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diff --git a/old/rujub10h.htm b/old/rujub10h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..272eff9 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/rujub10h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,17408 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= +"text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> +<title>Rujub the Juggler</title> +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +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 + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + + +<h1>Rujub, the Juggler</h1> +<br><br> +<h2>by G. A. Henty.</h2> + +<br><br> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_I_">CHAPTER I.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XII_">CHAPTER XII.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII.</a></h3> + +<p>PUBLISHERS' INTRODUCTION.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_I_"></a>CHAPTER I.</h1> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"We shall see," the Rajah said; "I have always been unlucky, +but I mean to win this time."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Send Khoosheal and Imambux here."</p> + +<p>Two minutes later the men entered. Imambux commanded the +Rajah's troops, while Khoosheal was the master of his +household.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Several have come in this evening, my lord; would you see +them now, or wait till morning?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Where have you been?" the Rajah asked.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"How goes it, Mukdoomee?"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You have not mentioned my name?" the Rajah said suddenly, +looking closely at the man as he put the question.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h1> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Which way are you going to ride, Bathurst?"</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>So saying, he lightly touched the horse's flanks with his +spurs and cantered off.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.'"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"We are in my lord's hands," the native said; "he is the +protector of the poor, and will do us justice."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"My name is Ralph Bathurst. I am District Officer at +Deennugghur. How far are you going this evening?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Very well; but there is one thing -- what is your name?"</p> + +<p>"Rujub."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"The sahib's wish shall be obeyed," the man said.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"I shall see you tomorrow, then, Rujub," he said, and shaking +the reins, went on at a canter.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Has he a girl with him, Jafur?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sahib."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"I am glad to see your daughter is better again, Rujub."</p> + +<p>"She is better, sahib; she has had fever, but is +restored."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"We will be there, sahib;" and with a salaam the juggler +walked off, followed by his daughter.</p> + +<p>A few minutes before the appointed time Bathurst threw down +his pen with a little sigh of satisfaction.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Rujub, is it you? I have just finished my work. Come in; +is Rabda with you?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The juggler took from his basket a piece of wood about two +feet in length and some four inches in diameter.</p> + +<p>"You see this?" he said.</p> + +<p>Bathurst took it in his hand. "It looks like a bit sawn off a +telegraph pole," he said.</p> + +<p>"Will you come outside, sahib?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Now will you stand in the veranda a while?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Now watch, sahib."</p> + +<p>Bathurst looked, and saw the block of wood apparently growing. +Gradually it rose until Rabda passed up beyond the light in the +room.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"You are there, Rabda?" her father said.</p> + +<p>"I am here, father!" and the voice seemed to come from a +considerable distance.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>At last no response was heard.</p> + +<p>"Now it shall descend," the juggler said.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Where is Rabda?" Bathurst exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"She is here, my lord," and as he spoke Rabda rose from a +sitting position on the balcony close to Bathurst.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Assuredly, sahib."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"I will show you one other feat, my lord."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Now turn out the lamp, sahib."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Good Heavens," Bathurst muttered, "it is the battle of +Chillianwalla!"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Bathurst almost mechanically did as he was told.</p> + +<p>"Well, sahib, what do you think of the pictures?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You can never know what the future will be, sahib," the +juggler said gravely.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Time will show, sahib," the juggler said; "the pictures never +lie. Shall I show you other things?"</p> + +<p>"No, Rujub, you have shown me enough; you have astounded me. I +want to see no more tonight."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h1> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>There was a general laugh from the others.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that is his way, Thompson," the Major said; "he believes +himself to be one of the most cynical and morose of men."</p> + +<p>"He was married, wasn't he, Major?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"And your niece arrives with him tomorrow, Major," the +Adjutant said.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"There are the Colonel's daughters," the Major said, with a +smile.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The Major opened the door. A little man sprang out and grasped +him by the hand.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Very pleasant, uncle, though I got rather tired of it at +last."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You frighten me, Doctor; if you found her so onerous only for +a voyage, what have I to look forward to?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"That was before you knew me, Dr. Wade, otherwise I should +feel very hurt," the girl put in.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it was," the Doctor said dryly.</p> + +<p>"Don't mind him, my dear," her uncle said; "we all know the +Doctor of old. This is my bungalow."</p> + +<p>"It is pretty, with all these flowers and shrubs round it," +she said admiringly.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Well, old friend," he said to the Doctor, when the girl had +gone upstairs, "no complications, I hope, on the voyage?"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"But how about bills, uncle?"</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Rumzan not let anyone rob his master."</p> + +<p>"Not to any great extent, you know, Rumzan. One doesn't expect +more than that."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Then what are my duties to be, uncle?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"But why shall I have to struggle with them?" Isobel asked, in +surprise, while her uncle broke into a laugh.</p> + +<p>"Don't frighten her, Doctor."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"No, no, Doctor, not as bad as that," the Major +remonstrated.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"For shame, Doctor," Isobel Hannay said; "and to think that I +should have such a high opinion of you up to now."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"What a horrid expression, uncle!"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Trot me round, uncle?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, my dear. In India the order of procedure is reversed, +and newcomers call in the first place upon residents."</p> + +<p>"What a very unpleasant custom, uncle; especially as some of +the residents may not want to know them."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"What, in the heat of the day, uncle?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>How many ladies are there in the regiment?"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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 --"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Well, that is not so very formidable. Anyhow, it is a. +comfort that we shall have no one here today."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Well, I agree with you there, my dear. Ah! here come Doolan +and Prothero."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Glad to see you back, Doctor. The regiment has not seemed +like itself without you."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I rather like it in the open air," Isobel said. "No doubt I +shall get accustomed to it indoors before long."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"I do feel sleepy," she said, "though it sounds rude to say +so."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Well, you know, Prothero, subalterns do manage to get wives +sometimes."</p> + +<p>There was a laugh.</p> + +<p>"That is true enough, Wilson; but then, you see, I married at +home; besides, I am adjutant, which sounds a lot better than +subaltern."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"She will be nothing remarkable when her freshness has worn +off a little."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Doolan was charmed with her, and told her she hoped that +they would be great friends.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Rintoul afterwards told her husband she could hardly say +that she liked Miss Hannay.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>After this somewhat depressing visit, the call upon Mrs. +Roberts was a refreshing one. She received her very +cordially.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to put anyone's nose out of joint," Isobel +laughed.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>When the round of visits was finished the Major said, "Well, +Isobel, what do you think of the ladies of the regiment?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h1> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hannay kept her word and wrote to Miss Virtue, and the +evening after she returned to school Isobel was summoned to her +room.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"But cannot something be done for Robert, Miss Virtue? Surely +they must do something for children like him."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Why should he have chosen you instead of Helena?" she said +angrily to Isobel, on the first day of her arrival home.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I thought all Indians came home with lots of money," Mrs. +Hannay said complainingly.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I have my own medical attendant, Dr. Wade," Mrs. Hannay said +decidedly.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I shall be in time, sir," Isobel said.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"I think so, Dr. Wade."</p> + +<p>"Very well then, I'm off," and the Doctor shook hands with +Isobel, nodded to Mrs. Hannay and Helena, and hurried away.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Uncle says he is a great shikari, and has probably killed +more tigers than any man in India."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hannay and Helena accompanied Isobel to the docks, and +went on board ship with her.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"A Collector, Dr. Wade; what did he collect?"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h1> + +<p>Two days after his arrival at Cawnpore Dr. Wade moved into +quarters of his own.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Yes, we have got to learn to know each other, Isobel."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Isobel shook her head decidedly.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, uncle, you could not have expected that."</p> + +<p>"Well, my dear, I did, and you see I find I was utterly +wrong."</p> + +<p>"But you are not discontented, uncle?" Isobel asked, with a +smile.</p> + +<p>"No, my dear, but perhaps not quite so contented as you may +think I ought to be."</p> + +<p>"Why is that, uncle?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"How do you know she wouldn't have had me, Norah?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"That is news to me, Norah; I think you are just as fond of a +quiet flirtation as you used to be."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"That I will warrant you did, Norah."</p> + +<p>"I could not help it, especially when he assured me he was +perfectly serious about Miss Hannay."</p> + +<p>"You did not encourage him, I hope, Norah."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Captain Doolan went off into a burst of laughter.</p> + +<p>"And he took it all in, Norah? He did not see that you were +humbugging him altogether?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"But you must have some favorite color?" Wilson urged.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"But what color are you going to wear at the races, Miss +Hannay?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"What was that, Miss Hannay?" Wilson asked eagerly.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Do the natives come much?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Isobel laughed. "I don't think jewels would count for much in +my ideas of happiness."</p> + +<p>"It is not so much the jewels, my dear, in themselves, but the +envy they would excite in every other woman."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You would not care for diamonds yourself, Mrs. Doolan?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Hunter and his wife and their two girls are coming," the +Major said, the next morning, as he opened his letters.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Of course, uncle. It will make no difference to me, and I +don't require any very great space to apparel myself."</p> + +<p>"We must have dinners for twelve at least, the day before the +races, and on the three days of the meeting."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"None at all, uncle; I never arranged a vase of flowers in my +life."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The Doctor himself dropped in an hour later.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Certainly I will, Major, if you will let me bring Bathurst in +with me; he is going to stay with me for the races."</p> + +<p>"By all means, Doctor; I like what I have seen of him very +much."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"But it would be a good thing surely, Doctor," Isobel +said.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"Certainly, Doctor," the Major said; "I will give you carte +blanche."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"We none of us like to be interfered with, Doctor."</p> + +<p>"A wise man is always ready to be taught," the Doctor said +sententiously.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"How was that, Doctor?"</p> + +<p>"It was in relation to you, my dear."</p> + +<p>"Me, Doctor! how could I have been a weight on Mrs. Cromarty's +mind?"</p> + +<p>"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.'"</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"But why shouldn't she like it?" Isobel said indignantly. +"Surely I am not as disagreeable as all that! Come, Doctor!"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, that afternoon, when they met at the usual hour, +when the band was playing, Isobel went up to the Colonel's +wife.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h1> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You don't give one the idea of a nervous man, either, +Bathurst."</p> + +<p>"Well, I am, Doctor, constitutionally, indeed terribly +so."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Not on your father's side, Bathurst. I knew him well, and he +was a very gallant officer."</p> + +<p>"No, it was the other side," Bathurst said; "I will tell you +about it some day."</p> + +<p>At this moment another friend of Bathurst's came up and +entered into conversation with him.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>A pool had just finished when the Doctor entered the billiard +room.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"And you shall give me a lesson, Doctor," Captain Doolan, who +had also retired, said.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You are right there, Doctor; only what is a man to do when +fellows say, 'We want you to make up a pool, Doolan'?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"But I don't play so very badly, Doctor."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>"Well, come along downstairs, Doolan; we will have a final peg +and then be off; I expect Bathurst is beginning to fidget before +now."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't think, Doolan," the Doctor said dryly, "you are +ever likely to be driven to suicide by any such cause."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You are not complimentary, Doctor; but then nobody looks for +compliments from you."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Therefore I shall either break down or become a machine, +Doctor?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"The Doctor has just been scolding me because I am not fond +enough of work," Captain Doolan laughed.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>By this time they were walking towards the lines.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Well, Bathurst," he went on, when they had made themselves +comfortable in two lounging chairs, "what do you thing of Miss +Hannay?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"That is what I have been saying to myself, Doctor, but that +does not in the slightest degree shake my conviction about +it."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Altogether, she felt that her first dinner party had been a +great success.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I have no doubt you ladies did plenty of that, my dear."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Everything went off very well yesterday, didn't it?" she +asked.</p> + +<p>"Very well, I thought, my dear, thanks to you and the Doctor +and Rumzan."</p> + +<p>"I had very little to do with it," she laughed.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"He would not be pleased if he heard you call him old, +Isobel."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>And they went into the breakfast room.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"It is a bright scene, Miss Hannay," the Doctor said, coming +up to the carriage.</p> + +<p>"Wonderfully pretty, Doctor!"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You don't really mean that, Dr. Wade?" Isobel said.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"But why should he hate us, Doctor? he is none the worse off +now than he was before we annexed the country."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"There is Nana Sahib."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Here is my opera glass," Mrs. Hunter said. Isobel looked long +and fixedly at the Rajah.</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you think of him?" the Doctor asked as she +lowered it.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The Rajah was laughing and talking with General Wheeler and +the group of officers round his carriage.</p> + +<p>Again Isobel raised the glasses. "You are right, Doctor," she +said, "I don't like him."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Here are cards of the races," he said. "Now is the time, +young ladies, to make your bets."</p> + +<p>"I don't know even the name of anyone in this first race," +Isobel said, looking at the card.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Yes; but you might pick out the favorite, Miss Hannay, so +that it is quite fair."</p> + +<p>"Don't you bet, Isobel," her uncle said. "Let us have a +sweepstake instead."</p> + +<p>"What is a sweepstake, uncle?"</p> + +<p>There was a general laugh.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; I don't mind throwing away a rupee, Major."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The slips were drawn.</p> + +<p>"My horse is Bruce," Isobel said.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"What chance has he?"</p> + +<p>"I have not the least idea, Miss Hannay. I did not hear any +betting on this race at all."</p> + +<p>"That is a nice horse, uncle," Isobel said, as one with a +rider in black jacket, with red cap, came past.</p> + +<p>"That is Delhi. Yes, it has good action."</p> + +<p>"That is mine," the eldest Miss Hunter said.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"He is a civilian. Belongs to the public works, I think."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I am, Doctor," she admitted.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"The proper expression, Miss Hannay, is, your horse never +flattered you."</p> + +<p>"Then I think it is a very silly expression, Mr. Wilson, +because I don't see that flattery has anything to do with +it."</p> + +<p>"Ah, here is Bathurst," the Doctor said. "Where have you been, +Bathurst? You slipped away from me just now."</p> + +<p>"I've just been talking to the Commissioner, Doctor. I have +been trying to get him to see --"</p> + +<p>"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?"<br> +</p> + +<p>"It was before the race began," Bathurst said, "and I don't +think the Commissioner has any more interest in racing than I +have."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Bathurst laughed.</p> + +<p>"I am enjoying myself in my way, Doctor."</p> + +<p>"Who is that very pretty woman standing up in the next +carriage but one?" Isobel asked.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Is that her husband talking to her?"</p> + +<p>"No; that is a man in the Artillery here, I think."</p> + +<p>"Yes," the Major said, "that is Harrowby, a good looking +fellow, and quite a ladies' man."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean a man ladies like, uncle, or who likes the +society of ladies?"</p> + +<p>"Both in his case, I should fancy," the Major said; "I believe +he is considered one of the best looking men in the service."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"He was a dull specimen, certainly," the Doctor said, "but I +think you are a little too sweeping."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"I wish you all the success you deserve. I can't say more than +that, can I?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Well, they beat a good many of them, Major Hannay," Miss +Hunter said; "so they did not do so badly after all."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Prothero had stopped to have a chat at the Hunters' carriage +as he walked towards the dressing tent.</p> + +<p>"Our hopes are all centered in you, Mr. Prothero," Mr. Hunter +said. "Miss Hannay has been wagering gloves in a frightfully +reckless way."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"What does he mean by hedge, uncle?"</p> + +<p>"To hedge is to bet the other way, so that one bet cancels the +other."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I shan't do that," she said; "I have enough money to pay +my bets if I lose."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to say you mean to pay your bets if you lose, +Miss Hannay?" the Doctor asked incredulously.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"That is a libel, Mrs. Hunter, is it not?"</p> + +<p>"Not altogether, I think. Of course many ladies do pay their +bets when they lose, but others certainly do not."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Prothero is making the running with a vengeance," the Major +said. "That is not like his usual tactics, Doctor."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Oh, he will catch him, uncle!" Isobel said, tearing her +handkerchief in her excitement.</p> + +<p>The Major was watching the horses through his field glass.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Seila wins! Seila wins!" the officers shouted.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>In spite of the desperate efforts of the rider of Mameluke, +another hundred yards and they passed the winning post, Seila a +length ahead.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h1> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Isobel sat down feeling quite faint from the excitement.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"What is your size, Miss Hannay?" Wilson asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't care anything about the gloves, Mr. Wilson; I am +sorry I bet now."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Six and a half, cream."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"That is just how I felt; I did not know men felt like that. +They don't generally seem to know what nerves are."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You don't look nervous, Mr. Bathurst."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I don't see that it matters much one way or the other, Mr. +Bathurst."</p> + +<p>"I can assure you that it does. I regard it as being a most +serious misfortune."</p> + +<p>Isobel was a little surprised at the earnestness with which he +spoke.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Are you going to bet on this race again, Miss Hannay?" Wilson +said, coming up.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I shall see you at the ball, of course?" Isobel said, turning +to Mr. Bathurst, as Wilson left the carriage.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"What is your line, Mr. Bathurst?"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Dr. Wade came up at this moment and caught the last word or +two.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Bathurst laughed and drew off.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Can nothing be done for them, Mrs. Hunter?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"How young do they marry?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Isobel looked amazed at this her first insight into native +life. Mrs. Hunter smiled.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"There is no fear of his inoculating me; that is to say of +setting me to work, for what could one woman do?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.'"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Still, Doctor, you must allow," Mrs. Hunter said gravely, +"that Mr. Bathurst is not like most other men."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"We are going to have a moonshee next week, Doctor," Wilson +said, a little crestfallen, "and a horrid nuisance it will +be."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Shall we see you on the racecourse, Doctor?" the Major asked, +as the Doctor moved towards the door.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Think of his wealth, my dear."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I should be very sorry for the English girl who would marry +him, religion or not."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I don't like him; I don't like him at all," Isobel said +positively.</p> + +<p>"Ah, that is only because you thought he made you a little +more conspicuous than you liked by his attentions to you, +Isobel."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"You are not very complimentary, Doctor," Isobel laughed.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>A fortnight later the Nana gave another entertainment. A good +deal to her uncle's vexation, Isobel refused to go when the time +came.</p> + +<p>"But what am I to say, my dear?" he asked in some +perplexity.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that is nonsense, Doctor."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I am much obliged to your highness," she said, "but it would +be a truer kindness to let me stay quietly at home."</p> + +<p>"But that is selfish of you, Miss Hannay. You should think a +little of the pleasure of others as well as your own."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>The visit was but a short one. The Rajah soon took his +leave.</p> + +<p>"You are wrong altogether, Isobel," the Doctor said. "I have +returned to my conviction that the Rajah is a first rate +fellow."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"She had you there, Doctor," the Major laughed. "However, I am +glad that you will no longer be backing her in her fancies."</p> + +<p>"Why did you accept his invitation for us to go over and lunch +there, uncle?" Isobel asked, in a tone of annoyance.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h1> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Both your boys," the Major laughed, "and Doolan and +Rintoul."</p> + +<p>"When do we go, uncle?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"And where shall we sleep on the march?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Another victim," the latter said, as Isobel entered.</p> + +<p>"You look too cheerful, Miss Hannay. I find that we are +expected to wear sad countenances at our approaching +banishment."</p> + +<p>"Are we, Mrs. Doolan? It seems to me that it won't make very +much difference to us."</p> + +<p>"Not make any difference, Miss Hannay!" Captain Doolan said. +"Why, Deennugghur is one of the dullest little stations on this +side of India!"</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by dull, Captain Doolan?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"I don't shoot," Captain Doolan said; "and if I wanted to, I +am not sure that my wife would give me leave."</p> + +<p>"Certainly I would not," Mrs. Doolan said promptly. "Married +men have no right to run into unnecessary danger."</p> + +<p>"Dr. Wade will be able to put you in the way, Mr. Richards," +Isobel said.</p> + +<p>"Dr. Wade!" Mrs. Rintoul exclaimed. "You don't mean to say, +Miss Hannay, that he is going with us?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>There was a general smile.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You will really have to take to reading or something of that +sort, Mr. Wilson," Isobel laughed.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I think it is all very well for you, Mrs. Doolan; you have +children."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"How will you do that, Doctor?"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"There is no objection, I hope, Doctor, to our taking up our +flasks; we shall want something to keep us from going to +sleep."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"It is enough to give one the jumps, Richards; each time she +yells I nearly fall off my branch."</p> + +<p>"Keep on listening, then it won't startle you."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>A warning hiss from the shikari again induced Wilson to +silence.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"It is not killed!" the shikari exclaimed. "Fire when it gets +up."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>But a moment later came another report of a rifle, and then +all was silent. Then the Doctor's voice was heard.</p> + +<p>"Don't get down from the tree yet, lads; I think he is dead, +but it is best to make sure first."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"Fancy thinking of that," Wilson said, "when you have just +killed a tiger! I haven't capped mine yet; have you, +Richards?"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>With some difficulty they scrambled down from the tree.</p> + +<p>"Now we may as well cap our rifles," Richards said; "the brute +may not be dead after all."</p> + +<p>They approached the bush cautiously.</p> + +<p>"You are quite sure he is dead, Doctor?"</p> + +<p>"Quite sure; do you think I don't know when a tiger is +dead?"</p> + +<p>Still holding their guns in readiness to fire, they approached +the bushes.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>As soon as the Doctor had got out, the subalterns eagerly +examined the tiger, upon which the natives were heaping curses +and execrations.</p> + +<p>"How many wounds has it got?" they asked the Doctor, who +repeated the question to the shikari in his own language.</p> + +<p>"Three, sahib. One full in the chest -- it would have been +mortal -- two others in the ribs by the heart."</p> + +<p>"No others?" the subalterns exclaimed in disgust, as the +answer was translated to them. The Doctor himself examined the +tiger.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"It has been a fine tiger in its time, although its skin +doesn't look much," Wilson said; "there are patches of fur +off."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Is there any chance for supper, Doctor? -- why, it must be +two o'clock in the morning."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I expect you nearly went off to sleep, Mr. Wilson."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I think Dr. Wade has stirred him up," Isobel said calmly; "he +is a great favorite of the Doctor's."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"I suppose it depends a good deal upon his work," Isobel +said.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Was he, Mrs. Hunter?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h1> + +<p>Dr. Wade was sitting in the veranda smoking and reading an +English paper that had arrived by that morning's mail, when +Isobel returned.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, Doctor. Is uncle back?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Then you think it is not all quite natural, Doctor?"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"'Do not go out today,' he said. 'I foresee evil for you. I +saw you last night brought back badly wounded.'</p> + +<p>"'But if I don't go your dream will come wrong,' I said.</p> + +<p>"He shook his head.</p> + +<p>"'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.</p> + +<p>"'How many men are there?' he said.</p> + +<p>"'Why, six of course,' I replied.</p> + +<p>"'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.'</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"But here comes your uncle; he will think I have been +preaching a sermon to you if you look so grave."</p> + +<p>But Major Hannay was too occupied with his own thoughts to +notice Isobel.</p> + +<p>"Has anything gone wrong, Major?" the Doctor asked, as he saw +his face.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"My dear uncle," Isobel said reprovingly, "I am sure you don't +mean what you say."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Tiffin ready, sahib," Rumzan interrupted, coming out onto the +veranda.</p> + +<p>"That is right, Rumzan. Now, Isobel, let us think of more +pleasant subjects."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>At dinner the subject of juggling came up again, and the two +subalterns expressed their opinion strongly that it was all +humbug.</p> + +<p>"Dr. Wade believes in it, Mr. Wilson," Isobel said.</p> + +<p>"You don't say so, Doctor; I should have thought you were the +last sort of man who would have believed in conjurers."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"That is one for me," Wilson said good humoredly, while the +others laughed.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"What do you think of them, Mr. Bathurst?" Isobel asked. "I +suppose you have seen some of the better sort?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"What did he do, Mr. Bathurst?"</p> + +<p>Bathurst related the feat of the disappearing girl.</p> + +<p>"She must have jumped down when you were not looking," +Richards said, with an air or conviction.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Still, if she did not come down that way, how could she have +come?" Wilson said.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The two went round to the other side and lit the lamps, and +the servants stood a short distance off on either side.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Now, Wilson," the Doctor said, "perhaps you will be kind +enough to explain to us all how this was done?"</p> + +<p>"I have no more idea than Adam, Doctor."</p> + +<p>"Then we will leave it to Richards. He promised us at dinner +to keep his eyes well open."</p> + +<p>Richards made no reply.</p> + +<p>"How was it done, Mr. Bathurst? It seems almost like a +miracle."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>A loud shriek followed the first thrust, and then all was +silent.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"What on earth has become of the girl?" Wilson exclaimed.</p> + +<p>As he spoke she passed between him and Richards back to her +father's side.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Will you ask him, Major," Richards said, as he wiped his +forehead with his pocket handkerchief, "to make sure that she is +solid?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The spectators were silent now; the whole thing was so strange +and mysterious that they had no words to express their +feeling.</p> + +<p>The juggler said something which Mr. Hunter translated to be a +request for all to resume their places.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The girl now placed herself in the center of the open +space.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>A minute later a dark object made its appearance from the +ground. It rose higher and higher with an undulating +movement.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>It was some time before anyone spoke, so great was the feeling +of wonder. The Doctor was the first to break the silence.</p> + +<p>"I have never seen that before," he said, "though I have heard +of it from a native Rajah."</p> + +<p>"Would the sahibs like to see more?" the juggler asked.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"I would not have missed this for anything," the Doctor said. +"It would be simple madness to throw away such a chance."</p> + +<p>The ladies, therefore, with the exception of Mrs. Hunter, Mrs. +Doolan, and Isobel, retired into the house.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Now I will show you the past," he said. "Who speaks?"</p> + +<p>There was silence, and then Dr. Wade said, "Show me my +past."</p> + +<p>A faint light stole up over the smoke -- it grew brighter and +brighter; and then a picture was clearly seen upon it.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"That is you, Doctor!" Mr. Hunter exclaimed; "you are got up +as a native, but it's you."</p> + +<p>Almost at the same moment two figures came out from the +jungle. They were also in native dress.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Draw back the curtains, someone; I fancy this has been too +much for Miss Hannay."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>This was done.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>When the lamps were lit it was evident that the whole of the +men were a good deal shaken by what they had seen.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>There was a general murmur of agreement and the materials were +quickly brought.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>At this moment the Doctor came out again.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You recognized the first scene, I suppose, Doctor?" Bathurst +asked.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Do you think it was a real snake, Doctor?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I suppose it is no use asking the juggler any questions, +Hunter?" one of the other men said.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>No one was indeed inclined even for talk, and in a very short +time the party broke up and returned home.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"My impression, certainly, is that it is entirely +unaccountable by any laws with which we are acquainted, +Doctor."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>By this time they had reached the Doctor's bungalow, and had +comfortably seated themselves.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"And what was that, Bathurst?"</p> + +<p>Bathurst was silent for a time.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"It was quite true, Doctor. It is a hideous thing to say, but +constitutionally I am a coward."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h1> + +<p>As Bathurst brought his story to its conclusion the Doctor +rose and placed his hand kindly on his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"The deuce he did," the Doctor exclaimed; "and yet you talk of +being a coward!"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"But why didn't you mention this business with the tiger, +Bathurst?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Well, I should not have thought that, Bathurst."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You look at it too seriously, Bathurst."</p> + +<p>"Not a bit of it, Doctor, and you know it."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You have heard nothing from the natives as to any coming +trouble?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Do you know Captain Forster, Doctor?" Isobel Hannay asked, on +the afternoon of his arrival. "Uncle tells me he is coming to +dinner."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You don't like him, Doctor," Isobel said quietly.</p> + +<p>"I have not said so, my dear -- far from it. I think I said a +good deal for him."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but you don't like him, Doctor. Why is that?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Well, I know what your tastes are, Doctor; what are his?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I have long ago got over the weakness of believing people's +flattery, Doctor. However, now you have forewarned me I am +forearmed."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>"I am sure it is not, Doctor."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I thought uncle did not seem particularly pleased: when he +came in to tiffin, and said there was a new arrival."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Are you going to dine here, Doctor?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Is that meant as a warning for me, Mrs. Doolan?" Isobel +asked, smiling.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"He must be a horrid sort of man," Isobel said +indignantly.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I believe that is the number, Captain Forster."</p> + +<p>"It seems a very long time to me," he said.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"We are all here," the Major broke in. "Captain Forster, will +you take my niece in?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose you find this very dull after Cawnpore, Miss +Hannay?" Captain Forster asked.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"How do you mean too much, uncle?"</p> + +<p>The Major hesitated.</p> + +<p>"Well, he won't have much to do with his troop of horse, and +time will hang heavy on his hands."</p> + +<p>"Well, there is shooting, uncle."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I understand, uncle; but certainly he is pleasant."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>But Captain Forster had apparently no idea whatever that his +society could be anything but welcome, and called the next day +after luncheon.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"They are very pleasant," Isobel said.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"I only met him at the last races in Cawnpore," the Major +said; "he was stopping with the Doctor."</p> + +<p>"Quite a character, Wade."</p> + +<p>Isobel's tongue was untied now.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I don't like him at all," Isobel said decidedly.</p> + +<p>"No? Well, then, you are an exception to the general +rule."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The Doctor chuckled. "Well, that is true enough, my dear. +There was no harm in that."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The Doctor did not reply immediately.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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'?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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 --"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The Doctor had gone away in a state of extreme irritation.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Anything new, Major? You look put out."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h1> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?'"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"Yes, she was most indignant about it, and did not believe +it."</p> + +<p>"And what did you say, Doctor?" he asked indifferently.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.'"</p> + +<p>"You are a confirmed croaker," Captain Rintoul said.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"I am perfectly willing, Doctor, and have certainly no +objection to trusting Isobel to your care. I know you are not +likely to miss."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>There was a general laugh, for the two subalterns had been +chaffed a good deal at both missing the tiger on the previous +occasion.</p> + +<p>"Well, when shall it be, Major?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I have not seen Mr. Bathurst lately," Mrs. Doolan said +presently.</p> + +<p>"Nor have we," Isobel said quietly; "it is quite ten days +since we saw him last."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Doolan nodded approval.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I don't think handsomeness goes for much in a man," Isobel +said shortly.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Doolan laughed.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Yes, to admire, Mrs. Doolan, but not to like."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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?</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Isobel stood twisting her fingers over each other before her +nervously.</p> + +<p>"But what am I to do?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I don't think you ought to have told him," Isobel repeated, +much distressed.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You never told him that, Doctor; surely you never told him +that?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"But what am I to do when we meet, Doctor?" she asked +piteously.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You are very unkind, Doctor, and I never knew you unkind +before."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"I am quite of your opinion," he said. "We will agree not to +allude to it again. Goodby."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>During the week that had since elapsed the Major had wondered +and grumbled several times at Bathurst's absence.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>Upon the evening, however, of the day when Isobel had spoken +to Mrs. Doolan, Bathurst came in, rather late in the evening.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"I certainly should not have known Mr. Bathurst," he said. "I +have changed a great deal, no doubt, but he has certainly changed +more."</p> + +<p>There was no attempt on the part of either to shake hands. As +they moved apart Isobel came into the room.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Captain Forster had noticed the flush on Isobel's cheeks when +she saw Bathurst, and had drawn his own conclusions.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"No, uncle, I have not seen him except when you have. What put +such an idea into your mind?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Very likely," Isobel said innocently, and changed the +subject.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The dinner was a cheerful meal, and everyone was in high +spirits.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"How far is the nullah from here, Doctor?" Wilson, who could +think of nothing else but the tiger, asked.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"The Major will be glad if you will all go in, gentlemen," +Bathurst said, as he joined them.</p> + +<p>"Are we to go in, Mr. Bathurst?" Miss Hunter asked.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"It must be very serious," Isobel said, "or uncle would never +decide to go back, when all the preparations are made."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You can't give us any particulars, then, Mr. Bathurst?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>"That is a very minor trouble, Mary."</p> + +<p>"I don't think so," the girl said; "just at present it seems +to me to be very serious."</p> + +<p>At this moment the Doctor put his head out of the tent.</p> + +<p>"Will you come in, Bathurst?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later the buggies were brought round, and the +whole party, with the exception of the Doctor and Bathurst, +started for Deennugghur.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_XII_"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h1> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Very well; I will do the shooting, then," the Doctor +agreed.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The Doctor spoke as if the question was a purely impersonal +one.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>A shikari came up as they approached the spot.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"The sooner it comes the better," Bathurst said, between his +teeth. "I would rather face a hundred tigers than this infernal +din."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I should never have fallen off," Bathurst said angrily, "if +you had not fired. I could have finished him with the spear."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>Bathurst was silent, and scarce another word was spoken during +the drive back to Deennugghur.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"So was I," Bathurst said. "I have been thinking of nothing +else since we started."</p> + +<p>"Well, I will go to the Major at once and see what +arrangements have been made, and whether there is any further +news."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The Doctor found that the Major was over at the tent which +served as the orderly office, and at once followed him there.</p> + +<p>"Nothing fresh, Major?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Did you kill the tiger, Doctor?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Speared it!" the Major repeated; "why didn't he shoot it. +What was he doing with his spear?"</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I suppose it is because my home was not a very happy one," +Isobel said.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Uncle was saying the same," Isobel said quietly.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Late one afternoon Bathurst walked into the Major's bungalow +just as he was about to sit down to dinner.</p> + +<p>"Major, I want to speak to you for a moment," he said.</p> + +<p>"Sit down and have some dinner, Bathurst. You have become +altogether a stranger."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Major, but I have a great deal to do. Can you +spare me five minutes now? It is of importance."</p> + +<p>Isobel rose to leave the room.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Isobel sat down with an air of indifference.</p> + +<p>"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:</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"What is it, uncle?" Isobel asked, leaving her seat and coming +up to him.</p> + +<p>The Major translated the letter.</p> + +<p>"It must be a hoax," he went on; "I cannot believe it. What +does this stuff about beating a tiger with a whip mean?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>This was so evident, that Major Hannay at once dismissed all +other thoughts from his mind.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Yes, we will hold a council," the Major said.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"That is quite true. Yes, we must do nothing to arouse +suspicion. What do you propose, Mr. Bathurst?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h1> + +<p>The Doctor had just sat down to dinner when Bathurst came in. +The two subalterns were dining with him.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Well, Bathurst," the Doctor asked, "I suppose you have +something serious to tell me?"</p> + +<p>"Very serious, Doctor;" and he repeated the news he had given +the Major.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"The only question that seemed to him to be open was whether +the women and children could be got away."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The Doctor nodded. "That is the situation exactly, +Bathurst."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Richards cordially agreed with his companion.</p> + +<p>"Well, now, what are the orders, Bathurst?" said the +Doctor.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"No, I am sure they would not," the Doctor agreed.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"But you all along agreed to our holding the courthouse, +Forster," the Major said.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"I would lay down my life for the sahib," the man said +quietly.</p> + +<p>"You have heard nothing of any trouble with the Sepoys?"</p> + +<p>"No, sahib; they know that Roshun is faithful to his +master."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Good, sahib; what will you take with you?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"What are in those two cases, Doctor?" Wilson asked.</p> + +<p>"Brandy, lad."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later they reached the hospital, being the last of +the party to arrive there.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>All felt better and more cheerful after having taken some +coffee.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"If the villains venture to attack us," Wilson said, "I feel +sure we shall beat them off handsomely."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The young men both laughed.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Ride, man, ride!" the Doctor shouted, although his voice +could not have been heard at a quarter of the distance.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Well done!" the Doctor exclaimed. "That is a good +beginning."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I think, Doctor, there is someone else wants your services +more than I do."</p> + +<p>"Yes; is anyone else hit?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps Bathurst would do so, too, Captain Forster, if he had +not more brains to blow out than some people have."</p> + +<p>"That is sharp, Doctor," Forster laughed good temperedly. "I +don't mind a fair hit."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Isobel Hannay had met Bathurst as he was carrying a sack of +earth to the roof.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>As he came down he went to the door of the room in which +Isobel was standing awaiting him.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Let me give you a strong dose of ammonia and ginger; you want +a pickup I can see by your face."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>With an impatient shrug of the shoulders the Doctor mixed a +strong dose of quinine and gave it to him.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"My dear Bathurst," he said, "I think you had better go below. +You will find plenty of work to do there."</p> + +<p>"My work is here," Bathurst said, as if speaking to himself: +"it must be done."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Are you mad, Bathurst? Lie down, man; you a throwing away +your life."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Nobly done, gentlemen," the Major said, as they laid Bathurst +down; "it was almost miraculous your not being hit."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The Major and Dr. Wade lifted Bathurst and carried him below. +Mrs. Hunter, who had been appointed chief nurse, met them.</p> + +<p>"Is he badly wounded, Doctor?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The Major at once returned to the terrace.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Is he badly hurt, Doctor?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"That was a mad charge of yours, Forster," the Major said. "It +was like the Balaclava business -- magnificent; but it wasn't +war."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I came up to say that I am sorry, Doctor."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I was; but I think you quite deserved it."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You would have shared the responsibility, anyhow, Doctor, for +it was you who repeated my words to him."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>And he then repeated the story Bathurst had told him.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"If you had told me all this before I should never have spoken +as I did," Isobel pleaded.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Isobel stood motionless before him, with downcast eyes.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>There was a general murmur of assent.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I should say that he ought to be sent to Coventry," Richards +said.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>There was a general expression of assent to this opinion, +Wilson alone protesting against it.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Wilson would have replied angrily, but Captain Doolan put his +hand on his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h1> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>Isobel Hannay had taken no part in the first discussion among +the ladies, nor did she say anything now.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>Later on the men gathered together at one end of the room, and +talked over the situation.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The Doctor, who had several times been in to see Bathurst, +went to his room.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Then you will come," the Doctor said, pleased that Bathurst +seemed less depressed than he had expected.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Then he passed on with the Doctor to the other end of the +room. The Major nodded as he came up.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"And you think they have guns?"</p> + +<p>"I have not the least doubt of it; the number given up was a +mere fraction of those they were said to have possessed."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"It would be a very dangerous undertaking," the Major said +gravely.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Well, if you are ready to undertake it, I will not refuse," +the Major said. "How would you propose to get out?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Bathurst turned to Dr. Wade. "Will you superintend my get up, +Doctor?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"By the way, you have taken no arms," the Doctor said +suddenly.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"A couple of hours at the outside."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>When the Doctor re-entered the house there was a chorus of +questions:</p> + +<p>"Has Mr. Bathurst started?"</p> + +<p>"Why did you not bring him in here before he left? We should +all have liked to have said goodby to him."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Has he taken any arms, Doctor?" the Major asked.</p> + +<p>"None whatever, Major. I asked him if he would not take +pistols, but he refused."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't aspire to Bathurst's type of courage, Doctor," +Forster said, with a short laugh.</p> + +<p>But the Doctor did not answer. He had already turned away, and +was making for the stairs.</p> + +<p>"May I go with you, Doctor?" Isobel Hannay said, following +him. "It is very hot down here."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Everything quiet, Wilson?" he asked the young subaltern, who, +with another, was on guard on the roof.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I hope he is beyond the sentries," the Doctor said. "I have +come up here to listen."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Shall I put one of these sandbags for you to sit on?"</p> + +<p>"I would rather stand, thank you;" and they stood for some +time silently watching the fires in the lines.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Do you think Mr. Bathurst has got beyond the line of +sentries?" Isobel said, after standing perfectly quiet for some +time.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Isobel moved a few paces away from the others, and again stood +listening.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you do not think that there is any chance of an +attack tonight, Doctor?" Wilson asked, in low tones.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I wish there were a few more of us," Wilson said, "so that we +could venture on a sortie."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"And you think matters look bad, Doctor?"</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The Doctor went over to her.</p> + +<p>"Do you think -- do you think," she said in a low, strained +voice, "that it was Bathurst?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Do you really think so, Doctor?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I don't care about pain to myself," the girl said. "I have +been unjust, and deserve it."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but I want him to see that he is not despised," she said +quickly. "You don't understand, Doctor."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Is that you, Bathurst?" he whispered.</p> + +<p>"All right, Doctor;" and a minute later Bathurst sat on the +branch beside him.</p> + +<p>"Well, what's your news?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Yes, there is that chance," the Doctor agreed; "but history +shows there is but little reliance to be placed upon native +oaths."</p> + +<p>Bathurst was silent; his own experience of the natives had +taught him the same lesson.</p> + +<p>"It is a poor hope," he said, after a while; "but it is the +only one, so far as I can see."</p> + +<p>Not another word was spoken as they descended the tree and +walked across to the house.</p> + +<p>"Never mind about changing your things, come straight in."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"We are indeed, Mr. Bathurst, though as yet I can hardly +persuade myself that it is you in that get up."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"He is on the roof. There is a sort of general gathering of +our defenders there."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>There was a hearty cordiality in the young fellow's voice that +was very pleasant to Bathurst.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Now, light a cheroot, Bathurst," the Major said, "and drink +off this tumbler of brandy and soda, and then let us hear your +story."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>There was a murmur of assent.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The opinion of the married civilians was entirely in accord +with that of Mr. Hunter.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I fancy he may be counted as a combatant all through," the +Doctor muttered.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>The whole of the ladies at once volunteered.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The Major went down, and the two subalterns and Mr. Hunter +joined the Doctor on the roof.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>For five minutes a rapid fire was kept up; then Wilson went +below.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h1> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I used to be a quick worker, Miss Hannay, till lately. I have +not touched a needle since I came out to India."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"And a very useful one, Mrs. Rintoul. We are all of us the +better for a little stirring up sometimes."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I am not making fun of him, Miss Hannay. I am pitying +him."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You must remember that Mr. Bathurst showed plenty of courage +in going out among the mutineers last night."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Just as dinner was over Richards and one of the civilians came +down from the terrace.</p> + +<p>"I think that there is something up, Major. I can hear noises +somewhere near where Mr. Hunter's bungalow was."</p> + +<p>"What sort of noises, Richards?"</p> + +<p>"There is a sort of murmur, as if there were a good many men +there."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"All ready!" replied the Major.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"There they are!" the Major exclaimed; "just to the right of +the bungalow; there are scores of them."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The light of the rocket showed that there were now no natives +at the spot where they had been seen at work.</p> + +<p>"I thought it would be too hot for them, Major, at such close +quarters as these. We must have played the mischief with +them."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Well, you will send for us in four hours, Major?"</p> + +<p>"You need not be afraid of my forgetting."</p> + +<p>Dawn was just breaking when the relief were called up; the +firing had died away, and all was quiet.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"What is that, Bathurst?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Major Hannay nodded.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I quite see that, Bathurst."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I think the idea is a very good one, Bathurst. What do you +think, Doctor?"</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Will you take charge of the operation, Bathurst?"</p> + +<p>"With pleasure, Major."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"I will take Wilson, sir."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly, Major, I will take general charge of it."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"But only one will be able to work at a time in that +case."</p> + +<p>"That will be quite enough,". Bathurst said. "It will be hot +work and hard. We will relieve each other every five minutes or +so."</p> + +<p>A very short time sufficed to break through the wall.</p> + +<p>"Thank goodness, it is earth," Wilson said, thrusting a +crowbar through the opening as soon as it was made.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"And how far did you drive the hole?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"There is not much use in betting now, Mr. Wilson," Isobel +said sadly.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Another day passed quietly, and then during the night the +watch heard the sounds of blows with axes, and of falling +trees.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Why the deuce don't the fellows begin?" Captain Forster said +impatiently, as he stood looking over the parapet when the work +was finished.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Bathurst and Wilson, sir."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Pay no attention to the fellows in the gardens," the Major +said; "fire at their guns -- they must expose themselves to +load."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Shall we wait for them or fire first, Major?" the Doctor +asked.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>A similar success attended the next two shots, and then a +number of figures were seen hastily climbing down.</p> + +<p>"Give them a volley, gentlemen," the Major said.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Major Hannay then went down to the storeroom.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>There was a general exclamation of pleasure.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The Major laughed.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"And has no one been hurt with all that firing, Major Hannay?" +Mary Hunter asked.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Caryatides," Isobel put in.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Why do you say you know I don't like Mr. Bathurst?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"What has Captain Forster to do with it?" Isobel asked, +somewhat indignantly.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"But I don't dislike him, Mr. Wilson."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, why do you go on as if you didn't like him?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"I can't speak to him if he doesn't speak to me," she said +desperately.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h1> + +<p>The next four days made a great alteration in the position of +the defenders in the fortified house.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The Major had put Wilson next to him.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"All right, Major, I will look to him."</p> + +<p>Four men remained on guard at the breach all night, and at the +first gleam of daylight the garrison took up their posts.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Both the girls were pale, but they were quiet and steady. The +Doctor saw they were not likely to break down.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I have no fear of the natives at all," Bathurst said.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"They are coming, Major," the Doctor shouted down from the +roof; "the Sepoys are leading, and there is a crowd of natives +behind them."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Look out!" the Major shouted; "keep your heads low -- I am +going to throw the canisters."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>As he spoke he swung another canister through the breach, and +almost immediately two heavy explosions followed, one close upon +the other.</p> + +<p>"Give them a volley at the breach," he shouted; "never mind +those below."</p> + +<p>The muskets were fired as soon as received.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Stand steady," the Major shouted; "don't let another man +move."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Lie down, Isobel," he shouted; "they will be opening fire +again directly."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Are either of you hurt?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"How are you, Bathurst?" the Major repeated. "What on earth +possessed you to jump down like that?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>It needed considerable exertion to get him up, for the +reaction had now come, and he was scarce able to stand.</p> + +<p>"You had better go up to the house and get a glass of wine," +the Major said. "Now, is anyone else hurt?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>But almost as he spoke the young fellow tottered, and would +have fallen, had not the Major caught him.</p> + +<p>"Lend me a hand, Doolan," the latter said; "we will carry him +in; I am afraid he is very hard hit."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"It didn't last long," Wilson said; "not above five minutes, I +should say, from the time when we opened fire."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Where is Mr. Bathurst?" Mrs. Doolan asked; "is he hurt, too? +Why did he jump down? I should not have thought," and she +stopped.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I will go out and see," Mrs. Doolan said; and taking a mug +half full of champagne from the table, she went out.</p> + +<p>Bathurst was sitting on the ground leaning against the wall of +the house.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Bathurst drank some of the wine before he replied.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Not nobly, Mrs. Doolan," he said, rising to his feet; +"desperately, or madly, if you like."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>So keeping up a string of talk, the young subaltern led +Bathurst into the house.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>That evening, after it was dark, the men gathered on the +terrace.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>There was a general assent.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Yes, there is no doubt that he is the man to do it," the +Major said. "Where is he now?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Why not, Doctor? It is a dangerous mission, but no more +dangerous than remaining here."</p> + +<p>"Well, we shall see," the Doctor said, as he left the +group.</p> + +<p>Nothing was said for a few minutes, the men sitting or lying +about smoking. Presently the Doctor returned.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"But in that case he would have made his escape," the Major +said.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The Major was the first to speak.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"I should say Lucknow, Major. If help is to be obtained +anywhere, I should say it was there."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I think that is the most hopeful. You will start at +once; I suppose the sooner the better."</p> + +<p>"As soon as they are fairly asleep; say twelve o'clock."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The Major and Forster left the roof together.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h1> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Come outside," he said, "I must speak to you;" and together +they went out through the passage into the courtyard.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Why are you going away then, Captain Forster?" she asked +quietly.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Thank you for the offer, Captain Forster," she said coldly, +"but I decline it. My place is here with my uncle and the +others."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Isobel was silent for a moment.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"They have prejudiced you against me," he said angrily.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Can you not give some hope that in the distance, when these +troubles are over, should we both be spared, you may --"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"How is that, Doctor? Why is our chance better than the rest? +I have no hope myself that any will be spared."</p> + +<p>"I put my faith in the juggler, Bathurst. Has it not struck +you that the first picture you saw has come true?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Bathurst was silent for two or three minutes.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You mean because of Miss Hannay, Bathurst?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, that is what I mean."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to say, Doctor, that you don't think she cares +for him?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"He is welcome to it," Bathurst said carelessly; "it will be +of no use to me."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Goodby, Major," he said; "I hope I may be back again in eight +or nine days with a squadron of cavalry."</p> + +<p>"Goodby, Forster; I hope it may be so. May God protect +you!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I don't think that is fair," Isobel said warmly, "when he is +going away to fetch assistance for us."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Doolan laughed.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"How will you go out, Bathurst?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I suppose you are quite convinced that there is no hope of +relief from Lucknow?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"At any rate, we can wait no longer."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Do you think you will succeed, Bathurst?"</p> + +<p>"I am pretty sure of it," he said confidently. "I believe I +have a friend there."</p> + +<p>"A friend!" the Doctor repeated in surprise.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>At the end of the gallery a figure was standing; it was Isobel +Hannay.</p> + +<p>"I have heard you are going out again, Mr. Bathurst."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am going to see what I can do in the way of making +terms for us."</p> + +<p>"You may not come back again," she said nervously.</p> + +<p>"That is, of course, possible, Miss Hannay, but I do not think +the risk is greater than that run by those who stay here."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>He held it a moment. "Goodby, Miss Hannay. May God keep you +and guard you."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"It is you, sahib. I was expecting you. I knew that you would +come this evening."</p> + +<p>"I don't know how you knew it but I am heartily glad to see +you."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"How are things going, Rujub? We have heard nothing for three +weeks. How is it at Cawnpore?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"And Lucknow?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"The Residency holds out at present, but men say that it must +soon fall."</p> + +<p>"And what do you say?"</p> + +<p>"I say nothing," the man said; "we cannot use our art in +matters which concern ourselves."</p> + +<p>"And Delhi?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Thank God for that!" Bathurst exclaimed; "as long as the +Punjaub holds out the tables may be turned. And the other +Presidencies?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing as yet," Rujub said, in a tone of discontent.</p> + +<p>"Then you are against us, Rujub?"</p> + +<p>The man stopped.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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?</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"He is here," he said.</p> + +<p>"Then you were not mistaken, Rujub?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I would rather that you should be present," Por Sing said, as +Rujub turned to withdraw.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"That is so," the Zemindar said, stroking his beard; "well, I +will talk with this person."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I have received orders from Nana Sahib to send all prisoners +down to him," Por Sing said, in a hesitating voice.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"That is true," Por Sing said gloomily; "but the Sepoys will +not agree to the terms."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>After a hearty expression of thanks, Bathurst left the tent. +Rujub was awaiting him outside.</p> + +<p>"You have succeeded?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes; he will guarantee the lives of all the garrison, but he +seemed to be afraid of what you might report to Nana Sahib."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>They made their way back without interruption to the clump of +bushes near the house.</p> + +<p>"When shall I see you again?" Bathurst asked.</p> + +<p>"I do not know," replied Rujub, "but be sure that I shall be +at hand to aid you if possible should danger arise."</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER +XVIII.</h1> + +<p>As soon as Bathurst began to remove the covering of the hole, +a voice came from below.</p> + +<p>"Is that you, Bathurst?"</p> + +<p>"All right, Doctor."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"The ladder is still there, I suppose, Doctor?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; it is just as you got off it. What are you going to do +about the hole?"</p> + +<p>"Rujub is here; he will cover it up after me."</p> + +<p>"Then you were right," the Doctor said, as Bathurst stepped +down beside him; "and you found the juggler really waiting for +you?"</p> + +<p>"At the bungalow, Doctor, as I expected."</p> + +<p>"And what have you done? You can hardly have seen Por Sing; it +is not much over an hour since you left."</p> + +<p>"I have seen him, Doctor; and what is more, he has pledged his +word for our safety."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>She spoke in a voice that all in the room could hear.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I do for one," Captain Doolan said, coming forward.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>All the others who had held aloof from Bathurst came forward +and expressed their deep regret for what had occurred.</p> + +<p>Bathurst heard them in silence.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>So saying, he quietly left the room.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"We wish to see the Zemindar Por Sing," Bathurst said, "to +treat with him upon the subject of our surrender."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>Rujub, who was handsomely attired, stepped forward.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"We have come here to take them and kill them," one of the +officers said defiantly; "and we will do so."</p> + +<p>Por Sing, who had been speaking with the Talookdars round him, +rose from his seat.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"What pledges do you require?" Por Sing asked Bathurst.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Bathurst translated what had been said to Captain Doolan.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"He is a fine old heathen," Captain Doolan said; "tell him +that we accept his terms."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Ah, here is Wilson," said the Doctor; "he is a fine young +fellow, and I am very glad he has gone through it safely."</p> + +<p>"So am I," Bathurst said warmly; "here we are, Wilson."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Yes, we should be as difficult to hit as a tiger," the Doctor +put in.</p> + +<p>Wilson laughed.</p> + +<p>"I have gained a lot of experience since then, Doctor. What +ages that seems back! Years almost."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"I am thinking that my uncle looks worse this morning, Doctor; +does it not strike you so too?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The Doctor shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Can you do nothing, Doctor?" Bathurst said, in a low +tone.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Then the boats pushed off and started on their way down the +stream.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Oh, uncle, you will get better now you are out of that +terrible place."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"What boats are those?"</p> + +<p>"Fishing boats going down the river," one of the boatmen +answered.</p> + +<p>"Row alongside, we must examine you."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Stop, or we fire," came from the shore.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Who is it?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you must be hit somewhere. Try and move your arms and +legs."</p> + +<p>Bathurst moved.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Help me up," Bathurst said, and he was soon on his feet. He +felt giddy and confused. "Who have you with you?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Two natives. I think one is the young chief, and the other is +one of his followers."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>"Our boat was pretty nearly cut in two," Wilson said, "and was +sinking when I jumped over; the other boat has been rowed +ashore."</p> + +<p>"What did you hear, Wilson?"</p> + +<p>"I heard the women scream," Wilson said reluctantly, "and five +or six shots were fired. There has been no sound since then."</p> + +<p>Bathurst stood silent for a minute.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I will do that," the young Rajah said; "but what about +yourself?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"What are you saying, Bathurst?" Wilson asked.</p> + +<p>"I am arranging for Murad and his follower to take you down to +Allahabad, Wilson. I shall stop at Cawnpore."</p> + +<p>"Stop at Cawnpore! Are you mad, Bathurst?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"But if you can stay, I can, Bathurst. If Miss Hannay has been +made prisoner, I would willingly be killed to rescue her."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h1> + +<p>Now alone, Bathurst threw himself down among the bashes in an +attitude of utter depression.</p> + +<p>"Why wasn't I killed with the others?" he groaned. "Why was I +not killed when I sat there by her side?"</p> + +<p>So he lay for an hour, and then slowly rose and looked round. +There was a faint light in the sky.</p> + +<p>"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?</p> + +<p>"Wait till I come."</p> + +<p>He seemed to hear the words plainly, just as he had heard +Rujub's summons before.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"I know, sahib. I can tell your thoughts as easily when you +are away from me as I can when we are together."</p> + +<p>"Can you do this with all people?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>"I saw them, sahib; they were brought in on a gun +carriage."</p> + +<p>"How did they look, Rujub?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"And they put them with the other women that they have taken +prisoners?"</p> + +<p>Rujub hesitated.</p> + +<p>"They have put the other two there, sahib, but her they took +to Bithoor."</p> + +<p>Bathurst started, and an exclamation of horror and rage burst +from him.</p> + +<p>"To the Rajah's!" he exclaimed. "To that scoundrel! Come, let +us go. Why are we staying here?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Is the meal prepared?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"It is ready," she said.</p> + +<p>"That is right. Tell Rhuman to put the pony into the +cart."</p> + +<p>He then led the way into a comfortably furnished apartment +where a meal was laid.</p> + +<p>"Eat, my lord," he said; "you need it, and will require your +strength."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"I feel another man, Rujub, and fit for anything."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>At the door a small native cart was standing with a pony in +the shafts.</p> + +<p>"You will go with us, Rhuman," Rujub said, as he and Bathurst +took their seats in the cart.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"They would be eaten up," he said; "the troops will go out to +meet them; they will never arrive within sight of Cawnpore."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Tell me, Rujub," he said presently, "more about this force at +Allahabad. What is its strength likely to be?"</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"They are fighting for freedom," Rujub said.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"The Rajah may fire it with his own hands," Bathurst said; +"but if he does not, it will be done for him."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Why did you not tell me when you were at Deennugghur?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"How long will your daughter be before she comes? It is +horrible waiting here."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Well, what news, Rabda?" Bathurst asked eagerly.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Where is she now?"</p> + +<p>"She is in the zenana, looking out into the women's court, +that no men are ever allowed to enter."</p> + +<p>"Has the Rajah seen her?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"That is something," Bathurst said thankfully. "Now we shall +have time to think of some scheme for getting her out."</p> + +<p>"You have been in the zenana yourself, Rabda?" Rujub +asked.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You are mad, Rabda," her father said angrily; "what have I to +do with spells and love philters?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"A very good idea, Rabda," Bathurst said. "Is there nothing +you can do, Rujub, to make her odious to the Nana?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"But would it recover its fairness, sahib?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"But you, sahib -- would you risk her being disfigured?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.'"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"I will take it," Rujub said. "I know some of the English +medicines, and may find a use for them."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Then sitting down he wrote:</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Yours,</p> + +<p>"R. Bathurst."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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?</p> + +<p>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?</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Yours most gratefully,</p> + +<p>"Isobel."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h1> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"The Nana can see her now," she said to herself; "there will +be no change in the arrangements here."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>An hour later he came to the door of the zenana.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Poomba?" he asked; "nothing the matter with Miss +Hannay, I hope?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Take me to her," the Rajah said. "I will see for myself."</p> + +<p>"It may be a contagious disease, your highness. It were best +that you should not go near her."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"It is horrible," he said, in a low voice. "What have you been +doing to her?" he asked, turning furiously to the woman.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>As soon as he had left the woman called Rabda in.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>The salve at once afforded relief from the burning pain, and +Isobel gratefully took a drink prepared from fresh limes.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The curtains of the palanquin were drawn down; the bearers +lifted it and started at once for Cawnpore.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"You will not be wanted any more," Rabda said, in a tone of +authority. "You can return to Bithoor at once!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"My poor child, what have these fiends been doing to you?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hunter took Rabda's hand, and in her own language thanked +her for her kindness to Isobel.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"So Bathurst has escaped," Mrs. Hunter said, turning to +Isobel. "I am glad of that, dear; I was afraid that all were +gone."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"But surely there could be no occasion to burn yourself as +badly as you have done, Isobel."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hunter shook her head regretfully.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid it will leave marks for a long time."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>The girl took them, hesitating a little before writing:</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Yours gratefully,</p> + +<p>"Isobel."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"What has happened? Why did you not meet us, Rabda?" her +father exclaimed, as he entered.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"My life is my lord's," the girl said quietly. "What I have +done is nothing."</p> + +<p>"If we had but known, Rujub, that she would be moved at once, +we might have rescued her on the way."</p> + +<p>Rujub shook his head.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Is she much disfigured, Rabda?" Bathurst asked.</p> + +<p>"Dreadfully;" the girl said sorrowfully. "The acid must have +been too strong."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Now, Rabda, see if the meal is prepared," Rujub said. "We are +both hungry, and you can have eaten nothing this morning."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"That is true enough, Rabda. At the moment I was not thinking +of that, but of other things."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"What does the sahib intend to do now?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Then will my lord go down to Allahabad?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not. There is no saying what may happen."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>Rujub remained silent for a minute.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I would learn whether the same regiment always furnishes the +guard; if so, it might be possible to bribe them."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Could you not do something with your art, Rujub?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"They are evidently pretty strict," Bathurst said. "I don't +think, Rujub, there is much chance of our doing anything +there."</p> + +<p>Rujub shook his head. "No, sahib, it is clear they have strict +orders about opening and shutting the gate."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You could lower her down from the top of the wall, +sahib."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Where does the prison house lie, Rabda?" Bathurst asked.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"And now, sahib, we can do nothing more," Rujub said. "I will +return home with Rabda, and then go over to Bithoor."</p> + +<p>"Very well, Rujub, I will stay here, and hear what people are +talking about."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Are you there?"</p> + +<p>"I am there," she said.</p> + +<p>"Are you in the room where the ladies are?"</p> + +<p>"I am there," she repeated.</p> + +<p>"Do you see the lady Hannay?"</p> + +<p>"I see her."</p> + +<p>"How is she?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Try and speak to her. Say, 'Keep up your courage, we are +doing what we can.' Speak, I order you."</p> + +<p>"I have spoken."</p> + +<p>"Did she hear you?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Rujub looked at Bathurst, who mechanically repeated the +message in English.</p> + +<p>"Speak to her again. Tell her these words," and Rujub repeated +the message in English.</p> + +<p>"Does she hear you?"</p> + +<p>"She hears me. She has clasped her hands, and is looking round +bewildered."</p> + +<p>"That will do. Now go outside into the yard; what do you see +there?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Is the door locked?"</p> + +<p>"It is locked."</p> + +<p>"Where is the key?"</p> + +<p>She was silent for some time.</p> + +<p>"Where is the key?" he repeated.</p> + +<p>"In the lock," she said.</p> + +<p>"How many soldiers are there in the guardroom by the +gate?"</p> + +<p>"There are no soldiers there. There are an officer and four +men outside, but none inside."</p> + +<p>"That will do," and he passed his hand lightly across her +forehead.</p> + +<p>"Is it all true?" Bathurst asked, as the juggler turned to +him.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Does she know what she has been doing?" he asked, as Rabda +languidly rose from her chair.</p> + +<p>"No, sahib, she knows nothing after she has recovered from +these trances."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I will do that, sahib; if they are changed we may be able to +get at some of them."</p> + +<p>"I have no money," Bathurst said; "but --"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Have you a son to come after you, Rujub?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"By the way, Rujub, I have not asked you how you got on with +the Nana."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"None, sahib, save that the Feringhees are bringing down +regiments from the Punjaub to aid those at Delhi."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"You surely do not think he will give orders for the murder of +the women and children?"</p> + +<p>"I fear he will do so," Rujub answered gloomily.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h1> + +<p>While Bathurst was busying himself completing his preparations +for the attempt, Rabda came in with her father.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I told her that would be your answer, sahib," Rujub said, +"but she insisted on making the offer."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"They have gone into the guard room to sleep," he said; "there +are two less to trouble you."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"That will do, Rujub, it is my turn now."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Without waiting for an answer, he moved towards the fire.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"It is very hot tonight," Bathurst replied.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"But the others, Mr. Bathurst, can't you save them too?"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Stand back here so that the gate will open on you," he said. +Then he undid the bar, shouting, "Treachery; the prisoners are +escaping!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Do you feel strong enough to walk far?" Bathurst asked, +speaking for the first time since they left the gate.</p> + +<p>"I think so," she said; "I am not sure whether I am awake or +dreaming."</p> + +<p>"You are awake, Miss Hannay; you are safe out of that terrible +prison."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"It was a pity you saw it," he said gently.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, so far as we know."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>After a pause she went on. "Then none of those in the other +boat came to shore, Mr. Bathurst, except Mr. Wilson?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but tell me why you have taken me away; you said there +was great danger?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"They surely could not murder women and children who have done +them no harm!"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Lift her onto this, sahib, then we will take the four corners +and carry her; it will be no weight."</p> + +<p>Bathurst lifted Isobel, in spite of her feeble protest, and +laid her on the cloth.</p> + +<p>"I will take the two corners by her head," Bathurst said, "if +you will each take one of the others."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Which way are you taking us, Rujub?" Bathurst asked +presently; "I have lost my bearings altogether."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"I cannot believe it possible they will carry out such a +butchery, Rujub."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Where is the river, Rujub?"</p> + +<p>"A few hundred yards to the left, sahib; the road is half a +mile to the right. We shall be quite safe here."</p> + +<p>They made their way for some little distance into the wood, +and then laid down their burden.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The sun was high before Bathurst woke. Rujub had lighted a +fire, and was boiling some rice in a lota.</p> + +<p>"Where is Miss Hannay?" Bathurst asked, as he sat up.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"How dreadfully, you have burnt yourself, Miss Hannay; surely +you cannot have followed the instructions I gave you."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Do you feel ready for breakfast, Miss Hannay?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>They sat down together and ate the cold food they had brought, +while Rabda and her father made their breakfast of rice.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"And who are the troops coming up, Mr. Bathurst? How strong +are they? I have heard nothing about them."</p> + +<p>"About twelve hundred white troops and four or five hundred +Sikhs; at least that is what the natives put them at."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Next to my uncle I shall miss the Doctor," she said.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"When shall we start?" Isobel asked presently.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"He seems a wonderful man," said Isobel. "You remember that +talk we had at dinner, before we went to see him at the +Hunters!"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Of course. But how good of her. Please tell her that you have +told me, and how grateful I am for her offer."</p> + +<p>Bathurst called Rabda, who was sitting a short distance +away.</p> + +<p>She took the hand that Isobel held out to her and placed it +against her forehead.</p> + +<p>"My life is yours, sahib," she said simply to Bathurst. "It +was right that I should give it for this lady you love."</p> + +<p>"What does she say?" Isobel asked.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Is that what she really said, Mr. Bathurst?" Isobel asked +quietly, for he had hesitated a little in changing its +wording.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"The saving of your life is due chiefly to these natives."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Bathurst went to the edge of the wood again, and looked out. +Then he turned suddenly to Isobel.</p> + +<p>"You remember those pictures on the smoke?" he said +excitedly.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I remember now," she said eagerly; "it was just as we +are here; but what of that, Mr. Bathurst?"</p> + +<p>"Did you recognize any of them?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I hope so, I hope so!" the girl cried, and pressed +forward with Bathurst to the edge of the wood.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"My friend the juggler and his daughter are with us, +Doctor."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Well, he has not exactly done that, but he and his daughter +have rendered us immense service. I could have done nothing +without them."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"But where have you sprung from, Doctor? How were you +saved?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"No, no, let us go on, Bathurst. I would rather be on the +move, and you can tell me your story as we go."</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h1> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>"It was done this morning."</p> + +<p>"What, all? Surely not all, Doctor?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Bathurst must tell you, Doctor; I cannot talk about it +yet -- I can hardly think about it."</p> + +<p>"Well, Bathurst, let us hear it from you."</p> + +<p>"It is a painful story for me to have to tell."</p> + +<p>Isobel looked up in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Painful, Mr. Bathurst? I should have thought --" and she +stopped.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"I burnt myself with acid, Doctor. Mr. Bathurst will tell you +all about it."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The Doctor looked at him in astonishment.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>Bathurst told the whole story, interrupted by many +exclamations of approval by the Doctor; especially when he +learned why Isobel disfigured herself.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Bathurst passed lightly over his fight in the courtyard, but +the Doctor questioned him as to the exact facts.</p> + +<p>"Not so bad for a coward, Bathurst," he said dryly.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I am sure they wouldn't, Bathurst. Well, go on with your +story."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Bathurst could not help laughing at the Doctor dropping into +his usual style of discussing things.</p> + +<p>"Are your feet feeling tender, Isobel?" the latter asked +cheerfully, as he overtook those in front.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"I will go in," Rujub said, "and bring some grain, and hear +what the news is."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The Doctor had decided to keep the news of the massacre to +himself.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do, Rujub?" Bathurst asked the native +next morning.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do, Bathurst?" the Doctor asked that +evening. "I suppose you have some sort of plan?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"And you mean to have nothing to say in the matter?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing at all," he said firmly. "I have already told you my +views on the subject."</p> + +<p>"Well, then," the Doctor said hotly, "I regard you as an ass." +And without another word he walked off in great anger.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"What is Mr. Bathurst going to do?" she asked the Doctor the +first day she was up on a couch.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Doctor, how can you say so!" she exclaimed in +astonishment; "why, what has he done?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Isobel flushed and then grew pale.</p> + +<p>"What is the crotchet?" she asked, in a low tone, after being +silent for some time.</p> + +<p>"What do you think, my dear? He is more disgusted with himself +than ever."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"But what could he have done, Doctor?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Isobel sat for some time silent, her fingers playing nervously +with each other.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"May I ask why?" the Doctor said sarcastically.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"I would rather not see him till tomorrow," the girl said.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>But it was not till two days later that Bathurst came up to +see her.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I am glad indeed, Bathurst," the Doctor said, warmly grasping +his hand. "I hoped that it might be so."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You are wounded, I see," the Doctor said.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I had a pistol ball through my left arm. I fancy the +bone is broken, but that is of no consequence."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Upon leaving him Dr. Wade went out and heard the details of +the fight.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The Doctor then went up to see Isobel. She looked flushed and +excited.</p> + +<p>"Is it true, Doctor, that Mr. Bathurst went out with the +volunteers, and that he is wounded?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I am as glad as you are, Isobel, though I fancy it will +change our plans."</p> + +<p>"How change our plans, Doctor? I did not know that I had any +plans."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"How could I tell him that?" the girl said, coloring.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"But why, Doctor," she asked, coloring even more hotly than +before, "is the plan changed?"</p> + +<p>"Because, my dear, I don't think Bathurst will go home with +you."</p> + +<p>"Why not, Doctor?" she asked, in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Because, my dear, he will want, in the first place, to +rehabilitate himself."</p> + +<p>"But no one knows, Doctor, about the siege and what happened +there, except you and me and Mr. Wilson; all the rest have +gone."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Isobel was silent.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"When shall I be able to see him?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I would rather wait if it would do him any harm, Doctor."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER +XXIII.</h1> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"How are you, Miss Hannay? I am glad to see you down."</p> + +<p>"I might repeat your words, Mr. Bathurst, for you see we have +changed places. You are the invalid, and not I."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"That may be," he said gravely, "but it does not alter the +fact."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"And what do you know?" she asked softly.</p> + +<p>"I know that you ought not to love me." he said. "No woman +should love a coward."</p> + +<p>"I quite agree with you, but then I know that you are not a +coward."</p> + +<p>"Not when I jumped over and left you alone? It was the act of +a cur."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"You love me?"</p> + +<p>"You know that I love you."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>So thought Dr. Wade when he came in and saw them sitting +there, and gave vent to his feeling in a grunt of +dissatisfaction.</p> + +<p>"It is like driving two pigs to market," he muttered; "they +won't go the way I want them to, out of pure contrariness."</p> + +<p>"It is all settled, Doctor," Bathurst said, rising. "Come, +shake hands; it is to you I owe my happiness chiefly."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>And Isobel of course had given way, though not without +protest.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"You ought to be ashamed of even thinking of such a thing, +Ralph."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"How do you mean, Doctor?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"One would think you were just starting on a pleasure party, +Doctor," Isobel said.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"My dear Bathurst!" he exclaimed. "Then you got safely down. +Did you rescue Miss Hannay?"</p> + +<p>"I had that good fortune, Wilson."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>With the column returning from Lucknow was the Doctor.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You don't say so; Doctor."</p> + +<p>"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.'</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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..</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Your face is wonderfully better," he said presently. "The +marks seem dying out, and you look almost your old self."</p> + +<p>"Yes," she said; "I have been to one of the great doctors, and +he says he thinks the scars will quite disappear in time."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>THE END.</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Rujub, the Juggler, by G. A. 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