + +"So was I," Bathurst said. "I have been thinking of nothing else +since we started." + +"Well, I will go to the Major at once and see what arrangements +have been made, and whether there is any further news." + +"I shall go off on my rounds," Bathurst said. "I had arranged +yesterday to be at Nilpore this morning, and there will be time +for me to get there now. It is only eleven o'clock yet. I shall go +about my work as usual until matters come to a head." + +The Doctor found that the Major was over at the tent which served +as the orderly office, and at once followed him there. + +"Nothing fresh, Major?" + +"No; we found everything going on as usual. It has been decided to +put the courthouse as far as we can in a state of defense. I shall +have the spare ammunition quietly taken over there, with stores of +provisions. The ladies have undertaken to sew up sacking and make +gunny bags for holding earth, and, of course, we shall get a store +of water there. Everything will be done quietly at present, and +things will be sent in there after dark by such servants as we can +thoroughly rely upon. At the first signs of trouble the residents +will make straight for that point. Of course we must be guided by +circumstances. If the trouble begins in the daytime--that is, if +it does begin, for the native officers assure us that we can trust +implicitly in the loyalty of the men--there will probably be +time for everyone to gain the courthouse; if it is at night, and +without warning, as it was at Meerut, I can only say, Doctor, may +God help us all, for I fear that few, if any, of us would get there +alive. Certainly not enough to make any efficient defense." + +"I do not see that there is anything else to do, Major. I trust +with you that the men will prove faithful; if not, it is a black +lookout whichever way we take it." + +"Did you kill the tiger, Doctor?" + +"Yes; at least Bathurst and I did it between us. I wounded him +first. It then sprang upon Bathurst's elephant, and he speared it, +and I finished it with a shot through the head." + +"Speared it!" the Major repeated; "why didn't he shoot it. What +was he doing with his spear?" + +"He was born, Major, with a constitutional horror of firearms, +inherited from his mother. I will tell you about it some day. In +fact, he cannot stand noise of any sort. It has been a source of +great trouble to the young fellow, who in all other respects has +more than a fair share of courage. However, we will talk about that +when we have more time on our hands. There is no special duty you +can give me at present?" + +"Yes, there is. You are in some respects the most disengaged man in +the station, and can come and go without attracting any attention. +I propose, therefore, that you shall take charge of the arrangement +of matters in the courthouse. I think that it will be an advantage +if you move from your tent in there at once. There is plenty of +room for us all: No one can say at what time there may be trouble +with the Sepoys, and it would be a great advantage to have someone +in the courthouse who could take the lead if the women, with the +servants and so on, come flocking in while we were still absent on +the parade ground. Besides, with your rifle, you could drive any +small party off who attempted to seize it by surprise. If you were +there we would call it the hospital, which would be an excuse for +sending in stores, bedding, and so on. + +"You might mention in the orderly room that it is getting so hot +now that you think it would be as well to have a room or two fitted +up under a roof, instead of having the sick in tents, in case there +should be an outbreak of cholera or anything of that sort this +year. I will say that I think the idea is a very good one, and that +as the courthouse is very little used, you had better establish +yourself there. The native officers who hear what we say will +spread the news. I don't say it will be believed, but at least it +will serve as an explanation." + +"Yes, I think that that will be a very good plan, Major. Two of +the men who act as hospital orderlies I can certainly depend upon, +and they will help to receive the things sent in from the bungalows, +and will hold their tongues as to what is being done; I shall leave +my tent standing, and use it occasionally as before, but will make +the courthouse my headquarters. How are we off for arms?" + +"There are five cases of muskets and a considerable stock of +ammunition in that small magazine in the lines; one of the first +things will be to get them removed to the courthouse. We have +already arranged to do that tonight; it will give us four or five +muskets apiece." + +"Good, Major; I will load them all myself and keep them locked +up in a room upstairs facing the gateway, and should there be any +trouble I fancy I could give a good account of any small body of +men who might attempt to make an entrance. I am very well content +with my position as Commandant of the Hospital, as we may call +it; the house has not been much good to us hitherto, but I suppose +when it was bought it was intended to make this a more important +station; it is fortunate they did buy it now, for we can certainly +turn it into a small fortress. Still, of course, I cannot disguise +from myself that though we might get on successfully for a time +against your Sepoys, there is no hope of holding it long if the +whole country rises." + +"I quite see that, Doctor," the Major said gravely; "but I have +really no fear of that. With the assistance of the Rajah of Bithoor, +Cawnpore is safe. His example is almost certain to be followed by +almost all the other great landowners. No; it is quite bad enough +that we have to face a Sepoy mutiny; I cannot believe that we are +likely to have a general rising on our hands. If we do--" and he +stopped. + +"If we do it is all up with us, Major; there is no disguising that. +However, we need not look at the worst side of things. Well, I will +go with you to the orderly room, and will talk with you about the +hospital scheme, mention that there is a rumor of cholera, and so +on, and ask if I can't have a part of the courthouse; then we can +walk across there together, and see what arrangement had best be +made." + +The following day brought another dispatch from the Colonel, saying +that the rumors as to Delhi were confirmed. The regiments there +had joined the Meerut mutineers, had shot down their officers, and +murdered every European they could lay hands on; that three officers +and six noncommissioned officers, who were in charge of the arsenal, +had defended it desperately, and had finally blown up the magazine +with hundreds of its assailants. Three of the defenders had reached +Meerut with the news. + +Day by day the gloom thickened. The native regiments in the Punjaub +rose as soon as the news from Meerut and Delhi reached them, but +there were white troops there, and they were used energetically and +promptly. In some places the mutineers were disarmed before they +broke out into open violence; in other cases mutinous regiments +were promptly attacked and scattered. Several of the leading chiefs +had hastened to assure the Government of their fidelity, and had +placed their troops and resources at its disposal. + +But in the Punjaub alone the lookout appeared favorable. In the Daob +a mutiny had taken place at four of the stations, and the Sepoys +had marched away to Delhi, but without injuring the Europeans. + +After this for a week there was quiet, and then at places widely +apart--at Hansid and Hissar, to the northwest of Delhi; at +Nusserabad, in the center of Rajpootana, at Bareilly, and other +stations in Rohilcund--the Sepoys rose, and in most places +massacre was added to mutiny. Then three regiments of the Gwalior +contingent at Neemuch revolted. Then two regiments broke out at +Jhansi, and the whole of the Europeans, after desperately defending +themselves for four days, surrendered on promise of their lives, +but were instantly murdered. + +But before the news of the Jhansi massacre reached Deennugghur +they heard of other risings nearer to them. On the 30th of May the +three native regiments at Lucknow rose, but were sharply repulsed +by the 300 European troops under Sir Henry Lawrence. At Seetapoor +the Sepoys rose on the 3d of June and massacred all the Europeans. +On the 4th the Sepoys at Mohundee imitated the example of those +at Seetapoor, while on the 8th two regiments rose at Fyzabad, in +the southeastern division of the province, and massacred all the +Europeans. + +Up to this time the news from Cawnpore had still been good. The +Rajah of Bithoor had offered Sir Hugh Wheeler a reinforcement of +two guns and 300 men, and it was believed that, seeing this powerful +and influential chief had thrown his weight into the scale on the +side of the British, the four regiments of native troops would +remain quiet. + +Sir Hugh had but a handful of Europeans with him, but had just +received a reinforcement of fifty men of the 32d regiment from Lucknow, +and he had formed an intrenchment within which the Europeans of +the station, and the fugitives who had come in from the districts +around, could take refuge. + +Several communications passed between Sir Hugh Wheeler and Major +Hannay. The latter had been offered the choice of moving into Cawnpore +with his wing of the regiment, or remaining at Deennugghur. He had +chosen the latter alternative, pointing out that he still believed +in the fidelity of the troops with him; but that if they went to +Cawnpore they would doubtless be carried away with other regiments, +and would only swell the force of mutineers there. He was assured, +at any rate, they would not rise unless their comrades at Cawnpore +did so, but that it was best to manifest confidence in them, as not +improbably, did they hear that they were ordered back to Cawnpore, +they might take it as a slur on their fidelity, and mutiny at once. + +The month had been one of intense anxiety. Gradually stores +of provisions had been conveyed into the hospital, as it was now +called; the well inside the yard had been put into working order, +and the residents had sent in stores of bedding and such portable +valuables as could be removed. + +In but few cases had the outbreaks taken place at night, the mutineers +almost always breaking out either upon being ordered to parade or +upon actually falling in; still, it was by no means certain when a +crisis might come, and the Europeans all lay down to rest in their +clothes, one person in each house remaining up all night on watch, +so that at the first alarm all might hurry to the shelter of the +hospital. + +Its position was a strong one--a lofty wall inclosing a courtyard +and garden surrounding it. This completely sheltered the lower floor +from fire; the windows of the upper floor were above the level of +the wall, and commanded a view over the country, while round the +flat terraced roof ran a parapet some two feet high. + +During the day the ladies of the station generally gathered at +Mr. Hunter's, which was the bungalow nearest to the hospital. Here +they worked at the bags intended to hold earth, and kept up each +other's spirits as well as they could. Although all looked pale +and worn from anxiety and watching, there were, after the first +few days, no manifestations of fear. Occasionally a tear would +drop over their work, especially in the case of two of the wives +of civilians, whose children were in England; but as a whole +their conversation was cheerful, each trying her best to keep up +the spirits of the others. Generally, as soon as the meeting was +complete, Mrs. Hunter read aloud one of the psalms suited to their +position and the prayers for those in danger, then the work was +got out and the needles applied briskly. Even Mrs. Rintoul showed +a fortitude and courage that would not have been expected from her. + +"One never knows people," Mrs. Doolan said to Isobel, as they +walked back from one of these meetings, "as long as one only sees +them under ordinary circumstances. I have never had any patience +with Mrs. Rintoul, with her constant complaining and imaginary +ailments. Now that there is really something to complain about, she +is positively one of the calmest and most cheerful among us. It is +curious, is it not, how our talk always turns upon home? India is +hardly ever mentioned. We might be a party of intimate friends, +sitting in some quiet country place, talking of our girlhood. +Why, we have learnt more of each other and each other's history in +the last fortnight than we should have done if we had lived here +together for twenty years under ordinary circumstances. Except as +to your little brother, I think you are the only one, Isobel, who +has not talked much of home." + +"I suppose it is because my home was not a very happy one," Isobel +said. + +"I notice that all the talk is about happy scenes, nothing is ever +said about disagreeables. I suppose, my dear, it is just as I have +heard, that starving people talk about the feasts they have eaten, +so we talk of the pleasant times we have had. It is the contrast +that makes them dearer. It is funny, too, if anything can be funny +in these days, how different we are in the evening, when we have +the men with us, to what we are when we are together alone in the +day. Another curious thing is that our trouble seems to make us more +like each other. Of course we are not more like, but we all somehow +take the same tone, and seem to have given up our own particular +ways and fancies. + +"Now the men don't seem like that. Mr. Hunter, for example, whom +I used to think an even tempered and easygoing sort of man, has +become fidgety and querulous. The Major is even more genial and kind +than usual. The Doctor snaps and snarls at everyone and everything. +Anyone listening to my husband would say that he was in the wildest +spirits. Rintoul is quieter than usual, and the two lads have grown +older and nicer; I don't say they are less full of fun than they +were, especially Wilson, but they are less boyish in their fun, +and they are nice with everyone, instead of devoting themselves to +two or three of us, you principally. Perhaps Richards is the most +changed; he thinks less of his collars and ties and the polish of +his boots than he used to do, and one sees that he has some ideas +in his head besides those about horses. Captain Forster is, perhaps, +least changed, but of that you can judge better than I can, for +you see more of him. As to Mr. Bathurst, I can say nothing, for we +never see him now. I think he is the only man in the station who +goes about his work as usual; he starts away the first thing in the +morning, and comes back late in the evening, and I suppose spends +the night in writing reports, though what is the use of writing +reports at the present time I don't know. Mr. Hunter was saying +last night it was very foolish of him. What with disbanded soldiers, +and what with parties of mutineers, it is most dangerous for any +European to stir outside the station." + +"Uncle was saying the same," Isobel said quietly. + +"Well, here we separate. Of course you will be in as usual this +evening?" for the Major's house was the general rendezvous after +dinner. + +Isobel had her private troubles, although, as she often said angrily +to herself, when she thought of them, what did it matter now? She +was discontented with herself for having spoken as strongly as she +did as to the man's cowardice. She was very discontented with the +Doctor for having repeated it. She was angry with Bathurst for +staying away altogether, although willing to admit that, after he +knew what she had said, it was impossible that he should meet her +as before. Most of all, perhaps, she was angry because, at a time +when their lives were all in deadly peril, she should allow the +matter to dwell in her mind a single moment. + +Late one afternoon Bathurst walked into the Major's bungalow just +as he was about to sit down to dinner. + +"Major, I want to speak to you for a moment," he said. + +"Sit down and have some dinner, Bathurst. You have become altogether +a stranger." + +"Thank you, Major, but I have a great deal to do. Can you spare me +five minutes now? It is of importance." + +Isobel rose to leave the room. + +"There is no reason you should not hear, Miss Hannay, but it would +be better that none of the servants should be present. That is why +I wish to speak before your uncle goes in to dinner." + +Isobel sat down with an air of indifference. + +"For the last week, Major, I have ridden every day five and twenty +to thirty miles in the direction of Cawnpore; my official work has +been practically at an end since we heard the news from Meerut. +I could be of no use here, and thought that I could do no better +service than trying to obtain the earliest news from Cawnpore; I +am sorry to say that this afternoon I distinctly heard firing in +that direction. What the result is, of course, I do not know, but +I feel that there is little doubt that troubles have begun there. +But this is not all. On my return home, ten minutes ago, I found +this letter on my dressing table. It had no direction and is, as +you see, in Hindustanee," and he handed it to the Major, who read: + +"To the Sahib Bathurst,--Rising at Cawnpore today. Nana Sahib and +his troops will join the Sepoys. Whites will be destroyed. Rising +at Deennugghur at daylight tomorrow. Troops, after killing whites, +will join those at Cawnpore. Be warned in time--this tiger is +not to be beaten off with a whip." + +"Good Heavens!" the Major exclaimed; "can this be true? Can it be +possible that the Rajah of Bithoor is going to join the mutineers? +It is impossible; he could never be such a scoundrel." + +"What is it, uncle?" Isobel asked, leaving her seat and coming up +to him. + +The Major translated the letter. + +"It must be a hoax," he went on; "I cannot believe it. What does +this stuff about beating a tiger with a whip mean?" + +"I am sorry to say, Major Hannay, that part of the letter convinces +me that the contents can be implicitly relied upon. The writer did +not dare sign his name, but those words are sufficient to show me, +and were no doubt intended to show me, who the warning comes from. +It is from that juggler who performed here some six weeks ago. +Traveling about as he does, and putting aside altogether those +strange powers of his, he has no doubt the means of knowing what +is going on. As I told you that night, I had done him some slight +service, and he promised at the time that, if the occasion should +ever arise, he would risk his life to save mine. The fact that he +showed, I have no doubt, especially to please me, feats that few +Europeans have seen before, is, to my mind, a proof of his goodwill +and that he meant what he said." + +"But how do you know that it is from him. Bathurst? You will excuse +my pressing the question, but of course everything depends on my +being assured that this communication is trustworthy." + +"This allusion to the tiger shows me that, Major. It alludes to an +incident that I believe to be known only to him and his daughter +and to Dr. Wade, to whom alone I mentioned it." + +As the Major still looked inquiringly, Bathurst went on reluctantly. +"It was a trifling affair, Major, the result of a passing impulse. +I was riding home from Narkeet, and while coming along the road +through the jungle, which was at that time almost deserted by the +natives on account of the ravages of the man eater whom the Doctor +afterwards shot, I heard a scream. Galloping forward, I came upon +the brute, standing with one paw upon a prostrate girl, while a +man, the juggler, was standing frantically waving his arms. On the +impulse of the moment I sprang from my horse and lashed the tiger +across the head with that heavy dog whip I carry, and the brute +was so astonished that it bolted in the jungle. + +"That was the beginning and end of affairs, except that, although +fortunately the girl was practically unhurt, she was so unnerved +that we had to carry her to the next village, where she lay for +some time ill from the shock and fright. After that they came round +here and performed, for my amusement, the feats I told you of. So +you see I have every reason to believe in the good faith of the +writer of this letter." + +"By Jove, I should think you had!" the Major said. "Why, my dear +Bathurst, I had no idea that you could do such a thing!" + +"We have all our strong points and our weak ones, Major. That was +one of my strong ones, I suppose. And now what had best be done, +sir? That is the important question at present." + +This was so evident, that Major Hannay at once dismissed all other +thoughts from his mind. + +"Of course I and the other officers must remain at our posts until +the Sepoys actually arrive. The question is as to the others. Now +that we know the worst, or believe we know it, ought we to send +the women and children away?" + +"That is the question, sir. But where can they be sent? Lucknow is +besieged; the whites at Cawnpore must have been surrounded by this +time; the bands of mutineers are ranging the whole country, and at +the news that Nana Sahib has joined the rebels it is probable that +all will rise. I should say that it was a matter in which Mr. Hunter +and other civilians had better be consulted." + +"Yes, we will hold a council," the Major said. + +"I think, Major, it should be done quietly. It is probable that many +of the servants may know of the intentions of the Sepoys, and if +they see that anything like a council of the Europeans was being +held they may take the news to the Sepoys, and the latter, thinking +that their intention is known, may rise at once." + +"That is quite true. Yes, we must do nothing to arouse suspicion. +What do you propose, Mr. Bathurst?" + +"I will go and have a talk with the Doctor; he can go round to the +other officers one by one. I will tell Mr. Hunter, and he will tell +the other residents, so that when they meet here in the evening no +explanations will be needed, and a very few words as we sit out on +the veranda will be sufficient." + +"That will be a very good plan. We will sit down to dinner as if +nothing had happened; if they are watching at all, they will be +keeping their eyes on us then." + +"Very well; I will be in by nine o'clock, Major;" and with a slight +bow to Isobel, Bathurst stepped out through the open window, and +made his way to the Doctor's. + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +The Doctor had just sat down to dinner when Bathurst came in. The +two subalterns were dining with him. + +"That's good, Bathurst," the Doctor said, as he entered. "Boy, put +a chair for Mr. Bathurst. I had begun to think that you had deserted +me as well as everybody else." + +"I was not thinking of dining," Bathurst said, as he sat down, "but +I will do so with pleasure, though I told my man I should be back +in half an hour;" and as the servant left the room he added, "I +have much to say, Doctor; get through dinner as quickly as you can, +and get the servants out of the tent." + +The conversation was at once turned by the Doctor upon shooting and +hunting, and no allusion was made to passing events until coffee +was put on the table and the servant retired. The talk, which had +been lively during dinner, then ceased. + +"Well, Bathurst," the Doctor asked, "I suppose you have something +serious to tell me?" + +"Very serious, Doctor;" and he repeated the news he had given the +Major. + +"It could not be worse, Bathurst," the Doctor said quietly, after +the first shock of the news had passed. "You know I never had any +faith in the Sepoys since I saw how this madness was spreading from +station to station. This sort of thing is contagious. It becomes a +sort of epidemic, and in spite of the assurances of the men I felt +sure they would go. But this scoundrel of Bithoor turning against +us is more than I bargained for. There is no disguising the fact +that it means a general rising through Oude, and in that case God +help the women and children. As for us, it all comes in the line +of business. What does the Major say?" + +"The only question that seemed to him to be open was whether the +women and children could be got away." + +"But there does not seem any possible place for them to go to. +One or two might travel down the country in disguise, but that is +out of the question for a large party. There is no refuge nearer +than Allahabad. With every man's hand against them, I see not the +slightest chance of a party making their way down." + +"You or I might do it easily enough, Doctor, but for women it +seems to me out of the question; still, that is a matter for each +married man to decide for himself. The prospect is dark enough anyway, +but, as before, it seems to me that everything really depends upon +the Zemindars. If we hold the courthouse it is possible the Sepoys +may be beaten off in their first attack, and in their impatience +to join the mutineers, who are all apparently marching for Delhi, +they may go off without throwing away their lives by attacking us, +for they must see they will not be able to take the place without +cannon. But if the Zemindars join them with cannon, we may defend +ourselves till the last, but there can be but one end to it." + +The Doctor nodded. "That is the situation exactly, Bathurst." + +"I am glad we know the danger, and shall be able to face it openly," +Wilson said. "For the last month Richards and I have been keeping +watch alternately, and it has been beastly funky work sitting with +one's pistols on the table before one, listening, and knowing any +moment there might be a yell, and these brown devils come pouring +in. Now, at least, we are likely to have a fight for it, and to +know that some of them will go down before we do." + +Richards cordially agreed with his companion. + +"Well, now, what are the orders, Bathurst?" said the Doctor. + +"There are no orders as yet, Doctor. The Major says you will go +round to the others, Doolan, Rintoul, and Forster, and tell them. +I am to go round to Hunter and the other civilians. Then, this +evening we are to meet at nine o'clock, as usual, at the Major's. +If the others decide that the only plan is for all to stop here and +fight it out, there will be no occasion for anything like a council; +it will only have to be arranged at what time we all move into the +fort, and the best means for keeping the news from spreading to +the Sepoys. Not that it will make much difference after they have +once fairly turned in. If there is one thing a Hindoo hates more +than another, it is getting from under his blankets when he has +once got himself warm at night. Even if they heard at one or two +o'clock in the morning that we were moving into the fort I don't +think they would turn out till morning." + +"No, I am sure they would not," the Doctor agreed. + +"If there were a few more of us," Richards said, "I should vote for +our beginning it. If we were to fall suddenly upon them we might +kill a lot and scare the rest off." + +"We are too few for that," the Doctor said. "Besides, although +Bathurst answers for the good faith of the sender of the warning, +there has as yet been no act of mutiny that would justify our taking +such a step as that. It would come to the same thing. We might kill +a good many, but in the long run three hundred men would be more +than a match for a dozen, and then the women would be at their +mercy. Well, we had better be moving, or we shall not have time to +go round to the bungalows before the people set out for the Major's." + +It was a painful mission that Bathurst had to perform, for he +had to tell those he called upon that almost certain death was at +hand, but the news was everywhere received calmly. The strain had +of late been so great, that the news that the crisis was at hand was +almost welcome. He did not stay long anywhere, but, after setting +the alternative before them, left husband and wife to discuss +whether to try to make down to Allahabad or to take refuge in the +fort. + +Soon after nine o'clock all were at Major Hannay's. There were +pale faces among them, but no stranger would have supposed that +the whole party had just received news which was virtually a death +warrant. The ladies talked together as usual, while the men moved +in and out of the room, sometimes talking with the Major, sometimes +sitting down for a few minutes in the veranda outside, or talking +there in low tones together. + +The Major moved about among them, and soon learned that all had +resolved to stay and meet together whatever came, preferring that +to the hardships and unknown dangers of flight. + +"I am glad you have all decided so," he said quietly. "In the state +the country is, the chances of getting to Allahabad are next to +nothing. Here we may hold out till Lawrence restores order at Lucknow, +and then he may be able to send a party to bring us in. Or the +mutineers may draw off and march to Delhi. I certainly think the +chances are best here; besides, every rifle we have is of importance, +and though if any of you had made up your minds to try and escape +I should have made no objection, I am glad that we shall all stand +together here." + +The arrangements were then briefly made for the removal to the +courthouse. All were to go back and apparently to retire to bed +as usual. At twelve o'clock the men, armed, were to call up their +servants, load them up with such things as were most required, +and proceed with them, the women, and children, at once to the +courthouse. Half the men were to remain there on guard, while the +others would continue with the servants to make journeys backwards +and forwards to the bungalows, bringing in as much as could be +carried, the guard to be changed every hour. In the morning the +servants were all to have the choice given them of remaining with +their masters or leaving. + +Captain Forster was the only dissentient. He was in favor of the +whole party mounting, placing the women and children in carriages, +and making off in a body, fighting their way if necessary down to +Allahabad. He admitted that, in addition to the hundred troopers +of his own squadron, they might be cut off by the mutinous cavalry +from Cawnpore, fall in with bodies of rebels or be attacked by +villagers, but he maintained that there was at least some chance of +cutting their way through, while, once shut up in the courthouse, +escape would be well nigh impossible. + +"But you all along agreed to our holding the courthouse, Forster," +the Major said. + +"Yes; but then I reckoned upon Cawnpore holding out with the +assistance of Nana Sahib, and upon the country remaining quiet. +Now the whole thing is changed. I am quite ready to fight in the +open, and to take my chance of being killed there, but I protest +against being shut up like a rat in a hole." + +To the rest, however, the proposal appeared desperate. There would +be no withstanding a single charge of the well trained troopers, +especially as it would be necessary to guard the vehicles. Had it +not been for that, the small body of men might possibly have cut +their way through the cavalry; but even then they would be so hotly +pursued that the most of them would assuredly be hunted down. But +encumbered by the women such an enterprise seemed utterly hopeless, +and the whole of the others were unanimously against it. + +The party broke up very early. The strain of maintaining their +ordinary demeanor was too great to be long endured, and the ladies +with children were anxious to return as soon as possible to them, +lest at the last moment the Sepoys should have made some change in +their arrangements. By ten o'clock the whole party had left. + +The two subalterns had no preparations to make; they had already +sent most of their things into the hospital; and, lighting their +pipes, they sat down and talked quietly till midnight; then, +placing their pistols in their belts and wrapping themselves in +their cloaks, they went into the Doctor's tent, which was next to +theirs. + +The Doctor at once roused his servant, who was sleeping in a shelter +tent pitched by the side of his. The man came in looking surprised +at being called. "Roshun," the Doctor said, "you have been with me +ten years, and I believe you to be faithful." + +"I would lay down my life for the sahib," the man said quietly. + +"You have heard nothing of any trouble with the Sepoys?" + +"No, sahib; they know that Roshun is faithful to his master." + +"We have news that they are going to rise in the morning and kill +all Europeans, so we are going to move at once into the hospital." + +"Good, sahib; what will you take with you?" + +"My books and papers have all gone in," the Doctor said; "that +portmanteau may as well go. I will carry these two rifles myself; +the ammunition is all there except that bag in the corner, which +I will sling round my shoulder." + +"What are in those two cases, Doctor?" Wilson asked. + +"Brandy, lad." + +"We may as well each carry one of those, Doctor, if your boy takes +the portmanteau. It would be a pity to leave good liquor to be +wasted by those brutes." + +"I agree with you, Wilson; besides, the less liquor they get hold +of the better for us. Now, if you are all ready, we will start; but +we must move quietly, or the sentry at the quarter guard may hear +us." + +Ten minutes later they reached the hospital, being the last of the +party to arrive there. + +"Now, Major," the Doctor said cheerily, as soon as he entered, +"as this place is supposed to be under my special charge I will +take command for the present. Wilson and Richards will act as my +lieutenants. We have nothing to do outside, and can devote ourselves +to getting things a little straight here. The first thing to do +is to light lamps in all the lower rooms; then we can see what we +are doing, and the ladies will be able to give us their help, while +the men go out with the servants to bring things in; and remember +the first thing to do is to bring in the horses. They may be useful +to us. There is a good store of forage piled in the corner of the +yard, but the syces had best bring in as much more as they can +carry. Now, ladies, if you will all bring your bundles inside the +house we will set about arranging things, and at any rate get the +children into bed as quickly as possible." + +As it had been already settled as to the rooms to be occupied, the +ladies and their ayahs set to work at once, glad to have something +to employ them. One of the rooms which had been fitted up with beds +had been devoted to the purposes of a nursery, and the children, +most of whom were still asleep, were soon settled there. Two other +rooms had been fitted up for the use of the ladies, while the men +were occupying two others, the courtroom being turned into a general +meeting and dining room. + +At first there was not much to do; but as the servants, closely +watched by their masters, went backwards and forwards bringing +in goods of all kinds, there was plenty of employment in carrying +them down to a large underground room, where they were left to be +sorted later on. + +The Doctor had appointed Isobel Hannay and the two Miss Hunters to +the work of lighting a fire and getting boiling water ready, and a +plentiful supply of coffee was presently made, Wilson and Richards +drawing the water, carrying the heavier loads downstairs, and making +themselves generally useful. + +Captain Forster had not come in. He had undertaken to remain in +his tent in the lines, where he had quietly saddled and unpicketed +his horse, tying it up to the tent ropes so that he could mount in +an instant. He still believed that his own men would stand firm, +and declared he would at their head charge the mutinous infantry, +while if they joined the mutineers he would ride into the fort. It +was also arranged that he should bring in word should the Sepoys +obtain news of what was going on and rise before morning. + +All felt better and more cheerful after having taken some coffee. + +"It is difficult to believe, Miss Hannay," Richards said, "that +this is all real, and not a sort of picnic, or an early start on +a hunting expedition." + +"It is indeed, Mr. Richards. I can hardly believe even now that +it is all true, and have pinched myself two or three times to make +sure that I am awake." + +"If the villains venture to attack us," Wilson said, "I feel sure +we shall beat them off handsomely." + +"I have no doubt we shall, Mr. Wilson, especially as it will be in +daylight. You know you and Mr. Richards are not famous for night +shooting." + +The young men both laughed. + +"We shall never hear the last of that tiger story, Miss Hannay. +I can tell you it is no joke shooting when you have been sitting +cramped up on a tree for about six hours. We are really both pretty +good shots. Of course, I don't mean like the Doctor; but we always +make good scores with the targets. Come, Richards, here is another +lot of things; if they go on at this rate the Sepoys won't find +much to loot in the bungalows tomorrow." + +Just as daylight was breaking the servants were all called together, +and given the choice of staying or leaving. Only some eight or +ten, all of whom belonged to the neighborhood, chose to go off to +their villages. The rest declared they would stay with their masters. + +Two of the party by turns had been on watch all night on the terrace +to listen for any sound of tumult in the lines, but all had gone +on quietly. Bathurst had been working with the others all night, +and after seeing that all his papers were carried to the courthouse, +he had troubled but little about his own belongings, but had assisted +the others in bringing in their goods. + +At daylight the Major and his officers mounted and rode quietly down +towards the parade ground. Bathurst and Mr. Hunter, with several of +the servants, took their places at the gates, in readiness to open +and close them quickly, while the Doctor and the other Europeans +went up to the roof, where they placed in readiness six muskets +for each man, from the store in the courthouse. Isobel Hannay and +the wives of the two Captains were too anxious to remain below, +and went up to the roof also. The Doctor took his place by them, +examining the lines with a field glass. + +The officers halted when they reached the parade ground, and sat on +their horses in a group, waiting for the men to turn out as usual. + +"There goes the assembly," the Doctor said, as the notes of the +bugle came to their ears. "The men are turning out of their tents. +There, I can make out Forster; he has just mounted; a plucky fellow +that." + +Instead of straggling out onto the parade ground as usual, the +Sepoys seemed to hang about their tents. The cavalry mounted and +formed up in their lines. Suddenly a gun was fired, and as if at +the signal the whole of the infantry rushed forward towards the +officers, yelling and firing, and the latter at once turned their +horses and rode towards the courthouse. + +"Don't be alarmed, my dear," the Doctor said to Isobel; "I don't +suppose anyone is hit. The Sepoys are not good shots at the best of +times, and firing running they would not be able to hit a haystack +at a hundred yards. The cavalry stand firm, you see," he said, +turning his glass in that direction. "Forster is haranguing them. +There, three of the native officers are riding up to him. Ah! one +has fired at him! Missed! Ah! that is a better shot," as the man +fell from his horse, from a shot from his Captain's pistol. + +The other two rushed at him. One he cut down, and the other shot. +Then he could be seen again, shouting and waving his sword to the +men, but their yells could be heard as they rode forward at him. + +"Ride, man, ride!" the Doctor shouted, although his voice could +not have been heard at a quarter of the distance. + +But instead of turning Forster rode right at them. There was +a confused melee for a moment, and then his figure appeared beyond +the line, through which he had broken. With yells of fury the +troopers reined in their horses and tried to turn them, but before +they could do so the officer was upon them again. His revolver +cracked in his left hand, and his sword flashed in his right. Two +or three horses and men were seen to roll over, and in a moment he +was through them again and riding at full speed for the courthouse, +under a scattered fire from the infantry, while the horsemen, now +in a confused mass, galloped behind him. + +"Now then," the Doctor shouted, picking up his rifle; "let them +know we are within range, but mind you don't hit Forster. Fire two +or three shots, and then run down to the gate. He is well mounted, +and has a good fifty yards' start of them." + +Then taking deliberate aim he fired. The others followed his example. +Three of the troopers dropped from their horses. Four times those +on the terrace fired, and then ran down, each, at the Doctor's order, +taking two guns with him. One of these was placed in the hands of +each of the officers who had just ridden in, and they then gathered +round the gate. In two minutes Forster rode in at full speed, then +fifteen muskets flashed out, and several of the pursuers fell from +their horses. A minute later the gate was closed and barred, and +the men all ran up to the roof, from which three muskets were fired +simultaneously. + +"Well done!" the Doctor exclaimed. "That is a good beginning." + +A minute later a brisk fire was opened from the terrace upon the +cavalry, who at once turned and rode rapidly back to their lines. + +Captain Forster had not come scathless through the fray; his cheek +had been laid open by a sabre cut, and a musket ball had gone +through the fleshy part of his arm as he rode back. + +"This comes of fighting when there is no occasion," the Doctor +growled, when he dressed his wounds. "Here you are charging a host +like a paladin of old, forgetful that we want every man who can +lift an arm in defense of this place." + +"I think, Doctor, there is someone else wants your services more +than I do." + +"Yes; is anyone else hit?" + +"No, I don't know that anyone else is hit, Doctor; but as I turned +to come into the house after the gates were shut, there was that +fellow Bathurst leaning against the wall as white as a sheet, and +shaking all over like a leaf. I should say a strong dose of Dutch +courage would be the best medicine there." + +"You do not do justice to Bathurst, Captain Forster," the Doctor +said gravely. "He is a man I esteem most highly. In some respects +he is the bravest man I know, but he is constitutionally unable +to stand noise, and the sound of a gun is torture to him. It is an +unfortunate idiosyncrasy for which he is in no way accountable." + +"Exceedingly unfortunate, I should say," Forster said, with a dry +laugh; "especially at times like this. It is rather unlucky for him +that fighting is generally accompanied by noise. If I had such an +idiosyncrasy, as you call it, I would blow out my brains." + +"Perhaps Bathurst would do so, too, Captain Forster, if he had not +more brains to blow out than some people have." + +"That is sharp, Doctor," Forster laughed good temperedly. "I don't +mind a fair hit." + +"Well, I must go," the Doctor said, somewhat mollified; "there is +plenty to do, and I expect, after these fellows have held a council +of war, they will be trying an attack." + +When the Doctor went out he found the whole of the garrison busy. +The Major had placed four men on the roof, and had ordered everyone +else to fill the bags that had been prepared for the purpose with +earth from the garden. It was only an order to the men and male +servants, but the ladies had all gone out to render their assistance. +As fast as the natives filled the bags with earth the ladies sewed +up the mouths of the bags, and the men carried them away and piled +them against the gate. + +The garrison consisted of the six military officers, the Doctor, +seven civilians, ten ladies, eight children, thirty-eight male +servants, and six females. The work, therefore, went on rapidly, +and in the course of two hours so large a pile of bags was built +up against the gate that there was no probability whatever of its +being forced. + +"Now," the Major said, "we want four dozen bags at least for the +parapet of the terrace. We need not raise it all, but we must build +up a breastwork two bags high at each of the angles." + +There was only just time to accomplish this when one of the watch +on the roof reported that the Sepoys were firing the bungalows. As +soon as they saw that the Europeans had gained the shelter of the +courthouse the Sepoys, with yells of triumph, had made for the +houses of the Europeans, and their disappointment at finding that +not only had all the whites taken refuge in the courthouse, but that +they had removed most of their property, vented itself in setting +fire to the buildings, after stripping them of everything, and +then amused themselves by keeping up a straggling fire against the +courthouse. + +As soon as the bags were taken onto the roof, the defenders, keeping +as much as possible under the shelter of the parapet, carried them +to the corners of the terrace and piled them two deep, thus forming +a breastwork four feet high. Eight of the best shots were then +chosen, and two of them took post at each corner. + +"Now," the Doctor said cheerfully, as he sat behind a small loophole +that had been left between the bags, "it is our turn, and I don't +fancy we shall waste as much lead as they have been doing." + +The fire from the defenders was slow, but it was deadly, and in a +very short time the Sepoys no longer dared to show themselves in +the open, but took refuge behind trees, whence they endeavored to +reply to the fire on the roof; but even this proved so dangerous +that it was not long before the fire ceased altogether, and they +drew off under cover of the smoke from the burning bungalows. + +Isobel Hannay had met Bathurst as he was carrying a sack of earth +to the roof. + +"I have been wanting to speak to you, Mr. Bathurst, ever since +yesterday evening, but you have never given me an opportunity. Will +you step into the storeroom for a few minutes as you come down?" + +As he came down he went to the door of the room in which Isobel +was standing awaiting him. + +"I am not coming in, Miss Hannay; I believe I know what you are +going to say. I saw it in your face last night when I had to tell +that tiger story. You want to say that you are sorry you said that +you despised cowards. Do not say it; you were perfectly right; you +cannot despise me one tenth as much as I despise myself. While you +were looking at the mutineers from the roof I was leaning against +the wall below well nigh fainting. What do you think my feelings +must be that here, where every man is brave, where there are women +and children to be defended, I alone cannot bear my part. Look at +my face; I know there is not a vestige of color in it. Look at my +hands; they are not steady yet. It is useless for you to speak; +you may pity me, but you cannot but despise me. Believe me, that +death when it comes will be to me a happy release indeed from the +shame and misery I feel." + +Then, turning, he left the girl without another word, and went +about his work. The Doctor had, just before going up to take his +place on the roof, come across him. + +"Come in here, my dear Bathurst," he said, seizing his arm and +dragging him into the room which had been given up to him for his +drugs and surgical appliances. + +"Let me give you a strong dose of ammonia and ginger; you want a +pickup I can see by your face." + +"I want it, Doctor, but I will not take it," Bathurst said. "That +is one thing I have made up my mind to. I will take no spirits to +create a courage that I do not possess." + +"It is not courage; it has nothing to do with courage," the Doctor +said angrily. "It is a simple question of nerves, as I have told +you over and over again." + +"Call it what you like, Doctor, the result is precisely the same. +I do not mind taking a strong dose of quinine if you will give it +me, for I feel as weak as a child, but no spirits." + +With an impatient shrug of the shoulders the Doctor mixed a strong +dose of quinine and gave it to him. + +An hour later a sudden outburst of musketry took place. Not a +native showed himself on the side of the house facing the maidan, +but from the gardens on the other three sides a heavy fire was +opened. + +"Every man to the roof," the Major said; "four men to each of the +rear corners, three to the others. Do you think you are fit to +fire, Forster? Had you not better keep quiet for today; you will +have opportunities enough." + +"I am all right, Major," he said carelessly. "I can put my rifle +through a loophole and fire, though I have one arm in a sling. By +Jove!" he broke off suddenly; "look at that fellow Bathurst--he +looks like a ghost." + +The roll of musketry was unabated, and the defenders were already +beginning to answer it; the bullets sung thickly overhead, and above +the din could be heard the shouts of the natives. Bathurst's face +was rigid and ghastly pale. The Major hurried to him. + +"My dear Bathurst," he said, "I think you had better go below. You +will find plenty of work to do there." + +"My work is here," Bathurst said, as if speaking to himself: "it +must be done." + +The Major could not at the moment pay further attention to him, for +a roar of fire broke out round the inclosure, as from the ruined +bungalows and from every bush the Sepoys, who had crept up, now +commenced the attack in earnest, while the defenders lying behind +their parapet replied slowly and steadily, aiming at the puffs of +smoke as they darted out. His attention was suddenly called by a +shout from the Doctor. + +"Are you mad, Bathurst? Lie down, man; you a throwing away your +life." + +Turning round, the Major saw Bathurst standing up--right by the +parapet, facing the point where the enemy fire was hottest. He held +a rifle in his hand but did not attempt to fire; his figure swayed +slightly to and fro. + +"Lie down," the Major shouted, "lie down, sir;" and then as Bathurst +still stood unmoved he was about to run forward, when the Doctor +from one side and Captain Forster from the other rushed towards him +through a storm of bullets, seized him in their arms, and dragged +him back to the center of the terrace. + +"Nobly done, gentlemen," the Major said, as they laid Bathurst +down; "it was almost miraculous your not being hit." + +Bathurst had struggled fiercely for a moment, and then his resistance +had suddenly ceased, and he had been dragged back like a wooden +figure. His eyes were closed now. + +"Has he been hit, Doctor?" the Major asked. "It seems impossible he +can have escaped. What madness possessed him to put himself there +as a target?" + +"No, I don't think he is hit," the Doctor said, as he examined him. +"I think he has fainted. We had better carry him down to my room. +Shake hands, Forster; I know you and Bathurst were not good friends, +and you risked your life to save him." + +"I did not think who it was," Forster said, with a careless laugh. +"I saw a man behaving like a madman, and naturally went to pull +him down. However, I shall think better of him in future, though +I doubt whether he was in his right senses." + +"He wanted to be killed," the Doctor said quietly; "and the effort +that he made to place himself in the way of death must have been +greater than either you or I can well understand, Forster. I know +the circumstances of the case. Morally I believe there is no braver +man living than he is; physically he has the constitution of a +timid woman; it is mind against body." + +"The distinction is too fine for me, Doctor," Forster said, as he +turned to go off to his post by the parapet. "I understand pluck +and I understand cowardice, but this mysterious mixture you speak +of is beyond me altogether." + +The Major and Dr. Wade lifted Bathurst and carried him below. Mrs. +Hunter, who had been appointed chief nurse, met them. + +"Is he badly wounded, Doctor?" + +"No; he is not wounded at all, Mrs. Hunter. He stood up at the edge +of the parapet and exposed himself so rashly to the Sepoys' fire +that we had to drag him away, and then the reaction, acting on a +nervous temperament, was too much for him, and he fainted. We shall +soon bring him round. You can come in with me, but keep the others +away." + +The Major at once returned to the terrace. + +In spite of the restoratives the Doctor poured through his lips, +and cold water dashed in his face, Bathurst was some time before +he opened his eyes. Seeing Mrs. Hunter and the Doctor beside him, +he made an effort to rise. + +"You must lie still, Bathurst," the Doctor said, pressing his hand +on his shoulder. "You have done a very foolish thing, a very wrong +thing. You have tried to throw away your life." + +"No, I did not. I had no thought of throwing away my life," Bathurst +said, after a pause. "I was trying to make myself stand fire. I +did not think whether I should be hit or not. I am not afraid of +bullets, Doctor; it's the horrible, fiendish noise that I cannot +stand." + +"I know, my boy," the Doctor said kindly; "but it comes to the same +thing. You did put yourself in the way of bullets when your doing +so was of no possible advantage, and it is almost a miracle that +you escaped unhurt. You must remain here quiet for the present. +II shall leave you in charge of Mrs. Hunter. There is nothing for +you to do on the roof at present. This attack is a mere outbreak +of rage on the part of the Sepoys that we have all escaped them. +They know well enough they can't take this house by merely firing +away at the roof. When they attack in earnest it will be quite +time for you to take part in the affair again. Now, Mrs. Hunter, +my orders are absolute that he is not to be allowed to get up." + +On the Doctor leaving the room he found several of the ladies outside; +the news that Mr. Bathurst had been carried down had spread among +them. + +"Is he badly hurt, Doctor?" + +"No, ladies. Mr. Bathurst is, unfortunately for himself, an extremely +nervous man, and the noise of firearms has an effect upon him that +he cannot by any effort of his own overcome. In order, as he says, +to try and accustom himself to it, he went and stood at the edge +of the parapet in full sight of the Sepoys, and let them blaze away +at him. He must have been killed if Forster and I had not dragged +him away by main force. Then came the natural reaction, and he +fainted. That is all there is about it. Poor fellow, he is extremely +sensitive on the ground of personal courage. In other respects I +have known him do things requiring an amount of pluck that not one +man in a hundred possesses, and I wish you all to remember that +his nervousness at the effect of the noise of firearms is a purely +constitutional weakness, for which he is in no way to be blamed. +He has just risked his life in the most reckless manner in order +to overcome what he considers, and what he knows that some persons +consider, is cowardice, and it would be as cruel, and I may say +as contemptible, to despise him for a constitutional failing as it +would be to despise a person for being born a humpback or a cripple. +But I cannot stand talking any longer. I shall be of more use on +the roof than I am here." + +Isobel Hannay was not among those who had gathered near the door +of the room in which Bathurst was lying, but the Doctor had raised +his voice, and she heard what he said, and bent over her work of +sewing strips of linen together for bandages with a paler face than +had been caused by the outbreak of musketry. Gradually the firing +ceased. The Sepoys had suffered heavily from the steady fire of +the invisible defenders and gradually drew off, and in an hour from +the commencement of the attack all was silent round the building. + +"So far so good, ladies," the Major said cheerily, as the garrison, +leaving one man on watch, descended from the roof. "We have had +no casualties, and I think we must have inflicted a good many, and +the mutineers are not likely to try that game on again, for they +must see that they are wasting ammunition, and are doing us no +harm. Now I hope the servants have got tiffin ready for us, for I +am sure we have all excellent appetites." + +"Tiffin is quite ready, Major," Mrs. Doolan, who had been appointed +chief of the commissariat department, said cheerfully. "The servants +were a little disorganized when the firing began, but they soon +became accustomed to it, and I think you will find everything in +order in the hall." + +The meal was really a cheerful one. The fact that the first attack +had passed over without anyone being hit raised the spirits of +the women, and all were disposed to look at matters in a cheerful +light. The two young subalterns were in high spirits, and the party +were more lively than they had been since the first outbreak of the +mutiny. All had felt severely the strain of waiting, and the reality +of danger was a positive relief after the continuous suspense. It +was much to them to know that the crisis had come at last, that +they were still all together and the foe were without. + +"It is difficult to believe," Mrs. Doolan said, "that it was only +yesterday evening we were all gathered at the Major's. It seems an +age since then." + +"Yes, indeed," Mrs. Rintoul agreed; "the night seemed endless. +The worst time was the waiting till we were to begin to move over. +After that I did not so much mind, though it seemed more like a +week than a night while the things were being brought in here." + +"I think the worse time was while we were waiting watching from the +roof to see whether the troops would come out on parade as usual," +Isobel said. "When my uncle and the others were all in, and Captain +Forster, and the gates were shut, it seemed that our anxieties were +over." + +"That was a mad charge of yours, Forster," the Major said. "It was +like the Balaclava business--magnificent; but it wasn't war." + +"I did not think of it one way or the other," Captain Forster +laughed. "I was so furious at the insolence off those dogs attacking +me, that I thought of nothing else, and just went at them; but of +course it was foolish." + +"It did good," the Doctor said. "It showed the Sepoys how little +we thought of them, and how a single white officer was ready to +match himself against a squadron. It will render them a good deal +more careful in their attack than they otherwise would have been. +It brought them under our fire, too, and they suffered pretty +heavily; and I am sure the infantry must have lost a good many men +from our fire just now. I hope they will come to the conclusion +that the wisest thing they can do is to march away to Delhi and +leave us severely alone. Now what are your orders, Major, for after +breakfast?" + +"I think the best thing is for everyone to lie down for a few +hours," the Major said. "No one had a wink of sleep last night, +and most of us have not slept much for some nights past. We must +always keep two men on the roof, to be relieved every two hours. +I will draw up a regular rota for duty; but except those two, the +rest had better take a good sleep. We may be all called upon to be +under arms at night." + +"I will go on the first relief, Major," the Doctor said. "I feel +particularly wide awake. It is nothing new to me to be up all +night. Put Bathurst down with me," he said, in a low tone, as the +Major rose from the table. "He knows that I understand him, and it +will be less painful for him to be with me than with anyone else. +I will go up at once, and send young Harper down to his breakfast. +There will be no occasion to have Bathurst up this time. The Sepoys +are not likely to be trying any pranks at present. No doubt they +have gone back to their lines to get a meal." + +The Doctor had not been long at his post when Isobel Hannay came +up onto the terrace. They had seen each other alone comparatively +little of late, as the Doctor had given up his habit of dropping +in for a chat in the morning since their conversation about Bathurst. + +"Well, my dear, what is it?" he asked. "This is no place for you, +for there are a few fellows still lurking among the trees, and they +send a shot over the house occasionally." + +"I came up to say that I am sorry, Doctor." + +"That is right, Isobel. Always say you are sorry when you are so, +although in nine cases out of ten, and this is one of them, the +saying so is too late to do much good." + +"I think you are rather hard upon me, Doctor. I know you were +speaking at me today when you were talking to the others, especially +in what you said at the end." + +"Perhaps I was; but I think you quite deserved it." + +"Yes, I know I did; but it was hard to tell me it was as contemptible +to despise a man for a physical weakness he could not help, as to +despise one for being born humpbacked or a cripple, when you know +that my brother was so." + +"I wanted you to feel that your conduct had been contemptible, +Isobel, and I put it in the way that was most likely to come home +to you. I have been disappointed in you. I thought you were more +sensible than the run of young women, and I found out that you +were not. I thought you had some confidence in my judgment, but it +turned out that you had not. If Bathurst had been killed when he +was standing up, a target for the Sepoys, I should have held you +morally responsible for his death." + +"You would have shared the responsibility, anyhow, Doctor, for it +was you who repeated my words to him." + +"We will not go over that ground again," said the Doctor quietly. +"I gave you my reasons for doing so, and those reasons are to +my mind convincing. Now I will tell you how this constitutional +nervousness on his part arose. He told me the story; but as at +that time there had been no occasion for him to show whether he +was brave or otherwise, I considered my lips sealed. Now that his +weakness has been exhibited, I consider myself more than justified +in explaining its origin." + +And he then repeated the story Bathurst had told him. + +"You see," he said, when he had finished, "it is a constitutional +matter beyond his control; it is a sort of antipathy. I have known +a case of a woman courageous in all other respects, who, at the +sight of even a dead cockroach, would faint away. I have seen one +of the most gallant officers of my acquaintance turn pale at the +sight of a spider. Certainly no one would think of calling either +one or the other coward; and assuredly such a name should not be +applied to a man who would face a tiger armed only with a whip in +defense of a native woman, because his nerves go all to pieces at +the sound of firearms." + +"If you had told me all this before I should never have spoken as +I did," Isobel pleaded. + +"I did not go into the full details, but I told you that he +was not responsible for his want of firmness under fire, and that +I knew him in other respects to be a brave man," the Doctor said +uncompromisingly. "Since then you have by your manner driven him away +from you. You have flirted--well, you may not call it flirting," +he broke off in answer to a gesture of denial, "but it was the same +thing--with a man who is undoubtedly a gallant soldier--a very +paladin, if you like--but who, in spite of his handsome face and +pleasant manner, is no more to be compared with Bathurst in point +of moral qualities or mental ability than light to dark, and this +after I had like an old fool gone out of my way to warn you. You +have disappointed me altogether, Isobel Hannay." + +Isobel stood motionless before him, with downcast eyes. + +"Well, there, my dear," the Doctor went on hurriedly, as he saw +a tear glisten in her eyelashes; "don't let us say anything more +about it. In the first place, it is no affair of mine; and in the +second place, your point of view was that most women would take +at a time like this; only, you know, I expected you would not have +done just as other women would. We cannot afford to quarrel now, +for there is no doubt that, although we may put a good face on the +matter, our position is one of grave peril, and it is of no use +troubling over trifles. Now run away, and get a few hours' sleep +if you can. You will want all your strength before we are through +with this business." + +While the Doctor had been talking to Isobel, the men had gathered +below in a sort of informal council, the subject being Bathurst's +conduct on the roof. + +"I would not have believed it if I had not seen it," Captain Rintoul +said. "The man was absolutely helpless with fright; I never saw +such an exhibition; and then his fainting afterwards and having to +be carried away was disgusting; in fact, it is worse than that." + +There was a general murmur of assent. + +"It is disgraceful," one of the civilians said; "I am ashamed that +the man should belong to our service; the idea of a fellow being +helpless by fright when there are women and children to be defended +--it is downright revolting." + +"Well, he did go and stick himself up in front," Wilson said; "you +should remember that. He may have been in a blue funk, I don't +say he wasn't; still, you know, he didn't go away and try to hide +himself, but he stuck himself up in front for them to fire at. I +think we ought to take that into consideration." + +"Dr. Wade says Bathurst put himself there to try and accustom +himself to fire," Captain Forster said. "Mind, I don't pretend to +like the man. We were at school together, and he was a coward then +and a sneak, but for all that one should look at it fairly. The +Doctor asserts that Bathurst is morally brave, but that somehow or +other his nerves are too much for him. I don't pretend to understand +it myself, but there is no doubt about the Doctor's pluck, and +I don't think he would stand up for Bathurst as he does unless he +really thought he was not altogether accountable for showing the +white feather. I think, too, from what he let drop, that the Major +is to some extent of the same opinion. What do you think, Doolan?" + +"I like Bathurst," Captain Doolan said; "I have always thought him +a first rate fellow; but one can't stick up, you know, for a fellow +who can't behave as a gentleman ought to, especially when there +are women and children in danger." + +"It. is quite impossible that we should associate with him," Captain +Rintoul said. "I don't propose that we should tell him what we +think of him, but I think we ought to leave him severely alone." + +"I should say that he ought to be sent to Coventry," Richards said. + +"I should not put it in that way," Mr. Hunter said gravely. "I have +always esteemed Bathurst. I look upon it as a terribly sad case; +but I agree with Captain Rintoul that, in the position in which we +are now placed, a man who proves himself to be a coward must be +made to feel that he stands apart from us. I should not call it +sending him to Coventry, or anything of that sort, but I do think +that we should express by our manner that we don't wish to have +any communication with him." + +There was a general expression of assent to this opinion, Wilson +alone protesting against it. + +"You can do as you like," he said; "but certainly I shall speak to +Bathurst, and I am sure the Doctor and Major Hannay will do so. I +don't want to stand up for a coward, but I believe what the Doctor +says. I have seen a good deal of Bathurst, and I like him; besides, +haven't you heard the story the Doctor has been telling about his +attacking a tiger with a whip to save a native woman? I don't care +what anyone says, a fellow who is a downright coward couldn't do +a thing like that." + +"Who told the Doctor about it?" Farquharson asked. "If he got it +from Bathurst, I don't think it goes for much after what we have +seen." + +Wilson would have replied angrily, but Captain Doolan put his hand +on his shoulder. + +"Shut up, Wilson," he said; "this is no time for disputes; we are +all in one boat here, and must row together like brothers. You go +your own way about Bathurst, I don't blame you for it; he is a man +everyone has liked, a first rate official, and a good fellow all +round, except he is not one of the sociable kind. At any other time +one would not think so much of this, but at present for a man to +lack courage is for him to lack everything. I hope he will come +better out of it than it looks at present. He will have plenty of +chances here, and no one will be more glad than I shall to see him +pull himself together." + +The Doctor, however, would have quarreled with everyone all round +when he heard what had been decided upon, had not Major Hannay +taken him aside and talked to him strongly. + +"It will never do, Doctor, to have quarrels here, and as commandant +I must beg of you not to make this a personal matter. I am very +sorry for this poor fellow; I accept entirely your view of the +matter; but at the same time I really can't blame the others for +looking at it from a matter of fact point of view. Want of courage is +at all times regarded by men as the most unpardonable of failings, +and at a time like the present this feeling is naturally far stronger +even than usual. I hope with you that Bathurst will retrieve himself +yet, but we shall certainly do him no good by trying to fight his +battle until he does. You and I, thinking as we do, will of course +make no alteration in our manner towards him. I am glad to hear that +young Wilson also stands as his friend. Let matters go on quietly. +I believe they will come right in the end." + +The Doctor was obliged to acknowledge that the Major's counsel +was wise, and to refrain from either argument or sarcasm; but the +effort required to check his natural tendency to wordy conflict was +almost too great for him, and when not engaged in his own special +duties he spent hours in one of the angles of the terrace keenly +watching every tree and bush within range, and firing vengefully +whenever he caught sight of a lurking native. So accurate was his +aim that the Sepoys soon learned to know and dread the crack of +his rifle; and whenever it spoke out the ground within its range +was speedily clear of foes. + +The matter, however, caused a deep if temporary estrangement between +Wilson and Richards. Although constantly chaffing each other, and +engaged in verbal strife, they had hitherto been firm friends. +Their rivalry in the matter of horseflesh had not aroused angry +feelings, even their mutual adoration of Isobel Hannay had not +affected a breach in their friendship; but upon the subject of +sending Bathurst to Coventry they quarreled so hotly, that for a +time they broke off all communication with each other, and both in +their hearts regretted that their schoolboy days had passed, and +that they could not settle the matter in good schoolboy fashion. + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +But though obliged to defer to Major Hannay's wishes, and to abstain +from arguing with the men the question of Bathurst being given the +cold shoulder, Dr. Wade had already organized the ladies in his +favor. During the afternoon he had told them the tiger story, and +had confidentially informed them how it was that Bathurst from his +birth had been the victim of something like nervous paralysis at +all loud sounds, especially those of the discharge of firearms. + +"His conduct today," he said, "and his courage in rescuing that +native girl from the tiger, illustrate his character. He is cool, +brave, and determined, as might be expected from a man of so well +balanced a mind as his; and even when his nerves utterly broke +down under the din of musketry, his will was so far dominant that +he forced himself to go forward and stand there under fire, an act +which was, under the circumstances, simply heroic." + +There is little difficulty in persuading women as to the merits of +a man they like, and Bathurst had, since the troubles began, been +much more appreciated than before by the ladies of Deennugghur. +They had felt there was something strengthening and cheering in his +presence, for while not attempting to minimize the danger, there +was a calm confidence in his manner that comforted and reassured +those he talked to. + +In the last twenty-four hours, too, he had unobtrusively performed +many little kindnesses; had aided in the removals, carried the +children, looked after the servants, and had been foremost in the +arrangement of everything that could add to the comfort of the +ladies. + +"I am glad you have told us all about it, Doctor," Mrs. Doolan +said; "and, of course, no one would dream of blaming him. I had +heard that story about his leaving the army years ago; but although +I had only seen him once or twice, I did not believe it for a +minute. What you tell us now, Doctor, explains the whole matter. I +pity him sincerely. It must be something awful for a man at a time +like this not to be able to take his part in the defense, especially +when there are us women here. Why, it would pain me less to see +Jim brought in dead, than for him to show the white feather. What +can we do for the poor fellow?" + +"Treat him just as usual. There is nothing else you can do, Mrs. +Doolan. Any tone of sympathy, still less of pity, would be the +worst thing possible. He is in the lowest depths at present; but +if he finds by your tone and manner that you regard him on the same +footing as before, he will gradually come round, and I hope that +before the end of the siege he will have opportunities of retrieving +himself. Not under fire--that is hopeless; but in other ways." + +"You may be sure we will do all we can, Doctor," Mrs. Doolan said +warmly; "and there are plenty of ways he will be able to make +himself most useful. There is somebody wanted to look after all +those syces and servants, and it would be a comfort to us to have +someone to talk to occasionally; besides, all the children are fond +of him." + +This sentiment was warmly echoed; and thus, when the determination +at which the men had arrived to cut Bathurst became known, there +was something like a feminine revolution. + +"You may do as you like," Mrs. Doolan said indignantly; "but if +you think that we are going to do anything so cruel and unjust, +you are entirely mistaken, I can tell you." + +Mrs. Rintoul was equally emphatic, and Mrs. Hunter quietly, but with +as much decision, protested. "I have always regarded Mr. Bathurst +as a friend," she said, "and I shall continue to do so. It is very +sad for him that he cannot take part in the defense, but it is no +more fair to blame him than it would be to blame us, because we, +too, are noncombatants." + +Isobel Hannay had taken no part in the first discussion among the +ladies, nor did she say anything now. + +"It is cruel and unjust," she said to herself, "but they only think +as I did. I was more cruel and unjust than they, for there was no +talk of danger then. I expressed my contempt of him because there +was a suspicion that he had showed cowardice ten years ago, while +they have seen it shown now when there is fearful peril. If they +are cruel and unjust, what was I?" + +Later on the men gathered together at one end of the room, and +talked over the situation. + +"Dr. Wade," the Major said quietly, "I shall be obliged if you will +go and ask Mr. Bathurst to join us. He knows the people round here +better than any of us, and his opinion will be valuable." + +The Doctor, who had several times been in to see Bathurst, went to +his room. + +"The Major wants you to join us, Bathurst; we are having a talk +over things, and he wishes to have your opinion. I had better tell +you that as to yourself the camp is divided into two parties. On +one side are the Major, Wilson, and myself, and all the ladies, +who take, I need not say, a common sense view of the matter, and +recognize that you have done all a man could do to overcome your +constitutional nervousness, and that there is no discredit whatever +attached to you personally. The rest of the men, I am sorry to say, +at present take another view of the case, and are disposed to show +you the cold shoulder." + +"That, of course," Bathurst said quietly; "as to the ladies' view +of it, I know that it is only the result of your good offices, +Doctor." + +"Then you will come," the Doctor said, pleased that Bathurst seemed +less depressed than he had expected. + +"Certainly I will come, Doctor," Bathurst said, rising; "the worst +is over now--everyone knows that I am a coward--that is what +I have dreaded. There is nothing else for me to be afraid of, and +it is of no use hiding myself." + +"We look quite at home here, Mr. Bathurst, don't we?" Mrs. Doolan +said cheerfully, as he passed her; "and I think we all feel a great +deal more comfortable than we did when you gave us your warning +last night; the anticipation is always worse than the reality." + +"Not always, I think, Mrs. Doolan," he said quietly; "but you have +certainly made yourselves wonderfully at home, though your sewing +is of a more practical kind than that upon which you are ordinarily +engaged." + +Then he passed on with the Doctor to the other end of the room. +The Major nodded as he came up. + +"All right again now, Bathurst, I hope? We want your opinion, for +you know, I think, more of the Zemindars in this part of the country +than any of us. Of course, the question is, will they take part +against us?" + +"I am afraid they will, Major. I had hoped otherwise; but if it be +true that the Nana has gone--and as the other part of the message +was correct, I have no doubt this is so also--I am afraid they +will be carried away with the stream." + +"And you think they have guns?" + +"I have not the least doubt of it; the number given up was a mere +fraction of those they were said to have possessed." + +"I had hoped the troops would have marched away after the lesson +we gave them this morning, but, so far as we can make out, there +is no sign of movement in their lines. However, they may start at +daybreak tomorrow." + +"I will go out to see if you like, Major," Bathurst said quietly. +"I can get native clothes from the servants, and I speak the language +well enough to pass as a native; so if you give me permission I +will go out to the lines and learn what their intentions are." + +"It would be a very dangerous undertaking," the Major said gravely. + +"I have no fear whatever of danger of that kind, Major; my nerves +are steady enough, except when there is a noise of firearms, and +then, as you all saw this morning, I cannot control them, do what +I will. Risks of any other kind I am quite prepared to undertake, +but in this matter I think the danger is very slight, the only +difficulty being to get through the line of sentries they have +no doubt posted round the house. Once past them, I think there +is practically no risk whatever of their recognizing me when made +up as a native. The Doctor has, no doubt, got some iodine in his +surgery, and a coat of that will bring me to the right color." + +"Well, if you are ready to undertake it, I will not refuse," the +Major said. "How would you propose to get out?" + +"I noticed yesterday that the branches of one of the trees in the +garden extended beyond the top of the wall. I will climb up that +and lower myself on the other side by a rope; that is a very simple +matter. The spot is close to the edge of Mr. Hunter's compound, +and I shall work my way through the shrubbery till I feel sure I am +beyond any sentries who may be posted there; the chances are that +they will not be thick anywhere, except opposite the gate. By the +way, Captain Forster, before I go I must thank you for having risked +your life to save mine this morning. I heard from Mrs. Hunter that +it was you and the Doctor who rushed forward and drew me back." + +"It is not worth talking about," Captain Forster said carelessly. +"You seemed bent on making a target of yourself; and as the Major's +orders were that everyone was to lie down, there was nothing for +it but to remove you." + +Bathurst turned to Dr. Wade. "Will you superintend my get up, +Doctor?" + +"Certainly," the Doctor said, with alacrity. "I will guarantee +that, with the aid of my boy, I will turn you out so that no one +would know you even in broad daylight, to say nothing of the dark." + +A quarter of an hour sufficed to metamorphose Bathurst into an +Oude peasant. He did not return to the room, but, accompanied by +the Doctor, made his way to the tree he had spoken of. + +"By the way, you have taken no arms," the Doctor said suddenly. + +"They would be useless, Doctor; if I am recognized I shall be +killed; if I am not discovered, and the chances are very slight of +my being so, I shall get back safely. By the way, we will tie some +knots on that rope before I let myself down. I used to be able to +climb a rope without them, but I doubt whether I could do so now." + +"Well, God bless you, lad, and bring you back safely! You may +make as light of it as you will, but it is a dangerous expedition. +However, I am glad you have undertaken it, come what may, for it has +given you the opportunity of showing you are not afraid of danger +when it takes any other form than that of firearms. There are plenty +of men who would stand up bravely enough in a fight, who would not +like to undertake this task of going out alone in the dark into +the middle of these bloodthirsty scoundrels. How long do you think +you will be?" + +"A couple of hours at the outside." + +"Well, at the end of an hour I shall be back here again. Don't be +longer than you can help, lad, for I shall be very anxious until +you return." + +When the Doctor re-entered the house there was a chorus of questions: + +"Has Mr. Bathurst started?" + +"Why did you not bring him in here before he left? We should all +have liked to have said goodby to him." + +"Yes, he has gone. I have seen him over the wall; and it was +much better that he should go without any fuss. He went off just +as quietly and unconcernedly as if he had been going out for an +ordinary evening's walk. Now I am going up onto the roof. I don't +say we should hear any hubbub down at the lines if he were discovered +there, but we should certainly hear a shout if he came across any +of the sentries round the house." + +"Has he taken any arms, Doctor?" the Major asked. + +"None whatever, Major. I asked him if he would not take pistols, +but he refused." + +"Well, I don't understand that," Captain Forster remarked. "If I had +gone on such a business I would have taken a couple of revolvers. +I am quite ready to take my chance of being killed fighting, but +I should not like to be seized and hacked to pieces in cold blood. +My theory is a man should sell his life as dearly as he can." + +"That is the animal instinct, Forster," the Doctor said sharply; +"though I don't say that I should not feel the same myself; but I +question whether Bathurst's is not a higher type of courage." + +"Well, I don't aspire to Bathurst's type of courage, Doctor," +Forster said, with a short laugh. + +But the Doctor did not answer. He had already turned away, and was +making for the stairs. + +"May I go with you, Doctor?" Isobel Hannay said, following him. +"It is very hot down here." + +"Yes; come along, child; but there is no time to lose, for Bathurst +must be near where they are likely to have posted their sentries +by this time." + +"Everything quiet, Wilson?" he asked the young subaltern, who, with +another, was on guard on the roof. + +"Yes; we have heard nothing except a few distant shouts and noises +out at the lines. Round here there has been nothing moving, except +that we heard someone go out into the garden just now." + +"I went out with Bathurst," the Doctor said. "He has gone in the +disguise of a native to the Sepoy lines, to find out what are their +intentions." + +"I heard the talk over it, Doctor. I only came up on watch a few +minutes since. I thought it was most likely him when I heard the +steps." + +"I hope he is beyond the sentries," the Doctor said. "I have come +up here to listen." + +"I expect he is through them before this," Wilson said confidently. +"I wish I could have gone with him; but of course it would not have +been any good. It is a beautiful night--isn't it, Miss Hannay? +--and there is scarcely any dew falling." + +"Now, you go off to your post in the corner, Wilson. Your instructions +are to listen for the slightest sound, and to assure us against +the Sepoys creeping up to the walls. We did not come up here to +distract you from your duties, or to gossip." + +"There are Richards and another posted somewhere in the garden," +Wilson said. "Still, I suppose you are right, Doctor; but if you, +Miss Hannay, have come up to listen, come and sit in my corner; it +is the one nearest to the lines." + +"You may as well go and sit down, Isobel," the Doctor said; "that +is, if you intend to stay up here long;" and they went across with +Wilson to his post. + +"Shall I put one of these sandbags for you to sit on?" + +"I would rather stand, thank you;" and they stood for some time +silently watching the fires in the lines. + +"They are drawing pretty heavily on the wood stores," the Doctor +growled; "there is a good deal more than the regulation allowance +blazing in those fires. I can make out a lot of figures moving +about round them; no doubt numbers of the peasants have come in." + +"Do you think Mr. Bathurst has got beyond the line of sentries?" +Isobel said, after standing perfectly quiet for some time. + +"Oh, yes, a long way; probably he was through by the time we came +up here. They are not likely to post them more than fifty or sixty +yards from the wall; and, indeed, it is, as Bathurst pointed out +to me, probable that they are only thick near the gate. All they +want to do is to prevent us slipping away. I should think that +Bathurst must be out near the lines by this time." + +Isobel moved a few paces away from the others, and again stood +listening. + +"I suppose you do not think that there is any chance of an attack +tonight, Doctor?" Wilson asked, in low tones. + +"Not in the least; the natives are not fond of night work. I expect +they are dividing the spoil and quarreling over it; anyhow, they +have had enough of it for today. They may intend to march away in +the morning, or they may have sent to Cawnpore to ask for orders, +or they may have heard from some of the Zemindars that they are +coming in to join them--that is what Bathurst has gone out to +learn; but anyhow I do not think they will attack us again with +their present force." + +"I wish there were a few more of us," Wilson said, "so that we +could venture on a sortie." + +"So do I, lad; but it is no use thinking about it as it is. We have +to wait; our fate is not in our own hands." + +"And you think matters look bad, Doctor?" + +"I think they could hardly look worse. Unless the mutineers take +it into their heads to march away, there is, humanly speaking, but +one chance for us, and that is that Lawrence may thrash the Sepoys +so completely at Lucknow that he may be able to send out a force +to bring us in. The chances of that are next to nothing; for +in addition to a very large Sepoy force he has the population of +Lucknow--one of the most turbulent in India--on his hands. Ah, +what is that?" + +Two musket shots in quick succession from the Sepoy lines broke +the silence of the evening, and a startled exclamation burst from +the girl standing near them. + +The Doctor went over to her. + +"Do you think--do you think," she said in a low, strained voice, +"that it was Bathurst?" + +"Not at all. If they detected him, and I really do not see that +there is a chance of their doing so, disguised as he was, they +would have seized him and probably killed him, but there would +be no firing. He has gone unarmed, you know, and would offer no +resistance. Those shots you heard were doubtless the result of some +drunken quarrel over the loot." + +"Do you really think so, Doctor?" + +"I feel quite sure of it. If it had been Forster who had gone out, +and he had been detected, it would have been natural enough that +we should hear the sound of something like a battle. In the first +place, he would have defended himself desperately, and, in the +next, he might have made his way through them and escaped; but, as +I said, with Bathurst there would be no occasion for their firing." + +"Why didn't he come in to say goodby before he went? that is what +I wanted to ask you, Doctor, and why I came up here. I wanted to +have spoken to him, if only for a moment, before he started. I tried +to catch his eye as he went out of the room with you, but he did +not even look at me. It will be so hard if he never comes back, +to know that he went away without my having spoken to him again. I +did try this morning to tell him that I was sorry for what I said, +but he would not listen to me." + +"You will have an opportunity of telling him when he comes back, +if you want to, or of showing him so by your manner, which would +be, perhaps, less painful to both of you." + +"I don't care about pain to myself," the girl said. "I have been +unjust, and deserve it." + +"I don't think he considers you unjust. I did, and told you so. He +feels what he considers the disgrace so much that it seems to him +perfectly natural he should be despised." + +"Yes, but I want him to see that he is not despised," she said +quickly. "You don't understand, Doctor." + +"I do understand perfectly, my dear; at least, I think--I think +I do; I see that you want to put yourself straight with him, which +is very right and proper, especially placed as we all are; but I +would not do or say anything hastily. You have spoken hastily once, +you see, and made a mess of it. I should be careful how I did it +again, unless, of course," and he stopped. + +"Unless what, Doctor?" Isobel asked shyly, after a long pause. But +there was no reply; and looking round she saw that her companion +had moved quietly away and had joined Wilson at his post. She stood +for a few minutes in the same attitude, and then moved quietly +across the staircase in the center of the terrace, and went down to +the party below. A short time later the Doctor followed her, and, +taking his rifle, went out into the garden with Captain Doolan, who +assisted him in climbing the tree, and handed his gun up to him. +The Doctor made his way out on the branch to the spot where it +extended beyond the wall, and there sat, straining his eyes into the +darkness. Half an hour passed, and then he heard a light footfall +on the sandy soil. + +"Is that you, Bathurst?" he whispered. + +"All right, Doctor;" and a minute later Bathurst sat on the branch +beside him. + +"Well, what's your news?" + +"Very bad, Doctor; they expect the Rajah Por Sing, who, it seems, +is the leader of the party in this district, and several other +Zemindars, to be here with guns tomorrow or next day. The news from +Cawnpore was true.. The native troops mutinied and marched away, +but were joined by Nana Sahib and his force, and he persuaded them +to return and attack the whites in their intrenchments at Cawnpore, +as they would not be well received at Delhi unless they had properly +accomplished their share of the work of rooting out the Feringhees." + +"The infernal scoundrel!" the Doctor exclaimed; "after pretending +for years to be our best friend. I'm disgusted to think that I +have drunk his champagne a dozen times. However, that makes little +difference to us now, your other news is the most important. We +could have resisted the Sepoys for a month; but if they bring up +guns there can be but one ending to it." + +"That is so, Doctor. The only hope I can see is that they may find +our resistance so obstinate as to be glad to grant us terms of +surrender." + +"Yes, there is that chance," the Doctor agreed; "but history shows +there is but little reliance to be placed upon native oaths." + +Bathurst was silent; his own experience of the natives had taught +him the same lesson. + +"It is a poor hope," he said, after a while; "but it is the only +one, so far as I can see." + +Not another word was spoken as they descended the tree and walked +across to the house. + +"Never mind about changing your things, come straight in." + +"Our scout has returned," the Doctor said, as he entered the room. +There was a general exclamation of gladness on the part of the +ladies who had not retired. + +"I am very glad to see you safe back, Mr. Bathurst," Mrs. Hunter +said, going up to him and taking his hand. "We have all been very +anxious since you left." + +"The danger was very slight, Mrs. Hunter. I only wish I had +brought you back the news that the native lines were deserted and +the mutineers in full march for Delhi and Lucknow." + +"I was afraid you would hardly bring that news, Mr. Bathurst; it +was almost too good to hope for. However, we are all glad that you +are back. Are we not, Isobel?" + +"We are indeed, Mr. Bathurst, though as yet I can hardly persuade +myself that it is you in that get up." + +"I think there is no doubt of my identity. Can you tell me where +you uncle is, Miss Hannay? I have to make my report to him." + +"He is on the roof. There is a sort of general gathering of our +defenders there." + +Two lamps had been placed in the center of the terrace, and round +these the little garrison were grouped, some sitting on boxes, others +lying on mats, almost all smoking. Bathurst was greeted heartily +by the Major and Wilson as soon as he was recognized. + +"I am awfully glad to see you back," Wilson said, shaking him warmly +by the hand. "I wish I could have gone with you. Two together does +not seem so bad, but I should not like to start out by myself as +you did." + +There was a hearty cordiality in the young fellow's voice that was +very pleasant to Bathurst. + +"We have all our gifts, as Hawkeye used to say, as I have no doubt +you remember, Wilson. Such gifts as I have lay in the way of solitary +work, I fancy." + +"Now, light a cheroot, Bathurst," the Major said, "and drink off +this tumbler of brandy and soda, and then let us hear your story." + +"The story is simple enough, Major. I got through without difficulty. +The sentries are some distance apart round the garden wall. As soon +as I discovered by the sound of their footsteps where they were, it +was easy enough to get through them. Then I made a longish detour, +and came down on the lines from the other side. There was no occasion +for concealment then. Numbers of the country people had come in, +and were gathered round the Sepoys' fires, and I was able to move +about amongst them, and listen to the conversation without the +smallest hindrance. + +"The Sepoys were loudly expressing their dissatisfaction at their +officers leading them against the house today, when they had +no means of either battering down the walls or scaling them. Then +there was a general opinion that treachery was at work; for how +else should the Europeans have known they were going to rise that +morning, and so moved during the night into the house? There was +much angry recrimination and quarreling, and many expressed their +regret they had not marched straight to Cawnpore after burning the +bungalows. + +"All this was satisfactory; but I learned that Por Sing and several +other Zemindars had already sent in assurances that they were wholly +with them, and would be here, with guns to batter down the walls, +some time tomorrow." + +"That is bad news, indeed," the Major said gravely, when he had +finished. "Of course, when we heard that Nana Sahib had thrown +in his lot with the mutineers, it was probable that many of the +landowners would go the same way; but if the Sepoys had marched off +they might not have attacked us on their own account. Now we know +that the Sepoys are going to stay, and that they will have guns, +it alters our position altogether." + +There was a murmur of assent. + +"I should tell you before you talk the matter over further," Bathurst +went on, "that during the last hour some hundreds of peasants +have taken up their posts round the house in addition to the Sepoy +sentries. I came back with one party about a hundred strong. They +are posted a couple of hundred yards or so in front of the gate. +I slipped away from them in the dark and made my way here." + +"Well, gentlemen, what do you think we had better do?" the Major +said; "we are all in the same boat, and I should like to have your +opinions. We may defend this house successfully for days--possibly +we may even tire them out--but on the other hand they may prove +too strong for us. If the wall were breached we could hardly hope +to defend it, and, indeed, if they constructed plenty of ladders they +could scale it at night in a score of places. We must, therefore, +regard the house as our citadel, close up the lower windows and +doors with sandbags, and defend it to the last. Still, if they are +determined, the lookout is not a very bright one." + +"I am in favor of our cutting our way out, Major," Captain Forster +said; "if we are cooped up here, we must, as you say, in the long +run be beaten." + +"That would be all very well, Captain Forster, if we were all +men," Mr. Hunter said. "There are sixteen of us and there are in +all eighteen horses, for I and Farquharson have two each; but there +are eight women and fourteen children; so all the horses would have +to carry double. We certainly could not hope to escape from them +with our horses so laden; and if they came up with us, what fighting +could we do with women behind our saddles? Moreover, we certainly +could not leave the servants, who have been true to us, to the +mercy of the Sepoys." + +"Besides, where could we go?" the Doctor asked. "The garrison at +Cawnpore, we know, are besieged by overwhelming numbers. We do not +know much as to the position at Lucknow, but certainly the Europeans +are immensely outnumbered there, and I think we may assume that +they are also besieged. It is a very long distance either to Agra +or to Allahabad; and with the whole country up in arms against us, +and the cavalry here at our heels, the prospect seems absolutely +hopeless. What do you think, Doolan? You and Rintoul have your wives +here, and you have children. I consider that the question concerns +you married men more than us." + +"It is a case of the frying pan and the fire, as far as I can see, +Doctor. At any rate, here we have got walls to light behind, and +food for weeks, and plenty of ammunition. I am for selling our lives +as dearly as we can here rather than go outside to be chased like +jackals." + +"I agree with you, Doolan," Captain Rintoul said. "Here we may be +able to make terms with them, but once outside the walls we should +be at the scoundrels' mercy. If it were not for the women and +children I should agree entirely with Forster that our best plan +would be to throw open our gates and make a dash for it, keeping +together as long as we could, and then, if necessary, separating +and trying to make our way down to Agra or Allahabad as best we +could; but with ladies that does not seem to be possible." + +The opinion of the married civilians was entirely in accord with +that of Mr. Hunter. + +"But what hope is there of defending this place in the long run?" +Captain Forster said. "If I saw any chance at all I should be quite +willing to wait; but I would infinitely rather sally out at once +and go for them and be killed than wait here day after day and +perhaps week after week, seeing one's fate drawing nearer inch by +inch. What do you say, Bathurst? We haven't had your opinion yet." + +"I do not think that the defense is so hopeless as you suppose, +although I admit that the chances are greatly against us," Bathurst +said quietly. "I think there is a hope of tiring the natives out. +The Sepoys know well enough there can be no great amount of loot +here, while they think that were they at Cawnpore, at Lucknow, or +still more at Delhi, their chances of plunder would be much greater. +Moreover, I think that men in their position, having offended, as +it were, without hope of pardon, would naturally desire to flock +together. There is comfort and encouragement in numbers. Therefore, +I am sure they will very speedily become impatient if they do not +meet with success, and would be inclined to grant terms rather than +waste time here. + +"It is the same thing with the native gentry. They will want to be +off to Lucknow or Delhi, where they will know more how things are +going, and where, no doubt, they reckon upon obtaining posts of +importance and increased possessions under the new order of things. +Therefore, I think, they, as well as the Sepoys, are likely, if +they find the task longer and more difficult than they expect, to +be ready to grant terms. I have no great faith in native oaths. +Still they might be kept. + +"Captain Forster's proposal I regard as altogether impracticable. +We are something like two hundred and fifty miles from the nearest +British post where we could hope to find refuge, and with the horses +carrying double, the troopers at our heels directly we start, and +the country hostile, I see no chance whatever, not a vestige of +one, of our getting safely away. + +"But there is a third alternative by which some might escape; it +is, that we should make our way out on foot, break up into parties +of twos and threes; steal or fight our way through the sentries, +and then for each party to shift for itself, making its way as best +it can, traveling by night and lying up in woods or plantations by +day; getting food at times from friendly natives, and subsisting, +for the most part, upon what might be gathered in the fields. In +that way some might escape, but the suffering and hardships of the +women and children would be terrible." + +"I agree with you," Mr. Hunter said; "such a journey would be +frightful to contemplate, and I don't think, in our case, that my +wife could possibly perform such a journey; still, some might do +so. At any rate, I think the chances are better than they would be +were we to ride out in a body. I should suggest, Major, when the +crisis seems to be approaching--that is, when it is clear that +we can't defend ourselves much longer--it would be fair that each +should be at liberty to try to get out and make down the country." + +"Certainly," the Major agreed; "we are in a position of men on +board a sinking ship with the boats gone; we should try to the end +to save the ship, but when all hope of doing that is over, each +may try to get to shore as he best can. As long as the house can +be defended, all must remain and bear their share in the struggle, +but when we decide that it is but a question of hours, all who +choose will be at liberty to try to escape." + +"It will be vastly more difficult then than now," Captain Forster +said; "Bathurst made his way out tonight without difficulty, but +they will be a great deal more vigilant when they know we cannot +hold out much longer. I don't see how it would be possible for +women and children to get through them." + +"We might then adopt your scheme, to a certain extent, Forster," +Major Hannay said. "We could mount, sally out suddenly, break +through their pickets, and as soon as we are beyond them scatter; +those who like can try to make their way down on horseback, those +who prefer it try to do so on foot. That would at least give us an +alternative should the siege be pushed on to the last, and we find +ourselves unable to make terms." + +There was general assent to the Major's proposal, which seemed to +offer better chances than any. There was the hope that the mutineers +might tire of the siege and march away; that if they pressed it, terms +might be at last obtained from them, and that, failing everything +else, the garrison might yet make their way down country. + +"As there is evidently no chance of an attack during the night," +the Major said, "we will divide into two watches and relieve each +other every four hours; that will give two as lookouts on the +roof and six in the inclosure. As you are senior officer next to +myself, Doolan, you will take charge of one watch; I shall myself +take charge of the other. Forster and Wilson be with me, Rintoul +and Richards with you. Mr. Hardy, will you and the other gentlemen +divide your numbers into two watches? Dr. Wade counts as a combatant +until his hospital begins to fill." + +"I fancy he may be counted as a combatant all through," the Doctor +muttered. + +"Tomorrow morning," the Major went on, "we will continue the work +of filling sandbags. There are still a large number of empty bags +on hand. We shall want them for all the lower windows and doors, +and the more there are of them the better; and we must also keep +a supply in readiness to make a retrenchment if they should breach +the wall. Now, Mr. Hunter, as soon as you have made out your list +my watch can go on duty, and I should advise the others to turn in +without delay." + +When the ladies were informed that half the men were going on watch, +Mrs. Doolan said, "I have an amendment to propose, Major. Women's +ears are just as keen as men's, and I propose that we supply the +sentries on the roof. I will volunteer for one." + +The whole of the ladies at once volunteered. + +"There is no occasion for so many," Mrs. Doolan said; "and I propose +that tonight, at any rate, I should take the first watch with one +of the Miss Hunters, and that Miss Hannay and the other should +take the second. That will leave all the gentlemen available for +the watch in the inclosure." + +The proposal was agreed to, and in a short time the first watch +had taken their station, and the rest of the garrison lay down to +rest. + +The night passed off quietly. The first work at which the Major set +the garrison in the morning was to form six wooden stages against +the wall. One by the gate, one against the wall at the other end, +and two at each of the long sides of the inclosure. They were +twelve feet in height, which enabled those upon them to stand head +and shoulders above the level of the wall. + +When these were completed the whole of the garrison, including +the ladies and native servants, again set to work filling sandbags +with earth. As fast as they were finished they were carried in and +piled two deep against the lower windows, and three deep against +the doors, only one small door being left undefended, so as to allow +a passage in and out of the house. Bags were piled in readiness +for closing this also in case of necessity. + +Mrs. Rintoul and another lady had volunteered for a third watch +on the roof, so that each watch would go on duty once every twelve +hours. The whole of the men, therefore, were available for work +below. + +A scattered fire was opened at the house soon after daybreak, and +was kept up without intermission from bushes and other cover; but +the watchers on the roof, seated behind the sandbags at opposite +angles, were well under shelter, peering out occasionally through +the crevices between the bags to see that no general movement was +taking place among the enemy. + +About midday there was a desultory discharge of firearms from +the native lines; and the Major, on ascending to the roof, saw a +procession of elephants and men approaching the camp. + +"I expect there are guns there," he muttered, "and they are going +to begin in earnest. Ladies, you are relieved of duty at present. +I expect we shall be hearing from those fellows soon, and we must +have someone up here who can talk back to them." + +Accordingly the Doctor and Mr. Farquharson, who was the best shot +among the civilians, took the places of the ladies on the roof. +Half an hour later the Major went up again. + +"They have four cannon," the Doctor said. "There they are, on that +slight rise to the left of the lines. I should fancy they are about +eight hundred yards away. Do you see, there is a crowd gathering +behind them? Our rifles will carry that distance easily enough, I +think. You might as well let us have three or four more up here.. +The two lads are both fair shots, and Hunter was considered a good +shikari some years ago. We can drive their cannon off that rise; +the farther we make them take up their post the better, but even +at that distance their shooting will be wild. The guns are no doubt +old ones, and, as likely as not, the shot won't fit. At any rate, +though they may trouble us, they will do no serious harm till they +establish a battery at pretty close quarters." + +The Major went down, and the two subalterns and Mr. Hunter joined +the Doctor on the roof. + +Ten minutes later the boom of four guns in quick succession +was heard, and the party below stopped for a moment at their work +as they heard the sound of shot rushing through the air overhead; +then came five shots in answer from the parapet. Again and again +the rifles spoke out, and then the Doctor shouted down to those in +the courtyard, "They have had enough of it already, and are bringing +up the elephants to move the cannon back. Now, boys," he said to +the subalterns, "an elephant is an easier mark than a tiger; aim +carefully, and blaze away as quickly as you like." + +For five minutes a rapid fire was kept up; then Wilson went below. + +"The Doctor asked me to tell you, sir," he said to the Major, "that +the guns have been removed. There has been great confusion among +the natives, and we can see with our glasses eight or ten bodies +left on the ground. One of the elephants turned and went off at +full speed among the crowd, and we fancy some of the others were +hit. There was great trouble in getting them to come up to the +guns. The Doctor says it is all over for the present." + +Two other large parties with elephants were seen to come up to the +native lines in the course of the afternoon. The defenders of the +roof had now turned their attention to their foes in the gardens +around, and the fire thence was gradually suppressed, until by +evening everything was quiet. + +By this time the work of filling the sandbags was completed; the +doors and windows had been barricaded, and a large pile of bags +lay in the inclosure ready for erection at any threatened point. + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +When the party met at dinner they were for a time somewhat silent, +for all were exhausted by their hard work under a blazing sun, but +their spirits rose under their surroundings. + +The native servants had laid the table with as scrupulous care as +usual; and, except that there was no display of flowers, no change +was observable. + +All had dressed after the work was over, and the men were in white +drill, and the ladies had, from custom, put on light evening gowns. + +The cook had prepared an excellent dinner, and as the champagne +went round no stranger would have supposed that the party had met +under unusual circumstances. The Doctor and the two subalterns +were unaffectedly gay, and as the rest all made an effort to be +cheerful, the languor that had marked the commencement of the dinner +soon wore off. + +"Wilson and Richards are becoming quite sportsmen," the Doctor +said. "They have tried their hands at tigers but could hardly have +expected to take part in elephant shooting. They can't quite settle +between themselves as to which it was who sent the Rajah's elephant +flying among the crowd. Both declare they aimed at that special +beast. So, as there is no deciding the point, we must consider the +honor as divided." + +"It was rather hard on us," Isobel said, "to be kept working below +instead of being up there seeing what was going on. But I consider +we quite did our full share towards the defense today. My hands are +quite sore with sewing up the mouths of those rough bags. I think +the chief honors that way lie with Mrs. Rintoul. I am sure she +sewed more bags than any of us. I had no idea that you were such +a worker, Mrs. Rintoul." + +"I used to be a quick worker, Miss Hannay, till lately. I have not +touched a needle since I came out to India." + +"I should recommend you to keep it up. Mrs. Rintoul," the Doctor +said. "It has done you more good than all my medicines. I don't +believe I have prescribed for you for the last month, and I haven't +seen you looking so well since you came out." + +"I suppose I have not had time to feel ill, Doctor," Mrs. Rintoul +said, with a slight smile; "all this has been a sort of tonic." + +"And a very useful one, Mrs. Rintoul. We are all of us the better +for a little stirring up sometimes." + +Captain Forster had, as usual, secured a place next to Isobel Hannay. +He had been near her all day, carrying the bags as he filled them +to her to sew up. Bathurst was sitting at the other end of the +table, joining but little in the conversation. + +"I thought Bathurst was going to faint again when the firing began, +Miss Hannay," Captain Forster said, in a low voice. "It was quite +funny to see him give a little start each shot that was fired, +and his face was as white as my jacket. I never saw such a nervous +fellow." + +"You know he cannot help it, Captain Forster," Isobel said indignantly. +"I don't think it is right to make fun of him for what is a great +misfortune." + +"I am not making fun of him, Miss Hannay. I am pitying him." + +"It did not sound like it," Isobel said. "I don't think you can +understand it, Captain Forster; it must be terrible to be like +that." + +"I quite agree with you there. I know I should drown myself or put +a bullet through my head if I could not show ordinary courage with +a lot of ladies going on working quietly round me." + +"You must remember that Mr. Bathurst showed plenty of courage in +going out among the mutineers last night." + +"Yes, he did that very well; but you see, he talks the language so +thoroughly that, as he said himself, there was very little risk in +it." + +"I don't like you to talk so, Captain Forster," Isobel said quietly. +"I do not see much of Mr. Bathurst. I have not spoken to him half +a dozen times in the last month; but both my uncle and Dr. Wade +have a high opinion of him, and do not consider that he should be +personally blamed for being nervous under fire. I feel very sorry +for him, and would much rather that you did not make remarks like +that about him. We have all our weak points, and, no doubt, many +of them are a good deal worse than a mere want of nerve." + +"Your commands shall be obeyed, Miss Hannay. I did not know that +Bathurst was a protege of the Major's as well as of the estimable +Doctor, or I would have said nothing against him." + +"I don't think Mr. Bathurst is the sort of man to be anyone's +protege, Captain Forster," Isobel said coldly. "However, I think +we had better change the subject." + +This Captain Forster did easily and adroitly. He had no special +feeling against Bathurst save a contempt for his weakness; and as +he had met him but once or twice at the Major's since he came to +the station, he had not thought of him in the light of a rival. + +Just as dinner was over Richards and one of the civilians came down +from the terrace. + +"I think that there is something up, Major. I can hear noises +somewhere near where Mr. Hunter's bungalow was." + +"What sort of noises, Richards?" + +"There is a sort of murmur, as if there were a good many men there." + +"Well, gentlemen, we had better go to our posts," the Major said. +"Doolan, please place your watch on the platforms by the wall. I +will take my party up onto the terrace. Doctor, will you bring up +some of those rockets you made the other day? We must try and find +out what they are doing." + +As soon as he gained the terrace with his party, the Major +requested everyone to remain perfectly still, and going forward to +the parapet listened intently. In three or four minutes he returned +to the others. + +"There is a considerable body of men at work there," he said. "I +can hear muffled sounds like digging, and once or twice a sharp +click, as if a spade struck a stone. I am very much afraid they are +throwing up a battery there. I was in hopes they would have begun +in the open, because we could have commanded the approaches; but +if they begin among the trees, they can come in and out without +our seeing them, and bring up their guns by the road without our +being able to interfere with them. Mr. Bathurst, will you take +down word to Captain Doolan to put his men on the platforms on that +side. Tell him that I am going to throw up a rocket, as I believe +they are erecting a battery near Hunter's bungalow, and that his +men are to be ready to give them a volley if they can make them +out. Tell them not to expose themselves too much; for if they really +are at work there no doubt they have numbers of men posted in the +shrubs all about to keep down our fire. Now, gentlemen, we will +all lie down by the parapet. Take those spare rifles, and fire as +quickly as you can while the light of the rocket lasts. Now, Mr. +Wilson, we will get you to send them up. The rest of you had better +get in the corner and stoop down behind the sandbags; you can lay +your rifles on them, so as to be able to fire as soon as you have +lit the second rocket." + +The Doctor soon came up with the rockets; he had made three dozen +the week before, and a number of blue lights, for the special purpose +of detecting any movement that the enemy might make at night. + +"I will fire them myself," he said, as Wilson offered to take them. +"I have had charge of the fireworks in a score of fetes and that +sort of thing, and am a pretty good hand at it. There, we will +lean them against the sandbags. That is about it. Now, are you all +ready, Major?" + +"All ready!" replied the Major. + +The Doctor placed the end of his lighted cheroot against the touch +paper, there was a momentary pause, then a rushing sound, and the +rocket soared high in the air, and then burst, throwing out four +or five white fireballs, which lit up clearly the spot they were +watching. + +"There they are!" the Major exclaimed; "just to the right of the +bungalow; there are scores of them." + +The rifles, both from the terrace and the platforms below, cracked +out in rapid succession, and another rocket flew up into the air +and burst. Before its light had faded out, each of the defenders +had fired his four shots. Shouts and cries from the direction in +which they fired showed that many of the bullets had told, whilst +almost immediately a sharp fire broke out from the bushes round +them. + +"Don't mind the fellows in the shrubs," the Major said, "but keep +up your fire on the battery. We know its exact position now, though +we cannot actually make them out." + +"Let them wait while I go down and get a bit of phosphorus," the +Doctor said. "I have some in the surgery. They will only throw away +their fire in the dark without it." + +He soon returned, and when all the fore and back sights had been +rubbed by the phosphorus the firing recommenced, and the Doctor +sent Wilson down with the phosphorus to the men on the platforms +facing the threatened point. + +Bathurst was returning, after having given the message to Captain +Doolan, when Mrs. Hunter met him in the passage. She put her hand +kindly on his shoulder. + +"Now, Mr. Bathurst, if you will take my advice you will remain +quietly here. The Doctor tells me they are going to open fire, +and it is not the least use your going there exposing yourself to +be shot when you know that you will be of no use. You showed us +yesterday that you could be of use in other ways, and I have no +doubt you will have opportunities of doing so again. I can assure +you none of us will think any the worse of you for not being able +to struggle against a nervous affliction that gives you infinite +pain. If they were attacking it would be different; I know you +would be wanting to take your share then." + +"Thank you, Mrs. Hunter," he said, "but I must go up. I grant that +I shall be of no use, but at least I will take any chance that +the others run of being shot. A man does not flinch from a painful +operation, and, whatever the pain, it has to be faced. I may get +used to it in time; but whether I do or not I must go through it, +though I do not say it doesn't hurt." + +At this moment the rattle of musketry broke out above. Bathurst +gave a violent start, and a low cry as of pain; then he rushed past +Mrs. Hunter and up the staircase to the terrace, when he staggered +rather than walked forward to the parapet, and threw himself down +beside two figures who were in the act of firing. + +"Is that you, Bathurst?" the Major's voice asked. "Mind, man, don't +lift your head above the sandbags in that way. There, you had best +lie quiet; the natives have no idea of attacking, and it is of no +use throwing away valuable ammunition by firing unless your hand +is steady." + +But Bathurst did not hear, and remained with his head above the +line of sandbags until the Major put his hand on his shoulder and +forced him down. He might have put his hands over his ears to deaden +the sound--for in the darkness no one would have seen the action +--but he would not do so, but with clenched teeth and quivering +nerves lay there until the Major said, "I fancy we have stopped them +working. Now, Doctor, do you, Hunter, Bathurst, and Farquharson go +and lie down for four hours, when I will send for you to take our +places. Before you lie down will you tell Doolan to send half his +party in? Of course you will lie down in your clothes, ready to +fall in at your posts at a moment's notice." + +"Let me send another rocket up first, Major, to see what they +are doing. We can sleep tomorrow in the daytime; they won't dare +to work under our fire then. Now, get ready, gentlemen, and don't +throw away a shot, if they are still working there." + +The light of the rocket showed that there were now no natives at +the spot where they had been seen at work. + +"I thought it would be too hot for them, Major, at such close +quarters as these. We must have played the mischief with them." + +"All the better, Doctor; we will send a few shots there occasionally +to show them we have not forgotten them. But the principal thing +will be to keep our ears open to see that they don't bring up +ladders and try a rush." + +"I think there is no fear of that tonight, Major. They would not +have set to work at the battery if they had any idea of trying to +scale the wall with ladders. That will come later on; but I don't +think you will be troubled any more tonight, except by these +fellows firing away from the bushes, and I should think they would +get tired of wasting their ammunition soon. It is fortunate we +brought all the spare ammunition in here." + +"Yes, they only had ten rounds of ball cartridge, and that must +be nearly used up by this time. They will have to make up their +cartridges in future, and cast their bullets, unless they can get +a supply from some of the other mutineers." + +"Well, you will send for us in four hours, Major?" + +"You need not be afraid of my forgetting." + +Dawn was just breaking when the relief were called up; the firing +had died away, and all was quiet. + +"You will take command here, Rintoul," the Major said. "I should +keep Farquharson up here, if I were you, and leave the Doctor +and Bathurst to look after things in general. I think, Doctor, it +would be as well if we appointed Bathurst in charge of the general +arrangements of the house. We have a good amount of stores, but +the servants will waste them if they are not looked after. I should +put them on rations, Bathurst; and there might be regular rations +of things served out for us too; then it would fall in your province +to see that the syces water and feed the horses. You will examine +the well regularly, and note whether there is any change in the +look of the water. I think you will find plenty to do." + +"Thank you, Major," Bathurst said. "I appreciate your kindness, +and for the present, at any rate, will gladly undertake the work +of looking after the stores and servants; but there is one thing +I have been thinking of, and which I should like to speak to you +about at once, if you could spare a minute or two before you turn +in." + +"What is that, Bathurst?" + +"I think that we are agreed, Major, that though we may hold this +place for a time, sooner or later we must either surrender or the +place be carried by storm." + +Major Hannay nodded. + +"That is what it must come to, Bathurst. If they will at last grant +us terms, well and good; if not, we must either try to escape or +die fighting." + +"It is about the escape I have been thinking, Major; as our position +grows more and more desperate they will close round us, and although +we might have possibly got through last night, our chances of +doing so when they have once broken into the inclosure and begin +to attack the house itself are very slight. A few of us who can +speak the language well might possibly in disguise get away, but +it would be impossible for the bulk of us to do so." + +"I quite see that, Bathurst." + +"My proposal is, Major, that we should begin at once to mine; that +is, to drive a gallery from the cellar, and to carry it on steadily +as far as we can. I should say that we have ten days or a fortnight +before us before matters get .to an extremity, and in that time +we ought to be able to get, working night and day, from fifty to a +hundred yards beyond the wall, aiming at a clump of bushes. There +is a large one in Farquharson's compound, about a hundred yards +off. Then, when things get to the worst, we can work upwards, and +come out on a dark night. We might leave a long fuse burning in +the magazine, so that there should be an explosion an hour or two +after we had left. There is enough powder there to bring the house +down, and the Sepoys might suppose that we had all been buried in +the ruins." + +"I think the idea is a very good one, Bathurst. What do you think, +Doctor?" + +"Capital," the Doctor said. "It is a light sandy soil, and we should +be able to get through it at a pretty good rate. How many can work +together, do you think, Bathurst?" + +"I should say two of us in each shift, to drive, and, if necessary, +prop the roof, with some of the natives to carry out the earth. If +we have three shifts, each shift would go on twice in the twenty-four +hours; that would be four hours on and eight hours off." + +"Will you take charge of the operation, Bathurst?" + +"With pleasure, Major." + +"Very well then. You shall have with you Wilson and Richards and the +three youngest of the civilians, Saunderson, Austin, and Herbert. +You six will be relieved from other duty except when the enemy +threaten an attack. I will put down Saunderson and Austin together. +Which of the others would you like to have with you?" + +"I will take Wilson, sir." + +"Very well, then, Richards and Herbert will make the third party. +After breakfast we can pick out the twelve strongest of the natives. +I will tell them that they have to work, but that they will be each +paid half a rupee a day in addition to their ordinary wages. Then +you will give a general supervision to the work, Bathurst, in +addition to your own share in it?" + +"Certainly, Major, I will take general charge of it." + +So at breakfast the Major explained the plan agreed upon. The five +men chosen at once expressed their willingness to undertake the +work, and the offer of half a rupee extra a day was sufficient to +induce twelve of the servants to volunteer for it. The Major went +down to the cellars and fixed upon the spot at which the work should +begin; and Bathurst and Wilson, taking some of the intrenching +tools from the storeroom, began to break through the wall without +delay. + +"I like this," Wilson said. "It is a thousand times better than +sitting up there waiting till they choose to make an attack. How +wide shall we make it?" + +"As narrow as we can for one to pass along at a time," Bathurst +said. "The narrower it is, the less trouble we shall have with the +roof." + +"But only one will be able to work at a time in that case." + +"That will be quite enough,". Bathurst said. "It will be hot work +and hard. We will relieve each other every five minutes or so." + +A very short time sufficed to break through the wall. + +"Thank goodness, it is earth," Wilson said, thrusting a crowbar +through the opening as soon as it was made. + +"I had no fear of its being rock, Wilson. If it had been, they +would not have taken the trouble to have walled the sides of the +cellar. The soil is very deep all over here. The natives have to +line their wells thirty or forty feet down." + +The enemy were quiet all day, but the garrison thought it likely +that, warned by the lesson of the night before, they were erecting +a battery some distance farther back, masked by the trees, and that +until it was ready to open fire they would know nothing about it. + +"So you have turned miner, Mr. Wilson?" Isobel Hannay said to him +as, after a change and a bath, he came in to get his lunch. + +"I calculate I have lost half a stone in weight, Miss Hannay. If +I were to go on at this for a month or two there would be nothing +left of me." + +"And how far did you drive the hole?" + +"Gallery, Miss Hannay; please call it a gallery, it sounds so much +better. We got in five yards. I should hardly have believed it +possible, but Bathurst is a tremendous fellow to work. He uses a +pick as if he had been a sapper all his life. We kept the men pretty +hard at work, I can tell you, carrying up the earth. Richards is +at work now, and I bet him five rupees that he and Herbert don't +drive as far as we did." + +"There is not much use in betting now, Mr. Wilson," Isobel said +sadly. + +"No, I suppose not, Miss Hannay; but it gives a sort of interest +to one's work. I have blistered my hands horribly, but I suppose +they will get hard in a day or two." + +"I wish we could work at something," Isobel said. "Now that we have +finished with the bags and bandages, the time seems very long; the +only thing there is to do is to play with the children and try to +keep them good; it is fortunate there is a bit of garden for them +to play in." + +"It is not much of a garden, Miss Hannay. We had something like +a garden when I was a boy at home; the governor's is a jolly old +rectory, with a splendid garden. What fun we used to have there +when I was a young one! I wonder what the dear old governor and +mater would say if they knew the fix we were in here. You know, +sometimes I think that Forster's plan was the best, and that it +would be better to try and make a dash through them." + +"We are in your way, Mr. Wilson; you wouldn't be able to do much +fighting if you had one of us clinging to you." + +"I don't know, Miss Hannay," Wilson said quietly, "what my fighting +powers are, but I fancy if you were clinging to me I could cut my +way through a good deal." + +"I am sure you would do anything that anyone could do," the girl +said kindly; "but whatever you might feel, having another person +behind you could not but hamper you awfully. I would infinitely +rather try to escape on foot, for then I should be relying on +myself, while if I was riding behind anyone, and we were pursued or +attacked, I should feel all the time I was destroying his chances, +and that if it were not for me he would get away. That would be +terrible. I don't know whether we were wise to stay here instead +of trying to escape at once; but as uncle and Mr. Hunter and the +others all thought it wiser to stay, I have no doubt it was; but +I am quite sure that it could not have been a good plan to go off +like that on horseback." + +Another day passed quietly, and then during the night the watch +heard the sounds of blows with axes, and of falling trees. + +"They are clearing the ground in front of their battery," the +Major, who was on the watch with his party, said; "it will begin +in earnest tomorrow morning. The sound came from just where we +expected. It is about in the same line as where they made their +first attempt, but a hundred yards or so further back." + +At daylight they saw that the trees and bushes had been leveled, +and a battery, with embrazures for six guns, erected at a distance +of about four hundred yards from the house. More sandbags were at +once brought up from below, and the parapet, on the side facing +the battery, raised two feet and doubled in thickness. The garrison +were not disturbed while so engaged. + +"Why the deuce don't the fellows begin?" Captain Forster said +impatiently, as he stood looking over the parapet when the work +was finished. + +"I expect they are waiting for the Rajah and some of the principal +Zemindars to come down," replied the Major; "the guns are theirs, +you see, and will most likely be worked by their own followers. +No doubt they think they will knock the place to pieces in a few +minutes. + +"Listen! there is music; they are coming in grand state. Rintoul, +will you tell the workers in the mine to come up. By the way, who +are at work now?" + +"Bathurst and Wilson, sir." + +"Then tell Wilson to come up, and request Bathurst to go on with the +gallery. Tell him I want that pushed forward as fast as possible, +and that one gun will not make much difference here. Request the +ladies and children to go down into the storeroom for the present. +I don't think the balls will go through the wall, but it is as well +to be on the safe side." + +Captain Rintoul delivered his message to the ladies. They had +already heard that the battery had been unmasked and was ready to +open fire, and lamps had been placed in the storeroom in readiness +for them. There were pale faces .among them, but their thoughts +were of those on the roof rather than of themselves. + +Mrs. Hunter took up the Bible she had been reading, and said, "Tell +them, Captain Rintoul, we shall be praying for them." The ladies +went into the room that served as a nursery, and with the ayahs and +other female servants carried the children down into the storeroom. + +"I would much rather be up there," Isobel said to Mrs. Doolan; "we +could load the muskets for them, and I don't think it would be +anything like so bad if we could see what was going on as being +cooped up below fancying the worst all the time." + +"I quite agree with you, but men never will get to understand women. +Perhaps before we are done they will recognize the fact that we +are no more afraid than they are." + +The music was heard approaching along the road where the bungalows +had stood. Presently a number of flags were raised in the battery +amid a great beating of drums. On the previous day a flagstaff had +been erected on the roof, and a Union Jack was run up in answer to +the enemy's demonstration. + +"A cheer for the old flag, lads," the Major said; and a hearty cheer +broke from the little party on the roof, where, with the exception +of Bathurst, all the garrison were assembled. The cheer was answered +by a yell from the natives not only in the battery, but from the +gardens and inclosures round the house. + +"Pay no attention to the fellows in the gardens," the Major said; +"fire at their guns--they must expose themselves to load." + +The men were kneeling behind the parapet, where the sandbags had +been so arranged that they could see through between those on the +upper line, and thus fire without raising their heads above it. + +"Shall we wait for them or fire first, Major?" the Doctor asked. + +"I expect the guns are loaded and laid, Doctor; but if you see +a head looking along them, by all means take a shot at it. I wish +we could see down into the battery itself, but it is too high for +that." + +The Doctor lay looking along his rifle. Presently he fired, and +as if it had been the signal five cannon boomed out almost at the +same moment, the other being fired a quarter of a minute later. +Three of the shot struck the house below the parapet, the others +went overhead. + +"I hit my man," the Doctor said, as he thrust another rifle through +the loophole. "Now, we will see if we can keep them from loading." + +Simultaneously with the roar of the cannon a rattle of musketry +broke out on three sides of the house, and a hail of bullets whistled +over the heads of the defenders, who opened a steady fire at the +embrasures of the guns. These had been run in, and the natives +could be seen loading them. The Major examined the work through a +pair of field glasses. + +"You are doing well," he said presently; "I have seen several of +them fall, and there is a lot of confusion among them; they will +soon get tired of that game." + +Slowly and irregularly the guns were run out again, and the fire of +the defenders was redoubled to prevent them from taking aim. Only +one shot hit the house this time, the others all going overhead. +The fire of the enemy became slower and more irregular, and at the +end of an hour ceased almost entirely. + +"Doctor," the Major said, "I will get you and Farquharson to turn +your attention to some fellows there are in that high tree over +there. They command us completely, and many of their bullets have +struck on the terrace behind us. It would not be safe to move +across to the stairs now. I think we have pretty well silenced. +the battery for the present. Here are my glasses. With them you +can easily make out the fellows among the leaves." + +"I see them," the Doctor said, handing the glasses to Farquharson; +"we will soon get them out of that. Now, Farquharson, you take +that fellow out on the lower branch to the right; I will take the +one close to the trunk on the same branch." + +Laying their rifles on the upper row of sandbags, the two men took +a steady aim. They fired almost together, and two bodies were seen +to fall from the tree. + +"Well shot!" the Major exclaimed. "There are something like a dozen +of them up there; but they will soon clear out if you keep that +up." + +"They are not more than two hundred yards away," the Doctor said, +"and firing from a rest we certainly ought not to miss them at that +distance. Give me the glasses again." + +A similar success attended the next two shots, and then a number +of figures were seen hastily climbing down. + +"Give them a volley, gentlemen," the Major said. + +A dozen guns were fired, and three more men dropped, and an angry +yell from the natives answered the shout of triumph from the +garrison. + +"Will you go down, Mr. Hunter, and tell the ladies that we have +silenced the guns for the present, and that no one has received a +scratch? Now, let us see what damage their balls have effected." + +This was found to be trifling. The stonework of the house was strong, +and the guns were light. The stonework of one of the windows was +broken, and two or three stones in the wall cracked. One ball had +entered a window, torn its way through two inner walls, and lay +against the back wall. + +"It is a four pound ball," the Major said, taking it up. "I fancy +the guns are seven pounders. They have evidently no balls to fit, +which accounts for the badness of their firing and the little +damage they did; with so much windage the balls can have had but +small velocity. Well, that is a satisfactory beginning, gentlemen; +they will take a long time to knock the place about our ears at this +rate. Now we will see if we cannot clear them out of the gardens. +Captain Doolan, will you take the glasses and watch the battery; +if you see any movement about the guns, the fire will be reopened +at once; until then all will devote their attention to those fellows +among the bushes; it is important to teach them that they are not +safe there, for a chance ball might come in between the sandbags. +Each of you pick out a particular bush, and watch it till you see +the exact position in which anyone firing from it must be in, and +then try to silence him. Don't throw away a shot if you can help +it. We have a good stock of ammunition, but it is as well not to +waste it. I will leave you in command at present, Doolan." + +Major Hannay then went down to the storeroom. + +"I have come to relieve you from your confinement, ladies," he said. +"I am glad to say that we find their balls will not penetrate the +walls of the house alone, and there is therefore no fear whatever +of their passing through them and the garden wall together; therefore, +as long as the wall is intact, there is no reason whatever why you +should not remain on the floor above." + +There was a general exclamation of pleasure. + +"That will be vastly better, uncle," Isobel said; "it is hateful +being hidden away down here when we have nothing to do but to listen +to the firing; we don't see why some of us should not go up on the +terrace to load the rifles for you." + +"Not at present, Isobel; we are not pressed yet. When it comes to +a real attack it will be time to consider about that. I don't think +any of us would shoot straighter if there were women right up among +us in danger." + +"I don't at all see why it should be worse our being in danger +than for you men, Major," Mrs. Doolan said; "we have just as much +at stake, and more; and I warn you I shall organize a female mutiny +if we are not allowed to help." + +The Major laughed. + +"Well, Mrs. Doolan, I shall have to convert this storeroom into a +prison, and all who defy my authority will be immured here, so now +you know the consequence of disobedience." + +"And has no one been hurt with all that firing, Major Hannay?" Mary +Hunter asked. + +"A good many people have been hurt, Miss Hunter, but no one on our +side. I fancy we must have made it very hot for those at the guns, +and the Doctor and Mr. Farquharson have been teaching them not to +climb trees. At present that firing you hear is against those who +are hiding in the gardens." + +An hour later the firing ceased altogether, the natives finding +the fire of the defenders so deadly that they no longer dared, by +discharging a rifle, to show where they were hiding. They had drawn +off from the more distant clumps and bushes, but dared not try and +crawl from those nearer the house until after nightfall. + +The next morning it was found that during the night the enemy had +closed up their embrasures, leaving only openings sufficiently +large for the muzzles of the guns to be thrust through, and soon +after daybreak they renewed their fire. The Doctor and Mr. Farquharson +alone remained on the roof, and throughout the day they kept up +a steady fire at these openings whenever the guns were withdrawn. +Several of the sandbags were knocked off the parapet during the +course of the day, and a few shot found their way through the walls +of the upper story, but beyond this no damage was done. The mining +was kept up with great vigor, and the gallery advanced rapidly, the +servants finding it very hard work to remove the earth as fast as +the miners brought it down. + +Captain Forster offered to go out with three others at night to +try and get into the battery and spike the guns, but Major Hannay +would not permit the attempt to be made. + +"We know they have several other guns," he said, "and the risk would +be altogether too great, for there would be practically no chance +of your getting back and being drawn up over the wall before you +were overtaken, even if you succeeded in spiking the guns. There +are probably a hundred men sleeping in the battery, and it is likely +they would have sentries out in front of it. The loss of four men +would seriously weaken the garrison." + +The next morning another battery to the left was unmasked, and on +the following day three guns were planted, under cover, so as to +play against the gate. The first battery now concentrated its fire +upon the outer wall, the new battery played upon the upper part of +the house, and the three guns kept up a steady fire at the gate. + +There was little rest for the besieged now. It was a constant duel +between their rifles and the guns, varied by their occasionally +turning their attention to men who climbed trees, or who, from the +roofs of some buildings still standing, endeavored to keep down +their fire. + +Wilson had been released from his labors in the gallery, Bathurst +undertaking to get down the earth single handed as fast as the +servants could remove it. + +"I never saw such a fellow to work, Miss Hannay," Wilson said one +day, when he was off duty, and happened to find her working alone +at some bandages. "I know you don't like him, but he is a first +rate fellow if there ever was one. It is unlucky for him being so +nervous at the guns; but that is no fault of his, after all, and +I am sure in other things he is as cool as possible. Yesterday I +was standing close to him, shoving the earth back to the men as he +got it down. Suddenly he shouted, 'Run, Wilson, the roof is coming +down!' I could not help bolting a few yards, for the earth came +pattering down as he spoke; then I looked round and saw him standing +there, by the light of the lamp, like those figures you see holding +up pillars; I forget what they call them--catydigs, or something +of that sort." + +"Caryatides," Isobel put in. + +"Yes, that is the name. Some timber had given way above him, and +he was holding it up with his arms. I should say that there must +have been half a ton of it, and he said, as quietly as possible, +'Get two of those short poles, Wilson, and put up one on each side +of me. I can hold it a bit, but don't be longer than you can help +about it.' I managed to shove up the timber, so that he could +slip out before it came down. It would have crushed us both to a +certainty if he had not held it up." + +"Why do you say you know I don't like Mr. Bathurst?" + +"I don't exactly know, Miss Hannay, but I have noticed you are the +only lady who does not chat with him. I don't think I have seen +you speak to him since we have come in here. I am sorry, because +I like him very much, and I don't care for Forster at all." + +"What has Captain Forster to do with it?" Isobel asked, somewhat +indignantly. + +"Oh, nothing at all, Miss Hannay, only, you know, Bathurst used to +be a good deal at the Major's before Forster came, and then after +that I never met him there except on that evening before he came +in here. Now you know, Miss Hannay," he went on earnestly, "what +I think about you. I have not been such an ass as to suppose +I ever had a chance, though you know I would lay down my life for +you willingly; but I did not seem to mind Bathurst. I know he is +an awfully good fellow, and would have made you very happy; but I +don't feel like that with Forster. There is nothing in the world +that I should like better than to punch his head; and when I see +that a fellow like that has cut Bathurst out altogether it makes. +me so savage sometimes that I have to go and smoke a pipe outside +so as not to break out and have a row with him." + +"You ought not to talk so, Mr. Wilson. It is very wrong. You have +no right to say that anyone has cut anyone else out as far as I +am concerned. I know you are all fond of me in a brotherly sort of +way, and I like you very much; but that gives you no right to say +such things about other people. Mr. Bathurst ceased his visits not +because of Captain Forster but from another reason altogether; and +certainly I have neither said nor done anything that would justify +your saying that Captain Forster had cut Mr. Bathurst out. Even +if I had, you ought not to have alluded to such a thing. I am not +angry with you," she said, seeing how downcast he looked; "but you +must not talk like that any more; it would be wrong at any time; +it is specially so now, when we are all shut up here together, and +none can say what will happen to us." + +"It seemed to me that was just the reason why I could speak about +it, Miss Hannay. We may none of us get out of this fix we are in, +and I do think we ought all to be friends together now. Richards +and I both agreed that as it was certain neither of us had a chance +of winning you, the next best thing was to see you and Bathurst +come together. Well, now all that's over, of course, but is it +wrong for me to ask, how is it you have come to dislike him?" + +"But I don't dislike him, Mr. Wilson." + +"Well, then, why do you go on as if you didn't like him?" + +Isobel hesitated. From most men she would have considered the +question impertinent, and would have resented it, but this frank +faced boy meant no impertinence; he loved her in his honest way, +and only wanted to see her happy. + +"I can't speak to him if he doesn't speak to me," she said desperately. + +"No, of course not," he agreed; "but why shouldn't he speak to you? +You can't have done anything to offend him except taking up with +Forster." + +"It is nothing to do with Captain Forster at all, Mr. Wilson; I--" +and she hesitated. "I said something at which he had the right to +feel hurt and offended, and he has never given me any opportunity +since of saying that I was sorry." + +"I am sure you would not have said anything that he should have +been offended about, Miss Hannay; it is not your nature, and I would +not believe it whoever told me, not even yourself; so he must be +in fault, and, of course, I have nothing more to say about it." + +"He wasn't in fault at all, Mr. Wilson. I can't tell you what I +said, but it was very wrong and thoughtless on my part, and I have +been sorry for it ever since; and he has a perfect right to be +hurt and not to come near me, especially as"--and she hesitated +--"as I have acted badly since, and he has no reason for supposing +that I am sorry. And now you must not ask me any more about it; I +don't know why I have said as much to you as I have, only I know I +can trust you, and I like you very much, though I could never like +you in the sort of way you would want me to. I wish you didn't like +me like that." + +"Oh, never mind me," he said earnestly. "I am all right, Miss Hannay; +I never expected anything, you know, so I am not disappointed, and +it has been awfully good of you talking to me as you have, and not +getting mad with me for interfering. But I can hear them coming +down from the terrace, and I must be off. I am on duty there, you +know, now. Bathurst has undertaken double work in that hole. I didn't +like it, really; it seemed mean to be getting out of the work and +letting him do it all, but he said that he liked work, and I really +think he does. I am sure he is always worrying himself because +he can't take his share in the firing on the roof; and when he is +working he hasn't time to think about it. When he told me that in +future he would drive the tunnel our shift himself, he said, 'That +will enable you to take your place on the roof, Wilson, and you +must remember you are firing for both of us, so don't throw away +a shot.' It is awfully rough on him, isn't it? Well, goodby, Miss +Hannay," and Wilson hurried off to the roof. + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +The next four days made a great alteration in the position of the +defenders in the fortified house. + +The upper story was now riddled by balls, the parapet round the +terrace had been knocked away in several places, the gate was in +splinters; but as the earth from the tunnel had been all emptied +against the sandbags, it had grown to such a thickness that the +defense was still good here. But in the wall, against which one +of the new batteries had steadily directed its fire, there was +a yawning gap, which was hourly increasing in size, and would ere +long be practicable for assault. Many of the shots passing through +this had struck the house itself. Some of these had penetrated, +and the room in the line of fire could no longer be used. + +There had been several casualties. The young civilian Herbert had been +killed by a shot that struck the parapet just where he was lying. +Captain Rintoul had been seriously wounded, two of the natives had +been killed by the first shot which penetrated the lower room. Mr. +Hunter was prostrate with fever, the result of exposure to the sun, +and several others had received wounds more or less severe from +fragments of stone; but the fire of the defenders was as steady as +at first, and the loss of the natives working the guns was severe, +and they no longer ventured to fire from the gardens and shrubberies +round the walls. + +Fatigue, watching, still more the heat on the terrace, was telling +heavily upon the strength of the garrison. The ladies went about +their work quietly and almost silently. The constant anxiety and +the confinement in the darkened rooms were telling upon them too. +Several of the children were ill; and when not employed in other +things, there were fresh sandbags to be made by the women, to take +the place of those damaged by the enemy's shot. + +When, of an evening, a portion of the defenders came off duty, +there was more talk and conversation, as all endeavored to keep +up a good face and assume a confidence they were far from feeling. +The Doctor was perhaps the most cheery of the party. During the +daytime he was always on the roof, and his rifle seldom cracked in +vain. In the evening he attended to his patients, talked cheerily +to the ladies, and laughed and joked over the events of the day. + +None among the ladies showed greater calmness and courage than +Mrs. Rintoul, and not a word was ever heard from the time the siege +began of her ailments or inconveniences. She was Mrs. Hunter's +best assistant with the sick children. Even after her husband was +wounded, and her attention night and day was given to him, she +still kept on patiently and firmly. + +"I don't know how to admire Mrs. Rintoul enough," Mrs. Hunter said +to Isobel Hannay one day; "formerly I had no patience with her, +she was always querulous and grumbling; now she has turned out a +really noble woman. One never knows people, my dear, till one sees +them in trouble." + +"Everyone is nice," Isobel said. "I have hardly heard a word of +complaint about anything since we came here, and everyone seems to +help others and do little kindnesses." + +The enemy's fire had been very heavy all that day, and the breach +in the wall had been widened, and the garrison felt certain that +the enemy would attack on the following morning. + +"You and Farquharson, Doctor, must stop on the roof," the Major +said. "In the first place, it is possible they may try to attack +by ladders at some other point, and we shall want two good shots +up there to keep them back; and in the second, if they do force +the breach, we shall want you to cover our retreat into the house. +I will get a dozen rifles for each of you loaded and in readiness. +Isobel and Mary Hunter, who have both volunteered over and over +again, shall go up to load; they have both practiced, and can load +quickly. Of course if you see that the enemy are not attacking +at any other point, you will help us at the breach by keeping up +a steady fire on them, but always keep six guns each in reserve. +I shall blow my whistle as a signal for us to retire to the house +if I find we can hold the breach no longer, so when you hear that +blaze away at them as fast as you can. Your twelve shots will check +them long enough to give us time to get in and fasten the door. We +shall be round the corner of the house before they can get fairly +over the breastwork. We will set to work to raise that as soon as +it gets dark." + +A breastwork of sandbags had already been erected behind the +breach, in case the enemy should make a sudden rush, and a couple +of hours' labor transformed this into a strong work; for the bags +were already filled, and only needed placing in position. When +completed, it extended in a horseshoe shape, some fifteen feet +across, behind the gap in the wall. For nine feet from the ground +it was composed of sandbags three deep, and a single line was then +laid along the edge to serve as a parapet. + +"I don't think they will get over that," the Major said, when the +work was finished. "I doubt if they will be disposed even to try +when they reach the breach." + +Before beginning their work they had cleared away all the fallen +brickwork from behind the breach, and a number of bricks were laid +on the top of the sandbags to be used as missiles. + +"A brick is as good as a musket ball at this distance," the Major +said; "and when our guns are empty we can take to them; there are +enough spare rifles for us to have five each, and, with those and +our revolvers and the bricks, we ought to be able to account for an +army. There are some of the servants and syces who can be trusted +to load. They can stand down behind us, and we can pass our guns +down to them as we empty them." + +Each man had his place on the work assigned to him. Bathurst, who +had before told the Major that when the time came for an assault +to be delivered he was determined to take his place in the breach, +was placed at one end of the horseshoe where it touched the wall. + +"I don't promise to be of much use, Major," he said quietly. "I know +myself too well; but at least I can run my chance of being killed." + +The Major had put Wilson next to him. + +"I don't think there is much chance of their storming the work, +Wilson; but if they do, you catch hold of Bathurst's arm, and drag +him away when you hear me whistle; the chances are a hundred to +one against his hearing it, or remembering what it means if he does +hear it." + +"All right, Major, I will look to him." + +Four men remained on guard at the breach all night, and at the +first gleam of daylight the garrison took up their posts. + +"Now mind, my dears," the Doctor said, as he and Farquharson went +up on the terrace with Isobel and Mary Hunter; "you must do exactly +as you are told, or you will be doing more harm than good, for +Farquharson and I would not be able to pay attention to our shooting. +You must lie down and remain perfectly quiet till we begin to fire, +then keep behind us just so far that you can reach the guns as we +hand them back to you after firing; and you must load them either +kneeling or sitting down, so that you don't expose your heads above +the thickest part of the breastwork. When you have loaded, push the +guns back well to the right of us, but so that we can reach them. +Then, if one of them goes off, there won't be any chance of our +being hit. The garrison can't afford to throw away a life at present. +You will, of course, only half cock them; still, it is as well to +provide against accidents." + +Both the girls were pale, but they were quiet and steady. The Doctor +saw they were not likely to break down. + +"That is a rum looking weapon you have got there, Bathurst," Wilson +said, as, after carrying down the spare guns and placing them ready +for firing, they lay down in their positions on the sandbags. The +weapon was a native one, and was a short mace, composed of a bar +of iron about fifteen inches long, with a knob of the same metal, +studded with spikes. The bar was covered with leather to break the +jar, and had a loop to put the hand through at the end. + +"Yes," Bathurst said quietly; "I picked it up at one of the native +shops in Cawnpore the last time I was there. I had no idea then that +I might ever have to use it, and bought it rather as a curiosity; +but I have kept it within reach of my bedside since these troubles +began, and I don't think one could want a better weapon at close +quarters." + +"No, it is a tremendous thing; and after the way I have seen you +using that pick I should not like to be within reach of your arm +with that mace in it. I don't think there is much chance of your +wanting that. I have no fear of the natives getting over here this +time." + +"I have no fear of the natives at all," Bathurst said. + +"I am only afraid of myself. At present I am just as cool as if +there was not a native within a thousand miles, and I am sure that +my pulse is not going a beat faster than usual. I can think of the +whole thing and calculate the chances as calmly as if it were an +affair in which I was in no way concerned. It is not danger that +I fear in the slightest, it is that horrible noise. I know well +enough that the moment the firing begins I shall be paralyzed. My +only hope is that at the last moment, if it comes to hand to hand +fighting, I shall get my nerve." + +"I have no doubt you will," Wilson said warmly; "and when you +do I would back you at long odds against any of us. Ah, they are +beginning." + +As he spoke there was a salvo of all the guns on the three Sepoy +batteries. Then a roar of musketry broke out round the house, and +above it could be heard loud shouts. + +"They are coming, Major," the Doctor shouted down from the roof; +"the Sepoys are leading, and there is a crowd of natives behind +them." + +Those lying in the middle of the curve of the horseshoe soon caught +sight of the enemy advancing tumultuously towards the breach. The +Major had ordered that not a shot was to be fired until they reached +it, and it was evident that the silence of the besieged awed the +assailants with a sense of unknown danger, for their pace slackened, +and when they got to within fifty yards of the breach they paused +and opened fire. Then, urged forward by their officers and encouraged +by their own noise, they again rushed forward. Two of their officers +led the way; and as these mounted the little heap of rubbish at +the foot of the breach, two rifles cracked out from the terrace, +and both fell dead. + +There was a yell of fury from the Sepoys, and then they poured in +through the breach. Those in front tried to stop as they saw the +trap into which they were entering, but pressed on by those behind +they were forced forward. + +And now a crackling fire of musketry broke out from the rifles +projecting between the sandbags into the crowded mass. Every shot +told. Wild shrieks, yells, and curses rose from the assailants. +Some tried madly to climb up the sandbags, some to force their way +back through the crowd behind; some threw themselves down; others +discharged their muskets at their invisible foe. From the roof +the Doctor and his companion kept up a rapid fire upon the crowd +struggling to enter the breach. As fast as the defenders' muskets +were discharged they handed them down to the servants behind to +be reloaded, and when each had fired his spare muskets he betook +himself to his revolver. + +Wilson, while discharging his rifle, kept his eyes upon Bathurst. +The latter had not fired a shot, but lay rigid and still, save +for a sort of convulsive shuddering. Presently there was a little +lull in the firing as the weapons were emptied, and the defenders +seizing the bricks hurled them down into the mass. + +"Look out!" the Major shouted; "keep your heads low--I am going +to throw the canisters." + +A number of these had been prepared, filled to the mouth with powder +and bullets, and with a short fuse attached, ropes being fastened +round them to enable them to be slung some distance. The Major half +rose to throw one of these missiles when his attention was called +by a shout from Wilson. + +The latter was so occupied that he had not noticed Bathurst, who +had suddenly risen to his feet, and just as Wilson was about to +grasp him and pull him down, leaped over the sandbag in front of him +down among the mutineers. The Major gave a swing to the canister, +of which the fuse was already lighted, and hurled it through the +breach among the crowd, who, ignorant of what was going on inside, +were still struggling to enter. + +"Look out," he shouted to the others; "mind how you throw. Bathurst +is down in the middle of them. Hand up all the muskets you have +loaded," he cried to the servants. + +As he spoke he swung another canister through the breach, and almost +immediately two heavy explosions followed, one close upon the other. + +"Give them a volley at the breach," he shouted; "never mind those +below." + +The muskets were fired as soon as received. + +"Now to your feet," the Major cried, "and give them the brickbats," +and as he stood up he hurled two more canisters among the crowd +behind the breach. The others sprang up with a cheer. The inclosure +below them was shallower now from the number that had fallen, and +was filled with a confused mass of struggling men. In their midst +was Bathurst fighting desperately with his short weapon, and bringing +down a man at every blow, the mutineers being too crowded together +to use their unfixed bayonets against him. In a moment Captain Forster +leaped down, sword in hand, and joined Bathurst in the fight. + +"Stand steady," the Major shouted; "don't let another man move." + +But the missiles still rained down with an occasional shot, +as the rifles were handed up by the natives, while the Doctor and +Farquharson kept up an almost continuous fire from the terrace. +Then the two last canisters thrown by the Major exploded. The first +two had carried havoc among the crowd behind the breach, these +completed their confusion, and they turned and fled; while those +in the retrenchment, relieved of the pressure from behind, at once +turned, and flying through the breach, followed their companions. + +A loud cheer broke from the garrison, and the Major looking round +saw the Doctor standing by the parapet waving his hat, while Isobel +stood beside him looking down at the scene of conflict. + +"Lie down, Isobel," he shouted; "they will be opening fire again +directly." + +The girl disappeared, and almost at the same moment the batteries +spoke out again, and a crackle of the musketry began from the +gardens. The Major turned round. Bathurst was leaning against the +wall breathing heavily after his exertions, Forster was coolly +wiping his sword on the tunic of one of the fallen Sepoys. + +"Are either of you hurt?" he asked. + +"I am not hurt to speak of," Forster said; "I got a rip with a +bayonet as I jumped down, but I don't think it is of any consequence." + +"How are you, Bathurst?" the Major repeated. "What on earth possessed +you to jump down like that?" + +"I don't know, Major; I had to do something, and when yon stopped +firing I felt it was time for me to do my share." + +"You have done more than your share, I should say," the Major said; +"for they went down like ninepins before you. Now, Wilson, you take +one of his hands, and I will take the other, and help him up." + +It needed considerable exertion to get him up, for the reaction +had now come, and he was scarce able to stand. + +"You had better go up to the house and get a glass of wine," the +Major said. "Now, is anyone else hurt?" + +"I am hit, Major," Richards said quietly; "a ball came in between +the sandbags just as I fired my first shot, and smashed my right +shoulder. I think I have not been much good since, though I have +been firing from my left as well as I could. I think I will go up +and get the Doctor to look at it." + +But almost as he spoke the young fellow tottered, and would have +fallen, had not the Major caught him. + +"Lend me a hand, Doolan," the latter said; "we will carry him in; +I am afraid he is very hard hit." + +The ladies gathered round the Major and Captain Doolan as they entered +with their burden. Mary Hunter had already run down and told them +that the attack had been repulsed and the enemy had retreated. + +"Nobody else is hit," the Major said, as he entered; "at least, +not seriously. The enemy have been handsomely beaten with such loss +that they won't be in a hurry to try again. Will one of you run up +and bring the Doctor down?" + +Richards was carried into the hospital room, where he was left to +the care of the Doctor, Mrs. Hunter, and Mrs. Rintoul. The Major +returned to the general room. + +"Boy, bring half a dozen bottles of champagne and open them as +quickly as you can," he said; "we have got enough to last us for +weeks, and this is an occasion to celebrate, and I think we have +all earned it." + +The others were by this time coming in, for there was no chance of +the enemy renewing the attack at present. Farquharson was on the +roof on the lookout. Quiet greetings were exchanged between wives +and husbands. + +"It didn't last long," Wilson said; "not above five minutes, I +should say, from the time when we opened fire." + +"It seemed to us an age," Amy Hunter replied; "it was dreadful not +to be able to see what was going on; it seemed to me everyone must +be killed with all that firing." + +"It was sharp while it lasted," the Major said; "but we were all +snug enough except against a stray bullet, such as that which hit +poor young Richards. He behaved very gallantly, and none of us knew +he was hit till it was all over." + +"But how did Captain Forster get his bayonet wound?" Mrs. Doolan +asked. "I saw him go in just now into the surgery; it seemed to me +he had a very serious wound, for his jacket was cut from the breast +up to the shoulder, and he was bleeding terribly, though he made +light of it." + +"He jumped down into the middle of them," the Major said. "Bathurst +jumped down first, and was fighting like a madman with a mace he +has got. We could do nothing, for we were afraid of hitting him, +and Forster jumped down to help him, and, as he did so, got that +rip with the bayonet; it is a nasty cut, no doubt, but it is only +a flesh wound." + +"Where is Mr. Bathurst?" Mrs. Doolan asked; "is he hurt, too? Why +did he jump down? I should not have thought," and she stopped. + +"I fancy a sort of fury seized him," the Major said; "but whatever +it was, he fought like a giant. He is a powerful man, and that iron +mace is just the thing for such work. The natives went down like +ninepins before him. No, I don't think he is hurt." + +"I will go out and see," Mrs. Doolan said; and taking a mug half +full of champagne from the table, she went out. + +Bathurst was sitting on the ground leaning against the wall of the +house. + +"You are not hurt, Mr. Bathurst, I hope," Mrs. Doolan said, as she +came up. "No, don't try to get up, drink a little of this; we are +celebrating our victory by opening a case of champagne. The Major +tells us you have been distinguishing yourself greatly." + +Bathurst drank some of the wine before he replied. + +"In a way, Mrs. Doolan, I scarcely know what I did do. I wanted to +do something, even if it was only to get killed." + +"You must not talk like that," she said kindly; "your life is +as valuable as any here, and you know that we all like and esteem +you; and, at any rate, you have shown today that you have plenty +of courage." + +"The courage of a Malay running amuck, Mrs. Doolan; that is not +courage, it is madness. You cannot tell--no one can tell--what +I have suffered since the siege began. The humiliation of knowing +that I alone of the men here am unable to take my part in the +defense, and that while others are fighting I am useful only to +work as a miner." + +"But you are as useful in that way as you would be in the other," +she said. "I don't feel humiliated because I can only help in +nursing the sick while the others are fighting for us. We have all +of us our gifts. Few men have more than you. You have courage and +coolness in other ways, and you are wrong to care nothing for your +life because of the failing, for which you are not accountable, of +your nerves to stand the sound of firearms.. I can understand your +feelings and sympathize with you, but it is of no use to exaggerate +the importance of such a matter. You might live a thousand lives +without being again in a position when such a failing would be of +the slightest importance, one way or the other. Now come in with +me. Certainly this is not the moment for you to give way about +it; for whatever your feelings may have been, or whatever may have +impelled you to the act, you have on this occasion fought nobly." + +"Not nobly, Mrs. Doolan," he said, rising to his feet; "desperately, +or madly, if you like." + +At this moment Wilson came out. "Halloa, Bathurst, what are doing +here? Breakfast is just ready, and everyone is asking for you. I +am sure you must want something after your exertions. You should +have seen him laying about him with that iron mace, Mrs. Doolan.. +I have seen him using the pick, and knew how strong ho was, but +I was astonished, I can tell you. It was a sort of Coeur de Lion +business. He used to use a mace, you know, and once rode through +the Saracens and smashed them up, till at last, when he had done, +he couldn't open his hand. Bring him in, Mrs. Doolan. If he won't +come, I will go in and send the Doctor out to him. Bad business, +poor Richards being hurt, isn't it? Awfully good fellow, Richards. +Can't think why he was the one to be hit." + +So keeping up a string of talk, the young subaltern led Bathurst +into the house. + +After breakfast a white flag was waved from the roof, and in +a short time two Sepoy officers came up with a similar flag. The +Major and Captain Doolan went out to meet them, and it was agreed +that hostilities should be suspended until noon, in order that the +wounded and dead might be carried off. + +While this was being done the garrison remained under arms behind +their work at the breach lest any treacherous attempt should be +made. The mutineers, however, who were evidently much depressed by +the failure, carried the bodies off quietly, and at twelve o'clock +firing recommenced. + +That evening, after it was dark, the men gathered on the terrace. + +"Well, gentlemen," the Major said, "we have beaten them off today, +and we may do it again, but there is no doubt how it must all end. +You see, this afternoon their guns have all been firing at a fresh +place in the wall; and if they make another breach or two, and +attack at them all together, it will be hopeless to try to defend +them. You see, now that we have several sick and wounded, the +notion of making our escape is almost knocked on the head. At the +last moment each may try to save his life, but there must be no +desertion of the sick and wounded as long as there is a cartridge +to be fired. Our best hope is in getting assistance from somewhere, +but we know nothing of what is going on outside. I think the best +plan will be for one of our number to try to make his way out, and +go either to Lucknow, Agra, or Allahabad, and try and get help. +If they could spare a troop of cavalry it might be sufficient; the +mutineers have suffered very heavily; there were over a hundred and +fifty bodies carried out today, and if attacked suddenly I don't +think they would make any great resistance. We may hold out for a +week or ten days, but I think that is the outside; and if rescue +does not arrive by that time we must either surrender or try to +escape by that passage." + +There was a general assent. + +"Bathurst would be the man to do it," the Doctor said. "Once through +their lines he could pass without exciting the slightest suspicion; +he could buy a horse then, and could be at any of the stations in +two days." + +"Yes, there is no doubt that he is the man to do it," the Major +said. "Where is he now?" + +"At work as usual, Major; shall I go and speak to him? But I tell +you fairly I don't think he will undertake it." + +"Why not, Doctor? It is a dangerous mission, but no more dangerous +than remaining here." + +"Well, we shall see," the Doctor said, as he left the group. + +Nothing was said for a few minutes, the men sitting or lying about +smoking. Presently the Doctor returned. + +"Bathurst refuses absolutely," he said. "He admits that he does +not think there would be much difficulty for him to get through, +but he is convinced that the mission would be a useless one, and +that could help have been spared it would have come to us before +now." + +"But in that case he would have made his escape," the Major said. + +That is just why he won't go, Major; he says that come what will +he will share the fate of the rest, and that he will not live to +be pointed to as the one man who made his escape of the garrison +of Deennugghur." + +"Whom can we send?" the Major said. "You are the only other man +who speaks the language well enough to pass as a native, Doctor." + +"I speak it fairly, but not well enough for that; besides, I am too +old to bear the fatigue of riding night and day; and, moreover, my +services are wanted here both as a doctor and as a rifle shot." + +"I will go, if you will send me, Major," Captain Forster said +suddenly; "not in disguise, but in uniform, and on my horse's +back. Of course I should run the gauntlet of their sentries. Once +through, I doubt if they have a horse that could overtake mine." + +There was a general silence of surprise. Forster's reckless courage +was notorious, and he had been conspicuous for the manner in which +he had chosen the most dangerous points during the siege; and this +offer to undertake what, although a dangerous enterprise in itself, +still offered a far better chance of life than that of remaining +behind, surprised everyone. It had been noticed that, since the +rejection of his plan to sally out in a body and cut their way +through the enemy, he had been moody and silent, except only when +the fire was heavy and the danger considerable; then he laughed +and joked and seemed absolutely to enjoy the excitement; but he +was the last man whom any of them would have expected to volunteer +for a service that, dangerous as it might be, had just been refused +by Bathurst on the ground that it offered a chance of escape from +the common lot. + +The Major was the first to speak. + +"Well, Captain Forster, as we have just agreed that our only chance +is to obtain aid from one of the stations, and as you are the only +volunteer for the service, I do not see that I can decline to accept +your offer. At which station do you think you would be most likely +to find a force that could help us?" + +"I should say Lucknow, Major. If help is to be obtained anywhere, +I should say it was there." + +"Yes, I think that is the most hopeful. You will start at once; I +suppose the sooner the better." + +"As soon as they are fairly asleep; say twelve o'clock." + +"Very well. I will go and write a dispatch for you to carry, giving +an account of the fix we are in here. How will you sally out?" + +"I should think the easiest plan would be to make a gap in the +sandbags in the breach, lead the horse till fairly outside, and +then mount." + +"I think you had better take a spare horse with you," the Doctor +said; "it will make a difference if you are chased, if you can +change from one to the other. Bathurst told me to say whoever went +could have his horse, which is a long way the best in the station. +I should fancy as good as your own." + +"I don't know," Forster said; "led horses are a nuisance; still, as +you say, it might come in useful, if it is only to loose and turn +down a side road, and so puzzle anyone who may be after you in the +dark." + +The Major and Forster left the roof together. + +"Well, that is a rum go," Wilson said. "If it had been anyone +but Forster I should have said that he funked and was taking the +opportunity to get out of it, but everyone knows that he has any +amount of pluck; look how he charged those Sepoys single handed." + +"There are two sorts of pluck, Wilson," the Doctor said dryly. "There +is the pluck that will carry a man through a desperate action and +lead him to do deeds that are the talk of an army. Forster possesses +that kind of pluck in an unusual degree. He is almost an ideal +cavalryman--dashing, reckless; riding with a smile on his lips +into the thickest of the fray, absolutely careless of life when +his blood is up. + +"There is another sort of courage, that which supports men under +long continued strain, and enables them, patiently and steadfastly, +to face death when they see it approaching step by step. I doubt +whether Forster possesses that passive sort of courage. He would +ride up to a cannon's mouth, but would grow impatient in a. square +of infantry condemned to remain inactive under a heavy artillery +fire. + +"No one has changed more since this siege began than he has. +Except when engaged under a heavy fire he has been either silent, +or impatient and short tempered, shirking conversation even with +women when his turn of duty was over. Mind, I don't say for a moment +that I suspect him of being afraid of death; when the end came he +would fight as bravely as ever, and no one could fight more bravely. +But he cannot stand the waiting; he is always pulling his mustache +moodily and muttering to himself; he is good to do but not to +suffer; he would make a shockingly bad patient in a long illness. + +"Well, if any of you have letters you want to write to friends +in England I should advise you to take the opportunity; mind, I +don't think they will ever get them. Forster may get through, but +I consider the chances strongly against it. For a ride of ten miles +through a country swarming with foes I could choose no messenger I +would rather trust, but for a ride like this, that requires patience +and caution and resource, he is not the man I should select. Bathurst +would have succeeded almost certainly if he had once got out. The +two men are as different as light to dark; one possesses just the +points the other fails in. I have no one at home I want to write +to, so I will undertake the watch here." + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +The men on descending from the roof found all the ladies engaged +in writing, the Major having told them that there was a chance of +their letters being taken out. Scarce one looked up as they entered; +their thoughts at the moment were at home with those to whom they +were writing what might well be their last farewells. Stifled sobs +were heard in the quiet room; mournful letters were blurred with +tears even from eyes that had not before been dimmed since the +siege began. + +Isobel Hannay was the first to finish, for her letter to her mother +was but a short one. As she closed it she looked up. Captain Forster +was standing at the other side of the table with his eyes fixed on +her, and he made a slight gesture to her that he wished to speak +to her. She hesitated a moment, and then rose and quietly left the +room. A moment later he joined her outside. + +"Come outside," he said, "I must speak to you;" and together they +went out through the passage into the courtyard. + +"Isobel," he began, "I need not tell you that I love you; till +lately I have not known how much, but I feel now that I could not +live without you." + +"Why are you going away then, Captain Forster?" she asked quietly. + +"I don't want to go alone," he said; "I cannot go alone--I want +you to go with me. Your uncle would surely consent; it is the only +chance of saving your life. We all know that it is next to hopeless +that a force sufficient to rescue us can be sent; there is just a +chance, but that is all that can be said. We could be married at +Allahabad. I would make for that town instead of Lucknow if you +will go with me, and I could leave you there in safety till these +troubles are over; I am going to take another horse as well as my +own, and two would be as likely to escape as one." + +"Thank you for the offer, Captain Forster," she said coldly, "but +I decline it. My place is here with my uncle and the others." + +"Why is it?" he asked passionately. "If you love me, your place +is surely with me; and you do love me, Isobel, do you not? Surely +I have not been mistaken." + +Isobel was silent for a moment. + +"You were mistaken, Captain Forster," she said, after a pause. "You +paid me attentions such as I had heard you paid to many others, and +it was pleasant. That you were serious I did not think. I believed +you were simply flirting with me; that you meant no more by it than +you had meant before; and being forewarned, and therefore having +no fear that I should hurt myself more than you would, I entered +into it in the same spirit. Where there was so much to be anxious +about, it was a pleasure and relief. Had I met you elsewhere, and +under different circumstances, I think I should have come to love +you. A girl almost without experience and new to the world, as I +am, could hardly have helped doing so, I think. Had I thought you +were in earnest I should have acted differently; and if I have +deceived you by my manner I am sorry; but even had I loved you I +would not have consented to do the thing you ask me. You are going +on duty. You are going in the hope of obtaining aid for us. I should +be simply escaping while others stay, and I should despise myself +for the action. Besides; I do not think that even in that case my +uncle would have consented to my going with you." + +"I am sure that he would," Forster broke in. "He would never be +mad enough to refuse you the chance of escape from such a fate as +may now await you." + +"We need not discuss the question," she said. "Even if I loved you, +I would not go with you; and I do not love you." + +"They have prejudiced you against me," he said angrily. + +"They warned me, and they were right in doing so. Ask yourself if +they were not. Would you see a sister of yours running the risk +of breaking her heart without warning her? Do not be angry," she +went on, putting her hand on his arm. "We have been good friends, +Captain Forster, and I like you very much. We may never meet again; +it is most likely we never shall do so. I am grateful to you for +the many pleasant hours you have given me. Let us part thus." + +"Can you not give some hope that in the distance, when these troubles +are over, should we both be spared, you may--" + +"No, Captain Forster, I am sure it could never be so; if we ever +meet again, we will meet as we part now--as friends. And now +I can stay no longer; they will be missing me," and, turning, she +entered the house before he could speak again. + +It was some minutes before he followed her. He had not really +thought that she would go with him; perhaps he had hardly wished +it, for on such an expedition a woman would necessarily add to the +difficulty and danger; but he had thought that she would have told +him that his love was returned, and for perhaps the first time in +his life he was serious in his protestation of it. + +"What does it matter?" he said at last, as he turned; "'tis ten +thousand to one against our meeting again; if we do, I can take +it up where it breaks off now. She has acknowledged that she would +have liked me if she had been sure that I was in earnest. Next +time I shall be so. She was right. I was but amusing myself with +her at first, and had no more thought of marrying her than I had +of flying. But there, it is no use talking about the future; the +thing now is to get out of this trap. I have felt like a rat in a +cage with a terrier watching me for the last month, and long to be +on horseback again, with the chance of making a fight for my life. +What a fool Bathurst was to throw away the chance!" + +Bathurst, his work done, had looked into the hall where the others +were gathered, and hearing that the Doctor was alone on watch had +gone up to him. + +"I was just thinking, Bathurst," the Doctor said, as he joined +him, "about that fight today. It seems to me that whatever comes +of this business, you and I are not likely to be among those who +go down when the place is taken." + +"How is that, Doctor? Why is our chance better than the rest? I +have no hope myself that any will be spared." + +"I put my faith in the juggler, Bathurst. Has it not struck you +that the first picture you saw has come true?" + +"I have never given it a thought for weeks," Bathurst said; "certainly +I have not thought of it today. Yes, now you speak of it, it has +come true. How strange! I put it aside as a clever trick--one +that I could not understand any more than I did the others, but, +knowing myself, it seemed beyond the bounds of possibility that it +could come true. Anything but that I would have believed, but, as +I told you, whatever might happen in the future, I should not be +found fighting desperately as I saw myself doing there. It is true +that I did so, but it was only a sort of a frenzy. I did not fire +a shot, as Wilson may have told you. I strove like a man in a +nightmare to break the spell that seemed to render me powerless to +move, but when, for a moment, the firing ceased, a weight seemed +to fall off me, and I was seized with a sort of passion to kill. +I have no distinct remembrance of anything until it was all over. +It was still the nightmare, but one of a different kind, and I was +no more myself then than I was when I was lying helpless on the +sandbags. Still, as you say, the picture was complete; at least, +if Miss Hannay was standing up here." + +"Yes, she rose to her feet in the excitement of the fight. I +believe we all did so. The picture was true in all its details as +you described it to me. And that being so, I believe that other +picture, the one we saw together, you and I and Isobel Hannay in +native disguises, will also come true." + +Bathurst was silent for two or three minutes. + +"It may be so, Doctor--Heaven only knows. I trust for your sake +and hers it may be so, though I care but little about myself; but +that picture wasn't a final one, and we don't know what may follow +it." + +"That is so, Bathurst. But I think that you and I, once fairly away +in disguise, might be trusted to make our way down the country. You +see, we have a complete confirmation of that juggler's powers. He +showed me a scene in the past--a scene which had not been in my +mind for years, and was certainly not in my thoughts at the time. +He showed you a scene in the future, which, unlikely as it appeared, +has actually taken place. I believe he will be equally right in +this other picture. You have heard that Forster is going?" + +"Yes; Wilson came down and told me while I was at work. Wilson +seemed rather disgusted at his volunteering. I don't know that I +am surprised myself, for, as I told you, I knew him at school, and +he had no moral courage, though plenty of physical. Still, under +the circumstances, I should not have thought he would have gone." + +"You mean because of Miss Hannay, Bathurst?" + +"Yes, that is what I mean." + +"That sort of thing might weigh with you or me, Bathurst, but not +with him. He has loved and ridden away many times before this, but +in this case, fortunately, I don't think he will leave an aching +heart behind him." + +"You don't mean to say, Doctor, that you don't think she cares for +him?" + +"I have not asked her the question," the Doctor said dryly. "I dare +say she likes him; in fact, I am ready to admit that there has been +what you may call a strong case of flirtation; but when a young +woman is thrown with an uncommonly good looking man, who lays himself +out to be agreeable to her, my experience is that a flirtation +generally comes of it, especially when the young woman has no one +else to make herself agreeable to, and is, moreover, a little sore +with the world in general. I own that at one time I was rather +inclined to think that out of sheer perverseness the girl was going +to make a fool of herself with that good looking scamp, but since +we have been shut up here I have felt easy in my mind about it. And +now, if you will take my rifle for ten minutes, I will go down and +get a cup of tea; I volunteered to take sentry work, but I didn't +bargain for keeping it all night without relief. By the way, I +told Forster of your offer of your horse, and I think he is going +to take it." + +"He is welcome to it," Bathurst said carelessly; "it will be of no +use to me." + +"Now, look here," the Doctor said shortly; "just put Miss Hannay +out of your head for the present, and attend to the business on +hand. I do not think there is much chance of their trying it on +again tonight, but they may do so, so please to keep a sharp lookout +while I am below." + +"I will be careful, Doctor," Bathurst said, with a laugh; but the +Doctor had so little faith in his watchfulness that as soon as he +went below he sent up Wilson to share his guard. + +At twelve o'clock the sandbags were removed sufficiently to allow +a horse to pass through, and Forster's and Bathurst's animals +were led out through the breach, their feet having been muffled +with blankets to prevent their striking a stone and arousing the +attention of the enemy's sentinels. Once fairly out the mufflings +were removed and Forster sprang into his saddle. + +"Goodby, Major," he said; "I hope I may be back again in eight or +nine days with a squadron of cavalry." + +"Goodby, Forster; I hope it may be so. May God protect you!" + +The gap in the defenses was closed the instant the horses passed +through, and the men stood in the breach of the wall listening as +Forster rode off. He went at a walk, but before he had gone fifty +paces there was a sharp challenge, followed almost instantly by a +rifle shot, then came the crack of a revolver and the rapid beat +of galloping hoofs. Loud shouts were heard, and musket shots fired +in rapid succession. + +"They are not likely to have hit him in the dark," the Major said, +as he climbed back over the sandbags; "but they may hit his horses, +which would be just as fatal." + +Leaving two sentries--the one just outside the breach near the +wall, the other on the sandbags--the rest of the party hurried up +on the roof. Shots were still being fired, and there was a confused +sound of shouting; then a cavalry trumpet rang out sharply, and +presently three shots fired in quick succession came upon the air. + +"That is the signal agreed on," the Major said: "he is safely beyond +their lines. Now it is a question of riding; some of the cavalry +will be in pursuit of him before many minutes are over." + +Forster's adieus had been brief. He had busied himself up to the +last moment in looking to the saddling of the two horses, and had +only gone into the house and said goodby to the ladies just when +it was time to start. He had said a few hopeful words as to the +success of the mission, but it had evidently needed an effort for +him to do so. He had no opportunity of speaking a word apart with +Isobel, and he shook her hand silently when it came to her turn. + +"I should not have given him credit for so much feeling," Mrs. +Doolan whispered to Isobel, as he went out; "he was really sorry to +leave us, and I didn't think he was a man to be sorry for anything +that didn't affect himself. I think he had absolutely the grace to +feel a little ashamed of leaving us." + +"I don't think that is fair," Isobel said warmly, "when he is going +away to fetch assistance for us." + +"He is deserting us as rats desert a sinking ship," Mrs. Doolan +said positively; "and I am only surprised that he has the grace to +feel a little ashamed of the action. As for caring, there is only +one person in the world he cares for--himself. I was reading +'David Copperfield' just before we came in here, and Steerforth's +character might have been sketched from Forster. He is a man without +either heart or conscience; a man who would sacrifice everything +to his own pleasures; and yet even when one knows him to be what +he is, one can hardly help liking him. I wonder how it is, my dear, +that scamps are generally more pleasant than good men?" + +"I never thought about it, Mrs. Doolan," Isobel said, roused to +a smile by the earnestness with which Mrs. Doolan propounded the +problem; "and can give no reason except that we are attracted by +natures the reverse of our own." + +Mrs. Doolan laughed. + +"So you think we are better than men, Isobel? I don't--not one bit. +We are cramped in our opportunities; but given equal opportunities +I don't think there would be anything to choose between us. But +we mustn't stay talking here any longer; we both go on duty in the +sick ward at four o'clock." + +The enemy's batteries opened on the following morning more violently +than before. More guns had been placed in position during the +night, and a rain of missiles was poured upon the house. For the +next six days the position of the besieged became hourly worse. +Several breaches had been made in the wall, and the shots now struck +the house, and the inmates passed the greater part of their time +in the basement. + +The heat was terrible, and, as the firing was kept up night and +day, sleep was almost impossible. The number of the besiegers had +considerably increased, large numbers of the country people taking +part in the siege, while a regiment of Sepoys from Cawnpore had +taken the place of the detachment of the 103d Bengal Infantry, of +whom, indeed, but few now remained. + +The garrison no longer held the courtyard. Several times masses +of the enemy had surged up and poured through the breaches, but a +large number of hand grenades of various sizes had been constructed +by the defenders, and the effects of these thrown down from the +roof among the crowded masses were so terrible that the natives +each time fell back. The horses had all been turned out through +the breach on the day after Captain Forster's departure, in order +to save their lives. A plague of flies was not the least of the +defenders' troubles. After the repulse of the assaults the defenders +went out at night and carried the bodies of the natives who had +fallen in the courtyard beyond the wall. Nevertheless, the odor +of blood attracted such countless swarms of flies that the ground +was black with them, and they pervaded the house in legions. + +The number of the defenders decreased daily. Six only were able now +to carry arms. Mr. Hunter, Captain Rintoul, and Richards had died +of fever. Farquharson had been killed by a cannon ball; two civilians +had been badly wounded; several of the children had succumbed; Amy +Hunter had been killed by a shell that passed through the sandbag +protection of the grating that gave light to the room in the basement +used as a sick ward. The other ladies were all utterly worn out +with exhaustion, sleeplessness, and anxiety. Still there had been +no word spoken of surrender. Had the men been alone they would have +sallied out and died fighting, but this would have left the women +at the mercy of the assailants. + +The work at the gallery had been discontinued for some time. It had +been carried upwards until a number of roots in the earth showed +that they were near the surface, and, as they believed, under a +clump of bushes growing a hundred and fifty yards beyond the walls; +but of late there had been no talk of using this. Flight, which +even at first had seemed almost hopeless, was wholly beyond them +in their present weakened condition. + +On the last of these six days Major Hannay was severely wounded. +At night the enemy's fire relaxed a little, and the ladies took +advantage of it to go up onto the terrace for air, while the men +gathered for a council round the Major's bed. + +"Well, Doctor, the end is pretty near," he said; "it is clear we +cannot hold out many hours longer. We must look the matter in the +face now. We have agreed all along that when we could no longer +resist we would offer to surrender on the terms that our lives +should be spared, and that we should be given safe conduct down +the country, and that if those terms were refused we were to resist +to the end, and then blow up the house and all in it. I think the +time has come for raising the white flag." + +"I think so," the Doctor said: "we have done everything men could +do. I have little hope that they will grant us terms of surrender; +for from the native servants who have deserted us they must have +a fair idea of our condition. What do you think, Bathurst?" + +"I think it probable there are divisions among them," he replied; +"the Talookdars may have risen against us, but I do not think they +can have the same deadly enmity the Sepoys have shown. They must +be heartily sick of this prolonged siege, and they have lost large +numbers of their men. I should say they would be willing enough +to give terms, but probably they are overruled by the Sepoys, and +perhaps by orders from Nana Sahib. I know several of them personally, +and I think I could influence Por Sing, who is certainly the most +powerful of the Zemindars of this neighborhood, and is probably +looked upon as their natural leader; if you approve of it, Major, +I will go out in disguise, and endeavor to obtain an interview with +him. He is an honorable man; and if he will give his guarantee for +our safety, I would trust him. At any rate, I can but try. If I do +not return, you will know that I am dead, and that no terms can be +obtained, and can then decide when to end it all." + +"It is worth the attempt anyhow," the Major said. "I say nothing +about the danger you will run, for no danger can be greater than +that which hangs over us all now." + +"Very well, Major, then I will do it at once, but you must not +expect me back until tomorrow night. I can hardly hope to obtain +an interview with Por Sing tonight." + +"How will you go out, Bathurst?" + +"I will go down at once and break in the roof of the gallery," he +said; "we know they are close round the wall, and I could not hope +to get out through any of the breaches." + +"I suppose you are quite convinced that there is no hope of relief +from Lucknow?" + +"Quite convinced. I never had any real hope of it; but had there +been a force disposable, it would have started at once if Forster +arrived there with his message, and might have been here by this +time." + +"At any rate, we can wait no longer." + +"Then we will begin at once," Bathurst said, and, taking a crowbar +and pick from the place where the tools were kept, he lighted the +lamp and went along the gallery, accompanied by the Doctor, who +carried two light bamboo ladders. + +"Do you think you will succeed, Bathurst?" + +"I am pretty sure of it," he said confidently. "I believe I have +a friend there." + +"A friend!" the Doctor repeated in surprise. + +"Yes; I am convinced that the juggler is there. Not once, but half +a dozen times during the last two nights when I have been on watch +on the terrace, I have distinctly heard the words whispered in my +ear, 'Meet me at your bungalow.' You may think I dozed off and was +dreaming, but I was as wide awake then as I am now. I cannot say +that I recognized the voice, but the words were in the dialect he +speaks. At any rate, as soon as I am out I shall make my way there, +and shall wait there all night on the chance of his coming. After +what we know of the man's strange powers, there seems nothing +unreasonable to me in his being able to impress upon my mind the +fact that he wants to see me." + +"I quite agree with you there, and his aid might be invaluable. You +are not the sort of man to have delusions, Bathurst, and I quite +believe what you say. I feel more hopeful now than I have done for +some time." + +An hour's hard work, and a hole was made through the soil, which +was but three feet thick. Bathurst climbed up the ladder and looked +out. + +"It is as we thought, Doctor; we are in the middle of that thicket. +Now I will go and dress if you will keep guard here with your +rifle." + +At the end of the gallery a figure was standing; it was Isobel +Hannay. + +"I have heard you are going out again, Mr. Bathurst." + +"Yes, I am going to see what I can do in the way of making terms +for us." + +"You may not come back again," she said nervously. + +"That is, of course, possible, Miss Hannay, but I do not think the +risk is greater than that run by those who stay here." + +"I want to speak to you before you go," she said; "I have wanted +to speak so long, but you have never given me an opportunity. We +may never meet again, and I must tell you how sorry I am--how +sorry I have been ever since for what I said. I spoke as a foolish +girl, but I know better now. Have I not seen how calm you have been +through all our troubles, how you have devoted yourself to us and +the children, how you have kept up all our spirits, how cheerfully +you have worked, and as our trouble increased we have all come to +look up to you and lean upon you. Do say, Mr. Bathurst, that you +forgive me, and that if you return we can be friends as we were +before." + +"Certainly I forgive you if there is anything to forgive, Miss +Hannay," he said gravely. "Nothing that you or anyone can say can +relieve me of the pain of knowing that I have been unable to take +any active part in your defense, that I have been forced to play +the part of a woman rather than a man; but assuredly, if I return, +I shall be glad to be again your friend, which, indeed. I have +never ceased to be at heart." + +Perhaps she expected something more, but it did not come. He spoke +cordially, but yet as one who felt that there was an impassible +barrier between them. She stood irresolute for a moment, and then +held out her hand. "Goodby, then," she said. + +He held it a moment. "Goodby, Miss Hannay. May God keep you and +guard you." + +Then gently he led her to the door, and they passed out together. +A quarter of an hour later he rejoined the Doctor, having brought +with him a few short lengths of bamboo. + +"I will put these across the hole when I get out," he said, "lay +some sods over them, and cover them up with leaves, in case anyone +should enter the bushes tomorrow. It is not likely, but it is as +well to take the precaution. One of you had better stay on guard +until I come back. It would not do to trust any of the natives; +those that remain are all utterly disheartened and broken down, +and might take the opportunity of purchasing their lives by going +out and informing the enemy of the opening into the gallery. They +must already know of its existence from the men who have deserted. +But, fortunately, I don't think any of them are aware of its exact +direction; if they had been, we should have had them countermining +before this." + +Having carefully closed up the opening, Bathurst went to the edge +of the bushes and listened. He could hear voices between him and +the house, but all was quiet near at hand, and he began to move +noiselessly along through the garden. He had no great fear of meeting +with anyone here. The natives had formed a cordon round the wall, +and behind that there would be no one on watch, and as the batteries +were silent, all were doubtless asleep there. In ten minutes he stood +before the charred stumps that marked the site of his bungalow. As +he did so, a figure advanced to meet him. + +"It is you, sahib. I was expecting you. I knew that you would come +this evening." + +"I don't know how you knew it but I am heartily glad to see you." + +"You want to see Por Sing? Come along with me and I will take you +to him; but there is no time to lose;" and without another word he +walked rapidly away, followed by Bathurst. + +When they got into the open the latter could see that his companion +was dressed in an altogether different garb to that in which he +had before seen him, being attired as a person of some rank and +importance. He stopped presently for Bathurst to come up with him. + +"I have done what I could to prepare the way for you," he said. "Openly +I could for certain reasons do nothing, but I have said enough to +make him feel uncomfortable about the future, and to render him +anxious to find a way of escape for himself if your people should +ever again get the mastery." + +"How are things going, Rujub? We have heard nothing for three weeks. +How is it at Cawnpore?" + +"Cawnpore has been taken by the Nana. They surrendered on his solemn +oath that all should be allowed to depart in safety. He broke his +oath, and there are not ten of its defenders alive. The women are +all in captivity." + +Bathurst groaned. He had hardly hoped that the handful of defenders +could have maintained themselves against such overpowering numbers, +but the certainty as to their fate was a heavy blow. + +"And Lucknow?" he asked. + +"The Residency holds out at present, but men say that it must soon +fall." + +"And what do you say?" + +"I say nothing," the man said; "we cannot use our art in matters +which concern ourselves." + +"And Delhi?" + +"There is a little force of whites in front of Delhi; there are +tens of thousands of Sepoys in the town, but as yet the whites +have maintained themselves. The chiefs of the Punjaub have proved +faithless to their country, and there the British rule is maintained." + +"Thank God for that!" Bathurst exclaimed; "as long as the Punjaub +holds out the tables may be turned. And the other Presidencies?" + +"Nothing as yet," Rujub said, in a tone of discontent. + +"Then you are against us, Rujub?" + +The man stopped. + +"Sahib, I know not what I wish now. I have been brought up to hate +the whites. Two of my father's brothers were hung as Thugs, and +my father taught me to hate the men who did it. For years I have +worked quietly against you, as have most of those of my craft. We +have reason to hate you. In the old times we were honored in the +land--honored and feared; for even the great ones knew that we +had powers such as no other men have. But the whites treat us as +if we were mere buffoons, who play for their amusement; they make +no distinction between the wandering conjurer, with his tricks of +dexterity, and the masters, who have powers that have been handed +down from father to son for thousands of years, who can communicate +with each other though separated by the length of India; who can, +as you have seen, make men invisible; who can read the past and +the future. They see these things, and though they cannot explain +them, they persist in treating us all as if we were mere jugglers. + +"They prefer to deny the evidence of their own senses rather than +admit that we have powers such as they have not; and so, even in +the eyes of our own countrymen, we have lost our old standing and +position, while the whites would bribe us with money to divulge +the secrets in which they profess to disbelieve. No wonder that +we hate you, and that we long for the return of the old days, when +even princes were glad to ask favors at our hands. It is seldom +that we show our powers now. Those who aid us, and whose servants +we are, are not to be insulted by the powers they bestow upon us +being used for the amusement of men who believe in nothing. + +"The Europeans who first came to India have left records of the +strange things they saw at the courts of the native princes. But such +things are no longer done for the amusement of our white masters. +Thus, then, for years I have worked against you; and just as I +saw that our work was successful, just as all was prepared for the +blow that was to sweep the white men out of India, you saved my +daughter; then my work seemed to come to an end. Would any of my +countrymen, armed only with a whip, have thrown themselves in the +way of a tiger to save a woman--a stranger--one altogether +beneath him in rank--one, as it were, dust beneath his feet? +That I should be ready to give my life for yours was a matter of +course; I should have been an ungrateful wretch otherwise. But this +was not enough. At one blow the work I had devoted myself to for +years was brought to nothing. Everything seemed to me new; and as +I sat by my daughter's bedside, when she lay sick with the fever, I +had to think it all out again. Then I saw things in another light. +I saw that, though the white men were masterful and often hard, though +they had little regard for our customs, and viewed our beliefs as +superstitious, and scoffed at the notion of there being powers of +which they had no knowledge, yet that they were a great people. +Other conquerors, many of them, India has had, but none who have +made it their first object to care for the welfare of the people +at large. The Feringhees have wrung nothing from the poor to be +spent in pomp and display; they permit no tyranny or ill doing; +under them the poorest peasant tills his fields in peace. + +"I have been obliged to see all this, and I feel now that their +destruction would be a frightful misfortune. We should be ruled +by our native lords; but as soon as the white man was gone the old +quarrels would break out, and the country would be red with blood. +I did not see this before, because I had only looked at it with +the eyes of my own caste; now I see it with the eyes of one whose +daughter has been saved from a tiger by a white man. I cannot love +those I have been taught to hate, but I can see the benefit their +rule has given to India. + +"But what can I do now? I am in the stream, and I must go with it. +I know not what I wish or what I would do. Six months ago I felt +certain. Now I doubt. It seemed to me that in a day the English +Raj would be swept away. How could it be otherwise when the whole +army that had conquered India for them were against them? I knew +they were brave, but we have never lacked bravery. How could I tell +that they would fight one against a hundred? + +"But come, let us go on. Por Sing is expecting you. I told him that +I knew that one from the garrison would come out to treat with him +privately tonight, and he is expecting you, though he does not know +who may come." + +Ten minutes walking, and they approached a large tent surrounded +by several smaller ones. A sentry challenged when they approached, +but on Rujub giving his name, he at once resumed his walk up and +down, and Rujub, followed by Bathurst, advanced and entered the +tent. The Zemindar was seated on a divan smoking a hookah. Rujub +bowed, but not with the deep reverence of one approaching his +superior. + +"He is here," he said. + +"Then you were not mistaken, Rujub?" + +"How could I be when I knew?" Rujub said. "I have done what I +said, and have brought him straight to you. That was all I had to +do with it; the rest is for your highness." + +"I would rather that you should be present," Por Sing said, as +Rujub turned to withdraw. + +"No," the latter replied; "in this matter it is for you to +decide. I know not the Nana's wishes, and your highness must take +the responsibility. I have brought him to you rather than to the +commander of the Sepoys, because your authority should be the greater; +it is you and the other Oude chiefs who have borne the weight of +this siege, and it is only right that it is you who should decide +the conditions of surrender. The Sepoys are not our masters, and +it is well they are not so; the Nana and the Oude chiefs have not +taken up arms to free themselves from the English Raj to be ruled +over by the men who have been the servants of the English." + +"That is so," the Zemindar said, stroking his beard; "well, I will +talk with this person." + +Rujub left the tent. "You do not know me, Por Sing?" Bathurst said, +stepping forward from the entrance where he had hitherto stood; "I +am the Sahib Bathurst." + +"Is it so?" the Zemindar said, laying aside his pipe and rising to +his feet; "none could come to me whom I would rather see. You have +always proved yourself a just officer, and I have no complaint +against you. We have often broken bread together, and it has grieved +me to know that you were in yonder house. Do you come to me on your +own account, or from the sahib who commands?" + +"I come on my own account," Bathurst said; "when I come as a messenger +from him, I must come openly. I. know you to be an honorable man, +and that I could say what I have to say to you and depart in safety. +I regard you as one who has been misled, and regret for your sake +that you should have been induced to take part with these mutineers +against us. Believe me, chief, you have been terribly misled. +You have been told that it needed but an effort to overthrow the +British Raj. Those who told you so lied. It might have seemed easy +to destroy the handful of Europeans scattered throughout India, +but you have not succeeded in doing it. Even had you done so, you +would not have so much as begun the work. There are but few white +soldiers here. Why? Because England trusted in the fidelity of her +native troops, and thought it necessary to keep only a handful of +soldiers in India, but if need be, for every soldier now here she +could send a hundred, and she will send a hundred if required to +reconquer India. Already you may be sure that ships are on the sea +laden with troops; and if you find it so hard to overcome the few +soldiers now here, what would you do against the great armies that +will pour in ere long? Why, all the efforts of the Sepoys gathered +at Delhi are insufficient to defeat the four or five thousand +British troops who hold their posts outside the town, waiting only +till the succor arrives from England to take a terrible vengeance. +Woe be then to those who have taken part against us; still more to +those whose hands are stained with British blood." + +"It is too late now," the native said gloomily, "the die is cast; +but since I have seen how a score of men could defend that shattered +house against thousands, do you think I have not seen that I have +been wrong? Who would have thought that men could do such a thing? +But it is too late now." + +"It is not too late," Bathurst said; "it is too late, indeed, to +undo the mischief that has been done, but not too late for you to +secure yourself against some of the consequences. The English are +just; and when they shall have stamped out this mutiny, as assuredly +they will do, they will draw a distinction between mutinous soldiers +who were false to their salt, and native chiefs who fought, as +they believed, for the independence of their country. But one thing +they will not forgive, whether in Sepoy or in prince, the murder +of man, woman, or child in cold blood: for that there will be no +pardon. + +"But it is not upon that ground that I came to appeal to you, but +as a noble of Oude--a man who is a brave enemy, but who could +never be a butcher. We have fought against each other fairly and +evenly; the time has come when we can fight no longer, and I demand +of you, confidently, that, if we surrender, the lives of all within +those walls shall be respected, and a safe conduct be granted them +down the country. I know that such conditions were granted to the +garrison at Cawnpore, and that they were shamelessly violated; for +that act Nana Sahib will never be forgiven. He will be hunted down +like a dog and hung when he is caught, just as if he had been the +poorest peasant. But I have not so bad an opinion of the people +of India as to believe them base enough to follow such an example, +and I am confident that if you grant us those terms, you will see +that the conditions are observed." + +"I have received orders from Nana Sahib to send all prisoners down +to him," Por Sing said, in a hesitating voice. + +"You will never send down prisoners from here," Bathurst replied +firmly. "You may attack us again, and after the loss of the lives +of scores more of your followers you may be successful, but you +will take no prisoners, for at the last moment we will blow the +house and all in it into the air. Besides, who made Nana Sahib your +master? He is not the lord of Oude; and though doubtless he dreams +of sovereignty, it is a rope, not a throne, that awaits him. Why +should you nobles of Oude obey the orders of this peasant boy, though +he was adopted by the Peishwa? The Peishwa himself was never your +lord, and why should you obey this traitor, this butcher, this +disgrace to India, when he orders you to hand over to him the +prisoners your sword has made?" + +"That is true," Por Sing said gloomily; "but the Sepoys will not +agree to the terms." + +"The Sepoys are not your masters," Bathurst said; "we do not surrender +to them, but to you. We place no confidence in their word, but we +have every faith in the honor of the nobles of Oude. If you and +your friends grant us the terms we ask, the Sepoys may clamor, but +they will not venture to do more. Neither they nor Nana Sahib dare +at this moment affront the people of Oude. + +"There are Sepoys round Lucknow, but it is the men of Oude who +are really pressing the siege. If you are firm, they will not dare +to break with you on such a question as the lives of a score of +Europeans. If you will give me your word and your honor that all +shall be spared, I will come out in the morning with a flag of +truce to treat with you. If not, we will defend ourselves to the +last, and then blow ourselves into the air." + +"And you think," Por Sing said doubtfully, "that if I agreed to +this, it would be taken into consideration should the British Raj +be restored." + +"I can promise you that it will," Bathurst said. "It will be properly +represented that it is to you that the defenders of Deennugghur, +and the women and children with them, owe their lives, and you may +be sure that this will go a very long way towards wiping out the +part you have taken in the attack on the station. When the day of +reckoning comes, the British Government will know as well how to +reward those who rendered them service in these days, as to punish +those who have been our foes." + +"I will do it," Por Sing said firmly. "Do not come out until the +afternoon. In the morning I will talk with the other Zemindars, +and bring them over to agree that there shall be no more bloodshed. +There is not one of us but is heartily sick of this business, and +eager to put an end to it. Rujub may report what he likes to the +Nana, I will do what is right." + +After a hearty expression of thanks, Bathurst left the tent. Rujub +was awaiting him outside. + +"You have succeeded?" he asked. + +"Yes; he will guarantee the lives of all the garrison, but he seemed +to be afraid of what you might report to Nana Sahib." + +"I am the Nana's agent here," Rujub said; "I have been working with +him for months. I would I could undo it all now. I was away when +they surrendered at Cawnpore. Had I not been, that massacre would +never have taken place, for I am one of the few who have influence +with him. He is fully cognizant of my power, and fears it." + +They made their way back without interruption to the clump of bushes +near the house. + +"When shall I see you again?" Bathurst asked. + +"I do not know," replied Rujub, "but be sure that I shall be at +hand to aid you if possible should danger arise." + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +As soon as Bathurst began to remove the covering of the hole, a +voice came from below. + +"Is that you, Bathurst?" + +"All right, Doctor." + +"Heaven be praised! You are back sooner than I expected, by a long +way. I heard voices talking, so I doubted whether it was you." + +"The ladder is still there, I suppose, Doctor?" + +"Yes; it is just as you got off it. What are you going to do about +the hole?" + +"Rujub is here; he will cover it up after me." + +"Then you were right," the Doctor said, as Bathurst stepped down +beside him; "and you found the juggler really waiting for you?" + +"At the bungalow, Doctor, as I expected." + +"And what have you done? You can hardly have seen Por Sing; it is +not much over an hour since you left." + +"I have seen him, Doctor; and what is more, he has pledged his word +for our safety." + +"Thank God for that, lad; it is more than I expected. This will be +news indeed for the poor women. And do you think he will be strong +enough to keep his pledge?" + +"I think so; he asked me to wait until tomorrow afternoon before +going out with a flag of truce, and said that by that time he +would get the other Zemindars to stand by him, and would make terms +whether the Sepoys liked it or not." + +"Well, you shall tell us all about it afterwards, Bathurst; let us +take the news in to them at once; it is long since they had good +tidings of any kind; it would be cruel to keep them in suspense, +even for five minutes." + +There was no noisy outburst of joy when the news was told. +Three weeks before it would have been received with the liveliest +satisfaction, but now the bitterness of death was well nigh past; +half the children lay in their graves in the garden, scarce one of +the ladies but had lost husband or child, and while women murmured +"Thank God!" as they clasped their children to them, the tears +ran down as they thought how different it would have been had the +news come sooner. The men, although equally quiet, yet showed more +outward satisfaction than the women. Warm grasps of the hands were +exchanged by those who had fought side by side during these terrible +days, and a load seemed lifted at once off their shoulders. + +Bathurst stayed but a moment in the room after this news was told, +but went in with Dr. Wade to the Major, and reported to him in full +the conversation that had taken place between himself and Por Sing. + +"I think you are right, Bathurst; if the Oude men hold together, +the Sepoys will scarcely risk a breach with them. Whether he will +be able to secure our safety afterwards is another thing." + +"I quite see that, Major; but it seems to me that we have no option +but to accept his offer and hope for the best." + +"That is it," the Doctor agreed. "It is certain death if we don't +surrender; there is a chance that he will be able to protect us if +we do. At any rate, we can be no worse off than we are here." + +Isobel had been in with Mrs. Doolan nursing the sick children when +Bathurst arrived, but they presently came out. Isobel shook hands +with him without speaking. + +"We are all heavily indebted to you, Mr. Bathurst," Mrs. Doolan +said. "If we escape from this, it will be to you that we humanly +owe our lives." + +She spoke in a voice that all in the room could hear. + +"Your are right, Mrs. Doolan," the Doctor said; "and I think that +there are some who must regret now the manner in which they have +behaved to Bathurst since this siege began." + +"I do for one," Captain Doolan said, coming forward. + +"I have regretted it for some time, though I have not had the +manliness to say so. I am heartily sorry. I have done you a great +and cruel injustice. I ought to have known that the Doctor, who +knew you vastly better than I did, was not likely to be mistaken. +Putting that aside, I ought to have seen, and I did see, though +I would not acknowledge it even to myself, that no man has borne +himself more calmly and steadfastly through this siege than you +have, and that by twice venturing out among the enemy you gave +proof that you possessed as much courage as any of us. I do hope +that you will give me your hand." + +All the others who had held aloof from Bathurst came forward and +expressed their deep regret for what had occurred. + +Bathurst heard them in silence. + +"I do not feel that there is anything to forgive," he said quietly. +"I am glad to hear what you say, and I know you mean it, and I accept +the hands you offer, but what you felt towards me has affected me +but little, for your contempt for me was as nothing to my contempt +of myself. Nothing can alter the fact that here, where every man's +hand was wanted to defend the ladies and children, my hand was +paralyzed; that whatever I may be at other times, in the hour of +battle I fail hopelessly; nothing that I can do can wipe out, from +my own consciousness, that disgrace." + +"You exaggerate it altogether, Bathurst," Wilson broke in hotly. "It +is nonsense your talking like that, after the way you jumped down +into the middle of them with that mace of yours. It was splendid." + +"More than that, Mr. Bathurst," Mrs. Doolan said, "I think we women +know what true courage is; and there is not one of us but has, since +this siege began, been helped and strengthened by your calmness +--not one but has reason to be grateful for your kindness to our +children during this terrible time. I won't hear even you speak +against yourself." + +"Then I will not do so, Mrs. Doolan," he said, with a grave smile. +"And now I will go and sit with the Major for a time. Things are +quieter tonight than they have been for some time past, and I trust +he will get some sleep." + +So saying, he quietly left the room. + +"I don't believe he has slept two hours at a time since the siege +began," Mrs. Doolan said, with tears in her eyes. "We have all +suffered--God only knows what we have suffered!--but I am sure +that he has suffered more than any of us. As for you men, you may +well say you are sorry and ashamed of your treatment of him. Coward, +indeed! Mr. Bathurst may be nervous, but I am sure he has as much +courage as anyone here. Come, Isobel, you were up all last night, +and it's past two o'clock now. We must try to get a little sleep +before morning, and I should advise everyone else off duty to do +the same." + +At daybreak firing commenced, and was kept up energetically all the +morning. At two o'clock a white flag was hoisted from the terrace, +and its appearance was greeted with shouts of triumph by the +assailants. The firing at once ceased, and in a few minutes a native +officer carrying a white flag advanced towards the walls. + +"We wish to see the Zemindar Por Sing," Bathurst said, "to treat +with him upon the subject of our surrender." + +The officer withdrew, and returned in half an hour saying that he +would conduct the officer in command to the presence of the chief +of the besieging force. Captain Doolan, therefore, accompanied by +Bathurst and Dr. Wade, went out. They were conducted to the great +tent where all the Zemindars and the principal officers of the +Sepoys were assembled. Bathurst acted as spokesman. + +"Por Sing," he said, "and you Zemindars of Oude, Major Hannay being +disabled, Captain Doolan, who is now in command of the garrison, +has come to represent him and to offer to surrender to you under +the condition that the lives of all British and natives within the +walls be respected, and that you pledge us your faith and honor that +we shall be permitted to go down the country without molestation. +It is to you, Por Sing, and you nobles of Oude, that we surrender, +and not to those who, being sworn soldiers, have mutinied against +their officers, and have in many cases treacherously murdered them. +With such men Major Hannay will have no dealings, and it is to you +that we surrender. Major Hannay bids me say that if this offer is +refused, we can for a long time prolong our resistance. We are amply +supplied with provisions and munitions of war, and many as are the +numbers of our assailants who have fallen already, yet more will +die before you obtain possession of the house. More than that, in +no case will we be taken prisoners, for one and all have firmly +resolved to fire the magazine when resistance is no longer possible, +and to bury ourselves and our assailants in the ruins." + +When Bathurst ceased, a hubbub of voices arose, the Sepoy officers +protesting that the surrender should be made to them. It was some +minutes before anything like quietness was restored, and then one +of the officers said, "Here is Rujub; he speaks in the name of +Nana. What does he say to this?" + +Rujub, who was handsomely attired, stepped forward. + +"I have no orders from his highness on this subject," he said. "He +certainly said that the prisoners were to be sent to him, but at +present there are no prisoners, nor, if the siege continues, and +the English carry out their threat, will there be any prisoners. I +cannot think that Nana Sahib would wish to see some hundreds more +of his countrymen slain or blown up, only that he may have these +few men and women in his power." + +"We have come here to take them and kill them," one of the officers +said defiantly; "and we will do so." + +Por Sing, who had been speaking with the Talookdars round him, rose +from his seat. + +"It seems to me that it is for us to decide this matter," he said. +"It is upon us that the losses of this siege have fallen. At the +order of Nana Sahib we collected our retainers, abandoned our homes, +and have for three weeks supported the dangers of this siege. We +follow the Nana, but we are not his vassals, nor do we even know +what his wishes are in this matter, but it seems to us that we +have done enough and more than enough. Numbers of our retainers and +kinsmen have fallen, and to prolong the siege would cause greater +loss, and what should we gain by it? The possession of a heap of +stones. Therefore, we are all of opinion that this offer of surrender +should be accepted. We war for the freedom of our country, and +have no thirst for the blood of these English sahibs, still less +for that of their wives and children." + +Some of the officers angrily protested, but Por Sing stood firm, +and the other chiefs were equally determined. Seeing this, the +officers consulted together, and the highest in rank then said to +the Talookdars, "We protest against these conditions being given, +but since you are resolved, we stand aside, and are ready to agree +for ourselves and our men to what you may decide." + +"What pledges do you require?" Por Sing asked Bathurst. + +"We are content, Rajah, with your personal oath that the lives of +all within the house shall be respected, and your undertaking that +they shall be allowed to go unharmed down the country. We have +absolute faith in the honor of the nobles of Oude, and can desire +no better guarantee." + +"I will give it," Por Sing said, "and all my friends will join me +in it. Tonight I will have boats collected on the river; I will +furnish you with an escort of my troops, and will myself accompany +you and see you safely on board. I will then not only give you +a safe conduct, praying all to let you pass unharmed, but my son +with ten men shall accompany you in the boats to inform all that +my honor is concerned in your safety, and that I have given my +personal pledge that no molestation shall be offered to you. I will +take my oath, and my friends will do the same, and I doubt not that +the commander of the Sepoy troops will join me in it." + +Bathurst translated what had been said to Captain Doolan. + +"It is impossible for him to do more than that," he concluded; "I +do not think there is the least question as to his good faith." + +"He is a fine old heathen," Captain Doolan said; "tell him that we +accept his terms." + +Bathurst at once signified this, and the Rajah then took a solemn +oath to fulfill the conditions of the agreement, the other Talookdars +doing the same, and the commander of the Sepoys also doing so +without hesitation. Por Sing then promised that some carts should +be collected before morning, to carry the ladies, the sick and +wounded, down to the river, which was eight miles distant. + +"You can sleep in quiet tonight," he added; "I will place a guard +of my own men round the house, and see that none trouble you in +any way." + +A few other points were settled, and then the party returned to +the house, to which they were followed a few minutes later by the +son of Por Sing and three lads, sons of other Zemindars. Bathurst +went down to meet them when their approach was noticed by the +lookout on the roof. + +"We have come to place ourselves in your hands as hostages, sahib," +Por Sing's son said. "My father thought it likely that the Sepoys +or others might make trouble, and he said that if we were in your +hands as hostages, all our people would see that the agreement must +be kept, and would oppose themselves more vigorously to the Sepoys." + +"It was thoughtful and kind of your father," Bathurst said. "As +far as accommodation is concerned, we can do little to make you +comfortable, but in other respects we are not badly provided." + +Some of the native servants were at once told off to erect an awning +over a portion of the terrace. Tables and couches were placed here, +and Bathurst undertook the work of entertaining the visitors. + +He was glad of the precaution that had been taken in sending them, +for with the glass he could make out that there was much disturbance +in the Sepoy lines, men gathering in large groups, with much shouting +and noise. Muskets were discharged in the direction of the house, +and it was evident that the mutineers were very discontented with +the decision that had been arrived at. + +In a short time, however, a body, several hundred strong, of the +Oude fighting men moved down and surrounded the house; and when a +number of the Sepoys approached with excited and menacing gestures, +one of the Zemindars went out to meet them, and Bathurst, watching +the conference, could see by his pointing to the roof of the house +that he was informing them that hostages had been given to the +Europeans for the due observance of the treaty, and doubted not +he was telling them that their lives would be endangered by any +movement. Then he pointed to the batteries, as if threatening that +if any attack was made the guns would be turned upon them. At any +rate, after a time they moved away, and gradually the Sepoys could +be seen returning to their lines. + +There were but few preparations to be made by the garrison for their +journey. It had been settled that they might take their personal +effects with them, but it was at once agreed to take as little as +possible, as there would probably be but little room in the boats, +and the fewer things they carried the less there would be to tempt +the cupidity of the natives. + +"Well, Bathurst, what do you think of the outlook?" the Doctor +asked, as late in the evening they sat together on some sandbags +in a corner of the terrace. + +"I think that if we get past Cawnpore in safety there is not much to +fear. There is no other large place on the river, and the lower we +get down the less likely the natives are to disturb us, knowing, as +they are almost sure to do, that a force is gathering at Allahabad." + +"After what you heard of the massacre of the prisoners at Cawnpore, +whom the Nana and his officers had all sworn to allow to depart in +safety, there is little hope that this scoundrel will respect the +arrangements made here." + +"We must pass the place at night, and trust to drifting down unobserved +--the river is wide there--and keeping near the opposite shore, +we may get past in the darkness without being perceived; and even +if they do make us out, the chances are they will not hit us. There +are so few of us that there is no reason why they should trouble +greatly about us." + +"I am sorry to say, Bathurst, that I don't like the appearance of +the Major's wound. Everything has been against him; the heat, the +close air, and his anxiety of mind have all told on him, he seems +very low, and I have great doubts whether he will ever see Allahabad." + +"I hope you are wrong, Doctor, but I thought myself there was a +change for the worse when I saw him an hour ago; there was a drawn +look about his face I did not like. He is a splendid fellow; nothing +could have been kinder than he has been to me. I wish I could change +places with him." + +The Doctor grunted. "Well, as none of us may see Allahabad, Bathurst, +you need not trouble yourself on that score. I wonder what has +become of your friend the conjurer. I thought he might have been +in to see you this afternoon." + +"I did not expect him," Bathurst said; "I expect he went as far as +he dared in what he said at the Durbar today. Probably he is doing +all he can to keep matters quiet. Of course he may have gone down +to Cawnpore to see Nana Sahib, but I should think it more probable +that he would remain here until he knows we are safe on board the +boats." + +"Ah, here is Wilson," said the Doctor; "he is a fine young fellow, +and I am very glad he has gone through it safely." + +"So am I," Bathurst said warmly; "here we are, Wilson." + +"I thought I would find you both smoking here," Wilson said, as he +seated himself; "it is awfully hot below, and the ladies are all +at work picking out the things they are going to take with them and +packing them, and as I could not be of any use at that, I thought +I would come up for a little fresh air, if one can call it fresh; +but, in fact, I would rather sit over an open drain, for the stench +is horrible. How quiet everything seems tonight! After crouching here +for the last three weeks listening to the boom of their cannon and +the rush of their balls overhead, or the crash as they hit something, +it seems quite unnatural; one can't help thinking that something +is going to happen. I don't believe I shall be able to sleep a wink +tonight; while generally, in spite of the row, it has been as much +as I could do to keep my eyes open. I suppose I shall get accustomed +to it in time. At present it seems too unnatural to enjoy it." + +"You had better get a good night's sleep, if you can, Wilson," the +Doctor said. "There won't be much sleep for us in the boats till +we see the walls of Allahabad." + +"I suppose not, Doctor. I expect we shall be horribly cramped up. +I long to be there. I hope to get attached to one of the regiments +coming up, so as to help in giving the thrashing to these scoundrels +that they deserve. I would give a year's pay to get that villain, +Nana Sahib, within reach of my sword. It is awful to think of the +news you brought in, Bathurst, and that there are hundreds of women +and children in his power now. What a day it will be when we march +into Cawnpore!" + +"Don't count your chickens too soon, Wilson," the Doctor said, "The +time I am looking forward to is when we shall have safely passed +Cawnpore on our way down; that is quite enough for me to hope for +at present." + +"Yes, I was thinking of that myself," Wilson replied. "If the Nana +could not be bound by the oath he had taken himself, he is not +likely to respect the agreement made here." + +"We must pass the place at night," Bathurst said, "and trust to not +being seen. Even if they do make us out, we shan't be under fire +long unless they follow us down the bank; but if the night is dark, +they may not make us out at all. Fortunately there is no moon, and +boats are not very large marks even by daylight, and at night it +would only be a chance shot that would hit us." + +"Yes, we should be as difficult to hit as a tiger," the Doctor put +in. + +Wilson laughed. + +"I have gained a lot of experience since then, Doctor. What ages +that seems back! Years almost." + +"It does indeed," the Doctor agreed; "we count time by incidents +and not by days. Well, I think I shall turn in.. Are you coming, +Bathurst?" + +"No, I could not sleep," Bathurst said; "I shall watch till morning. I +feel sure it is all safe, but the mutineers might attempt something." + +The night, however, passed off quietly, and soon after daybreak +eight bullock carts were seen approaching, with a strong body of +Oude men. Half an hour later the luggage was packed, and the sick +and wounded laid on straw in the wagons. Several of the ladies took +their places with them, but Mrs. Doolan, Isobel, and Mary Hunter +said they would walk for a while. It had been arranged that the +men might carry out their arms with them, and each of the ten able +to walk took their rifles, while all, even the women, had pistols +about them. Just as they were ready, Por Sing and several of the +Zemindars rode up on horseback. + +"We shall see you to the boats," he said. "Have you taken provisions +for your voyage? It would be better not to stop to buy anything on +the way." + +This precaution had been taken, and as soon as all was ready they +set out, guarded by four hundred Oude matchlock men. The Sepoys +had gathered near the house, and as soon as they left it there was +a rush made to secure the plunder. + +"I should have liked to have emptied the contents of some of +my bottles into the wine," the Doctor growled; "it would not have +been strictly professional, perhaps, but it would have been a good +action." + +"I am sure you would not have given them poison, Doctor," Wilson +laughed; "but a reasonable dose of ipecacuanha might hardly have +gone against your conscience." + +"My conscience has nothing to do with it," the Doctor said. "These +fellows came from Cawnpore, and I have no doubt took part in the +massacre there. My conscience wouldn't have troubled me if I could +have poisoned the whole of the scoundrels, or put a slow match in +the magazine and blown them all into the air, but under the present +conditions it would hardly have been politic, as one couldn't be +sure of annihilating the whole of them. Well, Miss Hannay, what +are you thinking of?" + +"I am thinking that my uncle looks worse this morning, Doctor; does +it not strike you so too?" + +"We must hope that the fresh air will do him good. One could not +expect anyone to get better in that place; it was enough to kill +a healthy man, to say nothing of a sick one." + +Isobel was walking by the side of the cart in which her uncle was +lying, and it was not long before she took her place beside him. + +The Doctor shook his head. + +"Can you do nothing, Doctor?" Bathurst said, in a low tone. + +"Nothing; he is weaker this morning, still the change of air may +help him, and he may have strength to fight through; the wound itself +is a serious one, but he would under other circumstances have got +over it. As it is, I think his chance a very poor one, though I +would not say as much to her." + +After three hours' travel they reached the river. Here two large +native boats were lying by the bank. The baggage and sick were soon +placed on board, and the Europeans with the native servants were +then divided between them, and the Rajah's son and six of the +retainers took their places in one of the boats. The Doctor and +Captain Doolan had settled how the party should be divided. The +Major and the other sick men were all placed in one boat, and in +this were the Doctor, Bathurst, and four civilians, with Isobel +Hannay, Mrs. Hunter, and her daughter. Captain Doolan, his wife, +Mrs. Rintoul, and the other three ladies, with the six children who +had alone survived, and the rest of the party, were in the other +boat. + +Por Sing and his companions were thanked heartily for the protection +they had given, and Bathurst handed them a document which had been +signed by all the party, testifying to the service they had rendered. + +"If we don't get down to Allahabad," Bathurst said, as he handed +it to him, "this will insure you good treatment when the British +troops come up. If we get there, we will represent your conduct in +such a light that I think I can promise you that the part you took +in the siege will be forgiven." + +Then the boats pushed off and started on their way down the stream. + +The distance by water to Cawnpore was over forty miles. It was +already eleven o'clock, and slow progress only could be made with +the heavy boats, but it was thought that they would be able to +pass the town before daylight began to break next morning, and they +therefore pushed on as rapidly as they could, the boatmen being +encouraged to use their utmost efforts by the promise of a large +reward upon their arrival at Allahabad. + +There was but little talk in the boats. Now that the strain was +over, all felt its effects severely. The Doctor attended to his +patients; Isobel sat by the side of her uncle, giving him some broth +that they had brought with them, from time to time, or moistening +his lips with weak brandy and water. He spoke only occasionally. + +"I don't much think I shall get down to Allahabad, Isobel," he said. +"If I don't, go down to Calcutta, and go straight to Jamieson and +Son; they are my agents, and they will supply you with money to +take you home; they have a copy of my will; my agents in London +have another copy. I had two made in case of accident." + +"Oh, uncle, you will get better now you are out of that terrible +place." + +"I am afraid it is too late, my dear, though I should like to +live for your sake. But I think I see happiness before you, if you +choose to take it; he is a noble fellow, Isobel, in spite of that +unfortunate weakness." + +Isobel made no answer, but a slight pressure of the hand she was +holding showed that she understood what he meant. It was no use +to tell her uncle that she felt that what might have been was over +now. Bathurst had chatted with her several times the evening before +and during the march that morning, but she felt the difference +between his tone and that in which he had addressed her in the old +times before the troubles began. It was a subtle difference that +she could hardly have explained even to herself, but she knew that +it was as a friend, and as a friend only, that he would treat her +in the future, and that the past was a closed book, which he was +determined not to reopen. + +Bathurst talked to Mrs. Hunter and her daughter, both of whom were +mere shadows, worn out with grief, anxiety, and watching. At times +he went forward to talk to the young noble, who had taken his seat +there. Both boats had been arched in with a canopy of boughs to +serve alike as a protection from the sun and to screen those within +from the sight of natives in boats or on the banks. + +"You don't look yourself, Bathurst," the Doctor said to him late +in the afternoon. "Everything seems going on well. No boats have +passed us, and the boatmen all say that we shall pass Cawnpore +about one o'clock, at the rate at which we are going." + +"I feel nervous, Doctor; more anxious than I have been ever since +this began. There is an apprehension of danger weighing over me +that I can't account for. As you say, everything seems going on +well, and yet I feel that it is not so. I am afraid I am getting +superstitious, but I feel as if Rujub knows of some danger impending, +and that he is somehow conveying that impression to me. I know that +there is nothing to be done, and that we are doing the only thing +that we can do, unless we were to land and try and make our way +down on foot, which would be sheer madness. That the man can in some +way impress my mind at a distance is evident from that summons he +gave me to meet him at the ruins of my bungalow, but I do not feel +the same clear distinct perception of his wishes now as I did then. +Perhaps he himself is not aware of the particulars of the danger +that threatens, or, knowing them, he can see no way of escape out +of them. It may be that at night, when everything is quiet, one's +mind is more open to such impressions than it is when we are +surrounded by other people and have other things to think of, but +I feel an actual consciousness of danger." + +"I don't think there can be any danger until we get down near +Cawnpore. They may possibly be on the lookout for us there, and may +even have boats out on the stream. It is possible that the Sepoys +may have sent down word yesterday afternoon to Nana Sahib that we +had surrendered, and should be starting by boat this morning, but +I don't think there can be any danger till we get there. Should we +meet native boats and be stopped, Por Sing's son will be able to +induce them to let us pass. Certainly none of the villagers about +here would be likely to disobey him. Once beyond Cawnpore, I believe +that he would have sufficient influence, speaking, as he does, in +the name, not only of his father, but of other powerful landowners, +to induce any of these Oude people to let us pass. No, I regard +Cawnpore as our one danger, and I believe it to be a very real one. +I have been thinking, indeed, that it would be a good thing when +we get within a couple of miles of the place for all who are able +to walk, to land on the opposite bank, and make their way along +past Cawnpore, and take to the boats again a mile below the town." + +"That would be an excellent plan, Doctor; but if the boats were +stopped and they found the sick, they would kill them to a certainty. +I don't think we could leave them. I am quite sure Miss Hannay +would not leave her uncle." + +"I think we might get over even that, Bathurst. There are only the +Major and the other two men, and Mrs. Forsyth and three children, +too ill to walk. There are eight of the native servants, ourselves, +and the young Rajah's retainers. We ought to have no difficulty in +carrying the wounded. As to the luggage, that must be sacrificed, +so that the boatmen can go down with empty benches. It must be +pitched overboard. The loss would be of no real consequence; everyone +could manage with what they have on until we get to Allahabad. +There would be no difficulty in getting what we require there." + +"I think the plan is an excellent one, Doctor. I will ask the young +chief if his men will help us to carry the sick. If he says yes, +we will go alongside the other boat and explain our plan to Doolan." + +The young Rajah at once assented, and the boat being rowed up to +the other, the plan was explained and approved of. No objection +was raised by anyone, even to the proposal for getting rid of all +the luggage; and as soon as the matter was arranged, a general +disposition towards cheerfulness was manifested. Everyone had felt +that the danger of passing Cawnpore would be immense, and this plan +for avoiding it seemed to lift a load from their minds. + +It was settled they should land at some spot where the river was +bordered by bushes and young trees; that stout poles should be +cut, and blankets fastened between them, so as to form stretchers +on which the sick could be carried. + +As far as possible the boats were kept on the left side of the +river, but at times shallows rendered it necessary to keep over +by the right bank. Whenever they were near the shore, silence was +observed, lest the foreign tongue should be noticed by anyone near +the bank. + +Night fell, and they still continued their course. An hour after +sunset they were rowing near the right bank--the Major had fallen +into a sort of doze, and Isobel was sitting next to Bathurst, and +they were talking in low tones together--when suddenly there was +a hail from the shore, not fifty yards away. + +"What boats are those?" + +"Fishing boats going down the river," one of the boatmen answered. + +"Row alongside, we must examine you." + +There was a moment's pause, and then the Doctor said in the native +language, "Row on, men," and the oars of both boats again dipped +into the water. + +"We are pressed for time," the young Zemindar shouted, and then, +dropping his voice, urged the men to row at the top of their speed. + +"Stop, or we fire," came from the shore. + +No answer was returned from the boats; they were now nearly opposite +the speaker. Then came the word--"Fire." Six cannon loaded with +grape were discharged, and a crackle of musketry at the same moment +broke out. The shot tore through the boats, killing and disabling +many, and bringing down the arbor of boughs upon them. + +A terrible cry arose, and all was confusion. Most of the rowers +were killed, and the boats drifted helplessly amid the storm of +rifle bullets. + +As the cannon flashed out and the grape swept the boats Bathurst, +with a sharp cry, sprang to his feet, and leaped overboard, as did +several others from both boats. Diving, he kept under water for +some distance, and then swam desperately till he reached shallow +water on the other side of the river, and then fell head foremost +on the sand. Eight or ten others also gained the shore in a body, +and were running towards the bank, when the guns were again fired, +and all but three were swept away by the iron hail. A few straggling +musket shots were fired, then orders were shouted, and the splashing +of an oar was heard, as one of the native boatmen rowed one of +the two boats toward the shore. Bathurst rose to his feet and ran, +stumbling like a drunken man, towards the bushes, and just as he +reached them, fell heavily forward, and lay there insensible. Three +men came out from the jungle and dragged him in. As they did so +loud screams arose from the other bank, then half a dozen muskets +were fired, and all was quiet. + +It was not for a quarter of an hour that Bathurst was conscious +of what was going on around him. Someone was rubbing his chest and +hands. + +"Who is it?" he asked. + +"Oh, it is you, Bathurst!" he heard Wilson's voice exclaim. "I +thought it was you, but it is so dark now we are off that white +sand that I could not see. Where are you hit?" + +"I don't know," Bathurst said. "I felt a sort of shock as I got +out of the water, but I don't know that I am hurt at all." + +"Oh, you must be hit somewhere. Try and move your arms and legs." + +Bathurst moved. + +"No, I don't think I am hit; if I am, it is on the head. I feel +something warm round the back of my neck." + +"By Jove, yes!" Wilson said; "here is where it is; there is a cut +all along the top of your head; the bullet seems to have hit you +at the back, and gone right along over the top. It can't have gone +in, or else you would not be able to talk." + +"Help me up," Bathurst said, and he was soon on his feet. He felt +giddy and confused. "Who have you with you?" he asked. + +"Two natives. I think one is the young chief, and the other is one +of his followers." + +Bathurst spoke to them in their native language, and found that +Wilson was not mistaken. As soon as he found that he was understood, +the young chief poured out a volley of curses upon those who had +attacked them. + +Bathurst stopped him. "We shall have time for that afterwards, +Murad," he said; "the first thing is to see what had best be done. +What has happened since I landed, Wilson?" + +"Our boat was pretty nearly cut in two," Wilson said, "and was +sinking when I jumped over; the other boat has been rowed ashore." + +"What did you hear, Wilson?" + +"I heard the women scream," Wilson said reluctantly, "and five or +six shots were fired. There has been no sound since then." + +Bathurst stood silent for a minute. + +"I do not think they will have killed the women," he said; "they +did not do so at Cawnpore. They will take them there. No doubt they +killed the men. Let me think for a moment. Now," he said after a +long pause, "we must be doing. Murad, your father and friends have +given their word for the safety of those you took prisoners; that +they have been massacred is no fault of your father or of you. This +gentleman and myself are the only ones saved, as far as we know. +Are you sure that none others came ashore?" + +"The others were all killed, we alone remaining," Murad said. "I +will go back to my father, and he will go to Cawnpore and demand +vengeance." + +"You can do that afterwards, Murad; the first thing is to fulfill +your promise, and I charge you to take this sahib in safety down +to Allahabad. You must push on at once, for they may be sending +out from Cawnpore at daylight to search the bushes here to see if +any have escaped. You must go on with him tonight as far as you +can, and in the morning enter some village, buy native clothes, +and disguise him, and then journey on to Allahabad." + +"I will do that," the young Rajah said; "but what about yourself?" + +"I shall go into Cawnpore and try to rescue any they may have +taken. I have a native cloth round me under my other clothes, as +I thought it might be necessary for me to land before we got to +Cawnpore to see if danger threatened us. So I have everything I +want for a disguise about me." + +"What are you saying, Bathurst?" Wilson asked. + +"I am arranging for Murad and his follower to take you down to +Allahabad, Wilson. I shall stop at Cawnpore." + +"Stop at Cawnpore! Are you mad, Bathurst?" + +"No, I am not mad. I shall stop to see if any of the ladies have +been taken prisoners, and if so, try to rescue them. Rujub, the +juggler, is there, and I am confident he will help me." + +"But if you can stay, I can, Bathurst. If Miss Hannay has been made +prisoner, I would willingly be killed to rescue her." + +"I know you would, Wilson, but you would be killed without being +able to rescue her; and as I should share your fate, you would render +her rescue impossible. I can speak the native language perfectly, +and know native ways. I can move about among them without fear +of exciting their suspicion. If you were with me this would be +impossible; the first time you were addressed by a native you would +be detected; your presence would add to my difficulties a hundredfold. +It is not now a question of fighting. Were it only that, I should +be delighted to have you with me. As it is, the thing is impossible. +If anything is done, I must do it alone. If I ever reach Miss Hannay, +she shall know that you were ready to run all risks to save her. +No, no, you must go on to Allahabad, and if you cannot save her +now, you will be with the force that will save her, if I should +fail to do so, and which will avenge us both if it should arrive +too late to rescue her. Now I must get you to bandage my head, for +I feel faint with loss of blood. I will take off my shirt and tear +it in strips. I have got a native disguise next to the skin. We +may as well leave my clothes behind me here." + +As soon as Wilson, with the assistance of Murad, had bandaged the +wound, the party struck off from the river, and after four hours' +walking came down upon it again two miles below Cawnpore. Here Bathurst +said he would stop, stain his skin, and complete his disguise. + +"I hate leaving you," Wilson said, in a broken voice. "There are +only you and I left of all our party at Deennugghur. It is awful +to think they have all gone--the good old chief, the Doctor, and +Richards, and the ladies. There are only we two left. It does seem +such a dirty, cowardly thing for me to be making off and leaving +you here alone." + +"It is not cowardly, Wilson, for I know you would willingly stay +if you could be of the slightest use; but, as, on the contrary, +you would only add to the danger, it must be as I have arranged. +Goodby, lad; don't stay; it has to be done. God bless you! Goodby, +Murad. Tell your father when you see him that I know no shadow of +broken faith rests on him." + +So saying, he turned and went into a clump of bushes, while Wilson, +too overpowered to speak, started on his way down country with the +two natives. + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +Now alone, Bathurst threw himself down among the bashes in an +attitude of utter depression. + +"Why wasn't I killed with the others?" he groaned. "Why was I not +killed when I sat there by her side?" + +So he lay for an hour, and then slowly rose and looked round. There +was a faint light in the sky. + +"It will be light in another hour," he said to himself, and he +again sat down. Suddenly he started. Had someone spoken, or had he +fancied it? + +"Wait till I come." + +He seemed to hear the words plainly, just as he had heard Rujub's +summons before. + +"That's it; it is Rujub. How is it that he can make me hear in this +way? I am sure it was his voice. Anyhow, I will wait. It shows he +is thinking of me, and I am sure he will help me. I know well enough +I could do nothing by myself." + +Bathurst assumed with unquestioning faith that Isobel Hannay +was alive. He had no reason for his confidence. That first shower +of grape might have killed her as it killed others, but he would +not admit the doubt in his mind. Wilson's description of what had +happened while he was insensible was one of the grounds of this +confidence. + +He had heard women scream. Mrs. Hunter and her daughter were the +only other women in the boat. Isobel would not have screamed had +those muskets been pointed at her, nor did he think the others +would have done so. They screamed when they saw the natives about +to murder those who were with them. The three women were sitting +together, and if one had fallen by the grape shot all would +probably have been killed. He felt confident, therefore, that she +had escaped; he believed he would have known it had she been killed. + +"If I can be influenced by this juggler, surely I should have felt +it had Isobel died," he argued, and was satisfied that she was +still alive. + +What, however, more than anything else gave him hope was the picture +on the smoke. "Everything else has come true," he said to himself; +"why should not that? Wilson spoke of the Doctor as dead. I will +not believe it; for if he is dead, the picture is false. Why should +that thing of all others have been shown to me unless it had been +true? What seemed impossible to me--that I should be fighting +like a brave man--has been verified. Why should not this? I should +have laughed at such superstition six months ago; now I cling to +it as my one ground for hope. Well, I will wait if I have to stay +here until tomorrow night." + +Noiselessly he moved about in the little wood, going to the edge +and looking out, pacing to and fro with quick steps, his face set +in a frown, occasionally muttering to himself. He was in a fever of +impatience. He longed to be doing something, even if that something +led to his detention and death. He said to himself that he should +not care so that Isobel Hannay did but know that he had died in +trying to rescue her. + +The sun rose, and he saw the peasants in the fields, and caught +the note of a bugle sounding from the lines at Cawnpore. At last-- +it had seemed to him an age, but the sun had been up only an hour +--he saw a figure coming along the river bank. As it approached +he told himself that it was the juggler; if so, he had laid aside +the garments in which he last saw him, and was now attired as when +they first met. When he saw him turn off from the river bank and +advance straight towards the wood, he had no doubt that it was the +man he expected. + +"Thanks be to the holy ones that you have escaped, sahib," Rujub +said, as soon as he came within speaking distance of Bathurst. +"I was in an agony last night. I was with you in thought, and saw +the boats approaching the ambuscade. I saw you leap over and swim +to shore. I saw you fall, and I cried out. For a moment I thought +you were killed. Then I saw you go on and fall again, and saw your +friends carry you in. I watched you recover and come on here, and +then I willed it that you should wait here till I came for you. I +have brought you a disguise, for I did not know that you had one +with you. But, first of all, sit down and let me dress your wound +afresh. I have brought all that is necessary for it." + +"You are a true fried, Rujub. I relied upon you for aid; do you +know why I waited here instead of going down with the others?" + +"I know, sahib. I can tell your thoughts as easily when you are +away from me as I can when we are together." + +"Can you do this with all people?" + +"No, my lord; to be able to read another's thoughts it is necessary +there should be a mystic relation established between them. As I +walked beside your horse when you carried my daughter before you +after saving her life, I felt that this relation had commenced, and +that henceforward our fates were connected. It was necessary that +you should have confidence in me, and it was for that reason that +I showed you some of the feats that we rarely exhibit, and proved +to you that I possessed powers with which you were unacquainted. +But in thought reading my daughter has greater powers than I have, +and it was she who last night followed you on your journey, sitting +with her hand in mine, so that my mind followed hers." + +"Do you know all that happened last night, Rujub?" Bathurst said, +summoning up courage to ask the question that had been on his lips +from the first. + +"I only know, my lord, that the party was destroyed, save three +white women, who were brought in just as the sun rose this morning. +One was the lady behind whose chair you stood the night I performed +at Deennugghur, the lady about whom you are thinking. I do not know +the other two; one was getting on in life, the other was a young +one." + +The relief was so great that Bathurst turned away, unable for a +while to continue the conversation. When he resumed the talk, he +asked, "Did you see them yourself, Rujub?" + +"I saw them, sahib; they were brought in on a gun carriage." + +"How did they look, Rujub?" + +"The old one looked calm and sad. She did not seem to hear the +shouts of the budmashes as they passed along. She held the young +one close to her. That one seemed worn out with grief and terror. +Your memsahib sat upright; she was very pale and changed from the +time I saw her that evening, but she held her head high, and looked +almost scornfully at the men who shook their fists and cried at +her." + +"And they put them with the other women that they have taken +prisoners?" + +Rujub hesitated. + +"They have put the other two there, sahib, but her they took to +Bithoor." + +Bathurst started, and an exclamation of horror and rage burst from +him. + +"To the Rajah's!" he exclaimed. "To that scoundrel! Come, let us +go. Why are we staying here?" + +"We can do nothing for the moment. Before I started I sent off my +daughter to Bithoor; she knows many there, and will find out what +is being done and bring us word, for I dare not show myself there. +The Rajah is furious with me because I did not support the Sepoys, +and suffered conditions to be made with your people, but now that +all has turned out as he wished, I will in a short time present +myself before him again, but for the moment it was better that +my daughter should go, as I had to come to you. But first you had +better put on the disguise I have brought you. You are too big and +strong to pass without notice in that peasant's dress. The one I have +brought you is such as is worn by the rough people; the budmashes +of Cawnpore. I can procure others afterwards when we see what had +best be done. It will be easy enough to enter Bithoor, for all is +confusion there, and men come and go as they choose, but it will be +well nigh impossible for you to penetrate where the memsahib will +be placed. Even for me, known as I am to all the Rajah's officers, +it would be impossible to do so; it is my daughter in whom we shall +have to trust." + +Bathurst rapidly put on the clothes that Rujub had brought with +him, and thrust a sword, two daggers, and a brace of long barreled +pistols into the sash round his waist. + +"Your color is not dark enough, sahib. I have brought dye with me; +but first I must dress the wound on your head, and bandage it more +neatly, so that the blood stained swathings will not show below +the folds of your turban." + +Bathurst submitted himself impatiently to Rujub's hands. The latter +cut off all the hair that would show under the turban, dyed the +skin the same color as the other parts, and finally, after darkening +his eyebrows, eyelashes, and mustache, pronounced that he would +pass anywhere without attracting attention. Then they started at a +quick walk along the river, crossed by the ferryboat to Cawnpore, +and made their way to a quiet street in the native town. + +"This is my house for the present," Rujub said, producing a key +and unlocking a door. He shouted as he closed the door behind him, +and an old woman appeared. + +"Is the meal prepared?" he asked. + +"It is ready," she said. + +"That is right. Tell Rhuman to put the pony into the cart." + +He then led the way into a comfortably furnished apartment where +a meal was laid. + +"Eat, my lord," he said; "you need it, and will require your +strength." + +Bathurst, who, during his walk, had felt the effects of the loss of +blood and anxiety, at once seated himself at the table and ate, at +first languidly, but as appetite came, more heartily, and felt still +more benefited by a bottle of excellent wine Rujub had placed beside +him. The latter returned to the room just as he had finished. He was +now attired as he had been when Bathurst last met him at Deennugghur. + +"I feel another man, Rujub, and fit for anything." + +"The cart is ready," Rujub said. "I have already taken my meal; we +do not eat meat, and live entirely on vegetables. Meat clouds the +senses, and simple food, and little of it, is necessary for those +who would enter the inner brotherhood." + +At the door a small native cart was standing with a pony in the +shafts. + +"You will go with us, Rhuman," Rujub said, as he and Bathurst took +their seats in the cart. + +The boy squatted down at Rujub's feet, taking the reins and whip, +and the pony started off at a brisk pace. Upon the way Rujub talked +of various matters, of the reports of the force that was gathering +at Allahabad, and the madness of the British in supposing that two +or three thousand men could withstand the forces of the Nana. + +"They would be eaten up," he said; "the troops will go out to meet +them; they will never arrive within sight of Cawnpore." + +As Bathurst saw that he was talking for the boy to hear, rather +than to himself, he agreed loudly with all that he said, and boasted +that even without the Nana's troops and the Sepoys, the people of +Cawnpore could cut the English dogs to pieces. + +The drive was not a long one, and the road was full of parties going +to or returning from Bithoor--groups of Sepoy officers, parties +of budmashes from Cawnpore, mounted messengers, landowners with +their retainers, and others. Arriving within a quarter of a mile +of the palace, Rujub ordered the boy to draw aside. + +"Take the horse down that road," he said, "and wait there until +we return. We may be some time. If we are not back by the time the +sun sets, you will return home." + +As they approached the palace Bathurst scanned every window, as if +he hoped to see Isobel's face at one of them. Entering the garden, +they avoided the terrace in front of the house, and sauntering +through the groups of people who had gathered discussing the latest +news, they took their seat in a secluded corner. + +Bathurst thought of the last time he had been there, when there +had been a fete given by the Rajah to the residents of Cawnpore, +and contrasted the present with the past. Then the gardens were +lighted up, and a crowd of officers and civilians with ladies in +white dresses had strolled along the terrace to the sound of gay +music, while their host moved about among them, courteous, pleasant, +and smiling. Now the greater portion of the men were dead, the +women were prisoners in the hands of the native who had professed +such friendship for them. + +"Tell me, Rujub," he said presently, "more about this force at +Allahabad. What is its strength likely to be?" + +"They say there is one British regiment of the line, one of the plumed +regiments with bare legs, and one of the white Madras regiments; +they have a few guns, a very few horsemen; that is all, while there +are twenty thousand troops here. How can they hope to win?" + +"You will see they will win," Bathurst said sternly. "They have +often fought well, but they will fight now as they never fought +before; every man will feel himself an avenger of the foul treachery +and the brutal massacres that have been committed. Were it but +one regiment that is coming up instead of three, I would back it +against the blood stained wretches." + +"They are fighting for freedom," Rujub said. + +"They are fighting for nothing of the sort," Bathurst replied hotly; +"they are fighting for they know not what--change of masters, for +license to plunder, and because they are ignorant and have been +led away. I doubt not that at present, confident as they may be of +victory, most of them in their hearts regret what they have done. +They have forfeited their pensions, they have thrown away the +benefits of their years of service, they have been faithless to +their salt, and false to their oaths. It is true that they know +they are fighting with ropes round their necks, but even that won't +avail against the discipline and the fury of our troops. I feel as +certain, Rujub, that, in spite of the odds against them, the English +will triumph, as if I saw their column marching into the town. +I don't profess to see the future as you do, but I know enough to +tell you that ere long that palace you can see through the trees +will be leveled to the ground, that it is as assuredly doomed as +if fire had already been applied to its gilded beams." + +Rujub nodded. "I know the palace is doomed. While I have looked at +it it has seemed hidden by a cloud of smoke, but I did not think +it was the work of the British--I thought of an accident." + +"The Rajah may fire it with his own hands," Bathurst said; "but if +he does not, it will be done for him." + +"I have not told you yet, sahib," Rujub said, changing the subject, +"how it was that I could neither prevent the attack on the boats +nor warn you that it was coming. I knew at Deennugghur that news +had been sent of the surrender to the Nana. I remained till I knew +you were safely in the boats, and then rode to Cawnpore. My daughter +was at the house when I arrived, and told me that the Nana was +furious with me, and that it would not be safe for me to go near +the palace. Thus, although I feared that an attack was intended, +I thought it would not be until the boats passed the town. It was +late before I learnt that a battery of artillery and some infantry +had set out that afternoon. Then I tried to warn you, but I felt +that I failed. You were not in a mood when my mind could communicate +itself to yours." + +"I felt very uneasy and restless," Bathurst said, "but I had not +the same feeling that you were speaking to me I had that night at +Deennugghur; but even had I known of the danger, there would have +been no avoiding it. Had we landed, we must have been overtaken, and +it would have come to the same thing. Tell me, Rujub, had you any +idea when I saw you at Deennugghur that if we were taken prisoners +Miss Hannay was to be brought here instead of being placed with +the other ladies?" + +"Yes, I knew it, sahib; the orders he gave to the Sepoys were that +every man was to be killed, and that the women and children were +to be taken to Cawnpore, except Miss Hannay, who was to be carried +here at once. The Rajah had noticed her more than once when she +was at Cawnpore, and had made up his mind that she should go to +his zenana." + +"Why did you not tell me when you were at Deennugghur?" + +"What would have been the use, sahib? I hoped to save you all; +besides, it was not until we saw her taken past this morning that +we knew that the Miss Hannay who was to be taken to Bithoor was the +lady whom my daughter, when she saw her with you that night, said +at once that you loved. But had we known it, what good would it +have done to have told you of the Rajah's orders? You could not have +done more than you have done. But now we know, we will aid you to +save her." + +"How long will your daughter be before she comes? It is horrible +waiting here." + +"You must have patience, sahib. It will be no easy work to get the +lady away. There will be guards and women to look after her. A lady +is not to be stolen out of a zenana as a young bird is taken from +its nest." + +"It is all very well to say 'Be patient,'" Bathurst said, getting +up and walking up and down with quick angry strides. "It is maddening +to sit here doing nothing. If it were not that I had confidence in +your power and will to aid me, I would go into the palace and stab +Nana Sahib to the heart, though I were cut to pieces for it the +moment afterwards." + +"That would do no good to the lady, sahib," Rujub said calmly. "She +would only be left without a friend, and the Nana's death might be +the signal for the murder of every white prisoner. Ah, here comes +my daughter." + +Rabda came up quickly, and stopped before Bathurst with her head +bowed and her arms crossed in an attitude of humility. She was +dressed in the attire worn by the principal servants in attendance +upon the zenana of a Hindoo prince. + +"Well, what news, Rabda?" Bathurst asked eagerly. + +"The light of my lord's heart is sick. She bore up till she arrived +here and was handed over to the women. Then her strength failed +her, and she fainted. She recovered, but she is lying weak and +exhausted with all that she has gone through and suffered." + +"Where is she now?" + +"She is in the zenana, looking out into the women's court, that no +men are ever allowed to enter." + +"Has the Rajah seen her?" + +"No, sahib. He was told the state that she was in, and the chief +lady of the zenana sent him word that for the present she must have +quiet and rest, but that in two or three days she might be fit to +see him." + +"That is something," Bathurst said thankfully. "Now we shall have +time to think of some scheme for getting her out." + +"You have been in the zenana yourself, Rabda?" Rujub asked. + +"Yes, father; the mistress of the zenana saw me directly an attendant +told her I was there. She has always been kind to me. I said that +you were going on a journey, and asked her if I might stay with +her and act as an attendant until you returned, and she at once +assented. She asked if I should see you before you left, and when +I said yes, she asked if you could not give her some spell that +would turn the Rajah's thoughts from this white girl. She fears +that if she should become first favorite in the zenana, she might +take things in her hands as English women do, and make all sorts +of changes. I told her that, doubtless, the English girl would do +this, and that I thought she was wise to ask your assistance." + +"You are mad, Rabda," her father said angrily; "what have I to do +with spells and love philters?" + +"No, father, I knew well enough you would not believe in such things, +but I thought in this way I might see the lady, and communicate +with her." + +"A very good idea, Rabda," Bathurst said. "Is there nothing you +can do, Rujub, to make her odious to the Nana?" + +"Nothing, sahib. I could act upon some people's minds, and make them +think that the young lady was afflicted by some loathsome disease, +but not with the Nana. I have many times tried to influence him, +but without success: his mind is too deep for mine to master, and +between us there is no sympathy. Could I be present with him and +the girl I might do something--that is, if the powers that aid +me would act against him; but this I do not think." + +"Rujub," Bathurst said suddenly, "there must have been medical +stores taken when the camp was captured--drugs and things of that +sort. Can you find out who has become possessed of them?" + +"I might find out, sahib. Doubtless the men who looted the camp +will have sold the drugs to the native shops, for English drugs are +highly prized. Are there medicines that can act as the mistress of +the zenana wishes?" + +"No; but there are drugs that when applied externally would give +the appearance of a terrible disease. There are acids whose touch +would burn and blister the skin, and turn a beautiful face into a +dreadful mask." + +"But would it recover its fairness, sahib?" + +"The traces might last for a long time, even for life, if too much +were used, but I am sure Miss Hannay would not hesitate for a moment +on that account." + +"But you, sahib--would you risk her being disfigured?" + +"What does it matter to me?" Bathurst asked sternly. "Do you think +love is skin deep, and that 'tis only for a fair complexion that we +choose our wives? Find me the drugs, and let Rabda take them into +her with a line from me. One of them you can certainly get, for it +is used, I believe, by gold and silver smiths. It is nitric acid; +the other is caustic potash, or, as it is sometimes labeled, lunar +caustic. It is in little sticks; but if you find out anyone who +has bought drugs or cases of medicines, I will go with you and pick +them out." + +"There will be no difficulty about finding out where the English +drugs are. They are certain to be at one of the shops where the +native doctors buy their medicines." + +"Let us go at once, then," Bathurst said. "You can prepare some +harmless drink, and Rabda will tell the mistress of the zenana it +will bring out a disfiguring eruption. We can be back here again +this evening. Will you be here, Rabda, at sunset, and wait until +we come? You can tell the woman that you have seen your father, and +that he will supply her with what she requires. Make some excuse, +if you can, to see the prisoner. Say you are curious to see the white +woman who has bewitched the Nana, and if you get the opportunity +whisper in her ear these words, 'Do not despair, friends are working +for you.'" + +Rabda repeated the English words several times over until she +had them perfect; then she made her way back to the palace, while +Bathurst and his companion proceeded at once to the spot where they +had left their vehicle. + +They had but little difficulty in finding what they required. +Many of the shops displayed garments, weapons, jewelry, and other +things, the plunder of the intrenchments of Cawnpore. Rujub entered +several shops where drugs were sold, and finally one of the traders +said, "I have a large black box full of drugs which I bought from +a Sepoy for a rupee, but now that I have got it I do not know what +to do with it. Some of the bottles doubtless contain poisons. I will +sell it you for two rupees, which is the value of the box, which, +as you see, is very strong and bound with iron. The contents I +place no price upon." + +"I will take it," Rujub said. "I know some of the English medicines, +and may find a use for them." + +He paid the money, called in a coolie, and bade him take up the +chest and follow him, and they soon arrived at the juggler's house. + +The box, which was a hospital medical chest, was filled with drugs +of all kinds. Bathurst put a stick of caustic into a small vial, +and half filled another, which had a glass stopper, with nitric +acid, filled it up with water, and tried the effect of rubbing a +few drops on his arm. + +"That is strong enough for anything," he said, with a slight +exclamation at the sharp pain. "And now give me a piece of paper +and pen and ink." + +Then sitting down he wrote: + +"My Dear Miss Hannay: Rujub, the juggler, and I will do what we +can to rescue you. We are powerless to effect anything as long as +you remain where you are. The bearer, Rujub's daughter, will give +you the bottles, one containing lunar caustic, the other nitric +acid. The mistress of the zenana, who wants to get rid of you, as +she fears you might obtain influence over the Nana, has asked the +girl to obtain from her father a philter which will make you odious +to him. The large bottle is perfectly harmless, and you can drink +its contents without fear. The caustic is for applying to your +lips; it will be painful, but I am sure you will not mind that, +and the injury will be only of a temporary nature. I cannot promise +as much for the nitric acid; pray apply it very carefully, merely +moistening the glass stopper and applying it with that. I should +use it principally round the lips. It will burn and blister the +skin. The Nana will be told that you have a fever, which is causing +a terrible and disfiguring eruption. I should apply it also to the +neck and hands. Pray be very careful with the stuff; for, besides +the application being exceedingly painful, the scars may possibly +remain permanently. Keep the two small bottles carefully hidden, +in order to renew the application if absolutely necessary. At any +rate, this will give us time, and, from what I hear, our troops are +likely to be here in another ten days' time. You will be, I know, +glad to hear that Wilson has also escaped. + +"Yours, + +"R. Bathurst." + +A large bottle was next filled with elder flower water. The trap was +brought around, and they drove back to Bithoor. Rabda was punctual +to her appointment. + +"I have seen her," she said, "and have given her the message. +I could see that she understood it, but as there were other women +round, she made no sign. I told the mistress of the zenana that +you had given me some magic words that I was to whisper to her to +prepare the way for the philter, so she let me in without difficulty, +and I was allowed to go close up to her and repeat your message. I +put my hands on her before I did so, and I think she felt that it +was the touch of a friend. She hushed up when I spoke to her. The +mistress, who was standing close by, thought that this was a sign +of the power of the words I had spoken to her. I did not stay more +than a minute. I was afraid she might try to speak to me in your +tongue, and that would have been dangerous." + +"There are the bottles,"' Bathurst said; "this large one is for +her to take, the other two and this note are to be given to her +separately. You had better tell the woman that the philter must +be given by your own hands, and that you must then watch alone by +her side for half an hour. Say that after you leave her she will +soon go off to sleep; and must then be left absolutely alone till +daybreak tomorrow, and it will then be found that the philter has +acted. She must at once tell the Nana that the lady is in a high +fever, and has been seized with some terrible disease that has +altogether disfigured her, and that he can see for himself the +state she is in." + +Rabda's whisper had given new life and hope to Isobel Hannay. +Previous to that her fate had seemed to her to be sealed, and she +had only prayed for death; the long strain of the siege had told upon +her; the scene in the boat seemed a species of horrible nightmare, +culminating in a number of Sepoys leaping on board the boat as it +touched the bank, and bayoneting her uncle and all on board except +herself, Mrs. Hunter, and her daughter, who were seized and carried +ashore. Then followed a night of dull despairing pain, while she +and her companions crouched together, with two Sepoys standing on +guard over them, while the others, after lighting fires, talked +and laughed long into the night over the success of their attack. + +At daybreak they had been placed upon a limber and driven into +Cawnpore. Her spirit had risen as they were assailed by insults and +imprecations by the roughs of the town, and she had borne up bravely +till, upon their arrival at the entrance to what she supposed was +the prison, she was roughly dragged from the limber, placed in a +close carriage, and driven off. In her despair she had endeavored +to open the door in order to throw herself under the wheels, but +a soldier stood on each step and prevented her from doing so. + +Outside of the town she soon saw that she was on the road to +Bithoor, and the fate for which she was reserved flashed upon her. +She remembered now the oily compliments of Nana Sahib, and the +unpleasant thrill she had felt when his eyes were fixed upon her; +and had she possessed a weapon of any kind she would have put an +end to her life. But her pistol had been taken from her when she +landed, and in helpless despair she crouched in a corner of the +carriage until they reached Bithoor. + +As soon as the carriage stopped a cloth was thrown over her head. +She was lifted out and carried into the palace, through long passages +and up stairs; then those who carried her set her on her feet and +retired. Other hands took her and led her forward till the cloth +was taken off her head, and she found herself surrounded, by women, +who regarded her with glances of mixed curiosity and hostility. +Then everything seemed to swim round, and she fainted. + +When she recovered consciousness all strength seemed to have left +her, and she lay in a sort of apathy for hours, taking listlessly +the drink that was offered to her, but paying no attention to what +was passing around, until there was a gentle pressure on her arm, +the grasp tightening with a slight caressing motion that seemed to +show sympathy; then came the English words softly whispered into her +ear, while the hand again pressed her arm firmly, as if in warning. + +It was with difficulty that she refrained from uttering an exclamation, +and she felt the blood crimson her cheeks, but she mastered the +impulse and lay perfectly quiet, glancing up into the face bent down +close to hers--it was not familiar to her, and yet it seemed to +her that she had seen it somewhere; another minute and it was gone. + +But though to all appearances Isobel's attitude was unchanged, +her mind was active now. Who could have sent her this message? Who +could this native girl be who had spoken in English to her? Where +had she seen the face? + +Her thoughts traveled backwards, and she ran over in her mind +all those with whom she had come in contact since her arrival in +India; her servants and those of her acquaintances passed before +her eyes. She had scarcely spoken to another native woman since +she had landed. After thinking over all she had known in Cawnpore, +she thought of Deennugghur. Whom had she met there? + +Suddenly came the remembrance of the exhibition by the juggler, +and she recalled the face and figure of his daughter, as, seated, +upon the growing pole, she had gone up foot by foot in the light of +the lamps and up into the darkness above. The mystery was solved; +that was the face that had just leaned over her. + +But how could she be interested in her fate? Then she remembered +that this was the girl whom Bathurst had saved from the tiger. If +they were interested in her, it must be through Bathurst. Could he +too have survived the attack of the night before? She had thought +of him, as of all of them, as dead, but possibly he might have +escaped. Even during the long night's waiting, a captive to the +Sepoys, the thought that he had instantly sprung from beside her +and leaped overboard had been an added pang to all her misery. She +had no after remembrance of him; perhaps he had swum to shore and +got off in safety. In that case he must be lingering in Cawnpore, +had learned what had become of her, and was trying to rescue +her. It was to the juggler he would naturally have gone to obtain +assistance. If so, he was risking his life now to save hers; and +this was the man whom she despised as a coward. + +But what could he do? At Bithoor, in the power of this treacherous +Rajah, secure in the zenana, where no man save its master ever +penetrated, how could he possibly help her? Yet the thought that +he was trying to do so was a happy one, and the tears that flowed +between her closed lids were not painful ones. She blamed herself +now for having felt for a moment hurt at Bathurst's. desertion of +her. To have remained in the boat would have been certain death, +while he could have been of no assistance to her or anyone else. That +he should escape, then, if he could, now seemed to her a perfectly +natural action; she hoped that some of the others had done the +same, and that Bathurst was not working alone. + +It did not occur to her that there could be any possibility of +the scheme for her rescue succeeding; as to that she felt no more +hopeful than before, but it seemed to take away the sense of utter +loneliness that she before felt that someone should be interesting +himself in her fate. Perhaps there would be more than a mere verbal +message next time; how long would it be before she heard again? +How long a respite had she before that wretch came to see her? +Doubtless he had heard that she was ill. She would remain so. She +would starve herself. Her weakness seemed to her her best protection. + +As she lay apparently helpless upon the couch she watched the women +move about the room. The girl who had spoken to her was not among +them. The women were not unkind; they brought her cooling drinks, +and tried to tempt her to eat something; but she shook her head as +if utterly unable to do so, and after a time feigned to be asleep. + +Darkness came on gradually; some lamps were lighted in the room. +Not for a moment had she been left alone since she was brought in +--never less than two females remaining with her. + +Presently the woman who was evidently the chief of the establishment +came in accompanied by a girl, whom Isobel recognized at once +as the juggler's daughter. The latter brought with her a tray, on +which were some cakes and a silver goblet. These she set down on +an oak table by the couch. The girl then handed her the goblet, +which, keeping up the appearance of extreme feebleness, she took +languidly. She placed it to her lips, but at once took it away. It +was not cool and refreshing like those she had tasted before, it +had but little flavor, but had a faint odor, which struck her as +not unfamiliar. It was a drug of some sort they wished her to drink. + +She looked up in the girl's face. Rabda made a reassuring gesture, +and said in a low whisper, as she bent forward, "Bathurst Sahib." + +This was sufficient; whatever it was it would do her no harm, +and she raised the cup to her lips and emptied it. Then the elder +woman said something to the other two, and they all left the room +together, leaving her alone with Rabda. + +The latter went to the door quietly and drew the hangings across +it, then she returned to the couch, and from the folds of her dress +produced two vials and a tiny note. Then, noiselessly, she placed +a lamp on the table, and withdrew to a short distance while Isobel +opened and read the note. + +Twice she read it through, and then, laying it down, burst into +tears of relief. Rabda came and knelt down beside the couch, and, +taking one of her hands, pressed it to her lips. Isobel threw her +arms round the girl's neck, drew her close to her, and kissed her +warmly.--Rabda then drew a piece of paper and a pencil from her +dress and handed them to her. She wrote: + +"Thanks a thousand times, dear friend; I will follow your instructions. +Please send me if you can some quick and deadly poison, that I may +take in the last extremity. Do not fear that I will flinch from +applying the things you have sent me. I would not hesitate to +swallow them were there no other hope of escape. I rejoice so much +to know that you have escaped from that terrible attack last night. +Did Wilson alone get away? Do you know they murdered my uncle +and all the others in the boat, except Mrs. Hunter and Mary? Pray +do not run any risks to try and rescue me. I think that I am safe +now, and will make myself so hideous that if the wretch once sees +me he will never want to see me again. As to death, I have no fear +of it. If we do not meet again, God bless you. + +"Yours most gratefully, + +"Isobel." + +Rabda concealed the note in her garment, and then motioned to Isobel +that she should close her eyes and pretend to be asleep. Then she +gently drew back the curtains and seated herself at a distance from +the couch. + +Half an hour later the mistress of the zenana came in. Rabda rose +and put her finger to her lips and left the room, accompanied by +the woman. + +"She is asleep," she said; "do not be afraid, the potion will do +its work. Leave her alone all night. When she wakes in the morning +she will be wild with fever, and you need have no fear that the +Rajah will seek to make her the queen of his zenana." + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + +Prepared as the mistress of the zenana was to find a great change +in the captive's appearance, she was startled when, soon after +daybreak, she went in to see her. The lower part of her face was +greatly swollen, her lips were covered with white blotches. There +were great red scars round the mouth and on her forehead, and the +skin seemed to have been completely eaten away. There were even +larger and deeper marks on her neck and shoulders, which were partly +uncovered, as if by her restless tossing. Her hands and arms were +similarly marked. She took no notice of her entrance, but talked +to herself as she tossed restlessly on the couch. + +There was but little acting in this, for Isobel was suffering an +agony of pain. She had used the acid much more freely than she had +been instructed to do, determined that the disfigurement should +be complete. All night she had been in a state of high fever, and +had for a time been almost delirious. She was but slightly more +easy now, and had difficulty in preventing herself from crying out +from the torture she was suffering. + +There was no tinge of pity in the face of the woman who looked at +her, but a smile of satisfaction at the manner in which the potion +had done its work. + +"The Nana can see her now," she said to herself; "there will be no +change in the arrangements here." + +She at once sent out word that as soon as the Rajah was up he was +to be told that she begged him to come at once. + +An hour later he came to the door of the zenana. + +"What is it, Poomba?" he asked; "nothing the matter with Miss +Hannay, I hope?" + +"I grieve to say, your highness, that she has been seized with +some terrible disease. I know not what it is, for never did I see +a woman so smitten. It must be an illness contracted from confinement +and bad air during the siege, some illness that the Europeans have, +for never did I see aught like it. She is in a high state of fever, +and her face is in a terrible state. It must be a sort of plague." + +"You have been poisoning her," the Nana said roughly; "if so, beware, +for your life shall be the forfeit. I will see her for myself." + +"She has had no poison since she came here, though I know not but +what she may have had poison about her, and may have taken it after +she was captured." + +"Take me to her," the Rajah said. "I will see for myself." + +"It may be a contagious disease, your highness. It were best that +you should not go near her." + +The Rajah made an impatient gesture, and the woman, without another +word, led him into the room where Isobel was lying. The Nana was +prepared for some disfigurement of the face he had so admired, but +he shrank back from the reality. + +"It is horrible," he said, in a low voice. "What have you been +doing to her?" he asked, turning furiously to the woman. + +"I have done nothing, your highness. All day yesterday she lay in +a torpor, as I told you in the evening when you inquired about her, +and I thought then she was going to be ill. I have watched her all +night. She has been restless and disturbed, but I thought it better +not to go nearer lest I should wake her, and it was not until this +morning, when the day broke, that I perceived this terrible change. +What shall we do with her? If the disease is contagious, everyone +in the palace may catch it." + +"Have a closed palanquin brought to the door, wrap her up, and +have her carried down to the Subada Ke Kothee. Let her give it to +the women there. Burn all the things in this room, and everything +that has been worn by those who have entered it. I will inquire +into this matter later on, and should I find that there has been +any foul play, those concerned in it shall wish they had never been +born." + +As soon as he had left the woman called Rabda in. + +"All has gone well," she said; "your father's philter is powerful +indeed. Tell him whenever he needs any service I can render he has +but to ask it. Look at her; did you ever see one so disfigured? +The Rajah has seen her, and is filled with loathing. She is to be +sent to the Subada Ke Kothee. Are you sure that the malady is not +contagious? I have persuaded the Rajah that it is; that is why he +is sending her away." + +"I am sure it is not," Rabda said; "it is the result of the drugs. +It is terrible to see her; give me some cooling ointment." + +"What does it matter about her now that she is harmless?" Poomba +said scornfully. Being, however, desirous of pleasing Rabda, she +went away and brought a pot of ointment, which the girl applied to +the sores, the tears falling down her cheeks as she did so. + +The salve at once afforded relief from the burning pain, and Isobel +gratefully took a drink prepared from fresh limes. + +She had only removed her gown when she had lain down, having done +this in order that it should not be burned by the acid, and that +her neck and shoulders might be seen, and the belief induced that +this strange eruption was all over her. Rabda made signs for her +to put it on again, and pointing in the direction of Cawnpore, +repeated the word several times, and Isobel felt with a thrill of +intense thankfulness that the stratagem had succeeded, and that +she was to be sent away at once, probably to the place where the +other prisoners were confined. Presently the woman returned. + +"Rabda, you had best go with her. It were well that you should +leave for the present. The Rajah is suspicious; he may come back +again and ask questions; and as he knows you by sight, and as you +told me your father was in disfavor with him at present, he might +suspect that you were in some way concerned in the matter." + +"I will go," Rabda said. "I am sorry she has suffered so much. I +did not think the potion would have been so strong. Give me a netful +of fresh limes and some cooling lotion, that I may leave with her +there." + +In a few minutes a woman came up to say that the palanquin was in +readiness at the gate of the zenana garden. A large cushion was +taken off a divan, and Isobel was laid upon it and covered with a +light shawl. Six of the female attendants lifted it and carried it +downstairs, accompanied by Rabda and the mistress off the zenana, +both closely veiled. Outside the gate was a large palanquin, with +its bearers and four soldiers and an officer. The cushion was lifted +and placed in the palanquin, and Rabda also took her place there. + +"Then you will not return today," the woman said to her, in a voice +loud enough to be heard by the officers "You will remain with her +for a time, and afterwards go to see your friends in the town. I +will send for you when I hear that you wish to return." + +The curtains of the palanquin were drawn down; the bearers lifted +it and started at once for Cawnpore. + +On arrival at the large building known as the Subada Ke Kothee the +gates were opened at once at the order of the Nana's officer, and +the palanquin was carried across the courtyard to the door of the +building which was used as a prison for the white women and children. +It was taken into the great arched room and set down. Rabda stepped +out, and the bearers lifted out the cushion upon which Isobel lay. + +"You will not be wanted any more," Rabda said, in a tone of authority. +"You can return to Bithoor at once!" + +As the door closed behind them several of the ladies came round to +see this fresh arrival. Rabda looked round till her eye fell upon +Mrs. Hunter, who was occupied in trying to hush a fractious child. +She put her hand on her arm and motioned to her to come along. +Surprised at the summons, Mrs. Hunter followed her. When they +reached the cushion Rabda lifted the shawl from Isobel's face. For +a moment Mrs. Hunter failed to recognize her, but as Isobel opened +her eyes and held out her hand she knew her, and with a cry of pity +she dropped on her knees beside her. + +"My poor child, what have these fiends been doing to you?" + +"They have been doing nothing, Mrs. Hunter," she whispered. "I am +not so bad as I seem, though I have suffered a great deal of pain. +I was carried away to Bithoor, to Nana Sahib's zenana, and I have +burnt my face with caustic and acid; they think I have some terrible +disease, and have sent me here." + +"Bravely done, girl! Bravely and nobly done! We had best keep the +secret to ourselves; there are constantly men looking through the +bars of the window, and some of them may understand English." + +Then she looked up and said, "It is Miss Hannay, she was captured +with us in the boats; please help me to carry her over to the wall +there, and my daughter and I will nurse her; it looks as if she +had been terribly burnt, somehow." + +Many of the ladies had met Isobel in the happy days before the +troubles began, and great was the pity expressed at her appearance. +She was carried to the side of the wall, where Mary and Mrs. +Hunter at once made her as comfortable as they could. Rabda, who +had now thrown back her veil, produced from under her dress the +net containing some fifty small limes, and handed to Mrs. Hunter +the pot of ointment and the lotion. + +"She has saved me," Isobel said; "it is the daughter of the juggler +who performed at your house, Mrs. Hunter; do thank her for me, and +tell her how grateful I am." + +Mrs. Hunter took Rabda's hand, and in her own language thanked her +for her kindness to Isobel. + +"I have done as I was told," Rabda said simply; "the Sahib Bathurst +saved my life, and when he said the lady must be rescued from the +hands of the Nana, it was only right that I should do so, even at +the risk of my life." + +"So Bathurst has escaped," Mrs. Hunter said, turning to Isobel. "I +am glad of that, dear; I was afraid that all were gone." + +"Yes, I had a note from him; it is by his means that I got away +from Bithoor. He sent me the caustic and acid to burn my face. He +told me Mr. Wilson had also escaped, and perhaps some others may +have got away, though he did not seem to know it." + +"But surely there could be no occasion to burn yourself as badly +as you have done, Isobel." + +"I am afraid I did put on too much acid," she said. "I was so afraid +of not burning it enough; but it does not matter, it does not pain +me nearly so much since I put on that ointment; it will soon get +well." + +Mrs. Hunter shook her head regretfully. + +"I am afraid it will leave marks for a long time." + +"That is of no consequence at all, Mrs. Hunter; I am so thankful +at being here with you, that I should mind very little if I knew +that it was always to be as bad as it is now. What does it matter?" + +"It does not matter at all at present, my dear; but if you ever +get out of this horrible place, some day you may think differently +about it." + +"I must go now," Rabda said. "Has the lady any message to send to +the sahib?" and she again handed a paper and pencil to Isobel. + +The girl took them, hesitating a little before writing: + +"Thank God you have saved me. Some day, perhaps, I may be able to +tell you how grateful I am; but, if not, you will know that if the +worst happens to us, I shall die blessing you for what you have +done for me. Pray do not linger longer in Cawnpore. You may be +discovered, and if I am spared, it would embitter my life always +to know that it had cost you yours. God bless you always. + +"Yours gratefully, + +"Isobel." + +She folded up the paper and gave it to Rabda, who took her hand and +kissed it; and then, drawing her veil again over her face, went to +the door, which stood open for the moment. + +Some men were bringing in a large cauldron of rice. The sentries +offered no opposition to her passing out, as the officer with the +palanquin had told them that a lady of the Rajah's zenana would +leave shortly. A similar message had been given to the officer at +the main gate, who, however, requested to see her hand and arm to +satisfy him that all was right. This was sufficient to assure him +that it was not a white woman passing out in disguise, and Rabda +at once proceeded to her father's house. + +As she expected, he and Bathurst were away, for she had arranged +to meet them at eight o'clock in the garden. They did not return +until eleven, having waited two hours for her, and returning home +in much anxiety at her non-appearance. + +"What has happened? Why did you not meet us, Rabda?" her father +exclaimed, as he entered. + +Rabda rapidly repeated the incidents that had happened since she +had parted from him the evening before, and handed to Bathurst the +two notes she had received from Isobel. + +"Then she is in safety with the others!" he exclaimed in delight. +"Thank God for that, and thank you, Rabda, indeed, for what you +have done." + +"My life is my lord's," the girl said quietly. "What I have done +is nothing." + +"If we had but known, Rujub, that she would be moved at once, we +might have rescued her on the way." + +Rujub shook his head. + +"There are far too many people along the road, sahib; it could +not have been done. But, of course, there was no knowing that she +would be sent off directly after the Nana had seen her." + +"Is she much disfigured, Rabda?" Bathurst asked. + +"Dreadfully;" the girl said sorrowfully. "The acid must have been +too strong." + +"It was strong, no doubt," Bathurst said; "but if she had put it +on as I instructed her it could only have burnt the surface of the +skin." + +"It has burnt her dreadfully, sahib; even I should hardly have +known her. She must be brave indeed to have done it. She must have +suffered dreadfully; but I obtained some ointment for her, and +she was better when I left her. She is with the wife of the Sahib +Hunter." + +"Now, Rabda, see if the meal is prepared," Rujub said. "We are both +hungry, and you can have eaten nothing this morning." + +He then left the room, leaving Bathurst to read the letters which +he still held in his hand, feeling that they were too precious to +be looked at until he was alone. + +It was some time before Rabda brought in his breakfast, and, glancing +at him, she saw how deeply he had been moved by the letters. She +went up to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. + +"We will get her for you, sahib. We have been successful so far, +be assured that we shall succeed again. What we have done is more +difficult than what we have to do. It is easier to get twenty +prisoners from a jail than one from a rajah's zenana." + +"That is true enough, Rabda. At the moment I was not thinking of +that, but of other things." + +He longed for sympathy, but the girl would not have understood him +had he told her his feelings. To her he was a hero, and it would +have seemed to her folly had he said that he felt himself altogether +unworthy of Isobel Hannay. After he had finished his breakfast +Rujub again came in. + +"What does the sahib intend to do now?" he asked. + +"As far as I can see there is nothing to do at present, Rujub," he +said. "When the white troops come up she will be delivered." + +"Then will my lord go down to Allahabad?" + +"Certainly not. There is no saying what may happen." + +"That is so," Rujub agreed. "The white women are safe at present, +but if, as the Sahib thinks, the white soldiers should beat the +troops of the Nana, who can say what will happen? The people will +be wild with rage, the Nana will be furious--he is a tiger who, +having once laid his paw on a victim, will not allow it to be torn +from him." + +"He can never allow them to be injured," Bathurst said. "It is +possible that as our troops advance he may carry them all off as +hostages, and by the threat of killing them may make terms for his +own life, but he would never venture to carry out his threats. You +think he would?" he asked. + +Rujub remained silent for a minute. + +"I think so, sahib; the Nana is an ambitious man; he has wealth and +everything most men would desire to make life happy, but he wanted +more: he thought that when the British Raj was destroyed he would +rule over the territories of the Peishwa, and be one of the greatest +lords of the land. He has staked everything on that; if he loses, +he has lost all. He knows that after the breach of his oath and the +massacre here, there is no pardon for him. He is a tiger--and a +wounded tiger is most dangerous. If he is, as you believe he will +be, defeated, I believe his one thought will be of revenge. Every +day brings news of fresh risings. Scindia's army will join us; +Holkar's will probably follow. All Oude is rising in arms. A large +army is gathering at Delhi. Even if the Nana is defeated here all +will not be lost. He has twenty thousand men; there are well nigh +two hundred thousand in arms round Lucknow alone. My belief is that +if beaten his first thought will be to take revenge at once on the +Feringhees, and to make his name terrible, and that he will then go +off with his army to Lucknow or Delhi, where he would be received +as one who has dared more than all others to defy the whites, who +has no hope of pardon, and can, therefore, be relied upon above +all others to fight to the last." + +"It may be so, Rujub, though I can scarce believe that there exists a +monster who would give orders for the murder of hundreds of women +and children in cold blood; but, at any rate, I will remain and +watch. We will decide upon what will be the best plan to rescue +her from the prison, if we hear that evil is intended; but, if not, +I can remain patiently until our troops arrive. I know the Subada +Ke Kothee; it is, if I remember right, a large quadrangle with no +windows on the outside." + +"That is so, sahib; it is a strong place, and difficult indeed to +get into or out of. There is only the main gate, which is guarded +at night by two sentries outside and there is doubtless a strong +guard within." + +"I would learn whether the same regiment always furnishes the guard; +if so, it might be possible to bribe them." + +"I am afraid it would be too dangerous to try. There are scores of +men in Cawnpore who would cut a throat for a rupee, but when it +comes to breaking open a prison to carry off one of these white +women whom they hate it would be too dangerous to try." + +"Could you not do something with your art, Rujub?" + +"If there were only the outside sentries it would be easy enough, +sahib. I could send them to sleep with a wave of my hand, but I +could not affect the men inside whom I do not know even by sight. +Besides, in addition to the soldiers who guard the gate, there will +be the men who have been told off to look after the prisoners. It +will require a great deal of thinking over, sahib, but I believe +we shall manage it. I shall go tomorrow to Bithoor and show myself +boldly to the Nana. He knows that I have done good service to him, +and his anger will have cooled down by this time, and he will listen +to what I have to say. It will be useful to us for me to be able +to go in and out of the palace at will, and so learn the first news +from those about him. It is most important that we should know if +he has evil intentions towards the captives, so that we may have +time to carry out our plans." + +"Very well, Rujub. You do not expect me to remain indoors, I hope, +for I should wear myself out if I were obliged to wait here doing +nothing." + +"No, sahib; it will be perfectly safe for you to go about just as +you are, and I can get you any other disguise you like. You will +gather what is said in the town, can listen to the Sepoys, and +examine the Subada Ke Kothee. If you like I will go there with you +now. My daughter shall come with us; she may be useful, and will +be glad to be doing something." + +They went out from the city towards the prison house, which stood +in an open space round which were several other buildings, some of +them surrounded with gardens and walls. + +The Subada Ke Kothee was a large building, forming three sides of +a square, a strong high wall forming the fourth side. It was low, +with a flat roof. There were no windows or openings in the outside +wall, the chambers all facing the courtyard. Two sentries were at +the gate. They were in the red Sepoy uniform, and Bathurst saw at +once how much the bonds of discipline had been relaxed. Both had +leaned their muskets against the wall; one was squatted on the +ground beside his firearm, and the other was talking with two or +three natives of his acquaintance. The gates were closed. + +As they watched, a native officer came up. He stood for a minute +talking with the soldiers. By his gesticulations it could be seen +he was exceedingly angry, and the men took their muskets and began +to walk up and down. Then the officer knocked at the gate. Instead +of its being opened, a man appeared at a loophole in the gate tower, +and the officer handed to him a paper. A minute later the gate was +opened sufficiently for him to pass in, and was then closed behind +him. + +"They are evidently pretty strict," Bathurst said. "I don't think, +Rujub, there is much chance of our doing anything there." + +Rujub shook his head. "No, sahib, it is clear they have strict +orders about opening and shutting the gate." + +"It would not be very difficult to scale the wall of the house," +Bathurst said, "with a rope and a hook at its end; but that is +only the first step. The real difficulty lies in getting the prison +room open in the first place--for no doubt they are locked up at +night--and in the second getting her out of it, and the building." + +"You could lower her down from the top of the wall, sahib." + +"Yes, if one could get her out of the room they are confined in +without making the slightest stir, but it is almost too much to +hope that one could be able to do that. The men in charge of them +are likely to keep a close watch, for they know that their heads +would pay for any captive they allowed to escape." + +"I don't think they will watch much, sahib; they will not believe +that any of the women, broken down as they must be by trouble, +would attempt such a thing, for even if they got out of the prison +itself and then made their escape from the building, they would be +caught before they could go far." + +"Where does the prison house lie, Rabda?" Bathurst asked. + +"It is on the left hand side as you enter the gate; it is the +farthest door. Along that side most of the buildings--which have +been used for storehouses, I should say, or perhaps for the guards +when the place was a palace--have two floors, one above the other. +But this is a large vaulted room extending from the ground to the +roof; it has windows with iron gratings; the door is very strong +and heavy." + +"And now, sahib, we can do nothing more," Rujub said. "I will return +home with Rabda, and then go over to Bithoor." + +"Very well, Rujub, I will stay here, and hear what people are +talking about." + +There were indeed a considerable number of people near the building: +the fact that the white prisoners were within seemed to exercise a +fascination, and even women brought their children and sat on the +banks which marked where gardens had once been, and talked of the +white captives. Bathurst strolled about among the groups of Sepoys +and townspeople. The former talked in loud tones of the little force +that had already started from Allahabad, and boasted how easily +they would eat up the Feringhees. It seemed, however, to Bathurst +that a good deal of this confidence was assumed, and that among +some, at least, there was an undercurrent of doubt and uneasiness, +though they talked as loudly and boldly as their companions. + +The townspeople were of two classes: there were the budmashes or +roughs of the place, who uttered brutal and ferocious jokes as to +the probable fate of the white women. There were others who kept +in groups apart and talked in low voices. These were the traders, +to whom the events that had taken place foreboded ruin. Already most +of the shops had been sacked, and many of the principal inhabitants +murdered by the mob. Those who had so far escaped, thanks in +some instances to the protection afforded them by Sepoy officers, +saw that their trade was ruined, their best customers killed, and +themselves virtually at the mercy of the mob, who might again break +out upon the occasion of any excitement. These were silent when +Bathurst approached them. His attire, and the arms so ostentatiously +displayed in his sash, marked him as one of the dangerous class, +perhaps a prisoner from the jail whose doors had been thrown open +on the first night of the Sepoy rising. + +For hours Bathurst remained in the neighborhood of the prison. The +sun set, and the night came on. Then a small party of soldiers came +up and relieved the sentries. This time the number of the sentries +at the gate was doubled, and three men were posted, one on each of +the other sides of the building. After seeing this done he returned +to the house. After he had finished his evening meal Rujub and +Rabda came into the room. + +"Now, sahib," the former said, "I think that we can tell you how +the lady is. Rabda has seen her, spoken to her, and touched her; +there is sympathy between them." + +He seated Rabda in a chair, placed his hand on her forehead, and +then drew the tips of his fingers several times slowly down her +face. Her eyes closed. He took up her hand, and let it fall again. +It was limp and impassive. Then he said authoritatively, "Go to +the prison." He paused a moment. + +"Are you there?" + +"I am there," she said. + +"Are you in the room where the ladies are?" + +"I am there," she repeated. + +"Do you see the lady Hannay?" + +"I see her." + +"How is she?" + +"She is lying quiet. The other young lady is sitting beside her. +The lower part of her face is bandaged up, but I can see that she is +not suffering as she was this morning. She looks quiet and happy." + +"Try and speak to her. Say, 'Keep up your courage, we are doing +what we can.' Speak, I order you." + +"I have spoken." + +"Did she hear you?" + +"Yes. She has raised herself on her arm; she is looking round; she +has asked the other young lady if she heard anything. The other +shakes her head. She heard my words, but does not understand them." + +Rujub looked at Bathurst, who mechanically repeated the message in +English. + +"Speak to her again. Tell her these words," and Rujub repeated the +message in English. + +"Does she hear you?" + +"She hears me. She has clasped her hands, and is looking round +bewildered." + +"That will do. Now go outside into the yard; what do you see there?" + +"I see eight men sitting round a fire. One gets up and walks to +one of the grated windows, and looks in at the prisoners." + +"Is the door locked?" + +"It is locked." + +"Where is the key?" + +She was silent for some time. + +"Where is the key?" he repeated. + +"In the lock," she said. + +"How many soldiers are there in the guardroom by the gate?" + +"There are no soldiers there. There are an officer and four men +outside, but none inside." + +"That will do," and he passed his hand lightly across her forehead. + +"Is it all true?" Bathurst asked, as the juggler turned to him. + +"Assuredly it is true, sahib. Had I had my daughter with me +at Deennugghur, I could have sent you a message as easily; as it +was, I had to trust only to the power of my mind upon yours. The +information is of use, sahib." + +"It is indeed. It is a great thing to know that the key is left in +the lock, and also that at night there are the prison keepers only +inside the building." + +"Does she know what she has been doing?" he asked, as Rabda languidly +rose from her chair. + +"No, sahib, she knows nothing after she has recovered from these +trances." + +"I will watch tomorrow night," Bathurst said, "and see at what +hour the sentries are relieved. It is evident that the Sepoys are +not trusted to enter the prison, which is left entirely to the +warders, the outside posts being furnished by some regiment in the +lines. It is important to know the exact hour at which the changes +are made, and perhaps you could find out tomorrow, Rujub, who these +warders are; whether they are permanently on duty, or are relieved +once a day." + +"I will do that, sahib; if they are changed we may be able to get +at some of them." + +"I have no money," Bathurst said; "but--" + +"I have money, sahib, and if they can be bribed, will do it; our +caste is a rich one. We sometimes receive large presents, and we +are everywhere made welcome. We have little need of money. I am +wealthy, and practice my art more because I love it than for gain. +There are few in the land that know the secrets that I do. Men die +without having sons to pass down their knowledge; thus it is the +number of those who possess the secrets of the ancient grows smaller +every day. There are hundreds of jugglers, but very few who know, +as I do, the secrets of nature, and can control the spirits of the +air. Did I need greater wealth than I have, Rabda could discover +for me all the hidden treasures of India; and I could obtain them, +guarded though they may be by djins and evil spirits." + +"Have you a son to come after you, Rujub?" + +"Yes; he is traveling in Persia, to confer with one or two of the +great ones there who still possess the knowledge of the ancient +magicians." + +"By the way, Rujub, I have not asked you how you got on with the +Nana." + +"It was easy enough," the juggler said. "He had lost all interest +in the affairs of Deennugghur, and greeted me at first as if +I had just returned from a journey. Then he remembered and asked +me suddenly why I had disobeyed his orders and given my voice for +terms being granted to the Feringhees. I said that I had obeyed his +orders; I understood that what he principally desired was to have +the women here as prisoners, and that had the siege continued the +Feringhees would have blown themselves into the air. Therefore the +only plan was to make terms with them, which would, in fact, place +them all in his power, as he would not be bound by the conditions +granted by the Oude men. He was satisfied, and said no more about +it, and I am restored to my position in his favor. Henceforth we +shall not have to trust to the gossip of the bazaars, but I shall +know what news is received and what is going to be done. + +"Your people at Delhi have beaten back the Sepoys several times, +and at Lucknow they resist stoutly. The Nana is very angry that the +place has not been taken, but from what I hear the intrenchments +there are much stronger than they were here, and even here they +were not taken by the sword, but because the whites had no shelter +from the guns, and could not go to the well without exposing +themselves to the fire. At Lucknow they have some strong houses +in the intrenchments, and no want of anything, so they can only be +captured by fighting. Everyone says they cannot hold out many days +longer, but that I do not know. It does not seem to me that there +is any hope of rescue for them, for even if, as you think, the +white troops should beat Nana Sahib's men, they never could force +their way through the streets of Lucknow to the intrenchments +there." + +"We shall see, Rujub. Deennugghur was defended by a mere handful, +and at Lucknow they have half a regiment of white soldiers. They +may, for anything I know, have to yield to starvation, but I doubt +whether the mutineers and Oude men, however numerous they may be, +will carry the place by assault. Is there any news elsewhere?" + +"None, sahib, save that the Feringhees are bringing down regiments +from the Punjaub to aid those at Delhi." + +"The tide is beginning to turn, Rujub; the mutineers have done their +worst, and have failed to overthrow the English Raj. Now you will +see that every day they will lose ground. Fresh troops will pour +up the country, and step by step the mutiny will be crushed out; +it is a question of time only. If you could call up a picture on +smoke of what will be happening a year hence, you would see the +British triumphant everywhere." + +"I cannot do that, sahib; I do not know what would appear on the +smoke, and were I to try, misfortune would surely come upon me. +When a picture of the past is shown on the smoke, it is not a past +I know of, but which one of those present knows. I cannot always +say which among them may know it; it is always a scene that has +made a strong impression on the mind, but more than that I do not +know. As to those of the future, I know even less; it is the work +of the power of the air, whose name I whisper to myself when I +pour out the incense, and to whom I pray. It is seldom that I show +these pictures; he gets angry if called upon too often. I never do +it unless I feel that he is propitious." + +"It is beyond me altogether, Rujub; I can understand your power +of sending messages, and of your daughter seeing at a distance. I +have heard of such things at home; they are called mesmerism and +clairvoyance. It is an obscure art; but that some men do possess +the power of influencing others at a distance seems to be undoubted, +still it is certainly never carried to such perfection as I see it +in your case." + +"It could not be," Rujub said; "white men eat too much, and it needs +long fasting and mortification to fit a man to become a mystic; +the spirit gains power as the body weakens. The Feringhees can make +arms that shoot long distances, and carriages that travel faster +than the fastest horse, and great ships and machines. They can do +many great and useful things, but they cannot do the things that +have been done for thousands of years in the East. They are tied +too fast to the earth to have aught to do with the spirits that +dwell in the air. A learned Brahmin, who had studied your holy +books, told me that your Great Teacher said that if you had faith +you could move mountains. We could well nigh do that if it were of +use to mankind; but were we to do so merely to show our power, we +should be struck dead. It is wrong even to tell you these things; +I must say no more." + +Four days passed. Rujub went every day for some hours to Bithoor, +and told Bathurst that he heard that the British force, of about +fourteen hundred whites and five hundred Sikhs, was pushing forward +rapidly, making double marches each day. + +"The first fight will be near Futtehpore," he said; "there are +fifteen hundred Sepoys, as many Oude tribesmen, and five hundred +cavalry with twelve guns, and they are in a very strong position, +which the British can only reach by passing along the road through +a swamp. It is a position that the officers say a thousand men +could hold against ten thousand." + +"You will see that it will not delay our troops an hour," Bathurst +said. "Do they imagine they are going to beat us, when the numbers +are but two to one in their favor? If so, they will soon learn that +they are mistaken." + +The next afternoon, when Rujub returned, he said, "You were right, +sahib; your people took Futtehpore after only half an hour's fighting. +The accounts say that the Feringhees came on like demons, and that +they did not seem to mind our firing in the slightest. The Nana +is furious, but they still feel confident that they will succeed +in stopping the Feringhees at Dong. They lost their twelve guns +at Futtehpore, but they have two heavy ones at the Pandoo Bridge, +which sweep the straight road leading to it for a mile; and the +bridge has been mined, and will be blown up if the Feringhees reach +it. But, nevertheless, the Nana swears that he will be revenged on +the captives. If you are to rescue the lady it must be done tonight, +for tomorrow it may be too late." + +"You surely do not think he will give orders for the murder of the +women and children?" + +"I fear he will do so," Rujub answered gloomily. + +Each day Bathurst had learned in the same manner as before what +was doing in the prison. Isobel was no longer being nursed; she +was assisting to nurse Mary Hunter, who had, the day after Isobel +was transferred to the prison, been attacked by fever, and was +the next day delirious. Rabda's report of the next two days left +little doubt in Bathurst's mind that she was rapidly sinking. All +the prisoners suffered greatly from the close confinement; many +had died, and the girl's description of the scenes she witnessed +was often interrupted by her sobs and tears. + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + +While Bathurst was busying himself completing his preparations for +the attempt, Rabda came in with her father. + +"My lord," she said, "I tremble at the thought of your venturing +your life. My life is of no importance, and it belongs to you. What +I would propose is this. My father will go to Bithoor, and will +obtain an order from one of the Nana's officers for a lady of the +zenana to visit the prisoners. I will go in veiled, as I was on +the day I went there. I will change garments with the lady, and +she can come out veiled, and meet you outside." + +"I would not dream of such a thing, Rabda. You would be killed to +a certainty when they discovered the trick. Even if I would consent +to the sacrifice, Miss Hannay would not do so. I am deeply grateful +to you for proposing it, but it is impossible. You will see that, +with the aid of your father, I shall succeed." + +"I told her that would be your answer, sahib," Rujub said, "but +she insisted on making the offer." + +It was arranged that they were to start at nine o'clock, as it was +safer to make the attempt before everything became quiet. Before +starting, Rabda was again placed in a trance. In reply to her father's +questions she said that Mary Hunter was dead, and that Isobel was +lying down. She was told to tell her that in an hour she was to be +at the window next to the door. + +Rujub had found that the men inside the prison were those who had +been employed as warders at the jail before the troubles began, +and he had procured for Bathurst a dress similar to that which they +wore, which was a sort of uniform. He had offered, if the attempt +was successful, to conceal Isobel in his house until the troops +reached Cawnpore, but Bathurst preferred to take her down the +country, upon the ground that every house might be searched, and +that possibly before the British entered the town there might be +a general sack of the place by the mob, and even if this did not +take place there might be desperate house to house fighting when +the troops arrived. Rujub acknowledged the danger, and said that +he and his daughter would accompany them on their way down country, +as it would greatly lessen their risk if two of the party were really +natives. Bathurst gratefully accepted the offer, as it would make +the journey far more tolerable for Isobel if she had Rabda with +her. + +She was to wait a short distance from the prison while Bathurst +made the attempt, and was left in a clump of bushes two or three +hundred yards away from the prison. Rujub accompanied Bathurst. +They went along quietly until within fifty yards of the sentry in +the rear of the house, and then stopped. The man was walking briskly +up and down. Rujub stretched out his arms in front of him with the +fingers extended. Bathurst, who had taken his place behind him, +saw his muscles stiffen, while there was a tremulous motion of his +fingers. In a minute or two the sentry's walk became slower. In a +little time it ceased altogether, and he leaned against the wall +as if drowsy; then he slid down in a sitting position, his musket +falling to the ground. + +"You can come along now," Rujub said; "he is fast asleep, and there +is no fear of his waking. He will sleep till I bid him wake." + +They at once moved forward to the wall of the house. Bathurst threw +up a knotted rope, to which was attached a large hook, carefully +wrapped in flannel to prevent noise. After three or four attempts +it caught on the parapet. Bathurst at once climbed up. As soon as +he had gained the flat terrace, Rujub followed him; they then pulled +up the rope, to the lower end of which a rope ladder was attached, +and fastened this securely; then they went to the inner side of the +terrace and looked down onto the courtyard. Two men were standing +at one of the grated windows of the prison room, apparently looking +in; six others were seated round a fire in the center of the court. + +Bathurst was about to turn away when Rujub touched him and pointed +to the two men at the window, and then stretched out his arms +towards them. Presently they turned and left the window, and in +a leisurely way walked across the court and entered a room where +a light was burning close to the grate. For two or three minutes +Rujub stood in the same position, then his arms dropped. + +"They have gone into the guard room to sleep," he said; "there are +two less to trouble you." + +Then he turned towards the group of men by the fire and fixed his +gaze upon them. In a short time one of them wrapped himself in +his cloth and lay down. In five minutes two others had followed +his example. Another ten minutes passed, and then Rujub turned +to Bathurst and said, "I cannot affect the other three; we cannot +influence everyone." + +"That will do, Rujub, it is my turn now." + +After a short search they found stairs leading down from the terrace, +and after passing through some empty rooms reached a door opening +into the courtyard. + +"Do you stay here, Rujub," Bathurst said. "They will take me for +one of themselves. If I succeed without noise, I shall come this +way; if not, we will go out through the gate, and you had best +leave by the way we came." + +The door was standing open, and Bathurst, grasping a heavy tulwar, +went out into the courtyard. Keeping close to the house, he +sauntered along until he reached the grated windows of the prison +room. Three lamps were burning within, to enable the guard outside +to watch the prisoners. He passed the two first windows; at the +third a figure was standing. She shrank back as Bathurst stopped +before it. + +"It is I, Miss Hannay--Bathurst. Danger threatens you, and you +must escape at once. Rabda is waiting for you outside. Please go +to the door and stand there until I open it. I have no doubt that +I shall succeed, but if anything should go wrong, go and lie down +again at once." + +Without waiting for an answer, he moved towards the fire. + +"Is that you, Ahmed?" one of the warders said. "We all seem sleepy +this evening, there is something in the air; I felt half inclined +to go off myself." + +"It is very hot tonight," Bathurst replied. + +There was something in his voice unfamiliar to the man, and with an +exclamation, "Who is it?" he sprang to his feet. But Bathurst was +now but three paces away, and with a bound was upon him, bringing +the tulwar down with such force upon his head that the man fell +lifeless without a groan. The other two leaped up with shouts of +"Treachery!" but Bathurst was upon them, and, aided by the surprise, +cut both down after a sharp fight of half a minute. Then he ran to +the prison door, turned the key in the lock, and opened it. + +"Come!" he exclaimed, "there is no time to be lost, the guards +outside have taken the alarm," for, by this time, there was a furious +knocking at the gate. "Wrap yourself up in this native robe." + +"But the others, Mr. Bathurst, can't you save them too?" + +"Impossible," he said. "Even if they got out, they would be overtaken +and killed at once. Come!" And taking her hand, he led her to the +gate. + +"Stand back here so that the gate will open on you," he said. Then +he undid the bar, shouting, "Treachery; the prisoners are escaping!" + +As he undid the last bolt the gate opened and the soldiers rushed +in, firing at random as they did so. Bathurst had stepped behind +the gate as it opened, and as the soldiers ran up the yard he took +Isobel's hand, and, passing through the gate, ran with her round +the building until he reached the spot where Rabda was awaiting +them. Half a minute later her father joined them. + +"Let us go at once, there is no time for talking," he said. "We must +be cautious, the firing will wake the whole quarter;" for by this +time loud shouts were being raised, and men, hearing the muskets +fired, were running towards the gate. Taking advantage of the shelter +of the shrubbery as much as they could, they hurried on until they +issued into the open country. + +"Do you feel strong enough to walk far?" Bathurst asked, speaking +for the first time since they left the gate. + +"I think so," she said; "I am not sure whether I am awake or +dreaming." + +"You are awake, Miss Hannay; you are safe out of that terrible +prison." + +"I am not sure," the girl said, speaking slowly; "I have been +strange since I went there. I have seemed to hear voices speaking +to me, though no one was there, and no one else heard them; and I +am not sure whether all this is not fancy now." + +"It is reality, Miss Hannay. Take my hand and you will see that +it is solid. The voices you heard were similar to those I heard at +Deennugghur; they were messages I sent you by means of Rujub and +his daughter." + +"I did think of what you told me and about the juggler, but it +seemed so strange. I thought that my brain was turning with trouble; +it was bad enough at Deennugghur, but nothing to what it has been +since that dreadful day at Bithoor. There did not seem much hope +at Deennugghur. But somehow we all kept up, and, desperate as +it seemed, I don't think we ever quite despaired. You see, we all +knew each other; besides, no one could give way while the men were +fighting and working so hard for us; but at Cawnpore there seemed +no hope. There was not one woman there but had lost husband or father. +Most of them were indifferent to life, scarcely ever speaking, and +seeming to move in a dream, while others with children sat holding +them close to them as if they dreaded a separation at any moment. +There were a few who were different, who moved about and nursed the +children and sick, and tried to comfort the others, just as Mrs. +Hunter did at Deennugghur. There was no crying and no lamenting. It +would have been a relief if anyone had cried, it was the stillness +that was so trying; when people talked to each other they did it +in a whisper, as they do in a room where someone is lying dead. + +"You know Mary Hunter died yesterday? Well, Mrs. Hunter quite put +aside her own grief and tried to cheer others. I told her the last +message I received, and asked her to go with me if it should be +true. She said, 'No, Isobel; I don't know whether this message is +a dream, or whether God has opened a way of escape for you--if +so, may He be thanked; but you must go alone--one might escape +where two could not. As for me, I shall wait here for whatever +fate God may send me. My husband and my children have gone before +me. I may do some good among these poor creatures, and here I shall +stay. You are young and full of life, and have many happy days in +store for you. My race is nearly run--even did I wish for life, +I would not cumber you and your friends; there will be perils to +encounter and fatigues to be undergone. Had not Mary left us I would +have sent her with you, but God did not will it so. Go, therefore, +to the window, dear, as you were told by this message you think +you have received, but do not be disappointed if no one comes. If +it turns out true, and there is a chance of escape, take it, dear, +and may God be with you.' As I stood at the window, I could not go +at once, as you told me, to the door; I had to stand there; I saw +it all till you turned and ran to the door, and then I came to meet +you." + +"It was a pity you saw it," he said gently. + +"Why? Do you think that, after what I have gone through, I was +shocked at seeing you kill three of those wretches? Two months ago +I suppose I should have thought it dreadful, but those two months +have changed us altogether. Think of what we were then and what +we are now. There remain only you, Mrs. Hunter, myself, and your +letter said, Mr. Wilson. Is he the only one?" + +"Yes, so far as we know." + +"Only we four, and all the others gone--Uncle and. Mary and Amy +and the Doolans and the dear Doctor, all the children. Why, if the +door had been open, and I had had a weapon, I would have rushed +out to help you kill. I shudder at myself sometimes." + +After a pause she went on. "Then none of those in the other boat +came to shore, Mr. Bathurst, except Mr. Wilson?" + +"I fear not. The other boat sank directly. Wilson told me it was +sinking as he sprang over. You had better not talk any more, Miss +Hannay, for you are out of breath now, and will need all your +strength." + +"Yes, but tell me why you have taken me away; you said there was +great danger?" + +"Our troops are coming up," he said, "and I had reason to fear that +when the rebels are defeated the mob may break open the prison." + +"They surely could not murder women and children who have done them +no harm!" + +"There is no saying what they might do, Miss Hannay, but that was +the reason why I dared not leave you where you were. I will tell +you more about it afterwards. Now, please take my arm, we must be +miles away from here before morning. They will find out then that +you have escaped, and will no doubt scour the country." + +They had left the road and were passing through the fields. Isobel's +strength failed rapidly, as soon as the excitement that had at +first kept her up subsided. Rujub several times urged Bathurst to +go faster, but the girl hung more and more heavily on his arm. + +"I can't go any farther," she said at last; "it is so long since +I walked, and I suppose I have got weak. I have tried very hard, +but I can scarcely drag my feet along. You had better leave me; +you have done all you could to save me. I thank you so much. Only +please leave a pistol with me. I am not at all afraid of dying, +but I will not fall into their hands again." + +"We must carry her, Rujub," Bathurst said; "she is utterly exhausted +and worn out, and no wonder. If we could make a sort of stretcher, +it would be easy enough." + +Rujub took the cloth from his shoulders, and laid it on the ground +by the side of Isobel, who had now sunk down and was lying helpless. + +"Lift her onto this, sahib, then we will take the four corners and +carry her; it will be no weight." + +Bathurst lifted Isobel, in spite of her feeble protest, and laid +her on the cloth. + +"I will take the two corners by her head," Bathurst said, "if you +will each take one of the others." + +"No, sahib, the weight is all at the head; you take one corner, +and I will take the other. Rabda can take the two corners at the +feet. We can change about when we like." + +Isobel had lost greatly in weight since the siege of Deennugghur +began, and she was but a light burden for her three bearers, who +started with her at a speed considerably greater than that at which +she had walked. + +"Which way are you taking us, Rujub?" Bathurst asked presently; "I +have lost my bearings altogether." + +"I am keeping near the river, sahib. I know the country well. We +cannot follow the road, for there the Rajah's troops and the Sepoys +and the Oude men are gathered to oppose your people. They will fight +tomorrow at Dong, as I told you, but the main body is not far from +here. We must keep far away from them, and if your people take Dong +we can then join them if we like. This road keeps near the river +all the way, and we are not likely to meet Sepoys here, as it is +by the other road the white troops are coming up." + +After four hours' walking, Rujub said, "There is a large wood just +ahead. We will go in there. We are far enough off Cawnpore to be +safe from any parties they may send out to search. If your people +take Dong tomorrow, they will have enough to think of in Cawnpore +without troubling about an escaped prisoner. Besides," he added, +"if the Rajah's orders are carried out, at daybreak they will not +know that a prisoner has escaped; they will not trouble to count." + +"I cannot believe it possible they will carry out such a butchery, +Rujub." + +"We shall see, sahib. I did not tell you all I knew lest we should +fail to carry off the lady, but I know the orders that have been +given. Word has been sent round to the butchers of the town, and +tomorrow morning soon after daybreak it will be done." + +Bathurst gave an exclamation of horror, for until now he had hardly +believed it was possible that even Nana Sahib could perpetrate so +atrocious a massacre. Not another word was spoken until they entered +the wood. + +"Where is the river, Rujub?" + +"A few hundred yards to the left, sahib; the road is half a mile +to the right. We shall be quite safe here." + +They made their way for some little distance into the wood, and +then laid down their burden. + +They had taken to the spot where Rabda remained when the others +went forward towards the prison a basket containing food and three +bottles of wine, and this Rujub had carried since they started +together. As soon as the hammock was lowered to the ground, Isobel +moved and sat up. + +"I am rested now. Oh, how good you have all been! I was just going +to tell you that I could walk again. I am quite ready to go on +now." + +"We are going to halt here till tomorrow evening, Miss Hannay; +Rujub thinks we are quite beyond any risk of pursuit now. You must +first eat and drink something, and then sleep as long as you can. +Rabda has brought a native dress for you and dye for staining your +skin, but there is no occasion for doing that till tomorrow; the +river is only a short distance away, and in the morning you will +be able to enjoy a wash." + +The neck was knocked off a bottle. Rabda had brought in the basket +a small silver cup, and Isobel, after drinking some wine and eating +a few mouthfuls of food, lay down by her and was soon fast asleep. +Bathurst ate a much more hearty meal. Rujub and his daughter said +that they did not want anything before morning. + +The sun was high before Bathurst woke. Rujub had lighted a fire, +and was boiling some rice in a lota. + +"Where is Miss Hannay?" Bathurst asked, as he sat up. + +"She has gone down to the river with Rabda. The trees hang down +well over the water, and they can wash without fear of being seen +on the opposite shore. I was going to wake you when the lady got +up, but she made signs that you were to be allowed to sleep on." + +In half an hour the two girls returned. Isobel was attired in a +native dress, and her face, neck, arms, feet, and ankles had been +stained to the same color as Rabda's. She came forward a little +timidly, for she felt strange and uncomfortable in her scanty +attire. Bathurst gave an exclamation of pain as he saw her face. + +"How dreadfully, you have burnt yourself, Miss Hannay; surely you +cannot have followed the instructions I gave you." + +"No; it is not your fault at all, Mr. Bathurst; I put a great deal +more on than you said, but I was so anxious to disfigure myself +that I was determined to do it thoroughly; but it is nothing to +what it was. As you see, my lips are getting all right again, and +the sores are a good deal better than they were; I suppose they +will leave scars, but that won't trouble me." + +"It is the pain you must have suffered that I am thinking of," he +replied. "As to the scars, I hope they will wear out in time; you +must indeed have suffered horribly." + +"They burnt dreadfully for a time," the girl answered; "but for the +last two or three days I have hardly felt it, though, of course, +it is very sore still." + +"Do you feel ready for breakfast, Miss Hannay?" + +"Quite ready, and for a walk as long as you like afterwards. I +feel quite another creature after my dip. That was one of the worst +things in the prison. We had scarcely water enough to drink, and +none to wash with, and, of course, no combs nor anything." + +They sat down together and ate the cold food they had brought, +while Rabda and her father made their breakfast of rice. + +"What has become of Mr. Wilson?" Isobel asked suddenly. "I wondered +about him as I was being carried along last night, but I was too +tired to talk afterwards." + +"I hope he is either safe at Allahabad by this time, or is with +the troops marching up. The Zemindar's son, who came down with us +as an escort, and one of his men got safely to shore also, and they +went on with Wilson. When he found I was going to stay at Cawnpore +to try and rescue you, he pleaded very hard that I should keep +him with me in order that he might share in the attempt, but his +ignorance of the language might have been fatal, and his being with +me would have greatly added to the difficulty, so I was obliged to +refuse him. It was only because I told him that instead of adding +to, he would lessen your chance of escape, that he consented to go, +for I am sure he would willingly have laid down his life to save +yours." + +"I am very glad he is safe; he is very kind hearted and nice, Mr. +Bathurst, and a thoroughly natural, unaffected young fellow, very +loyal and stanch. I am quite sure he would have done anything he +could, even at the risk of his life." + +"I like him very much, too, Miss Hannay. Before the siege I thought +him a careless, happy go lucky lad, but as I got to know him well, +I found he was much more than that, and he will make a good man +and an excellent officer one of these days if he is spared. He is +thoroughly brave without the slightest brag--an excellent specimen +of the best class of public school boy." + +"And who are the troops coming up, Mr. Bathurst? How strong are +they? I have heard nothing about them." + +"About twelve hundred white troops and four or five hundred Sikhs; +at least that is what the natives put them at." + +"But surely they will never be able to fight their way to Cawnpore, +where there are the mutineers and Nana Sahib's troops and the +Oude men and the people of the town. Why, there must be ten to one +against them." + +"Not far short of that, I think, but I feel sure our men will do it. +They know of the treachery of the Nana, they know of the massacre +by the river, and they know that the women and children are prisoners +in his hands, and do you think that men who know these things can +be beaten? The Sepoys met them in superior force and in a strong +position at Futtehpore, and they drove them before them like chaff. +They will have harder work next time, but I have no shadow of fear +of the result." + +Then their talk went back to Deennugghur and of their friends there +--the Doolans, the Hunters, the Rintouls, and others--and Isobel +wept freely over their fate. + +"Next to my uncle I shall miss the Doctor," she said. + +"He was an awfully good fellow," Bathurst said, "and was the only +real friend I have had since I came to India, I would have done +anything for him." + +"When shall we start?" Isobel asked presently. + +"Directly the sun goes down a little. You would find it terribly +hot now. I have been talking it over with Rujub, and he says it +is better not to make a long journey today. We are not more than +twenty miles from Dong, and it would not do to move in that direction +until we know how things have gone; therefore, if we start at three +o'clock and walk till seven or eight, it will be quite far enough." + +"He seems a wonderful man," said Isobel. "You remember that talk +we had at dinner, before we went to see him at the Hunters!" + +"Yes," he said. "As you know, I was a believer then, and so was +the Doctor. I need not say that I believe still more now that these +men do wholly unaccountable feats. He put the sentry outside the +walls of your prison and five out of your eight warders so sound +asleep that they did not wake during the struggle I had with the +others. That, of course, was mesmerism. His messages to you were +actually sent by means of his daughter. She was put in a sort of +trance, in which she saw you and told us what you were doing, and +communicated the message her father gave her to you. He could not +send you a message nor tell me about you when you were first at +Bithoor, because he said Rabda was not in sympathy with you, but +after she had seen you and touched you and you had kissed her, +she was able to do so. There does not appear to me to be anything +beyond the powers of nature in that, though doubtless powers were +called into play of which at present we know nothing. But we do +know that minds act upon each other. Possibly certain persons in +sympathy with each other may be able to act upon each other from a +distance, especially when thrown into the sort of trance which is +known as the clairvoyant state. I always used to look upon that as +humbug, but I need hardly say I shall in future be ready to believe +almost anything. He professes to have other and even greater +powers than what we have seen. At any rate, he can have no motive +in deceiving me when he has risked his life to help me. Do you +know, Rabda offered to go into the prison--her father could have +got her an order to pass in--and then to let you go out in her +dress while she remained in your stead. I could not accept the +sacrifice even to save you, and I was sure had I done so you yourself +would have refused to leave." + +"Of course. But how good of her. Please tell her that you have told +me, and how grateful I am for her offer." + +Bathurst called Rabda, who was sitting a short distance away. + +She took the hand that Isobel held out to her and placed it against +her forehead. + +"My life is yours, sahib," she said simply to Bathurst. "It was +right that I should give it for this lady you love." + +"What does she say?" Isobel asked. + +"She says that she owed me her life for that tiger business, you +know, and was ready to give it for you because I had set my mind +on saving you." + +"Is that what she really said, Mr. Bathurst?" Isobel asked quietly, +for he had hesitated a little in changing its wording. + +"That was the sense of it, I can assure you. Not only was she ready +to make the sacrifice, but her father consented to her doing so. +These Hindoos are capable of gratitude, you see. There are not many +English who would be ready thus to sacrifice themselves for a man +who had accidentally, as I may say, saved their lives." + +"Not accidentally, Mr. Bathurst. Why do you always try to run +yourself down? I suppose you will say next you saved my life by an +accident." + +"The saving of your life is due chiefly to these natives." + +"But they were only your instruments, Mr. Bathurst; they had no +interest in saving me. You had bought their services at the risk +of your life, and in saving me they were paying that debt to you." + +At three o'clock they prepared for the start. Bathurst had exchanged +the warder's dress for one of a peasant, which they had brought +with them. The woods were of no great width, and Rujub said they +had better follow the road now. + +"No one will suspect us of being anything but what we seem," he +said. "Should we meet any peasants, their talk will be with you and +me. They will ask no questions about the women; but if there is a +woman among them, and she speaks, Rabda will answer her." + +For hours they had heard dull sounds in the air, which Bathurst +had recognized at once as distant artillery, showing that the fight +was going on near Dong. + +"The Sepoys are making a stout resistance, or the firing would not +last so long," he said to Rujub, as they walked through the wood +towards the road. + +"They have two positions to defend, sahib. The Nana's men will +fight first at a strong village two miles beyond Dong; if they are +beaten there, they will fight again at the bridge I told you of." + +"That would partly account for it; but the Sepoys must be fighting +much better than they did at Futtehpore, for there, as you said, +the white troops swept the Sepoys before them." + +When they reached the edge of the wood Bathurst said, "I will see +that the road is clear before we go out. If anyone saw us issuing +out of the wood they might wonder what we had been after." + +He went to the edge of the bushes and looked down the long straight +road. There was only a solitary figure in sight. It seemed to be +an old man walking lame with a stick. Bathurst was about to turn +and tell the others to come out, when he saw the man stop suddenly, +turn round to look back along the road, stand with his head bent +as if listening, then run across the road with much more agility +than he had before seemed to possess, and plunge in among the trees. + +"Wait," he said to those behind him, "something is going on. A +peasant I saw in the road has suddenly dived into the wood as if +he was afraid of being pursued. Ah!" he exclaimed a minute later, +"there is a party of horsemen coming along at a gallop--get +farther back into the wood." + +Presently they heard the rapid trampling of horses, and looking +through the bushes they saw some twenty sowars of one of the native +cavalry regiments dash past. + +Bathurst went to the edge of the wood again, and looked out. Then +he turned suddenly to Isobel. + +"You remember those pictures on the smoke?" he said excitedly. + +"No, I do not remember them," she said, in surprise. "I have often +wondered at it, but I have never been able to recollect what they +were since that evening. I have often thought they were just like +dreams, where one sees everything just as plainly as if it were +a reality, and then go out of your mind altogether as soon as you +are awake." + +"It has been just the same with me," replied Bathurst, "except +that once or twice they have come back for a moment quite vividly. +One of them I have not thought of for some days, but now I see it +again. Don't you remember there was a wood, and a Hindoo man and +woman stepped out of it, and a third native came up to them?" + +"Yes, I remember now," she said eagerly; "it was just as we are +here; but what of that, Mr. Bathurst?" + +"Did you recognize any of them?" + +"Yes, yes, it all comes back to me now. It was you and the Doctor, +certainly, and I thought the woman was myself. I spoke to the +Doctor next day about it, but he laughed at it all, and I have +never thought of it since." + +"The Doctor and I agreed, when we talked it over that evening, that +the Hindoo who stepped out of the wood was myself, and thought that +you were the Hindoo girl, but of that we were not so sure, for your +face seemed not only darkened, but blotched and altered--it was +just as you are now--and the third native was the Doctor himself; +we both felt certain of that. It has come true, and I feel absolutely +certain that the native I saw along the road will turn out to be +the Doctor." + +"Oh, I hope so, I hope so!" the girl cried, and pressed forward +with Bathurst to the edge of the wood. + +The old native was coming along on the road again. As he approached, +his eye fell on the two figures, and with a Hindoo salutation he +was passing on, when Isobel cried, "It is the Doctor!" and rushing +forward she threw her arms round his neck. + +"Isobel Hannay!" he cried in delight and amazement; "my dear little +girl, my dear little girl, thank God you are saved; but what have +you been doing with yourself, and who is this with you?" + +"You knew me when you saw me in the picture on the smoke, Doctor," +Bathurst said, grasping his hand, "though you do not know me in +life." + +"You, too, Bathurst!" the Doctor exclaimed, as he wrung his hand; +"thank God for that, my dear boy; to think that both of you should +have been saved--it seems a miracle. The picture on the smoke? +Yes, we were speaking of it that last night at Deennugghur, and I +never have thought of it since. Is there anyone else?" + +"My friend the juggler and his daughter are with us, Doctor." + +"Then I can understand the miracle," the Doctor said, "for I believe +that fellow could take you through the air and carry you through +stone walls with a wave of his hand." + +"Well, he has not exactly done that, but he and his daughter have +rendered us immense service. I could have done nothing without +them." + +The two natives, seeing through the bushes the recognition that +had taken place, had now stepped forward and salaamed as the Doctor +spoke a few hearty words to them. + +"But where have you sprung from, Doctor? How were you saved?" + +"I jumped overboard when those scoundrels opened fire," the Doctor +said. "I kept my wits about me, and said to myself that if I were +to swim for the opposite shore the chances were that I should get +shot down, so I made a long dive, came up for air, and then went +down again, and came up the next time under some bushes by the +bank; there I remained all night. The villains were only a few yards +away, and I could hear every word they said. I heard the boat come +ashore, and although I could have done no good by rushing out, I +think I should have done so if I had had any weapon about me, and +have tried to kill one or two of them before I went down. As it +was, I waited until morning. Then I heard the rumble of the guns +and the wagons, and knew that they were off. I waited for another +hour to make sure, and then stepped ashore. I went to the boat lying +by the bank. When I saw that Isobel and the other two ladies were +not there, I knew that they must have been carried off into Cawnpore. +I waited there until night, and then made my way to a peasant's house +a mile out of the town. I had operated upon him for elephantiasis +two years ago, and the man had shown himself grateful, and had +occasionally sent me in little presents of fowls and so on. He +received me well, gave me food, which I wanted horribly, stained my +skin, and rigged me out in this disguise. The next morning I went +into the town, and for the last four or five days have wandered +about there. There was nothing I could do, and yet I felt that I +could not go away, but must stay within sight of the prison where +you were all confined till our column arrived. But this morning I +determined to come down to join our people who are fighting their +way up, little thinking that I should light upon you by the way." + +"We were just going to push on, Doctor; but as you have had a good +long tramp already, we will stop here until tomorrow morning, if +you like." + +"No, no, let us go on, Bathurst. I would rather be on the move, +and you can tell me your story as we go." + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + +Bathurst knew the Doctor well, and perceived that glad as he was +to have met them, he was yet profoundly depressed in spirits. This, +added to the fact that he had left Cawnpore that morning, instead +of waiting as he had intended, convinced Bathurst that what he dreaded +had taken place. He waited until Isobel stopped for a moment, that +Rabda might rearrange the cloth folded round her in its proper +draping. Then he said quickly, "I heard yesterday what was intended, +Doctor. Is it possible that it has been done?" + +"It was done this morning." + +"What, all? Surely not all, Doctor?" + +"Every soul--every woman and child. Think of it--the fiends! +the devils! The native brought me the news. If I had heard it in +the streets of Cawnpore I should have gone mad and seized a sword +and run amuck. As it was, I was well nigh out of mind. I could not +stay there. The man would have sheltered me until the troops came +up, but I was obliged to be moving, so I started down. Hush! here +comes Isobel; we must keep it from her." + +"Now, Isobel," he went on, as the girl joined them, and they all +started along the road, "tell me how it is I find you here." + +"Mr. Bathurst must tell you, Doctor; I cannot talk about it yet-- +I can hardly think about it." + +"Well, Bathurst, let us hear it from you." + +"It is a painful story for me to have to tell." + +Isobel looked up in surprise. + +"Painful, Mr. Bathurst? I should have thought--" and she stopped. + +"Not all painful, Miss Hannay, but in parts. I would rather tell +you, Doctor, when we have finished our journey this evening, if +your curiosity will allow you to wait so long." + +"I will try to wait," the Doctor replied, "though I own it is a +trial. Now, Isobel, you have not told me yet what has happened to +your face. Let me look at it closer, child. I see your arms are +bad, too. What on earth has happened to you?" + + +"I burnt myself with acid, Doctor. Mr. Bathurst will tell you all +about it." + +"Bless me, mystery seems to thicken. Well, you have got yourself +into a pretty pickle. Why, child, burns of that sort leave scars +as bad as if you had been burnt by fire. You ought to be in a dark +room with your face and hands bandaged, instead of tramping along +here in the sun." + +"I have some lotions and some ointment, Doctor. I have used them +regularly since it was done, and the places don't hurt me much +now." + +"No, they look healthy enough," he said, examining them closely. +"Granulation is going on nicely; but I warn you you will be disfigured +for months, and it may be years before you get rid of the scars. I +doubt, indeed, if you will ever get rid of them altogether. Well, +well, what shall we talk about?" + +"I will take pity on you, Doctor. I will walk on ahead with Rabda +and her father, and Mr. Bathurst can then tell you his story." + +"That will be the best plan, my dear. Now then, Bathurst, fire +away," he said, when the others had gone on thirty or forty yards +ahead. + +"Well, Doctor, you remember that you were forward talking to the +young Zemindar, and I was sitting aft by the side of Miss Hannay, +when they opened fire?" + +"I should think I do remember it," the Doctor said, "and I am not +likely to forget it if I live to be a hundred. Well, what about +that?" + +"I jumped overboard," Bathurst said, laying his hand impressively +upon the Doctor's shoulder. "I gave a cry, I know I did, and I +jumped overboard." + +The Doctor looked at him in astonishment. + +"Well, so did I, like a shot. But what do you say it in that tone +for? Of course you jumped overboard. If you hadn't you would not +be here now." + +"You don't understand me, Doctor," Bathurst said gloomily. "I was +sitting there next to Isobel Hannay--the woman I loved. We were +talking in low tones, and I don't know why, but at that moment +the mad thought was coming into my mind that, after all, she cared +for me, that in spite of the disgrace I had brought upon myself, +in spite of being a coward, she might still be mine; and as I was +thinking this there came the crash of a cannon. Can it be imagined +possible that I jumped up like a frightened hare, and without +a thought of her, without a thought of anything in my mad terror, +jumped overboard and left her behind to her fate? If it had not +been that as soon as I recovered my senses--I was hit on the head +just as I landed, and knew nothing of what happened until I found +myself in the bushes with young Wilson by my side--the thought +occurred to me that I would rescue her or die in the attempt, I +would have blown out my brains." + +"But, bless my heart, Bathurst," the Doctor said earnestly, "what +else could you have done? Why, I jumped overboard without stopping to +think, and so did everyone else who had power to do so, no doubt. +What good could you have done if you had stayed? What good would +it have done to the girl if you had been killed? Why, if you had +been killed, she would now be lying mangled and dead with the others +in that ghastly prison. You take too morbid a view of this matter +altogether." + +"There was no reason why you should not have jumped overboard, +Doctor, nor the others. Don't you see I was with the woman I loved? +I might have seized her in my arms and jumped overboard with her, +and swam ashore with her, or I might have stayed and died with her. +I thought of my own wretched life, and I deserted her." + +"My dear Bathurst, you did not think of your life. I don't think +any of us stopped to think of anything; but, constituted as you +are, the impulse must have been overpowering. It is nonsense your +taking this matter to heart. Why, man, if you had stopped, you +would have been murdered when the boat touched the shore, and do +you think it would have made her happier to have seen you killed +before her eyes? If you had swam ashore with her, the chances are +she would have been killed by that volley of grape, for I saw eight +or ten bodies lying on the sands, and you yourself were, you say, +hit. You acted upon impulse, I grant, but it was upon a wise impulse. +You did the very best thing that could have been done, and your +doing so made it possible that Isobel Hannay should be rescued from +what would otherwise have been certain death." + +"It has turned out so, Doctor," Bathurst said gloomily, "and I +thank God that she is saved. But that does not alter the fact that +I, an English gentleman by birth, thought only of myself, and left +the woman I loved, who was sitting by my side, to perish. But do +not let us talk any more about it. It is done and over. There is +an end of it. Now I will tell you the story." + +The Doctor listened silently until he heard of Isobel's being taken +to Bithoor. "The atrocious villain!" he exclaimed. "I have been +lamenting the last month that I never poisoned the fellow, and now +--but go on, go on. How on earth did you get her away?" + +Bathurst told the whole story, interrupted by many exclamations +of approval by the Doctor; especially when he learned why Isobel +disfigured herself. + +"Well done!" he exclaimed; "I always knew that she was a plucky +girl, and it needed courage, I can tell you, to burn herself as she +has done, to say nothing of risking spoiling her beauty for life. +No slight sacrifice for a woman." + +Bathurst passed lightly over his fight in the courtyard, but the +Doctor questioned him as to the exact facts. + +"Not so bad for a coward, Bathurst," he said dryly. + +"There was no noise," Bathurst said; "if they had had pistols, and +had used them, it might have been different. Heaven knows, but +I don't think that then, with her life at stake, I should have +flinched; I had made up my mind they would have pistols, but I hope +--I think that my nerves would not have given way then." + +"I am sure they wouldn't, Bathurst. Well, go on with your story." + +"Well, how did you feel then?" he asked, when Bathurst described +how the guard rushed in through the gate firing, "for it is the +noise, and not the danger, that upsets you?" + +"I did not even think of it," Bathurst said, in some surprise. +"Now you mention it, I am astonished that I was not for a minute +paralyzed, as I always am, but I did not feel anything of the sort; +they rushed in firing as I told you, and directly they had gone I +took her hand and we ran out together." + +"I think it quite possible, Bathurst, that your nervousness may +have gone forever. Now that once you have heard guns fired close to +you without your nerves giving way as usual, it is quite possible +that you might do so again. I don't say that you would, but it +is possible, indeed it seems to me to be probable. It may be that +the sudden shock when you jumped into the water, acting upon your +nerves when in a state of extreme tension, may have set them right, +and that bullet graze along the top of the skull may have aided the +effect of the shock. Men frequently lose their nerve after a heavy +fall from a horse, or a sudden attack by a tiger, or any other +unexpected shock. It may be that with you it has had the reverse +consequence." + +"I hope to God that it may be so, Doctor," Bathurst said, with deep +earnestness. "It is certainly extraordinary I should not have felt +it when they fired within a few feet of my head. If we get down +to Allahabad I will try. I will place myself near a gun when it is +going to be fired; and if I stand that I will come up again and join +this column as a volunteer, and take part in the work of vengeance. +If I can but once bear my part as a man, they are welcome to kill +me in the next engagement." + +"Pooh! pooh! man. You are not born to be killed in battle. After +making yourself a target on the roof at Deennugghur, and jumping +down in the middle of the Sepoys in the breach, and getting through +that attack in the boats, I don't think you are fated to meet your +end with a bullet. Well, now let us walk on, and join the others. +Isobel must be wondering how much longer we are going to talk +together. She cannot exchange a word with the natives; it must be +dull work for her. She is a great deal thinner than she was before +these troubles came on. You see how differently she walks. She +has quite lost that elastic step of hers, but I dare say that is a +good deal due to her walking with bare feet instead of in English +boots--boots have a good deal to do with a walk. Look at the +difference between the walk of a gentleman who has always worn +well fitting boots and that of a countryman who has gone about in +thick iron shod boots all his life. Breeding goes for something, +no doubt, and alters a man's walk just as it alters a horse's gait." + +Bathurst could not help laughing at the Doctor dropping into his +usual style of discussing things. + +"Are your feet feeling tender, Isobel?" the latter asked cheerfully, +as he overtook those in front. + +"No, Doctor," she said, with a smile; "I don't know that I was ever +thankful for dust before, but I am now; it is so soft that it is +like walking on a carpet, but, of course, it feels very strange." + +"You have only to fancy, my dear, that you are by the seaside, +walking down from your bathing machine across the sands; once get +that in your mind and you will get perfectly comfortable." + +"It requires too great a stretch of the imagination, Doctor, to +think for a moment, in this sweltering heat, that I am enjoying a +sea breeze on our English coast. It is silly, of course, to give +it even a thought, when one is accustomed to see almost every woman +without shoes. I think I should mind it more than I do if my feet +were not stained. I don't know why, but I should. But please don't +talk about it. I try to forget it, and to fancy that I am really +a native." + +They met but few people on the road. Those they did meet passed +them with the usual salutation. There was nothing strange in a +party of peasants passing along the road. They might have been at +work at Cawnpore, and be now returning to their native village to +get away from the troubles there. After it became dark they went +into a clump of trees half a mile distant from a village they could +see along the road. + +"I will go in," Rujub said, "and bring some grain, and hear what +the news is." + +He returned in an hour. "The English have taken Dong," he said; +"the news came in two hours ago. There has been some hard fighting; +the Sepoys resisted stoutly at the village, even advancing beyond +the inclosures to meet the British. They were driven back by the +artillery and rifle fire, but held the village for some time before +they were turned out. There was a stand made at the Pandoo Bridge, +but it was a short one. The force massed there fell back at once +when the British infantry came near enough to rush forward at the +charge, and in their hurry they failed to blow up the bridge." + +A consultation was held as to whether they should try to join the +British, but it was decided that as the road down to Allahabad +would be rendered safe by their advance, it would be better to keep +straight on. + +The next day they proceeded on their journey, walking in the early +morning, halting as soon as the sun had gained much power, and going +on again in the cool of the evening. After three days' walking they +reached the fort of Allahabad. It was crowded with ladies who had +come in from the country round. Most of the men were doing duty with +the garrison, but some thirty had gone up with Havelock's column +as volunteer cavalry, his force being entirely deficient in that +arm. + +As soon as the Doctor explained who they were, they were received +with the greatest kindness, and Isobel was at once carried off by +the ladies, while Bathurst and the Doctor were surrounded by an +eager group anxious to hear the state of affairs at Cawnpore, and +how they had escaped. The news of the fighting at Dong was already +known; for on the evening of the day of the fight Havelock had +sent down a mounted messenger to say the resistance was proving so +severe that he begged some more troops might be sent up. As all was +quiet now at Allahabad, where there had at first been some fierce +fighting, General Neil, who was in command there, had placed two +hundred and thirty men of the 84th Regiment in bullock vans, and +had himself gone on with them. + +The Doctor had decided to keep the news of the massacre to himself. + +"They will know it before many hours are over, Bathurst," he said; +"and were I to tell them, half of them wouldn't believe me, and +the other half would pester my life out with questions. There is +never any occasion to hurry in telling bad news." + +The first inquiry of Bathurst and his friends had been for Wilson, +and they found to their great pleasure that he had arrived in safety, +and had gone up with the little body of cavalry. Captain Forster, +whom they next asked for, had not reached Allahabad, and no news +had been heard of him. + +"What are you going to do, Rujub?" Bathurst asked the native next +morning. + +"I shall go to Patna," he said. "I have friends there, and I shall +remain in the city until these troubles are over. I believe now +that you were right, sahib, although I did not think so when you +spoke, and that the British Raj will be restored. I thought, as did +the Sepoys, that they were a match for the British troops. I see +now that I was wrong. But there is a tremendous task before them. +There is all Oude and the Northwest to conquer, and fully two hundred +thousand men in arms against them, but I believe that they will do +it. They are a great people, and now I do not wish it otherwise. +This afternoon I shall start." + +The Doctor, who had found many acquaintances in Allahabad, had +no difficulty in obtaining money from the garrison treasury, and +Bathurst and Isobel purchased the two handsomest bracelets they +could obtain from the ladies in the fort as a souvenir for Rabda, +and gave them to her with the heartiest expressions of their deep +gratitude to her and her father. + +"I shall think of you always, Rabda," Isobel said, "and shall be +grateful to the end of my life for the kindness that you have done +us. Your father has given us your address at Patna, and I shall +write to you often." + +"I shall never forget you, lady; and even the black water will not +quite separate us. As I knew how you were in prison, so I shall know +how you are in your home in England. What we have done is little. +Did not the sahib risk his life for me? My father and I will never +forget what we owe him. I am glad to know that you will make him +happy." + +This was said in the room that had been allotted to Isobel, an ayah +of one of the ladies in the fort acting as interpreter. The girl +had woke up in the morning flushed and feverish, and the Doctor, +when sent for, told her she must keep absolutely quiet. + +"I am afraid I am going to have her on my hands for a bit," he +said to Bathurst. "She has borne the strain well, but she looks to +me as if she was going to have a smart attack of fever. It is well +that we got her here before it showed itself. You need not look +scared; it is just the reaction. If it had been going to be brain +fever or anything of that sort, I should have expected her to break +down directly you got her out. No, I don't anticipate anything +serious, and I am sure I hope that it won't be so. I have put my +name down to go up with the next batch of volunteers. Doctors will +be wanted at the front, and I hope to have a chance of wiping out +my score with some of those scoundrels. However, though I think +she is going to be laid up, I don't fancy it will last many days." + +That afternoon a messenger from Havelock brought down the terrible +news that they had fought their way to Cawnpore, only to find that +the whole of the ladies and children in the Subada Ke Kothee had +been massacred, and their bodies thrown down a well. The grief and +indignation caused by the news were terrible; scarce one but had +friends among the prisoners. Women wept; men walked up and down, +wild with fury at being unable to do aught at present to avenge +the massacre. + +"What are you going to do, Bathurst?" the Doctor asked that evening. +"I suppose you have some sort of plan?" + +"I do not know yet. In the first place, I want to try whether what +you said the other day is correct, and if I can stand the noise of +firing without flinching." + +"We can't try here in the fort," the Doctor said, full of interest +in the experiment; "a musket shot would throw the whole garrison +into confusion, and at present no one can go far from the gate; +however, there may be a row before long, and then you will have +an opportunity of trying. If there is not, we will go out together +half a mile or so as soon as some more troops get up. You said, +when we were talking about it at Deennugghur, you should resign +your appointment and go home, but if you find your nerves are all +right you may change your mind about that. How about the young lady +in there?" + +"Well, Doctor, I should say that you, as her father's friend, are +the person to make arrangements for her. Just at present travel +is not very safe, but I suppose that directly things quiet down a +little many of the ladies will be going down to the coast, and no +doubt some of them would take charge of Miss Hannay back to England." + +"And you mean to have nothing to say in the matter?" + +"Nothing at all," he said firmly. "I have already told you my views +on the subject." + +"Well, then," the Doctor said hotly, "I regard you as an ass." And +without another word he walked off in great anger. + +For the next four or five days Isobel was in a high state of fever; +it passed off as the Doctor had predicted it would do, but left +her very weak and languid. Another week and she was about again. + +"What is Mr. Bathurst going to do?" she asked the Doctor the first +day she was up on a couch. + +"I don't know what he is going to do, my dear," he said irritably; +"my opinion of Bathurst is that he is a fool." + +"Oh, Doctor, how can you say so!" she exclaimed in astonishment; +"why, what has he done?" + +"It isn't what he has done, but what he won't do, my dear. Here he +is in love with a young woman in every way suitable, and who is +ready to say yes whenever he asks her, and he won't ask, and is +not going to ask, because of a ridiculous crotchet he has got in +his head." + +Isobel flushed and then grew pale. + +"What is the crotchet?" she asked, in a low tone, after being silent +for some time. + +"What do you think, my dear? He is more disgusted with himself than +ever." + +"Not about that nervousness, surely," Isobel said, "after all he +has done and the way he has risked his life? Surely that cannot be +troubling him?" + +"It is, my dear; not so much on the general as on a particular +ground. He insists that by jumping out of the boat when that fire +began, he has done for himself altogether." + +"But what could he have done, Doctor?" + +"That's what I ask him, my dear. He insists that he ought to either +have seized you and jumped overboard with you, in which case you +would both probably have been killed, as I pointed out to him, or +else stayed quietly with you by your side, in which case, as I also +pointed out to him, you would have had the satisfaction of seeing +him murdered. He could not deny that this would have been so, but +that in no way alters his opinion of his own conduct. I also ventured +to point out to him that if he had been killed, you would at this +moment be either in the power of that villainous Nana, or be with +hundreds of others in that ghastly well at Cawnpore. I also observed +to him that I, who do not regard myself as a coward, also jumped +overboard from your boat, and that Wilson, who is certainly a +plucky young fellow, and a number of others, jumped over from the +other boat; but I might as well have talked to a post." + +Isobel sat for some time silent, her fingers playing nervously with +each other. + +"Of course it seems foolish of him to think of it so strongly, but +I don't think it is unnatural he should feel as he does." + +"May I ask why?" the Doctor said sarcastically. + +"I mean, Doctor, it would be foolish of other people, but I don't +think it is foolish of him. Of course he could have done no good +staying in the boat--he would have simply thrown away his life; +and yet I think, I feel sure, that there are many men who would +have thrown away their lives in such a case. Even at that moment +of terror I felt a pang, when, without a word, he sprang overboard. +I thought of it many times that long night, in spite of my grief +for my uncle and the others, and my horror of being a prisoner in +the hands of the Sepoys. I did not blame him, because I knew how +he must have felt, and that it was done in a moment of panic. I was +not so sorry for myself as for him, for I knew that if he escaped, +the thought of that moment would be terrible for him. I need not +say that in my mind the feeling that he should not have left me so +has been wiped out a thousand times by what he did afterwards, by +the risk he ran for me, and the infinite service he rendered me by +saving me from a fate worse than death. But I can enter into his +feelings. Most men would have jumped over just as he did, and would +never have blamed themselves even if they had at once started away +down the country to save their own lives, much less if they had +stopped to save mine as he has done. + +"But who can wonder that he is more sensitive than others? Did he +not hear from you that I said that a coward was contemptible? Did +not all the men except you and my uncle turn their backs upon him +and treat him with contempt, in spite of his effort to meet his +death by standing up on the roof? Think how awfully he must have +suffered, and then, when it seemed that his intervention, which +saved our lives, had to some extent won him back the esteem of the +men around him, that he should so fail again, as he considers, and +that with me beside him. No wonder that he takes the view he does, +and that he refuses to consider that even the devotion and courage +he afterwards showed can redeem what he considers is a disgrace. +You always said that he was brave, Doctor, and I believe now there +is no braver man living; but that makes it so much the worse for +him. A coward would be more than satisfied with himself for what +he did afterwards, and would regard it as having completely wiped +out any failing, while he magnifies the failing, such as it was, +and places but small weight on what he afterwards did. I like him +all the better for it. I know the fault, if fault it was, and I +thought it so at the time, was one for which he was not responsible, +and yet I like him all the better that he feels it so deeply." + +"Well, my dear, you had better tell him so," the Doctor said +dryly. "I really agree with what you say, and you make an excellent +advocate. I cannot do better than leave the matter in your hands. +You know, child," he said, changing his tone, "I have from the first +wished for Bathurst and you to come together, and if you don't do +so I shall say you are the most wrong headed young people I ever met. +He loves you, and I don't think there is any question about your +feelings, and you ought to make matters right somehow. Unfortunately, +he is a singularly pig headed man when he gets an idea in his mind. +However, I hope that it will come all right. By the way, he asked +were you well enough to see him today?" + +"I would rather not see him till tomorrow," the girl said. + +"And I think too that you had better not see him until tomorrow, +Isobel. Your cheeks are flushed now, and your hands are trembling, +and I do not want you laid up again, so I order you to keep yourself +perfectly quiet for the rest of the day." + +But it was not till two days later that Bathurst came up to see +her. + +The spies brought in, late that evening, the news that a small +party of the Sepoy cavalry, with two guns, were at a village three +miles on the other side of the town, and were in communication +with the disaffected. It was decided at once by the officer who +had succeeded General Neil in the command of the fort that a small +party of fifty infantry, accompanied by ten or twelve mounted +volunteers, should go out and attack them. Bathurst sent in his name +to form one of the party as soon as he learned the news, borrowing +the horse of an officer who was laid up ill. + +The expedition started two hours before daybreak, and, making +a long detour, fell upon the Sepoys at seven o'clock. The latter, +who had received news half an hour before of their approach, made +a stand, relying on their cannon. The infantry, however, moved +forward in skirmishing order, their fire quickly silenced the guns, +and they then rushed forward while the little troop of volunteers +charged. + +The fight lasted but a few minutes, at the end of which time the +enemy galloped off in all directions, leaving their guns in the +hands of the victors. Four of the infantry had been killed by the +explosion of a well aimed shell, and five of the volunteers were +wounded in the hand to hand fight with the sowars. The Sepoys' guns +and artillery horses had been captured. + +The party at once set out on their return. On their way they had +some skirmishing with the rabble of the town, who had heard the +firing, but they were beaten off without much difficulty, and the +victors re-entered the fort in triumph. The Doctor was at the gate +as they came in. Bathurst sprang from his .horse and held out his +hand. His radiant face told its own story. + +"Thank God, Doctor, it has passed. I don't think my pulse went a +beat faster when the guns opened on us, and the crackle of our own +musketry had no more effect. I think it has gone forever." + +"I am glad indeed, Bathurst," the Doctor said, warmly grasping his +hand. "I hoped that it might be so." + +"No words can express how grateful I feel," Bathurst said. "The +cloud that shadowed my life seems lifted, and henceforth I shall +be able to look a man in the face." + +"You are wounded, I see," the Doctor said. + +"Yes, I had a pistol ball through my left arm. I fancy the bone is +broken, but that is of no consequence." + +"A broken arm is no trifle," the Doctor said, "especially in a +climate like this. Come into the hospital at once and let me see +to it." + +One of the bones of the forearm was indeed broken, and the Doctor, +having applied splints and bandages, peremptorily ordered him to +lie down. Bathurst protested that he was perfectly able to get up +with his arm in a sling. + +"I know you are able," the Doctor said testily; "but if you were +to go about in this oven, we should very likely have you in a high +fever by tomorrow morning. Keep yourself perfectly quiet for today; +by tomorrow, if you have no signs of fever, and the wound is doing +well, we will see about it." + +Upon leaving him Dr. Wade went out and heard the details of the +fight. + +"Your friend Bathurst particularly distinguished himself," the officer +who commanded the volunteers said. "He cut down the ressaldar who +commanded the Sepoys, and was in the thick of it. I saw him run one +sowar through and shoot another. I am not surprised at his fighting +so well after what you have gone through in Deennugghur and in that +Cawnpore business." + +The Doctor then went up to see Isobel. She looked flushed and +excited. + +"Is it true, Doctor, that Mr. Bathurst went out with the volunteers, +and that he is wounded?" + +"Both items are true, my dear. Fortunately the wound is not serious. +A ball has broken the small bone of the left forearm, but I don't +think it will lay him up for long; in fact, he objects strongly to +go to bed." + +"But how did he--how is it he went out to fight, Doctor? I could +hardly believe it when I was told, though of course I did not say +so." + +"My dear, it was an experiment. He told me that he did not feel at +all nervous when the Sepoys rushed in at the gate firing when he +was walking off with you, and it struck me that possibly the sudden +shock and the jump into the water when they attacked the boats, +and that rap on the head with a musket ball, might have affected +his nervous system, and that he was altogether cured, so he was +determined on the first occasion to try." + +"And did it, Doctor?" Isobel asked eagerly. "I don't care, you +know, one bit whether he is nervous when there is a noise or not, +but for his sake I should be glad to know that he has got over it; +it has made him so unhappy." + +"He has got over it, my dear; he went through the fight without +feeling the least nervous, and distinguished himself very much in +the charge, as the officer who commanded his troop has just told +me." + +"Oh, I am glad--I am thankful, Doctor; no words can say how pleased +I am; I know that it would have made his whole life unhappy, and I +should have always had the thought that he remembered those hateful +words of mine." + +"I am as glad as you are, Isobel, though I fancy it will change +our plans." + +"How change our plans, Doctor? I did not know that I had any plans." + +"I think you had, child, though you might not acknowledge them +even to yourself. My plan was that you should somehow convince him +that, in spite of what you said, and in spite of his leaving you +in that boat, you were quite content to take him for better or for +worse." + +"How could I tell him that?" the girl said, coloring. + +"Well, I think you would have had to do so somehow, my dear, but +that is not the question now. My plan was that when you had succeeded +in doing this you should marry him and go home with him." + +"But why, Doctor," she asked, coloring even more hotly than before, +"is the plan changed?" + +"Because, my dear, I don't think Bathurst will go home with you." + +"Why not, Doctor?" she asked, in surprise. + +"Because, my dear, he will want, in the first place, to rehabilitate +himself." + +"But no one knows, Doctor, about the siege and what happened there, +except you and me and Mr. Wilson; all the rest have gone." + +"That is true, my dear, but he will want to rehabilitate himself +in his own eyes; and besides, that former affair which first set +you against him, might crop up at any time. Other civilians, many +of them, have volunteered in the service, and no man of courage +would like to go away as long as things are in their present state. +You will see Bathurst will stay." + +Isobel was silent. + +"I think he will be right," she said at last gravely; "if he wishes +to do so, I should not try to dissuade him; it would be very hard +to know that he is in danger, but no harder for me than for others." + +"That is right, my dear," the Doctor said affectionately; "I should +not wish my little girl--and now the Major has gone I feel that +you are my little girl--to think otherwise. I think," he went on, +smiling, "that the first part of that plan we spoke of will not be +as difficult as I fancied it would be; the sting has gone, and he +will get rid of his morbid fancies." + +"When shall I be able to see him?" + +"Well, if I had any authority over him you would not see him for +a week; as I have not, I think it likely enough that you will see +him tomorrow." + +"I would rather wait if it would do him any harm, Doctor." + +"I don't think it will do him any harm. Beyond the fact that he +will have to carry his arm in a sling for the next fortnight, I +don't think he will have any trouble with it." + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + +The next morning Bathurst found Isobel Hannay sitting in a shady +court that had been converted into a sort of general room for the +ladies in the fort. + +"How are you, Miss Hannay? I am glad to see you down." + +"I might repeat your words, Mr. Bathurst, for you see we have +changed places. You are the invalid, and not I." + +"There is very little of the invalid about me," he said. "I am glad +to see that your face is much better than it was." + +"Yes, it is healing fast. I am a dreadful figure still; and +the Doctor says that there will be red scars for months, and that +probably my face will be always marked." + +"The Doctor is a croaker, Miss Hannay; there is no occasion to trust +him too implicitly. I predict that there will not be any serious +scars left." + +He took a seat beside her. There were two or three others in the +court, but these were upon the other side, quite out of hearing. + +"I congratulate you, Mr. Bathurst," she said quietly, "on yesterday. +The Doctor has, of course, told me all about it. It can make +no difference to us who knew you, but I am heartily glad for your +sake. I can understand how great a difference it must make to you." + +"It has made all the difference in the world," he replied. "No one +can tell the load it has lifted from my mind. I only wish it had +taken place earlier." + +"I know what you mean, Mr. Bathurst; the Doctor has told me about +that too. You may wish that you had remained in the boat, but it +was well for me that you did not. You would have lost your life +without benefiting me. I should be now in the well of Cawnpore, or +worse, at Bithoor." + +"That may be," he said gravely, "but it does not alter the fact." + +"I have no reason to know why you consider you should have stopped +in the boat, Mr. Bathurst," she went on quietly, but with a slight +flush on her cheek. "I can perhaps guess by what you afterwards +did for me, by the risks you ran to save me; but I cannot go by +guesses, I think I have a right to know." + +"You are making me say what I did not mean to say," he exclaimed +passionately, "at least not now; but you do more than guess, you +know--you know that I love you." + +"And what do you know?" she asked softly. + +"I know that you ought not to love me." he said. "No woman should +love a coward." + +"I quite agree with you, but then I know that you are not a coward." + +"Not when I jumped over and left you alone? It was the act of a +cur." + +"It was an act for which you were not really responsible. Had you +been able to think, you would not have done so. I do not take the +view the Doctor does, and I agree with you that a man loving a +woman should first of all think of her and of her safety. So you +thought when you could think, but you were no more responsible for +your action than a madman for a murder committed when in a state +of frenzy. It was an impulse you could not control. Had you, after +the impulse had passed, come down here, believing, as you might +well have believed, that it was absolutely impossible to rescue +me from my fate, it would have been different. But the moment you +came to yourself you deliberately took every risk and showed how +brave you were when master of yourself. I am speaking plainly, +perhaps more plainly than I ought to. But I should despise myself +had I not the courage to speak out now when so much is at stake, +and after all you have done for me. + +"You love me?" + +"You know that I love you." + +"And I love you," the girl said; "more than that, I honor and esteem +you. I am proud of your love. I am jealous for your honor as for +my own, and I hold that honor to be spotless. Even now, even with +my happiness at stake, I could not speak so plainly had I not spoken +so cruelly and wrongly before. I did not know you then as I know +you now, but having said what I thought then, I am bound to say +what I think now, if only as a penance. Did I hesitate to do so, +I should be less grateful than that poor Indian girl who was ready +as she said, to give her life for the life you had saved." + +"Had you spoken so bravely but two days since," Bathurst said, +taking her hand, "I would have said. 'I love you too well, Isobel, +to link your fate to that of a disgraced man.' but now I have it +in my power to retrieve myself, to wipe out the unhappy memory of +my first failure, and still more, to restore the self respect which +I have lost during the last month. But to do so I must stay here: +I must bear part in the terrible struggle there will be before this +mutiny is put down, India conquered, and Cawnpore revenged." + +"I will not try to prevent you," Isobel said. "I feel it would be +wrong to do so. I could not honor you as I do, if for my sake you +turned away now. Even though I knew I should never see you again, +I would that you had died so, than lived with even the shadow of +dishonor on your name. I shall suffer, but there are hundreds of +other women whose husbands, lovers, or sons are in the fray, and +I shall not flinch more than they do from giving my dearest to the +work of avenging our murdered friends and winning back India." + +So quietly had they been talking that no thought of how momentous +their conversation had been had entered the minds of the ladies +sitting working but a few paces away. One, indeed, had remarked to +another, "I thought when Dr. Wade was telling us how Mr. Bathurst +had rescued that unfortunate girl with the disfigured face at +Cawnpore, that there was a romance in the case, but I don't see +any signs of it. They are goods friends, of course, but there is +nothing lover-like in their way of talking." + +So thought Dr. Wade when he came in and saw them sitting there, +and gave vent to his feeling in a grunt of dissatisfaction. + +"It is like driving two pigs to market," he muttered; "they won't +go the way I want them to, out of pure contrariness." + +"It is all settled, Doctor," Bathurst said, rising. "Come, shake +hands; it is to you I owe my happiness chiefly." + +"Isobel, my dear, give me a kiss," the Doctor exclaimed. "I am glad, +my dear, I am glad with all my heart. And what have you settled +besides that?" + +"We have settled that I am to go home as soon as I can go down +country, and he is going up with you and the others to Cawnpore." + +"That is right," the Doctor said heartily. "I told you that was +what he would decide upon; it is right that he should do so. No +man ought to turn his face to the coast till Lucknow is relieved +and Delhi is captured. I thank God it has all come right at last. +I began to be afraid that Bathurst's wrong headedness was going to +mar both your lives." + +The news had already come down that Havelock had found that it +would be absolutely impossible with the small force at his command +to fight his way into Lucknow through the multitude of foes that +surrounded it, and that he must wait until reinforcements arrived. +There was, therefore, no urgent hurry, and it was not until ten +days later that a second troop of volunteer horse, composed of +civilians unable to resume their duties, and officers whose regiments +had mutinied, started for Cawnpore. + +Half an hour before they mounted, Isobel Hannay and Ralph Bathurst +were married by the chaplain in the fort. This was at Bathurst's +earnest wish. + +"I may not return, Isobel," he had urged: "it is of no use to blink +the fact that we have desperate fighting before us, and I should +go into battle with my mind much more easy in the knowledge that, +come what might, you were provided for. The Doctor tells me that he +considers you his adopted daughter, and that he has already drawn +up a will leaving his savings to you; but I should like your future +to come from me, dear, even if I am not to share it with you. As +you know, I have a fine estate at home, and I should like to think +of you as its mistress." + +And Isobel of course had given way, though not without protest. + +"You don't know what I may be like yet," she said, half laughing, +half in earnest. "I may carry these red blotches to my grave." + +"They are honorable scars, dear, as honorable as any gained in +battle. I hope, for your sake, that they will get better in time, +but it makes no difference to me. I know what you were, and how +you sacrificed your beauty. I suppose if I came back short of an +arm or leg you would not make that an excuse for throwing me over?" + +"You ought to be ashamed of even thinking of such a thing, Ralph." + +"Well, dear, I don't know that I did think it, but I am only putting +a parallel case to your own. No, you must consent: it is in all +ways best. We will be married on the morning I start, so as just +to give time for our wedding breakfast before I mount." + +"It shall be as you wish," she said softly. "You know the estate +without you would be nothing to me, but I should like to bear your +name, and should you never come back to me, Ralph, to mourn for you +all my life as my husband. But I believe you will return to me. I +think I am getting superstitious, and believe in all sorts of things +since so many strange events have happened. Those pictures on the +smoke that came true, Rujub sending you messages at Deennugghur, +and Rabda making me hear her voice and giving me hope in prison. I +do not feel so miserable at the thought of your going into danger +as I should do, if I had not a sort of conviction that we shall +meet again. People believe in presentiments of evil, why should +they not believe in presentiments of good? At any rate, it is a +comfort to me that I do feel so, and I mean to go on believing it." + +"Do so, Isobel. Of course there will be danger, but the danger will +be nothing to that we have passed through together. The Sepoys will +no doubt fight hard, but already they must have begun to doubt; +their confidence in victory must be shaken, and they begin to fear +retribution for their crimes. The fighting will, I think, be less +severe as the struggle goes on, and at any rate the danger to us, +fighting as the assailants, is as nothing to that run when we were +little groups surrounded by a country in arms. + +"The news that has come through from Lucknow is that, for some time +at any rate, the garrison are confident they can hold out, while +at Delhi we know that our position is becoming stronger every day; +the reinforcements are beginning to arrive from England, and though +the work may be slow at first, our army will grow, while their +strength will diminish, until we sweep them before us. I need not +stop until the end, only till the peril is over, till Lucknow is +relieved, and Delhi captured. + +"As we agreed, I have already sent in my resignation in the service, +and shall fight as a volunteer only. If we have to fight our way +into Lucknow, cavalry will be useless, and I shall apply to be +attached to one of the infantry regiments; having served before, +there will be no difficulty about that. I think there are sure to +be plenty of vacancies. Six months will assuredly see the backbone +of the rebellion altogether broken. No doubt it will take much longer +crushing it out altogether, for they will break up into scattered +bodies, and it may be a long work before these are all hunted down; +but when the strength of the rebellion is broken, I can leave with +honor." + +There were but few preparations to be made for the wedding. Great +interest was felt in the fort in the event, for Isobel's rescue +from Bithoor and Cawnpore, when all others who had fallen into the +power of the Nana had perished, had been the one bright spot in the +gloom; and there would have been a general feeling of disappointment +had not the romance had the usual termination. + +Isobel's presents were numerous and of a most useful character, +for they took the form of articles of clothing, and her trousseau +was a varied and extensive one. + +The Doctor said to her the evening before the event, "You ought +to have a certificate from the authorities, Isobel, saying how you +came into possession of your wardrobe, otherwise when you get back +to England you will very soon come to be looked upon as a most +suspicious character." + +"How do you mean, Doctor?" + +"Well, my dear, if the washerwoman to whom you send your assortment +at the end of the voyage is an honest woman, she will probably give +information to the police that you must be a receiver of stolen +property, as your garments are all marked with different names." + +"It will look suspicious, Doctor, but I must run the risk of that +till I can remark them again. I can do a good deal that way before +I sail. It is likely we shall be another fortnight at least before +we can start for Calcutta. I don't mean to take the old names out, +but shall mark my initials over them and the word 'from.' Then they +will always serve as mementoes of the kindness of everyone here." + +Early on the morning of the wedding a native presented himself at +the gate of the fort, and on being allowed to enter with a letter +for Miss Hannay of which he was the bearer, handed her a parcel, +which proved to contain a very handsome and valuable set of jewelry, +with a slip of paper on which were the words, "From Rabda." + +The Doctor was in high spirits at the breakfast to which everybody +sat down directly after the wedding. In the first place, his greatest +wish was gratified; and, in the second, he was about to start to +take part in the work of retribution. + +"One would think you were just starting on a pleasure party, Doctor," +Isobel said. + +"It is worth all the pleasure parties in the world, my dear. I have +always been a hunter, and this time it is human 'tigers' I am going +in pursuit of--besides which," he said, in a quieter tone, "I hope +I am going to cure as well as kill. I shall only be a soldier when +I am not wanted as a doctor. A man who really loves his profession, +as I do, is always glad to exercise it, and I fear I shall have +ample opportunities that way; besides, dear there is nothing like +being cheerful upon an occasion of this kind. The longer we laugh, +the less time there is for tears." + +And so the party did not break up until it was nearly time for the +little troop to start. Then there was a brief passionate parting, +and the volunteer horse rode away to Cawnpore. Almost the first +person they met as they rode into the British lines was Wilson, +who gave a shout of joy at seeing the Doctor and Bathurst. + +"My dear Bathurst!" he exclaimed. "Then you got safely down. Did +you rescue Miss Hannay?" + +"I had that good fortune, Wilson." + +"I am glad. I am glad," the young fellow said, shaking his hand +violently, while the tears stood in his eyes. "I know you were right +in sending me away, but I have regretted it ever since. I know I +should have been no good, but it seemed such a mean thing for me to +go off by myself. Well, Doctor, and so you got off too," he went +on, turning from Bathurst and wringing the Doctor's hand; "I never +even hoped that you escaped. I made sure that it was only we two. +I have had an awful time of it since we heard the news, on the way +up, of the massacre of the women. I had great faith in Bathurst, +and knew that if anything could be done he would do it, but when +I saw the place they had been shut up in, it did not seem really +possible that he could have got anyone out of such a hole. And +where did you leave Miss Hannay?" + +"We have not left her at all," the Doctor said gravely; "there is +no longer a Miss Hannay. There, man, don't look so shocked. She +changed her name on the morning we came away." + +"What!" Wilson exclaimed. "Is she Mrs. Bathurst? I am glad, Bathurst. +Shake hands again; I felt sure that if you did rescue her that +was what would come of it. I was almost certain by her way when I +talked to her about you one day that she liked you. I was awfully +spoony on her myself, you know, but I knew it was no use, and I +would rather by a lot that she married you than anyone else I know. +But come along into my tent; you know your troop and ours are going +to be joined. We have lost pretty near half our fellows, either in +the fights coming up or by sunstroke or fever since we came here. +I got hold of some fizz in the bazaar yesterday, and I am sure you +must be thirsty. This is a splendid business; I don't know that I +ever felt so glad of anything in my life," and he dragged them away +to his tent. + +Bathurst found, to his disappointment, that intense as was the +desire to push forward to Lucknow, the general opinion was that the +General would not venture to risk his little force in an operation +that, with the means at his disposal, seemed well nigh impossible. +Cholera had made considerable ravages, and he had but fifteen +hundred bayonets at his disposal. All that could be done pending +the arrival of reinforcements was to prepare the way for an advance, +and show so bold a front that the enemy would be forced to draw a +large force from Lucknow to oppose his advance. + +A bridge of boats was thrown across the Ganges, and the force +crossed the river and advanced to Onao, eight miles on the road to +Lucknow. Here the enemy, strongly posted, barred the way; but they +were attacked, and, after hard fighting, defeated, with a loss of +three hundred men and fifteen guns. + +In this fight the volunteer horse, who had been formed into a single +troop, did good service. One of their two officers was killed; and +as the party last up from Allahabad were all full of Bathurst's +rescue of Miss Hannay from Cawnpore, and Wilson and the Doctor +influenced the others, he was chosen to fill the vacancy. + +There were two other fierce fights out at Busserutgunge, and then +Bathurst had the satisfaction of advancing with the column against +Bithoor. Here again the enemy fought sturdily, but were defeated +with great slaughter, and the Nana's palace was destroyed. + +When, after the arrival of Outram with reinforcements, the column +set out for Lucknow, the volunteers did not accompany them, as they +would have been useless in street fighting, and were, therefore, +detailed to form part of the little force left at Cawnpore to hold +the city and check the rebels, parties of whom were swarming round +it. + +The officer in command of the troop died of cholera a few days after +Havelock's column started up, and Bathurst succeeded him. The work +was very arduous, the men being almost constantly in their saddles, +and having frequent encounters with the enemy. They were again much +disappointed at being left behind when Sir Colin Campbell advanced +to the relief of Havelock and the garrison, but did more than their +share of fighting in the desperate struggle when the mutineers of +the Gwallior contingent attacked the force at Cawnpore during the +absence of the relieving column. Here they were almost annihilated +in a desperate charge which saved the 64th from being cut to pieces +at the most critical moment of the fight. + +Wilson came out of the struggle with the loss of his left arm, and +two or three serious wounds. He had been cut off, and surrounded, +and was falling from his horse when Bathurst cut his way to his +rescue, and, lifting him into his saddle before him, succeeded after +desperate fighting in carrying him off, himself receiving several +wounds, none of which, however, were severe. The action had been +noticed, and Bathurst's name was sent in for the Victoria Cross. As +the troop had dwindled to a dozen sabers, he applied to Sir Colin +Campbell, whose column had arrived in time to save the force at +Cawnpore and to defeat the enemy, to be attached to a regiment as +a volunteer. The General, however, at once offered him a post as +an extra aide de camp to himself, as his perfect knowledge of the +language would render him of great use; and he gladly accepted the +offer. + +With the column returning from Lucknow was the Doctor. + +"By the way, Bathurst," he said on the evening of his return, "I +met an old acquaintance in Lucknow; you would never guess who it +was--Forster." + +"You don't say so; Doctor." + +"Yes; it seems he was hotly pursued, but managed to shake the +sowars off. At that time the garrison was not so closely besieged +as it afterwards was. He knew the country well, and made his way +across it until within sight of Lucknow. At night he rode right +through the rebels, swam the river, and gained the Residency. +He distinguished himself greatly through the siege, but had been +desperately wounded the day before we marched in. He was in a ward +that was handed over to me directly I got there, and I at once +saw that his case was a hopeless one. The poor fellow was heartily +glad to see me. Of course he knew nothing of what had taken place +at Deennugghur after he had left, and was very much cut up when +he heard the fate of almost all the garrison. He listened quietly +when I told how you had rescued Isobel and of your marriage. He +was silent, and then said, 'I am glad to hear it, Doctor. I can't +say how pleased I am she escaped. Bathurst has fairly won her. +I never dreamt that she cared for him. Well, it seems he wasn't +a coward after all. And you say he has resigned and come up as a +volunteer instead of going home with her? That is plucky, anyhow. +Well, I am pleased. I should not have been so if I hadn't been like +this, Doctor, but now I am out of the running for good, it makes +no odds to me either way. If ever you see him again, you tell him +I said I was glad. I expect he will make her a deucedly better +husband than I should have done. I never liked Bathurst, but I +expect it was because he was a better fellow than most of us--that +was at school, you know--and of course I did not take to him +at Deennugghur. No one could have taken to a man there who could +not stand fire. But you say he has got over that, so that is all +right. Anyhow, I have no doubt he will make her happy. Tell her I +am glad, Doctor. I thought at one time--but that is no odds now. +I am glad you are out of it, too.' + +"And then he rambled on about shooting Sepoys, and did not say +anything more coherently until late that night. I was sitting by +him; he had been unconscious for some time, and he opened his eyes +suddenly and said, 'Tell them both I am glad,' and those were the +last words he spoke." + +"He was a brave soldier, a fine fellow in many ways," Bathurst +said; "if he had been brought up differently he would, with all +his gifts, have been a grand fellow, but I fancy he never got any +home training. Well, I am glad he didn't die as we supposed, without +a friend beside him, on his way to Lucknow, and that he fell after +doing his duty to the women and children there." + +Wilson refused to go home after the loss of his arm, and as soon as +he recovered was appointed to one of the Sikh regiments, and took +part in the final conquest of Lucknow two months after the fight +at Cawnpore. A fortnight after the conclusion of that terrible +struggle Sir Colin Campbell announced to Bathurst that amongst +the dispatches that he had received from home that morning was a +Gazette, in which his name appeared among those to whom the Victoria +Cross had been granted. + +"I congratulate you heartily, Mr. Bathurst," the old officer said: +"I have had the pleasure of speaking in the highest terms of the +bravery you displayed in carrying my message through heavy fire a +score of times during the late operations." + +Great as the honor of the Victoria Cross always is, to Bathurst +it was much more than to other men. It was his rehabilitation. He +need never fear now that his courage would be questioned, and the +report that he had before left the army because he lacked courage +would be forever silenced now that he could write V. C. after his +name. The pleasure of Dr. Wade and Wilson was scarcely less than +his own. The latter's regiment had suffered very heavily in the +struggle at Lucknow, and he came out of it a captain, having escaped +without a wound. + +A week later Bathurst resigned his appointment. There was still +much to be done, and months of marching and fighting before the +rebellion was quite stamped out; but there had now arrived a force +ample to overcome all opposition, and there was no longer a necessity +for the service of civilians. As he had already left the service of +the Company, he was his own master, and therefore started at once +for Calcutta.. + +"I shall not be long before I follow you," the Doctor said, as they +spent their last evening together. "I shall wait and see this out, +and then retire. I should have liked to have gone home with you, +but it is out of the question. Our hands are full, and likely to +be so for some time, so I must stop." + +Bathurst stopped for a day at Patna to see Rujub and his daughter. +He was received as an expected guest, and after spending a few hours +with them he continued his journey. At Calcutta he found a letter +awaiting him from Isobel, saying that she had arrived safely in +England, and should stay with her mother until his arrival, and +there he found her. + +"I expected you today," she said, after the first rapturous greeting +was over. "Six weeks ago I woke in the middle of the night, and +heard Rabda's voice distinctly say: 'He has been with us today: +he is safe and well; he is on his way to you.' As I knew how long +you would take going down from Patna, I went the next day to the +office and found what steamer you would catch, and when she would +arrive. My mother and sister both regarded me as a little out of +my mind when I said you would be back this week. They have not the +slightest belief in what I told them about Rujub, and insist that +it was all a sort of hallucination brought on by my sufferings. +Perhaps they will believe now." + +"Your face is wonderfully better," he said presently. "The marks +seem dying out, and you look almost your old self." + +"Yes," she said; "I have been to one of the great doctors, and he +says he thinks the scars will quite disappear in time." + +Isobel Bathurst has never again received any distinct message +from Rabda, but from time to time she has the consciousness, when +sitting quietly alone, that the girl is with her in thought. Every +year letters and presents are exchanged, and to the end of their +lives she and her husband will feel that their happiness is chiefly +due to her and her father--Rujub, the Juggler. + + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Rujub, the Juggler, by G. A. 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