THE ALTAR OF KAI-SEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11536, 22 November 1900, Page 3

THE ALTAR OF KAI-SEN.

It was obvioub that Captain Ruthin, of the 23rd Sikhs, was in a vile temper. \ '■ "How on earth does the old fool expect me to hold them with oaly two companies?" he said violently, reading and re-reading i despatches that lay on the wicker table. "Two thousand if there's a man, and more pouring in from the back country every day. 1 wish a few of the Wai-Wai rebels would catch him and tickle him up a bit!" Ruthin, with his two companies of Sikhs, was occupying Tai-Lung, a Chinese village a day's march from the coast. He had a strong position, but was beset by a country alive with, armed rebels, and a mild despatch from his commanding officer at the base requested him to "pacify" the district and subdue the enemy as far as possible, and on no account to allow them to occupy the neighbouring villages. The despatch "seemed to be written under the impression that the rebels could be herded like poultry, and I am sorry to record that Ruthin, who was already badly overworked, said some very rude things about his superior officer, being then alone in his quarters. He sent for the senior subaltern, Lieutenant Frayne, who presently appeared, very hot, very moist, but cheerful. Ruthin explained the situation. " It's a weighty job for 160 men, half of them rotten with dysentery," said Frayne, "hut we'll do it. I've only got 38 sound men in my lot." Send for Dera Singh," said Ruthin, " and I'll send him on a scouting jobwe've no man to touch him at that work, and I must have the plain south of Kan-Shai reported on." - - Dera Singh arrived, and saluted. He was a man to look up and down and rejoice -install, grandly built, hard as nails, with an eye like a goshawk's, and a strong black beard. "Dera Singh," said Ruthin, "at sunset you will take five men, to be chosen with care, and go out to spy the land round KanShai, especially towards the little hamlet with the temple at the further end of the plain. Beyond there, the rebel troops are stationed, and you must find out all you can | concerning them." "Yes, sahib," said the subadar. "And particularly mark this, Dora Singh," said the captain, you are not on any account to stray into any fighting, but come homo without firing a shot or striking a blow. You and your men are for ever falling into riots with the enemy on youi own account. I am conducting this matter, and if you and your wooden-headed fools come back with so much as a black eye, I will court-martial you. Go!"

The subadar saluted and wont. Ho descended to the men's quarters and singled out five brawny Sikhs from his company. They polished their weapons and made ready with great assiduity, and when the flaming sun had built himself a shroud of mist and dipped behind the Kai Mountains, they went out into the dusk. The subadar and his_ men won stealthily to the rim of the plain, beyond which the sky glowed red with the cooking fires of the Chinese troops. The Sikhs stole across swiftly, threading among the cane-brakes till they came to the end of the thicket, then wormed forward over a belt of scrubby ground to within a hundred yards of the nearest men. The Chinese lay about the fires, stretched in uncouth attitudes, their angular yellow faces shining in the glow. Some talked in a low mutter, some mended clothes, some lay with evil mouths wide open, and snored sonorously at the stars. The Sikhs spat with disgust at the sight of the despised Mongols, and Dera Singh computed the number at about 1500.

"See," said he, in a low whisper to Gobind Lai, " note well these matters, lest I forget any detail. There are the guns three, but no oxen ; they are drawn by men, doubtless. Some high chiot sleeps in that tent with tho guard around, and there are no horses at all."

They crept away, and half-way between tho two portions of the bivouac, about a-quartcr of a mile from either, they passed near the hamlet of which Ruthin had spoken, and on its outskirts was the big joss-house (temple) of Han-Lo-Han, the most sacred and important in that part of the country. Some imp of fate urged Dera Singh to go and spy v upon the joss-house, thinking something of importance might be learned from it—or prompted by curiosity. He bade his men stay within tho shelter of a neighbouring thicket, and softly stole up to tho walls. It was built on tho flat pagoda, plan, and Dora Singh found a long slit window, through which he peered. The interior was lit up with innumerable little oil lnTips. and +he whole plane odittorod and gleamed with gold leaf and tinsel paper. Hugo, bilious-looking gods, with crossed legs, or sitting bolt upright on gilded thrones, were ranged about the great hall, and at the head one mighty idol seemed to presidea corpulent golden monarch, with a beard of long black hair. Before him was a tiny altar, the sizo of a footstool, perched on a high table, and on it burned some sticks of sweet-smelling wood. Four yellow priests in gorgeous robes officiated, and ono or two worshippers were in the temple. Dera Singh took in these details calmly, till suddenly his glance rested on the little altar. The sight of it seemed to shako his very soul, and with seemingly no cause his eyes danced with excitement, and his nostrils worked violently. He stared at it as though it were some fearful thing. It was a pretty —finely-carved ivory, with a gold top, and set round the rim with glowing rubies. Dera Singh left the window and went back to his men with all speed. They looked astonished at his excitement.

"Up, brothers!" ho paid, wildlv, "behold, T have found It Which We Seek! To me, Dera Singh, it has been given to achieve this. In the temple yonder, under the nose of a fat, yellow god, is the Altar of Nanak Shah!" To explain this strange outburst, a word is necessary. The Altar of Nanak Shall was the most holy relic known to the Sikh religion. It was a little ivory and gold sacrificing table consecrated by Nanak, the founder of that grim Punjanb race. For three centuries it lay in the Fir Temple, an object of reverence to all Sikhs, and then a great calamity happenedit was stolen. The description of it is known to every Punjabi, and the one master hope of the Sikh race, and the ambition of every good Sikh, is to find and replace it. / " Brothers," said the .subajdar, laying aside all discipline, "we must act at once, and before we return to tho grip of our service. Who knows if, under command of the white man, we may evor roach hero again? Let us take the altar now. Come!" They stolo softly to the door of ' tho temple, and broke suddenly in upon the drone of the worshippers and the bowing priests. These started up in horror at the apparition of the four brawny, bearded, black-haired men, but Dera Singh hurled across the temple a tall officiator who tried to bar his way. and plucked at the little altar. It was clamped to the table, but he tore it off and bore it away under his arm. as Gobind Lai felled two of the infuriated Chinese with his bare fists. Tho Sikhs rushed out in a compact body, sweeping aside the incomers. Fearful was the riot. "To mo here, brothers!" cried the subadar, "we must run swiftly. No risks with the altar—let us got back!" But the news had spread swiftly, and a posse of Celestials, fierce with anger, rushed forward and fronted (ho brown men. Gobind Lai gripped a shrieking Chinaman with his sinewy arms, forcing tho breath out of him. snatched a black-handled sword from the man's side, and slashed so viciously at the mob that they parted, and the Sikhs dashed through and away into the night. But a musket banged as rhev ran, and a ball struck Gobind Lai in the thigh. Yet he did not stop. The yells of the pursuers grew fainter, but as they neared the fort where Ruthin's force was quartered it became apparent from the noise far astern that the whole rebel armv was following. Evidently tho Chinese prized the little altar as much as did the Sikhs'. Dera Singh handed the altar to one of his men, who hid it as much as possible with his loose clothing, and as they strode into the compound after passing the sentries Gobind Lai fell to the ground in a swoon. Ho had lost a terrible quantity oi blood. " There are those fellows back," said Captain Ruthin, who saw them from afar, "one of them's hurt, too, by gad 1 Confound it, they've been rioting again Get Dcra Singh sent to me, Frayne." Ruthin went to h-fi room, and soon Dera Singh appeared, very shamefaced, and wondering what ho should say. " Now, subadar," said Ruthin sternly, "what have you to report, and why is Gobind Lai wounded?" " Captain Sahib," said Dera Singh, "we found the troops. They are 1500 strong, with three guns, and are now moving in this direction. On the way back, certain of the villagers attacked us as wo came, and shot Gobind Lai." " Attacked you as you came !" said Ruthin, "it is in my mind that you have Bought this trouble, and have rifled some joss-house, and thus incensed the people." At this extraordinarily lucky shot the subadar showed strong confusion, and knew not what to say. For' Sikhs, unlike most Indians, are poor hands at lying. "It is the truth, then !" thundered Ruthin, seeing tho effect of his hazard. Dera Singh hung his head. " Subadar," said the captain, red with angei, "you are under arrest! It seems there is no man among you all that I ran trust." Dora Singh was taken away, his heart very sorb at his disgrace, and the words of Ruthin Sahib. But the thought of the altar of Nanak Shah cheered him up. '

All night the garrison stood ready for an attack, but the roar of the rebel forces checked at the outskirts of the village, and not a shot was fired. And in the morning an | escort brought before Ruthin an elderly and priestly delegate from the Celestial horde, desiring parley. " Oh, most mighty," observed the ambassador to the captain, aided by an interpreter, "we sue for mercy"—Ruthin stared—" not a blow will we strike, our fate is in the hands of your serenity. Any terms you desire we will grant freely, only yield back to us the Altar of Kai-Sen."

"Altai of Kai-Sen?" exclaimed Ruthin, "why that's the holy relic in the Han-Lo-Han Temple, isn't it? What have I to do with it?"

The old Celestial smiled sadly when this answer was conveyed to him. A light broke in upon Ruthin. " Send Dera Singh here," he said. The subadar was brought. " Dera Sipgh," said Ruthin, "it reaches me that last night you stole a little altar from a certain temple. Where is it?" " Captain Sahib," said Dera Singh, sullenly, " it is the Altar of Nanak Shah, and is hidden beyond even your power to find. You know its significance to my race." It had been buried by the holder in the compound. "Of Nanak Shah!" cried Ruthin, astonished. "Fool, it is the Kai-Sen Altar, the most sacred object of this district. Bring it here. If it is the altar of Nanak Shah, on my honour you shall keep it." He knew he was safe in such a concession. Relieved by the promise, Dera Singh gave instructions, and the altar was brought. • " See," said Ruthin to the Sikh, "it is of Chinese construction, and carved with Chinese characters. ' A child knows the Nanak Altar has an elephant's' head carved upon its fore-front. This thing-bears a dragon. Dera Singh, you are a fool." , The subadar looked, gaping, and the light died from his eyes, for he saw his mistake. Neither he nor the burier had had time to examine the altar closely; he had decided at first sight that it could be no other. The old ambassador broke in. "That is the altarlet the serenity handle it carefully. We. will deliver our arms and many prisoners rather than any harm should come to it, otherwise we would fight. What answer?" "Very good," said Ruthin, "let all your men come one by one before the gates, each cast his gun and sword upon the ground, and dspart. Let the three big guns bo drawn to the gate by six men and left. I will take a hundred prisoners for hostages." "It shall be done," said the old man, and he departed. Within two hours there was a pile of rifles 10ft high and 50ft around without the gates, and when a hundred unarmed prisoners were brought to the fort the altar of Kai-Sen was handed over to the ambassador. _ The impossible had been achieved—the district was pacified. Hardly a rifle remained for forty miles around. As for Dera Singh, he broke down altogether under the disappointment. But his punishment was remitted, and before the year was out, on various grounds, Ruthin had him raised to jemadar. For, as Ruthin said, he had brought about one of the biggest scoops ever made by a British regimentby accident.