THE BLUE DRAGOONS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 476, 22 June 1912, Page 2

THE BLUE DRAGOONS.

All Rifjftts Reserved.

j_ AN INDIAN SOLDIER STORY. BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. PART 9. Melton had not been forgetful of the wants of the sisters, and had secured for them .the rooms of the keeper of the magazine, these being given up cheerfully ; and to these he had Sir Graham Leslie removed —an act of attention for which Ella Leslie's eyes plainly spoke her thanks, while Laura turned away, unable after the shock she had sustained, to trust herself to speak. There was little to tell about their being carried away, beyond what the bearer had already stated. The Palkee had been pounced upon by a party of Bala's men ; and after they had been carried some distance the sisters had been compelled to descend, hurried on, and forced to mount the elephant, and kept there till such time as arrangements had been made to carry them from the town.

The coming of the dragoons then, had been most opportune, for an hour later they would have been beyond pursuit.

Melton heard all this from the lips of Ella, and then hurriedly left her, to see to the arrangements for provisioning the garrison. This was a most serious question, and seeing how large a number of horses were in the place, fast growing into a little fort, the subject was debated whether they should not send the two elephants adrift. Fortunately there was an abundant supply of water, and in addition to arms and ammunition a large store well filled with case meat and navy biscuit, sent up for the use of the men. Spirits, too, were in abundance, and a strong guard was placed over the entrance to the magazine.

Meanwhile, the strength of the place was fast growing—and it was needed ; for the mutineers, baffled by the loss of their prey, were making their own preparations. In spite of the efforts of the marksmen, guns had been got into position and began to batter the gate. To meet this difficulty—for the

gate would soon have fallen —Colonel Bruce had the gates thrown open men were told off to fill sacks with earth, and at a given signal, immediately after the enemies' charge of cannon, when: the shot had come rushing across the enclosure to bury themselves in the mud wall at the other side, a hundred men ran out and planted their bags of earth to order across the gateway. As many more armed with spade and pick took their places, and in an incrediblj short of time a tolerably strong earthwork was formed as a eurtain to the gatewaj, embrasures were made, planks laid down, and a :ouple of guns got in position to assist the one upon the wall ,and sweep the street.

. The service was one of extreme danger, hut the men engaged in it with the greatest gusto, and in spite of their peril, ran boldly out with their sacks of earth, more than one merrily scattering the contents over/ ais fellows, even while the walls' were flying. And now began a regular siege the Hindoos howling with disappointment as they saw their prey in security, and swarming into the houses round, where from every coign of vantage in which they could get a shot at the occupants of the magazine spent their time trying to make the place untenable.

It was a wretched night that which' Followed. Women were weeping, children wailing and a general sense of discomfort pervaded the place. The men on duty—and that embraced quite half the troop—were the best off ; for their minds were occupied in watching for danger, and beating off the various little assaults made upon the walls by the disappointed mutineers.

Those who attempted to sleep had to contend with discomfort, heat, the noise of firing, with the feeling of dread lest their fiendish; enemies were getting the better of them. There was no occasion, though, to Eear, so far, as the 'soldiers repelled every attack and drove the mutineers and others back, with always onefourth of their number left upon the ground.

With the morning the gravity of the tituation became more apparent ; for on all sides the mutineers occupied the houses from which they sent such a leaden hail into the magazine enclosure that several of the soldiers were shot down.

Colonel Bruce and Colonel Brandon who commanded the infantry, were about to consult as to their next steps, when a summons came from Sir Graham Leslie, and the twe :olonels, with three or four of their officers—amongst whom were the fat major, Melton, and the brave young ensign who had successfully made his way to the regiment by his ruse o! loating down the river—at once proceeded to his apartments. On entering the room where Sii 3raham lay they found him propped ip with pillows, and his two daughters in attendance, both of whoir Irew a little aside after saluting the officers.

But the poor girls looked so pah ind wretched tnat Melton followed ;hem causing each in turn to blush vividly as he took her hand to inquire liter her health and say a few en iouraging words. "We owe our lives to jou, Cap ;ain Melton," tbJc officer addressee Hit her short with —

" Was it anything more than mj iuty, Miss Leslie ?"

Further conversation was stayed b;

the young ensign. " Captain Melton," he said in a

low voice, as he twirled his moustache, "will you introduce me ?" Melton flushed with anger at the interruption.

" T am but a guest here, sir," \\2 sa'd, coldly. " Sir Graham Leslie will no doubt gratify you when he is able to do so." " I think we may dispense with ceremony now," said Laura sweetly, as she tried to recover her equanimity ; and she neld out her hand. " My sister and I are only too glad to know and thank the officers and men who are risking their lives for us."

The young ensign took her hand with effusion and then, grasping that of her sister, was unable to keep bads a look of triumph at the stem officer, who now stood aloof, bowed to both ladies and joined the consultation of his chiefs'.

** Exactly," Sir Graham was saying in a feeble but authoritative voice. " You mean well, Colonel Bruce, but we are not at war with these people. This is only a local outbreak of an unfortunate character."

"I have reason to believe, Sir Graham, that the mutiny is general," said Colonel Brandon, quietly. "Sir, I was addressing Colonel Bruce," said Sir Graham, testily.

Colonel Brandon raised his eyebrows, bowed, and drew back a step. "Colonel Bruce," continued the old gentleman, "I am governor of this city and its surroundings, and I desire that no coercion be attempted. The poor fellows are misguided, and in a day or two will come back and ask that all may be forgotten. It is not your opinion, Captain Melton ?" " No, Sir Graham," said the young officer, quietly, on being thus appealed to.

" Then what do you think, sir ?" said the governor, with a smile of pity at the other's want of experience.

" That if these men-can get the upper hand, Sir Graham, they will slaughter man, woman, and child '— " Absurd !"

" Even as tney did'"the officers of the native regiments." " That will do, gentlemen," said the governor, impatiently. "I am too weak to discuss the matter ; but you know my commands, and surely, after twenty years' experience, I must know best."

The officers bowed to thte ladies and retired, encountering the doctor of the dragoon regiment as they did so.

" Been getting a lesson?" he said, taking a pinch of snuff. " Well—yes, doctor," said Colonel Bruce, biting his moustache. " Regular martinet, sir," said the doctor. " Wanted to show me last night how to put on his bandages. I say, we're awkwardljj placed here—eh !"

"Very," said the colonel ; and they separated. " Well;' Brandon," said Colonel Bruce—" What do you say. No coercion ?"

" Decidedly not the slightest," said the infantry colonel. "By the way Bruce, the first thing I should do would be to make those fellows oi yours hang their carbines and sabres up with their saddles till wanted." " Yes ?"

" And serve out Enfield rifles and bayonets." .

" The very thing I was going to propose," said Colonel Bruce.

" How are they at heavy gun drill ?"

" Better than with the bayonet," said Colonel Bruce.

" They shall take the nine-pounders then, and now, what nestt ?" " Well," said Colonel Bruce, "it seems to me that the sooner we pound down those three highest Rouses the greater our safety within these walls."

As he spoke he pointed to» different points where the mutineers were clustering thickly, and from which they were keeping up a galling fire. " We shall never knock them down with our light field guns, colonel," said Melton. " They would only be plumped full of shot."

" What would you do then ?" ask ed Colonel Brandon.

" Lay a bag of powder below each, and blow them up."

"Decidedly the best said Colonel Brandon, smilicfg. " But who is to undertake the task ?"

" Plenty of men will volunteer," remarked Melton, quietly ; " and I should be glad to take the leadership as we have no engineers."

"If we had only plenty of fresh meat," said Colonel Bruce, clappins his officer in the most frkaidJy waj on the back, " I think we could laugh at these scoundrels —imperially as ammunition is plentiful and the spade and pick, will make the place stronger every hour."

" Unfortunately," said Colonel Brandon with a serious expression on his countenance, " the onemj grows stronger every minute ; for. depend upon it, Bruce, this is a general rising, and we must not '.oo! ; outside for help. As to fresh me fit we have four hundred animals, th.a! we shall have to slay as required.'' "My horses !" exclaimed Colone' Bruce. " God forbid ! " "Amen !" said Colonel Brandon.

" but I can see no brighter look out unless you and your fellows cut youi way through and go off for help." . " What ! and leave you all here 1 No," said Colonel Bruce. " That would not do —eh, major '!'•' " No, sir, no," exclain:«dl the major, " Fair play's a jewel..."'

After a further cons.vl'.Ation ir which Sir Graham Leslie's- utterance? were treated as if they h;ul nevei been spofcen, it was deck'ed thai Melton should, in conjunction with f young lieutenant of -the infantry make the plans for blowing: up the various houses which stood some fif ty or sixty yards away icom tht magaaine.

These steps' e.onTnsto.i in providinc dark lantern::, fuses, rn.l some half dozen bags of powder for each house. The placing of these would lie a task of extreme danger and difficulty; for, to he effective, those who placed them would incur the risks of beiiru shot down by the enemy, and meeting their death in the l.ring of the explosives.

This did not occur to the men at all, judging from the laughter and zest with which they proceeded about their work till all was ready, the intention of Melton being to try to blow up each house in turn directly after dark.

Meantime the two regiments were wording like slaves out in the hot sun—men who previously had dawdled away their time in the most sluggish manner. The natives seemed astonished at the way in which picks and shovels were wielded, earthworks grew up, were armed with field-pieces and the whole place hour, by hour strengthened, in spite of the bail of shot constantly poured in. This firing, though, was not dono with impunity for loopholes and rifles sprang out on all sides, and the best marksmen of the two regiments occupying these, the white-clothed sepoys and native-soldiery fell fast.

Whenever, too, a fresh gun was brought up to them, the skill of the artillerymen was brought to* be a r, and more than one piece was knocked off its carriage, amidst the curses and execrations of the enemy.

At length the sun was getting near the horizon, and a little excitement began to be felt in the garrison as to the success of Captain Melton's exploit. The news had been borne to the Governor's daughters, and they sat, hand clasped in hand, feeling bound to keep it from . their father, and each trying to read in the other's eyes her feelings upon the subject.

Melton was with Lawrence, sitting by his rough couch, and telling him his plans, while the young lieutenant fretted and fumed at his enforced inaction.

"Oh, Jack, if I could only be With you ! But, I say, old fellow—those two girls—quite, quite safe, you say ?" " Quito, Fred." said the reply.

•' If I fall, Fred," he continued solemnly, " you will soon "be well enough to go on duty, J hope." " Oh, yes, vcrj soon," said Lawrence.

"Do your best for them. But, there, I know you will. Good-bye, Fred."

" Au rev.oir, Jack," was the reply as Lawretce tried to sit up, but gave a wince of pain as he sank back. " You'll win, my boy, I'm sure, and will come back black with powder to tell me so. I shall listen for the explosions. Jackson, open the window wide." The young dragoon did so, and with a warm grasp of the hand, Melton hurried out of the shed-like room.

"Oh, Jackson," groaned Lawrence, to his fellow sufferer, "if we could only go and fight." " Wait a bit, sir, and we'll make up for it," said the young man whc was thinking of the Misses Leslie's attendant.

Meanwhile Captain Melton went on his dangerous mission, ignorant of the fact that the mutineers were preparing "to spring a similar mine oir the besieged.

CHAPTER VI. SPRINGING THE MINE. The occupants' of the magazine were so far from feeling safe, in spite of their efforts to strengthen the wall and gateway, that double sentries were set for the night, with their supports close at hand ready to give help on the slightest alarm. Every man kept his gun at hie side, and the heavy guns were charged ready for encountering an attack. The plan proposed was for the buildings that were to be blown up to be almost ignored for some time previously, so as to take off the attention of the besiegers, and this was done, the fire being concentrated on other, points, to which, in consequence, the mutineers nocked, and fired back with vicious pertinacity. In the meantime Melton had his little party ready and trained them in the course they were to pursue. Two ladders were procured just long enough to reach to the top of the wall, and these having been used the plan was that the little party was to steal across the open, lay their powder baps, attach a fuse, light it, and escape back. The firing was going on fiercely right and left, as, with a muttered prayer that he might succeed. Melton gave the word, and carrying pow.leibags and ladders, the little party. each also hearing a revolver, set oil for the wall.

Fortunately, the nipht was very dark, so that they were able to reach the place unseen, when Melton took one ladder, planted it himself, against the wall, and then takiru: the other ascended softly, and looked over into the dark space that la> between him and the houses to. be destroyed.

There was the murmur a nd buzz of i many voices, and the noise of lirini: Koinir on, as some one discharged hi.-" piece at the place where the sentrie? ! were posted. There was a.lso a dull I confused strange noise <.;o\m: on j which he could not understand. It was not a time, though, to hesitate; so, lowering his ladder over the other side, he stepped cautiously down, and his men followed. The little jrroup stood there in the darkness under the wall listenimr, hut all seemed suited to their par- : pose, so Melton stooped in theii ! midst and uttered his last instruo ! lions. | (To be continued.)