Gil the Gunner Part 43

There were plenty of people about, old men and boys, and there was a sullen, lowering look in their amber eyes as we rode by, but no voice was raised against us, so wholesome a dread had they of the guns, of whose power they had all more or less heard--a power which might at any moment be directed against their homes.

To the delight of all, the horses proved to be in admirable condition, and in their excitement and glee, the men never seemed to trouble about the heat, but rode on, chatting together and discussing the morning's feat and the value of the long, careful drilling, whose results had been shown in the way in which the horses had behaved.

The road was dusty, but fairly good; and as the three elephants shuffled slowly along, I ventured to approach the one which bore Craig, time after time, but generally to find that he was sleeping, and upon calling the doctor's attention to the fact, he said abruptly--

"Best thing for him. Nature goes on best with her mending when a man is asleep. Phew! how hot it is."

"Worse walking," I said.

"Yes. Thank goodness, we are all well-mounted again. What a fish out of water one does feel without a horse."

We were not destined to reach Rajgunge without adventure, for that same evening we were thinking it time for a halt when the advance-guard galloped back to announce the coming of what seemed to be a regiment of native lancers.

The elephants were sent into the rear instantly, with a guard to ensure us against flight on the part of the mahouts; and, quick as thought, the guns were unlimbered and loaded, while we anxiously waited to see whether these were friends or enemies. But we were not kept long in doubt, for their confused, disorderly advance proved that they were without English officers, and they came on at a gallop, evidently in chase of our advance-guard, their lance-points glittering as they were brought down to the charge, the dust in front raised by our men partly hiding us till they were well within range, and one shot would have torn through their line and littered the dusty road with struggling men and horses.

But the word was not given, for no sooner did the front men grasp the peril into which they were galloping, than they raised a loud yell of warning, wheeled off to right and left, wheeled again, and scattered in wild flight, leaving us to pursue our way in peace, for there was nothing to be gained by pursuit, a duty reserved for the light cavalry.

It was another warning, though, of the state of the country, this being evidently one of the native cavalry regiments which had mutinied, and, perhaps, slain their European officers, though of course we could not be sure; and to have fired upon them when they first advanced might have been a grievous error.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

Bajgunge proved to be strongly occupied by the enemy, and after due reconnoitring, Brace felt that nothing could be done there, and determined to strike off across country for Arbagh, a town where one of the queen's foot regiments was stationed, so as to form a junction with the infantry, and co-operate in holding the place, or marching with them to one of the larger towns, or to some place where help might be required.

Five days were taken up in hot, weary marches, but the men were all full of eagerness, and looking longingly forward to having a brush with the enemy.

We pa.s.sed village after village, sometimes to be well received, at others meeting with heavy, sullen looks, which told too plainly of the disaffection spreading everywhere, and the knowledge in the country that an attempt was being made to throw off the English rule.

It was toward the evening of the fifth day that we suddenly came upon a party of dusty, weary-looking natives, who at a glance were seen not to be villagers, for they wore the aspect of being domestic servants, and, as we approached, they made no attempt to imitate the action of the villagers on our route by taking flight, but drew up on one side to let us pa.s.s.

Brace halted, and signed to Dost to approach and act as interpreter.

But there was no need, for one of the party, a venerable-looking, grey-headed man in a white turban, salaamed, and then waited with crossed arms to be questioned.

"Salaam, sahib," he said humbly.

"Where are you from?" said Brace.

"Arbagh, sahib. You come too late."

"Too late? What is their trouble, then?"

"Trouble, sahib? The mem sahibs, and the little children and their fathers--"

He did not finish, but groaned.

"Speak out. What is it?"

"All slain."

"But there was a regiment there--a whole regiment of foot."

"Yes, sahib; but they were called away to fight the budmashes, and the evildoers from the bazaar at Miapore; and when they had marched away the budmashes came. The sahibs strengthened one of the houses, and fought bravely for two days, but they were only few in number, and there was neither food nor water at last."

"And then?"

The old man shook his head, and uttered a low groan.

"And the wretches who have done all this?" cried Brace.

"They are there, sahib, with two regiments who have risen up against their officers. It is not safe to go. The white sahibs have marched to Miapore, away yonder to the west."

"And where are you going?" asked Brace, who looked suspiciously at the people behind their spokesman.

But they were unarmed, and carried no plunder. The words of the old man were evidently the truth, as he said--

"To be at peace, and away from those who rob and slay. To Rajgunge, sahib."

"Turn back," said Brace. "You are going to where there are worse troubles, man. Better follow us."

There was a low moan from the little group, for Brace's words filled them with consternation.

"But you will not go on to Arbagh, sahib?" said the old man, who seemed to have been the native butler to some family.

"Yes; to drive these wretches out," was the reply; and the march was resumed. "Yes, we must drive these scoundrels out, Gil," he said again.

"We need have no compunction about firing now. Likely enough our friends the sowars may be there. They headed for the south. Now, if we could send a message on to Miapore."

I turned round soon afterwards, and found that the weary, footsore party were tramping back with us, close to the elephants, apparently trusting in Brace's power to protect them, and restore peace in the place that had been their home.

Dost came alongside soon after to tell me more of these people's experience, for they had all been servants to the European residents at Arbagh. It was a terrible experience, but very similar to our own at Rajgunge. The English residents and officers had been in utter ignorance of the impending peril. They had heard rumours of troubles in connection with cartridges being issued to the men greased, so that they might pa.s.s more easily down the rifle barrels, the Mahommedan soldiers considering that they would be defiled by touching paper moistened with the fat of the pig; and the Hindus, jumping at the conclusion that the fat used was that of the cow--an animal held sacred in their religion; while, in all probability, the fat used would be prepared from neither of these animals, the whole being an excuse for the irruption in which Mahommedans and Brahmins made common cause.

"It has all been hatching for a long time, sahib," Dost said to me; "and the men have been waiting for an excuse. You English officers and gentlemen have known nothing; but the sepoys and sowars have been prepared."

"And you knew this?" I said sternly.

"I? No, sahib; not till after the men broke out. The soldiers had their message sent round to be prepared to rise, and slay every white man, woman, and child, to destroy all Nazarenes, and restore the great king again at Delhi."

"At Delhi?" I said. "Then there are troubles there too?"

"There are troubles all through the country by now, sahib. Of course they did not trust us, who were our lord's servants, and not fighting men. They said to themselves, these men have blood now like water; they live amongst the white people, and have defiled themselves by eating their food and drinking out of their vessels--they will go and betray us to their lords. We know nothing, sahib; but they, the men of the native regiments, had the lotus flower sent round to them."

"The lotus flower?" I said, wonderingly.

"Yes, sahib. It was a secret way of communication. A man came to a regiment bearing a lotus flower, and this was pa.s.sed on from man to man right through the regiment, till the last had the blossom, and he had to take it to the next regiment."

"But what did it mean?" I asked.

"I can tell you no more, sahib. It was their secret sign. And then, after a time, the chupatties were sent round to the villages."