THE BLUE DRAGOONS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 479, 3 July 1912, Page 2

THE BLUE DRAGOONS.

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n AN INDIAN SOLDICR STORY. BY GBORGB MANYILLB FHNN* v „.Part 12. . CHAPTER IXi •' HOW LAWRENCE TALKED TO THB SHARP-SHOOTERS.

A dead silence fell upon the little part; at this' announcement, Sit Graham looked annoyed, for he had been crossed in, his belief in the infallibility of the Sepoys.

1 Ella blushed 'and looted pained, but recovering herself, started forward with extended hand, while her sister met Melton's eye for a moment ; but her face wore suph an aspect of mingled surprise and horror, that a cold r smile rose, to his lips, he bowed slightly, and turned away before another word could be said. Laura cast a piteous look upon her sister and caught her hand. " Oh, Ella," she whispered, " I am sorry." ' "Melton —Jack —my dear boy!" exclaimed Lawrence, taking a step or two after his friend, who, however, only waved his hand and con- ► tinued his walk. • " Poor old fellow," said Lawrence, whd seemed really pained. " This is unfortunate. Don't think him rude, ladies," he continued, turning to his i companions, "he's hipped and melancholy—weakened by his wounds. And, poor old boy,. be, fancies people notice him because of the terrible : scorching he got in blowing up that dangerous house." " And did he blow it up ?" asked Ella, eagerly, while Laura listened with closed eyes, and her pale face twitching as she spoke. " Yes, behaved like a hero," said Lawrence, whose face kindled as he Bpoke of his friend's prowess. " It was a house from which the niggers annoyed us terribly and he went over the wall with some of our men, and laid powder bags to blow it up, but the niggers heard him and began firing the wind blew away hiq train, and the expedition would have been a failure if he had not stepped back and pitched the lamp from his . lantern right into the open powder, and so got, poor boy, hoist-;with his own petard." i " How horrible !" groaned Laura. ( " Well, yes, poor fellow, he was horribly burned ; but ne has the satisfaction of knowing that by his action he has saved the lives of, perhaps, all here." " Ha ! yes," said Sir Graham; "as I- was saying when your friend so rudely interrupted me—when our iiijured native forces have Been induced to return to their allegiance, arid forgive the insults and atrocities heaped upon them—" " Sir Graham," began Lawrence, but a look from Laura arrested him. " Yes, when they return to their allegiance," Sir Graham severely, "I shall hope to have- the pleasure of mentioning your name, Law-, rence, as that ( of a gentleman Worthy of promotion for, your services in protecting my daughters from the insults of that insolent native, by whose treachery our trusty native servants were first led to believe we were against them, and this was endorsed by our folly." " Had we not better go, papa ?" asked Ella. "In a few minutes, my child," replied Sir Graham. " I am greatly obliged for your u good opinion," said' Lawrence quiet- . ly; " but I. am sorry Sir Gra- | ham—" ' i He ' was about;, t6 say " that our, thoughts do not agree regarding, the ■ sepoy," when a second look;.from Laura checked him.' k ' " You are sorry that this trouble x should have arisen," said Sir Gra- ! ham, taking up the . sentence and 1 ishing it to suit his own- taste. [ "Yes, of course. My dears, the . Bring is recommencing; let us re- ' turn." . » Ella took her lather's arm after darting a grateful look at Lawrence, who fell behind with Laura, and a tall swarthy native, in his., long . white/ garments came dose behind. " it was very kipd of you not to I speak against the sepoys to papa, " Mr. Lawrence," said Laura,, hastily. Lawrence shrugged hip shoulders, and bowed. " Papa believes in them so intensely. He always has had faith 'in them, and now if he were contradicti ,ed he is in such a weak state that it < might prove harmful." • ■ i ' " Possibly. so/' said . Lawrence, [ "but for my part I shall never | trust a native again. By the way,. f whose the - black scoundrel following, | m?" , , I " That ! Oh, that is Dass Ru, our . kitmutgar. He has. been so kind and i attentive to papaV and waits upon ! us incessantly. He' rarely- leaves our t side." I [ ,v . " Where was he when those ruffians i broke . in, then ?" said ; Lawrence, | sharply. ' Laura gave such * a shudder and ' looked at him with such' a piteous* * aspect, hastily changed the conversation. 4 rr I'am so sptry about»Melton 1 ," he said. " He >hap such .a 'swarm' feeling ; of admiration for,,' that' he - you slightwi because oi ,hi 6 injuries."-' 1 ■ ' , " Oh, pray teU'fclm—" began Laura eagerly. - " De gubnor, sahib, say mißsie tc come in," said the slotting. Hindoo—- , fpr 'they had reached the door ; anc • hastily bidding! ,' the young : officer good-bye Laura Leslie hurried in. " I'm head over eais ii* love witl • one of. those girls," said Lawrence ''and haag me if I:know wfckh one 1 likebest. What a- pity' a .fullpf/ wai *

have married them both ! But twe won't do. ' I T must go and see pool eld Jack. By Jove,'how hipped hi ; %id?spcm •!"••'"/ \ r./ *" ' A He walked away, but as he ,did st r be turned liack to see if ,by any pos sibility one bf.the ladies , might bi at the window,- -of the great, gaunt building, , now. Iheir home, and hi sighed as, .he thought what a .change it was for the jiobr girls; accustomed as they were to.. a life of luxurioue ' ease. „ • ■

They were not at the window, howover, b'ut in place of one. of theii 3-ycet gentle ' faces there Was that ol the kitmutgar, Dass Ru, looking smilingly out after him with all tht gentle mildness of the. Hindoo 1 in the face of his master, the great sahib from England. " Confound those fellows ! I wish they would not smile so, and put or that mild, gentle, ill-used look. Anyone might think they were' so many saints touched up and polished by Day and Martin, when they are at heart the very reverse. 1 don't like that Mr. Dass Ru's looks. Perhaps its prejudice, but I hate the beggar. Ah, Jackson —that you!" ' *' Yes, sir—what's left of me," said the joung private. " I'm a stone lighter than I was, sir."

"We shall all be, f expect, my lad, before we are safe. But never mind, a soldier must not grumble." " Oh, bless your heart, sir," said the young man, " I wasn't grumbling. ' I like being here, and fighting for the ladies. All that I don't like is that we has to do it on foot, instead of mounted as we should be." '

" That will come, my lad," said the young officer. "We shall have to do escort duty one of these days, or some sorties or foraging runs. These tasks must come if we stop in here ; but I think the colonel will ca'ic a dash for it one of these days and join someone else.", " Good luck to him—l hope he will, sir," replied Jackson. " But, begging your pardon, sir, didn't 1 sec you looking very hard 'at the governor's black servant, Mr. Slap Dash, or Dasham, or something ol that sort his name is ?" " Yes, I was looking at him," said Lawrence', growing interested as it was a matter so nearly a&ecting the governor's daughters. " What of that ?"

"Well, sir, it's making very bold, and I don't know as I ought to say it," began Jackson, hesitatingly. " There, speak out, my lad,: cried Lawrence, impatiently. " Charge, man—charge ! Don't beat about the bush."

" Well, sir, to speak plain," said Jackson, I don't like him." " Perhaps not," said Lawrence, smiling, " but what of that ?" , " Why sir," exclaimed Jackson, getting red in the face, " I neyer see that chap' without my:, big, tOe beginning to itch." j

" What !" cried Lawrence, roaring with laughter.

" Ah, you may laugh, sir ; but it's a bad sign," continued Jackson, smiling," continued Jackson seriously. " When my big toe begins to itch it's a sign I feel I ought to kick somebody ; and I always feel as if I ought to kick him." " But why ?" asked Lawrence who was evidently deeply interested. " Don't know, sir ; only I feel he's black farther inside than his skin. Lisbeth don't like him neither^—that's the young gal, sir, as was being took off bs' the niggers, like the young ladies when we cut 'em out." " Ah ! and so you've kept up that acquaintance—have you?" said Lawrence, whose eyes twinkled. " Well, sir— yes, sir, just a little," said Jackson, settling his neck in his 3tock. " Couldn't very well help it, when next time I see ber she threw her arms round my neck and called me; her preserver."

" Nice position, Jackson," put in Lawrence, merrily.

Very, sir, in private," said the young man ; " but as all our chaps was looking on it made me feel like a. fool; and, I've been chaffed ever since." ,

, " Well, if I were you,, Jackson, I'd ieserve their chaff," said Lawrence, " for she seems a very good modest little girl."

" She's all that, sir, and ever so much more," cried the young man, j jagerly. " She's as sharp, €oo, as a needle, and when she says, a thing I it ain't far wrong. She don't like Mr. Dasham, and the governor, doiesand trusts him ; and as, for me, sir; I'd rather trust 'Lisbeth, who ain't »ot no back leanings in her whatever. She Bays'; to me last night, sir,' she says, ' Them wretches a in't ao> better than so many .black-beetles and they -ought' to' be' served the same."' • . 'i Lawrence stood thinking for a mo- i ment or two, for it seemed strange-, to him that'this follower should feel the same distrust of the kitmutgar < that he. felt himself.' - Then; turning to the youqg soldier : i " We must not hastily, Jackson;" he 'said in a quiet, oraculat tone ; " but-just now I 'don't think it would be wise to trust in - , a native.' Though all depends on" our success. If we get the upper hand they will cringe ; if''they are' mastering us,'we shall not 1 ineet.witb a'single friend." " I believe you're right,' sir,"' said, the young man ; and 'then, as hie, officer was passing on he sudd :nly . leaped upon him, knocking him .1 »wp ' ending by dragging him roughly intc the shadow of a" wall. -At the Bame moment there wer* the straggling reports of half a dozen muskets heard, and as many. bullets" flattened themselves against the w»l> behind where the young -men hac been standing. " How , dare you, you scoundrel ?' began Lawrence,, turning furiously <i a is assailant, who was heartily;. and At the same momeni the Vboi in .the position

" I beg your Jackeon," h exclaimed. " I ttulfct > jou L wri mad 'or drunk." ,

" "Just turned my head in time, sir, to see the blade beggars takins aim at us. Thfey've got on' the t•; of ;.that hotiße yonder." 7 • "It "iwas a near shpre, my lad,' said Lawrence, for 1 suppose the; have some ambus them that caal 'aim." ■ " Let's try, «lr, M Mid . Jackson, drawing his sabre; and then taking oil his jacket and cap he artistically" arranged them on the point of the weapon, and slowly paseed them round the corner of the building as if someone was peeping. Several reports followed on the instant accompanied by a sharp shot at the cap which Jackson now . ith drew. " Look, sir," he said, pointing to a bullet-hole—" went clean throirfi it." " Confound them—yes !" cried Lawrence. Why, Jackson, they'd have potted us both if you had i<>t jerked me away. There I had fully made up my mind to punish- you for this. Captain Melton would aav.reported you—l should have punched your head. As it-is, I Bhall let you if! and say ' Thank you.' " Jackson showed his white teeth. " I shan't forget it, my lad," said Lawrence, quietly. " All right, sir, all right," cried the 'young man. - " But I say. ',ir what's going to be done about tt»i new game ? It wont be safe lor a soul to cross the compound." " The house will halve to l.e up the same as that other,'' fai«l Lawrence, firmly. "'lt's my turn now." " Take me, sir, please," exclaimed Jackson, excitedly. That must rest with the colonel, Jackson," said Lawrence, quietly. " But it will be a case of volun teering, sir—it must be," cried the. young fellow, eagerly. "But it's a terribly dangerous job my lad, and ought to be done by picked, steady men." •• Oh, sir, I'd be as steady as any of them !" cried Jackson. " Don't say no, sir. If you picked me for one, the colonel would let me go j and I always was, aB a boy, a wunuer at Guy Pawkes work." Lawrence smiled and nodded. " All right Jackson," he said. "If I go I'll select you as one of the party.'; " Thanky, sir—hooray I" cried the young manI—and 1 —and he gave a boyish skip of delight—one which took him for a moment beyond v the shelter of the wall, with the result that he drew upon him the fire from the house, one bullet striking up the dust between his leigs and another passing through the breast of, his jacket. Jackson gave a bit of a staler as he regained the shelter of the building and looked' a little white. " Are you hurt, my lad ?" asked Lawrence, eagerly. " Well, no, sir, not exactly," the young man said, fumbling at his breast; " but it was precious near." He unbuttoned his stable jacket as he spoke, withdrawing four , silk kerchiefs." " Fortunately I stalled out my chert a bit—it looks more soldierlike. Only fancy if it had been bhrough flesh instead of them handkershiefs." " It was a very narrow escape, mylad," said Lawrence, speaking seriously, as the young private stood shaking his head over the injured handkerchiefs and the? holes in his jacket. " Near as a toucher, sir," cried Jackson, carefully replacing the handkerchiefs so as to improve his manly chest. " Look here, Jackson," said Lawrence; aud the young fellow drew himself up .to attention. " Get a couple of Enfields, and tell the sergeant to give you a couple. of cartridges. Then meet me here in ten minutes." >

" Right, sir," said Jacksoa facing round, and going without another word. ■ ( Lawrence took a sharp look round the corner of the building for a moment, so as 'to get a good view of the spot from whence the firing came, and saw that it was from the roof of a house that overtopped the wall, but which had, until now, been occupied by the eneany. Quick aa was his action, a shot was fired at - him,' and. then he stood thinking and i making his plans. From where he 'stood he could see the - entrance to Sir GraUam Leslie's, quarters, and while' he was slowly twirling his moustache, to his horror, he T saw Sir Graham appear in the doorway, accompanied by his elder daughter, both evidently meaning to cross the compound. . They could not be seen by the firing party, where they stood, but if they had advanced twenty yards; they would be fully exposed to a party of evidently picked marksmen and the young dragoon's heart seemed to contract as he saw the' old man step slowly out and take his daughter's arm. It was like courting death to go and warn ' them,, but Lawrence did not ' hesitate for a moment. He merely stepped back, so as to gain speed,, and' then dashed out of cover, 'Tunning with all his might. (To^be^ontinuedO^_