PART V.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1944, 20 December 1884, Page 3 (Supplement)

PART Y.

THE BALL AT THE RESIDENCY. The spacious ball-room at the Alignngo Residency was one blaze of ligbt, color, and beauty. The varied and magnificent toilette s of the ladies contrasted splendidly with the scarlet uniforms of the infantry and the blue and silver of the irregular cavalry, while here and there the gaudy dresses, and the bejewelled turbans of the native gentlemen who had honored the Resident with their presence, flashed refulgent on the sight of the spectators. His Highness, Nawab Waris Ah Khan, shawled, turbaned, profusely jewelled and smiling, hovered round the room in company with Mr. Colvin, the latter worthy gentleman assuring him over and over again of the delight he experienced in having his society, and the pleasure it would afford the fairra Lord Sahib, the GovernorGeneral, when the fact should come to the ears of that exalted functionary. Subahdar Nain Singh, in his full uniform, was on duty with the two companies of the 79th, and ready at the given signal to lead his followers on to the discomfiture of the Sahib loguc. Mrs. Colvin, arranged in red velvet, and a most astounding turban, looked like "Some Mussulwomanish mystery," as poor Tom Hood would have it ; and spent her time in flattering the Nawab and snubbing Jack Dalton, whose marked attentions to her niece were by no means approved of. Mr. Portland was also there dressed in a most elaborate manner — a very corpulent, middle-aged brick indeed, very fussy and intensely jealous, and quite at one with Mrs. Colvin in his intense dislike of Jack Dalton. There also was Captain Sutton, in the handsome full dress uniform of the Irregulars. He danced pretty regularly ; but it was noticed afterward that he every now and then disappeared from the ball-room, and came back after each absence looking somewhat grave and pre-occupied. There also was Colonel Oldboy, resplendent in scarlet uniform of an ancient cut, huge gold epaulettes, and enormous brass spurs. The colonel congratulated Mr. Colvin on the great • success of his ball ; the beneficial effect it would I have on the native population ; and reiterated his faith in the men of the 79th to his heart's con- ' tent. Ethel Marsden, looking brilliantly lovely, appeared to Jack to be some angelic combination of 1 ethereal gauze and muslin too good for this i wicked world, while Ada Charteris looked a formidable rival to her friend and companion. It is needless t» say that while every officer prei sent was anticipating and ready for the crisis which Captain Sutton had so confidently predicted would take place that night, the ladies were in a state of blissful ignorance as to there being ' the remotest likelihood of anything extraordinary > happening. : The band of the 79th, raised on their platform 1 at the end of the room, discoursed sweet music under the able leadership of Mr. De Souga, their l eurasian, or, as he styled himself, Portuguese i bandmaster. i Jack had completed a waltz with Ethel Marsl den, and led that young lady into a cool recess, t where she fanned herself, and he whispered soft nothings in her ear. r "What a swell you are this evening, Mr, I Dalton," Ethel said, playfully touching the glitter- » ing gold epaulette which the amorous subaltern wore on his dexter shoulder. " But, dear me, i Mr. Jack, what on earth have you under your • coat ? See, I have scratched my hand." E Ethel had accidentally let her hand come in - contact with Daltons revolver, which that young I gentleman had secured under his tunic, and the trigger was just showing outside the fasten' ing. Ethel knew what it was at once. " Why have you come armed to this ball Jack?" It was the first time Ethel had ever callec him by his name without, the prefix oi " Mr.," and sweetly it sounded on the sub altern's ears. "Hush, Ethel," he said. "Do not b( alarmed. The fact is in these ticklish timei we know not what might happen, and it ii as well to be prepared. We are all armed here to-night. " Oh ! I know something dreadful is going to happen. Oh, that the ball was over !" Hush, Ethel, dear Ethel ; do not be frightened. Happen what may," he added, " you are safe. <^ Trust to me, dear." Another officer coming up at this momeni to claim Miss Marsden's hand for the nexi dance, Jack turned away, and was directlj afterwards confronted by Captain Sutton " Come here, Dalton," said that officer, leading Jack to a remote part of the room. 11 The crisis is at hand." "Yes? " Baid Jack. " I am going to anticipate it somewhat. When the supper comet on do not go into the refreshment room, but stroll over to this spot." " I understand," said Jack. "I have warned all the others," continued Sutton; "whatever I do, exhibit no surprise, but be ready for any emergency." Jack nodded, and Sutton walked away te another part of the room. Jack, left to himself, strolled out into the residency cempound. The guards of the 79th had piled arms, and were lounging about or lying down at rest, as the fancy took them, the sentries on duty pacing monotonously up and down. Away towards the river, and to the left oi the residency, Jack could distinctly make out the motionless form of a mounted vidette of Suttons irregulars, while now and again the faint neigh of a horse, or the clank of a steel scabbard, was borne on the faint night breeze from the direction of the mango tope. "Pleasant sort of a ball this is likely to be directly," muttered Jack to himself, as he returned to the ball-room, receiving at the doorway a profound salute from the Brahmin Subahdar who. was in command of the guard. That worthy man was haunted with a dim suspicion thai all was not right ; still the die was cast, and he waited only the signal of Waris AH to put his men in motion. And now the ball-room resounded with the strains of the supper waltz as Sutton walked into the midst of a little group of officers, among whom were the adjutant of his Irregulars and Jack Dalton, " Thompson," he said to his adjutant, " they wiU oome in by that side door, as soon as the | guests have filed in to supper ; bo ready to carry out your instructions." "Who the deuce is coming through the side door?" muttered Jack to himself, " and what I wonder are the instructions ? I say, Thompson." "Well?" " What's the mystery ?" " Steady, my lad. String your nerves together. You will see before five minutes are over." The great bulk of the guests had hastened to the supper-room, the gentlemen intent on ministering to the ladies ; and there remained in the baU-jroom but a few officers who had congregated | about the spot which Sutton had pointed out to Jack Dalton. This spat was slightly in a recess formed by two , massive stone pillars supporting an archway whioh led into an inner room. The officers standing here were almost removed from the sight of any one in the ball-room. Down the room came His Highness the Nawab Waris Ali, his step firm, his eyes glittering ; the moment for action had arrived. From his post at the chief entrance Nain Singh, the Brahmin Subahdar, advanced a little distance into the ball-room, and kept his eyes fixed on the Nawab. Outside within the Residency enclosure the Sepoys of the guard had unpiled arms, and stood quietly to attention awaiting orders. Waris Ali walked up t& the Subahdar. " When you see me raise my hand," he said to that worthy, " let your men rush into the supper room, and be careful the house is entirely surrounded. All must be captured; but mind no lives are to be taken — at least not yet," he added to himself. And he turned to walk down the room. As he passed the side door, however, he halted, and was just about to raise his hand, Nain Singh eagerly watching his every movement, when the heavy pindahs were thrown aside, and Waris Ali saw his plot had failed. For forth from the doorway strode Captain Sutton, followed by two troopers of the Irregulars with drawn swords in their hands. The captain pointed to Waris Ali. " Seise him ! " he said. And the Nawab found himself pinioned in the ■tardy grip of the Sikh Sowars. The Nawab in loud angry tones demanded the reason, for this outrage. "By whose authority am I treated thus? " he asked. "Where is the resident Sabib? I demand to see the Resident." " You are my prisoner," gaid Sutton ; " I have ample warrant for all I do. Take him away," he added to the troopers. " You have your instructions. Garry them oat." ' , A group of officer* had by this time assembled round the Nawab, and the cavalry captain, a group that at this juncture was joined by Mr. Colvin and his .assistant. ' ' * ' ' ' " ''Why itf this?" demanded the Nawab of the Resident, ;"F6* what rea'soni'mm 1 bound like r thißtiajowthaavbV' l '-^ '■• , 1 ".{*.«■ -'"* < tTWjßwae^l&kea, 'round W yc^^9pt'4aiip;in.^e;posilaq^ of itffairi^'' t ,.i- f >.

Sutto^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H " and my ci^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H danger. This^H^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H by this man Wan^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H —that is all." " Then, air," said tnM^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| have far exceeded yonr^^^^^^^^^^^^^H release his Highness, and l"|^^^^^^^^^| to place you under arrest unti^^^^^^^^^^H been duly reported to Governmeifl^^^^^^^^| Suttons reply was to hand toff^^^^^^^J telegram he received two days previo^^^^^H Colvin opened it and read the followingl^^^^H military secretary to the Governor-General^^^H "Act on your own responsibility at crisii^M necessary assume charge of residency and confl mand of the troops in the station." "You cannot dispute my authority I think, sir," said Sutton. " What is this ' Who ii it giving orders here, and by whose authority is the Nawab arreited ? Do you know, Mr. Colvin, the Residency is surrounded by Sowars of the Irregular Cavalry. Who dares give these orders ? " The speaker was the majestic lady of the Resident, whose turban swayed on her head like a ship in a heavy sea, owing to the indignation of its wearer." Jack Dalton took upon himself to reply : "By the orders, Mrs. Colvin," he said, " of the ntio Resident of Aligunge." What reply the irate lady would have made can never be known. She had barely commenced to speak when a rattling fire of musketry echoed through the court-yard of the Residency, followed by a rush of steel-shot hoofs, as Sutton'i Irregulars galloped in among the men of the guard. In an instant all was confusion. Ladies rushed terrified from the supper-room to the ball-room. The bandsmen quickly evacuated their positions on the platform ; Mr. De Souza, the conductor, speedily made himself scarce. The officers got ready their revolvers, and looked to Sutton for orders; while poor Colonel Oldboy was completely unnerved, and utterly helpless ; he could not believe his men had at length turned against their officers. And to increase the confusion, straggling volleys of musketry were heard from all parts of the cantonment, while through the western windows of* the ball-raom came c land light. The native infantry lines were wrapped in one huge sheet of flame. Sutton explained his plans. " There are several carriages ready," he said, " the ladies will occupy them, and my Sowars, with the officers, will form a mounted escort to convey them to my quarters, where everything is in readiness to receive them." The arrangements were made quicker than, under the circumstances, might have been deemed possible, and each carriage soon received its occupants. The Resident, his wife, Ethel and Ada, were together in a barouche drawn by two horses, which brought up the rear of the cortege. Jack Dalton formed one of the escort ; Mr. Portland, who looked extremely ill at eaie, another, while two Sowars rode one on either side. The Residency was soon left behind, and they took the direction of Suttons bungalow. Unfortunately, the main road was blocked. A party of the 79th had erected a barricade from behind which they kept up a hot fire on the advanced guard of Sowars. There was nothing for it but to take a circuitous route through part of the native town, in doing which the carriage of the Resident became separated from the others, and at last came to i» standstill at the end of a street amid a seething mob of mutinous sepoys and bazaar fanatics. One who appeared to be a leader among them seized the horses' heads. The women shrieked in terror. The Sowars tried to force a passage, but were each shot down. Jack emptied his revolver among the crowd, and in the confusion it was found that Mr. Portland was missing. It wai a critical moment. Some Sepoys were pressing forward to drag the ladies from the carriage. Jack was using his sword as best he could in the press. It seemed all over, when a troop of Suttons men came up at a gallop, a native officer at their head. The mutineers gave way right and left, or fell under the strokes of the sharp tulwars of the troopers. The carriage was extricated, and its inmates soon after safe in Captain Suttons quarters. Some half-hour afterwards Ethel Marsden> making enquiries for Sutton and Jack, was told they, with a half-dozen Sowars, had again gone out in search of Mr. Portland. It was a weary watch the next two hours, at the end of which a stir in the bungalow made known some new event had transpired. Ethel, going to see what was the cause, was met by Jack Dalton. Jack looked ill at ease, and his left arm was bound up in a blood-stained ninth " Oh, Jack ! what is it ? You are wounded.' "I am not 'much hurt, dear. There is wori© than that. Poor Sutton " " What of him ? Oh, Jack ! is he killed ? "He is mortally wounded, I fear, Ethel dear. You must come to him ; he is in yonder room. Come, I will take you." There in his own room lay poor Jim Sutton. He had struck his last blow and fought hit last fight. Almost safely back within his gates after rescuing the civilian, he had received a musket ball through the lungs, and his gallant spirit was fast departing. The surgeon shook his head when Ethel appealed mutely to him. " There is no hope," he whispered, "but he is suffering no pain." The long weary night wore on. Frequent discharges of musketry were heard from time to time, and the bungalow enclosure echoed ever and anon with the tramp of armed men, the clank of scabbards and the hoarse challenges of the sentries. As day broke, and the Indian sun rose like a ball of fire from the arid sandy plain across the Goomtee River, Sutton opened his eyes. They fell on Ethel, who was standing watching by hi« couch. He recognised her, or seemed to, and with a wan smile seemed to be trying to say something. She took his hand in hers, and bent down over him. " Good-bye, Flora ! " he said.