The war went on during the following year, but in 1782 peace was
concluded. In 1784, the Mahrattas joined the Nizam and the British
in an alliance, having for its object the overthrow of Mysore;
which state, first under Hyder Ali, and afterwards under his son
Tippoo, was a source of danger to all the allies.
In the meantime Harry Lindsay, who was now called Puntojee, had
been living quietly on the farm of Ramdass; and no suspicion
whatever had been excited in the minds of the neighbours, or of any
of the people of Jooneer, that he was aught but what he seemed--the
son of Soyera. Once a week he was re-stained; and even his
playmates, the two sons of Ramdass, believed that he was, like
themselves, a young Mahratta. They knew that, sometimes, their aunt
talked to the child for hours in a strange language; but she led
them to believe it was the dialect of Bombay, which she thought it
might be useful for him to learn.
The child was shrewd and intelligent, and strictly obeyed Soyera's
instructions never, on any account, to talk in that language with
her except when they were alone; for she said that, if he did so,
some great misfortune would happen to him.
Thus, at six, he was able to speak English and Mahratta with equal
facility. As soon as his hair began to grow, it had also been dyed;
for its colour was fair, and would at once have excited attention.
He was a sturdy boy, and had never known a day's illness.
Four more years passed, and Soyera then revealed to him the fact
that she was not, as he supposed, his mother, but that he was of
English parents; and related to him the manner in which they had
come by their death, and how she had saved him.
"The language which you are speaking," she said, "is English. I
spoke truly, when I said it was the language in use in Bombay; for
it is the tongue of the white men there. Now you will understand
why I wanted you not to speak in it, to anyone but myself; and why
I have stained your skin, once a week. At present we are at peace
with the English; but there may be war again, at any time, and in
that case were it known that you are white, your life would not be
safe for a moment; or you might be thrown into some dungeon, where
you would perish miserably."
She then explained to him why she had not attempted to take him
down to Bombay, and restore him to his countrymen. She had always
hoped the time would come when she could do so but, until he grew
up to manhood, it was necessary that he should stay with her; for,
being without friends in Bombay he would, as a boy, be unable to
earn his living.
The boy was greatly affected at the news. There were things that he
had never been able to understand; especially why Soyera should
consider it necessary to wash him with dye so often, when neither
his cousins nor the other children of his acquaintance were so
treated--as far as he knew, for as he had been strictly charged
never to speak of the process, which he considered an infliction,
he had never asked questions of others. He had never, therefore,
for a moment suspected that he was not like those around him. He
knew that he was stronger than other boys of his own age; more fond
of exercise, and leader in all their games; but he had accepted
this as a natural accident. The fact that he belonged to the race
that were masters of southern India, and had conquered and slain
the Nabob of Bengal, was a gratification to him but, at present,
the thought that he might some day have to join them, and leave all
those he loved behind, far overpowered this feeling.
"I shall never become English, if you do not go with me," he said.
"You saved my life, and have been a mother to me. Why should I go
away from your side, to people that I know nothing of, whose ways
would be all strange to me?"
"It is right that you should do so, Puntojee--I will not call you
by your proper name, Harry Lindsay, lest it should slip out before
others. Your life should be spent among your own people; who, I
think, will some day rule over all India. They are a great people,
with learning of many things unknown here, from whom I always
received the greatest kindness. They are not, like the Mahrattas,
always quarrelling among themselves; they are not deceitful, and
they are honourable. You should be proud to belong to them, and I
have no doubt some day you will be so; though at present it is
natural that, knowing no place but this, you should not like the
thought of leaving."
Harry Lindsay, whose spirits had hitherto been almost
inexhaustible, and who had never been happy when sitting quiet, was
greatly impressed with what he had heard and, for some time, he
withdrew himself almost entirely from the sports of his friends,
hiding himself in the groves from their importunities, and thinking
over the strange position in which he was placed.
Soyera at last remonstrated with him.
"If I had thought you would take this matter to heart, Puntojee, I
should not have told you about it. I did so because I thought you
could scarcely be stained, much longer, without demanding the
reason for what must have seemed so strange a thing.
"I do not want you to withdraw yourself from your playmates, or to
cease from your games. Your doing so will, if it continues, excite
talk. Your friends will think that a spell has fallen upon you, and
will shun you. I want you to grow up such as your father
was--strong and brave, and skilful in arms--and to do this you must
be alert and active. It may well be that you should not join your
countrymen until you are able to play the part of a man, which will
not be for ten years yet; but you know that my cousin Sufder has
promised that, as soon as you are able to carry arms, he will
procure a post for you under Scindia.
"There you will learn much, and see something of the world whereas,
if you remain here, you would grow up like other cultivators, and
would make but a bad impression among your countrymen, when you
join them. Sufder himself has promised to teach you the use of arms
and, as all say he is very skilful, you could have no better
master.
"At any rate, I wish you to resume your former habits, to exercise
your body in every way, so that you may grow up so strong and
active that, when you join your countrymen, they will feel you are
well worthy of them. They think much of such things, and it is by
their love for exercise and sport that they so harden their frames
that, in battle, our bravest peoples cannot stand against them."
"But the Mahrattas are strong, mother?"
"Yes, they can stand great fatigues; living, as they do, so
constantly on horseback but, like all the people of India, they are
not fond of exercise, save when at war. That is the difference
between us and the English. These will get up at daybreak, go for
long rides, hunt the wild boar or the tigers in the jungles of the
Concan, or the bears among the Ghauts. Exercise to them is a
pleasure; and we in the service of the English have often wondered
at the way in which they willingly endure fatigues, when they might
pass their time sitting quietly in their verandahs. But I came to
understand that it was to this love of theirs, for outdoor
exercise, that they owed their strength and the firmness of their
courage. None can say that the Mahrattas are not brave but,
although they will charge gallantly, they soon disperse if the day
goes against them.
"So also with the soldiers of Tippoo. They overran Arcot and
threatened Madras; Tanjore and the Carnatic were all in their
hands; and yet the English never lost their firmness and, little by
little, drove Tippoo's troops from the lands they had conquered;
and it may be that, ere long, Tippoo will be a fugitive, and his
dominions divided among those whom he has provoked.
"Is it not wonderful that, while not very many years ago the Whites
were merely a handful, living on sufferance in Calcutta, Madras,
and Bombay, they are now masters of southern India and half of
Bengal; and even venture to engage a great empire like that of the
Mahrattas, stretching from the sea on the west to Delhi, and
holding the mastery over all central India? There must be something
extraordinary about these men. Why, you would scarce believe it,
but I have seen often, and wondered always; when they have an
entertainment, instead of sitting quietly 'and having dancing girls
to posture for their amusement, they dance themselves with their
women--not a mere movement of the body and hands, such as you see
among our dancers, but violent dancing, exhausting themselves till
the perspiration streams from their faces--and this both men and
women regard as amusement; so, Puntojee, if you are to take your
place among your countrymen again, you must accustom yourself to
fatigues, and strengthen your body in every way; or you will be
regarded with contempt as one who, although of their blood, has
grown degenerate and unworthy of them."
"I will do so," the boy said. "You shall not complain of me, again.
Hitherto I have played for amusement, and because I liked to
exercise my limbs, and to show the others that I could run faster
and was stronger than they were; but in future I shall have a
motive in doing so, and will strive to be worthy of my father."
From that time, Harry Lindsay devoted himself to exercises. He
learnt from Sufder, when he visited his native town, and from old
soldiers, when he was away, to use a sword and dagger, to hurl a
light spear accurately, to shoot straight with a musket, that
Sufder had picked up on the field of battle at Karlee, and also
with the pistol. He rose at daybreak, and walked for miles before
coming in to his morning meal; and exercised the muscles of his
arms, not only by the use of the sword, but by holding heavy stones
at arm's length.
Soyera, although still retaining her own religion, had carefully
instructed him in that of the English; with which she had, during
her service, become fully acquainted.
"I am only a servant, an ignorant woman, and it is not for me to
decide which religion is the best, and I have never thought of
giving up that of my people; but the religion of the Christians is
much simpler than ours. They believe in one God, only; and in his
Son who, like Buddha, was a great saint, and went about doing good.
I will tell you all I know of Him, for my mistress frequently spoke
to me of Him; and hoped, I think, that in time I should accept Him,
as she did. When you join your people, it is as necessary that you
should be of their religion, as of their race;" and so, in time,
Harry learned at least the elements of Christianity.
As usual he had been, at the age of six, marked, like Soyera, with
three perpendicular lines on the forehead--the sign of the
worshippers of Vishnu.
"You are twelve years old now, Harry," Soyera said to the boy, one
day. "Now I must do what I have concluded, after a talk with
Ramdass and Sufder, is the best thing for you. We have agreed that
it will be better that you should not join your countrymen, and
claim to be the son of Major Lindsay, until you are a man. I do not
know what they would do with you. They might send you back to
England, but I cannot say what would become of you there; but we
have agreed that, when you do join them, you must be like other
young English gentlemen, and not be looked down upon as one who,
though he has a white skin, is but a Mahratta peasant.
"In the first place, you must learn to speak English."
"But I do speak English!" Harry said, in surprise.
"Yes, such English as I do; but that is not as the white sahibs
speak it. We who have learned it speak the right word, but not in
the right way. I have seen young white ladies, when they first came
out here, and came to the house of your mother, sometimes smile and
scarcely understand what I said to them. It is not like that that
you must talk English--good enough for an ayah, not good enough for
a sahib--so we have decided, Sufder, Ramdass and I, that you must
go down to Bombay, and learn to talk proper English.
"We have thought much how this shall be done, and have settled that
our thinking, here, is no good. I must wait till I get to Bombay,
where I can get advice from people I know."
"Will you stay there with me, Soyera?"
"I cannot say what will be best," she answered, gravely; "I must
wait till I get there. Ramdass will go down with me. It is a good
time for him to go. The harvest work is done, he can be spared for
a month. He would like to go. He has never seen Bombay. We shall go
in the wagon."
The distance from Jooneer to Bombay was but about eighty miles, and
the journey was performed in five days, and Ramdass took down a
light load of maize, whose sale would pay the expenses of their
journey. Soyera rode and slept on the maize, except in two
villages, where she was able to procure a lodging for the night.
Ramdass and Harry walked by the bullocks, and slept at night by the
roadside, wrapped in their blankets.
On arriving at Bombay they put up at a khan, in the native town
and, the next morning, leaving Ramdass and Harry to wander about
and look at the wonders of the city, Soyera went to the shop of a
Parsee merchant, who was in the habit of supplying the canteen of
the troops, contracted for supplies of forage and other matters,
and carried on the business of a native banker. She had often been
to his place with Mrs. Lindsay; and had, from the time that she
entered her service, deposited her savings with him. She had, in
the first place, asked her master to keep them for her; but he had
advised her to go to Jeemajee.
The Parsee was, himself, in his shop. She went up to him.
"You do not remember me, sahib?" she said. "I was the ayah of Major
Lindsay. I was often here with the mem-sahib."
"I remember you, now," he said. "I do not often forget those I have
known. Yes; your master and mistress were killed, at their little
camp on the Concan. Nothing was heard of you, if I remember
rightly. I have some money of yours in my hands. Have you the
receipts?"
"I have them, sahib; but it is not for that that I come to see you.
I wish to ask your advice on a private matter."
The Parsee looked a little surprised.
"Come in here with me," he said, leading the way to his private
room, behind the shop.
"Now, what is it?" he asked, as he closed the door behind them.
"It was believed, sahib, that Major Lindsay's infant boy was
killed, at that time, like all others in the camp. It was not so. I
saved him. It is about him that I want to speak to you."
The Parsee thought for a moment.
"Yes, there was a child. Its body was not found, and was supposed
to have been eaten by the jackals. Is it alive still?"
"Yes, sahib, I have brought him up as my own. His skin has been
always stained; and none but my brother--with whom I live--his
wife, and one other, know that he is English. I love him as my own
child. I have taught him English, as I speak it; but I want him, in
time, to be an English sahib, and for that he must learn proper
English."
"But why have you not brought him down here?" the Parsee said.
"Who would have looked after him, and cared for him, sahib, as I,
his nurse, have done? Who could have taken him? What would have
become of him? I am a poor woman, and do not know how these things
would be. I said to myself:
"'It will be better that he should live with me, till he is old
enough to go down as a young man, and say to the Governor:
"'"I am the son of Major Lindsay. I can talk Mahratti like a
native. I can ride and use my sword. I can speak English well. I
can be useful."
"'Then, perhaps for his father's sake, the Governor will say:
"'"I will make you an officer. If there are troubles in the Deccan,
you will be more useful than those sahibs who do not know the
language."'
"I can do all that for him, but I cannot teach him to speak as
English sahibs speak; and that is why I have come to you. You have
twelve hundred rupees of mine, in your hands; for I laid out
nothing while I was in the sahib's service, and my mistress was
very kind, and often gave me presents. My brother, Ramdass, had
five hundred rupees saved; and this he has given to me, for he,
too, loves the boy. Thus there are seventeen hundred rupees, and
this I would pay for him to be, for two years, with someone where
he would learn to speak English as sahibs do, so that none can say
this white boy is not English.
"Then he will go back, for two or three years, to Jooneer. He will
learn to use his arms, and to ride, and to be a man, until he is of
an age to come down and say:
"'I am the son of Major Lindsay.'"
"But if you were to tell this, at once," the Parsee said, "they
would doubtless send him home, to England, to be educated."
"And what would he do there, sahib? He would have no friends, none
to care for him; and while his Mahratti tongue would be of great
service to him, here, it would be useless to him in his own
country.
"Do not say that my plan cannot be carried out, sahib. For twelve
years I have thought it over. I have taught him all that I could,
so far; and convinced myself that it would be the best. The boy
loves me, and is happy: he would be miserable among strangers, who
would laugh at his English, and would make him unhappy."
Jeemajee sat for some time in thought.
"I am not sure that your plan is not the best," he said, "and after
saving his life, and caring for him, at the risk of your own, for
all these years, you have assuredly a better right than any other
to say what shall be done now. I will think over what you have
asked of me. It is not very easy to find just such a home as you
want, but I should consider the sum you offer is sufficient to
induce many Englishmen living here to take him; but it is not
everyone from whom he would learn English, as you would wish him to
do, or who could teach him the manners of white officers.
"Come to me tomorrow evening, but you must not expect that I shall
be able to answer you then. I must think it over, and make
enquiries."
It was three days, indeed, before anything came of Soyera's visits
to the Parsee trader; then he said:
"I think that I have found out just the place of which you are in
search. I spoke to a friend yesterday, and he at once mentioned one
whom I wonder I had not thought of, at once. Some years ago a
cadet, who came out here with a young wife, died shortly after his
arrival. As he had only been four years in the service, the pension
of his wife was but a small one. She did not go back to England, as
widows generally do. I know not why, except that I once heard two
officers speaking of her. They said that they believed her family
had quarrelled with her, for her marriage, and that she was too
proud to go back again. She had two girls, who must be about the
age of this boy. Her pension was not sufficient for her to live
upon comfortably, and she opened a little school for the children
of officers here.
"There are not many, you know, for they are generally sent home to
England, when they are quite young. But she has always had four or
five, sometimes eight or ten. They come to her every morning, and
go home in the middle of the day, and she sees no more of them.
"After I had heard this, I went to her. I supply her with many
things, for she gets her books and other things from me. I said to
her:
"'I have a white boy whose father and mother are dead. He is twelve
years old. There are reasons why I cannot tell you who they were,
but I can say that the boy's father was an English officer. He has
been brought up by natives, and speaks English in the way that
natives speak it. Those who have brought him up desire that he
should learn to talk English well, and learn to have good manners,
so that some day, when he goes to England, people should not say of
him:
"'"This is not an English gentleman, or he would not speak like
that."'
"I said that I had interested myself in the matter, and knew that
it was right, and had come to her to ask her if she would take him
into her house, which was very comfortable and well furnished, and
everything as it should be.
"She asked questions. I told her enough to interest her; and said
that, when the time came, it was hoped that he would be able to
obtain employment under the Government--perhaps in the army, as his
father had been. I said that those who brought him up were ready to
make great sacrifices for his sake, but that they could not pay for
him for more than two years; and that, as the boy knew so much
English, they hoped this would be enough. I asked how much, if she
agreed to take him, she would charge. She said that she would think
it over; and would call here, tomorrow, and tell me whether she
would take him.
"She will be here at three. I think you had better come at that
hour. I am sure that she would like to speak to you. I do not see
why you should not say that you had been his ayah, and had saved
his life, and brought him up. Many officers have been killed and,
indeed, I do not see why you should not tell her the whole story.
It will interest her more in the boy. But of course, before you
tell her, you must ask her to promise not to repeat it."
Soyera went on the following day. She found that Jeemajee was
already, with a lady, in his private room. She waited until the
door was opened, and the merchant beckoned her in.
"This is the woman who has brought the child up, Mrs. Sankey," he
said. "As I have told you, she was his ayah, and has behaved most
nobly."
Turning to Soyera, he said:
"Naturally Mrs. Sankey asked why you had not come forward before. I
told her your reasons, and she thinks that, perhaps, you have acted
for the best for him. At any rate, she has consented to take the
boy for two years; and I am to pay her, for you, the sum that you
have named."
In reality, Mrs. Sankey asked a thousand rupees a year; but the
Parsee, with the generosity for which his race is distinguished,
had agreed to pay the extra three hundred rupees himself.
"Before it is quite settled," Mrs. Sankey said, "I should like to
see the boy. As Mr. Jeemajee has told you, I have two daughters
about the same age. I must, therefore, be guided in my decision by
my impression of him."
"I will bring him to see you, in three or four days," Soyera said.
"His stain is already faded a good deal, and I shall be able to get
it off, by that time. I have to get English clothes for him.
"I am greatly obliged to you for saying that you will take him, if
he pleases you. That I think he will do. I have taught him manners,
as well as I could. He is as anxious as I am to improve himself;
and will, I am sure, give you no more trouble than he can help."
"I will see that he is properly clothed, Mrs. Sankey," Jeemajee
remarked. "I knew his father, and have a great interest in him."
Mrs. Sankey chatted for some little time to Soyera; gave her her
card, with her address on Malabar Hill; and then left.
Soyera began to thank the Parsee for his introduction, but he said:
"It was a little thing to do and, as I knew his father, it was only
right that I should help, as far as I could. Will you bring me,
tomorrow morning, the measurement of the boy's height, size around
his shoulders and waist, the lengths of his arms and legs? You need
trouble yourself no further about it. I shall take that matter upon
myself. Come, three days later, for his clothes.
"Goodbye! I have other matters to see about," and, without waiting
for any thanks from Soyera, he at once went into his shop, and
began to talk to his assistant.
Many were the scrubbings Harry had to undergo, during the next few
days; and his hair and face were nearly restored to their proper
colour when Soyera returned, one evening, with a coolie carrying a
trunk of some size. It contained the whole outfit for a boy: one
dark suit, and four of white nankeen; with a stock of shirts,
underclothing, and shoes. Soyera showed Harry how these garments,
with which he was wholly unacquainted, should be put on.
"They fit you capitally," she said, when she surveyed him. "And you
look like a little English sahib."
"They feel very tight and uncomfortable," he said.
"They are sure to do so, at first; but you will soon get over that.
Now, Ramdass will take you out for a walk for two or three hours,
so that you can get accustomed to them. I should not like you to
look awkward, when you go with me to Mrs. Sankey's, tomorrow."
The interview next day was altogether satisfactory. The carriage
and bearing of the natives of India is easier, and more graceful,
than that of Europeans; and the knowledge Harry had possessed, for
some years, that he belonged to a conquering race, the injunctions
of Soyera, his strength and activity, and his unquestioned
leadership among the boys with whom he played, had given something
of confidence to his manner. Mrs. Sankey was greatly taken with
him, and he at once became an inmate of her house.
He remained there for two years, and became so great a favourite
that Mrs. Sankey insisted on his staying with her, without charge,
for three or four months after the time for which she had received
payment for him. He had worked hard and earnestly, and now spoke
English as well and accurately as any English boy of his own age.
He had, after being there a year, made the acquaintance of several
boys of his own age, the sons of officers or officials. They knew
him only as the orphan son of an English gentleman, in Government
employ; and he was often asked to the houses of their parents, and
none suspected that he had been brought up among natives.
At the end of his term, Sufder came down for him. Jeemajee, who had
remained his steady friend, arranged that he should go to his
house, and there resume his native dress and stain. In this garb he
felt even stranger and more uncomfortable than he had done, when he
first put on European clothes; but this was not long in wearing off
and, by the time he reached Jooneer, he was again at home in it. He
took with him, at Mrs. Sankey's suggestion, a number of English
books, by authors she recommended; so that he could, by reading and
learning some of them by heart, retain his knowledge of the
language.
For the next three months he spent his whole time in practising
with sword, pistol, and gun; under the tuition of an old soldier in
Jooneer, who had been a noted swordsman in his time. He was already
far stronger than the sons of Ramdass, although these were now
young men. Anxious to, at once, exercise his muscles and gain in
skill, he now attached himself to a famous shikaree who, seeing the
boy's strength and courage, took him as an assistant when he went
on excursions among the hills. Here Harry learned to dig pits for
the capture of tigers; to smear leaves with a sticky substance,
obtained from a plant resembling mistletoe, so that when a tiger or
bear trod upon them and, finding them sticking to his feet, paused
and rubbed these on his head, until he became blinded and
bewildered with a mass of sticky foliage, a well-placed shot would
stretch him dead.
[Illustration: For a year he worked with the shikaree.]
For a year he worked with the shikaree. Sometimes they hunted
simply for the value of the skins; but more often they were sent
for by villagers, who were suffering from the depredations of
tigers or leopards, and who were willing to pay for having them
killed. Harry Lindsay acquired quite a reputation in Jooneer and
the surrounding country, for the shikaree spoke freely of his
bravery, intelligence, and skill with his arms. His width of
shoulders and the strength of his muscles caused him to be regarded
as a prodigy; and it was generally considered that, when he grew
up, he would become a great fighter, and attain wide renown as a
leader of bands in the service of Holkar, or the Peishwa.
When he was sixteen, Sufder, who had watched his progress with
great approval, said to him:
"You are scarce a man in years yet, Puntojee; but you are strong,
skilful with your weapons, and far more of a man than many ten
years older than yourself. It is time that you should see something
of war. Since the death of Scindia, a few months back; and the
succession of his nephew Doulut, who is about your own age; things
have become even more unsettled than before. Scindia was a great
man and, although at times worsted by his rivals, always managed to
repair his fortunes and to add to his power; but whether the young
Scindia will keep the wide territory that his uncle won is
doubtful. Holkar, although at times he and Scindia united, as when
the English marched against Poona, has been his rival and enemy.
"The Peishwa has sometimes been in alliance with one of these great
princes, sometimes with the other. His minister, Nana Furnuwees, is
a man of commanding talent. Had it not been for him, it is probable
that Scindia and Holkar would long since have become altogether
independent; but he has always contrived to play one off against
the other and, by securing the services of the secondary chiefs,
such as the Rajah of Nagpore and the Rajah of Kolapoore, to hold
the balance of power; but he is an old man, and at his death there
is no saying how things will go.
"Matters are complicated, too, by the fact that Scindia has now in
his service sixteen battalions of drilled infantry, commanded by
French officers; and these have proved so valuable, in the various
sieges he has undertaken, that Holkar has been obliged to imitate
his example. There are many who think that the introduction of
infantry will, in the end, prove disastrous to the power of the
Mahrattas; whose strength has hitherto lain in their cavalry, which
could perform long journeys, strike a blow and be off again, and so
were more than a match for the infantry of other Indian princes.
But with infantry all this will be altered, for the marches must be
no longer or faster than they can journey. The order of battles,
too, will be changed altogether; and we shall depend more upon
foot, while our horse, until now almost invincible, will become of
secondary importance.
"However, that is not the question, at present. The first thing to
be considered is, to which of the three great leaders you are to
attach yourself. As you know, I was for many years in Scindia's
service; but at his death the position was changed. Scindia knew
that I was active and capable; had he lived, I should soon have
gained much promotion. However, his chief minister took a dislike
to me; and I felt that, now the Maharajah was gone, Doulut would be
easily swayed by the counsels of those around him; and that instead
of promotion I should be more likely to lose my command, and
perhaps be put out of the way. Therefore I left Doulut's service,
and have entered that of the young Peishwa who, at the advice of
Nana Furnuwees, has given me the command of a troop of a hundred
men.
"Years ago I gained Nana's goodwill, by apprising him of the
hostile intentions of the Rajah of Nagpore; when he promised me
that, should I at any time leave Scindia's service, he would give
me as good a position as I held there in that of the Peishwa. The
young prince is but twenty-one, and I will ask Nana to present you
to him as one who, in time, will become a valuable officer; and it
is likely that Mahdoo Rao will receive you well when he hears that,
though so young, you have gained great credit as a slayer of wild
beasts; and that, as he will see for himself, you promise to grow
into a strong man, and a brave soldier.
"Nana Furnuwees is a man who, by his conciliating manner, gains the
confidence of all who come under his influence; and it is wholly
due to him that the authority of the Peishwa has not been entirely
overthrown by Scindia and Holkar. He is a reader of men's minds,
and has always surrounded himself with friends of discernment and
courage; and I think you would be likely, if you remained in the
Peishwa's service, to rise to a very much higher rank than I should
ever do, being myself but a rough soldier with a heavy hand.
"Holkar, at present, is fast becoming altogether imbecile. He is
worn out both in mind and body, and I should not advise anybody to
join him. Therefore the choice rests between Doulut Rao Scindia and
the Peishwa; as far as I can see, there is an equal chance of your
seeing service with either."
"I can choose without hesitation," Harry said. "Had you still been
in the army of Scindia, I would have joined it, too; but as you
have now entered that of the Peishwa, who is the lawful ruler of
the Mahrattas, though overshadowed by Scindia and Holkar, I should
certainly choose his service.
"In any case, I would rather be with you. You have taught me the
use of arms, and to you I owe it that I was not killed, when an
infant; therefore I would assuredly rather fight under your orders,
than take service with Holkar or Scindia.
"As to their quarrels, I know nothing. Ramdass has often told me as
much as he knew of these matters, but it all seemed to me to be
confusion; and the only thing I could understand was that they were
always intriguing against each other, instead of putting all their
forces in the field, and fighting it out fairly, and so deciding
who was to be the chief lord of the Mahrattas."
"Although but a soldier, Puntojee, I cannot but see that this
constant antagonism, between the three principal leaders of the
Mahrattas, is unfortunate in the last degree. We are wasting the
strength that, if properly employed, might bring all India into
subjection and, when trouble really comes, we shall be a divided
people, instead of acting under one head and with one mind.
However, it is not for us soldiers to meddle with these things; but
to do our duty to the chief under whom we serve.
"Well, if such be your choice, I will present you to Nana
Furnuwees. I am glad that you have chosen that service for, in the
first place, being young, he may take a liking to you, and you may
obtain rapid promotion; and still more, because I should prefer to
have you with me."
Hitherto, Harry had worn only the scanty clothing in use by the
peasantry, and the small cultivators; but Sufder now bought him
clothes such as were worn by youths of a superior class. Soyera had
offered no objection to his departure and, indeed, Sufder had
spoken to her on the subject, before he had broached it to Harry.
"'Tis hard upon me to give you up," she said to the lad; "but I
have always known that it must be so, and indeed, for the last year
I have seen little of you. The change will be good for you. You
will learn the manner of war, and take an interest in the intrigues
and troubles that are constantly going on, and of which we hear
little.
"When you rejoin your countrymen, a few years hence, I shall go
with you. You need my testimony, to show that you are the son of
Major Lindsay; and I can be useful to you, in managing your
household. But at present it is best that I should stay here. A
young soldier would not care to have his mother looking after him,
and it is for your good that you should go your own way; and
besides, you will have the counsels of Sufder to aid you. I should
be out of place and, for the present, I am happy here with my good
brother and sister-in-law, the latter of whom would miss me sorely.
Moreover, Poona is but two days' ride from here, and you will no
doubt be able sometimes to come over and see us.
"I have done what little I could for you. You are now old enough to
make your own way. The bird that has taught its nestling to fly
does not try to keep it in the nest, when it is once able to take
care of itself."
"I can never be sufficiently grateful, for all that you have done
for me," Harry said earnestly. "You have been more than a mother to
me and, wherever I go, I shall not be happy unless you are with me,
though I see it is best, this time, that I should go alone; but
assuredly, when I join my people, and have a home of my own, it
would not seem like a home to me if you did not share it."
Two days later, Harry mounted a horse that Ramdass had given him,
and started with Sufder for Poona. On arriving there they rode to
the little camp, half a mile out of the town, where Sufder's troop
was stationed.
"You don't carry your tents with you, when you are on service in
the field?"
"Not when on an expedition where haste is needed; for we should
make but poor progress, if we were hampered by luggage. When on a
distant expedition, we take tents.
"This is a standing camp, and there are a score like it round the
town. They always remain in the same position; sometimes one troop
occupies them, sometimes another. When we go on an expedition, we
leave them; when we come back, if they are still unoccupied, we
again take possession. If they have been allotted to another troop,
a vacant one is found for us.
"Only one regiment of horse and two of foot are in the city, where
they have lines of huts. We differ from the rest of the army, being
always on service; the others are only called out when there is
occasion for them, each under its own chief and, in case of
necessity, the Peishwa can put thirty thousand horsemen in the
field, besides those of the rajahs in alliance with him."
The next morning Sufder, in his best attire, went with Harry into
the city; the latter for the first time carrying a sword, dagger
and pistols in his cummerbund, or sash. Without being questioned,
they entered the chamber were Nana was giving audience to all who
waited upon him on business.
Sufder took his place at the lower end of the chamber, moving
forward as one after another applicant was disposed of until, at
length, his turn arrived. The minister, who knew that he was a
brave soldier, who had enjoyed the confidence of the late Scindia,
acknowledged his deep salutation with a friendly nod.
"What can I do for you, Sufder?"
"I desire nothing, your excellency, save that I may be permitted to
present to you one of my family: the son of a relation of mine who,
although still young, I may venture to recommend to you as one
possessing great courage and intelligence. I have myself given him
lessons in the use of his arms; and he has had other instructors,
and done credit to them. For the past year he has been working with
a famous shikaree, and has killed many tigers that were a scourge
to the villages near the Ghauts, together with many bears and
leopards; and his master reported that his fearlessness was great,
and that as a marksman his skill was equal to his own. He was most
unwilling that he should leave him, but I considered it was time
for him to enter the army; in which, I believe, he will soon
distinguish himself."
"How old is he?" the minister asked.
"He is as yet but sixteen but, as your highness may see, he is as
strong as most men, having devoted himself to exercises of all
sorts, since he was a child."
"He is indeed cast in a strong mould, and his face pleases me.
"And so, you would enter the service of His Highness, the Peishwa?"
"That is my desire, your excellency."
"You are young to serve as an officer and, for the present, you had
best remain with Sufder's troop. In the meantime, I will see what
suitable post can be found for you."
With an expression of thanks, Sufder and Harry left the audience
hall.
"It is a good beginning, Puntojee," the soldier said, as they left
the minister's palace. "Nana Furnuwees was evidently pleased with
you, and I think he will give you special employment. At the same
time, serving one master here is not without its danger--Nana
especially, powerful as he is, has enemies as powerful; for he has
always stood in the way of the ambition of Scindia."
That evening an officer brought, from Nana, an order conferring
upon Harry the appointment of an assistant officer in Sufder's
troop, with the usual pay and allowances and, three days later, an
order came for him to attend the audience of the minister. On
arrival, he was told by the officer of the chamber that he was not
to present himself at public audience, but that Nana would speak to
him privately. He was therefore taken to an inner chamber where, an
hour later, Nana joined him.
"I think by your face, Puntojee, that you can be trusted; and I
have decided to place you in the service of His Highness, the
Peishwa. What position you will hold there must depend upon
yourself, and him. I shall simply recommend you as one of whom I
have heard much good. It would be as well for you not to mention
your age; but let him suppose that, as you look, you are about the
same age as himself. He is amiable and kindly, and your position
will be a pleasant one.
"I am anxious to prevent evil advisers from obtaining influence
over him. He is young and unsuspicious, and much harm might thus
come to the state. It is, then, for the general interest that he
should be surrounded by those whom I can trust; so that, if any
plotters are endeavouring to poison his mind, their plans may be
thwarted. I have of course, officers about his person who are
thoroughly trustworthy; but these are much older than himself, and
he chafes somewhat at what he wrongly considers his tutelage. But
indeed, as he is but twenty-one, and wholly unversed in matters of
state, it is needful that the management of affairs should rest in
the hands of those who have long controlled it.
"Scindia would be the first to take advantage of any imprudence. He
is already, by far, the most powerful of the Mahratta princes. His
possessions are of immense extent; he holds the emperor at Delhi in
the palm of his hand; he can put one hundred thousand horse into
the field, and has large numbers of infantry, including sixteen
battalions drilled by French officers, and commanded by de Boigne;
and although Doulut Rao is but twenty, and as yet we know but
little of his disposition, he is of course surrounded by the
advisers of his uncle, and may be expected to pursue the same
policy. His uncle gained great ascendency over the Peishwa, and his
death was a fortunate circumstance. Still, it is certain that the
prince, until his powers are matured, will yield to the advice of
those to whom the conduct of affairs is entrusted.
"Now, I am going to the palace, and have requested a private
audience with Mahdoo Rao, and I will take you with me."
Followed by a train of officers, with whom Harry fell in, the
minister proceeded to the palace. His train remained in the public
hall, and Nana went into the Peishwa's private apartment. In a few
minutes, an official came in and called Puntojee; and Harry at once
followed him to an inner room, where the Peishwa and his minister
were alone. Harry bowed to the ground.
"This, Prince, is the young man of whom I have spoken to you. He
bears an excellent character for his skill in arms, and has killed
many tigers and other beasts. It was but the other day that you
complained that you had no one of your own age to whom you could
talk freely; and I have selected this young officer as one who, I
thought, would be agreeable to you."
"I thank you heartily, Nana. In truth, I sometimes need a
companion; and I think, by his face, that this officer will be an
agreeable one. To what post, think you, had I best appoint him?"
"As he is a famous shikaree, I should say that it would be suitable
were you to make him director of the chase."
"But I never go hunting."
"That is true; but in time, when your occupations of state lessen,
you might do so," Nana said. "And indeed, even at present, there is
nothing to prevent your hunting sometimes in the royal preserves,
where there must be an abundance of game of all sorts."
"So let it be, then," the Peishwa said. "In truth, I care not for
the killing of beasts, unless they do harm to the villagers. But it
is right that there should be someone to direct the men who have
charge of the preserves and, as an official, you will have the
right of entry here at all times, and will be frequently about my
person; and I will confer with you about other things, as well as
the chase. You will, of course, have an apartment assigned to you.
"You will arrange about the emoluments, Nana."
"You had better go to my house, and wait for me there," Nana said;
and Harry, bowing deeply to the prince and his minister, left the
palace.
He did not deceive himself as to the reason for which Nana had thus
placed him in a position in which he was likely to be frequently in
the company of the young prince. He intended him to act as a spy.
This he was firmly determined not to do, in any matter save in
thwarting any designs Scindia might have. That was a public duty.
By this time, he had learnt much of the events that were passing.
Ramdass and the other ryots of his acquaintance regarded Nana
Furnuwees as the guardian of the country. For many years, it was
his wisdom and firmness alone that had thwarted the designs of
Scindia, whose advent to supreme authority would have been regarded
as a grave misfortune, by all the cultivators of the Deccan.
Scindia's expenses in keeping up so great an army were enormous,
and the exactions of his tax gatherers ground to the dust the
cultivators and peasantry of his own wide dominions; and Harry was
therefore ready to give Nana a faithful support in all public
matters. He knew that the minister had many enemies, even among the
rajahs in the Peishwa's dominion, and in those round it; for they
regarded him, with reason, as a curb upon their private ambitions
and, for years, intrigues had been going on for his overthrow.
On the other hand, Harry was much pleased with Mahdoo Rao, who was
a most amiable and kindly young man. While determined, then, to do
all that he could in support of Nana; he decided that he would, on
no account, give him any report that would be unfavourable to the
Peishwa. His interview with the minister, on the return of the
latter, was a short one.
"Here," the latter said, "is a purse of five hundred rupees, with
which to obtain garments suitable for one in attendance on the
Peishwa. Your emolument will be two hundred rupees a month. I shall
issue orders to the men employed in the forests and preserves to
report to you; and have requested the chamberlain to allot an
apartment to you in the palace, and to tell off two servants to be
in attendance on you.
"You understand that your mission, as far as I am concerned, is to
give me early warning, if any of those favourable to Scindia--you
shall be furnished with a list of their names--are endeavouring to
obtain an undue influence over the prince; who is of an altogether
unsuspicious character, and would be likely to fall an easy victim
to bad counsels."
"You can depend upon my doing so," Harry said. "I have been taught
to regard Scindia as an enemy to the public peace, and shall use
all diligence in carrying out your excellency's orders."
And, leaving the minister, Harry went to Sufder and told him what
had happened.
"In truth, Puntojee, you were born under a lucky star. I never
dreamt that Nana Furnuwees would have thus introduced you to the
Peishwa. Now, lad, you have a fine career opened to you. It will
need caution but, as Scindia's ancestor was but a slipper bearer,
and rose to the highest rank and honour; so it is open to you to
win a great position, if you steer clear of the dangers that attend
all who play a part in public affairs. I foresee that you will
become a favourite with the prince, but remember to put your trust
in Nana. He is, at present, the greatest power in the land, and has
been so for many years but, unlike most who have attained such
authority, he is liked by the people, for he uses his power well,
and for the good of the state.
"You see, even now the young Peishwa is by no means secure on the
musnud. The adherents of Rugoba, who was undoubtedly the lawful
ruler of the Deccan, still live; and may one day raise the flag of
revolt, in favour of his sons Bajee Rao and Chimnajee Appa who,
with Amrud Rao, his adopted son, are all in close custody in the
hill fort of Sewneree, under two of Nana's officers.
"There is a general feeling of pity for these young men, even among
those who regard their imprisonment as necessary--for, were they
free, a civil war would assuredly break out again--and the feeling
is increased by the fact that Bajee Rao is a youth of extraordinary
accomplishments. He is graceful in person, with a handsome
countenance and a charming manner and, although but nineteen, he is
an excellent horseman, skilled in the use of the bow, and
considered to be the finest swordsman in the country. He is deeply
read in all our religious books and, in all the country, there is
no one of his age so learned.
"All these things, however, only add to the necessity for his being
kept in prison. A youth so gifted and, as many people consider, the
lawful heir to the throne, would speedily be joined by all the
enemies of Nana; and might not only drive the minister into exile,
but dethrone Mahdoo Rao. Such being the case, no one can blame Nana
for keeping them in confinement--at any rate, until Mahdoo Rao has
been master for some years, and has proved that he is able to
maintain his position.
"Now, lad, I will go into the town with you, and purchase dresses
fit for an official of the palace."
"I quite see that I have been most fortunate in obtaining such a
position, Sufder; but I own I should have preferred to remain with
you, and learn to do service as a soldier."
"That you may learn later on," Sufder said. "Having the confidence
of the Peishwa, you may soon obtain military rank, as well as civil
and, if war breaks out, may hold a position vastly better than you
could hope to attain to as the mere chief of a troop."
"It seems very ridiculous, Sufder, that I should be thus put
forward, without any merit of my own; while you, who have fought in
many battles, are still only commander of your troop."
"I have no desire for more," Sufder replied. "I am a soldier, and
can do my duty as ordered, but I have no head for intrigues; and I
consider the risks of a battle are quite sufficient, without those
of being put out of the way for mixing myself up in plots.
"Again, your rise is not altogether undeserved. You have, by your
exercises, attained the strength of manhood early; and your
experience as a tiger hunter has fitted you for the post for which
you are appointed, just as your diligence in exercise in arms will
be of good service to you, if you come to hold military command.
But you must be circumspect and, above all things, do not forget to
use the dye with which Soyera has furnished you. Hitherto your
white skin has done you no harm but, were it discovered here that
you are English, it would at once be imagined that you were a spy,
and little time would be given you to explain how matters stand."
"I will certainly be careful as to that and, now that I am to have
a private apartment, I shall be able to apply the dye without the
fear of being interrupted, as might have been the case in camp."
On the following day, Harry, having obtained clothes suitable to
his position, betook himself to the palace, where one of the
officers of the chamberlain conducted him to his apartment, and
assigned to him two men appointed to his service.