with Mr. Fullarton, he saw the two natives sitting like statues on their
horses in front of the tent, while one of them held the bridle of
Percy's horse.
"Yes, they are my two servants; they are two of my uncle's soldiers.
Both have been officers' servants, they are extremely useful fellows,
and I can trust them thoroughly. One is a Pathan from the hill frontier
of Afghanistan, the other is from Cashmere, therefore neither of them
have any special leanings towards the Sikhs."
"That is a capital horse of yours?"
"Yes, he is very fast, and has much more endurance than the horses of
the plains. My uncle bred him. He has a European sire, and his dam is
considered as having some of the best blood in the Punjaub. What shall
I tell my men to do with the horses?"
"They can picket yours over there; that line of horses all belong to the
staff. Their own they can put with that line behind, those are the
horses of the orderlies. I will go across with you and see about it, or
some of the soldiers will be interfering."
The horses were soon picketed, and the men brought Percy's saddle and
valises to his tent. By night he felt quite at home. The aides-de-camp
were pleasant young men, and having already been spoken to by Major
Clissold, received the new-comer cordially. Percy had inquired of Hunt
as to the messing arrangements. "I am well supplied with money," he
said, "and wish, of course, to pay my share of all expenses."
"That can easily be managed," Hunt replied. "The way it is arranged is
this. There were five of us, Long and myself, are the general's
aides-de-camps; Humphreys and Lascelles, who are
deputy-assistant-quartermaster-generals; and Egerton, who is an
assistant-adjutant-general. They are all lieutenants. We brought up
with us a certain amount of mess stores, principally liquor, which are
all common property. I will see to-morrow what stock is left, and you
can hand me over a sixth of the value, which will go to the fund for
general expenses. However, these are not heavy, for being under canvas
we draw rations--meat and bread--and I buy what I can get in the way of
vegetables, game, and so on, from the country people. Of course, if you
leave us before our store of liquor is exhausted, I shall, as it were,
buy your share back again."
Percy found the society very agreeable. His experience of the junior
officers' mess on board a ship had prepared him for the tone of light
chaff and fun that prevailed. Although by some four years the youngest
of the party, the fact that he was acquainted with the country they
expected shortly to invade gave him a certain weight with the others,
none of whom had been in that part of India before. He was asked
innumerable questions as to the Sikhs, and what he thought of their
fighting powers; and had to recount in full detail the story of the
attempt to storm the fortress.
"That uncle of yours must be an uncommonly plucky fellow to hold on
there in the face of the whole of the Sikhs, and he must be amazingly
liked by his troops for them to stick to him against their own
countrymen."
"That is not so wonderful," Percy said, "for the Sikhs are constantly
fighting against each other. Most of his men have served under him for
eight or ten years. The rest were recruited in his district, which was
only conquered by the Sikhs in Runjeet's time, so they are still
considered as interlopers by the natives. Still, of course, there is
always the fear of treachery; and my uncle nearly lost his life while
the attack was going on; the man who attempted it was one of those he
trusted most thoroughly, being his steward and the head of his
household."
"You did not tell us about that," Hunt said. "How was it?" and Percy
had to tell the story.
"And you shot him? Well, I have never shot a man yet, and I don't know
how I should feel. Were you very uncomfortable afterwards?"
"Not in the slightest. He was going to kill my uncle, and I fired and
he went down, and I thought nothing more about it till I mentioned it to
my uncle after it was all over."
"I suppose you are a good shot?"
"I am a fair shot," Percy said. "I have practised nearly every day
since I left England, except when I was travelling up country. Mr.
Fullarton advised me to do so on board ship, and my uncle kept me
regularly at that and riding and sword exercise every day, partly
because he said these things would be most useful to me, and partly
because the Sikhs look up to anyone who can do things better than they
can."
"It must be awfully jolly to be able to speak the language, Groves?"
Lieutenant Egerton said, "and I hear you speak it like a native. You
must have a wonderful knack of picking up languages to have learnt it so
completely in six months."
"It was not exactly in six months. I had studied Hindustani before I
left England; and luckily Mr. Fullarton had a Punjaubi servant with him,
and I worked with him regularly five or six hours a day throughout the
voyage, so that I was able to get on pretty fairly with the language by
the time I got out here."
"I wish I had spent my voyage as well," Egerton laughed, "instead of
spending it spooning with a young woman who was on her way out to be
married, and who did marry the man a week after she landed."
"These things are very sad, Egerton," Lieutenant Lascelles laughed. "I
suppose you were heart-broken for a time."
"Not quite. I will do her justice to say that she made no secret of her
engagement, and never flattered me with the hope that she intended to
break it. At the same time she had no objection to flirt with me, it
being an understood thing on both sides that it was to end with the
voyage. It was very pleasant while it lasted; but it would have been
very much wiser to have done as Groves did, and spent the hot hours of
the day in getting up a language. I should be a hundred a year better
off if I had passed in one of the dialects, and besides, I should have
had much better chance of getting a good appointment."
"Ah, well, you can console yourself, Egerton, by thinking that if you
had you would be now in some small cantonment down in Bengal, instead of
having a chance of seeing whatever fun may be going on here."
"That is a consolation certainly, Hunt; but I don't care how soon the
fun begins, for I own that I am getting sick of bargaining for bullocks
and working like a horse eight or ten hours a day. It is all very well
for you aides-de-camp, whose work consists in writing a few letters for
the chief and cantering across with some message; but for us hard-worked
quarter-masters it is no holiday here. I do hope most heartily that the
Sikhs will not be long before they begin their raids, and give us a
decent excuse for fighting them."
"How strong do you think they are likely to turn out, Groves? They tell
us a hundred thousand."
"I should say a good deal more than that," Percy replied. "There will be
over a hundred thousand troops, for all who have passed through the
ranks will be certain to rejoin them. Then the great sirdars can put
almost as many fighting men into the field."
"That sounds serious, and I suppose there is no doubt they will fight
bravely."
"That they are sure to do," Percy said. "What force do you think we
shall be able to put in the field?"
"There are over ten thousand men at Ferozepore, with twenty-four guns.
Here we have, by the field state to-day, seven thousand two hundred and
thirty-five, and twelve guns. At Umballa there are about thirteen
thousand men, with thirty-two guns. You see, ever since Hardinge came
out he has seen this thing brewing, and has been quietly preparing for
it. When he landed in India last year there were at these three
stations only between thirteen and fourteen thousand men and forty-eight
guns, and in the last eighteen months he has increased the force by
seventeen thousand men and twenty guns.
"At Meerut there are about ten thousand men and twenty-six guns, but as
that place is two hundred and fifty miles away, we can't count upon any
assistance from there at first, if the Sikhs should take it into their
head to cross the Sutlej. Of course if we invade we shall wait until
the Meerut force is brought up before we advance. Sir Henry arrived at
Umballa on the second, and was to leave yesterday. Ostensibly he is not
here for any warlike purpose whatever, but is occupied in making an
inspection of the protected district, interviewing the chiefs, and
ascertaining what their feeling is towards us. These states voluntarily
put themselves under our protection some five-and-thirty years ago,
having no desire to fall under the sway of Lahore; and they have greatly
benefited, for Runjeet Singh would assuredly have annexed the whole
territory between the Sutlej and the Jumna, if he had not been warned
that if he attacked these petty princes he would bring us into the field
against him. It has always been a sore point with the Sikhs beyond the
Sutlej that we prevented them from obtaining what they considered their
natural boundaries. The protected states are indeed to a great extent
Sikh, and even now, although they owe the continuance of their existence
as separate states to our protection, and the chiefs are all with us,
the sympathies of the great body of the people are entirely with the
Sikhs across the Sutlej.
"Runjeet Singh was wise enough to know that he would have risked losing
all he had were he to try to wrest them from us. Had he thought himself
strong enough he would have risked a war for it, for the country south
of the Sutlej is far more fertile than it is to the north, and it would
largely increase the revenues of the Punjaub did it form part of it.
This is the real cause of their hostility to us, and of their present
threatening attitude. Sir Henry is going, as I said, among the chiefs
here. Some of these are really friendly, others only pretend to be so.
But there is one thing certain, if any misfortune happened to our arms
the whole country would be up against us; and in any case we shall have
to take every possible precaution to guard our depots and
communications, for directly fighting begins it would be unsafe for
small parties to travel about the country."
Percy's stay in camp was of very short duration, for on the following
evening Major Clissold sent for him.
"The general has just received a despatch from head-quarters, Groves;
the news from the north is to the effect that the Sikhs are making great
preparations there, and Major Broadfoot, the chief political agent at
head-quarters, requests that you will at once proceed there to join him,
as he wishes to question you as to your own personal observations of the
state of feeling as you came down. I think it probable he will keep you
with him for the present; and as you may have more important work to do
there than buying bullocks and so on, I hope for your sake he will do
so, though I shall be sorry to lose you, for I have already found by
your work to-day that you would be a very valuable assistant. Still
there is nothing like being at head-quarters and having the eye of the
chief of your department upon you. You had better start this evening
late."
"Very well, sir, I will be off in half an hour. I suppose I can ride
round and say good-bye to Mr. Fullarton."
"Certainly. There is no absolute occasion to start until morning, but
it is always well to show zeal, and it will no doubt please Broadfoot if
you arrive there by daybreak. You needn't start till two o'clock; it is
only a three hours' ride. The head-quarter camp is close to Basseean."
"I am sorry you are going," Hunt said when Percy returned to his tent
and told him the news, "and I hope you will be back again in a day or
two. If not, it will save me the trouble of taking stock of our
liquors, which I was going to do to-morrow morning. We shall be glad at
any rate to have had you as our guest for a day, and shall all be sorry
at your leaving."
Percy at once rode over to the Residency.
"You are in luck, Groves," Mr. Fullarton said when he told him of the
order he had received. "There is nothing like getting to head-quarters;
it is there that honours and rewards fall thickest; and if Broadfoot
keeps you with him you may be sure that any recommendation he makes in
your favour will be attended to. I have heard this afternoon that the
Sikhs are certainly marching down towards Ferozepore, and are within a
few miles of the river. Of course they may not cross. Once or twice
before they have come down, but without crossing. Still, if they are in
earnest there is no doubt it means serious fighting, for the force at
Ferozepore is quite isolated and will at once be cut off if the Sikhs
cross near the town, and there will be no chance of relieving it until
we get together a force sufficient to give battle. Sit down a moment
and I will write a letter of introduction for you to Broadfoot; it will
put you on a pleasanter footing with him."
The next morning before sunrise Percy with his two followers rode into
the head-quarters camp. He had at Mr. Fullarton's recommendation bought
a pony, or "tat" as it is called, to carry his valises and his dress as
a young Sikh sirdar.
"I should stick to that, Groves; it may be of use to you. There is no
saying what work Broadfoot may give you."
Percy was, on his arrival, directed to the tent of the political agent.
When the orderly took in his name he was at once called in. "I did not
expect you so soon, Mr. Groves," Major Broadfoot said looking up; "nor
did I expect," he added smiling, "to see quite so young a man."
"I daresay not, sir," Percy replied. "This is a letter Mr. Fullarton
has given me for you."
"Sit down while I read it," the major said as he opened it. He read it
through. "Mr. Fullarton speaks of you in extremely high terms, Groves,
and as I know him well I am sure he would not praise unduly. Now tell
me what is the opinion of your uncle and the people about him as to the
state of affairs. Does he think that the Sikhs will be mad enough to
cross the Sutlej?"
"He has no doubt whatever about it, sir; he is convinced that the troops
have for a long time made up their minds to conquer the protected
states, and as they are completely masters of the situation in Lahore
there is nothing to prevent them doing so. Such was also the opinion of
all his native officers, and although we did not have much communication
with the people on the way down, all whom we did speak to seemed to
think that war was certain."
"The news we received from Lahore has always been the other way," Major
Broadfoot said. "I have received a message this morning to the same
effect, but Captain Nicholson reported yesterday from Ferozepore that a
considerable Sikh force had arrived within three miles of the river.
Orders have been sent for a general forward movement of the troops. Sir
Henry is going to ride over to Loodiana this morning to inspect the
force there."
"I have two followers, sir, who can be trusted to obtain any news you
may desire to get. If you like, one of them will cross the river and
make his way to the Sikh force opposite Ferozepore and find out its
strength and whether there is any intention of crossing; or if you
prefer it, I will go myself. I have always been accustomed to wear the
Sikh dress since I came out, and could, I think, pass without
suspicion."
"It is most important that we should obtain some definite news," Major
Broadfoot said, "and I am much obliged to you for your offer, but I do
not think I can entertain it. It is too great a risk for you to run to
go yourself, and the importance of the question is so great I should not
dare to forward information, which would perhaps involve the movements
of the whole army, merely upon the report of a native, however
trustworthy he may be."
"I do not believe there is any danger whatever in my going, sir. I
might take my two men with me, and should disguise myself in a dress
similar to theirs. My own, which is that of a young sirdar, might so
far attract attention that I might be questioned, while three of us in
ordinary soldiers' dress could move about without being noticed in any
way. That is just the sort of work that I came here to do, and my uncle
thought that as a boy I could pass unquestioned where a man could not do
so. One of my men is five- or six-and-thirty, so I could pass well
enough as his son if any questions were asked, which I don't think would
be the case."
"Well, Groves, if you are ready to go I do not think myself justified in
refusing your offer, as it is of such extreme importance to find out the
intentions of the Sikhs. When will you start?"
"I would give the horses an hour's rest, sir, and then I will be off, if
I can get a disguise by that time."
"That I can manage for you. I have numbers of natives in my pay, and
can get what you require, a native dress with shield, tulwar, and
matchlock, in a quarter of an hour. Ferozepore is twenty miles from
here, and the Sikh force some four miles farther; but, of course, you
won't be able to cross the river there, and must do it ten or twelve
miles higher up and then ride round. Are you well mounted?"
"Very well mounted, sir."
"Then I will get you a strong native 'tat.' Your being mounted on a
good horse would attract attention. Here," he went on, pointing to a
map, "is a point where the river is almost if not quite fordable for
cavalry; at any rate you will not have to swim your horses far. I
should advise you to make for that. It is as you see about ten miles
above Ferozepore. It is not at all likely to be guarded; and should it
be so, you could of course give out that you are natives of one of the
protected states, say of Putiala, making your way to join the Sikh army
that you hear is going to free you from the dominion of the English. As
you have at present no tent of your own, you had better come across here
in half an hour to make your change of clothes. I am myself going over
to Sir Henry's, and may be detained there some time, but I will tell my
servants to get breakfast ready for you. We must not send you off
fasting."
Three hours later Percy and his two followers arrived at the bank of the
Sutlej. They had been directed to the ford by a peasant in a village
near, and crossed without difficulty, being only obliged to swim their
horses for twenty or thirty yards in the middle of the stream. When
they reached the opposite bank they rode up to a small party of armed
Sikhs who were watching them. Percy had asked Bhop Lal to act as
spokesman.
"We hear that the army is going to cross the river and to sweep the
English away," he said, "and we have come over to join them. Our rajah
is all in favour of the Feringhees, but most of us are the other way,
and we were not going to stop quietly at home without taking a share in
the good work, so my brother and son have come off with me without
waiting to ask for leave. There are thousands of others who will do the
same as soon as they are sure that the army is really in the field; but
there has been so much talk about it for the last two years without
anything coming of it, that they are waiting to see if it is true this
time."
"It is quite true," one of the men replied. "There are ten thousand men
now opposite Ferozepore, and the rest are on their way down from Lahore.
There will be fifty thousand of them at least, with, they say, over a
hundred and fifty guns. What can the English do against them? They have
not ten thousand men they can put in the field, and these are scattered
over the country, and will be crushed before they can assemble."
"That they assuredly will," Bhop Lal agreed confidently. "Fifty thousand
men could sweep away every white soldier this side of the Jumna, and
there will be nothing to prevent them marching on to Delhi if they
choose."
"We shall see about that," the man replied. "Fifty thousand is only a
beginning, and there will be another fifty after them in a very short
time; and I for one don't see why we should not drive the Feringhees
altogether out of India."
"That is the way to talk," Shop Lal said cordially. "We shall always
have trouble till the last of them have gone, and who so fit as the
Sikhs to be masters in their place! How far is it to this camp you
speak of?"
"About twelve miles. Ride two miles farther and you will come upon a
broad road. Turn to the left, and it will bring you there."
"What are you doing here?"
"We have been sent here to see that none of the English horsemen cross
the river to gather news. There are two hundred of our cavalry a
quarter of a mile behind, and if we saw any of the Feringhee cavalry
coming they would be here to defend the ford before they could cross."
With a nod of farewell Bhop Lal and his two companions rode on. They
passed within a couple of hundred yards of the body of Sikh horsemen,
encamped in a grove. But there was no sign of movement among them, a
few figures sat talking together here and there, the rest had evidently
lain down to sleep the hours away in the shade.
*CHAPTER IX.*
*MOODKEE AND FEROZESHAH.*
Two hours after crossing the river, Percy with his two companions saw on
the plain the camp of the Sikhs. As they did not wish to enter until
evening, they turned off from the road and rode into a clump of thick
bush a quarter of a mile away, and there waited until sunset. Then they
mounted again and rode boldly into camp. With the exception of the
tents of a few of the military chiefs and sirdars, the troops were not
under canvas, although many had erected shelters of bushes or blankets.
Here and there some attempt at regularity marked the places where
regiments of the regular troops had established themselves. Here the
horses were picketed in line, but among the followers of the sirdars
every man had fastened up his horse just where it pleased him, without
the smallest attempt at order.
The new-comers chose a vacant spot at the edge of the encampment,
picketing their three horses together, and raised in front of them a
rough tent consisting of a couple of blankets supported by some sticks
they had cut in the bush. Here they lighted a fire and cooked a meal.
One or two of the Sikhs strolled across to question them, and Bhop Lal
and his comrades repeated the story that had been told at the ford,
which was accepted as perfectly satisfactory. They in turn asked a few
questions as to the various sirdars present, and as to which body they
had better attach themselves. When they had finished their meal they
sauntered off into the camp.
There was but one topic of conversation among the troops. They were to
cross the Sutlej, if not on the next day, on the one following. A
portion of the army was to besiege Ferozepore, while the rest marched
forward to sweep away the British forces at Loodiana and Umballa. It
was evident from their conversation that they greatly under-estimated
the British strength at each of these cantonments, and that the gradual
arrival of reinforcements had passed entirely unnoticed by the Sikhs on
the northern side of the Sutlej. They anticipated no difficulty
whatever in destroying the British forces at the first onset. Their
statement as to the number of troops who would take the field at once,
agreed with those of the soldiers at the ford, and they deemed that this
fifty thousand men would amply suffice to conquer the whole country
north of the Jumna, and that with their full fighting power they should
be able to overrun the whole of India.
"We have heard all that we want," Percy said to the men after they had
strolled for an hour in the Sikh camp. "We had best move quietly off at
once before the camp begins to get quiet. Our fire will have burnt out
by this time, and even if they should notice us moving, the men near
will suppose that we are merely shifting our quarters, and are moving
over to the sirdar we have decided to follow."