Draw Swords! Part 44

"No, sir. Only Private Hanson."

d.i.c.k frowned and stared.

"What!" he said at last. "Did you do this out of your own head?"

"Yes, sir. I beg pardon, but I am having a good deal of liberty just now as a convalescent."

"And you abuse it by taking an unwarrantable liberty with one of your officers!" cried d.i.c.k hotly.

"I hope not, sir," said Hanson, with a faint smile. "I don't think you know how dangerous it is for you to be out as you are, alone."

"Pis.h.!.+ I have my sword."

"A sword is of no use for parrying a cowardly stab in the back."

"Of course not; but there is no danger now the people have become friendly."

"Only on the surface, sir. The fire has been smothered down for a while, but it is smouldering, and ready to burst out the moment it is fanned."

d.i.c.k looked at him curiously.

"So you don't want me to get a knife in my back?"

"I'd sooner have it in my own, sir," cried the man earnestly. "It really is very dangerous, sir. Don't be angry with me, even if it is a liberty for a private to take with his officer.--Mr Darrell."

"Well?"

"You asked me to do something once."

"I did, Hanson; and so far you have done it well."

"Then, do this now for me, sir. I couldn't bear the thought of you going about as you do, and I couldn't sleep for the horrible thought always with me."

"What horrible thought?"

"I seemed to see you being carried back into quarters dead--murdered; and I felt that I might stop your gallant young career from being cut short--at any rate that I might try."

"Even to receiving the imaginary blow yourself, eh?"

"Well, yes, sir," said the man, smiling sadly. "I think I could be better spared than you."

There was so much sincerity in the man's tones, so much earnestness in his way of speaking, that d.i.c.k felt moved, and his manner changed.

"You've been ill, Hanson, and you are still weak."

"Oh, no, sir; I could take my place with the gun at any time now."

"I'm glad of it. But you fancy things."

Hanson shook his head.

"There is no such danger now."

Hanson smiled meaningly.

"What do you mean?"

"Only this, sir," said the man, taking a step nearer, and laying a finger on his shoulder.

"What of that--a tear in the flannel, sewn up?"

"Not a tear, sir--a cut from a sharp knife that was stuck in there from behind."

"When?"

"The night before last, sir."

"What! were you wounded?"

"Only scratched, sir. The aim was bad, and I started when I seemed to feel something coming, so that the blade went down along by my arm."

"Good heavens!" cried d.i.c.k, "we never heard of this."

"No, sir; I didn't want to be in the doctor's hands again, and my leave stopped. Besides, a bit of sticking-plaster was enough, for it was only the skin divided. I shouldn't have told anybody now, only I was obliged."

"This is serious, Hanson," said d.i.c.k thoughtfully.

"Very, sir; and it shows the need for care. I will not be obtrusive, only follow you pretty close."

"But it makes me seem like a coward."

"There is nothing cowardly in taking precautions to preserve one's life, sir."

"Well, no," said d.i.c.k thoughtfully.

"Then I may come, sir?"

"Yes, for I will not alter my plans," replied d.i.c.k. "You astound me, though."

"I am glad you feel the truth, sir. Quite half the people like us, and are for the king; but the rest are--well, sir, it's like having the ground mined under our feet, I'm sure."

d.i.c.k nodded, looked full in the man's eyes for a moment or two, turned, and went on without a word.

The next minute he was at the entrance of a large, highly ornate, and wonderfully-carved Hindu temple, into which he pa.s.sed unquestioned as one of the conquerors of the place; but, glancing round, he saw several white-robed men of the priestly caste advance to stop his follower.

"My attendant," he said sharply in Hindustani, and the priests fell back, while from out of the gloom in front, where the outlines of a huge, elephant-headed monster towered up from floor to ceiling, a white-robed personage slowly approached, followed at a short distance by a train of a couple of dozen priests, to meet the visitor, who was taken round the building, the leader of the party speaking eagerly, and evidently striving to make himself agreeable to the young officer, who had more than once encountered him in the Rajah's, and knew him for the chief leader of the Brahminical religion in Soojeepur.

At first he confined himself to pointing out and explaining the various objects of interest to the visitor--the many heathen G.o.ds, their names and attributes--in a frank, easy way that made his narrative highly interesting. Then he showed and described and spoke of the value of the various precious stones which adorned the great figures, all offerings from the pious for the benefit of the temple, which was extremely rich in treasures.