THE BLUE DRAGOONS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 488, 3 August 1912, Page 2

THE BLUE DRAGOONS.

All Rights Reserved.

im\m SOLDIER STORY. BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. PART 21. " His has been no pleasant interview," thought Lawrence, resuming his place in front of the door, and thinking over plans for the future. They were very crude, but could he but obtain ample information respecting the interior of the zenana, it would, he felt be not so very difficult to seize and gag Hissar, possess themselves of his key and ring, and rescue the ladies. The difficult Part would be to obtain horses and get out of the palace and town.

Lawrence saw no more of the visitor to the wicket that day, but the nest time he was on duty she came again, and still keeping to his plan of standing watching, with his back to the door, he found his visitor became more communicative and es the days glided on he learned that she had been Hissar's favourite wife but she had been set aside for new comers.

" But you love him still ?" said Lawrence, one day, speaking in a low tone, and still without looking, his eyes fixed the while upon the entry by which Hissar would come.

There was no reply, only a sound as of someone panting with emotion.

" Love him !" came at last in a low hiss. " I hate him —hate him as the new favourite does-; for has he not brought in the two Feringhee slaves to take my place." Lawrence's heart beat with a dull heavj throb, throb, as he heard these words—words that he had been longing to hear, but did not dare to lead up to lest he should excite suspicion.

" ls it so ?" be said at last when he could comn:and his voice ; and then he waited, feeling that if he left the speaker alone, she would in hex woman's anger tell all she knew. Lawrence was right, for after a few minutes his visitor went on.

" Yes, two pale-faced Feringhee girls whom he has shut up in the zenana here ; and —ha, ha, ha !" the

woman laughed, spitefully "thej scorn him, tl-cy hate him, they mock at his advances, or I" poison them." Lawrence's heart beat faster. There was no mistake then that they v<ere on the right scent, and if this woman could be won over to their side the task would be easy. But the task was a perilous one, and the young officer's heart at times failed. He was no diplomat. If he had been called upon to perform some daring deed, similar to that upon which he had been engaged he would be ready, but in the mazes of the scheming necessary to obtain the liberty of Sir Graham Leslie's daughters he felt at fault. He was troubled too, about this woman upon whom so much depended. He had hardly seen her face not daring to turn lest they should be surprised ; but on one occasion he walked a few yards away from the door, and on return saw her unveiled, and that, in spite of the dark akin, she was very beautiful. Then, too, there were her visits. Lawrence could not conceal from himself the fact that long before he had been aware of her presence, she had been watching him—often watched him now when he was not aware of it —and that she must have some reason for Goming. He was not a vain man, but he could place but one interpretation upon her visits ; in fact, visible or invisible, he felt that she was constantly there, but she never, as far as he could learn, came when his companions in the adventure were on duty. Twice over he had very narrow escapes of being caught in conversation by Hissar himself, and he determined if he was found out by the Rana, it should be that individual's last moment on earth, and in that determination he continued the intercourse.

It was at the end of a fortnight, when though' nothing had been done towards obtaining their freedom, Lawrence had learned that the sisters were well in health, and so far in safety, when going to his post, according to custom, he stood ynaking. up his mind to try and win over the injured wife "of Hissar to his cause.

He had been turning over the matter in his mind as to the best means of effecting it, when he heard a low eigh just behind him and to his surprise felt a soft little bknd laid upon his arm.

" Turn to me onee," said the voice of his visitor. " I have not seen your facQ for days." There was such a depth of meaning in the tone in which these words were uttered : that Lawrence shuddered but he involuntarily turned, and found the unveiled face of his visitor close to the ■ wicket.

"Have I offended jou?" she said. "You speak so cold and cruel to me now."

" Oh, no —offended, no !" exclaimed Lawrence taking her hand. "You are my best friend." " I would lay down my life for you," she whispered softly . The next moment, though, he was thrust violently away, for the visitor whispered in a tone of intense alarm, the one word : " Hissar !" 1761 CHAPTER XVI. A NARROW ESCAPE. .Lawrence remained motionless, for he felt that the ti'me had come foi a fierce resistance. He grasped his sword firmly, determined that if he were to die it should not be alone,

slaught. He was standing,-of course, .with bis back to anyone who entered, and he muttered an i ejaculation at his folly in being so unprepared. Then turning sharply round, his heart gave a great leap, for it appeared that as he entered something had taken the Rana's attention and as he turned it was to see the Rana looking back. This might be a subterfuge, Lawrence thought, and he remained on his guard ; but it was evident that Hissar had seen nothing, for he walked steadily by the' sentry and entered the zenana.

"As near as could possibly be," muttered • Lawrence, with a sigh of relief now that the danger was really past.

At one time he thought he would tell Melton all his hopes and fears, but somehow there was a repugnance in telling him this, and he kept it to himself.

It was his watch again at midnight and he had hardly taken up his post in the dim archway of the . door with the corridor looking gloomy by the light of the one lamp suspended from the ceiling; than he felt himself touched.

" Did he see ?" whispered a voice

" Nothing," was Lawtence's reply. " I have been mad," was whispered again. " I felt that I had caused your death, and it was misers and wretchedness to me." Lawrence felt his hand taken and pressed between soft, warm fingers ; and his heart beat fast as he told himself that he must now speak. "You have never told me your name," he said, softly.

"Asia," was the reply. " And jours?" she said, in a whisper. "Call me Freda," said Lawrence ; and then hastily. "You told me that you would be my friend." " Ah, yes," said Alsa. " Ask of me what you will." " True, firm, strong friendship," said Lawrence, speaking, in low, earnest tones, as he held the hand firmly that was passed through the wicket to him.

" Yes you shall have it all," was the response.

"You would not wish harm to come to me," said Lawrence.

" I would lay down my life for you," said Alsa. " Think ; I was torn away from my home when I was fourteen, and brought here to' be the slave of that wretch, Hissar. I am now nineteen, and you are the first who has spoken gentle words to me. Listen ! Can you not take me away ? Can we not fly together? I will be your slave —your servant ; you shall command me in all things. Only take me —take me away !" "Hush," whispered Lawrence, for the poor girl was now sobbing wildly, and she had drawn his hand through the wicket and was bedewing it with her tears. "Listen to me— I am going to trust you—to place my life in your hands." " Yes," sobbed Alsa. " You risk your life in talking to me." " But listen," said Lawrence. "You have asked me to save you—to take you from here ?" " Yes, yes," 1 whispered the girl, eagerlj. " But will you?" " I will," said Lawrence ;■ " but on one condition." " Yes. What is it ? I am youi slave, Freda, dear Freda, take me. 3 am yours. Command me in all things." " I shall have to ask more, perhaps of you than you expect," said Lawtence, sadly. " Oh, nothing that I will not do for you," whispered the girl. " I would die for you if you would be kin'd to such a poor wretch as I am.' " Listen, then," said Lawrence after a moment or two's consideration during which he had determined to make the venture. "You have vowed that you will serve me, and now I place my life and the life of others in your hands. Alsa, I am not what I seem to be."

"What do you meam ?" she said, curiously.

" I mean that I am not the friend of Hissar and his party." " Then you are an enemy," cried the girl, hastily. " Yes," said Lawrence ; and he waited in - trepidation for the next words.

They came at last, preceded by a little low laugh. " Why, that is what I wanted," she said. "You hate Hissar —so do I."

" But I am here for a purpose,V said Lawrence.

" Yes, to take me away," said the girl, triumphantly. " More than that," said Lawrence. " I am here —with my friends hereto set two people free." " Prisoners ?" . lasked the girl, eagerly.

" Yes." " Where are they V " In the zenana." " What !" exclaimed Alsa, " the two Feringhee maidens ?" *

" Yes, the same ; and you will help me to set them free 7"

" Yes, yes," exclaimed the girl, eagerly. " I will. " But —but— stop," she said in an altered tone, " are you a Feringhee ?" Lawrence's heart sank "within him at the question. " Yes," he replied. " And you are disguised ?" asked the girl. "Yes," he answered. " It was very brave," said the girl and Lawrence felt that his questioner was intently watching him. " But, stay—why have you come ?" " To save them from such a fate as yours," said Lawrence, eagerly. " And Alsa, dear Alsa, you will help me ?"

" Stop !" cried the girl, hoarsely, as if she were struggling hard to understand the situation. " Yes, I see" she said at last, her voloe growing maze husky as she spoke- " You

have disguised yourself and come here among your enemies to be near and try and save those two girls, risking your life every moment." " Yes, yes," said Lawrence, retaining the little delicate hand in liis. " And you—you will help me as you promised ?"

" Then," cried the girl, aloud, in anguished tones and without seeming to hear his last remark, " you must love them !" This was said **dth a piteous cry of misery, and before Lawrence could speak again the hand was snatched away, the wicket closed, and he was alone.

"Is anything the matter ?" said Melton, hurrjing out of the little guard-room. " Matter ! Yes," said Lawrence, bitterly, " we are undone." CHAPTER XVII. FOR ANOTHER'S SAKE. As Lawrence told all that had passed Melton listened attentively ; and then he walked into the little guardroom leaving Lawrence at his post. At the end of a minute Melton returned. " Jackson's sleeping soundly," he said. " I will not waken him till it Ls necessary. " Poor lad, he'll want all his strength." " What do you propose ?" said Lawrence. "If it were not for those poor girls, I should say flee at all hazards at once." " And as it is ?" said Lawrence. " As it is I see nothing to be done but to wait patiently, and sec the result of your interview." " But I fear the worst," said Lawrence. " Poor lass ! And it was no fault of mine. I did nothing whatever to lead her on, and heaven knows I am sorry for her. You are right, Meltcn —we must see it out—we cannot possiblv go away."

" No," said Melto"! ; " better fight it'out and die li'.'.e men." The remainder of the night passed without any alarm. Th-3 two friends watched together, and as if to try them and discover whether they were as constant to their watch by night as by day, Hissar suddenly made his appearance about three, but to find the two friends standing sword in hand ready to meet him. It was a narrow escane for the Rana, as the two Englishmen imagined that they were betrayed by the ex-favourite, and that the cunning Eastern had a body of men at his back.

A motion, a word on his part, would have resulted in their plunging their swords in his breast, but, suspicious as they were, the Rana's motions were free from anything to lead them to think that there was danger that they refrained, and after a few words Hissar bade them keep strict watch and slowlj sauntered away.

" He suspects nothing," said Lawrence.

" No," remarked Melton, " but I am afraid we have let a golden opportunity go by." " I don't know," replied Lawrence; " the matter was not ripe ; but it is a terrible position, and I scarcely know what to do." " Wait," said Melton, " and let matters settle themselves. We cannot flee and leave our work unaccomplished." Lawrence shook his head and they waited.

During the ensuing day every door that opened, every step they heard, made the adventurers start —for the expectation was strong in their minds that they would be set upon and butchered in cold blood ; but the danger did not come near them as yet. Jackson was warned of the peril, but he took it coolly.

"All right, gentlemen," he said. " I'm ready. I don't mean ready to die, but to have a cut in at the black rascals, and, of course, we shall get away if we can." One—two—three days passed, and the Rana's cast-off wife made nc sign.

" She is' waiting her opportunity," said Lawrence bitterly to himself ; " but I could not deceive the poor creature, and falsify myself, even to save them."

Three more days fled, and the adventurers began to feel a renewal of their confidence. The Rana came and went as usual, and, judging from his looks, there was not much satisfaction in his visits, while, as he passed each time, the hands of the young men itched to be at the treacherous scoundrel's throat, but they restrained themselves, knowing it would be of no avail. At last, one night, when Lawrence was on duty, trying to contrive some scheme for obtaining entrance to the zenana without resorting to violence, or at all events to communicate with the governor's daughters, and at a time, too, when all hope of aid from without seemed at an end —for the worst of rumours came in scraps to their ears, all tending to the same conclusion —namely that the rule of the English was at an end, thera came a slight touch upon his shoulder, just in one of his moodiest moments, and the young man started to find the wicket opened. " You there ?" he exclaimed. " Yes," said Alsa, in a quiet con strained tone. " I have come bacx. Tell me what to do."

" Will you help us, then ?" exclaimed Lawrence, joyfully.

" I told you I was your slave," said Alsa, quietly, and coldly. "Bid me what I shall do, and I shall olicy you." Lawrence hesitated for a moment, and then passing his hand through the wicket, he took hold of Alsa's cold, half-resisting fingers, and drew her towards him, until her face was close to the little opening. (To be continued.)