BEGINS WITH A DISAPPOINTMENT, CONTINUES WITH A GREAT RECEPTION, AND ENDS
WITH A SERIES OF SURPRISES.
At the breakfast-table next morning a telegram was handed to Redpath.
There was nothing unusual in this. On the contrary, it seemed
peculiarly natural that telegrams should be frequent visitors at the
house of a telegraphist, but it was not so natural that Redpath should
first look at the missive with surprise, and then toss it across the
table to Sam.
"It is for you, Mr Shipton."
"For me? Impossible! I am supposed to be dead at home," exclaimed Sam,
tearing it open. "Oh, it's from Frank Hedley, and--well, he _has_ been
successful after all! Listen, Robin. Excuse me, Mrs Redpath. May I
read it aloud?"
"By all means," answered the pretty little woman, who would probably
have answered the same if he had asked leave to go to bed in his boots.
"`Your affair settled'"--continued Sam, reading.
"`Great Eastern starts almost immediately. Come without delay.'"
"How provoking!" exclaimed the pretty little woman. "I had counted on
having you a fortnight at least."
"And I had counted on showing you some capital sport in our jungles,
where we have all sorts of large game. But of course you cannot do
otherwise than obey the summons at once."
"Of course not," said Sam and Robin together.
Flinn left the room and entered the servants' quarters with something
like a groan.
"Sure it's bad luck has followed me iver since I left owld Ireland."
"What's wrong with you?" asked Slagg, looking up from the slice of
peacock breast with which he was regaling himself.
"The matter? Och, it's bad luck's the matter. Hasn't our frindship
only just begood, an' isn't it goin' to be cut short all of a suddint,
niver more to be renewed?"
In pathetic tones, and with many Hibernian comments, the poor man
communicated the news brought by the telegram. But regrets were of no
avail; the orders were peremptory; the chance of returning to England in
such circumstances too good to be lightly thrown away; so that same
forenoon saw the whole party, with the skin of the royal tiger, on their
way back to the city of Bombay.
It is easier to imagine than to describe the state of mind into which
they were thrown when, on returning to their hotel, they discovered the
perfidy of Stumps. Fortunately, they had enough of money left to
discharge the hotel bill, and redeem their property.
"You're quite sure of the name of the vessel he sailed in?" asked Sam of
the waiter who had so cleverly obtained, and so cautiously retained, his
information as to the proceedings of Stumps.
"Quite sure, sir," replied the waiter. "The ship's name was Fairy
Queen, bound for the port of London, and the thief--the gen'lem'n, I
mean--shipped in the name of James Gibson."
Having received the "consideration" which he had anticipated, and had
afterwards given up as lost, the waiter retired, and Sam, with his
friends, went to inquire after the great cable with which they now felt
themselves to be specially connected.
"Letta," said Robin, as they went along, "you and I must part for a
time."
"Oh! must we?" asked the child, with a distressed look.
"Yes, but only for a _very_ short time, dear," returned Robin. "You
know we cannot get you a berth on board the Great Eastern. They won't
even take you as chief engineer or captain!"
"But why not as the captain's daughter--or his wife?" said Letta, who
thoroughly understood and enjoyed a joke.
"Because, Letta, you are engaged to me," replied Robin, with an offended
look.
"O, yes; I forgot that. Well?"
Well, what we have arranged is this. I have met with many kind people
here, some of whom have been greatly interested in your story, and one
of them--a very nice lady, who is going home--has offered to take you
with her, and deliver you safely to my mother in England, there to wait
till I come home and marry you.
"How nice!" exclaimed Letta; "and you'll be sure to come home soon?"
"Yes, quite sure, and very soon."
This arrangement, being deemed satisfactory, was afterwards carried into
effect, and Letta sailed a few days later in one of the regular steamers
for England _via_ the Suez Canal.
Meanwhile the Great Eastern still lay at her moorings, completing the
arrangements for her voyage.
During this period our hero lived in a whirl of excitement. It seemed
to himself as if he were the subject of an amazing but by no means
unpleasant dream, the only dark spots in which were the departure of
Letta and the depravity of John Shanks, _alias_ James Gibson, _alias_
Stumps.
"Oh! Stumps, Stumps," he soliloquised, sadly, one day while standing on
"the green" in the unromantic shade of a huge bale of cotton, "how could
you behave so after being our trusted comrade so long!"
"Never mind Stumps just now," said Sam Shipton, making his appearance at
the moment, "but come along with me at once, for we have received an
invitation, through my good and remarkable friend Frank Hedley, to the
grand entertainment to be given to-night at the palace of the chief and
Bahee Sahib of Junkhundee."
"And who may that be?" asked Robin, with an incredulous smile.
"What! know you not the great chief whose praise is in the mouths of
all--Hindu, Mohammedan, Jew, and Gentile, because he feeds and
entertains them all like a prince?"
"He is the creation of your own brain, Sam. I fancy."
"No, indeed," protested Sam, earnestly, "I do not jest. The Bahee Sahib
is a wealthy young Mahratta chieftain, who has been consistently loyal
to us, and who entertains mixed parties of Englishmen and natives in
European style, and does his best to break down the barriers of
prejudice and caste. He has been hospitably received on board the Great
Eastern, it seems, and is now getting up a grand affair in honour of
Captain Halpin and his officers. So, come along."
"But, my dear Sam, you forget, we have not a dress suit between us, and
in the present condition of our finances it would be folly to--"
"Fiddlesticks, Robin. We have only to make a couple of turbans out of
bath-towels and a few peacock feathers; turn Persian shawls, which we
can borrow, into kilts, put on slippers, bare our legs and paint them
with red and blue stripes crossed, to indicate something of Scottish
Highland origin, anoint our noses with blue bear's-grease, and--"
"Nonsense, Sam; be serious if you can, and consider what we are really
to do."
"You're so impatient, Robin. The thing has all been considered for us.
We have nothing to do but accept our fate. Frank Hedley, who is exactly
your size, has a dress suit which he will lend you, and a friend of his,
who happens to be exactly and conveniently my size, has also a suit, and
is equally accommodating. Come now, for time presses, and I am told the
Bahee's wife loves punctuality--but she's liberal-minded like her
husband, and makes allowance for laziness, especially in hot weather.
She is a regular trump, it seems, and quite amazed our electricians,
during her visit to the big ship, by her intelligent comprehension of
all they explained to her. She is an accomplished equestrian, and
dresses as a native princess, with a huge ornament in her nose, but does
not disdain to mingle with English ladies in the Bombay Rotten Row, and
uses a European saddle."
The account which Sam had thus slightly sketched was more than borne out
by the facts that evening. The young Rajah's reception-rooms, blazing
with light, were decorated with all that the wealth of fancy could
suggest or the wealth of precious metal procure, while music and perfume
filled the air and intoxicated the senses.
For some time Sam and Robin moved slowly about in the crowded rooms,
finding themselves rubbing shoulders, now with Eastern aristocrats in
richest costume and glittering jewels, now with England's warriors in
scarlet and blue; sometimes with Parsees, Hindus, Mohammedans, and Jews
in their characteristic garbs; at other times with European civilians,
like themselves, in sober black.
It was a bewildering scene, and the loud continuous murmur of many
voices, chattering in many tongues, did not tend to decrease the
bewilderment.
"What are they about over there?" said Robin, directing his companion's
attention to a room in which the people appeared to be observing
something with great attention.
"I don't know. Let's go and see," said Sam.
A little polite pushing brought them into an apartment in which an
English professor of conjuring, who had been engaged for the occasion,
was exhibiting his tricks. They were poor enough, and would not have
commanded much applause from any audience, except one that had met to
enjoy whatever chanced to be provided.
In another room, however, they found a performer of much greater
capacity--a man who possessed considerable powers as a musician, low
comedian, and local satirist; he was noted for his delineations of
native character, and succeeded in making the Parsees laugh heartily at
his caricature of the Hindus, while he convulsed the Hindus with his
clever skits on the Parsees. He also made effective reference to the
Great Eastern and her work, bringing out the humorous aspects of
telegraphy and of quick communication between India and England.
"Come, let's go and see if we can find anything to eat," said Sam, when
tired of this man.
"Who is that?" asked Robin, as they moved through the crowd.
"Why, that's the Bahee himself. See, he has got hold of Captain Halpin,
and seems greatly pleased to lead him about."
The Rajah did indeed exhibit much satisfaction in his beaming brown face
at having got hold of so noted a character as the commander of the
monster ship, and it was pleasant to see the almost childlike glee, with
which, taking the captain by the hand, he threaded his way through the
crowd, introducing him right and left to his friends. Not less pleasant
was it to observe the lively interest, with which the natives regarded
the captain when they learned who he was.
At this point in the evening's proceedings, a gentleman in civilian
costume came up to Sam Shipton, and asked him if he were acquainted with
Mr Davis--one of the petty officers of the Great Eastern.
"I know him slightly," said Sam.
"He has got into trouble, sir," said the stranger, "and begged me to
find you, if possible, and take you to him. I have been on board the
Great Eastern looking for you, and was directed here."
"That's strange," returned Sam, "I have seldom spoken to the man. Are
you sure he did not send you for some one else--one of his mess-mates?"
"Quite sure, sir. And he bade me urge you to go quickly, else you may
be too late."
"Well--lead the way. Come, Robin, I'm sorry to quit this gay and
festive scene--especially before supper--but it can't be helped. You'll
go with me, and we can return together."
The stranger seemed to hesitate a moment, as if annoyed at Robin being
thus asked to go, but, as if quickly making up his mind, led them out of
the Rajah's residence, and, after a smart walk, conducted them into one
of the poorer districts of the city.
"What sort of trouble has the man got into?" asked Sam as they went
along.
"I really do not know. He will tell you when you see him, I suppose. I
am only a casual acquaintance of his, and came on this errand to oblige
him, solely because he seemed in great mental distress and was very
urgent."
Soon the conversation turned upon cable-laying, and, finding that Robin
had been at the laying of the Atlantic cable of 1856, the stranger
inquired about the attempts that had been made to injure that cable.
"Tell me, now, would you think it a sin," he said, with a peculiar look
at Sam, "to drive a nail into the cable so as to destroy it, if you were
offered the sum of ten thousand pounds?"
"Of course I would," said Sam, looking at his conductor with surprise.
"I wonder that you should ask the question."
"Why should you wonder," returned the man with a smile, "at any question
which aims at the investigation of that great enigma styled the human
mind? I am fond of the study of character, and of those principles of
good and evil which influence men. Under given circumstances and
conditions, the commission of a certain sin is greatly more blameworthy
than the commission of the same sin under different conditions and
circumstances. Do you not think so?"
"Of course I do," said Sam. "The man who, having been born and brought
up among pickpockets, and under strong temptation commits a theft, is
not nearly so guilty as the man would be who, having been trained under
refined and Christian influences, should commit a similar theft; but I
do not see the application of your argument, for your question did not
refer to the relative depth of guilt, but to the sinfulness or innocence
of a certain dastardly act for a tempting sum of money."
"I may not have put my question very philosophically," returned the
stranger, "but I would like to have your opinion as to whether you
think, under _any_ circumstances of distress--poverty, for instance,
with those dependent on one dying of hunger--a man would be justified in
destroying the power of a telegraph cable for a sum of money--part, let
us suppose, paid in advance, and the remainder after the deed had been
accomplished."
"My opinion is that no circumstances whatever would justify such an
act," said Sam with indignation. "Don't you agree with me, Robin?"
"Of _course_ I do," said Robin with even greater indignation.
"And _I_ quite agree with you, gentlemen," said the stranger, with a
wider smile than before; "but I like to have my opinions corroborated or
combated by other minds. We have now reached our destination; please
follow me, and stoop a little, for the ceiling of the passage is rather
low, and the poor people here cannot afford to light it."
The recent discussion had diverted Sam's mind from the character of the
place into which he had been led, but a suspicion which had been growing
now assailed him forcibly.
"Keep your stick handy," he whispered to Robin, at the same time
grasping more firmly a stout cudgel which he carried.
These precautions seemed needless, however, for the stranger, opening
with a latch-key a door at the further end of the dark passage, ushered
them into a dimly lighted room, where about a dozen men were seated
round a table drinking and smoking.
The men rose on the entrance of the visitors and received them with
courtesy.
"Mr Davis will be glad to see you, sir," said one; "he has been in much
anxiety, but here he comes and will speak for himself."
A door at the other end of the room opened, and a tall slightly-built
man entered. Sam saw at once that he was not Davis.
"Fool!" growled the man, with a savage look at the stranger who had
conducted them there, "you have brought the _wrong man_!"
"I had already begun to suspect as much," returned the other, with a
light laugh.
Swallowing his disgust, apparently with an effort, the slim man turned
to Sam and said, "A mistake has been made, sir. One or two of my
friends here will conduct you to any part of the city you may wish to go
to."
"I require no assistance," said Sam, flushing with sudden indignation.
"I believe that you are conspirators, and will take particular note of
your dwelling, in order that I may spoil your game."
He was about to turn and quit the room, when he was suddenly seized from
behind by two powerful men, who seemed to have come on the scene by
rising through the floor! At the same moment Robin was similarly
secured. They did not, however, submit tamely. Both were strong-bodied
as well as high-spirited, and Sam was large as well as strong.
But what were their powers against such odds! For a few seconds they
struggled furiously. Then, feeling that their efforts were fruitless,
they ceased.
"It is as well to go quietly, my fine fellows," said the slim man in a
slightly sarcastic tone. "We are not only more than a match for you,
but we happen to belong to a class of gentlemen who don't allow trifles
to stand in their way. At the same time we object to murder when we can
get along without it. Some of us will therefore conduct you to another
part of the city. Now, I give you fair warning, if you struggle or try
to make a noise on the way, we will silence you in a manner that will
effectually keep you quiet for ever. Just have your knives handy, men,
and don't exercise forbearance if these gentlemen turn out to be fools."
A prick in their necks by the point of some sharp instrument emphasised
these words to Robin and Sam, and, at the same time, proved that the
subordinates were quite ready, perhaps even anxious, to obey their
superior. They suffered themselves, therefore, to be blindfolded, and
led out of the house.
Of course once or twice they both thought of making a sudden struggle
and endeavouring to throw off their captors, but the vice-like strength
of the fingers that held them, and the recollection of the sharp
instruments near their necks induced discretion; besides, the absence of
the sound of footsteps told them that they could not count on aid from
passers-by, even if the dwellers in such a region had been willing to
assist them, which was not probable.
After passing quickly along several streets, the men who led them
stopped and relaxed their hold.
"Now, you stand quiet for half a minute," said one of them gruffly;
"there's a knife close to each of your spines at this moment."
Thus warned, the captives stood still for nearly a minute. Then Sam
lost patience.
"Well," he said, angrily, "how long do you mean to keep us here?"
Receiving no reply, he suddenly pulled the handkerchief from his eyes
and assumed the pugilistic attitude with the celerity of one whose life
may depend on his action, but the only enemy to be seen was Robin, who,
having also pulled down the handkerchief, stood staring at his comrade
in mute surprise.
"They're gone!" cried Sam, bursting into a fit of laughter. "The
villains! The scoundrels! But who can they be? I fear there can be
little doubt as to what mischief they are up to."
"We have not the smallest clue to trace them by," said Robin, with a
vexed expression.
"Not the smallest. I don't even know what quarter of the town we are in
now," returned Sam.
"The handkerchiefs!" exclaimed Robin with sudden animation.
"Well, what of them?"
"They--they may have names in the corners."
Again the risible Sam burst into a loud laugh, as the idea of scoundrels
possessing any handkerchiefs of their own at all, much less having their
names marked in the corners; and poor Robin, whose memories of maternal
care had prompted the thought, felt some degree of confusion, which was
deepened when he discovered that the kerchiefs, with which their eyes
had been bound, were their own.
They were startled by a gruff voice demanding to know what they were
laughing at, and kicking up such a row at that time of the morning!
It was one of the guardians of the night, who became very polite on
drawing nearer and being informed, in a mild voice, by Sam that they had
lost their way and would be much indebted for guidance, for Sam thought
it best to say nothing about their adventure until they had had ample
time to think it over and decide what was best to be done.
Having been directed how to go, having lost themselves a second time,
and been directed again by another guardian, they found themselves at
last in the neighbourhood of the port, and here the sound of loud
voices, as if engaged in some nocturnal orgies, was heard in the
distance.
"As we seem in for a night of adventure," said Sam, "we may as well
accept our fate, and go see what it's all about."
"Agreed," said Robin.
Hurrying forward, they came upon a remarkable and picturesque scene.
The engineers of the Great Eastern had chosen the previous day for the
laying of the mile of land-line, with which the cable was to be
connected. The burying of it in its appointed home had commenced at
half-past six in the evening and had continued all through the night.
It was about 2 a.m. when our adventurers came upon the scene. The
trench was cut through ground on which a number of soldiers were
encamped, whose white tents looked ghostlike in the feeble star-light,
and lines of naked natives were seen, waving lanterns, pushing along the
mysterious cable, or, with hands and feet busily pressing down the loose
soil that covered the buried portion.
The whole operation was conducted with a superabundance of noise, for
the burying of a rope in a trench three feet deep was in itself such a
tremendous joke to the coolies, that they entered upon it with much
excitement as a sort of unusual piece of fun. That they were in some
degree also impressed with the mysterious and important object of their
work might have been gathered from their chant:--"Good are the
cable-wallahs, great are their names; good are the cable-wallahs, wah!
wah! wah! great are the cable-wallahs, wah!" which they continued
without intermission all through the night, to their own intense delight
and to the annoyance no doubt of the military unfortunates who were
encamped on the ground.
Besides the naked fellows who, in their excitement and activity,
resembled good-humoured, brown demons, there were many other figures in
English dress moving about, directing and encouraging, running from
point to point, flitting to and fro like wills-o'-the-wisp, for all bore
lights, and plunged ever and anon out of sight in the trench. Between
three and four o'clock the work was completed; tests were taken, the
portion of cable was pronounced perfect, and communication was thus
established between the cable-house and Rampart Row. This was the first
link in the great chain of submarine telegraphy between India and
England.
"Now, Robin," said Sam, with a tremendous yawn, "as we've seen the first
act in the play, it is time, I think, to go home to bed."
With a yawn that rivalled that of his comrade, Robin admitted the
propriety of the proposal, and, half an hour later, they turned in, to
sleep--"perchance to dream!"