SCURVILY REWARDED.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 967, 4 December 1882, Page 3

SCURVILY REWARDED.

It is not generally known that four thousands of people wore’ executed when onr men marched on Delhi during the Mutiny ; and one grim story, the grimmest I know, illustrates our mode of terminating our connection with Sepoys. A certain officer held an improvised court, whore he spent day after day in ordering executions. The ‘proceedings ran somewhat as follows:—“A native was led in, and a soldier said simply, ‘ Native. Taken in arms.’ The president of the court then said (in a lingo which I can’t spell), m ‘All right, take him out.” Then the unhappy wretch was hustled through another door, with his hands hold back and his nock forced forward. Some strapping Sikhs were waiting outside, and a blow from a stnwar shot away the head of the victim of English justice. The body was lugged off and pitched down a dry well. While our amateur judge was despatching man after man in his comprehensive way, a messenger arrived with a note. The note said : “ Dear What sickening work this is ! When you have done conic and have some dinner with me. I have some venison and I can promise yon both-wine and ice.” The officer crumpled up the note and said dreamily (in the same unspellable lingo), “All right take him out.” The two friends had a capital dinner, and enjoyed their iced champagne very much. When coffee came the host said, “ Well, I’m glad you turned up. Of course you must have had my note, or yon would’nt be here. But by the way, old fellow, rather an extraordinary thing happened. My hearer hasn't come bach 1” The guest stared, gasped—and remembered. Probably no messenger was ever so senrvily rewarded for carrying an invitation to a good dinner. It was useless to look for the poor fellow down the dry well, so they let him repose there.