THE BLUE DRAGOONS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 744, 10 February 1915, Page 6

THE BLUE DRAGOONS.

AN INDIAN SOLDIER STGRV. BY GEORGE MANVILLE PENN. PART 6. Melton's teeth were set very hard as he thought sorrowfully of many a fine young officer come to so ignoble a death, and in imagination he was thinking of the time when he should be leading his men against a mutinous regiment, when his horse started, for a "white figure suddenly appeared from the opening between two houses and toob hold of the young captain's bridle. A dozen sabres were raised to strike on the instant, but at a word from the captain they were lowered. " Don't shoot, Sahib," whispered the native. " All officer," he added, pointing to the bodies in the square. " Sepoy shoot 'em down. Leslie Sahib there." " What ! Amongst those !" exclaimed Melton with a shudder. " Yes, sahib," said the native. " He come and tell men go back to barracks, and they shoot and bayonet him directly. Take care !" The Hindoo whispered the last two words, and pointed to where a white figure could be seen to be stealing away.

" That spy, sahib. He go and tell mutineer. Captain sahib here with enly dozen men and they come down. Quick —go !" The man glided away on the instant, as if to set the example and the next moment his white garments were gone. Captain Melton paused, for a moment to weigh the value of the man's words, and . then he determined to ride out quickly at the head of his men, right into the open moonlight, though he knew it was possible that a thousand muskets , might be commanding the square from the windows around. Still, he argued that his mission was to bring in the governor, dead or alive ; and,- according to the Hindoo's account, one of the bodies lying there was the one he sought.

He made known his plans then tc his followers.

From where they sat the bodies could be seen lying in the moonlight, and the orders were that every man at the word " March " was to dash out at full speed to these various bodies, while the one who came upon the grey hair and beard of the governor was to throw up his sword as a rallying point and the others were to close round and bear the governor's' body in. Two dragoons were to be left behind to keep open the lane for retreat, being ready to charge to the help of their comrades, if necessary; for Melton feared that the spy the? had ■ seen stealing off might bring down a body of their enemies. There was no time to be lost, sc giving the word, off darted the dragoons, making the silent square echo to the trampling of the horses' feet. They had only some fifty yards tc gallop, and as Captain Melton made for the prostrate form he had marked down for his quest, the dragoon on his left uttered a cry, threw up his sword and remained stationary. ■ The others turned their horses' heads and closed round ; but their leader was the first there, and leaping from his horse went down, and on one knee beside the upturned face and silvered hair, all blood-bedabblec as it lay there in the moonlight. " Quick, my lads. We'll lay hiir across my horse !" cried the captain as a distant murmur xrniote his ears.

" What !. and, you walk, captain?" said a corporal gruffly, as he leapec from his horse. •*' Not while I've a leg to stand on, begging your pardon, sir." It was no time to parley, for a; Melton and the corporal raised the prostrate form, the murmur increased and it was evident that a large bods of men were approaching. " Quick ! —across my horse !" criec the captain ; and the body, which tc their surprise, was supple, was swung over the charger's neck, anc Meltcn leaped to the saddle to hold Lt in its place ; then, as they turned to retreat, as, with a yell, the enemj came pouring into the square, some brandishing their sabres as the] urged their horses on, others'stopping to blow up their matches, anc send a scattered volley of bullets whizzing round the fugitives. Further firing was put a stop to bj the interposition of the mounted sowars in pursuit, who followed rapidly ; but not so quickly but thai Melton got his men into the narrov lane along which they hurried two and-two-"Now, how to recollect our wa; back to the Residency," he cried " This place is like a maze." - He had scarcely spoken before i white figure sprang up, ' making tin forward man's horse shy as hi shouted : "This way. I'll guide the lore sahibs." " Follow him," shouted Melton, foi the sowars were thundering on ii pursuit, but to be checked for an in stant by the last two dragooo! turning in their saddles, and dis charging their carbines at the whiti forms of their pursuers, emptyini one saddle, and throwing the otlieri into momentary confusion as th riderless ' horse turned madly" an> charged back aloag the narrow lane The man who- had offered to guicl the little detachment had twiste> his hand in the first horse's mane and was running by. the side lead ing the party off at right angles o reaching the end of the lane, an> along another more crooked and dc vious, when a second figure spran; up from the wayside, and caught a Mfllt.on'a bridle.- •

The captain's sword was raised tc strike ; but a gleam of moonlight cetween two houses revealed the features of the man who had directed them in the square to the finding ol the governor. " Treachery, my lord !" he panted, breathlessly. " Back —back ! The spy is leading you round to the enemy !" ' • Halt !'' roared Melton ; and as their guide saw that his treacherous plot had failed, he drew a long knife -from his cummerbund, and struck at the dragoon whose horse he held. The blow was only half given ; for, seeing his danger, the man plunged his heels into his trooper's flanks and checked at the rein, the result being that the noble beast reared up, plunged forward, and tjie traitor was struck down and trampled under foot by a- dozen hoofs ere he could struggle to the side and there lie stunned and helpless. It was no time for staying to think, for the noise of pursuit was close at hand ; so, trusting to the new-comer, who twisted his hand in the mane of Melton's charger, even as the traitor had done with the trooper of the foremost man, and gave his directions, the captain delivered them in turn to his men, and in place of directly retracing their steps, they bore of! to the left, the last two men having to cover the retreat by firing in turn at the sowars, who followed. It was a terrible ride, and again and again Captain Melton felt disposed ■to charge his guido with treachery, and then send a bullet from the revolver he held through the Hindoo's brain ; but he kept steadily on, and at last, when maddened by the manner in which they were kept at bay, the sowars took advantage of the pursued taking a wider street and dashed recklessly on waving their tulwars in the air, there was a gleam of steel in front, an interchange of passwords, and as the little detachment cantered on right and left, a dozen men, in answer tc a word of command, fired a ringing volley from their carbines into the pursuers' ranks. The efiect was magical —half a dozen saddles were emptied as many horses seemed driven mad with fright, and the sowars, quite a hundred strong, drew rein, and then galloped off right and left in a state of wild panic at the check they had received.

It was only a detachment of the dragoons who had fired, leaving their pursued companions to bear the bodj of the governor into the Residency. As they reached the gates, Meltor turned to his guide. '• Come in with us, my friend, and I will see you are well rewarded What is your name ?" " Baloo Ra," said the man quietly: "but if it please my lord, I wil' stay outside where I can be of more use to the sahibs, than, shut up witl them. Let my lords take care, though," he whispered. "Go tc the magazine and take guns. It is safer there."

He glided away on the instant anc was lost in the deep shadows of th( houses ; while, pondering upon his words, Melton helped the men to beai the governor's body in a Vloak to oni of the empty rooms where, upon th< surgeon being summoned, he pronounced that Sir Graham was stil alive. *' There's hardly a spark left," h< said, holding his pulse ; " but theri is a faint one, and we may sav< him.',' " Ha!— thank goodness," he cried as a dull gleam shone in through thi closed blinds. " There is the daylight at last." It was the day, and with the firsl beams of the sun, Colonel Bruce an nounced to the major' his opinioi that it would be folly to attempt tc hold the Residency. "Where shall we go to, then?' said the major. " A native, who befriended me i good deal in the night suggested th< magazine," said Melton, who was 01 the consultation. . " Let's see it first," said the colo nel ; "for we must have a place bij enough to hold our horses as well ai ourselves, and it seems to me th« sooner we get ready to stand a siegi the better." It was arranged that in half ai hour's time the colonel, major, anc Captain Melton should go and exa mine the magazine, a building thai lay about half a mile away ; and i it proved suitable for placing in i state of defence, it was decided thaa retreat should if possible be mad' there. . • Melton hurried into the Residency and found Lawrence lying fast asleep with Jackson sitting by his side watching him. " That looks well, Jackson," sail the captain. " Well, sir ? Yes, to be sure He'll soon be in the saddle again paying off some of the varmints whi took him twenty to one, the cc wards." Melton stole away, and was goin; towards the room where the had been laid, when two pale figure came softly out, and were hurryin by when one of them recognised fcim and uttered his name : " Captain Melton !" "How is Sir Graham ?" he askec " Very, very ill," sobbed Laura " Oh, Captain Melton, how shall w ever thank you ? It was some t your men saved papa, was it not ? " Yes," said Melton, quietly ; " i was some of my men. Poor fellows thej only did their duty." Ella looked at him searchinglj and then, after a few more words the sisters passed on, looking lik people wandering in their sleep. Melton just glanced through one ' the many open doors at the tearfu agitated, trembling groups withii where, after a sleepless night parent were trying to quiet their childrei and give them comfort they coul not, fppi while watchfully looking fc

the danger they momentarily expect ed to be near.

For the outbreak had come upon them like some awful explosion. But a few hours before they were in the midst of ease and pleasure —lords o! the districts, servants in flocks attended their every wish, and bowed down before the burra sahib or the mem sahib. Now all was ravage and rapine ; they were in momentary danger of losing their lives,. unless the brave regiment which had arrived sc opportunely could keep the enemy at bay.

Captain Melton had to tear himself away at last from the civilianscommissioners, collectors, and the •like who flocked around him and hurried to join the little party about to start on the reconnaissance. There was a bit of a stir just inside the gate as he reached the end of the compound where' his brother officers and a dozen men for escort were already mounted, and he was in time to find that a young ensign of the Nth British Infantry Regiment had run the gauntlet of the enemy, and come with his face and hands stained, disguised as a, native, to try and learn some news of the dragoons. He had had several narrow escapes not the least being that from his fellow-countrymen, who had shown no little desire to shoot down the dog of a Hindoo who had come so near their lines. This was an opportune arrival and it was decided that he should wait until after the reconnaissance, and then, if the magazine seemed to be a likely place both cavalry and infantry should start at a certain hour, and, if necessary, cut their way there. The major brought sad news of the state of the city, and the most sanguine gave up now, and said it was a matter of life to the strongest and that every man, . whether civilian or soldier, must learn to handle a gun. CHAPTER IV. THE RESIDENCY EVACUATED.

, A cessation of the noise and firing had taken place soon after sunrise, and but for a few score of black, watchful faces which hung about the buildings nearest the gate, there seemed to be no reason to believe that there was any danger to be apprehended, £ls the little band of horsemen suddenly rode out of the gate with a native servant to act as guide. They found directly, though tbat every act of theirs was watched and the colonel gave orders that they should go at a sh&rp trot, so as to obtain the information they required as quickly as possible, and at the same time without giving the enemy an inkling of what, was intended. The alarm had gone forth, though, and as they rode on the firing of shots, and the beating of drums told them that the enemy was collecting. Ten minutes' riding brought them to the magazine, a large, low erection with many straggling outbuildings fanned about the great compounds or enclosures, one of which opened into another. Both of these compounds were enclosed by a mud wall, entrance through which was obtained by- strong gates, and, at a glance, the party of observation saw that though, of course, wanting in comfort, for a place of refuge this was incomparably superior to the Residency.

In addition, they found the place held by about a dozen men of the Nth on garrison duty, who, in the brief colloquy that followed, told them that there was an abundance of arms and ammunition within. »

" Sure, sor," said one of the men, " the niggers wili bo afther it all directly."

" Then they must not have a grain of powder," cried Colonel Bruce. ■" Ah, an' what'll we do, sor, if the divils come and asks for it ?" " Give it to them out of your Enfield rifles, my lad, and when you have fought to the last gasp, blow up the magazine." " Och, sor, and it's nice orders you're givin' the bboys, said the Irishman., " Never fear, my lad. 1 We shall cut our was in here by five o'clock this afternoon ; so be ready to cover us." " We'll get a gun in position, sir," said the sergeant in command. • Before his words were well uttered the little band was off again at full speed in another direction, with their enemies still closing round, and a few dropping shots saluted them now and then from knots of men at the ends of lanes,, but no one was hurt ; and after making a demonstration here and then, so as to .give the sortie the appearance of a reconnaissance to see the strength of the enemy, the colonel gave the word, and the horses' heads were turned for the Residency. • They were now in quite a different part of the city, and before they had gone far they found a large body of the enemy gathered at the end of a wider street than usual, as if to arrest their flight. Two courses were bpen to them—either to turn round and try another route, perhaps to encounter the enemy in greater numbers, or tc charge boldly down—a dozen or so upon a well-armed body of three 01, four hundred. " Now, my lads," said the colonel, " forward, and let them see what is meant by English pluck." The men gave a cheer, settled themselves in their saddles, and the trot became an easy gallop. They had about three hundred yarde to ride, but before they'had gone one hundred, they could see the Sepoys making frantic efforts to drag forward and load a large cannon thai they wished to bring to bear. To be Continued.