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THE BLUE DRAGOONS.

All Rights Reserved.

AN INDIAN SOLDIER STORY. BY GEORGE MANVILLB PENN. PART IS. The fight was somewhat.«protracted,; but at last the enemy were beaten back, and after this a series of minor attacks of the most harassing kind were kept up. Suddenly the colonel turned to the major, who had just come up, and whispered an order. The result was that the major drew off a reserve of dragoons who stood rifle-armed, behind an earthwork, and they were marched round to the great building that formed the stable. The horses were as regularly groomed as if they went out every day ; and thie various accoutrements being ready, ten minutes had not elapsed before a coaple of troops were leading their horses behind the building towards the gate—Captain Melton being in command—and to the men's intense delight, thej_ found that as soon as the next attack began they were to mount, and make a dash round to the other side, so t as to take the enemy attacking the breach in flank, cut off all they could by a bold sally, and then draw back. The firing began again when the men had been standing by their horses' heads about a quarter of an hour, and all impatient, they waited for the order to set off. .The gates were open and there was plenty of room for single horsemen to file out on either side of the earthwork, where the artillerymen stood ready for attack on that point, well covered by about fifty of the infantry, and at last, when it seemed to Melton and Lawrence that the idea had been abandoned, up same the aide-de-camp, delivered his order, the men all elation, sprang into their saddles, trotted rapidly out into the street, formed up, went round at a canter, and then gathering speed, dashed into the attacking party, with* a wild cheer, just as they had been rolled back from the breach by the grape and canister of the well-served nine-pounder guns and had taken refuge in thte side street. So great was the momentum of the charge that the dragoons went through the mob, cutting and trampling them down 1 in all directions, and then continuing their charge with little less force at a fresh body farther on, who, however, in place of attempting to resist them, turned and fled.

But they were too late for the horsemen who were wild in their excitement, overtook them ansd sabred them in all directions.

Melton's great difficulty was to restrain the men's ardour ;, Trat, galloping on he set the trumpeter to work, and they dashed back, riding down an attempt at resistance, and in an incredibly short space of ■ time reaching the gates without the loss of a man, though another five minutes would have been fatal; for the mutineers were now thronging into the various houses, .from which they could have shot down the dragoons at their pleasure.

A "tremendous cheer greeted the squadron as they rode panting back to the square ; but there was no time for cheering, as the attack began once more in an angry, spiteful, harassing way. It was evident, however, that there would he nothing serious attempted again that day, as the spirit of the enemy was broken to great efforts for some hours to* come.

Quiet and a peaceful evening was followed by a restful night ;. but there was no rest for either Melton or Lawrence. They knew how mad would be an excursion with their dragoons, and how it would, probably result in destruction ; but still there was the wild desire to be doing something to aid those they loved — for John Melton knew that he loved Laura Leslie with all his soul —and though her heart seemed to be given to his friend, he was ready to lay down his life for her.

Hope came, though, with the morning ; for soon after their early meal, when Melton felt ready to urge upon the colonel, who had been praising tiim for his brave escapade of the previous day, that he should take the offensive—a plan that he knew to be a mad one—on account of the women and children, a couple of dragoons marched up a prisoner—a keenLooking Hindoo—who met the searching gaze directed at him, with perfect coolness. '

" Who is this ?" agaid Colonel Bruce sternly. " Spy, sir," said -the sergeant who *ad him in charge. '* Been hanging about the gate, wiitching, " and two of our lads dashed in and brought him in."

" Well, my lad," said the colonel, sternly, " what have you got to say that you should -net meet a spy's fate and not be; hung, - ?" "Nov spy, sir, messenger," said the young man pjroudly ; and he thrust his hand into his breast. The two dragoons, darted forward on the instant and grasped each au arm.

"He nieans the message of th« knife," said the nu*jor, frowning. M It's astonishing wl mt these fanatics will do, even though they know instant death awaij ts them. Tak< care, Bruce, he'sr a n j assassin." " I think not," at lid the colonel, quietly. "Let one a irm loose," h< continued to the two ' dragoons. "Lei us see what he has."

Melton,, wHo stood a a the> colonel's right, quietly covered t he young Hindoo, with his revolver, so- that, hac he meant treachery, t!fc * fellow, coulc

have been brought down instantly. The Hindoo, who scenicd somewhat astonished at this treatment, comprehended the next moment, and smiled. '* No, no," he said, showing his white teeth—" no knife. Letter—see here. Cut this." Ke pointed to the band of his calico dress, which looked thick, and the ssrgeant took out a knife, and cut iroui it a small note, which the Hindoo took. "For Sir Graham, or Colonel Bruce," said the young man, speaking the names with difficulty, and the note was handed to the colonel. " Sir Graham is delirious," he said, "so I will read the note." He ran his eyes over it rapidly. " Set the lad. free. He is to bte trusted," he said ; and the Hindoo smiled, drew himself up proudly, and folded his arms. "It is a message from Miss Leslie gentlemen," said the colonel. "She and her sister were seized by a party of Hissar's men, who got in through their window with the connivance of the kitmutgar. The are now at Chardagh, and ask for our aid." " Which they shall have," said Melton to himself ; and his eyes met those of Lawrence, wherein he read the same determination. " Yes, they must be set free," said the colonel, as if he -had heard Melton's words; "sergeant, take charge of that messenger,, and treat him well." The Hindoo smiled, and for a moment excited the suspicions of all around ; for he darted forward, caught the colonel's hand, kissed it, and* then drew back and followed the sergeant. In the council which followed it was decided to send a letter to the governor's daughters, promising aid as - soon as possible ; but Chardagh was twenty miles away ; there were some ten thousand enemies around the town where they were, and the ladies' prison was not only strongly fortified, but held by a powerful body of Hissar's men. To march to the aid of the governor's daughters meant destruction to all, and chrivalous as fas was, Colonel Bruce dared do no more. As soon as this was decided, Meltcn went off to the place where the Hindoo was located, and he had scarcely spoken to him before the young man entered into his plans vith all eagernes. " Yes, sahib," he said, " I will help you." " And you thiink you could stain and disguise me to look like a high caste Brahmin ?" "Yes, sahib —oh, yes!" said the Hin'doo. " And you will do this, and be faithful to me throughout ?" " Yes, sahib, or —" He made a significant gesture across his throat. " I trust you, my man, I trust 50U ; and mind this, if we are successful, there' is,;no reward you can ask that shall not be yours for your service." - " The sahib Bhall give his servant what seems good if we succeed,"*' said the Hindoo bowing ; and then, for a few minutes Melton sat talking earnestly to him of their plans. They were interrupted by a black shadow, cast clear and well defined by the sun across the doorway, and Lawrence entered the room. " You here, Melton ?" he said, starting. " Yes," was the quiet reply. "Why have you come ?" Lawrence was silent for a few moments-, and then he spoke. " There, I will not have any concealments from you. Jack, old friend, I can't sit down here, and know those girls are asking our aid." • Melton sighed. "So I am going to try if out friend, here cannot disguise me so that I can "get to them. It might end in an escape." "Or your death, Fred." " I'll risk that for them, Jack," said Lawrence, sadly. " But why are you here.?" " For the very same purpose," said Melton. " What !—to go as a native ?" " Yes." " Then we'll go together." "Yes. But what about leave for both?" " Jack, old 1 man," exclaimed Lawrence, " duty is duty. But if Bruce will not give me" leave to go > back at once, or «ay to-night with this messenger, I shall desert. What do you say to that ?" Melton sat silent for a few ' moments, and then he rose and laid hie hand upon Lawrence's shoulder, saying, sadly : " Fred, we must save those two poor girls, or —" " Yes," exclaimed Lawrence, grasping his friend's hand, while the other looked sadly at his handsome face and flashing eye, " or perish in the attempt." And the Hindoo looked calmly on and smiled.

CHAPTER XII. MELTON AND LAWRENCE ACT THEIR PARTS.

"It is so much madness," said Colonel Bruce. "Here you ask me to let two of mj smartest officers go upon a quest that seems wild in the extreme ; for if you are detected the scoundrels will put jou to death without mercy." " But, Colonel—" began Lawrence—"Let me speak," said Melton. "Colonel, here is the case : You cannot sen)i out any of your men. You are in duty bound to protect those left behind." • Colonel Bruce bowed his head.

"But, at the same time, youi whole nature as an Englishman revolts at the idea of those poor girh being left in the hands of a treacherous Eastern voluptuary. Let us go, then. We may do good. If we fail

you have at least satisfaction of knowing that an effort was made to save." "And about yousetveß■?" said the colonel. "We shall have done oar best," said Melton. The colonel waited up and down the room for a "few moments, and then bowed his head.

"You consent, t&etft?" cried Law rence, joyfully.

" Most unwiHingty," said ColoneJ Bruce ; "but I feel- that I cannot withhold my permission. As you say, it is impossible to sit here quietly, without making any effort to save the poor girls ; so -go, and Heaven be with you ?" A hearty shake of the hand follow-

Ed; and then the two young men were hurrying back to the sergeant's guardroom across the compound, and ran no light risk in doing,so, for a couple of shots were fired at them from the top, of the house, which for the last few days had not been occupied. But they did not take effect, and a few minutes later Lawrence had the satisfaction of hearing that they were being replied to from the loophole he had contrived, and the firing was soon silenced. The Hindoo met them with a face all smiles, and expressed himself as ready to help disguise them. "Perfect secrecy is the first thing to be observed," said Melton ; "but we must have a messenger, so whom can we trust ?"

As he spok* Jackson came slowly along in the shade of one of the buildings, and he was at once summoned, and taken into his officer's confidence.

" Yon see, Jackson, if the news is so read in the garrison; some spy will learn it, and convey it outside by some means or another. How they da it I don't know, but it's very plain that they do know very well how we are situated."

So spoke Lawrence, > and Melton nodded his head in assent.

" Oh, I'll be quiet enough, sir," said Jackson, " but you'll want me with you, sir."

" No, impossible • All depends on our going alone," said Lawrence. " But you are going with this—this '■ black gentleman, sir ?" said Jackson.

"Yes, he is our messenger and guide," said Lawrence. " But you could contrive to take me, sir," said Jackson, pleadingly. " I'd sticb to you, faithful as could be, sir, through thick and thin. Ask him to take me, sir," he said to Melton.

" It cannot be done," said Melton firmly. " Look here, my man ; if you wish to serve us go quietly get a couple of common native dresses — buy them of of the syces, or anyone you like, only do it secretly and as quickly as you can. Here are twenty rupees ; they will be more than en'ough." " All right, sir," said Jackson sullenly ; and, taking the money, he went out on his quest. Directly he was gone, Melton quietly told -the sergeant what was proposed, showed him a permit from Colonel Bruce and arranged that he was to come quietly at the end of a couple of hours to see if anything was needed, and at nightfall to see them safely out of the gates.

In due time Jackson arrived with two suits of white linen with cummerbund and .slippers and white turban all complete. These he left on being told to do so by the sergeant and went away, but not before he had learned that the two ladies were in Hissar's power at Chardagh. Meanwhile the two voung officers had been very busy. The razors had swept away every trace or beard and moustache, their hair had been trimmed by the Hindoo, a peculiar stain had completely transformed their faces, necks, hands and arms, and the high-caste Brahmin's sign had been painted upon their foreheads ; so that altogether when they donned the garments Jackson had bought, and placed their turbans upon their ">eads, they could honestly declare that the disguise was complete, for aither . would h,ave passed the other without recognition. " The sahib's must be very silent, and not talk, or Hissar's men will know," said the Hindoo. *' Yes," replied Lawrence ; " but we must have some tale ready." "We must be mutineers from a native cavalry regiment —say ; the Eighth —and we fled for our lives when our regiment was attacked by the English," said Melton. "Capital ! Could not be better," cried Lawrence delightedly ; and he proceeded to place a ..number of cartridges in his pocket and a revolver in his breast.

" The sahib will not take pistol," continued the Hindoo, as if in surprise.

'* Why not ?" asked Lawrence, securing the revolver, in a belt under his cummerbund, and balancing it with a sheath knife while Melton did the same.

" Because the sahib must act with guile and deceit not with arms. Hissar has ten thousand armed men so of what use is the pistol ? The sahib must be cunning as the Pariah dog, not strong as the tiger." " True," said Melton ; " but Englishmen never like to die alone when in the midst of enemies." The Hindoo bowed and was silent, but he busied his hands anxiously in spreading the broad cummerbunds that encircled their waists, so that the revolvers were effectually hidden. (To be continued.)

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/KCC19120717.2.3

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 483, 17 July 1912, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
2,601

THE BLUE DRAGOONS. King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 483, 17 July 1912, Page 2

THE BLUE DRAGOONS. King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 483, 17 July 1912, Page 2

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