BEGUMBAGH, AN EPISODE OF THE INDIAN MUTINY.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 14, Issue 1137, 22 March 1870, Page 3

BEGUMBAGH, AN EPISODE OF THE INDIAN MUTINY.

(From Christmas number of " Chambers' Journal." CHAFTBB IV. ' ■ ■ Who could have thought just then that ' all that nonsense of Harry Larit's with the elephant was shaping itself for our good; but so it was, as you shall by-and.- ' by hear. The march continued, matters , : seeming to go on very smoothly— but only seeming, mind you, for let alone that wo ' were all walking upon a volcano, there was a good deal of unpleasatftry brewing. Let alone my feeling that, somehow or another, Harry Lant was not so good a mate to me as be used to be, there was a good deal wrong between Captain Dyer and Lieut. Leigh, and it soon seemed plain that there was much more peace and com- ' fort in our camp a week earlier than there was at the time of which I am how writing. \ I used to have my turns as sentry here and there ; and it was when standing stock still with my piece, that I used to see and hear so much — for in a camp it seems to be a custom for people to look upon a sentry as a something than can neither see nor hear anything but what might come in the shape of an enemy. They know he must not move from his post, which is to say that he's tied hand and foot, and per- ' haps from that they think that he's tied as to* his senses. At all events, I got to see" that when Miss Ross was seated ;- in the colonel's tent, and Captain Dyer was near her, she seem«d to grow gentle and quiet, and her eyes Woj3d light up, and her rich red lips part, as she listened to what he was saying; while, when it came to Lieut. Leigh's turn, and he was" ' beside her talking, she would be merry '■' and chatty, and would laugh and talk as lively as could be. Harry Larit said it was because they were making up matters, and that some day she would be Mrs. : Leigh ; but I didn't look at it in that light, though I said nothing. I used to like to be sentry at the colonel's tent, on our halting for the night, when the canvas would be looped up, to let in the air, and they'd got their great globe-lamps lit, with the tops to them, to keep out the flies, and the draughts made by the punkahs swinging back and forwards. I used to think it quite a pretty sight, with the ladies and three or four officers, perhaps chatting, perhaps having a little music, for Miss Ross could sing like — like a nightingale, I was going to say ; but no nightingale that I ever heard could seem to lay hold of your heart and almost bring tears into your eyes, as she - did. Then she used to sing duets with Captain Dyer; because the colonel wished it, though it was plain to see Mrs; Maine didn't like it, any more than did Lieut. Leigh, who, more than once, as I've seen, walked out, looking fierce and angry, to strike .off right away from the camp, perhaps not to come back for a couple of hours. - It was one night when we'd been about a fortnight on the way, for during the past week the colonel had been letting us go on very easily, I was sentry at the tent. There had been some singing, and Lieut. Leigh had gone off in the middle of a duet. Then the doctor, the colonel, and a couple of subs were busy over a game at whist, and the black nurse had beckoned Mrs. Maine out, I suppose to see some* thing about the two cnudreh ; when Capt. Dyer and Miss Ross walked together just outside the tent, she holding by one of the cords, and he standing close beside Jier; ' .'.. — - -— — - — -— - < "-■ --•* --.■"■- They did not say much, bnt stood look' ing up at the bright silver moon and the twinkling stars ; while he said a word now and then about the beauty of the scene, the white tents, the twinkling lights here and there, and the soft peaceful aspect of all around ; and then his voice' seemed to grow lower and deeper as he spoke from time to time, though I could hardly hear a word, as I stood there like a statue watching her beautiful face, with the great clusters of hair knotted'back from ncr broad white forehead, the moon shining full on it, and seeming to make her eyes flash as they were turned to him. They must have stood there full half an hour, when she turned as if to go back, but he laid his hand upon hers as it held the tent cord, and said something very earnestly, when she turned to him again to look him full in the face, and I saw that her hand was not moved. Then they were silent for a few seconds before he spoke again, loud enough for me to heat. " I must ask you," he said huskily ; my peace depends upon it. I know that it has always been understood that you were to be introduced to Lieut. Leigh. I can see now plainly enough what are your sister's wishes ; but hearts are ungovernable, Miss Ross, and I tell you earnestly, as a simple, truth-speaking man, that you have roused feelings that until now slept quietly in my breast. If I am presumptuous, forgive me — love is bold as well as timid — but at least, set me at rest : tell me, is there any engagement between you and Lieutenant Leigh ?" She did not speak for a few moments, but met his gaze — so it seemed to me — without shrinking, before saying one word, so softly, that it was like one of the whispers of the breeze crossing the plain— and that word was " No !" " God bless you for that answer, Miss Ross— Elsie," he said deeply ,• and then his head was bent down for an instant over the hand that rested on the cord, before Miss. Ross glided away from him into with 'her hand upon Yhi cdiSftii s"Stttißff- — der, when he, evidently in high glee, began to shew her his cards, laughing and pointing to first one, and then another, for he seemed to be haying lupk on his side. But I had no more eyes then for the inside of the tent, for Captain Dyer just seemed to awaken to the fact that I was standing close by him as sentry, and he gave quite a start as he looked at me for a few moments without speaking. Then he took a step forward. " Who is this ? Oh, thank goodness !" (he said those few words in an undertone, but I happened to hear them). " Smith," he said, "I forgot there was a sentry there. You saw me talking to that lady?" " Yes, sir," I said. " You saw everything ?" "Yes, sir." " And you heard all ?" " No, sir, not all ; only what you said last." Then he was silent again for a few moments, but only to lay his hand directly after on my chest. " Smith," he said, " I would rather you had not seen this ; and if it had been any other man in my company, I should perhaps have offered him .money, to insure that there was no idle chattering at the mess-tables ; but you I ask, as a man I can trust, to give me your word of honour as a soldier to let what you have seen and heard be sacred." " Thank you, captain," I said, speaking thick, for somehow his words seemed ; tp touch me. " You shan't repent trusting me." " I have no fear, Smith," he said, speaking lightly, aud as if he ; , felt joyful, and proud, and happy.— " What/ a glorious night for a cigar.; '. and he took one pufepf; his case, when we both started, for, ag tf

he had that~ moment risen out of the ground, Lieutenant Leigh stood there elose.tOjtis -;< and even to this *day I can't make out how he managed it, but all the same he must have seen or 'heard as much as I had. = " And pray, is my word of honour as a sol4|er^ s he-tal?en,. Captain, Dyer?, or is mjr.'sjleficeTtQ he with money ?— Corse you r. come this way, will you ! " he^|ifes^d;;Vjjr Captain Dyer, had half tur"necf> as if to avoid him, but he stepped back directly, and I saw them walk off together amongst the trees, till they were quite put. of sight ; and if ever I felt what it wi^tab'e "tied down to one spot, I felt it then, as I. walked sentry up and down '.• by that tent,^watching for those two to return, '~f~ "..■:• ■■■■'-',' ■ ~'X{ ,&■"•*:'.".■ v. .' Wjqw, aftgr.; giving my word of honour to iaU : ihat, sacred, some people may think I'm breaking faith in telling what J sa^r ; J b^it : $ "mjide that right by asking the colonel's leave-^he is a colonel now— and ho smiled, and said that JE ought to change, the names, and then it would not matter.'./?; jici...... .' ■ . I 'Toft, off my. last chapter saying how I felt being tied down-to, one spot, as I kept guard there ; and : perhaps, everybody don't, know that a sentry's duty is to stay in wjtere he has been posted, and that leading it lightly might, in time of war, mean, death. :. __ I should think I watched quite an hour, I wojnde.ring whether- 1 • ought tp^ give any -ialajmjj'but I was afraid' it might look foolish; forjperhaps after all it might only ineatfa bftof aTquarref, and I could. not call^piiiund\anjF:quai?rel between officers ending mk'daeL r I^3 glad, too, that I did not say anything, for at last I saw them coming back In t^e clearrmoonlight---ciear-h'ke as day ; an^jthen an the distance they stopped, and in one -figure seemed to strike the^he?,a. sharp,, plow, which sent him sta'ggermg back, and I could not then see vrho.it; was that was hit, till they came j nearer, and I made out that ifcwas Captain D^r- r ; whi|e 4 iflrhad any. doubts at first, j I could have none as they came nearer and neareiV with Lieutenant Leigh talking in a big ui^6lent-way at Captain Dyer, who was i very quiet; holding his handkerchief to his So as to be as near as possible to where thev^were going to pass, I walked to the cnapfmy tether, and, as they came up, Lieutenant Leigh, says, in a nasty spiteful w^sper^iC^Xishpuld have thought you womd have come into the tent to display the: w^nd^received in the lady's cause." said. Captain Dyer, taking down his c white handkerchief-r-and in the bright moonlight I could see that his cheek j . was, cut,, and thejhandkerchief all bloody — "L^ejgl^j^at'was an unmanly blow. You. "clufed;|ne^aj coward ; you struck me ; andnpw^outr^ to poison the wound with your bitter \ yrjtxe&s. I never lift hand against the ananwho has taken J;hat hand in his as/my friend, but the day may come when I can prove to you that you are a Lieutenant Leigh turned upon him fiercely*; astthough he would have struck him again j but Captain Dyer paid no need' to Jhiin; only walked quietly off to his quarters; while; with a sneering, scornful soft of laugh, the lieutenant went into the colonel's tent j% though, if he expected to see'^Misß Boss,- be was disappointed, for so loagfßS'l .was on guard, she did not shew any more that night. Off again the next morning, and over . .a_iuQtter_ind' dustier road than ever; and -I- must say that I began_to_ wisn we were settlecT-uovvn ffi~Dsrracks agatjfr L for everything seemed to grow more' and more crooked, and people more and more unpleasant. Why, even Mrs. Bantem that morhingbefore starting must shew -her teeth, and snub Bantem, and then begin going on about the colonel's wife, and the fine madam, her sister, having all ; sorts of luxuries,, while poor hardworking soldiers' wives had to bear all the burden and heat of the day; while, by w4y : of .winding iip, she goes up to Harry Lant and Measles, who were, as usual, -squabbling about something, and boxes both their ears, as if they had been bad boys. I saw them both colour up fierce ; butpthe next minute Harry Lant bursts out laughing, and Measles does the same and then they did' what I should think they never did before— they shook hands; but -Mrs. Bantem had no sooner turned away with tears in her eyes, because she feltjso cross, than the two chaps fell out again about some stupid thing or another, arid kept on snarling and snapping at each other all along the march. £ut there, bless you ! that wasn't all : I saw* Mrs; Maine talking to her sister in a quick earnest sort of way, and they both seemed put of sorts ; and the colonel swore at'the Jeritittieri, and bullied the adjutant, and became round and dropped on to us, finding fault /with the men's belts, and that upset thfe sergeants. Then some of the baggag^ didn t s^art right, and Lieutenant Leigh had to be taken to task by Captain Dy^'asin duty bound; while, when as wewere starting, if there wasn't a tremendous outcry, and the young colonel —little . Cock Kobin, you know — kickinje.'attdfscreabing; and fighting the old ..black nufise; because he mightn't draw his little sword, and march alongside of Harry Lant! Now, Tin very particular about putting all this down, .because I want you to see how 'we' all were one with the other, and h^ 'right through the battalion little things made us out of, sorts with one another, and hardly friendly enough to speak, so that the difference may strike you, and trouble c'aihe. ■lM$H?*$ 6 \ thon 8 h > I don>t tn *Qk it's possible tor anybody to make a long march * a ,W& a Without getting out of temper. It s my belief that' the grit does it, for you g&W*' *«"** terribly ; and what with the £$at,.the dust, the thirst, the government ]jPss * n . a *;i4#ys see^m as if made not to %£ n y™dy, |*nd the grit, I believe even a regiment all chaplains would forget their trade. . , Tramp; tramp, tramp, day after day, and^early always over wide, dreary, dusty 'plains. Now we'd pass a few paddy-fields, or come upon a river, but hot often; and I many a time used to laugh grimly to myself, as I thought what a very different place hot, dusty, . df^ajfy India was, to the glorious country J used to picture, all beautiful trees and flowers, and birds with dazzling plumage. There are bright places there, no doubt, but I never came across one, and my recollections of India are none of the most cheeryv 1 - ; But at last came the day when we were crossing a great wide-spread plain, in the middle Of which seemed to be a few houses, ■wifeK ?6&ething ibright here and there shining in the sun ; and as we marched O^tHe cluster of houses appeared to grow and^rbw, till we'halted at last in a mar-Iteft'sfquare-of a good-sized town -; and that iighfc^we irere i once more in barracks. But, for mypart,.lwas more gritty than SfMti^fov ndyr we did not see the colonel's I may as well one with them that I wanted to see more than either. ; -^hey^wetoiail, of course, at the colonel's ■^v^^^iii&Mhpld palace of a place, with ■j £&pii&y&t& t -arid a tank in the centeey and : '"' •f b|^ tho side of the great square .

while on one side was another great rambling place,' separated by a narrowish sort of alley, used for stores and hospital purposes ; and on the other side, still going along by the •side of the great market square, was another building, the very fellow to the colonel's quarters, but separated by a narrow footway, some ten feet wide, and this place was occupied by the officers. Our barracks took up another side of the square ; and on the others were mosques and fiat-roofed buildings, and a sort of bazaar ; while all round stretched away, in narrow streets, the houses of what we men used to call the niggers. Though, speaking for myself, I used to find them, when well treated, a nice, clean, gentle sort of people. I used to look upon them as a big sort of children, in their white muslin and calico, and their simple ways of playing-like at living ; and even now I haven't altered my opinion of them in general, for the great burst of fvenzied passion that ran through so many of them was just like a child's uncontrolled rage. Things were not long in settling down to the regular life : there was a little drill of a' morning, and then, the rest of the day, the heat to fight with, which seemed to take all the moisture out of our bodies, and make us long for night. I did not get put on as sentry once at the colonel's quarters, but I heard a little now and then from Mrs. Bantem, who used to wash some of Mrs. Maine's fine things, the black women doing everything else rand "she'd often have a good grumble about " her fine ladyship," as she called her, and she'd pity her children. She used to pick up a good deal of information, though, and, taking a deal of interest as I did in Miss Boss, I got to know that it seemed to be quite a settled thing between her and Captain Dyer ; and Bantem, who got took on now as Lieutenant Leigh's servant, used to tell his wife about how black those two used to seem one towards the other.

And so the time went on in a quiet sleepy way, the men getting lazier every day. There was nothing to stir us, only now and then we'd have a good laugh at Measles, who'd get one of his nasty fits on, and swear at all the officers round, saying he was as good as any of them, and that if he had his rights he would have been made an officer before then. Harry Lant, too, used to do his bit to make time pass away a' little less dull, singing, telling stories, or getting up to some of his pranks with old Nabob, the elephant, making Chunder, the mahout, more mad than ever, for, no matter what he did or said, only let Harry make a sort of queer noise of his, and, just like a great neshmountain, that elephant would come. It didn't matter who was in the way : regiment at drill, officer, rajah, anybody, old Nabob would come straight away to Harry, holding out his trunk for fruit, or putting it in Harry's breast, where he'd find some bread or biscuit ; and then the great brute would smooth him all over with his trunk, in a way that used to make Mrs. Bantem say, that perhaps, after all, the natives weren't such fools as they looked, and that what they said about dead people going into animal's bodies might be true after all, for, if that great overgrown beast hadn't a soul of its own, and couldn't think, she didn't know nothing, so now then!