The Secret of the BALL CARTRIDGE.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1040, 29 June 1894, Page 7

The Secret of the BALL CARTRIDGE.

By Headon Hill.

CHAPTER 11. Farzer smiled incredulously, and then his face was clouded with a shade of disappointment. He had been pinning his faith to the practical assistance. of his shrewd old subordinate, and now the latter had nothing to offer but a rather out-of-date, sample of Highland superstition. What was worse, the Captain was half inclined to think that Rajab AH and his divining rod were only being exploited as a substitute for more sensible methods of detection, because Ferguson obstinately refused to believe in the possible guilt of any member of his company. * Come, Ferguson,' said Frazer ; ' this is no time for tomfoolery of that kind. Besides, you forget the colonel's orders not to blab the affair to any one. You will best show your zeal by going back to barracks and checking the amount of ball cartridge in your charge. By comparing the result with the musketry sergeant's register of every shot fired on the ranges, it may be possible to j trace the cartridges that were used, There must be at least three short somewhere. At any rate, that will be a more sensible way of going to work than questioning a native impostor whose first task will be to bandy a garbled account of the case about the bazaars.' ' I didna mean heckling the body, or confidin' ony thing to him, sir,' replied Ferguspn ruefully. ' I should only a?k him to show me what I most desire to see — same as he showed me my auld mither's face in a pool of ink in his hand a while agone. Mayhap, this time I should behold the daftie who did this deil's warlc. — I will make a return of receipts from magazine and ammunition in stock and bring them with the musketry registers, sir,' added the sergeant quickly, noting the growing impatience on his officer's face. 'Let rnft have tlipni by noon,' said Frazer shortly ; and Ferguson, seeing that the interview was at an end, saluted and retired with knitted brows. The captain and lieutenant watched him striding away across, the paradeground, and it was not till he had passed far beyond hearing that Dalzell broke silenae. • I suppose you were right,' he said, 4 to put a damper on his ardour in that direction ; but do you know I have got a sort of feeling — I won't go to the length of calling it a presentiment — that perhaps this fellow Rajab might after all put us on the right scent.' Frazer stared at his suba'tern in astonishment. ' You don't mean to tell nip, Stuart, that you believe in magic and such-like V he exclaimed. 1 No,' said the other ; 'I do not ; and yet the motive — not the reason — which sets me hankering after this Surati astrologer's acquaintance is pretty nearly the same, I expect, as that which makes the sergeant so keen on consulting him. I mean that Ferguson has absolute faith in the lads of G Company, and will clutch at any straw rather than try of his own initiative to fasten suspicion on any one of them. That is precisely my case. I suggested just now that native mischief might somehow bn at the bottom of the attempt on Macleod. T. do not believe in Rajab Ali's magic ; but I know that if he is as cunning and omniscient as the majority of the rascals of his profession, it is just on the cards that he may hold the key of the situation. The mere fact, too, of finding a native of that class on a friendly footing in the barracks, seems to me, under the circumstances, to be itself worthy of investigation.' ' What do you propose, then V asked Frazpr. 1 With your leave,' replied Dalzell, ' T should like to be with Ferguson at the interview which it is very plain our obstinate old friend means having with Rajab to-morrow night. Tf I can work it so as to be myself unseen by the native, so much the better, and at any rate my presence would be a guarantee that the colonel's wish for secrecy was respected.' 1 Have it your own way,' said Frazer. 1 1 think you will waste your time ; but I cannot see any harm in the idea. And now we had better tub, and go and get some breakfast at mess.' ' The five great stone barrack blocks stood out gaunt and clear in the silver beams of on Indian full moon. In front, on the parade-ground side, there was bustle and life in plenty ; for, though the sun had set two hours ago, it was not yet late, and the canteen and recreation rooms were still open. But in the rear, where the sandy wilderness stretched right up to the barrack walls, all was desprted and silent, safe for the cries of the jackals in the distant scrub waiting for the 1 lights-out ' bugle to encourage them for their nightly prowl round the cookhouses. These necessary offices consisted of small detached buildings placed behind, and some little way from the main blocks, so that the smells and the refuse should not be a danger and an annoyance to the soldiers. At this time in the evening the Portuguese cooks had long sincfj gone to their homes in the bazaar ; and in the ordinary course the. cook-houses would

have been locked up and left to themselves till it was time to prepare the men's breakfasts in the morning. To-night, however, it' appeared that the bobaji hliana belonging to G Company was to be in request for a rendezvous. The gong at the quarter guard had just struck eight, when two men came round the corner of the block and entered the cook-bouse. Dalzell had found the sergeant quite willing to allow him to witness his interview with the astrolger, and even eager to adopt a course which he evidently regarded as certain to obtain another convert to the mystic art. For Ferguson placed more reliance than ever on his preceptor Rajah, seeing that the scrutiny ' of the ammunition and of the registers had failed to yield further information < than that four ball cartridges wore ; missing from the company chest, but j that every man had properly accounted ; for each round served out to him. The color-sergeant ushered his officer \ into the cook-house, and pointed out I how he could see and hear everything ' that passed by stationing himself at an un glazed window at the back. i ' The chiel has eyes like search- ! lights, sir, 1 he said as he prepared to go ; outside ; ( sac ye must c'en keep yonrsel in the shadow. Mayhap he would j refuse to display his quality, if so be as l:e thocht he was o'er-lookit.' • How did you first pick this chap j up, Ferguson T asked Dalzell, settling himself in his hiding-place. The sergeant paused on the threshold and for a moment seemed puzzled to find an answer, 'It was he that picked mp up, sir, I suppose — when I come to think of if,' he replied at last. ' I was j walking in the bazaar a month back, j and he came up and said in Hindustani j he should be pleased to read me the j voice of the stars. They a' ken in barracks that I am partial to ppeerin' after spirits and sic things. Mayhap he had heard it frao some of the lads. — But whisht ! — here he comes.' Ferguson stepped into the open, shutting the door behind him ; and Dalzp.ll crouched by the window, to j watch for the upshot of events. He i had not long to wait. Half a minute ; latter the color sergeant jame into view conversing in Hindustani with a tall lithe nativp, whoso white garments and careful l3 7 arranged turban proclaimed him to be of better substance than the usual run of mendicant jugglers. As they came into line with the window, Ferguson halted, and suggested that , there, under cover of the cook-houso, ! they would be free from observation — j a proposition to which R;ijab, after a hasty look round, gave his as?ent. The moonlight fell full on his face, and Dalzell peering from his lair, not six feet away, thought he had never seen such wonderful eyes befon». There was nothing shifty or snake-like about i them ; they were calm and steadfast enough ; but they glowed like two balls of liquid firp. 1 And what does the sergeant sahib order his slave to show him to-night V began Rajab, when they had finished their greetings. ' The moon is in the ninth house, and the period is very favorable for seeing visions.' ' Show me the countenance of the man I most desire to sep,' replied Ferguson, speaking in the vernacular, with which his 10 years' lndian service had familiarised him. Taking a phial from the fold of his garment, Rajab poured the inky contents into the sergeant's outstretched palm, bidding him at the same time fix his eyes on his own. Dalzell, watching closely, noticed a strange dreamy look spread over Ferguson's face, while his eyes began to wear a dazed, scared expression. ' The beggar is hypnotising him !' thought the lieutpnant to himself. ' I wonder if But no ; it cannot be.' His train of ideas was interrupted by the voice of the astrologer addressing the sergeant in tones of low but peremptory command. 'There is a colonel's parade to-morrow,' began Rajab. l You will provide yourself with two rounds of ball cartridge from the company chest. In the course of the drill, you will aim at Macleod Sahib's heart, taking care that you are unobserved. If the first bullet fails its mark, you will use the second. And you will dismiss from your mind all knowledge of what you are doing and whence you received these instructions. Except that, you will carry out these behests, you will be in all respects as an innocent man. You are to believe that the ball cartridges which you tire at the colonel sahib are blank, both before and after the deed. — Will you do my bidding V Dalzell, listening horror-struck, heard Ferguson's voice make answer in faroff sounding tones : • I will do your bidding.' 4 Now look into your hand, 1 said Rajab. The cnloi'-sergeant obeyed. 1 What do you behold V ' I behold my own face.' ' That will serve as well as another,' proceeded the juggler, removing his gaze for the first time. * You can return to the lower world.' I Slowly and heavily, Ferguson blinked his way back to sense and self-control again. When the juggler had given his victim time for recovery, he asked in his original servile tones : ' And was a vision vouchsafed to the sergeant sahib r ' No,' was the reply — ♦ at least not the one I sought, I beheld but my

s own face reflected in my hand. You have failed to-night, Rajah.' ' Something you heard while you were looking at the fluid may have ! distracted you f siifftiHsted the native. I 'It couldn't have bepn that,' replied j the sergeant. * Why, 1 only gazed for a moment, and you did not speak the, while.' i ' 'Tis well,' said Rajab. « The failI ure is not of man, hut of the stars, and their poor servant is not responsible. j Perchance on the next occasion they ! will he more propitious. — And now, . fare you well, for it is? getting latp, and I have other, work to do.' And with a deferential salaam to the sergeant, he turned and glided away towards the native city. Ferguson waited till he had gone ; some way, and then joined Dalzell at ! the door of the cook-house. The two ; walked towards the barracks together. j The lieutenant did not speak ; he was I thinking with all his might. ! ' A failure to-night, sir,' remarked ' the sergeant, after waiting vainly for his superior's comment. 'My am faco, i too ! Had he just been pokin' fun at j me, he couldna weel hae jokit mair i reasonably.' They had reached the point where Dalzell's way would lead to the mess. 'Get hack to your quarters,' he said rapidly. 'You must not be I missed. I am sorry our eirand has been fruitless; but I did not expect much from it, Good-night '; and in his hurry to rid himself o£ the man he wished to spare, he almost pushed the other away. Ferguson disappeared into the barrack, wondering at his I officer's haste to return to mess. I The moment he was out of sight, j Dalzell changed his course, and running I back behind the barracks, started in pursr.i of the vile wretch whose scheme he meant to frustrate. His mind was made up. He must overtake Rajah at all hazards, and compel him to come before the colonel, whose first feelings, he felt sure, would be sympathy for the innocent instrument. How to punish the criminal without letting Ferguson know how nearly he had j slain his beloved chief, was a nut for Macleod to crack ; but Dalzell knew he [ would move heaven and earth to raan- ! age it,for to .1 man of the color-sergeant's temperament, a revelation of his un conscious act would mean madness or suicide. The young officer came up with the flitting white figure just beyond the jail, where the road begins and the desert gives way gradually to the habitations of half-caste camp followers. The man saw that he was pursued, and quickenod his pace j but Dalzell's long legs gave the quarry no chance. Two minutes after R-ijah knew that he was followed, the lieutenant's grip was on his shoulder. ' Gome back with me, Rajah,' said Dalzell quietly ; ' you are wanted at t'n.e colonel's bungalow.' The Surati was panting violently ; hut he appeared in no way disconcerted, and tried hard to fix his captor with those fata! eyes. Dalzell, knowing his danger kept his own averted ; he thought it advisable, too, to show the revolver he had brought with him. Rajah bowed meekly and obeyed ; but for half a second, unseen of the other, his hand was plunged into the bosom of his white robe. For some distance they walked in silence, and it was not till they were Hearing the cantonments that Dalzell decided to put two questions to his prisoner. ' Your only chance of life is to speak the truth,' he said ; for your wickedness is known. What have you against our colouel that you have done this thmg V Rajah caught his foot in a stone and staggered as he made reply, and his voice sounded weak and thin. ' The colonel sahib was president of the court-martial which sentenced my brother, Gholam Bux, of the 3d Bombay Cavalry, to penal servitude,' he said. ' I have sworn to avenge him, and I use my gift—that, is all.' ' And what,' pursued Dalzell, ' will be the effect on the sergeant of your treatment of him? Now that he will be prevented from doing your scoundrelly work to-morrow, will he always remain under the spell, and make further attempts on other occasions V Rajah made no answer ; and Dalzell looking down at him, saw that he was shivering as if ague-struck. 'Nearly dead with funk,' thought the young officer, and repeated the question. { The spell only refers to to-morrow,' replied Rajah very slowly. « You need have no fear. Allah has willed it that the colonel sahib should live, and that I, Rajab, the son of Hyder the juggler, should die.' And even as he spoke, he fell — a heap of crumpled white linen — on the sandy road. Dalzell, stooping over him, caught a whiff of the deadly churrus — the concentrated and strongly poisonous form of Indian hemp or hashish — and knew that his prisoner had solved the difficulty he had foreseen. The question of punishment wou.'d not arise, for Rajah AH, self-slain, had gone to his own place. Half-an-houi later, Dalzell related his. evening's experience to Frazer, and together they sought the colonel', who at once decided, that Ferguson must never know his share in the dead man's misdeeds. Colonel Macleod went on the sick list, and was absent from parade next day ; while the finding of the dead body of a native in the cantonment road was matter of very little

i moment to any one except to the colorsergeant of G Company, who to this day deplores the untimely end of the seer, who would, sooner or later, he feels sure, have shown him the ' daftie who fired at the colonel.'