THE BLUE DRAGOONS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 743, 6 February 1915, Page 6

THE BLUE DRAGOONS.

AN INDIAN SOLDIER STORY. BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. PART 5. 'The Indians uttered a yell of delight, and two -fiendish-looking ruffian fanatics clashed at him with uplifted blades. Lawrence's fate seemed sealed, for before he could rise to one knee the first Indian was upon him, but only to give a spasmodic spring upwards, and fall, shot through the body, across the man whose skull he would have cloven, sending him prostrate and helpless once more. There was a second sharp report as the thin smoke curled upwards, the next Indian dropping his tulwar, and, yelling dismally, clapped his hand to his shattered elbow dropping silently afterwards to lie gnawing in his agony at the blood-stained carpet. Those two shots from a revolver saved Lawrence's life, giving him time to struggle from beneath the half-dead Indian when he seized a tulwar, and rolled, more than climbed over the sofa, with half-a-dozen matchlocks balls whizzing after him, and burying themselves in the wall. As Lawrence struggled, panting to bis feet it was to find himself face to face with Ella Leslie. " Take it—take it !" she whispered, hoarsely, as pale as death, and with trembling hand she held out the still smoking revolver, and as in a halfdazed way he took it from her, she shrank back into the corner behind her sister, and covering her face with her hands, fainted dead away. As Lawrence grasped the revolver, he mechanically tried the chambers, to find that two had been discharged and he stooped hastily and caught a couple of cartridges from the pouch where it lay behind the piano, to thrust them into, the' empty chambers. Just as. hi stooped a second volley was fired the act of stooping probably saving his 'life—for the second time making him indebted to Ella Leslie ; for, wea lr - woman as she was, she had gazed horrified at first at the advancing Indians, and then bravely fired the two shots, kneeling and resting the barrel upon the head-rail of the couch to steady her aim with the effect that we have seen.

' Two of the matchlock balls, when fired, struck the piano, snapping the wires and causing a strangely discordant noise ; while the smoke which now half-filled the room obscured everything and made the white figures of the enemy look ghastly and weird through the half-light. Lawrence was once more well-armed. He held a keen blade, and his revolver contained six conical bullets which he determined to husband for the next attack, wondering within himself th< whole time at the immunity he still enjoyed. His wound had bled, freely, an<j caused a deadly feeling of sickness tc come over him for a time ; but he had contrived with his right hand and his teeth to bind a handkerchie! sufficiently tightly round to staunct the bleeding, and the painful smart only made him set his teeth and grasp the awkward blade of the tulwar more tightly. He had need. For thoroughly enraged now by their losses and forgetful of their cowardice, the remainder of the band was evidently preparing for a rush. They prefaced it, though, by blowing up the matches of their pieces, and half a dozen more balk? were sent in a scattered volley at the head of the gallant Lawrence. The stout wood of the piano saved him this time, and he had sent one shot back with the effect of disabling another opponent, but this did not stay their rush. They paused, however, half-way, for the door was suddenly burst oper and, sword in hand, Jackson dashed into the room, saw the situation at a glance, and leaped to his lieutenant's side.

But it'was only another blade, and the remainder of the band, seeing this?,, now made a furious and combined onslaught. If they had acted with the samt dash at first Lawrence must havt gone down ; for, though he fought now bravely and well, his efforts being only seconded by those of Jackson they only got a cut or two homt before they were overcome by numbers. Jackson fell, heavily stricken down by the butt of a matchlock, and the hilt of a tulwar fell witt stunning violence on Lawrence's temple. There were a thousand lights dancing before his eyes, the room swan: round and then all was blank.

He half struggled up for a moment as a piercing shriek fell upon his ears ; but he fell back completely exhausted, as, with a savage look o! exultation, the leader caught up Ella, and one of his followers threw the slight figure of Laura across hi* shoulder ; and she it was who uttered the piercing shriek. CHAPTER 111. THE EVACUATION OF THE RESIDENCY. The triumph of the Indians was bul of short duration, for as their leadei and his follower were striding across the couch with their light burdens, and the others, tulwar in hand, wen dragging the bodies of Lawrence and Jackson out into the room, thai they might hack them to pieces then was a sudden noise at the window. The next instant it was dashed open, the curtains torn aside, and Captain Melton followed by some ten or a dozen of his dismounted troop, rushed into the room. ' With a howl of rage the Indians left their prey, Ella and Laura LeSli<

being allowed to fall back almost in their former position, they having sufficient force to afterwards slowly crawl behind the shattered piano, and there crouch, clinging to each other, out of reach of the trampling feet. For, grasping the situation at a glance, the men needed no urging forward, but, uttering a wild shout, each dashed, sword in hand, at the enemy. A Hindoo is no match, either in courage or physique for an Englishman in a hand-to-hand fight. Here the numbers were now pretty equally matched, and the result was not long doubtful. The dragoons cut down their adversaries one after the other, till only five were left, and of these four made for the window, one for the door. Two made good their escape by the former exit, and the one, who proved to be the chief, escaped by the door. " Thank Heaven, my lads !" exclaimed Melton, " but we were far too late, Lawrence, my lad," he said, turning his friend's prostrate form face upwards, " how is it with you? Ha !" The last ejaculation, was almost accompanied by a tremendous bound, as, with sword uplifted, he leaped over the couch. His effort was needed for one of the wounded Hindoos writhing with pain, had drawn a long, keen knife from his cummerbund and thirsting for vengeance was crawling towards where the sisters crouched, hidden from the man who had saved their lives. There was no mistaking his purpose as with glistening teeth and rolling eyes, the»death sweat standing upon his forehead, and the blood welling at every movement from a terrible gash in his throat, he crawled on. Ella saw the diabolical wretch's approach, and uttering a faint cry of horror, she flung herself in front of her sister, to save her from the scoundrel's blow. He uttered a hoarse laugh as he saw her movement, and gathering up his strength, he rose to his knees, •caught the long, dishevelled tresses with his left hand, dragged the poor girl's head back, and raised his long glittering knife to plunge it in her chest. As he did so, and the blade reach ed its full height, there was a sharp, strange noise as of something hard cloven ; the wretch's hand unclasped suddenly ; the knife fell with a slight thud and stuck quivering in the floor, while the Hindoo leaped, ghastly object that he was, to his feet, and fell backwards over the couch —dead. For with one tremendous cut Captain Melton had cloven his skull from! crown to chin.

" Miss Leslies-Miss Laura— you are not hurt ? Good heavens they have fainted. Quick, my lads ! Carry Miss Leslie into the next room." A sergeant stepped forward and raised poor Ella, as Melton stooped over and lifted the frail, slight form of sister Laura in his arms, his face quivering with anxiety as he did so, and tried to make out if she was injured. Then, with tender care, he bore the poor fainting girl into the next room where, with her sister, she was delivered over into the care of the ladies there —more than one of whom swooned at the sight of the bloodsmeared officers, and the ghastly marks of carnage with which the sisters were bedabbled —a sight with which they afterwards grew but too familiar.

His wishes said " stay," but duty forbade, and after a lingering, look at the younger of the two sisters, Captain Melton saw that they were being carefully tended, and hastily replying to the ladies who clustered round him that there was nothing more to fear, he hurried back to the next room, to find that his men had laid Lieutenant Lawrence on the couch and one had gone for the surgeon. As Melton entered, two were lifting Jackson from beneath a couple ol •dead Hindoos, when he immediatels caught one brother private bj the throat, and struggled to reach a cword. " Oh, it's you ?" he said with almost a disappointed air as he closed his eyes again and lay passive. " 1 say, boys, don't mind me. See after the luff ; the niggers are giving it to him arwfully." He unclosed his eyes and shook hia head as if to get rid of a dizzy sensation that oppressed him. " I ain't hurt," he said, " only a bit stunned and sick. You polished them off, then ? Where's the luff ?" At this moment the doctor hurried in, and Jackson saw where the lieutenant was laid, as the doctor took his hand and felt his pulse. " Don't say hte's killed, doctor,' groaned Jackson. "Hush, my man, hush!" said Melton quietly ; and Jackson waited perfectly still, waiting for the surgeon's verdict. " They've been trying to hack him to piecee," said the doctor, half to himself, " but couldn't get at him for the wall and the furniture. Humph ! Cuts very slight. What have we here ? Contusion on forehead from butt of matchlock—blow on temple from hilt of sword—another blow on back of head from matchlock butt—bullet score on arm. Ha ! he'll get over this." Melton breathed a fervent "Thank , God !" as he heard these words and just then Lawrence muttered a little threw his arm about impatiently and then opening his eyes they fell upon Melton. ff Jack, Jack— quick !" he cried in an excited way. " The ladies—tht ladies ! Save the ladies !" " They are safe—for the present," said Melton, the last words being tc himself. " Ah !" sighed the wounded man, with a look of content coming ovci

lis countenance. " Well, doctor, rou've got hold of me, then ?" he :ontinued smiling at that worthy as le cut back the hair so as to get at md strap a terrible bruise and cut on the young man's forehead. "Yes, I've got you, Master Lawrence," chuckled the surgeon. "Nc oitter beers, now, my boy—no grog—ao claret-cup at tiffin." "He's going to starve me," said Lawrence, smiling to hide the in:ense pain he was suffering as his wounds were dressed. " Never mind, doctor ; I'll make up with double allowance as soon as I'm well." "He is not seriously hurt, then, ioctor ?" said Melton, who had been .vaiting eagerly to hear something by which he could judge of the extent of his friend's injuries. '* Hurt ? No !" said the doctor, grumpily. " Don't bother when I'm busy. He'll be fit to fight again in a week." Melton caught one of Lawrence's hands in his and held it for a moment, looking down at him as he gave the hand a firm grip. It was plain enough, on a close inspection, that he was moved ; but both men hid all signs of emotion, Melton merely saying to the man whose lift he had saved : " Glad it's no worse, Fred." " Thanks, Jack ; I'm better ofl than Mercutio." " Ah, yes," said Melton, smiling ; " the wound's not as deep as a well, nor as wide as a barn door. Look sharp and get well." " All right," said Lawrence quiet- " Confound it, gentlemen, leave ofl talking. Here, you, Lawrence, you will get yourself into a fever." " Don't be cross, doctor," said Melton, smiling. " Now, my lads," he cried to his men, " fall in." " The dragoons formed up and Melto"n was about to march them off, when Lawrence hastily whispered tc him about Sir Graham's absence, and his object in going from under the protection of the little garrison at the Residency. Melton's brow contracted, and he looked very grave. " Poor, obstinate, old man," he muttered, " I fear he has gone to his death. I'll do my best, Fred," he added, laconically, and the next minute he, and his men had left the room by the window, where one dragoon was posted with his loadea carbine to give the alarm should there be any further attempt to enter the place. Upon making inquiries nothing had been heard of Sir Graham, and upon consultation with Colonel Bruce, as it was evident the natives had some easy means of access to the place, it was determined to double the number of sentinels, and to more strictly protect the occupants.

Firing was still going on in the various parts of the city, but where they had no means of knowing, and all they felt they could do was to send out some half-dozen little detachments to see if any news could be heard of the governor. Never was day more earnestlj longed for than upon this occasion. Hour by hour little parties of fugitives kept arriving—for the most part civilians, officials of the place, with their wives and children, all hurrying in for protection, and, oi course, increasing the difficulties of the situation. There were alarms from time to time ; for various parties of the mutineers kept coming near, shouting defiance and sending a few ill-directed shots at the sentries, which, however, were not replied to. On Captain Melton had devolved the duty of heading one of the parties sent out in search of the governor, and as he rode along with hii little detachment, he could not help Reeling how hopeless was his task.s It was mot a useless journey, though terribly dangerous, in consequence of the mad, drink-excited bands of men roaming about the city plundering and firing at the peaceable inhabitants, most of whom barricaded themselves in their houses. Melton's expedition was not useless from the fact that now and then a well-disposed native would open an upper window as the little body of horsemen went by—how to whisper words of warning concerning enemies in front ; at other times to tell of what had occurred. Thus, from one merchant, who spoke through a crack in the window-shutter they learned that the men of every native regiment had now mutinied, that they had made the Rana Bala their king, and every Feringhee was to be slain. More than one trembling Englishman was escorted from his hidingplace to the Residency, but there seemed to be no signs of the governor, and Captain Melton began to despair of obtaining any definite knowledge when after—at the iiaril of his men's and his own life—he had been threading the various narrow lanes for some time, he suddenly found himself at the entrance to s broad square, now lit up »y thi moon, while he and his men stood in the darkness of the shadows cast by the houses that nearly met overhead in the narrow lane which debouched upon the square. A low murmur ran through the men as they saw plainly, lying here and there in the square, the bodies of a dozen or so Englishmen—evidently officers—shot down by their m<;n perhaps while haranguing them and trying to recall them to their duty.

As the little group stood there, with hands tightly closed over their eword-hilts, more than one angry vow was made of the vengeance to be dealt to the mutineers when the time should come. (To be continued.)