Chapter 11. Captured, but Escape.

Otago Witness, Issue 2085, 8 February 1894, Page 39

Chapter 11. Captured, but Escape.

Steadily and silently they cantered on, but their thoughts for ever recurredjto the saenea they had passed through and the fate of the friends they had left behind. Scott ever had before him the imago of the brave old colonel as he had last seen him, hi 3 white hair and moustache dabbled, with blood, and that terrible blow upon the face 1 Then his thoughts flaw to poor Kennedy, Greathed, and others — what had become of them 7 And their poor wives? Hid some merciful bullet laid them low, or had they fallen into the clutches of the foe ?— a fate which mado him shudder.

Still on they go, now and again pulling up to walk and breathe their horse 3, and then on again. The moon hag at last gone down. For some time the ground has been rising. The open paddy fields have given place first to scrub and then to thick jungle on both sides. They are approaching a chain of hilla. The road has now become vary dark, owing to. the heavy jangle. "So much the better,"* matters Scott under his breath. Now and again one of the hones trip 3in the dark, but recovers himself. Now a great black massappears to overshadow them. It is the singular Kalinjah mountain, on which is postedthe detachment of his regiment that Scott, is dreading. Another fire minute 3 and they are passing the ugly stone gateway which stands at the foot of the path leading to tbesummit. They are unmolested, and Saott draws a long breath of relief. In a fewminutes more they round the shoulder of the hill, and the pass lies before them. Once more they draw reio, the deep-drawn breathing of their horse 3 showing their distress.

"A little more than a mile now, Mrs Sinclair," whispers Scofcfc with thickened breath, "and we shall be through the pass. I only fear th 9 sepoys, and there are no more between this and Seonee. The villagers won't hart us, or, if they attempt it, we caa give them as good as they give us. Mounted a 9 we are, we need not fear them. Now then, Mrs Sinolair, one more spurt and we shall be safe and can take it easy." So saying they once more break into a canter, and make fora gap in the chain of hilla before them.

On they gallop in the dark. They are now close to the pa 3S — indeed, almost into it — when Scott fancies he sees some large black object lying aoross the road, and they all pull up. He leans forward, and tries to peer into the dark, when he suddenly perceives ib is a barricade.

" Back 1 Baok 1 " he shouts, trying to unbutton the flap of his revolver holster, as he wheels his horse round. It is too late I In a moment they are surrounded by a crowd of yelling sepoys. Before a shot can befired they are all three torn from their horses, and quickly bound.

"Hi chirag laol" (Bring the lamp) cries a voice, and a large stable lantern is brought, by the light of which the havildar examines hi* captives.

"Hoi hoi Bscott Sahib 1" he cries; " the Subadar Sahib will be pleased." And it occurs to Scott that the subadar of the detachment is one whom he found it bis duty to report some few weeks ago for insubordination and impertinence. " Ah 1 well," he thinks to himself, " it does not much matter. I suppose ha would have tortured me anyhow. God grant me strength to bear with patience what He ha* ordained for me to go through." Tha havildar then inspected Sinclair, and advanced to Mrs Sinclair.

" Shabash 1 The subadar Uin luck 1 HsU always saying that he hopes an English meai sihib will fa'l to his 10-, and hsra laone com 1 ? right into his baud I "

AU this time there were shouts of "Maro I maro 1 mirdalo I " (strike, strike, kill). "No, no I brothers," said the havildar; "have patience"; they will be killed, sure enough. But; nob now ; we will try n, torture or two on them, and not loso all the fun in one blow. We must obey the Subadar Stbib, and ha ordered v? to bring all oar prisoners j sd cam i along, Bhae."

The party started off with their captivea back to Ivilinjata. The wily suba^ar knew that the pass was th« surest place to set his trap, and he had set it there. The day was breaking as they reached the mountain fort:, and filed in at the gate I have already mentioned.

The hill of Kiliojah is a remarkable one, close to the ratiga ot hills through which the pass I have so often mentioned loads ; it is yet entirely separate from it. It ike* up to a height of over 1000 ft direct from the plain, and is ehaped like a truncated cone ; like a sngarloaf with aboat one-third of the top cub sqaare off. Its sidsa are so steep that nothing but a goat could clicab them,- and with the exoeption of a few stunted bus-hes is entirely without cover. The only practicable approach to the summit ig by an artificially-made ztgz*gpatb, defended by a strong stone gateway at the >bottom, and with other strong stone towers, loopholed for musketry here and there at the angles of the zigzag. The top ot this singular MU is a.

perfect flat some 10 or 12 acres in extent, which is cultivated, and bears excellent crops. It is further protected by a wall some 4ft high, of loose stones, all around the top. So strong is this place tbat it successfully withstood a regular siege by Sir Robert Gillespie during the Mahratta war in 1802-3. At the spot where the path reaches the summit is a remarkable temple ; on the left hand appears an enormous black rock, on the face of which has been cut in deep relief tbe figure of a Hindoo god, some 50ft in height from the crown of his head to a little below the knees, where the rock suddenly ceases. Upon approaching nearer it will be perceived tbat this enormous rock hangs over an artificially-made tank or reservoir, and by stooping and peering under the rock it will be seen that it rests upon rows upon rows of solid stone pillars, which rise out of the water, the vi&tas ot which disappear in the black darkness under the rock 1 The water is only about a foot or so from the surface, and the tank itself is faced with cutstone. An opening on the right hand of the figure leads into a large temple, which is situated behind the god, whilst another opening at some distance to the left of the figure leads into a small chamber hewn out of tbe rock. Both the said temple and the small chamber are lighted solely from these openings. As the havildar and his party arrived on the platform in front of the temple they were met by the subadar and the remainder of the detachment.

" Hech, Havildar Sahib, so you have been successful in trapping some of those Feringhee , have you ? " said the subadar " Come, let us see who you have got." " Here is one you will be glad to see, Subadar Sahib," returned the havildar. " Here is your friend Escott Sahib," he added, grinning. "Ho 1 ho 1 Escott Sahib, it is my turn now," said the sabadar. "Well," answered Scott, quietly but firmly, " I am in your power, and I suppose you will do what you please with me ; but tell me, what have you done with Price, Sahib."

"You think of yourself," savagely answered the subadar. "As he is, so will you soon be."

Cries arose from the crowd around once more, " Maro 1 maro 1 mardalo I "

" No ! No 1 " returned the subadar ; " all last night we were busy — we had work to do. The work is now done. To-day we will enjoy ourselves ! I have ordered the villagers to send in supplies and arrack and dancing girls. We will feast to-day and have a nautch to-night. To-morrow these English pigs shall give us some fresh entertainment. I have said."

" But, Subadar Sahib, I have another little surprise for you. This," and he laid his hand on poor Mrs Sinclair — " this is an English Mem, Sahib I Ha ! what do you say to that ? "

The subadar's little ejes began to twinkle and scintillate, but he endeavoured to be calm.

"Well, we will settle that business also to-morrow. Now place the two male pigs in the temple and close the door—twentyfour hours of darkness will take the sharpness out of them — and the female little pig, put her in the chamber over there. There is no door to it, but she will not try to run away ; she knows if she does she will only 'be out of the fryingpan into the fire.' There, that will do havildar ; set a sentry on this platform and a picket at the bottom gateway, and then come along and let us enjoy ourselves." And he hurried away to the bevy of nautch girls awaiting him. Hastily Scott and Sinclair, still bound, were thrust into the temple, whilst their hearts almost burst at the cry poor Mrs Sinclair gave as she, too, was hurried away into the chamber set apart for her. The strong wooden door was slammed to, and they were left in utter darkness.

For some moments they stood with heads thrown forward, listening intently to the cries and shouts without, which gradually faded away in the distance, and soon all was silent. Then Scott spoke :

" It is lucky for us, Sinclair, that I know thi9 old temple well. When stationed here I thoroughly explored it, and in spite of tbe darkness and this door could easily find my way out of this."

" Who is that ? Is that Scott speaking ? " came a faint voice from the blackness behind them.

" What is that ? Tom Price, is that you ? " answered Scott, turning hastily towards the sound of the voice. " Where are you, old man ? Can you get to us ? We are bound fast, and can hardly move."

" I am coming," answered Price, and they could hear him stumbling towards them.

" Can you help us to get rid of these cords?" and after locg fumbling about in the dark Price managed to set his friends free. He, poor fellow, was in a sad plight, the subadar and his men having, as a small taste of what was to come, beaten him until be was almost dead. The quiet and rest bad somewhat restored him, and now the presence of his friends had once more brought hope to hia heart. The three officers consulted together as to what should be done. It was «lear that the sepoys considered their prison so strong that they would take very few precautions to guard the outside, and as the subadar had intimated that the day and night was to be passed in revelry, riautches, and drinking, it appeared probable that the guard at the foot of the path would be removed ; and even if the subadar did place one there, it was not improbable that under the relaxed discipline now introduced, they would take French leave. It was not likely that they would consent to lose all the fun in the camp to maintain guard over prisonsrs already safe in prison. " Once lft me get clear of this infernal hill and into the jangles beyond, and I think we could get clear away," said Scott. " I know of an old shikari who lives near, and who I am sure would give us a helping

band — at least I Ibink so. We would have to be careful who we trust just now," he added thoughtfully.

" All right, you fellows," said Sinclair ; " you can make the attempt to-night if you really can find a way out of this hole, Scott. Bat I shall not attempt it ; I can't leave my poor wife in the hands of these brutes. We may find a chance of dying together tomorrow," he added with choking voice. "Why!" cried Scott in astonishment, <' you did not think for & moment that we

proposed to make our escape without your wife, poor little woman, did you ? But I forgot, you do not understand my plan, nor the secret of this old temple. Now listen : I discovered that behind the stone idol, in the deep recess of the temple, which you can't see now, and which even when the doors are open can be barely peroeived, there ia a narrow winding passage through the lock to another small room far away to the right. I discovered it one day when poking about in here alone, for you know no native would venture in here beyond the entrance I They think the god would be down on them, I suppose, or that spirits would attack them, or something of that sort ; and even the Mussulman, who profess not to believe in the Hindoo gods, are just as superstitious, and indeed regard the Hindoo gods not exactly as non-existent, but as 'shaitan' or the devil."

" And what do yon think the said passage was used for ? " asked Sinclair. " I suppose the priests hid behind the idol, and after uttering then* prophecies, slipped off by this passage."

" Well, no I " returned Scott, " I think not. Indian gods don't utter oracles like the image of Apollo at Delphi. And from inquiries I made the god to whom this temple is dedicated was more like Hymen than Apollo. He was, In fact, the tutelary deity of married women, and I fancy this secret passage was used by the rascally priests to trick such unfortunate creatures as came here to pray for the assistance of the god in removing their barrenness — the greatest curse which can befall Eastern women."

After some further talk, for nothing could be done till nightfall, in which Scott described the passage, and how it led round through the rock to a small chamber far on the right of the temple, he asked :

" Did you notice where they put your wife, Sinclair 1 "

"Of course I did 1 As they dragged ns away I kept my eyes on her, and she was taken off to the left of the tank towards an opening in the rock. Besides, did you not hear that brute of a subadar tell them to put her in the chamber without a door, and come out with that filthy Hindustani proverb which the Moonche translates as " Out of the f ryingpan into the fire " ?

11 You don't say so 1 " cried Scott. " Then, by Jove 1 she is probably in the very chamber I have described I "

" And we can get to her 1 " cried Sinclair excitedly. " Let us go at once 1 "

" But we must find the passage first, old man. I suppose no one has any matches ? "

" I shoved some trichy's and a matchbox into the pocket of my coat," returned Sinclair. " Yes, here «they are ; but the cheroots are all smashed up I "

"I have nothing but my shirt and pyjamas," added Tom Price ; " the brutes caught me in my sleep. They thrashed me with thick • lathees' and more than half killed me, and then they dragged me here justj ust as I was — telling me that they were keeping me with the intention of torturing me to death to-morrow. I can't tell yon what the sound of your voices was to me — it was the sweetest music to my ears," he added dreamily.

"Now look here, Sinclair 1 " said Scott, "we must manage this matter warily. If Mrs Sinclair was to cry out, or get frightened, all would be discovered, and good-bye to all hopes of escape! How shall we manage? Shall I go, or will you ? ".

"Oh, you know the way; you go first, Scott. Bat make haste— l am longing to know how my poor wife is."

(To be continued.)