THE BLUE DRAGOONS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 485, 24 July 1912, Page 2

THE BLUE DRAGOONS.

All Rights Reserved.

AN INDIAN SOLDIER STORY.

BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN.

PART 18. "As 1 was saying," continued Melton, " we cannot stop the fellow He must have felt we were suspiciouE and fled. Of ' course, don't you remember lie objected to our carrying arms ?" , " Yes," replied Lawrence, " but he has not fled far. Do you know where hfe has gone ?" " To join his comrades, • of course." "To fetch them back to hack tG pieces the two infidel dogs whom he has trapped," said Lawrence through his teeth. " I wish ' now I had brained the dog as he stood so smooth-faced and innocent before us." " Hush I ' Quick !' Someone is coming," exclaimed Melton. "I daresay you aire right." ' They were darting into the wood, but they were too late ; for the white tgure of a native was seen to cross a patch of moonlight, a dozen yards ahead, and his footsteps were heard rapidly approaching. " Too late—he has seen us," whispered Lawrence,, thrusting his hand into his breast. " Jack, we must seize and bind the scoundrel. If we don't —" He paused, holding his revolver in his hand. " First troop—halt !" cried a voice that they knew, and the native ran up panting. " Jackson !" exclaimed the two officers together. " Jackson it is, gents," cried the young man.

" But I thought you were behind us ?" said Lawrence.

"So I was, sir ; but I circumvented you and got on ahead, so as to get another word with you before you ran into the trap, head first." "Did you see the guide?" exclaimed Melton, eagerly. " Well—yes, sir, I did see 1 him ; not very , plain, though, for it's dark on ahead." , .

" Was he going; fast when he passed you to get to the village ?" " There ain't no village ahead here between here and Chardagh, sir." "No village !" exclaimed Melton, " Are you sure ?" • " Certain, sir.". " Humph !" ejaculated Melton. " That adds to the suspicion."

"But you saw him pass ?" asked Lawrence, eagerly. " No, sir, I didn't," replied the young man. " Hadn't we better be on the move ?"

"It , was jou, then, we heard in the wood ?" said Melton'.

" What ! when that twig cracked under my foot ?" cried Jackson. '•' Yes, sir, I was in hopes it wasni't heard. But it didn't matter." " But the guide," exclaimed Lawrence, chafing—l' thought you said you saw him/' " Yes, sir, so I did, as. well as we could see in the dark:" " Well, did he pass you or was he on ahead ?"

" He came up to me, sir, he didn't pass me." " Speak ■ out, mail ! What do you mean ?" cried Melton, eagerly. " There is no time to waste." " Not a bit, sir," said Jackson, "let's get out of this " —evasively. "Look here, Jackson," said Lawrence, " You saw our guide ?" "■ Yes, sir, told you I did." " Well, has he gone to letch the men in ambush ?"

" No, sir." " Well, where the devil [has he gone ?" " Well, sir, that's a question 1 should say the devil only knows," said Jackson, quietly. " Explain yourself, man." "Well, sir, the fact is, he got as far as where I was by the side of the road, and then he met with an accident." " Ah !" said the two officers in a breath.

" Yes, Bir, you see these cunning rarmirits ' run like hares, with their eyes looking behind 'em at the dogsf and this chap ran bang up agaiast a bayonet as I had in my hand." "Dead?" said Melton, startled atthe man's coolness. . " As mutton, sir." " And where is he ?" " Lying where I dragged and carried him into the wood, sir, where he'll go on poisoning the «arth just the same as he did when Irving." " Jackson," said Melton, sternly,, " you have perhaps murdered an innocent man."

"He came precious nigh slaying a Werry innocent, harmless sort of chap, and that's me, sir, before I drove my bayonet through; his black carcass," said Jackson, speaking faintly. "Has either of you gents got such a thing as a taste of brandy ?"

"My poor lad, you'rfj wounded!" cried Lawrence, eagerly, as he drew a little flat flask from, his pocket, and handed it to his follower who took a sip and then- revived directly.

" Well, he did give m<s a couple of nastj digs with his ! knife, sir, as soon as he found out who I was—for I stopped him—and -that riled me so that I drove my biiyonet home. They ain't nothing, tho; ugh, sir. I always used to turn sic k as a baby when I cut my finger."

Lawrence and Melton [hurried their follower some little dista ince into the wood, and then tearing some strips from their cotton robes, . bound up a couple of slight flesb woi unds in the young man's arm ; they were both Blight, but had bled prettj 7 freely anc saturated the sleeve of hif 1 loose garment. > " Thanky, gents—mucb . obliged : and d~n't yoti mind _Hibout thai

smooth black villain. He was down cn you both, and you've had a narrow escape." "I begin to feel that you are right, Jackson," said Melton, musingly- - '

" Hist ! Hear that,' sir ?" whis percd Jackson.

" No, I hear nothing," replied Lawrence. - " Yes, I do ; horses' feet." . ;

" 1 Key'vp got tired of waiting and are cdmin; on," said Jackson whispering ; r.nd as the three dragoons crouched there in the wood they heard the sounds increase in volume, end soon after found that tlie wood close by where they were hidden was infested by a large body of sowars. The position of the disguised body was now so critical that for a time they feared to move lest they should be heard, or that their white robes should attract the attentian of their enemies, through being revealed by some straggling ray of moonlight. But to stay would be fatal, for daylight would certainly betray their whereabouts. So, after a few whispered words, the fear of being compelled to leave Jackson behind on account of his wounds, was removed from the two officers' hearts by the joung man himself starting off on his hands and knees and crawling slowly and silently farther into the wood, closely followed by Melton, Lawrence bringing up the rear. Their path was very laborious for they had to proceed so cautiously but they kept it up for fully half an hour -ffery cautiously, before sitting down to rest.

" And now, where are we?" asked Lawrence, gloomily. "So much the nearer to Chardagh sir," said Jackson, " for we've been going west all the time. I managed it by the moon. I daren't go the oih:r way." A council of war was then formed, and the situation discussed.

They were not long in deciding, for as they sat in the dark arcade of the great Indian forest, with, far: above them, here and there, a faint silver tracery against the sky where the moon penetrated tbe dense foliage, every whispering breeze sent a shudder through the strong men's frames, as it seemed to bear voices from afar —the voices of those they loved and honoured, crying to them for help in this terrible time of peril and distress.

" You see," said Melton, in his Dalm measured tcnes, which, however did not mask the deep feeling within his breast, - " everything is in our favour."

" Yes, of course," cried Lawrence; " that scoundrel could not have communicated to the enemy that we were there in disguise." " I think we can pass ourselyes off as sowars from some mutinied regiment escaped from the English." '' All got some wounds to show, gents," said Jackson, " and that'll help us to make-believe. But about the lingo ?" " They will think we are of one of the more distant tribes," replied Melton, " so that will not matter." " We decide, then," said Lawrence, " to continue the expedition ;• to get,to Chardagh and enter into the services of Hissar, vowing hatred a- ■ gainst the Feringhees " " Yes," said Melton, sadly, " it is a risk, but it is our duty towards these poor English ladies. You must not mind the danger, Lawrence." "Not I," was the reply ; " and what we do then is, I suppose, to wait our opportunities for communicating with the ladies and to escape ?" . " Yes," said Melton, "if we are not shot in the meantime by our own countrymen as traitors to our Queen." " We'll risk that," remarked Lawrence drily. " And how about Jackson ? He must contrive to get back into the magazine and tell the colonel what we've done."

"Why, you're never going to send a feller back like that?" cried Jackson, excitedly.

"Not send you back, my dear fellow!" said Melton. " Why wbiat would you do ?" "Do, sir! I go with you, of course."

" But it may be into certain death, man," remarked Melton. " Well, gents, death's all the same to everybody," said Jackson. "A feller may be shot or get a bayonet, or come down to chops with tulwars; but it's the same for officers as foi privates, so I don't see why we should not go." - " But the risk, my man —the risk,"

" Well, sir, ain't the riski the same for you as it would be for me ? Worse, for I'll hack myself to psvttei Hindostanee against either of you— Gooroo-ka-Durbar bud mash Khulashil Sath sahib saw jemadar Kolwgrlie and Chokidar take sowar 'fore tehedar chillum suar in pugaree tope." Lawrence, in spite of the perilous position in which they were, sal backi against the tree and roared with laughter, while Melton could hardly repress a smile. "I don't see nothing to laugh at. sir," said Jackson, -sulkily. "That's pure Hindustanee, as I've learned o: the niggers since I've been here, anc it'll come • in precious useful, I .' now' " But i fear that you will come tc harm with us, Jackson," remarked Melton ; " for I cannot conceal fron: myself tha't we are going on a forlorn; hope." " That's just the very thing as I'vi always been jealous of the foot, sir," cried Jackson, eagerly. f< I always longed for a forlorn hope." " Well, Melton, he may be usefu to us,.' said Lawrence. " Yes, sir, that I will," cried thi young mail. " But the danger, Jackson." " Bother the danger, sir, begginj your pardon, sir. But ain't I a sol dier ? And as to danger—why, it'l be twice as much to go. back. I got

out of the magazine ; but how about getting in again ? Our chaps would pot me in a minote in this here petticoat dress."

" Y/cll, Jackson," said Melton, sadly, " you shall be our companion in danger and out of danger. You are a brave lad, and I thank you for .your fidelity. If wa get back in safety I shall not forget it. If you get back alone, tell Colonel Bruce it was my prayer that he would give you promotion. Now, the morning is drawing near, so let us advance. Their plans were very simple—to take the way to Chardagh by a roundabout route, avoiding the sowars cn the road, and when at last they did encounter the enemy, sho-.v-ing their wounds, and declaring themselves to be mutineers.

The morning was far advanced before they were able to reach the conanes of the great forest through which thev bad wandered, but 'by dint of travelling by the sun they icept pretty well in the direction, tfiey intended to take, and at last when they did reach the open, they were so exhausted by the steamy heat of ;he wocd they were very glad to lie down, beneath the shadow of a great tree 'and rest.

It was taken, though, with military precaution, Melton watehing for two hours, Lawrence taking the next turn, and Jackson, on iaccount of his injury, being let off with half time. Melton ' decided that it would be better to wait till quite evening and -liia thej did, when thte intention was to make a long night march, and so get so near to Chardagh, that tbray would be able to complete their march at an early hour in the morn-

They rested then till sundown without interruption, but they could hear at times the dull sound. of distant fighting, that they felt must come from the magazine, whose big guns were replying to the fire of ' the snemy.

At last, tolerably refreshed,, and with Jackson declaring that his wounds were only scratches, and did not hurt him a bit, these three men started once more on their terribly perilous journey. One slip—one word to cause suspicion—and they knew they would be hacked to death, and those they wished to save would be as helpless as ever. But they did not hesitate, but walked steadily on towards Hissar's town, striding-to improve the occasion as they went by constant conversation in a low tone which they essayed to "keep up in tne native language, at the same time trying to recall all the Indian words that could be of use to them. Melton was a fair Hinnostanee scholar, for he had studied a great deal with the moonshies since he had been in India. Lawrence had been more careless, but both he and Jackson had a large vocabulary of the same common words in mind, and by speaking as seldom as was possible, and leaving Melton to be chief spokesman, they hoped to get over their difficulties, especially as the dialects of the country were so many and so diverse, that they might easily pass themselves off as from another state.

The night passed without adventure and it need hardly he stated that Lawrence now showed no sign of lameness. As thej progressed they felt more and more convinced that the Hindoo guide meant them ill. There was some little dread then felt lest they should encounter the ambush party returning, in the fear that they might have some notion of the plan to be adopted. But it was not to be apparently ; for the sun, on rising, found them well on their way, and as far as they could judge, some three or four miles from Chardagh. The country now looked woody in places, with intervening plains, and in the early morning all looted so fresh that it was hard to imagine that the place*was being devastated by a terrible war. " " Now," said Melton, at last, " what is it to be ? A rest now in one of these little rows of mango trees, or shall we go straight on?" " Look, sir, look !" cried Jackson, pointing. " Isn't that the glitter of swords —there, through those trees ?" and he pointed to a clump of palmlike growth, standing to their right on the sunlit plain. " It looks very like it," said Law- 1 rence excitedly. " Yes, look, look ! Run for it to the next wood."

" Stand fast !" cried Meltota in a voice of thunder, " and keep your arms concealed. It 'ie our only hope." Lawrence and Jackson saw the wisdom of the order, and stood firm, as, having caught sight of them, a crowd of white-robed and turbaned horsemen, well mounted and with swords flashing, came thundering along at a tremendous gallop, shouting waving thleir swords, and rising in their stirrups, ready apparently to cut down the white-robed travellers, or else to make their horses' hoofs trample them in the dust. 1760. (To be continued.)