THE BLUE DRAGOONS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 487, 31 July 1912, Page 2

THE BLUE DRAGOONS.

AN INDIAN SOLDIER STORY. BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. PART 2». CHAPTER XV. WAITING FOR THEIR CHANCE. " They don't seem to starve us,' said Lawrence, attacking hungrily the pillau before him. "No," said Melton. " Our story was taken, and we are expected tc do great things, I suppose." " You don't think this here's poisoned, do you, gents ?" said Jackson', pausing in the midst of his meal. Melton smiled in a peculiar way, and Jackson dropped the drumstick of a fowl he had been eating.

"No, eat away, my lad," said Melton, quietly. " You need have no fear. If our friends here suspected us, they would make use of a far more expeditions plan of getting rid of us."

" Yes," said Lawrence, " that they would. " But, don't you think, Jack, we might venture to make a few inquiries as to where we are?" " Yes, if you wish to lose your head," said Melton, quietly—" and arms— leaving those poor girls to their fate. No, Fred ; utter silence, save when compelled to answer a question, is our policy. Sooner or later an opportunity must come." Melton was right ; tbe waiting policy was the correct one. He was correct, too, about his ideas for their conduct. By assuming a stern taciturnity, the adventurers soon found that they were looked upon as men who felt their wrongs and griefs too deeply to care to associate with their fellows ; and being, besides, natives of another part of the land, their companions, after a few attempts at sociability, gave them up, and allowed them to keep to themselves.

At first Lawrence thought this boded ill for them ; but time soon proved to the contrary, for they were treated with greater respect. The leader himself saw that they were well supplied, and after watching them keenly for a fortnight, seemed satisfied that he had three valuable auxiliaries in his'band. For whenever the force was out, either for exercise or service, the three new comers proved themselves to be so soldierly and such able horsemen, that Ali Roroo, the leader, hinted at his wish that they should become officers.

This Melton modestly declined on the part of himself and his companions.

"We are here to take vengeance upon our enemies," he said. " Let us fight after our fashion, and we shall be content." Ali bowed his assent and from that time the three adventurers were left more and more to themselves. The opportunity came at last —at a time, too, when Melton was getting discouraged ; for, as far as they Could tell, they were likely to be as they were for months. They had had no news of the ladies ; and to make matters worse, word had beeD brought in that the magazine had fallen, and that the city of Rustanpore was now in the hands of the rebels.

" Hang it, Jack, let us do something !" said Lawrence ; " this is worse than being roasted before a slow fcre, and we shall be called out to fight some of our own people before long. I wonder it has not been before."

" So do I," was the quiet replj. " Then, let's do something'," said Lawrence.

" Yes, wait," was the reply. "Patience, Fred—patience." " Have patience !" was the impetuous reply. "If Hissar's name was Patience, I should be glad to help," said Melton, quietly. " What ! You making a joke !" cried Lawrence. " Wonderful ! But talk of jokes, Jackson confided to me yesterday that he had secretly stained himself all over, and that he'd defy any nigger to tell he was an Englishman. " Humph !" \ ejaculated ' Melton. " Tell him; from me to be more quiet with his tongue." " I will," said Lavrrence, moodily. " But I'm sorry for the lad ; this moodiness is hard to keep up. I often feel as if I'd give anything to let my tongue have its full swing." " Wait, wait, wait," said Melton, sententiously. "My dear JFred, now that the ball is at our fe«t, do not let us spoil the game. Recollect we are in the stronghold of thve enemy ; we have Kis confidence and all we have to do now is to wait- our opportunity." " Ah, Jack, you are right- enough, I daresay ; but I was nevisr meant for a diplomat. I'm all fox a row and a charge." As Melton had declared, trie chance came ; for one morning when, even he was beginning to feel hopel/ess, and had determined to begin to make cautious inquiries, Ali Hcstoo sent for him, and almost staggered him with a proposal. "I want three thrustworthy men to watch by his highness's; zenana. Half my own men I cannot lirust, for they think of little else but plunder." Melton could hardly conte an himself, but he preserved a perfectly calm aspect and bowed. "You and your brethren think only of revenge. That you fshall have soon ; but at present I -want you three. Will you go ?" Melton bowed. " And your two brethre <n ?" " Thy servant will answer for them," said Melton.

in, and mind no one passes without the Rarta's order or seal. Cut down any who resist. Those are his highness's orders." " They shall be faithfully obeyed," was the reply ; and at the enfl of an hour, Melton and his companions, armed to the teeth, had the charge of the main entrance to the zenanas —a door where one of them always stood on guard ; while the others occupied a little side room, containing a divan, and here they stayed night and day, with an amplitude of provisions brought to them a t stated times.

" I can't quite believe it," was Lawrence's remark as he took up his place, with curved tulwar keen as a razor, at the door. " Jack,' is it true, or is it a dream ?" For answer Melton laid his finger on his lips and retired to the side room.

Lawrence bad not been long at his post before an official of the palace evidently a chief, presented himself, and wished to pass, but for answer was waved back. His swarthy countenance became blacker with passion, but he mastered it and smiling and nodding, be took out a couple of gold pieces and offered them to the guard.

Silent as a mute, Lawrence waved him back, a nd presented the point of Uis tulwar, and furious with disappointment the chief drew his own weapon and would have attacked the guard, when a step was heard behind, and Hissar himself appeared, saw the situation at a glance, and smiled a cold, angry smile, that made the chief turn pale.

The altercation had brought out Melton and Jackson, sword in hand ; for they were in earnest over their defence of the zenana, since they felt it contained those whom they were there to protect, and in a jaoment Jackson had the Rana by th/; throat and his sword pointed at hi/a, while Melton seized the chief.

Hissar looked furious, and nis hand sought a jewelled dagger at his belt ; but Lawrence struck up Jackson's sword. "It is the he said in a gutteral voio; and Jackson stood aside, axj> made a salaam. Hoar's hand dropped. "Hah!" he said. " Ali's new guards. It is good," and he smiled as ho directed a searching gaze from one to the other. The next mdment, the chief, a handsome young mr.n of five-and-twenty, had thrown himself upon his knees before the Rana, who, still smiling, turned to Melton. " Take him —you two," he said, pointing the way from which he had come.

Melton and Jackson placed themself one on either side of the young chief, who, with all the composure of an Eastern fatalist, read his fate in the Rana's glittering eye, and, rising, walked away without a word —Hissar following behin:l, while Lawrence resumed his post with his back to the zenana door.

Going onward, the two Englishmen marched with their prisoner, till, passing through a couple of doors, the Rana called on them to stop. What followed took but a few seconds.

Hissar, who until now, had seemed the heavy, dreamy, Eastern voluptuary, flashed as it were, into life, waving back his two chief's guards, and as the young man stood before him, calm and defiant, the Rana, with apparently one motion of his arm, drew from its jewelled sheath a keen, curved blade, and, swinging himself round, the weapon flashed through the air with such a fearful cut that the joung chief's head fell upon the marble floor with a sickening thud, and rolled over, while the body stood for a moment alone, and then collapsed, deluging the white pavement with blood.

The smile came back upon Hissar's face as the young man fell and bending down, the Rana coolly wiped the blade of his scimitar upon the rich muslin robes of the dead, before motioning to the new guards to follow him, as unconcernedly as if nothing were amiss. Whatever Melton and his companion felt, they did not stir a muscle, but the former saw now the secret of the Rana's power, and ihat beneath his smooth, polished exterior, and sensual smile, there was the spirit and bloodthirsty passion of the tiger.

Jackson, too, had his thoughts, and to himself he said . " What's his dodge now ? Let him so much look evil at either of those two, and hang me, if I don't try that cut on him."

Hissar paced slowly hack to the zenana, door, his naked sword still in his hand, but on reaching the spot where Lawrence stood, fixed as a statue, Hissar slowly unbuckled his jewelled belt, returned the scimitar into its golden and begemmed scabbard and gave it to the young sentinel.

" You have begun well," he said. " Wear it." Lawrence salaamed and took tht rich gift without a word. ''' Look," Baid the Rana, showing a rich ring upon his thumb, con-

sisting of a single emerald, in wbicfc were cut several Hin>dustanee-Brah-minic characters. " No man passes here without that ring." The three adventurers luoJjd at it and then salaamed once ar.am. The next moment His'v.r knocked twice upon the door. I* was openec from within by lemale hands anc closed directly. "Well ?" said Lawrence, coollj buckling on the scimitar and reduc ing the size of the belt to suit his gdrth.before returning his own swore

and drawing the new. " I should wipe that blade," saio Melton, in the low gutteral ton< +tiPir had adoDted. and speaking, a>

" Did he ?" said Lawrence, inquiringly.

"Yes. Poor wretch, there is one enemy of England the less." " And we might have put an end to him," said Lawrence—-" our greatest en en?:':" " Where would have been the good? —only to defeat <jur plans," said Mel'ton.

Hissar found Lawrence still on his return, and smiled softly as he saw that the young man had mounted the jewelled weapon ; then, passing on, he disappeared through one of the doorways, through which the young chief had been led, and whose death proved to have such an 'effect that during the next few days the duty of the sentries at the zenana doors proved but a sinecure. The next time Lawrence was on guard he fancied that more than once he heard a slight sound, as of a little wicket opening behind him ; but on turning sharply round there was nothing to be seen but the strong closed door.

On going off, though, being relieved by Melton, he mentioned what ho aad heard.

"Nothing else ?" said Melton,

"No, Jack ; but we must contrive some plan of communication, or I shall go mad." Everything comes to those who wait, and it was so here. Melton had not been on duty above 3n hour, when he heard the noise of which Lawrence had told him ; but instead of turning sharply round he •;»aited till he heard what seemed to him the closing of a wicket. He now turned, and remained watching the door, when, at the end Df half an hour, he saw one panel open slowly, and caught a glimpse of a woman's face and a pair of bright syes.

The wicket was closed the next moment, and the rest of the watch was uninterrupted. Jackson was next to go on duty, but as he mentioned nothing, it was presumed he heard no sound. Meanwhile, Melton s ,had told Lawrence of what he had seen.

"We must open communications with her, then, Jack," said Lawrence. '* She will be our messenger." "It must, be your duty, then, Fred," said Melton, ; quietly—" for my grim face frightened her away."

Melton pointed to the panel as Lawrence took his place and then returned to Jackson.

Lawrence took up the same line of conduct as his friend—namely that of watching the wicket ;but nothing took his attention, till in very weariness he. turned his head the other way, when he fancied he heard a sigh, and turning sharply, he caught a faint ray of light as the pfanel closed.

Lawrence paused for a moment, and then, having taken a turn up and down and assured himself that no one was near he placed his lips close to the panel and said softly : " Pray open. Do not be afraid."

He fancied he heard a low muttering noise, but there was no reply ; and he was about to resume his march up and down when the wicket was softly opened at>out an' inch, and he found himself within a foot of a pair of very bright eyes, seen in the dim obscurity beyond the door. What the face was like it was impossible to see ; for it was so closely veiled that only the eyes were visible.

" You need not fear me," said Lawrence softly, speaking in Hindostanee.

The owner of the ejes gazed at him in a timid manner for a few moments and was about to speak ; but suddenly she closed the wicket,> and some impulse made Lawrence turn sharply round and stand rigidly on guard, sword in hand. It was well that he did ; for at that moment the Rana came in sight, his great dark eyes searchingly taking in the whole scene, and then lapsing into their former halfclosed dreamy fashion, as they encountered the rigid sentry with his bare blade ready to stand aside for the great ruler to pass. The Rana passed in without a word ; and no sooner was the door closed than Lawrence felt a strange shiver pass through him. Involuntarily as he dwelt on the narrowness of his escape, he recalled the scene that had taken place in the next corridor, as described by Melton. He entertained a faint hope that his visitor might appear again at the wicket, but it was a very faint one, and therefore he was almost surprised on hearing, at the end of half an hour the same faint sigh that he had heard before.

This time Lawrence did not turn his head or stir. He rec gained rigidly at his post ; but he sa .id in a low voice,in Hindostanee :

" Did you see him coming ?" *' No," was the soft reply. " I thought I heard a door. He is coming back." " Will you come age tin ?" asked Lawrence softly, and sitill without turning his head. There was no reply ; iso he took a turn up and down the passage, and saw that the wicket was" again closed.

" Well, she means to be' friends," said Lawrence to himself. " But I must be careful. Here t»e comes."

In effect there was t'ae sound of a key on the other side of the door. " I must have that 1-aey some night friend Hissar," sawl Lawrence to himself ; and as the Rana appeared, and locked the door behind hiim the young officer saw that he had placed it in his breast.

Hissar looked savag/ely angry ; his eyes were rolling, and his teeth set on his lower lip. Sorreething had evidently disturbed the potentate ; and as in a glance Laurence saw all this, while appearing rigid and unthinking as a sentry should, the Rana glanced sharply r< wand at him and dissappeared after his; custom.