But it was always the same; and though time was when I could have
laughed as merrily as did that little Jenny Wren of the colonel's at
Harry's antics, I couldn't laugh now, because, it always seemed as if
they were made an excuse to get Miss Ross and her maid out with the
children.
A party of jugglers, or dancing-girls, or a man or two with pipes and
snakes, were all very well; but I've known clever parties come round,
and those I've named would hardly step out to look; and my heart, I
suppose it was, if it wasn't my mind, got very sore about that time, and
I used to get looking as evil at Harry Lant as Lieutenant Leigh did at
the captain.
But it was a dreary time that, after all, one from which we were
awakened in a sudden way, that startled us to a man.
First of all, there came a sort of shadowy rumour that something was
wrong with the men of a native regiment, something to do with their
caste; and before we had well realised that it was likely to be anything
serious, sharp and swift came one bit of news after another, that the
British officers in the native regiments had been shot down--here,
there, in all directions; and then we understood that what we had taken
for the flash of a solitary fire, was the firing of a big train, and
that there was a great mutiny in the land. And not, mind, the mutiny or
riot of a mob of roughs, but of men drilled and disciplined by British
officers, with leaders of their own caste, all well armed and provided
with ammunition; and the talk round our mess when we heard all this was,
How will it end?
I don't think there were many who did not realise the fact that
something awful was coming to pass. Measles grinned, he did, and said
that there was going to be an end of British tyranny in India, and that
the natives were only going to seize their own again; but the next
minute, although it was quite clean, he takes his piece out of the rack,
cleans it thoroughly all over again, fixes the bayonet, feels the point,
and then stands at the "present!"
"I think we can let 'em know what's what though, my lads, if they come
here," he says, with a grim smile; when Mrs Bantem, whose breath seemed
quite taken away before by the way he talked, jumped up quite
happy-like, laid her great hand upon his left side, and then, turning to
us, she says: "It's beating strong."
"What is?" says Bantem, looking puzzled.
"Measles' heart," says Mrs Bantem: "and I always knew it was in the
right place."
The next minute she gave Measles a slap on the back as echoed through
the place, sending him staggering forward; but he only laughed and said:
"Praise the saints, I ain't Bantem."
There was a fine deal of excitement, though, now. The colonel seemed to
wake up, and with him every officer, for we expected not only news but
orders every moment. Discipline, if I may say so, was buckled up tight
with the tongue in the last hole; provisions and water were got in;
sentries doubled, and a strange feeling of distrust and fear came upon
all, for we soon saw that the people of the place hung away from us, and
though, from such an inoffensive-looking lot as we had about us, there
didn't seem much to fear, yet there was no knowing what treachery we
might have to encounter, and as he had to think and act for others
beside himself, Colonel Maine--God bless him--took every possible
precaution against danger, then hidden, but which was likely to spring
into sight at any moment.
There were not many English residents at Begumbagh, but what there were
came into quarters directly; and the very next morning we learned
plainly enough that there was danger threatening our place by the
behaviour of the natives, who packed up their few things and filed out
of the town as fast as they could, so that at noonday the market-place
was deserted, and, save the few we had in quarters, there was not a
black face to be seen.
The next morning came without news; and I was orderly, and standing
waiting in the outer court close behind the colonel, who was holding a
sort of council of war with the officers, when a sentry up in the
broiling sun, on the roof, calls out that a horseman was coming; and
before very long, covered with sweat and dust, an orderly dragoon dashes
up, his horse all panting and blown, and then coming jingling and
clanking in with those spurs and that sabre of his, he hands despatches
to the colonel.
I hope I may be forgiven for what I thought then, but, as I watched his
ruddy face, while he read those despatches, and saw it turn all of a
sickly, greeny white, I gave him the credit of being a coward; and I was
not the only one who did so. We all knew that, like us, he had never
seen a shot fired in anger; and something like an angry feeling of
vexation came over me, I know, as I thought of what a fellow he would be
to handle and risk the lives of the four hundred men under his charge
there at Begumbagh.
"D'yer think I'd look like that?" says a voice close to my ear just
then. "D'yer think if I'd been made an officer, I'd ha' shewed the
white-feather like that?" And turning round sharp, I saw it was
Measles, who was standing sentry by the gateway; and he was so
disgusted, that he spat about in all directions, for he was a man who
didn't smoke, like any other Christian, but chewed his tobacco like a
sailor.
"Dyer," says the colonel, the next moment, and they closed up together,
but close to where we two stood--"Dyer," he says, "I never felt before
that it would be hard to do my duty as a soldier; but, God help me, I
shall have to leave Annie and the children." There were a couple of
tears rolling down the poor fellow's cheeks as he spoke, and he took
Captain Dyer's hand.
"Look at him! Look there!" whispers Measles again; and I kicked out
sharp behind, and hit him on the shin. "He's a pretty sort of a--"
He didn't say any more just then, for, like me, he was staggered by the
change that took place.
I think I've said Colonel Maine was a little, easy-going, pudgy man,
with a red face; but just then, as he stood holding Captain Dyer's hand,
a change seemed to come over him; he dropped the hand he had held,
tightened his sword-belt, and then took a step forward, to stand
thoughtful, with despatches in his left hand. It was then that I saw in
a moment that I had wronged him, and I felt as if I could have gone down
on the ground for him to have walked over me, for whatever he might have
been in peace, easy-going, careless, and fond of idleness and
good-living--come time for action, there he was with the true British
officer flashing out of his face, his lips pinched, his eyes flashing,
and a stern look upon his countenance that I had never seen before.
"Now then!" I says in a whisper to Measles. I didn't say anything
else, for he knew what I meant. "Now then--now then!"
"Well," says Measles then, in a whisper, "I s'pose women and children
will bring the soft out of a man at a time like this; but, why I what
did he mean by humbugging us like that!"
I should think Colonel Maine stood alone thoughtful and still in that
court-yard, with the sun beating down upon his muslin-covered
forage-cap, while you could slowly, and like a pendulum-beat, count
thirty. It was a tremendously hot morning, with the sky a bright clear
blue, and the shadows of a deep purply black cast down and cut as sharp
as sharp. It was so still, too, that you could hear the whirring,
whizzy noise of the cricket things, and now and then the champ, champ of
the horse rattling his bit as he stood outside the gateway. It was a
strange silence, that seemed to make itself felt; and then the colonel
woke into life, stuck those despatches into his sword-belt, gave an
order here, an order there, and the next minute--Tantaran-tantaran,
_Tantaran-tantaran_, Tantaran-Tantaran, _Tantaran-tay_--the bugle was
ringing out the assemblee, men were hurrying here and there, there was
the trampling of feet, the court-yard was full of busy figures, shadows
were passing backwards and forwards, and the news was abroad that our
regiment was to form a flying column with another, and that we were off
directly.
Ay, but it was exciting, that getting ready, and the time went like
magic before we formed a hollow square, and the colonel said a few words
to us, mounted as he was now, his voice firm as firm, except once, when
I saw him glance at an upper window, and then it trembled, but only for
an instant. His words were not many; and to this day, when I think of
the scene under that hot blue sky, they come ringing back; for it did
not seem to us that our old colonel was speaking, but a new man of a
different mettle, though it was only that the right stuff had been
sleeping in his breast, ready to be wakened by the bugle.
"My lads," he said, and to a man we all burst out into a ringing cheer,
when he took off his cap, and waved it round--"My lads, this is a sharp
call, but I've been expecting it, and it has not found us asleep. I
thank you for the smart way in which you have answered it, for it shews
me that a little easy-going on my part in the piping times of peace has
not been taken advantage of. My lads, these are stern times; and this
despatch tells me of what will bring the honest British blood into every
face, and make every strong man take a firm gripe of his piece as he
longs for the order to charge the mutinous traitors to their Queen, who,
taking her pay, sworn to serve her, have turned, and in cold blood
butchered their officers, slain women, and hacked to pieces innocent
babes. My lads, we are going against a horde of monsters; but I have
bad news--you cannot all go--"
There was a murmur here.
"That murmur is not meant," he continued; "and I know it will be
regretted when I explain myself. We have women here and children:
mine--yours--and they must be protected," (it was here that his voice
shook). "Captain Dyer's company will garrison the place till our
return, and to those men many of us leave all that is dear to us on
earth. I have spoken. God save the Queen!"
How that place echoed with the hearty "Hurray!" that rung out; and then
it was, "Fours right. March!" and only our company held firm, while I
don't know whether I felt disappointed or pleased, till I happened to
look up at one of the windows, to see Mrs Maine and Miss Ross, with
those two poor little innocent children clapping their hands with
delight at seeing the soldiers march away; one of them, the little girl,
with her white muslin and scarlet sash over her shoulder, being held up
by Lizzy Green; and then I did know that I was not disappointed, but
glad I was to stay.
But to shew you how a man's heart changes about when it is blown by the
hot breath of what you may call love, let me tell you that only half a
minute later, I was disappointed again at not going; and dared I have
left the ranks, I'd have run after the departing column, for I caught
Harry Lant looking up at that window, and I thought a handkerchief was
waved to him.
Next minute, Captain Dyer calls out, "Form four-deep. Right face.
March!" and he led us to the gateway, but only to halt us there, for
Measles, who was sentry, calls out something to him in a wild excited
way.
"What do you want, man?" says Captain Dyer.
"O sir, if you'll only let me exchange. 'Taint too late. Let me go,
captain."
"How dare you, sir!" says Captain Dyer sternly, though I could see
plainly enough it was only for discipline, for he was, I thought pleased
at Measles wanting to be in the thick of it. Then he shouts again to
Measles, "'Tention--present arms!" and Measles falls into his right
position for a sentry when troops are marching past. "March!" says the
captain again; and we marched into the market-place, and--all but those
told off for sentries--we were dismissed; and Captain Dyer then stood
talking earnestly to Lieutenant Leigh, for it had fallen out that they
two, with a short company of eight-and-thirty rank and file, were to
have the guarding of the women and children left in quarters at
Begumbagh.