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diff --git a/41489-8.txt b/41489-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index a243f3d..0000000 --- a/41489-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,16031 +0,0 @@ - ONE OF CLIVE'S HEROES - - - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost -no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it -under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this -eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license. - - - -Title: One of Clive's Heroes -Author: Herbert Strang -Release Date: November 25, 2012 [EBook #41489] -Language: English -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ONE OF CLIVE'S HEROES *** - - - - -Produced by Al Haines. - - - - -[Illustration: Cover] - - - -[Illustration: THE SUBAHDAR FALLS INTO THE TRAP.] - - - - - ONE OF CLIVE'S HEROES - - A Story of the Fight for India - - - By - HERBERT STRANG - - - - HUMPHREY MILFORD - OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS - LONDON, EDINBURGH, GLASGOW - TORONTO, MELBOURNE, CAPE TOWN, BOMBAY - - - - - Copyright, 1906, by the Bobbs Merrill Company, in - the United States of America - - - REPRINTED 1938 IN GREAT BRITAIN BY R. CLAY AND SONS, LTD., - BUNGAY, SUFFOLK. - - - - - Preface - - -I have not attempted in this story to give a full account of the career -of Lord Clive. That has been done by my old friend Mr. Henty in _With -Clive in India_. It has always seemed to me that a single book provides -too narrow a canvas for the display of a life so full and varied as -Clive's; while a story is bound to suffer, structurally and in detail, -from the compression of the events of a life-time into so restricted a -space. I have therefore chosen two outstanding events in the history of -India and of Clive--the capture of Gheria and the Battle of Plassey; and -have made them the pivot of a personal story of adventure. The whole -action of the present work is comprised in the years from 1754 to 1757. - -But while this book is thus rather a romance with a background of -history than an historical biography with an admixture of fiction, the -reader may be assured that the information its pages contain is -accurate. I have drawn freely upon the standard authorities: Orme's -_History_, Ives' _Voyage_, Grose's _Voyage_, the lives of Clive by -Malcolm and by Colonel Malleson, and many other works, in particular the -monumental volumes, by Mr. S. C. Hill recently published, _Bengal in -1756-7_, which give a very full, careful and clear account of that -notable year, with a mass of most useful and interesting documents. The -maps of Bengal, Fort William, and Plassey in the present volume are -taken from Mr. Hill's work, by kind permission of the Secretary of State -for India. I have to thank also Mr. T. P. Marshall, of Newport, for -some valuable notes on the history and topography of Market Drayton. -For Indian words and names the Hunterian spelling has been adopted in -the main. - -For several years I myself lived within a stone's throw of the scene of -the tragedy of the Black Hole; and though at that time I had no -intention of writing a story for boys, I hope that the impressions of -Indian life, character, and scenery then gained have helped to create an -atmosphere and to give reality to my picture. History is more than a -mere record of events; I shall be satisfied if the reader gets from -these pages an idea, however imperfect, of the conditions of life in -which our empire-builders laboured in India a hundred and fifty years -ago. - -HERBERT STRANG. - - - - - Contents - - - CHAPTER THE FIRST - -In which the Court Leet of Market Drayton entertains Colonel Robert -Clive; and our hero makes an acquaintance - - - CHAPTER THE SECOND - -In which our hero overhears a conversation; and, meeting with the -expected, is none the less surprised and offended - - - CHAPTER THE THIRD - -In which Mr. Marmaduke Diggle talks of the Golden East; and our hero -interrupts an interview, and dreams dreams - - - CHAPTER THE FOURTH - -In which blows are exchanged; and our hero, setting forth upon his -travels, scents an adventure - - - CHAPTER THE FIFTH - -In which Job Grinsell explains; and three visitors come by night to the -_Four Alls_ - - - CHAPTER THE SIXTH - -In which the reader becomes acquainted with William Bulger and other -sailor men; and our hero as a Squire of dames acquits himself with -credit - - - CHAPTER THE SEVENTH - -In which Colonel Clive suffers a defeat hitherto unrecorded; and our -hero finds food for reflection - - - CHAPTER THE EIGHTH - -In which several weeks are supposed to elapse; and our hero is -discovered in the doldrums - - - CHAPTER THE NINTH - -In which the _Good Intent_ makes a running fight; and Mr. Toley makes a -suggestion - - - CHAPTER THE TENTH - -In which our hero arrives in the Golden East; and Mr. Diggle presents -him to a native prince - - - CHAPTER THE ELEVENTH - -In which the Babu tells the story of King Vikramâditya; and the -discerning reader may find more than appears on the surface - - - CHAPTER THE TWELFTH - -In which our hero is offered freedom at the price of honour; and Mr. -Diggle finds that he has no monopoly of quotations - - - CHAPTER THE THIRTEENTH - -In which Mr. Diggle illustrates his argument; and there are strange -doings in Gheria Harbour - - - CHAPTER THE FOURTEENTH - -In which seven bold men light a big bonfire; and the Pirate finds our -hero a bad bargain - - - CHAPTER THE FIFTEENTH - -In which our hero weathers a storm; and prepares for squalls - - - CHAPTER THE SIXTEENTH - -In which a mutiny is quelled in a minute; and our Babu proves himself a -man of war - - - CHAPTER THE SEVENTEENTH - -In which our hero finds himself among friends; and Colonel Clive -prepares to astonish Angria - - - CHAPTER THE EIGHTEENTH - -In which Angria is astonished; and our hero begins to pay off old scores - - - CHAPTER THE NINETEENTH - -In which the scene changes; the dramatis personĉ remaining the same - - - CHAPTER THE TWENTIETH - -In which there are recognitions and explanations; and our hero meets one -Coja Solomon, of Cossimbazar - - - CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FIRST - -In which Coja Solomon finds dishonesty the worse policy; and a journey -down the Hugli little to his liking - - - CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SECOND - -In which is given a full, true, and particular account Of the Battle of -the Carts - - - CHAPTER THE TWENTY-THIRD - -In which there are many moving events; and our hero finds himself a -cadet of John Company - - - CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FOURTH - -In which the danger of judging by appearance is notably exemplified - - - CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FIFTH - -In which our hero embarks on a hazardous mission; and Monsieur Sinfray's -khansaman makes a confession - - - CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SIXTH - -In which presence of mind is shown to be next best to absence of body - - - CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SEVENTH - -In which an officer of the Nawab disappears; and Bulger reappears - - - CHAPTER THE TWENTY-EIGHTH - -In which Captain Barker has cause to rue the day when he met Mr. Diggle; -and our hero continues to wipe off old scores - - - CHAPTER THE TWENTY-NINTH - -In which our hero does not win the Battle of Plassey; but, where all do -well, gains as much glory as the rest - - - CHAPTER THE THIRTIETH - -In which Coja Solomon reappears; and gives our hero valuable information - - - CHAPTER THE THIRTY-FIRST - -In which friends meet, and part; and our hero hints a proposal - - - CHAPTER THE THIRTY-SECOND - -In which the curtain falls, to the sound of bells; and our hero comes to -his own - - - - - CHAPTER THE FIRST - - -*In which the Court Leet of Market Drayton entertains Colonel Robert -Clive; and our hero makes an acquaintance.* - - -One fine autumn evening, in the year 1754, a country cart jogged -eastwards into Market Drayton at the heels of a thickset -shaggy-fetlocked and broken-winded cob. The low tilt, worn and -ill-fitting, swayed widely with the motion, scarcely avoiding the hats -of the two men who sat side by side on the front seat, and who, to any -one watching their approach, would have appeared as dark figures in a -tottering archway, against a background of crimson sky. - -As the vehicle jolted through Shropshire Street, the creakings of its -unsteady wheels mingled with a deep humming, as of innumerable bees, -proceeding from the heart of the town. Turning the corner by the -butchers' bulks into the High Street, the cart came to an abrupt stop. -In front, from the corn-market, a large wooden structure in the centre -of the street, to the _Talbot Inn_, stretched a dense mass of people, -partly townsfolk, as might be discerned by their dress, partly country -folk who, having come in from outlying villages to market, had -presumably been kept in the town by their curiosity or the fair weather. - -"We'n better goo round about, measter," said the driver to the passenger -at his side. "Summat's afoot down yander." - -"You're a wise man, to be sure. Something's afoot, as you truly say. -And being troubled from my youth up with an inquiring nose, I'll e'en -step forward and smell out the occasion. Do you bide here, my Jehu, -till I come back." - -"Why, I will then, measter, but my name binna Jehu. 'Tis plain Tummas." - -"You don't say so! Now I come to think of it, it suits you better than -Jehu, for the Son of Nimshi drove furiously. Well, Tummas, I will not -keep you long; this troublesome nose of mine, I dare say, will soon be -satisfied." - -By this time he had slipped down from his seat, and was walking towards -the throng. Now that he was upon his feet, he showed himself to be more -than common tall, spare, and loose-jointed. His face was lean and -swarthy, his eyes black and restless; his well-cut lips even now wore -the same smile as when he mischievously misnamed his driver. Though he -wore the usual dress of the Englishman of his day--frock, knee-breeches, -and buckle-shoes, none of them in their first youth--there was a -something outlandish about him, in the bright yellow of his neckcloth -and the red feather stuck at a jaunty angle into the riband of his hat; -and Tummas, as he looked curiously after his strange passenger, shook -his head, and bit the straw in his mouth, and muttered: - -"Ay, it binna on'y the nose, 't binna on'y the nose, with his Jehus an' -such." - -Meanwhile the man strode rapidly along, reached the fringe of the crowd, -and appeared to make his way through its mass without difficulty, -perhaps by reason of his commanding height, possibly by the aforesaid -quaintness of his aspect, and the smile which forbade any one to regard -him as an aggressor. He went steadily on until he came opposite to the -_Talbot Inn_. At that moment a stillness fell upon the crowd; every -voice was hushed; every head was craned towards the open windows of the -inn's assembly-room. - -[Sidenote: Reminiscences] - -Gazing with the rest, the stranger saw a long table glittering under the -soft radiance of many candles and surrounded by a numerous company--fat -and thin, old and young, red-faced and pale, gentle and simple. At the -end farthest from the street one figure stood erect--a short, round, -rubicund little man, wearing a gown of rusty black, one thumb stuck into -his vest, and a rosy benignity in the glance with which he scanned the -table. He threw back his head, cleared his tight throat sonorously, and -began, in tones perhaps best described as treacly, to address the seated -company, with an intention also towards the larger audience without. - -"Now, neebours all, we be trim and cosy in our insides, and 'tis time -fur me to say summat. I be proud, that I be, as it falls to me, bein' -bailiff o' this town, to ax ya all to drink the good health of our -honoured townsman an' guest. I ha' lived hereabout, boy an' man, fur a -matter o' fifty year, an' if so be I lived fifty more I couldna be a -prouder man than I bin this night. Boy an' man, says I. Ay, I knowed -our guest when he were no more'n table high. Well I mind him, that I -do, comin' by this very street to school; ay, an' he minds me too, I -warrant. I see him now, I do, skippin' along street fresh an' -nimble-like, his eyne chock full o' mischief, lookin' round fur to see -some poor soul to play a prank on. It do feel strange-like to have him -a-sittin' by my elbow to-day. Many's the tale I could tell o' his doin' -an' our sufferin'. Why, I mind a poor lump of a prentice as I wunst -had, a loon as never could raise a keek: poor soul, he bin underground -this many year. Well, as I were sayin', this prentice o' mine were -allers bein' baited by the boys o' the grammar-school. I done my best -for him, spoke them boys fair an' soft, but bless ya, 'twas no good; -they baited him worse'n ever. So one day I used my stick to um. Next -mornin', I was down in my bake-hus, makin' my batch ready fur oven, -when, oothout a word o' warnin', up comes my two feet behind, down I -goes head fust into my flour barrel, and them young----hem! the clergy -be present--them youngsters dancin' round me like forty mad merryandrews -at a fair." - -A roar of laughter greeted the anecdote. - -"Ay, neebours," resumed the bailiff, "we can laugh now, you an' me, but -theer's many on ya could tell o your own mishappenin's if ya had a mind -to 't. As fur me, I bided my time. One day I cotched the leader o' -them boys nigh corn-market, an' I laid him across the badgerin' stone, -and walloped him nineteen-twenty--hee! hee! D'ya mind that, General?" - -He turned to the guest at his right hand, who sat with but the glimmer -of a smile, crumbling one of Bailiff Malkin's rolls on the table-cloth. - -"But theer," continued the speaker, "that be nigh twenty year ago, an' -the shape o' my strap binna theer now, I warrant. Three skins ha' -growed since then--hee! hee! Who'd ha' thought, neebours, as that young -limb as plagued our very lives out 'ud ha' bin here to-day, a general, -an' a great man, an' a credit to his town an' country? Us all thought -as he'd bring his poor feyther's grey hairs in sorrow to the grave. An' -when I heerd as he'd bin shipped off to the Injies--well, thinks I, that -bin the last we'll hear o' Bob Clive. But bless ya! all eggs binna -addled. General Clive here--'twere the Injun sun what hatched he, an' -binna he, I ax ya, a rare young fightin' cock? Ay, and a good breed -too. A hunnerd year ago theer was a Bob Clive as med all our -grandfeythers quake in mortal fear, a terrible man o' war was he. They -wanted to put 'n into po'try an' the church sarvice. - - From Wem and from Wyche - An' from Clive o' the Styche, - Good Lord, deliver us. - -That's what they thought o' the Bob Clive o' long ago. Well, this Bob -Clive now a-sittin' at my elbow be just as desp'rate a fighter, an' -thankful let us all be, neebours, as he does his fightin' wi' the -black-faced Injuns an' the black-hearted French, an' not the peaceful -bide-at-homes o' Market Drayton." - -The little bailiff paused to moisten his lips. From his audience arose -feeling murmurs of approval. - -"Ya known what General Clive ha' done," he resumed. "'Twas all read out -o' prent by the crier in corn-market. An' the grand folks in Lun'on ha' -give him a gowd sword, an' he bin hob-a-nob wi' King Jarge hisself. An' -us folks o' Market Drayton take it proud, we do, as he be come to see us -afore he goes back to his duty. Theer's a' example fur you boys. Theer -be limbs o' mischief in Market Drayton yet. Ay, I see tha, 'Lijah -Notcutt, a-hangin' on to winder theer. I know who wringed the neck o' -Widder Peplow's turkey. An' I see tha too, 'Zekiel Podmore; I know who -broke the handle o' town pump. If I cotch ya at your tricks I'll -leather ya fust an' clap ya in the stocks afterwards, sure as my name be -Randle Malkin. But as I wan sayin', if ya foller th' example o' General -Clive, an' turn yer young sperits into the lawful way--why, mebbe there -be gowd swords an' mints o' money somewheers fur ya too. Well now, I -bin talkin' long enough, an' to tell ya the truth I be dry as a whistle, -so I'll ax ya all to lift yer glasses, neebours, an' drink the good -health o' General Clive. So theer!" - -[Sidenote: "General Clive!" - -As the worthy bailiff concluded his speech, the company primed their -glasses, rose, and drank the toast with enthusiasm. Lusty cheers broke -from the drier throats outside; caps were waved, rattles whirled, -kettles beaten, with a vigour that could not have been exceeded if the -general loyalty had been stirred by the presence of King George himself. -Only one man in the crowd held his peace. The stranger remained -opposite to the window, silent, motionless, looking now into the room, -now round upon the throng, with the same smile of whimsical amusement. -Only once did his manner change; the smile faded, his lips met in a -straight line, and he made a slight rearward movement, seeming at the -same moment to lose something of his height. It was when the guest of -the evening stood up to reply: a young man, looking somewhat older than -his twenty-nine years, his powdered hair crowning a strong face, with -keen, deep-set eyes, full lips and masterful chin. He wore a belaced -purple coat; a crimson sash crossed his embroidered vest; a diamond -flashed upon his finger. Letting his eyes range slowly over the flushed -faces of the diners, he waited until the bailiff had waved down the -untiring applauders without; then, in a clear voice, began: - -"Bailiff Malkin, my old friends----" - -But his speech was broken in upon by a sudden commotion in the street. -Loud cries of a different tenor arose at various points; the boys who -had been hanging upon the window-ledge dropped to the ground; the crowd -surged this way and that, and above the mingled clamour sounded a wild -and fearful squeal that drew many of the company to their feet and -several in alarm to the window. Among these the bailiff, red now with -anger, shook his fist at the people and demanded the meaning of the -disturbance. A small boy, his eyes round with excitement, piped up: - -"An't please yer worship, 'tis a wild Injun come from nowheer an' doin' -all manner o' wickedness." - -"A wild Injun! Cotch him! Ring the 'larum bell! Put him in the -stocks!" - -But the bailiff's commands passed unheeded. The people were thronging -up the street, elbowing each other, treading on each other's toes, -yelling, booing, forgetful of all save the strange coincidence that, on -this evening of all others, the banquet in honour of Clive, the Indian -hero, had been interrupted by the sudden appearance of a live Indian in -their very midst. - -A curious change had come over the demeanour of the stranger who -hitherto had been so silent, so detached in manner, so unmoved. He was -now to be seen energetically forcing his way towards the outskirts of -the crowd, heaving, hurling, his long arms sweeping obstacles aside. -His eyes flashed fire upon the yokels scurrying before him, a vitriolic -stream of abuse scorched their faces as he bore them down. At length he -stopped suddenly, caught a hulking farmer by the shoulder, and with a -violent twist and jerk flung him headlong among his fellows. Released -from the man's grasp, a small negro boy, his eyes starting, his breast -heaving with terror, sprang to the side of his deliverer, who soothingly -patted his woolly head, and turned at bay upon the crowd, now again -pressing near. - -"Back, you boobies!" he shouted. "'Tis my boy! If a man of you follows -me, I'll break his head for him." - -He turned and, clasping the black boy's hand close in his, strode away -towards the waiting cart. The crowd stood in hesitation, daunted by the -tall stranger's fierce mien. But one came out from among them, a slim -boy of some fifteen years, who had followed at the heels of the stranger -and had indeed assisted his progress. The rest, disappointed of their -Indian hunt, were now moving back towards the inn; but the boy hastened -on. Hearing his quick footsteps the man swung round with a snarl. - -"I hope the boy isn't hurt," said the lad quietly. "Can I do anything -for you?" - -The stranger looked keenly at him; then, recognizing by his mien and -voice that this at least was no booby, he smiled; the truculence of his -manner vanished, and he said: - -"Your question is pat, my excellent friend, and I thank you for your -good will. As you perceive, my withers are not wrung." He waved his -right hand airily, and the boy noticed that it was covered from wrist to -knuckles with what appeared to be a fingerless glove of black velvet. -"The boy has taken no harm. 'Hic niger est,' as Horace somewhere hath -it; and black spells Indian to your too hasty friends yonder. Scipio is -his praenomen, bestowed on him by me to match the cognomen his already -by nature--Africanus, to wit. You take me, kind sir? But I detain you; -your ears doubtless itch for the eloquence of our condescending friend -yonder; without more ado then, good night!" - -[Sidenote: A Gloved Hand] - -And turning on his heel, waving his gloved hand in salutation, the -stranger went his way. The lad watched him wonderingly. For all his -shabbiness he appeared a gentleman. His speech was clean cut, his -accent pure; yet in his tone, as in his dress, there was something -unusual, a touch of the theatrical, strange to that old sleepy town. - -He hoisted the negro into the cart, then mounted to his place beside the -driver, and the vehicle rumbled away. - -Retracing his steps, the boy once more joined the crowd, and wormed his -way through its now silent ranks until he came within sight of the -assembly-room. But if he had wished to hear Clive's speech of thanks, -he was too late. As he arrived, applause greeted the hero's final words, -and he resumed his seat. To the speeches that followed no heed was paid -by the populace; words from the vicar and the local attorney had no -novelty for them. But they waited, gossiping among themselves, until -the festivity was over and the party broke up. More shouts arose as the -great man appeared at the inn door. Horses were there in waiting; a -hundred hands were ready to hold the stirrup for Clive; but he mounted -unassisted and rode off in company with Sir Philip Chetwode, a -neighbouring squire, whose guest he was. When the principal figure had -gone, the throng rapidly melted away, and soon the street had resumed -its normal quiet. - -The boy was among the last to quit the scene. Walking slowly down the -road, he overtook a bent old man in the smock of a farm labourer, -trudging along alone. - -"Hey, measter Desmond," said the old man, "I feels for tha, that I do. -I seed yer brother theer, eatin' an' drinkin' along wi' the noble -general, an' thinks I, 'tis hard on them as ha' to look on, wi' mouths -a-waterin' fur the vittles an' drink. But theer, I'd be afeard to set -lips to some o' them kickshawses as goes down into the nattlens o' high -folk; an', all said an' done, a man canna be more'n full, even so it bin -wi' nowt but turmuts an' Cheshire cheese. Well, sir, 'tis fine to be a -nelder son, that's true, an' dunna ya take on about it. You bin on'y a -lad, after all, pardon my bold way o' speakin', an' mebbe when you come -to man's estate, why, there'll be a knife an' fork fur you too, though I -doubt we'll never see General Clive in these parts no moore. Here be my -turnin'; good night to ya, sir." - -"Good-night, Dickon." - -[Sidenote: To Cheswardine] - -And Desmond Burke passed on alone, out of the silent town, into the now -darkening road that led to his home towards Cheswardine. - - - - - CHAPTER THE SECOND - - -*In which our hero overhears a conversation; and, meeting with the -expected, is none the less surprised and offended.* - - -Desmond's pace became slower when, having crossed the valley, he began -the long ascent that led past the site of Tyrley Castle. But when he -again reached a stretch of level road he stepped out more briskly, for -the darkness of the autumn night was moment by moment contracting the -horizon, and he had still several miles to go on the unlighted road. -Even as the thought of his dark walk crossed his mind he caught sight of -the one light that served as a never-failing beacon to night travellers -along that highway. It came from the windows of a wayside inn, a common -place of call for farmers wending to or from Drayton market, and one -whose curious sign Desmond had many times studied with a small boy's -interest. The inn was named the _Four Alls_: its sign a crude painting -of a table and four seated figures--a king, a parson, a soldier, and a -farmer. Beneath the group, in a rough scrawl, were the words-- - - Rule all: Pray all: - Fight all: Pay all. - - -As Desmond drew nearer to the inn, there came to him along the silent -road the sound of singing. This was somewhat unusual at such an hour, -for folk went early to bed, and the inn was too far from the town to -have attracted waifs and strays from the crowd. What was still more -unusual, the tones were not the rough, forced, vagrant tones of tipsy -farmers; it was a single voice, light, musical, and true. Desmond's -curiosity was nicked, and he hastened his step, guessing from the -clearness of the sound that the windows were open and the singer in full -view. - -The singing ceased abruptly just as he reached the inn. But the windows -stood indeed wide open, and from the safe darkness of the road he could -see clearly, by the light of four candles on the high mantelshelf, the -whole interior of the inn parlour. It held four persons. One lay back -in a chair near the fire, his legs outstretched, his chin on his breast, -his open lips shaking as he snored. It was Tummas Biles the tranter, -who had driven a tall stranger from Chester to the present spot, and -whose indignation at being miscalled Jehu had only been appeased by a -quart of strong ale. On the other side of the fireplace, curled up on a -settle, and also asleep, lay the black boy Scipio Africanus. Desmond -noted these two figures in passing; his gaze fastened upon the remaining -two, who sat at a corner of the table, a tankard in front of each. - -One of the two was Job Grinsell, landlord of the inn, a man with a red -nose, loose mouth, and shifty eyes--not a pleasant fellow to look at, -and regarded vaguely as a bad character. He had once been head -gamekeeper to Sir Willoughby Stokes, the squire, whose service he had -left suddenly and in manifest disgrace. His companion was the stranger, -the negro boy's master, the man whose odd appearance and manner of talk -had already set Desmond's curiosity abuzzing. It was clear that he must -be the singer, for Job Grinsell had a voice like a saw, and Tummas Biles -knew no music save the squeak of his cart-wheels. It surprised Desmond -to find the stranger already on the most friendly, to all appearance -indeed confidential, terms with the landlord. - -"Hale, did you say?" he heard Grinsell ask. "Ay, hale as you an' me, -an' like to last another twenty year, rot him." - -"But the gout takes him, you said--nodosa podagra, as my friend Ovid -would say?" - -"Ay, but I've knowed a man live forty year win the gout. And he dunna -believe in doctor's dosin'; he goes to Buxton to drink the weeters when -he bin madded wi' the pain, an' comes back sound fur six month." - -"Restored to his dear neighbours and friends--caris propinquis----" - -"Hang me, but I wish you'd speak plain English an' not pepper yer talk -win outlandish jabber." - -"Patience, Job; why, man, you belie your name. Come, you must humour an -old friend; that's what comes of education, you see; my head is stuffed -with odds and ends that annoy my friends, while you can't read, nor -write, nor cipher beyond keeping your score. Lucky Job!" - -Desmond turned away. The two men's conversation was none of his -business; and he suspected from the stranger's manner that he had been -drinking freely. He had stepped barely a dozen paces when he heard the -voice again break into song. He halted and wheeled about; the tune was -catching, and now he distinguished some of the words-- - - Says Billy Morris, Masulipatam, - To Governor Pitt: "D'ye know who I am. - D'ye know who I am, I AM, I AM? - Sir William Norris, Masulipatam." - - Says Governor Pitt, Fort George Madras; - "I know what you are----" - - -Again the song broke off; the singer addressed a question to Grinsell. -Desmond waited a moment; he felt an odd eagerness to know what Governor -Pitt was; but hearing now only the drone of talking, he once more turned -his face homewards. His curiosity was livelier than ever as to the -identity of this newcomer, who addressed the landlord as he might his -own familiar friend. And what had the stranger to do with Sir -Willoughby Stokes? For it was Sir Willoughby that suffered from the -gout; he it was that went every autumn and spring to Buxton; he was away -at this present time, but would shortly return to receive his Michaelmas -rents. The stranger had not the air of a husbandman; but there was a -vacant farm on the estate; perhaps he had come to offer himself as a -tenant. And why did he wear that half-glove upon his right hand? -Finger-stalls, wrist-straps, even mittens were common enough, useful, -and necessary at times; but the stranger's glove was not a mitten, and -it had no fellow for the left hand. Perhaps, thought Desmond, it was a -freak of the wearer's, like his red feather and his vivid neckcloth. -Desmond, as he walked on, found himself hoping that the visitor at the -_Four Alls_ would remain for a day or two. - -After passing through the sleeping hamlet of Woods-eaves, he struck into -a road on his left hand. Twenty minutes' steady plodding uphill brought -him in sight of his home, a large, ancient, rambling grange house lying -back from the road. It was now nearly ten o'clock, an hour when the -household was usually abed; but the door of Wilcote Grange stood open, -and a guarded candle in the hall threw a faint yellow light upon the -path. The gravel crunched under Desmond's boots, and, as if summoned by -the sound, a tall figure crossed the hall and stood in the entrance. At -the sight Desmond's mouth set hard; his hands clenched, his breath came -more quickly as he went forward. - -"Where have you been, sirrah?" were the angry words that greeted him. - -"Into the town, sir." - -He had perforce to halt, the doorway being barred by the man's broad -form. - -"Into the town! You defy me, do you? Did I not bid you remain at home -and make up the stock-book?" - -"I did that before I left." - -"You did, did you? I lay my life 'tis ill done. What did you in the -town at this time o' night?" - -"I went to see General Clive." - -"Indeed! You! Hang me, what's Clive to you? Was you invited to the -regale? You was one of that stinking crowd, I suppose, that bawled in -the street. You go and herd with knaves and yokels, do you? and bring -shame upon me, and set the countryside a-chattering of Richard Burke and -his idle young oaf of a brother! By gad, sir, I'll whip you for this; -I'll give you something to remember General Clive by!" - -He caught up a riding-whip that stood in the angle of the doorway, and -took Desmond by the shoulder. The boy did not flinch. - -"Whip me if you must," he said quietly, "but don't you think we'd better -go outside?" - -The elder, with an imprecation, thrust Desmond into the open, hauled him -some distance down the path, and then beat him heavily about the -shoulders. He stood a foot higher, his arm was strong, his grip firm as -a vice; resistance would have been vain; but Desmond knew better than to -resist. He bent to the cruel blows without a wince or a murmur. Only, -his face was very pale when, the bully's arm being tired and his breath -spent, he was flung away and permitted to stagger to the house. He -crawled painfully up the wainscoted staircase and into the dark corridor -leading to his bedroom. Halfway down this he paused, felt with his hand -along the wall, and discovering by this means that a door was ajar, -stood listening. - -"Is that you, Desmond?" said a low voice within. - -"Yes, mother," he replied, commanding his voice, and quietly entering. -"I hoped you were asleep." - -"I could not sleep until you came in, dear. I heard Dick's voice. What -is the matter? Your hand is trembling, Desmond." - -"Nothing, mother, as usual." - -A mother's ears are quick; and Mrs. Burke detected the quiver that -Desmond tried to still. She tightened her clasp on his hot hand. - -"Did he strike you, dear?" - -"It was nothing, mother. I am used to that." - -"My poor boy! But what angered him? Why do you offend your brother?" - -"Offend him!" exclaimed the boy passionately, but still in a low tone. -"Everything I do offends him. I went to see General Clive; I wished to; -that is enough for Dick. Mother, I am sick of it all." - -"Never mind, dear. A little patience. Dick doesn't understand you. -You should humour him, Desmond." - -"Haven't I tried, mother? Haven't I? But what is the use? He treats -me worse than any carter on the farm. I drudge for him, and he bullies -me, miscalls me before the men, thrashes me--oh, mother! I can't endure -it any longer. Let me go away, anywhere; anything would be better than -this!" - -Desmond was quivering with pain and indignation; only with difficulty -did he keep back the tears. - -"Hush, Desmond!" said his mother. "Dick will hear you. You are tired -out, dear boy; go to bed; things will look brighter in the morning. -Only have patience. Good-night, my son." - -Desmond kissed his mother and went to his room. But it was long before -he slept. His bruised body found no comfort; his head throbbed; his -soul was filled with resentment and the passionate longing for release. -His life had not been very happy. He barely remembered his father--a -big, keen-eyed, loud-voiced old man--who died when his younger son was -four years old. Richard Burke had run away from his Irish home to sea. -He served on Admiral Rooke's flagship at the battle of La Hogue, and, -rising in the navy to the rank of warrant-officer, bought a ship with -the savings of twenty years and fitted it out for unauthorized trade -with the East Indies. His daring, skill, and success attracted the -attention of the officers of the Company. He was invited to enter the -Company's service. As captain of an Indiaman he sailed backwards and -forwards for ten years; then at the age of fifty retired with a -considerable fortune and married the daughter of a Shropshire farmer. -The death of his wife's relatives led him to settle on the farm their -family had tenanted for generations, and it was at Wilcote Grange that -his three children were born. - -Fifteen years separated the elder son from the younger; between them -came a daughter, who married early and left the neighbourhood. Four -years after Desmond's birth the old man died, leaving the boy to the -guardianship of his brother. - -There lay the seed of trouble. No brothers could have been more unlike -than the two sons of Captain Burke. Richard was made on a large and -powerful scale; he was hard-working, methodical, grasping, wholly -unimaginative, and in temper violent and domineering. Slighter and less -robust, though not less healthy, Desmond was a boy of vivid imagination, -high-strung, high-spirited, his feelings easily moved, his pride easily -wounded. His brother was too dull and stolid to understand him, taking -for deliberate malice what was but boyish mischief, and regarding him as -sullen when he was only dreamily thoughtful. - -As a young boy Desmond kept as much as possible out of his brother's -way. But as he grew older he came more directly under Richard's -control, with the result that they were now in a constant state of feud. -Their mother, a woman of sweet temper but weak will, favoured her -younger son in secret; she learnt by experience that open intervention -on his behalf did more harm than good. - -Desmond had two habits which especially moved his brother to anger. He -was fond of roaming the country alone for hours together; he was fond of -reading. To Richard each was a waste of time. He never opened a book, -save a manual of husbandry, or a ready reckoner; he could conceive of no -reason for walking, unless it were the business of the farm. Nothing -irritated him more than to see Desmond stretched at length with his nose -in Mr. Defoe's _Robinson Crusoe_, or a volume of Hakluyt's _Voyages_, or -perhaps Mr. Oldys's _Life of Sir Walter Raleigh_. And as he himself -never dreamed by day or by night, there was no chance of his divining -the fact that Desmond, on those long solitary walks of his, was engaged -chiefly in dreaming, not idly, for in his dreams he was always the -centre of activity, greedy for doing. - -These day-dreams constituted almost the sole joy of Desmond's life. -When he was quite a little fellow he would sprawl on the bank near -Tyrley Castle and weave romances about the Norman barons whose home it -had been--romances in which he bore a strenuous part. He knew every -interesting spot in the neighbourhood: Salisbury Hill, where the Yorkist -leader pitched his camp before the battle of Blore Heath; Audley Brow, -where Audley the Lancastrian lay watching his foe; above all Styche -Hall, whence a former Clive had ridden forth to battle against the king, -and where his namesake, the present Robert Clive, had been born. He -imagined himself each of those bold warriors in turn, and saw himself, -now a knight in mail, now a gay cavalier of Rupert's, now a bewigged -Georgian gentleman in frock and pantaloons, but always with sword in -hand. - -No name sang a merrier tune in Desmond's imagination than the name of -Robert Clive. Three years before, when he was imbibing Latin, Greek, -and Hebrew under Mr. Burslem at the grammar school on the hill, the -amazing news came one day that Bob Clive, the wild boy who had -terrorized the tradespeople, plagued his master, led the school in -tremendous fights with the town boys, and suffered more birchings than -any scholar of his time--Bob Clive, the scapegrace who had been packed -off to India as a last resource, had turned out, as his father said, -"not such a booby after all,"--had indeed proved himself to be a -military genius. How Desmond thrilled when the old schoolmaster read -out the glorious news of Clive's defence of Arcot with a handful of men -against an overwhelming host! How he glowed when the schoolroom rang -with the cheers of the boys, and when, a half-holiday being granted, he -rushed forth with the rest to do battle in the churchyard with the town -boys, and helped to lick them thoroughly in honour of Clive! - -From that moment there was for Desmond but one man in the world, and -that man was Robert Clive. In the twinkling of an eye he became the -devoutest of hero-worshippers. He coaxed Mr. Burslem to let him occupy -Clive's old desk, and with his fists maintained the privilege against -all comers. The initials "R.C." roughly cut in the oak never lost their -fascination for him. He walked out day after day to Styche Hall, two -miles away, and pleased himself with the thought that his feet trod the -very spots once trodden by Bob Clive. Not an inch of the route from Hall -to school--the meadow-path into Longslow, the lane from Longslow to -Shropshire Street, Little Street, Church Street, the churchyard--was -unknown to him: Bob Clive had known them all. He feasted on the -oft-told stories of Clive's boyish escapades: how he had bundled a -watchman into the bulks and made him prisoner there by closing down and -fastening the shutters; how he had thrown himself across the current of -a torrential gutter to divert the stream into the cellar shop of a -tradesman who had offended him; above all, that feat of his when, -ascending the spiral turret-stair of the church, he had lowered himself -down from the parapet, and, astride upon a gargoyle, had worked his way -along it until he could secure a stone that lay in its mouth, the -perilous and dizzy adventure watched by a breathless throng in the -churchyard below. The Bob Clive who had done these things was now doing -greater deeds in India; and Desmond Burke sat day after day at his desk, -gazing at the entrancing "R.C." and doing over again in his own person -the exploits of which all Market Drayton was proud, and he the proudest. - -But at the age of fourteen his brother took him from school, though Mr. -Burslem had pleaded that he might remain longer and afterwards proceed -to the university. He was set to do odd jobs about the farm. To farming -itself he had no objection; he was fond of animals and would willingly -have spent his life with them. But he did object to drudging for a hard -and inconsiderate taskmaster such as his brother was, and the work he -was compelled to do became loathsome to him, and bred a spirit of -discontent and rebellion. The further news of Clive's exploits in -India, coming at long intervals, set wild notions beating in Desmond's -head, and made him long passionately for a change. At times he thought -of running away: his father had run away and carved out a successful -career, why should not he do the same? But he had never quite made up -his mind to cut the knot. - -Meanwhile it became known in Market Drayton that Clive had returned to -England. Rumour credited him with fabulous wealth. It was said that he -drove through London in a gold coach, and outshone the King himself in -the splendour of his attire. No report was too highly coloured to find -easy credence among the simple country folk. Clive was indeed rich: he -had a taste for ornate dress, and though neither so wealthy nor so gaily -apparelled as rumour said, he was for a season the lion of London -society. The directors of the East India Company toasted him as -"General" Clive, and presented him with a jewelled sword as a token of -their sense of his services on the Coromandel coast. No one suspected -at the time that his work was of more than local importance and would -have more far-reaching consequences than the success of a trading -company. Clive had, in fact, without knowing it, laid the foundations -of a vast empire. - -At intervals during two years scraps of news about Clive filtered -through to his birthplace. His father had left the neighbourhood, and -Styche Hall was now in the hands of a stranger, so that Desmond hardly -dared to hope that he would have an opportunity of seeing his idol. -But, information having reached the court of directors that all was not -going well in India, their eyes turned at once to Clive as the man to -set things right. They requested him to return to India as Governor of -Fort St. David, and, since a good deal of the trouble was caused by -quarrels as to precedence between the King's and the Company's officers, -they strengthened his hands by obtaining for him a lieutenant-colonel's -commission from King George. Clive was nothing loth to take up his work -again. He had been somewhat extravagant since his arrival in England; -great holes had been made in the fortune he had brought back; and he was -still a young man, full of energy and ambition. What was Desmond's -ecstasy, then, to learn that his hero, on the eve of his departure, had -accepted an invitation to the town of his birth, there to be entertained -by the court leet. From the bailiff and the steward of the manor down -to the javelin men and the ale-taster, official Market Drayton was all -agog to do him honour. Desmond looked forward eagerly to this red-letter -day. His brother, as a yeoman of standing, was invited to the banquet, -and it seemed to Desmond that Richard took a delight in taunting him, -throwing cold water on his young enthusiasm, ironically commenting on -the mistake some one had made in not including him among the guests. -His crowning stroke of cruelty was to forbid the boy to leave the house -on the great evening, so that he might not even obtain a glimpse of -Clive. But this was too much: Desmond for the first time deliberately -defied his guardian, and though he suffered the inevitable penalty, he -had seen and heard his hero, and was content. - - - - - CHAPTER THE THIRD - - -*In which Mr. Marmaduke Diggle talks of the Golden East; and our hero -interrupts an interview, and dreams dreams.* - - -Sore from his flogging, Desmond, when he slept at last, slept heavily. -Richard Burke was a stickler for early rising, and admitted no excuses. -When his brother did not appear at the usual hour Richard went to his -room, and, smiting with his rough hand the boy's bruised shoulders, -startled him to wakefulness and pain. - -"Now, slug-a-bed," he said, "you have ten minutes for your breakfast, -then you will foot it to the Hall and see whether Sir Willoughby has -returned or is expected." - -Turning on his heel he went out to harry his labourers. - -Desmond, when he came downstairs, felt too sick to eat. He gulped a -pitcher of milk, then set off for his two-mile walk to the Hall. He was -glad of the errand. Sir Willoughby Stokes, the lord of the manor, was an -old gentleman of near seventy years, a good landlord, a persistent -Jacobite, and a confirmed bachelor. By nature genial, he was subject to -periodical attacks of the gout, which made him terrible. At these times -he betook himself to Buxton, or Bath, or some other spa, and so timed -his return that he was always good-tempered on rent-day, much to the -relief of his tenants. He disliked Richard Burke as a man as much as he -admired him as a tenant; but he had taken a fancy to Desmond, lent him -books from his library, took him out shooting when the weather and -Richard permitted, and played chess with him sometimes of a rainy -afternoon. His housekeeper said that Master Desmond was the only human -being whose presence the squire could endure when the gout was on him. -In short, Sir Willoughby and Desmond were very good friends. - -Desmond had almost reached the gate of the Hall when, at a sudden turn -of the road, he came upon a man seated upon a low hillock by the -roadside, idly swishing at the long ripe grass with a cane. At the -first glance Desmond noticed the strangely-clad right hand of his -overnight acquaintance, the shabby clothes, the red feather, the flaming -neckcloth. The man looked up at his approach; the winning smile settled -upon his swarthy face, which daylight now revealed as seamed and -scarred; and, without stirring from his seat or desisting from his -occupation, he looked in the boy's face and said softly: - -"You are early afoot, like the son of Anchises, my young friend. If I -mistake not, when Aeneas met the son of Evander they joined their right -hands. We have met--let us also join hands and bid each other a very -good morning." - -Desmond shook hands; he did not know what to make of this remarkable -fellow who must always be quoting from his school-books; but there was -no harm in shaking hands. He could not in politeness ask the question -that rose to his lips--why the stranger wore a mitten on one hand; and -if the man observed his curiosity he let it pass. - -"You are on business bent, I wot," continued the stranger. "Not for the -world would I delay you. But since the hand-clasp is but a part of the -ceremony of introduction, might we not complete it by exchanging names?" - -"My name is Desmond Burke," said the boy. - -"A good name, a pleasant name, a name that I know." Desmond was -conscious that the man was looking keenly at him. "There is a gentleman -of the same name--I chanced to meet him in London--cultivating -literature in the Temple; his praenomen, I bethink me, is Edmund. And I -bethink me, too, that in the course of my peregrinations on this planet -I have more than once heard the name of one Captain Richard Burke, a -notable seaman, in the service of our great Company. I repeat, my young -friend, your name is a good one; may you live to add lustre to it!" - -"Captain Burke was my father." - -"My prophetic soul!" exclaimed the stranger. "But surely you are -somewhat late in following the craft paternal; you do not learn -seamanship in this sylvan sphere?" - -"True," responded Desmond with a smile. "My father turned farmer; he -died when I was a little fellow, and I live with my mother. But you -will excuse me, sir; I have an errand to the Hall beyond us there." - -"I am rebuked. 'Nam garrulus idem est,' as our friend Horace would say. -Yet one moment. Ere we part let us complete our interrupted ceremony. -Marmaduke Diggle, sir--plain Marmaduke Diggle, at your service." - -He swept off his hat with a smile. But as soon as Desmond had passed on -the smile faded. Marmaduke Diggle's mouth became hard, and he looked -after the retreating form with a gaze in which curiosity, suspicion, and -dislike were blended. - -He was still seated by the roadside when Desmond returned some minutes -later. - -"A pleasant surprise, Mr. Burke," he said. "Your business is most -briefly, and let us hope happily, despatched." - -"Briefly, at any rate. I only went up to the Hall to see if the Squire -was returned; it is near rent-day, and he is not usually so late in -returning." - -"Ah, your squires!" said Diggle with a sigh. "A fine thing to have -lands--oliveyards and vineyards, as the Scripture saith.--You are -returning? The Squire is not at home? Permit me to accompany you some -steps on your road.--Yes, it is a fine thing to be a landlord. It is a -state of life much to be envied by poor landless men like me. I confess -I am poor--none the pleasanter because 'tis my own fault. You behold in -me, Mr. Burke, one of the luckless. I sought fame and fortune years ago -in the fabulous East Indies----" - -"The Indies, sir?" - -"You are interested? In me also, when I was your age, the name stirred -my blood and haunted my imagination. Yes, 'tis nigh ten years since I -first sailed from these shores for the marvellous East. 'Multum et -terris jactatus et alto.' Twice have I made my fortune--got me enough -of the wealth of Ormus and of Ind to buy up half your county. Twice, -alas! has an unkind Fate robbed me of my all! But, as I said, 'tis my -own fault. 'Nemo contentus,' sir--you know the passage? I was not -satisfied: I must have a little more; and yet a little more. I put my -wealth forth in hazardous enterprises--presto! it is swept away. But I -was born, sir, after all, under a merry star. Nothing discourages me. -After a brief sojourn for recuperation in this salubrious spot I shall -return; and this time, mark you, I shall run no risks. Five years to -make my fortune; then I shall come home, content with a round ten -lakhs." - -"What is a lakh?" - -"Ah, I forgot, you are not acquainted with these phrases of the Orient. -A lakh, my friend, is a hundred thousand rupees, say twelve thousand -pounds. And I warrant you I will not squander it as a certain gentleman -we know squandered his." - -"You mean General Clive?" - -"Colonel Clive, my friend. Yes, I say Colonel Clive has squandered his -fortune. Why, he came home with thirty lakhs at the least: and what -does he do? He must ruffle it in purple and fine linen, and feed the -fat in royal entertainments; then, forsooth, he stands for a seat in -Parliament, pours out his gold like water--to what end? A petition is -presented against his return: the House holds an inquiry; and the end of -the sorry farce is, that Mr. Robert Clive's services are dispensed with. -When I think of the good money he has wasted---- But then, sir, I am no -politician. Colonel Clive and I are two ruined men; 'tis a somewhat -strange coincidence that he and I are almost of an age, and that we -both, before many weeks are past, shall be crossing the ocean once more -to retrieve our fallen fortunes." - -Walking side by side during this conversation they had now come into the -road leading past Desmond's home. In the distance, approaching them, -appeared a post-chaise, drawn by four galloping horses. The sight broke -the thread of the conversation. - -"'Tis the Squire at last!" cried Desmond. "Sure he must have put up at -Newcastle overnight." - -But that he was intently watching the rapid progress of the chaise, he -might have noticed a curious change of expression on his companion's -face. The smile faded, the lips became set with a kind of grim -determination. But Diggle's pleasant tone had not altered when he said: - -"Our ways part here, my friend--for the present. I doubt not we shall -meet again; and if you care to hear of my adventures by field and -flood--why, 'I will a round unvarnished tale deliver,' as the Moor of -Venice says in the play. For the present, then, farewell!" - -He turned down a leafy lane, and had disappeared from view before the -chaise reached the spot. As it ran by, its only occupant, a big, -red-faced, white-wigged old gentleman, caught sight of the boy and -hailed him in a rich, jolly voice. - -"Ha, Desmond! Home again, you see! Scotched the enemy once more! Come -and see me!" - -The chaise was past before Desmond could reply. He watched it until it -vanished from sight; then, feeling somewhat cheered, went on to report -to his brother that the Squire had at last returned. - -He felt no little curiosity about his new acquaintance. What had brought -him to so retired a spot as Market Drayton? He could have no friends in -the neighbourhood, or he would surely not have chosen for his lodging a -place of ill repute like the _Four Alls_. Yet he had seemed to have -some acquaintance with Grinsell the innkeeper. He did not answer to -Desmond's idea of an adventurer. He was not rough of tongue or -boisterous in manner; his accent, indeed, was refined; his speech -somewhat studied, and, to judge by his allusions and his Latin, he had -some share of polite learning. Desmond was puzzled to fit these -apparent incongruities, and looked forward with interest to further -meetings with Marmaduke Diggle. - -During the next few days they met more than once. It was always late in -the evening, always in quiet places, and Diggle was always alone. -Apparently he desired to make no acquaintances. The gossips of the -neighbourhood seized upon the presence of a stranger at the _Four Alls_, -but they caught the barest glimpses of him; Grinsell was as a stone wall -in unresponsiveness to their inquiries; and the black boy, if perchance -a countryman met him on the road and questioned him, shook his head and -made meaningless noises in his throat, and the countryman would assure -his cronies that the boy was as dumb as a platter. - -But whenever Desmond encountered the stranger, strolling by himself in -the fields or some quiet lane, Diggle always seemed pleased to see him, -and talked to him with the same ease and freedom, ever ready with a tag -from his school-books. Desmond did not like his Latin, but he found -compensation in the traveller's tales of which Diggle had an -inexhaustible store--tales of shipwreck and mutiny, of wild animals and -wild men, of Dutch traders and Portuguese adventurers, of Indian nawabs -and French buccaneers. Above all was Desmond interested in stories of -India: he heard of the immense wealth of the Indian princes; the -rivalries of the English, French, and Dutch trading companies; the keen -struggle between France and England for the preponderating influence -with the natives. Desmond was eager to hear of Clive's doings; but he -found Diggle, for an Englishman who had been in India, strangely -ignorant of Clive's career; he seemed impatient of Clive's name, and was -always more ready to talk of his French rivals, Dupleix and Bussy. The -boy was impressed by the mystery, the colour, the romance of the East; -and after these talks with Diggle he went home with his mind afire, and -dreamed of elephants and tigers, treasures of gold and diamonds, and -fierce battles in which English, French, and Indians weltered in seas of -blood. - -One morning Desmond set out for a long walk in the direction of Newport. -It was holiday on the farm; Richard Burke allowed his men a day off once -every half year when he paid his rent. They would almost rather not -have had it, for he made himself particularly unpleasant both before and -after. On this morning he had got up in a bad temper, and managed to -find half a dozen occasions for grumbling at Desmond before breakfast, -so that the boy was glad to get away and walk off his resentment and -soreness of heart. - -As he passed the end of the lane leading towards the Hall, he saw two -men in conversation some distance down it. One was on horseback, the -other on foot. At a second glance he saw with surprise that the mounted -man was his brother, the other Diggle. A well-filled money-bag hung at -Richard Burke's saddle-bow; he was on his way to the Hall to pay his -rent. His back was towards Desmond; but, as the latter paused, Richard -threw a rapid glance over his shoulder, and with a word to the man at -his side cantered away. - -Diggle gave Desmond a hail and came slowly up the lane, his face wearing -its usual pleasant smile. His manner was always very friendly, and had -the effect of making Desmond feel on good terms with himself. - -"Well met, my friend," said Diggle cordially. "I was longing for a -chat. Beshrew me if I have spoken more than a dozen words to-day, and -that, to a man of my sociable temper, not to speak of my swift and -practised tongue--'lingua celer et exercitata': you remember the phrase -of Tully's--is a sore trial." - -"You seemed to be having a conversation a moment ago," said Desmond. - -"Seemed!--that is the very word. That excellent farmer--sure he hath a -prosperous look--had mistaken me. 'Tis not the apparel makes the man; my -attire is not of the best, I admit; but, I beg you tell me frankly, -would you have taken me for a husbandman, one who with relentless -ploughshare turns the stubborn soil, as friend Horace somewhere puts it? -Would you, now?" - -"Decidedly not. But did my brother so mistake you?" - -"Your brother! Was that prosperous and well-mounted gentleman your -brother?" - -"Certainly. He is Richard Burke, and leases the Wilcote Farm." - -"Noble pair of brothers!" exclaimed Diggle, seizing Desmond's reluctant -hand. "I congratulate you, my friend. What a brother! I stopped him to -ask the time of day. But permit me to say, friend Desmond, you appear -somewhat downcast; your countenance hath not that serenity one looks for -in a lad of your years. What is the trouble?" - -"Oh, nothing to speak of," said Desmond curtly; he was vexed that his -face still betrayed the irritation of the morning. - -"Very well," said Diggle with a shrug. "Far be it from me to probe your -sorrows. They are nothing to me, but sure a simple question from a -friend----" - -"Pardon me, Mr. Diggle," said Desmond impulsively, "I did not mean to -offend you." - -"My dear boy, a tough-hided traveller does not easily take -offence.--Shall we walk?--D'you know, Master Desmond, I fancy I could -make a shrewd guess at your trouble. Your brother--Richard, I think you -said?--is a farmer, he was born a farmer, he has the air of a farmer, -and a well-doing farmer to boot. But we are not all born with a love -for mother-earth, and you, meseems, have dreamed of a larger life than -lies within the pinfolds of a farm. To tell the truth, my lad, I have -been studying you." They were walking now side by side along the -Newport road. Desmond felt that the stranger was becoming personal; but -his manner was so suave and sympathetic that he could not take offence. -"Yes, I have been studying you," continued Diggle. "And what is the sum -of my discovery? You are wasting your life here. A country village is -no place for a boy of ideas and imagination, of warm blood and springing -fancy. The world is wide, my friend: why not adventure forth?" - -"I have indeed thought of it, Mr. Diggle, but----" - -"But me no buts," interrupted Diggle with a smile. "Your age is----" - -"Near sixteen." - -"Ah, still a boy; you have a year ere you reach the bourn of young -manhood, as the Romans held it! But what matters that? Was not Scipio -Africanus--namesake of the ingenuous youth that serves me--styled boy at -twenty? Yet you are old enough to walk alone, and not in leading -strings,--or waiting maybe for dead men's shoes." - -"What do you mean, sir?" Desmond flashed out, reddening with -indignation. - -"Do I offend?" said Diggle innocently. "I make my apology. But I had -heard, I own, that Master Desmond Burke was in high favour with your -squire; 'tis even whispered that Master Desmond cherishes, cultivates, -cossets the old man--a bachelor, I understand, and wealthy, and lacking -kith or kin. Sure I should never have believed 'twas with any -dishonourable motive." - -"'Tis not, sir. I never thought of such a thing." - -"I was sure of it. But to come back to my starting-point. 'Tis time you -broke these narrow bounds. India, now--what better sphere for a young -man bent on making his way? Look at Clive, whom you admire--as stupid a -boy as you could meet in a day's march. Why, I can remember----" He -caught himself up, but after the slightest pause resumed: "'Forsan et -haec olim meminisse juvabit.' Look at Clive, I was saying; a lout, a -bear, a booby--as a boy, mark you; yet now----! Is there a man whose -name rings more loudly in the world's ear? And what Robert Clive is, -that Desmond Burke might be if he had the mind and the will.--You are -going farther? Ah, I have not your love of ambulation. I will bid you -farewell for this time; sure it will profit you to ponder my words." - -Desmond did ponder his words. He walked for three or four hours, -thinking all the time. Who had said that he was waiting for the -squire's shoes? He glowed with indignation at the idea of such a -construction being placed upon his friendship for Sir Willoughby. "If -they think that," he said to himself, "the sooner I go away the better." -And the seed planted by Diggle took root and began to germinate with -wonderful rapidity. To emulate Clive!--what would he not give for the -chance? But how was it possible? Clive had begun as a writer in the -service of the East India Company; but how could Desmond procure a -nomination? Perhaps Sir Willoughby could help him; he might have -influence with the Company's directors. But, supposing he obtained a -nomination, how could he purchase his outfit? He had but a few guineas, -and after what Diggle had said he would starve rather than ask the -squire for a penny. True, under his father's will he was to receive -five thousand pounds at the age of twenty-one. Would Richard advance -part of the sum? Knowing Richard, he hardly dared to hope for such a -departure from the letter of the law. But it was at least worth -attempting. - - - - - CHAPTER THE FOURTH - - -*In which blows are exchanged; and our hero, setting forth upon his -travels, scents an adventure* - - -That same day, at supper, seeing that Richard was apparently in a good -temper, Desmond ventured to make a suggestion. - -"Dick," he said frankly, "don't you think it would be better for all of -us if I went away? You and I don't get along very well, and perhaps I -was not cut out for a farmer." - -Richard grunted, and Mrs. Burke looked apprehensively from one to the -other. - -"What's your idea?" asked Richard. - -"Well, I had thought of a writership in the East India Company's -service, or better still, a cadetship in the Company's forces." - -"Hark to him!" exclaimed Richard, with a scornful laugh. "A second -Clive, sink me! And where do you suppose the money is to come from?" - -"Couldn't you advance a part of what is to come to me when I am -twenty-one?" - -"Not a penny, I tell you at once, not a penny. 'Tis enough to be -saddled with you all these years. You may think yourself lucky if I can -scrape together a tenth of the money that'll be due to you when you're -twenty-one. That's the dead hand, if you like; why father put that -provision in his will it passes common sense to understand. No, you'll -have to stay and earn part of it, though in truth you'll never be worth -your keep." - -"That depends on the keeper," retorted Desmond, rather warmly. - -"No insolence, now. I repeat, I will not advance one penny. Go and get -some money out of the Squire, that is so precious fond of you." - -"Richard, Richard!" said his mother anxiously. - -"Mother, I'm the boy's guardian. I know what it is. He has been crammed -with nonsense by that idle knave at the _Four Alls_. Look 'ee, my man, -if I catch you speaking to him again, I'll flay your skin for you." - -"Why shouldn't I? I saw you speaking to him." - -"Hold your tongue, sir. The dog accosted me. I answered his question -and passed on. Heed what I say: I'm a man of my word." - -Desmond said no more. But before he fell asleep that night he had -advanced one step further towards freedom. His request had met with the -refusal he had anticipated. He could hope for no pecuniary assistance; -it remained to see what could be done without money; and he resolved to -take the first opportunity of consulting Diggle. It was Diggle who had -suggested India as the field for his ambition; and the suggestion would -hardly have been made if there were great obstacles in the way of its -being acted on. Desmond made light of his brother's command that he -should cut Diggle's acquaintance; it seemed to him only another act of -tyranny, and his relations with Richard were such that to forbid a thing -was to provoke him to do it. - -His opportunity came next day. Late in the afternoon he met Diggle, as -he had done many times before, walking in the fields, remote from -houses. When Desmond caught sight of him, he was sauntering along, his -eyes bent upon the ground, his face troubled. But he smiled on seeing -Desmond. - -"Well met, friend," he said; "'leni perfruor otio'--which is as much as -to say--I bask in idleness. Well now, I perceive in your eye that you -have been meditating my counsel. 'Tis well, friend Desmond. And -whereto has your meditation arrived?" - -"I have thought over what you said. I do wish to get away from here; I -should like to go to India; indeed, I asked my brother to advance a part -of some money that is to come to me, so that I might obtain service with -the Company; but he refused." - -"And you come to me for counsel. 'Tis well done, though I trow your -brother would scarce be pleased to hear of it." - -"He forbade me to speak to you." - -"Egad he did! 'Haec summa est!' What has he against me?--a question to -be asked. I am a stranger in these parts: that is ill; and buffeted by -fortune: that is worse; and somewhat versed in humane letters: that, to -the rustic intelligence, is a crime. Well, my lad, you have come to the -right man at the right time. You are acquainted with my design shortly -to return to the Indies--a rare field for a lad of mettle. You shall -come with me." - -"But are you connected with the Company? None other, I believed, have a -right to trade." - -"The Company! Sure, my lad, I am no friend to the Company, a set of -stiff-necked, ignorant, grasping, paunchy peddlers who fatten at home on -the toil of better men. No, I am an adventurer, I own it; I am an -interloper; and we interlopers, despite the Company's monopoly, yet -contrive to keep body and soul together." - -"Then I should not sail to India on a Company's ship?" - -"Far from it, indeed. But let not that disturb you, there are other -vessels. And for the passage--why, sure I could find you a place as -supercargo or some such thing; you would thus keep the little money you -have and add to it, forming a nest-egg which, I say it without boasting, -I could help you to hatch into a fine brood. I am not without friends -in the Indies, my dear boy; there are princes in that land whom I have -assisted to their thrones; and if, on behalf of a friend, I ask of them -some slight thing, provided it be honest--'tis the first law of -friendship, says Tully, as you will remember, to seek honest things for -our friends--if, I say, on your behalf, I proffer some slight request, -sure the nawabs will vie to pleasure me, and the foundation of your -fortune will be laid." - -Desmond had not observed that, during this eloquent passage, Diggle had -more than once glanced beyond him, as though his mind were not wholly -occupied with his oratorical efforts. It was therefore with something -of a shock that he heard him say in the same level tone: - -"But I perceive your brother approaching. I am not the man to cause -differences between persons near akin; I will therefore leave you; we -will have further speech on the subject of our discourse." - -He moved away. A moment after, Richard Burke came up in a towering -passion. - -"You brave me, do you?" he cried. "Did I not forbid you to converse -with that vagabond?" - -"You have no right to dictate to me on such matters," said Desmond -hotly, facing his brother. - -"I've no right, haven't I?" shouted Richard. "I've a guardian's right -to thrash you if you disobey me, and by George! I'll keep my promise." - -He lifted the riding whip, without which he seldom went abroad, and -struck at Desmond. But the boy's blood was up. He sprang aside as the -thong fell; it missed him, and before the whip could be raised again he -had leapt towards his brother. Wrenching the stock from his grasp, -Desmond flung the whip over the hedge into a green-mantled pool, and -stood, his cheeks pale, his fists clenched, his eyes flaming, before the -astonished man. - -"Coward!" he cried, "'tis the last time you lay hands on me." - -Recovered from his amazement at Desmond's resistance, Richard, purple -with wrath, advanced to seize the boy. But Desmond, nimbly evading his -clutch, slipped his foot within his brother's, and with a dexterous -movement tripped him up, so that he fell sprawling, with many an oath, -on the miry road. Before he could regain his feet, Desmond had vaulted -the hedge and set off at a run towards home. Diggle was nowhere in -sight. - -The die was now cast. Never before had Desmond actively retaliated upon -his brother, and he knew him well enough to be sure that such an affront -was unforgivable. The farm would no longer be safe for him. With -startling suddenness his vague notions of leaving home were crystallized -into a resolve. No definite plan formed itself in his mind as he raced -over the fields. He only knew that the moment for departure had come, -and he was hastening now to secure the little money he possessed and to -make a bundle of his clothes and the few things he valued before Richard -could return. Reaching the Grange, he slipped quietly upstairs, not -daring to face his mother lest her grief should weaken his resolution, -and in five minutes he returned with his bundle. He stole out through -the garden, skirted the copse that bounded the farm enclosure, and ran -for half a mile up the lane until he felt that he was out of reach. -Then, breathless with haste, quivering with the shock of this sudden -plunge into independence, he sat down on the grassy bank to reflect. - -What had he done? It was no light thing for a boy of his years, -ignorant of life and the world, to cut himself adrift from old ties and -voyage into the unknown. Had he been wise? He had no trade as a -stand-by; his whole endowment was his youth and his wits. Would they -suffice? Diggle's talk had opened up an immense prospect, full of -colour and mystery and romance, chiming well with his day-dreams. Was -it possible that, sailing to India, he might find some of his dreams -come true? Could he trust Diggle, a stranger, by his own admission an -adventurer, a man who had run through two fortunes already? He had no -reason for distrust; Diggle was well educated, a gentleman, frank, -amiable. What motive could he have for leading a boy astray? - -Mingled with Desmond's Irish impulsiveness there was a strain of caution -derived from the stolid English yeomen his forebears on the maternal -side. He felt the need, before crossing his Rubicon, of taking counsel -with some one older and wiser--with a tried friend. Sir Willoughby -Stokes, the squire, had always been kind to him. Would it not be well -to put his case to the Squire and follow his advice? But he durst not -venture to the Hall yet. His brother might suspect his errand and seize -him there, or intercept him on the way. He would wait. It was the -Squire's custom to spend a quiet hour in his own room long after the -time when other folk in that rural neighbourhood were abed. Desmond -sometimes sat with him there, reading or playing chess. If he went up -to the Hall at nine o'clock he would be sure of a welcome. - -The evening passed slowly for Desmond in his enforced idleness. At nine -o'clock, leaving his bundle in a hollow tree, he set off toward the -Hall, taking a short cut across the fields. It was a dark night, and he -stopped with a start as, on descending a stile overhung by a spreading -sycamore, he almost struck against a person who had just preceded him. - -"Who's that?" he asked quickly, stepping back a little: it was unusual -to meet any one in the fields at so late an hour. - -"Be that you, Measter Desmond?" - -"Oh, 'tis you, Dickon. What are you doing this way at such an hour? -You ought to have been abed long ago." - -"Ay, sure, Measter Desmond; but I be goin' to see Squire," said the old -man, apparently with some hesitation. - -"That's odd. So am I. We may as well walk together, then--for fear of -the ghosts, eh, Dickon?" - -"I binna afeard o' ghosts, not I. True, 'tis odd I be goin' to see -Squire. I feel it so. Squire be a high man, and I ha' never dared lift -up my voice to him oothout axen. But 'tis to be. I ha' summat to tell -him, low-born as I be; ay, I mun tell him, cost what it may." - -"Well, he's not a dragon. I have something to tell him too--cost what -it may." - -There was silence for a space. Then Dickon said, tremulously: - -"Bin it a great matter, yourn, sir, I make bold to ax?" - -"That's as it turns out, Dickon. But what is it with you, old man? Is -aught amiss?" - -"Not wi' me, sir, not wi' me, thank the Lord above. But I seed ya, -Measter Desmond, t'other day, in speech win that--that Diggle as he do -call hisself, and--and, I tell ya true, sir, I dunna like the looks on -him; no, he binna a right man; an' I were afeard as he med ha' bin -fillin' yer head wi' fine tales about the wonders o' the world an' all." - -"Is that all, Dickon? You fear my head may be turned, eh? Don't worry -about me." - -"Why, sir, ya may think me bold, but I do say this: If so be ya gets -notions in yer head--notions o' goin' out alone an' seein' the world an' -all, go up an' ax Squire about it. Squire he done have a wise head; -he'll advise ya fur the best; an' sure I bin he'd warn ya not to have no -dealin's win that Diggle, as he do call hisself." - -"Why, does the Squire know him, then?" - -"'Tis my belief Squire do know everything an' every body. Diggle he med -not know, to be sure, but if so be ya say 'tis a lean man, wi' sharp -nose, an' black eyes like live coals, an' a smilin' mouth--why, Squire -knows them sort, he done, and wouldna trust him not a' ell. But maybe -ya'd better go on, sir: my old shanks be slow fur one so young an' -nimble." - -"No hurry, Dickon. Lucky the Squire was used to London hours in his -youth, or we'd find him abed. See, there's a light in the Hall; 'tis in -the strong-room next to the library; Sir Willoughby is reckoning up his -rents maybe, though 'tis late for that." - -"Ay, ya knows the Hall, true. Theer be a terrible deal o' gowd an' -silver up in that room, fur sure, more'n a aged man like me could tell -in a week." - -"The light is moving; it seems Sir Willoughby is finishing up for the -night. I hope we shall not be too late." - -But at this moment a winding of the path brought another face of the -Hall into view. - -"Why, Dickon," exclaimed Desmond, "there's another light; 'tis the -Squire's own room. He cannot be in two places at once; 'tis odd at this -time of night. Come, stir your stumps, old man." - -They hurried along, scrambling through the hedge that bounded the field, -Desmond leaping, Dickon wading, the brook that ran alongside the road. -Turning to the left, they came to the front entrance to the Hall, and -passed through the wicket-gate into the grounds. They could see the -Squire's shadow on the blind of the parlour; but the lighted window of -the strong-room was now hidden from them. Stepping in that direction, -to satisfy a strange curiosity he felt, Desmond halted in amazement as -he saw, faintly silhouetted against the sky, a ladder placed against the -wall, resting on the sill of the strong-room. His surprise at seeing -lights in two rooms, in different wings of the house, so late at night, -changed to misgiving and suspicion. He hastened back to Dickon. - -"I fear some mischief is afoot," he said. Drawing the old man into the -shade of a shrubbery, he added: "Remain here; do not stir until I come -for you, or unless you hear me call." - -Leaving Dickon in trembling perplexity and alarm, he stole forward on -tip-toe towards the house. - - - - - CHAPTER THE FIFTH - - -*In which Job Grinsell explains; and three visitors come by night to the -"Four Alls."* - - -At the foot of the wall lay a flower-bed, now bare and black, separated -by a gravel path from a low shrubbery of laurel. Behind this latter -Desmond stole, screened from observation by the bushes. Coming to a -spot exactly opposite the ladder, he saw that it rested on the sill of -the library window, which was open. The library itself was dark, but -there was still a dull glow in the next room. At the foot of the ladder -stood a man. The meaning of it all was plain. The large sum of money -recently received by Sir Willoughby as rents had tempted some one to rob -him. The robber must have learnt that the money was kept in the -strong-room; and it argued either considerable daring or great ignorance -to have timed his visit for an hour when any one familiar with the -Squire's habits would have known that he would not yet have retired to -rest. - -Desmond was about to run round to the other side of the house and rouse -the Squire when the dim light in the strong-room was suddenly -extinguished. Apparently the confederate of the man below had secured -his booty and was preparing to return. Desmond remained fixed to the -spot, in some doubt what to do. He might call to Dickon and make a rush -on the man before him; but the labourer was old and feeble, and the -criminal was no doubt armed. A disturber would probably be shot, and -though the report would alarm the household, the burglars would have -time to escape in the darkness. Save Sir Willoughby himself, doubtless -every person in the house was by this time abed asleep. - -It seemed best to Desmond to send Dickon for help while he himself still -mounted guard. Creeping silently as a cat along the shrubbery, he -hastened back to the labourer, told him in a hurried whisper of his -discovery, and bade him steal round to the servants' quarters, rouse -them quietly, and bring one or two to trap the man at the foot of the -ladder while others made a dash through the library upon the marauder in -the strong-room. Dickon, whose wits were nimbler than his legs, -understood what he was to do and slipped away, Desmond returning to his -coign of vantage as noiselessly as he came. - -He was just in time to see that a heavy object, apparently a box, was -being lowered from the library window on to the ladder. Sliding slowly -down, it came to the hands of the waiting man; immediately afterwards -the rope by which it had been suspended was dropped from above, and the -dark figure of a man mounted the sill. - -He already had one leg over, preparing to descend, when Desmond, with a -sudden rush, dashed through the shrubs and sprang across the path. The -confederate was stooping over the booty; his back was towards the -shrubbery; at the snapping of twigs and the crunching of the gravel he -straightened himself and turned. Before he was aware of what was -happening, Desmond caught at the ladder by the lowest rung, and jerked -it violently outwards so that its top fell several feet below the -window-sill, resting on the wall out of reach of the man above. Desmond -heard a smothered exclamation break from the fellow, but he could pay no -further attention to him, for, as he rose from stooping over the ladder, -he was set upon by a burly form. He dodged behind the ladder. The man -sprang after him, blindly, clumsily, and tripped over the box. But he -was up in a moment, and, reckless of the consequences of raising an -alarm, was fumbling for a pistol, when there fell upon his ears a shout, -the tramp of hurrying feet, and the sound of another window being thrown -open. - -With a muffled curse he swung on his heel, and made to cross the gravel -path and plunge into the shrubbery. But Desmond was too quick for him. -Springing upon his back, he caught his arms, thus preventing him from -using his pistol. He was a powerful man, and Desmond alone would have -been no match for him; but before he could wriggle himself entirely -free, three half-clad men-servants came up with a rush, and in a trice -he was secured. - -In the excitement of these close-packed moments Desmond had forgotten -the other man, whom he had last seen with his leg dangling over the -window-sill. He looked up now; the window was still open; the ladder -lay exactly where he had jerked it; evidently the robber had not -descended. - -"Quick!" cried Desmond. "Round to the door! The other fellow will -escape!" - -He himself sprinted round the front of the house to the door by which -the servants had issued, and met the Squire hobbling along on his stick, -pistol in hand. - -"We have got one, sir!" cried Desmond. "Have you seen the other?" - -"What--why--how many villains are there?" replied the Squire, who -between amazement and wrath was scarcely able to appreciate the -situation. - -"There was a man in the library; he did not come down the ladder; he may -be still in the house." - -"The deuce he is! Desmond, take the pistol, and shoot the knave like a -dog if you meet him." - -"I'll guard the door, Sir Willoughby. They are bringing the other man -round. Then we'll all go into the house and search. He can't get out -without being seen if the other doors are locked." - -"Locked and barred. I did it myself an hour ago. I'll hang the -villain." - -In a few moments the servants came up with their captive and the box, -old Dickon following. Only their figures could be seen: it was too dark -to distinguish features. - -"You scoundrel!" cried the Squire, brandishing his stick. "You'll hang -for this. Take him into the house. In with you all. You scoundrel!" - -"An you please, Sir Willoughby, 'tis----" began one of the servants. - -"In with you, I say," roared the Squire. "I'll know how to deal with -the villain." - -The culprit was hustled into the house, and the group followed, Sir -Willoughby bringing up the rear. Inside he barred and locked the door, -and bade the men carry their prisoner to the library. The corridors and -staircase were dark; but by the time the Squire had mounted on his gouty -legs candles had been lighted, and the face of the housebreaker was for -the first time visible. Two servants held the man; the others, with -Desmond and Dickon, looked on in amazement. - -"Job Grinsell, on my soul and body!" cried the Squire. "You villain! -You ungrateful knave! Is this how you repay me? I might have hanged -you, you scoundrel, when you poached my game; a word from me and Sir -Philip would have seen you whipped before he let his inn to you; but I -was too kind; I am a fool; and you---- by gad, you shall hang this -time." - -The Squire's face was purple with anger, and he shook his stick as -though then and there he would have wrought chastisement on the -offender. Grinsell's flabby face, however, expressed amusement rather -than fear. - -"Bless my soul!" cried the Squire, suddenly turning to his men, "I'd -forgotten the other villain. Off with you; search for him; bring him -here." - -Desmond had already set off to look for Grinsell's accomplice. Taper in -hand he went quickly from room to room; joined by the Squire's servants, -he searched every nook and cranny of the house, examining doors and -windows, opening cupboards, poking at curtains--all in vain. At last, -at the end of a dark corridor, he came upon an open window some ten feet -above the ground. It was so narrow that a man of ordinary size must -have had some difficulty in squeezing his shoulders through; but Desmond -was forced to the conclusion that the housebreaker had sprung out here, -and by this time had made good his escape. Disappointed at his failure, -he returned with the servants to the library. - -"We can't find him, Sir Willoughby," said Desmond, as he opened the -door. To his surprise, Grinsell and Dickon were gone; no one but the -Squire was in the room, and he was sitting in a big chair, limp and -listless, his eyes fixed upon the floor. - -"We can't find him," repeated Desmond. - -The Squire looked up. - -"What did you say?" he asked, as though the events of the past half-hour -were a blank. "Oh, 'tis you, Desmond, yes; what can I do for you?" - -Desmond was embarrassed. - -"I--we have--we have looked for the other villain, Sir Willoughby," he -stammered. "We can't find him." - -"Ah! 'Twas you gave the alarm. Good boy; zeal; excellent; but a little -mistake; yes, Grinsell explained; a mistake, Desmond." - -The Squire spoke hurriedly, disconnectedly, with an embarrassment even -greater than Desmond's. - -"But, sir," the boy began, "I saw----" - -"Yes, yes," interrupted the old man. "I know all about it. But -Grinsell's explanation--yes, I know all about it. I am obliged to you, -Desmond; but I am satisfied with Grinsell's explanation; I shall go no -further in the matter." - -He groaned and put his hand to his head. - -"Are you ill, Sir Willoughby?" asked Desmond anxiously. - -The Squire looked up; his face was an image of distress. He was silent -for a moment; then said slowly: - -"Sick at heart, Desmond, sick at heart. I am an old man--an old man." - -Desmond was uncomfortable. He had never seen the Squire in such a mood, -and had a healthy boy's natural uneasiness at any display of feeling. - -"You see that portrait?" the Squire went on, pointing wearily with his -stick at the head of a young man done in oils. "The son of my oldest -friend--my dear old friend Merriman. I never told you of him. Nine -years ago, Desmond--nine years ago, my old friend was as hale and hearty -a man as I myself, and George was the apple of his eye. They were for -the King--God save him!--and when word came that Prince Charles was -marching south from Scotland they arranged secretly with a party of -loyal gentlemen to join him. But I hung back, I had not their courage: -I am alive, and I lost my friend." - -His voice sank, and, leaning heavily upon his stick, he gazed vacantly -into space. Desmond was perplexed, and still more ill at ease. What -had this to do with the incidents of the night? He shrank from asking -the question. - -"Yes, I lost my friend," the Squire continued. "We had news of the -Prince; he had left Carlisle; he was moving southwards, about to strike -a blow for his father's throne. He was approaching Derby. George -Merriman sent a message to his friends, appointing a rendezvous: gallant -gentlemen, they would join the Stuart flag! The day came, they met, and -the minions of the Hanoverian surrounded them. Betrayed!--poor loyal -gentlemen!--betrayed by one who had their confidence and abused it--one -of my own blood, Desmond--the shame of it! They were tried, -hanged--hanged! It broke my old friend's heart; he died; 'twas one of -my blood that killed him." - -Again speech failed him. Then, with a sudden change of manner, he said: - -"But 'tis late, boy; your brother keeps early hours. I am not myself -to-night, the memory of the past unnerves me. Bid me good-night, boy." - -Desmond hesitated, biting his lips. What of the motive of his visit? -He had come to ask advice: could he go without having mentioned the -subject that troubled him? The old man had sunk into a reverie, his lips -moved as though he communed with himself. Desmond had not the heart to -intrude his concerns on one so bowed with grief. - -"Good-night, Sir Willoughby!" he said. - -The Squire paid no heed, and Desmond, vexed, bewildered, went slowly -from the room. - -At the outer door he found Dickon awaiting him. - -"The Squire has let Grinsell go, Dickon," he said; "he says 'twas all a -mistake." - -"If Squire says it, then 't must be," said Dickon slowly, nodding his -head. "We'n better be goin' home, sir." - -"But you had something to tell Sir Willoughby?" - -"Ay sure, but he knows it--knows it better'n me." - -"Come, Dickon, what is this mystery? I am in a maze: what is it, man?" - -"Binna fur a' aged poor feller like me to say. We'n better go home, -sir." - -Nothing that Desmond said prevailed upon Dickon to tell more, and the -two started homewards across the fields. Some minutes afterwards they -heard the sound of a horse's hoofs clattering on the road to their left, -and going in the same direction. It was an unusual sound at that late -hour, and both stopped instinctively and looked at each other. - -"A late traveller, Dickon," said Desmond. - -"Ay, maybe a king's post, Measter Desmond," replied the old man. -Without more words they went on till they came to a lane leading to the -labourer's cottage. - -"We part here," said Desmond. "Dickon, good-night!" - -"Good-night to you, sir!" said the old man. He paused: then in a grave, -earnest, quavering voice, he added: "The Lord Almighty have you in His -keeping, Measter Desmond, watch over you night and day, now and -evermore." - -And with that he hobbled down the lane. - - -At nine o'clock that night Richard Burke left the Grange--an unusual -thing for him--and walked quickly to the _Four Alls_. The inn was -closed, and shutters darkened the windows; but, seeing a chink of light -between the folds, the farmer knocked at the door. There was no answer. -He knocked again and again, grumbling under his breath; at length, when -his patience was almost exhausted, a window above opened, and, looking -up, Mr. Burke dimly saw a head. - -"Is that you, Grinsell?" he asked. - -"No, massa." - -"Oh, you're the black boy, Mr. Diggle's servant. Is your master in?" - -"No, massa." - -"Well, come down and open the door. I'll wait for him." - -"Massa said no open door for nuffin." - -"Confound you, open at once! He knows me, I'm a friend of his; open the -door!" - -"Massa said no open door for nobody." - -The farmer pleaded, stormed, cursed, but Scipio Africanus was -inflexible. His master had given him orders, and the boy had learnt, at -no little cost, that it was the wisest and safest policy to obey. -Finding that neither threats nor persuasion availed, Burke took a stride -or two in the direction of home; then he halted, pondered for a moment, -changed his mind, and began to pace up and down the road. - -His restless movements were by and by checked by the sound of footsteps -approaching. He crossed the road, stood in the shadow of an elm, and -waited. The footsteps drew nearer; he heard low voices, and now -discerned two dark figures against the lighter road. They came to the -inn and stopped. One of them took a key from his pocket and inserted it -in the lock. - -"'Tis you at last," said Burke, stepping out from his place of -concealment. "That boy of yours would not let me in, hang him!" - -At the first words Diggle started and swung round, his right hand flying -to his pocket; but recognizing the voice almost immediately, he laughed. - -"'Tis you, my friend," he said. "'Multa de nocte profectus es.' But -you've forgot all your Latin, Dick. What is the news, man? Come in." - -"The bird is flitting, Sim, that's all. He has not been home. His -mother was in a rare to-do. I pacified her, told her I'd sent him to -Chester to sell oats--haw, haw! He has taken some clothes and gone. But -he won't go far, I trow, without seeing you, and I look to you to carry -out the bargain." - -"Egad, Dick, I need no persuasion. He won't go without me, I promise -you that. I've a bone to pick with him myself--eh, friend Job?" - -Grinsell swore a hearty oath. At this moment the silence without was -broken by the sound of a trotting horse. - -"Is the door bolted?" whispered Burke. "I mustn't be seen here." - -"Trust me fur that," said Grinsell. "But no one will stop here at this -time o' night." - -But the three men stood silent, listening. The sound steadily grew -louder; the horse was almost abreast of the inn; it was passing--but no, -it came to a halt; they heard a man's footsteps, and the sound of the -bridle being hitched to a hook in the wall. Then there was a sharp rap -at the door. - -"Who's there?" cried Grinsell gruffly. - -"Open the door instantly," said a loud, masterful voice. - -Burke looked aghast. - -"You can't let him in," he whispered. - -The others exchanged glances. - -"Open the door," cried the voice again. "D'you hear, Grinsell? At -once!--or I ride to Drayton for the constables!" - -Grinsell gave Diggle a meaning look. - -"Slip out by the back door, Mr. Burke," said the innkeeper. "I'll make -a noise with the bolts so that he cannot hear you." - -Burke hastily departed, and Grinsell, after long, loud fumbling with the -bolts, threw open the door and gave admittance to the Squire. - -"Ah, you are here both," said Sir Willoughby, standing in the middle of -the floor, his riding-whip in his hand. "Now, Mr.--Diggle, I think you -call yourself. I'm a man of few words, as you know. I have to say -this. I give you till eight o'clock to-morrow morning; if you are not -gone, bag and baggage, by that time, I will issue a warrant. Is that -clear?" - -"Perfectly," said Diggle with his enigmatical smile. - -"And one word more. Show your face again in these parts and I will have -you arrested. I have spared you twice for your mother's sake. This is -my last warning. Grinsell, you hear that too?" - -"I hear 't," growled the man. - -"Remember it, for, mark my words, you'll share his fate." - -The Squire was gone. - -Grinsell scowled with malignant spite; Diggle laughed softly. - -"'Quanta de spe decidi!'" he said, "which in plain English, friend Job, -means that we are dished--utterly, absolutely. I must go on my travels -again; well, such was my intention; the only difference is, that I go -with an empty purse instead of a full one. Who'd have thought the old -dog would ha' been such an unconscionable time dying!" - -"Gout or no gout, he's good for another ten year," growled the -innkeeper. - -"Well, I'll give him five. And with the boy out of the way, maybe I'll -come to my own even yet. The young puppy!" At this moment Diggle's -face was by no means pleasant to look upon. "Fate has always had a -grudge against me, Job. In the old days, I bethink me, 'twas I that was -always found out. You had many an escape." - -"Till the last. But I've come out of this well." He chuckled. "To -think what a fool blood makes of a man! Squire winna touch me, 'cause of -you. But it must gall him; ay, it must gall him." - -"Hist!" said Diggle suddenly. "There are footsteps again. Is it Burke -coming back? The door's open, Job." - -The innkeeper went to the door and peered into the dark. A slight -figure came up at that moment--a boy, with a bundle in his hand. - -"Is that you, Grinsell? Is Mr. Diggle in?" - -"Come in, my friend," said Diggle, hastening to the door. "We were just -talking of you. Come in; 'tis a late hour; 'si vespertinus subito'--you -remember old Horace? True, we haven't a hen to baste with Falernian for -you, but sure friend Job can find a wedge of Cheshire and a mug of ale. -Come in." - -And Desmond went into the inn. - - - - - CHAPTER THE SIXTH - - -*In which the reader becomes acquainted with William Bulger and other -sailor men; and our hero as a squire of dames acquits himself with -credit.* - - -One warm October afternoon, some ten days after the night of his visit -to the _Four Alls_, Desmond was walking along the tow-path of the -Thames, somewhat north of Kingston. As he came to the spot where the -river bends round towards Teddington, he met a man plodding along with a -rope over his shoulder, hauling a laden hoy. - -"Can you tell me the way to the _Waterman's Rest_?" asked Desmond. - -"Ay, that can I," replied the man without stopping. "'Tis about a -quarter-mile behind me, right on waterside. And the best beer this side -o' Greenwich." - -Thanking him, Desmond walked on. He had not gone many yards further -before there fell upon his ear, from some point ahead, the sound of -several rough voices raised in chorus, trolling a tune that seemed -familiar to him. As he came nearer to the singers, he distinguished the -words of the song, and remembered the occasion on which he had heard -them before: the evening of Clive's banquet at Market Drayton--the open -window of the _Four Alls_, the voice of Marmaduke Diggle. - - Sir William Norris, Masulipatam-- - -these were the first words he caught; and immediately afterwards the -voices broke into the second verse: - - Says Governor Pitt, Fort George, Madras, - "I know what you are: an ass, an ass, - An ass, an ass, an ASS, an ASS," - Signed "Governor Pitt, Fort George, Madras." - -And at the conclusion there was a clatter of metal upon wood, and then -one voice, loud and rotund, struck up the first verse once more-- - - Says Billy Norris, Masulipatam-- - - -The singer was in the middle of the stave when Desmond, rounding a -privet hedge, came upon the scene. A patch of greensward, sloping up -from a slipway on the riverside; a low, cosy-looking inn of red brick -covered with a crimson creeper; in front of it a long deal table, and -seated at the table a group of some eight or ten seamen, each with a -pewter tankard before him. To the left, and somewhat in the rear of the -long table, was a smaller one, at which two seamen, by their garb a cut -above the others, sat opposite each other, intent on some game. - -Desmond's attention was drawn towards the larger table. Rough as was the -common seaman of George the Second's time, the group here collected -would have been hard to match for villainous looks. One had half his -teeth knocked out, another a broken nose; all bore scars and other marks -of battery. - -Among them, however, there was one man marked out by his general -appearance and facial expression as superior to the rest. In dress he -was no different from his mates; he wore the loose blouse, the -pantaloons, the turned-up cloth hat of the period. But he towered above -them in height; he had a very large head, with a very small squab nose, -merry eyes, and a fringe of jet-black hair round cheeks and chin. When -he removed his hat presently he revealed a shiny pink skull, rising from -short wiry hair as black as his whiskers. Alone of the group, he wore -no love-locks or greased pigtail. In his right hand, when Desmond first -caught sight of him, he held a tankard, waving it to and fro in time -with his song. He had lost his left hand and forearm, which were -replaced by an iron hook projecting from a wooden socket, just visible -in his loose sleeve. - -He was half-way through the second stanza when he noticed Desmond -standing at the angle of the hedge a few yards away. He fixed his merry -eyes on the boy, and, beating time with his hook, went on with the song -in stentorian tones-- - - An ass, an ass, an ASS, an ASS, - Signed "Governor Pitt, Fort George, Madras." - -The others took up the chorus, and finally brought their tankards down -upon the deal with a resounding whack. - -"Ahoy, Mother Wiggs, more beer!" shouted the big man. - -Desmond went forward. - -"Is this the _Waterman's Rest_?" - -"Ay, ay, young gen'leman, and a blamed restful place it is, too, fit for -watermen what en't naught but landlubbers, speaking by the book, but not -for the likes of us jack tars. Eh, mateys?" - -His companions grunted acquiescence. - -"I have a message for Mr. Toley; is he here?" - -"Ay, that he is. That's him at the table yonder. Mr. Toley, sir, a -young gen'leman to see you." - -Desmond advanced to the smaller table. The two men looked up from their -game of dominoes. One was a tall, lean fellow, with lined and sunken -cheeks covered with iron-gray stubble, a very sharp nose, and colourless -eyes; the expression of his features was melancholy in the extreme. The -other was a shorter man, snub-nosed, big-mouthed; one eye was blue, the -other green, and they looked in contrary directions. His hat was tilted -forward, resting on two bony prominences above his eyebrows. - -"Well?" said Mr. Toley, the man of melancholy countenance. - -"I have a message from Captain Barker," said Desmond. "I am to say that -he expects you and the men at Custom House Quay next Wednesday morning, -high tide at five o'clock." - -Mr. Toley lifted the tankard at his left hand, drained it, smacked his -lips, then said in a hollow voice: - -"Bulger, Custom House Quay, Wednesday morning, five o'clock." - -A grunt of satisfaction and relief rolled round the company, and in -response to repeated cries for more beer a stout woman in a mob cap and -dirty apron came from the inn with a huge copper can, from which she -proceeded to fill the empty tankards. - -"Is the press still hot, sir?" asked Mr. Toley. - -"Yes. Four men, I was told, were hauled out of the _Good Intent_ -yesterday." - -"And four bad bargains for the King," put in the second man, whose cross -glances caused Desmond no little discomfort. - -At this moment Joshua Wiggs the innkeeper came up, carrying three -fowling-pieces. - -"There be plenty o' ducks to-day, mister," he said. - -"Then we'll try our luck," said Mr. Toley, rising. "Thank 'ee, my lad," -he added to Desmond. "You'll take a sup with the men afore you go? -Bulger, see to the gentleman." - -"Ay, ay, sir. Come aboard, matey." - -He made a place for Desmond at his side on the bench, and called to -Mother Wiggs to bring a mug for the gentleman. Meanwhile, Mr. Toley and -his companion had each taken a fowling-piece and gone away with the -landlord. Bulger winked at his companions, and when the sportsmen were -out of earshot he broke into a guffaw. - -"Rare sport they'll have! I wouldn't be in Mr. Toley's shoes for -something. What's a cock-eyed man want with a gun in his hand, eh, -mateys?" - -Desmond felt somewhat out of his element in his present company; but -having reasons of his own for making himself pleasant, he said, by way -of opening a conversation: - -"You seem pleased at the idea of going to sea again, Mr. Bulger." - -"Well, we are and we en't, eh, mateys? The _Waterman's Rest_ en't -exactly the kind of place to spend shore leave; it en't a patch on -Wapping or Rotherhithe. And to tell 'ee true, we're dead sick of it. -But there's reasons; there mostly is; and the whys and wherefores, -therefores and becauses, I dessay you know, young gen'leman, a-comin' -from Captain Barker." - -"The press-gang?" - -"Ay, the press is hot in these days. Cap'n sent us here to be out o' -the way, and the orficers to look arter us. Not but what 'tis safer for -them too; for if Mr. Sunman showed his cock-eyes anywhere near the Pool, -he'd be nabbed by the bailiffs, sure as he's second mate o' the _Good -Intent_. Goin' to sea's bad enough, but the _Waterman's Rest_ and -holdin' on the slack here's worse, eh, mateys?" - -"Ay, you're right there, Bulger." - -"But why don't you like going to sea?" asked Desmond. - -"Why? You're a landlubber, sir--meanin' no offence--or you wouldn't ax -sich a foolish question. At sea 'tis all rope's end and salt pork, with -Irish horse for a tit-bit." - -"Irish horse?" - -"Ay. That's our name for it. 'Cos why? Explain to the gen'leman, -mateys." - -With a laugh the men began to chant-- - - Salt horse, salt horse, what brought you here? - You've carried turf for many a year. - From Dublin quay to Ballyack - You've carried turf upon your back. - - -"That's the why and wherefore of it," added Bulger. "Cooks call it salt -beef, same as French mounseers don't like the sound of taters an' calls -'em pummy detair; but we calls it Irish horse, which we know the -flavour. Accordingly, notwithstandin' an' for that reason, if you axes -the advice of an old salt, never you go to sea, matey." - -"That's unfortunate," said Desmond with a smile, "because I expect to -sail next Wednesday morning, high tide at five o'clock." - -"Binks and barnacles! Be you agoin' to sail with us?" - -"I hope so." - -"Billy come up! You've got business out East then?" - -"Not yet, but I hope to have. I'm going out as supercargo." - -"Oh! As supercargo!" - -Bulger winked at his companions, and a hoarse titter went the round of -the table. - -"Well," continued Bulger, "the supercargo do have a better time of it -than us poor chaps. And what do Cap'n Barker say to you as supercargo, -which you are very young, sir?" - -"I don't know Captain Barker." - -"Oho! But I thought as how you brought a message from the captain?" - -"Yes, but it came through Mr. Diggle." - -"Ah! Mr. Diggle?" - -"A friend of mine--a friend of the captain. He has arranged -everything." - -"I believe you, matey. He's arranged everything. Supercargo! Well, to -be sure! Never a supercargo as I ever knowed but wanted a man to look -arter him, fetch and carry for him, so to say. How would I do, if I -might make so bold?" - -"Thanks," said Desmond, smiling as he surveyed the man's huge form. -"But I think Captain Barker might object to that. You'd be of more use -on deck, in spite of----" - -He paused, but his glance at the iron hook had not escaped Bulger's -observant eye. - -"Spite of the curlin' tongs, you'd say. Bless you, spit 't out, I en't -tender in my feelin's." - -"Besides," added Desmond, "I shall probably make use of the boy who has -been attending on me at the _Goat and Compasses_--a clever little black -boy of Mr. Diggle's." - -"Black boys be hanged! I never knowed a Sambo as was any use on board -ship. They howls when they're sick, and they're allers sick, and never -larns to tell a marlin-spike from a belayin' pin." - -"But Scipio isn't one of that sort. He's never sick, Mr. Diggle says; -they've been several voyages together, and Scipio knows a ship from stem -to stern." - -"Scipio, which his name is? Oncommon name, that." - -There was a new tone in Bulger's voice, and he gave Desmond a keen and, -as it seemed, a troubled look. - -"Yes, it is strange," replied the boy, vaguely aware of the change of -manner. "But Mr. Diggle has ways of his own." - -"This Mr. Diggle, now; I may be wrong, but I should say--yes, he's -short, with bow legs and a wart on his cheek?" - -"No, no; you must be thinking of some one else. He is tall, rather a -well-looking man; he hasn't a wart, but there is a scar on his brow, -something like yours." - -"Ah! I know they sort; a fightin' sort o' feller, with a voice -like--which I say, like a nine-pounder?" - -"Well, not exactly; he speaks rather quietly; he is well educated, too, -to judge by the Latin he quotes." - -"Sure now, a scholard. Myself, I never had no book larnin' to speak of; -never got no further than pothooks an' hangers!" - -He laughed as he lifted his hook. But he seemed to be disinclined for -further conversation. He buried his face in his tankard, and when he -had taken a long pull set the vessel on the table and stared at it with -a preoccupied air. He seemed to have forgotten the presence of Desmond. -The other men were talking among themselves, and Desmond, having by this -time finished his mug of beer, rose to go on his way. - -"Good-bye, Mr. Bulger," he said; "we shall meet again next Wednesday." - -"Ay, ay, sir," returned the man. - -He looked long after the boy as he walked away. - -"Supercargo!" he muttered. "Diggle! I may be wrong, but----" - -Desmond had come through Southwark and across Clapham and Wimbledon -Common, thus approaching the _Waterman's Rest_ from the direction of -Kingston. Accustomed as he was to long tramps, he felt no fatigue, and -with a boy's natural curiosity he decided to return to the city by a -different route, following the river bank. He had not walked far before -he came to the ferry at Twickenham. The view on the other side of the -river attracted him: meadows dotted with cows and sheep, a verdant hill -with pleasant villas here and there; and seeing the ferryman resting on -his oars, he accosted him. - -"Can I get to London if I cross here?" he asked. - -"Sure you can, sir. Up the hill past Mr. Walpole his house; then you -comes to Isleworth and Brentford, and a straight road through -Hammersmith village--a fine walk, sir, and only a penny for the -ferryman." - -Desmond paid his penny and crossed. He sauntered along up Strawberry -Hill, taking a good look at the snug little house upon which Mr. Horace -Walpole was spending much money and pains. Wandering on, and preferring -by-lanes to the high road, he lost his bearings, and at length, fearing -that he was going in the wrong direction, he stopped at a wayside -cottage to inquire the way. He was further out than he knew. The woman -who came to the door in answer to his knock said that, having come so -far, he had better proceed in the same direction until he reached -Hounslow, and then strike into the London road and keep to it. Desmond -was nothing loth. He had heard of Hounslow and those notorious "Diana's -foresters" Plunket and James Maclean--highwaymen who a few years before -had been the terror of night travellers across the lonely Heath. There -was a fascination about the scene of their exploits. So he trudged on, -feeling now a little tired, and hoping to get a lift in some farmer's -cart that might be going towards London. - -More than once as he walked his thoughts recurred to the scene at the -_Waterman's Rest_. They were a rough, villainous-looking set, these -members of the crew of the _Good Intent_! Of course, as supercargo he -would not come into close contact with them; and Mr. Diggle had warned -him that he would find seafaring men somewhat different from the country -folk among whom all his life hitherto had been passed. Diggle's -frankness had pleased him. They had left the _Four Alls_ early on the -morning after that strange incident at the Squire's. Desmond had told -his friend what had happened, and Diggle, apparently surprised to learn -of Grinsell's villainy, had declared that the sooner they were out of -his company the better. They had come by easy stages to London, and -were now lodging at a small inn near the Tower: not a very savoury -neighbourhood, Diggle admitted, but convenient. Diggle had soon -obtained for Desmond a berth on board the _Good Intent_ bound for the -East Indies, and from what he let drop the boy understood that he was to -sail as supercargo. He had not yet seen the vessel; she was painting, -and would shortly be coming up to the Pool. Nor had he seen Captain -Barker, who was very much occupied, said Diggle, and had a great deal of -trouble in keeping his crew out of the clutches of the pressgang. Some -of the best of them had been sent to the _Waterman's Rest_ in charge of -the chief and second mates. It was at Diggle's suggestion that he had -been deputed to convey the captain's message to the men. - -It was drawing towards evening when Desmond reached Hounslow Heath, a -wide bare expanse of scrubby land intersected by a muddy road. A light -mist lay over the ground, and he was thankful that the road to London -was perfectly direct, so that there was no further risk of his losing -his way. The solitude and the dismal appearance of the country, -together with its ill-repute, made him quicken his pace, though he had -no fear of molestation; having nothing to lose he would be but poor prey -for a highwayman, and he trusted to his cudgel to protect him from the -attentions of any single footpad or tramp. - -Striding along, in the gathering dusk he came suddenly upon a curious -scene. A heavy travelling carriage was drawn half across the road, its -forewheels perilously near the ditch. Near by was a lady, standing with -arms stiff and hands clenched, stamping her foot as she addressed, in no -measured terms, two men who were rolling over one another in a desperate -tussle a few yards away on the heath. As Desmond drew nearer he -perceived that a second and a younger lady stood at the horses' heads, -grasping the bridles firmly with both hands. - -His footsteps were unheard on the heavy road, and the elder lady's back -being towards him he came up to her unawares. She started with a little -cry when she saw a stranger move towards her out of the gloom. But -perceiving at a second glance that he was only a boy, with nothing -villainous about his appearance, she turned to him impulsively and, -taking him by the sleeve, said: - -"There! You see them! The wretches! They are drunk and pay no heed to -me! Can you part them? I do not wish to be benighted on this heath. -The wretch uppermost is the coachman." - -"I might part them, perhaps," said Desmond dubiously. "Of course I will -try, ma'am." - -"Sure I wouldn't trust 'em, mamma," called the younger lady from the -horses' heads. "The man is too drunk to drive." - -"I fear 'tis so. 'Tis not our own man, sir. As we returned to-day from -a visit to Taplow our coachman was trampled by a horse at Slough, and my -husband stayed with him--an old and trusty servant--till he could -consult a surgeon. We found a substitute at the inn to drive us home. -But the wretch brought a bottle; he drank with the footman all along the -road; and now, as you see, they are at each other's throats in their -drunken fury. Sure we shall never get home in time for the rout we are -bid to." - -"Shall I drive you to London, ma'am?" said Desmond. "'Twere best to -leave the men to settle their differences." - -"But can you drive?" - -"Oh yes," replied Desmond with a smile. "I am used to horses." - -"Then I beg you to oblige us. Yes, let the wretches fight themselves -sober. Phyllis, this gentleman will drive us; come." - -The girl--a fair, rosy-cheeked, merry-eyed damsel of fifteen or -thereabouts--left the horses' heads and entered the carriage with her -mother. Desmond made a rapid examination of the harness to see that all -was right; then he mounted the box and drove off. The noise of the -rumbling wheels penetrated the besotted intelligence of the struggling -men; they scrambled to their feet, looked wildly about them, and set off -in pursuit. But they had no command of their limbs; they staggered -clumsily this way and that, and finally found their level in the slimy -ditch that flanked the road. - -Desmond whipped up the horses in the highest spirits. He had hoped for a -hit in a farmer's cart; fortune had favoured him in giving him four -roadsters to drive himself. And no boy, certainly not one of his -romantic impulses, but would feel elated at the idea of helping ladies -in distress, and on a spot known far and wide as the scene of perilous -adventure. - -The carriage was heavy; the road, though level, was thick with autumn -mud; and the horses made no great speed. Desmond, indeed, durst not -urge them too much, for the mist was thickening, making the air even -darker than the hour warranted; and as the roadway had neither hedge nor -wall to define it, but was bounded on each side by a ditch, it behoved -him to go warily. He had just come to a particularly heavy part of the -road where the horses were compelled to walk, when he heard the thud of -hoofs some distance behind him. The sound made him vaguely uneasy. It -ceased for a moment or two; then he heard it again, and realized that a -horse was coming at full gallop. Instinctively he whipped up the -horses. The ladies had also heard the sound; and, putting her head out -of the window, the elder implored him to drive faster. - -Could the two besotted knaves have put the horseman on his track, he -wondered. They must believe that the carriage had been run away with, -and in their tipsy rage they would seize any means of overtaking him -that offered. The horseman might be an inoffensive traveller; on the -other hand, he might not. It was best to leave nothing to chance. With -a cheery word, to give the ladies confidence, he lashed at the horses -and forced the carriage on at a pace that put its clumsy springs to a -severe test. - -Fortunately the road was straight, and the horses instinctively kept to -the middle of the track. But fast as they were now going, Desmond felt -that if the horseman was indeed pursuing he would soon be overtaken. He -must be prepared for the worst. Gripping the reins hard with his left -hand, he dropped the whip for a moment and felt in the box below the -seat in the hope of finding a pistol; but it was empty. He whistled -under his breath at the discovery: if the pursuer was a "gentleman of -the road" his predicament was indeed awkward. The carriage was rumbling -and rattling so noisily that he had long since lost the sound of the -horse's hoofs behind. He could not pause to learn if the pursuit had -ceased; his only course was to drive on. Surely he would soon reach the -edge of the heath; there would be houses; every few yards must bring him -nearer to the possibility of obtaining help. Thus thinking, he clenched -his teeth and lashed the reeking flanks of the horses, which plunged -along now at a mad gallop. - -Suddenly, above the noise of their hoofs and the rattling of the coach -he heard an angry shout. A scream came from the ladies. Heeding -neither, Desmond quickly reversed his whip, holding it half-way down the -long handle, with the heavy iron-tipped stock outward. The horseman -came galloping up on the off side, shouted to Desmond to stop, and -without waiting drew level with the box and fired point-blank. But the -rapid movement of his horse and the swaying of the carriage forbade him -to take careful aim. Desmond felt the wind of the bullet as it whizzed -past him. Next moment he leaned slightly sideways, and, never loosening -his hold on the reins with his left hand, he brought the weighty butt of -his whip with a rapid cut, half sideways, half downwards, upon the -horseman's head. The man with a cry swerved in the saddle; almost -before Desmond could recover his balance he was amazed to see the horse -dash suddenly to the right, spring across the ditch, and gallop at full -speed across the heath. - -But he had no time at the moment to speculate on this very easy victory. -The horses, alarmed by the pistol shot, were plunging madly, dragging -the vehicle perilously near to the ditch on the left hand. Then -Desmond's familiarity with animals, gained at so much cost to himself on -his brother's farm, bore good fruit. He spoke to the horses soothingly, -managed them with infinite tact, and coaxed them into submission. Then -he let them have their heads, and they galloped on at speed, pausing -only when they reached the turnpike going into Brentford. They were -then in a bath of foam, their flanks heaving like to burst. Learning -from the turnpike-man that he could obtain a change of horses at the -_Bull_ inn, Desmond drove there, and was soon upon his way again. - -While the change was being made, he obtained from the lady the address -in Soho Square where she was staying. The new horses were fresh; the -carriage rattled through Gunnersbury, past the turnpike at Hammersmith -and through Kensington, and soon after nine o'clock Desmond had the -satisfaction of pulling up at the door of Sheriff Soames' mansion in -Soho Square. - -The door was already open, the rattle of wheels having brought lacqueys -with lighted torches to welcome the belated travellers. Torches flamed -in the cressets on both sides of the entrance. The hall was filled with -servants and members of the household, and in the bustle that ensued -when the ladies in their brocades and hoops had entered the house, -Desmond saw an opportunity of slipping away. He felt that it was -perhaps a little ungracious to go without a word with the ladies; but he -was tired; he was unaccustomed to town society; and the service he had -been able to render seemed to him so slight that he was modestly eager -to efface himself. Leaving the carriage in the hands of one of the -lacqueys, with a few words of explanation, he hastened on towards -Holborn and the city. - - - - - CHAPTER THE SEVENTH - - -*In which Colonel Clive suffers a defeat hitherto unrecorded; and our -hero finds food for reflection.* - - -It was four o'clock, and Tuesday afternoon--the day before the _Good -Intent_ was to sail from the Pool. Desmond was kicking his heels in his -inn, longing for the morrow. Even now he had not seen the vessel on -which he was to set forth in quest of his fortune. She lay in the Pool, -but Diggle had found innumerable reasons why Desmond should not visit -her until he embarked for good and all. She was loading her cargo; he -would be in the way. Captain Barker was in a bad temper; better not see -him in his tantrums. The pressgangs were active; they thought nothing -of boarding a vessel and seizing on any active young fellow who looked a -likely subject for His Majesty's navy. Such were the reasons alleged. -And so Desmond had to swallow his impatience and fill in his time as -best he might; reading the newspapers, going to see Mr. Garrick and -Mistress Kitty Clive at Drury Lane, spending an odd evening at Ranelagh -Gardens. - -On this Tuesday afternoon he had nothing to do. Diggle was out; Desmond -had read the newspapers and glanced at the last number of the World; he -had written to his mother--the third letter since his arrival in London; -he could not settle to anything. He resolved to go for a walk, as far -as St. Paul's, perhaps, and take a last look at the busy streets he was -not likely to see again for many a day. - -Forth then he issued. The streets were muddy; a mist was creeping up -from the river, promising to thicken into a London fog, and the -link-boys were already preparing their tow and looking for a rich -harvest of coppers ere the night was old. Desmond picked his way -through the quagmires of John Street, crossed Crutched Friars, and went -up Mark Lane into Fenchurch Street, intending to go by Leadenhall Street -and Cornhill into Cheapside. - -He had just reached the lower end of Billiter Street, the narrow -thoroughfare leading into Leadenhall, when he saw Diggle's tall figure -running amain towards him, with another man close behind, apparently in -hot pursuit. Diggle caught sight of Desmond at the same moment, and his -eyes gleamed as with relief. He quickened his pace. - -"Hold this fellow behind me," he panted as he passed, and before Desmond -could put a question he was gone. - -There was no time for deliberation. Desmond had but just perceived that -the pursuer was in the garb of a gentleman and had a broad patch of -plaster stretched across his left temple, when the moment for action -arrived. Stooping low, he suddenly caught at the man's knees. Down he -came heavily, mouthing hearty abuse, and man and boy were on the ground -together. - -Desmond was up first. He now saw that a second figure was hurrying on -from the other end of the street. He was not sure what Diggle demanded -of him; whether it was sufficient to have tripped up the pursuer, or -whether he must hold him still in play. But by this time the man was -also upon his feet; his hat was off, his silk breeches and brown coat -with lace ruffles were all bemired. Puffing and blowing, uttering many -a round oath such as came freely to the lips of the Englishman of King -George the Second's time, he shouted to his friend behind to come on, -and, disregarding Desmond, made to continue his pursuit. - -Desmond could but grapple with him. - -"Let go, villain!" cried the man, striving to free himself. Desmond -clung on; there was a brief struggle, but he was no match in size or -strength for his opponent, who was thick-set and of considerable girth. -He fell backwards, overborne by the man's weight. His head struck on -the road; dazed by the blow he loosened his clutch, and lay for a moment -in semi-unconsciousness while the man sprang away. - -But he was not so far gone as not to hear a loud shout behind him and -near at hand, followed by the tramp of feet. - -"Avast there!" The voice was familiar: surely it was Bulger's. "Fair -play! Fourteen stone against seven en't odds. Show a leg, mateys." - -The big sailor with a dozen of his mates stood full in the path of the -irate gentleman, who, seeing himself beset, drew his rapier and prepared -to fight his way through. A moment later he was joined by his companion, -who had also drawn his rapier. Together the gentlemen stood facing the -sailors. - -"This is check, Merriman," said the last comer as the seamen, -flourishing their hangers menacingly, pressed forward past the prostrate -body of Desmond. "The fellow has escaped you; best withdraw at -discretion." - -"Come on," shouted Bulger, waving his hook. "Bill Bulger en't the man -to sheer off from a couple of landlubbers." - -As with his mates in line he steadily advanced, the two gentlemen, their -lips set, their eyes fixed on the assailants, their rapiers pointed, -backed slowly up the street. The noise had brought clerks and merchants -to the doors; some one sprang a rattle; there were cries for the -watchmen; but no one actively interfered. Meanwhile Desmond had -regained his senses, and, still feeling somewhat dizzy, had sat down -upon a doorstep, wondering not a little at the pursuit and flight of -Diggle and the opportune arrival of the sailors. Everything had -happened very rapidly; scarcely two minutes had elapsed since the first -onset. - -He was still resting when there was a sudden change in the quality of -the shouts up street. Hitherto they had been boisterous rallying cries, -now they were unmistakably hearty British cheers, expressing nothing but -approval and admiration. And they came not merely from the throats of -the sailors, but from the now considerable crowd that filled the street. -A few moments afterwards he saw the throng part, and through it Bulger -marching at the head of his mates, singing lustily. They came opposite -to the step on which he sat, and Bulger caught sight of him. - -"Blest if it en't our supercargo!" he cried, stopping short. - -A shout of laughter broke from the sailors. One of them struck up a -song. - - Oho! we says good-bye, - But never pipes our eye, - Tho' we leaves Poll, Sue, and Kitty all behind us; - And if we drops our bones - Down along o' Davy Jones, - Why, they'll come and ax the mermaids for to find us. - - -"And what took ye, Mister Supercargo, to try a fall with the fourteen -stoner?" - -"Oh, I was helping a friend." - -"Ay, an' a friend was helpin' him, an' here's a dozen of us a-helpin' of -one supercargo." - -"And I'm much obliged to you, Mr. Bulger. But what were you cheering -for?" - -"Cheerin'! Why, you wouldn't guess. 'Twas General Clive, matey." - -"General Clive!" - -"Ay, General Clive, him what chased the mounseers out o' Fort St. George -with a marlin-spike. I didn't know him at fust, comin' up behind -t'other chap; but when I seed that purple coat with the gold lace and -the face of him above it I knowed him. In course there was no more -fight for us then; 'twas hip-hip hurray and up with our hangers. Clive, -he smiled and touched his hat. 'Bulger,' says he, 'you en't much -fatter----'" - -"Does he know you, then?" - -"Know me! In course he does. Wasn't I bo'sun's mate on board the -Indiaman as took him east twelve year ago or more? That was afore I got -this here button-hook o' mine. Ay, I remember him well, a-trampin' up -an' down deck with his hands in his pockets an' his mouth set tight an' -his chin on his stock, never speakin' to a soul, in the doldrums if ever -a lad was. Why, we all thought there was no more spirit in him than in -the old wooden figure-head--leastways, all but me. 'I may be wrong,' -says I to old Tinsley the bo'sun, 'I may be wrong,' says I, 'but I be -main sure that young sad down-in-the-mouth have got a blazin' fire -somewhere in his innards.' Ay, and time showed it. There was a lot of -cadets aboard as poked fun at the quiet chap an' talked him over, -awinkin' their eyes. From talkin' it got to doin'. One day, goin' to -his bunk, he found it all topsy-versy, hair powder on his pillow, dubbin -in his shavin' cup, salt pork wropt up in his dressin'-gown. Well, I -seed him as he comed on deck, an' his face were a sight to remember, -pale as death, but his eyes a-blazin' like live coals in the galley -fire. Up he steps to the cadet as was ringleader; how he knowed it I -can't tell you, but he was sure of it, same as I always am. 'Sir,' says -he, quiet as a lamb, 'I want a word with you.' 'Dear me!' says the -cadet, 'have Mr. Clive found his voice at last?' 'Yes, sir,' says -Clive, 'behave, an' something else.' Cook happened to be passin' with a -tray; a lady what was squeamish had been havin' her vittles on deck. -Mr. Clive cotched up a basin o' pea soup what was too greasy for madam, -and in a twink he sets it upside down on the cadet's head. Ay, 'twas a -pretty pictur', the greasy yellow stuff runnin' down over his powdered -hair an' lace collar an' fine blue coat. My eye! there was a rare old -shindy, the cadet cursin' and splutterin', the others laughin' fit to -bust 'emselves. The cadet out with his fists, but there, 'twas no -manner o' use. Mr. Clive bowled him over like a ninepin till he lay -along deck all pea-soup an' gore. There was no more baitin' o' Mr. -Clive that voyage. 'Bo'sun,' says I, 'what did I tell you? I may be -wrong, but that young Mr. Bob Clive 'll be a handful for the factors in -Fort St. George.'" - -While this narrative had been in progress, Desmond was walking with -Bulger and his mates back towards the river. - -"How was it you happened to be hereabouts so early?" asked Desmond. "I -didn't expect to see you till to-morrow." - -Bulger winked. - -"You wouldn't ax if you wasn't a landlubber, meanin' no offence," he -said. "'Tis last night ashore. We sailormen has had enough o' -_Waterman's Rests_ an' such-like. To tell you the truth, we gave Mr. -Toley the slip, and now we be goin' to have a night at the _Crown an' -Anchor_." - -"What about the pressgang?" - -"We takes our chance. They won't press me, sartin sure, 'cos o' my -tenter-hook here, and I'll keep my weather-eye open, trust me for that." - -Here they parted company. Desmond watched the jolly crew as they turned -into the Minories, and heard their rollicking chorus: - - Ho! when the cargo's shipped, - An' the anchor's neatly tripped, - An' the gals are weepin' bucketfuls o' sorrer, - Why, there's the decks to swab, - An' we en't agoin' to sob, - S'pose the sharks do make a meal of us to-morrer. - - -At the _Goat and Compasses_ Diggle was awaiting him. - -"Ha! my friend, you did it as prettily as a man could wish. 'Solitudo -aliquid adjuvat,' as Tully somewhere hath it, not foreseeing my case, -when solitude would have been my undoing. I thank thee." - -"Was the fellow attacking you?" asked Desmond. - -"That to be sure was his intention. I was in truth in the very article -of peril; I was blown; my breath was near gone, when at the critical -moment up comes a gallant youth--'subvenisti homini jam perdito'--and -with dexterous hand stays the enemy in his course." - -"But what was it all about? Do you know the man?" - -"Ods my life! 'twas a complete stranger, a man, I should guess, of hasty -passions and tetchy temper. By the merest accident, at a somewhat -crowded part, I unluckily elbowed the man into the kennel, and though I -apologized in the handsomest way he must take offence and seek to cut -off my life, to extinguish me 'in primo aevo,' as Naso would say. But -Atropos was forestalled, my thread of life still falls uncut from -Clotho's shuttle; still, still, my boy, I bear on the torch of life -unextinguished." - -Desmond felt that all this fine phrasing, this copious draught from -classical sources, was intended to quench the ardour of his curiosity. -Diggle's explanation was very lame; the fury depicted on the pursuer's -face could scarcely be due to a mere accidental jostling in the street. -And Diggle was certainly not the man to take to his heels on slight -occasion. But after all Diggle's quarrels were his own concern. That -his past life included secrets Desmond had long suspected, but he was -not the first man of birth and education who had fallen into misfortune, -and at all events he had always treated Desmond with kindness. So the -boy put the matter from his thoughts. - -The incident, however, left a sting of vexation behind it. In agreeing -to accompany Diggle to the East, Desmond had harboured a vague hope of -falling in with Clive and taking service, in however humble a capacity, -with him. It vexed him sorely to think that Clive, whose memory for -faces, as his recognition of Bulger after twelve years had shown, was -very good, might recognize him, should they meet, as the boy who had -played a part in what was almost a street brawl. Still, it could not be -helped. Desmond comforted himself with the hope that Clive had taken no -particular note of him, and, if they should ever encounter, would -probably meet him as a stranger. - - - - - CHAPTER THE EIGHTH - - -*In which several weeks are supposed to elapse; and our hero is -discovered in the Doldrums.* - - -The _Good Intent_ lay becalmed in the Doldrums. There was not wind -enough to puff out a candle flame. The sails hung limp and idle from -the masts, yet the vessel rolled as in a storm, heaving on a tremendous -swell so violently that it would seem her masts must be shaken out of -her. The air was sweltering, the sky the colour of burnished copper, -out of which the sun beat remorselessly in almost perpendicular beams. -Pitch ran from every seam of the decks, great blisters like bubbles rose -upon the woodwork; the decks were no sooner swabbed than--presto!--it -was as though they had not known the touch of water for an age. - -For two weeks she had lain thus. Sometimes the hot day would be -succeeded by a night of terrible storm, thunder crashing around, the -whole vault above lacerated by lightning, and rain pouring, as it were -out of the fissures, in sheets. But in a day all traces of the storm -would disappear, and if, meanwhile, a sudden breath of wind had carried -the vessel a few knots on her southward course, the hopes thus raised -would prove illusory, and once more she would lie on a sea of molten -lead, or, still worse, would be rocked on a long swell that had all the -discomforts of a gale without its compensating excitement. - -The tempers of officers and crew had gone from bad to worse. The -officers snapped and snarled at one another, and treated the men with -even more than the customary brutality of the merchant marine of those -days. The crew, lounging about half-naked on the decks, seeking what -shelter they could get from the pitiless sun, with little to do and no -spirit to do anything, quarrelled among themselves, growling at the -unnecessary tasks set them merely to keep them from flying at each -others' throats. - -The _Good Intent_ was a fine three-masted vessel of nearly 400 tons, -large for those days, though the new East Indiamen approached 500 tons. -When her keel was laid for the Honourable East India Company some twenty -years earlier, she had been looked on as one of the finest merchant -vessels afloat; but the buffeting of wind and wave in a dozen voyages to -the eastern seas, and the more insidious and equally destructive attacks -of worms and dry-rot, had told upon her timbers. She had been sold off -and purchased by Captain Barker, who was one of the class known as -"interlopers," men who made trading voyages to the East Indies on their -own account, running the risk of their vessels being seized and -themselves penalized for infringing the Company's monopoly. She was now -filled with a miscellaneous cargo: wine in chests, beer and cider in -bottles, hats, worsted stockings, wigs, small shot, lead, iron, knives, -glass, hubble-bubbles, cochineal, sword-blades, toys, coarse cloth, -woollen goods--anything that would find a market among the European -merchants, the native princes, or the trading classes of India. There -was also a large consignment of muskets and ammunition. When Desmond -asked the second mate where they were going, the reply was that if he -asked no questions he would be told no lies. - -On this sultry afternoon a group of seamen, clad in nothing but shirt -and breeches, were lolling, lying, crouching on the deck forward, -circled around Bulger. Seated on an upturned tub, he was busily engaged -in baiting a hook. Tired of the "Irish horse" and salt pork that formed -the staple of the sailors' food, he was taking advantage of the calm to -fish for bonitos, a large fish over two feet long, the deadly enemy of -the beautiful flying-fish that every now and then fell panting upon the -deck in their mad flight from marine foes. The bait was made to -resemble the flying-fish itself, the hook being hidden by white -rag-stuffing, with feathers pricked-in to counterfeit spiked fins. - -As the big seaman deftly worked with iron hook and right hand, he spun -yarns for the delectation of his mates. They chewed tobacco, listened, -laughed, sneered, as their temper inclined them. Only one of the group -gave him rapt and undivided attention--a slim youth, with hollow -sunburnt cheeks, long bleached hair, and large gleaming eyes. His neck -and arms were bare, and the colour of boiled lobsters; but, unlike the -rest, he had no tattoo-marks pricked into his skin. His breeches were -tatters, his striped shirt was covered with parti-coloured darns. - -"Ay, as I was saying," said Bulger, "'twas in these latitudes, on my -last voyage but three. I was in a Bristol ship a-carryin' of slaves -from Guinea to the plantations. Storms!--I never seed such storms -nowhere; and, contrairywise, calms enough to make a Quaker sick. In -course the water was short, an' scurvy come aboard, an' 'twas a hammock -an' a round shot for one or other of us every livin' day. As reg'lar as -the mornin' watch the sharks came for their breakfast; we could see 'em -comin' from all p'ints o' the compass; an' sure as seven bells struck -there they was, ten deep, with jaws wide open, like Parmiter's there -when there's a go of grog to be sarved out. We was all like the livin' -skellington at Bartlemy Fair, and our teeth droppin' out that fast, they -pattered like hailstones on the deck." - -"How did you stick 'em in again?" interrupted Parmiter, anxious to get -even with Bulger for the allusion to his gaping jaw. He was a -thick-set, ugly fellow, his face seamed with scars, his mouth twisted, -his ears dragged at the lobes by heavy brass rings. - -"With glue made out of albicores we caught, to be sure. Well, as I was -saying, we was so weak there wasn't a man aboard could reach the -maintop, an' the man at the wheel had two men to hold him up. Things -was so, thus, an' in such case, when, about eight bells one arternoon, -the look-out at the mast-head----" - -"Thought you couldn't climb? How'd he get there?" said the same -sceptic. - -"Give me time, Parmiter, and you'll know all about the hows an' whys, -notwithstanding and sobeits. He'd been there for a week, for why? 'cos -he couldn't get down. We passed him up a quarter-pint o' water and a -biscuit or two every day by a halyard. Well, as I was sayin', all at -once the look-out calls down, 'Land ho!'--leastways he croaked it, 'cos -what with weakness and little water our throats was as dry as last -year's biscuit. 'Where away?' croaks first mate, which I remember his -name was Tonking. And there, sure enough, we seed a small island, which -it might be a quarter-mile long. Now, mind you, we hadn't made a knot -for three weeks. How did that island come there so sudden like? In -course, it must ha' come up from the bottom o' the sea. And as we was -a-lookin' at it we seed it grow, mateys--long spits o' land shootin' out -this side, that side, and t'other side--and the whole concarn begins to -move towards us, comin' on, hand over hand, slow, dead slow, but sure -and steady. Our jaws were just a-droppin' arter our teeth when fust -mate busts out in a laugh; by thunder, I remember that there laugh -to-day! 'twas like--well, I don't know what 'twas like, if not the -scrapin' of a handsaw; an' says he, 'By Neptune, 'tis a darned monstrous -squid!' And, sure enough, that was what it was, a squid as big round as -the Isle o' Wight, with arms that ud reach from Wapping Stairs to Bugsby -Marshes, and just that curly shape. An' what was more, 'twas steerin' -straight for us. Ay, mateys, 'twas a horrible moment!" - -The seamen, even Parmiter the scoffer, were listening open-mouthed when -a hoarse voice broke the spell, cutting short Bulger's story and -dispersing the group. - -"Here you, Burke you, up aloft and pay the topmast with grease. I'll -have no lazy lubbers aboard my ship, I tell you. I've got no use for -nobody too good for his berth. No Jimmy Duffs for me! Show a leg, or, -by heavens, I'll show you a rope's end and make my mark--mind that, my -lad!" - -Captain Barker turned to the man at his side. - -"'Twas an ill turn you did me and the ship's company, Mr. Diggle, -bringing this useless lubber aboard." - -"It does appear so, captain," said Diggle sorrowfully. "But 'tis his -first voyage, sir: discipline--a little discipline!" - -Meanwhile Desmond, without a word, had moved away to obey orders. He -had long since found the uselessness of protest. Diggle had taken him -on board the _Good Intent_ an hour before sailing. He left him to -himself until the vessel was well out in the mouth of the Thames, and -then came with a rueful countenance and explained that, after all his -endeavours, the owners had absolutely refused to accept so youthful a -fellow as supercargo. Desmond felt his cheeks go pale. - -"What am I to be, then?" he asked quietly. - -"Well, my dear boy, Captain Barker is rather short of apprentices, and -he has no objection to taking you in place of one if you will make -yourself useful. He is a first-rate seaman. You will imbibe a vast -deal of useful knowledge and gain a free passage, and when we reach the -Indies I shall be able, I doubt not, by means of my connexions, to -assist you in the first steps of what, I trust, will prove a successful -career." - -"Then who is supercargo?" - -"Unluckily that greatness has been thrust upon me. Unluckily, I say; for -the office is not one that befits a former fellow of King's College at -Cambridge. Yet there is an element of good luck in it, too; for, as you -know, my fortunes were at a desperately low ebb, and the emoluments of -this office, while not great, will stand me in good stead when we reach -our destination, and enable me to set you, my dear boy--to borrow from -the vernacular--on your legs." - -"You have deceived me, then!" - -"Nay, nay, you do bear me hard, young man. To be disappointed is not -the same thing as to be deceived. True, you are not, as I hoped, -supercargo, but the conditions are not otherwise altered. You wished to -go to India--well, Zephyr's jocund breezes, as Catullus hath it, will -waft you thither: we are flying to the bright cities of the East. No -fragile bark is this, carving a dubious course through the main, as -Seneca, I think, puts it. No, 'tis an excellent vessel, with an -excellent captain, who will steer a certain course, who fears not the -African blast nor the grisly Hyades nor the fury of Notus----" - -Desmond did not wait the end of Diggle's peroration. It was too late to -repine. The vessel was already rounding the Foreland, and though he was -more than half convinced that he had been decoyed on board on false -pretences, he could not divine any motive on Diggle's part, and hoped -that his voyage would be not much less pleasant than he had anticipated. - -But even before the _Good Intent_ made the Channel he was woefully -undeceived. His first interview with the captain opened his eyes. -Captain Barker was a small, thin, sandy man, with a large upper lip that -met the lower in a straight line, a lean nose, and eyes perpetually -bloodshot. His manner was that of a bully of the most brutal kind. He -browbeat his officers, cuffed and kicked his men, in his best days a -martinet, in his worst a madman. The only good point about him was that -he never used the cat, which, as Bulger said, was a mercy. - -"Humph!" he said when Desmond was presented to him. "You're him, are -you? Well, let me tell you this, my lad: the ship's boy on board this -'ere ship have got to do what he's bid, and no mistake about it. If he -don't, I'll make him. Now you go for'ard into the galley and scrape the -slush off the cook's pans; quick's the word." - -From that day Desmond led a dog's life. He found that as ship's boy he -was at the beck and call of the whole company. The officers, with the -exception of Mr. Toley, the melancholy first mate, took their cue from -the captain; and Mr. Toley, as a matter of policy, never sided with him -openly. The men resented his superior manners and the fact that he was -socially above them. The majority of the seamen were even more -ruffianly than the specimens he had seen at the _Waterman's Rest_--the -scum of Wapping and Rotherhithe. His only real friend on board was -Bulger, who helped him to master the many details of a sailor's work, -and often protected him against the ill-treatment of his mates; and, in -spite of his one arm, Bulger was a power to be reckoned with. - -At the best of times the life of a sailor was hard, and Desmond found it -at first almost intolerable. Irregular sleep on an uncomfortable -hammock, wedged in with the other members of the crew, bad food, and -over-exertion told upon his frame. From the moment when all hands were -piped to lash hammocks to the moment when the signal was given for -turning in, it was one long round of thankless drudgery. But he proved -himself to be very quick and nimble. Before long, no one could lash his -hammock with the seven turns in a shorter time than he. After learning -the work on the mainsails and try-sails he was sent to practise the more -acrobatic duties in the tops, and when two months had passed, no one -excelled him in quickness aloft. If his work had been confined to the -ordinary seaman's duties he would have been fairly content, for there is -always a certain pleasure in accomplishment, and the consciousness of -growing skill and power was some compensation for the hardships he had -to undergo. But he had to do dirty work for the cook, clean out the -styes of the captain's pigs, swab the lower deck, sometimes descend on -errands for one or other to the nauseous hold. - -Perhaps the badness of the food was the worst evil to a boy accustomed -to plain but good country fare. The burgoo or oatmeal gruel served at -breakfast made him sick; he knew how it had been made in the cook's -dirty pans. The "Irish horse" and salt pork for dinner soon became -distasteful; it was not in the best condition when brought aboard, and -before long it became putrid. The strong cheese for supper was even -more horrible. He lived for the most part on the tough sea-biscuit of -mixed wheat and pea-flour, and on the occasional duffs of flour boiled -with fat, which did duty as pudding. For drink he had nothing but small -beer; the water in the wooden casks was full of green, grassy, slimy -things. But the fresh sea-air seemed to be a food itself; and though -Desmond became lean and hollow-cheeked, his muscles developed and -hardened. Little deserving Captain Barker's ill-tempered abuse, he -became handy in many ways on board, and proved to be the possessor of a -remarkably keen pair of eyes. - -When, in obedience to the captain's orders, he was greasing the mast, -his attention was caught by three or four specks on the horizon. - -"Sail ho!" he called to the officer of the watch. - -"Where away?" was the reply. - -"On the larboard quarter, sir; three or four sail, I think." - -The officer at once mounted the shrouds and took a long look at the -specks Desmond pointed out, while the crew below crowded to the bulwarks -and eagerly strained their eyes in the same direction. - -"What do you make of 'em, Mr. Sunman?" asked the captain. - -"Three or four sail, sir, sure enough. They are hull down; there's not -a doubt but they're bringing the wind with 'em." - -"Hurray!" shouted the men, overjoyed at the prospect of moving at last. - -In a couple of hours the strangers had become distinctly visible, and -the first faint puffs of the approaching breeze caused the sails to flap -lazily against the yards. Then the canvas filled out, and at last, -after a fortnight's delay, the _Good Intent_ began to slip through the -water at three or four knots. - -The wind freshened during the night, and next morning the _Good Intent_ -was bowling along under single-reefed topsails. The ships sighted the -night before had disappeared, to the evident relief of Captain Barker. -Whether they were Company's vessels or privateers he had no wish to come -to close quarters with them. - -After breakfast, when the watch on deck were busy about the rigging or -the guns, or the hundred and one details of a sailor's work, the rest of -the crew had the interval till dinner pretty much to themselves. Some -slept, some reeled out yarns to their messmates, others mended their -clothes. It happened one day that Desmond, sitting in the forecastle -among the men of his mess, was occupied in darning a pair of breeches -for Parmiter. Darning was the one thing he could not do satisfactorily; -and one of the men, quizzically observing his well-meant but really -ludicrous attempts, at last caught up the garment and held it aloft, -calling his mates' attention to it with a shout of laughter. - -Parmiter chanced to be coming along at the moment. Hearing the laugh, -and seeing the pitiable object of it, he flew into a rage, sprang at -Desmond, and knocked him down. - -"What do you mean, you clumsy young lubber you," he cried, "by treating -my smalls like that? I'll brain you, sure as my name's Parmiter!" - -Desmond had already suffered not a little at Parmiter's hands. His -endurance was at an end. Springing up with flaming cheeks he leapt -towards the bully, and putting in practice the methods he had learnt in -many a hard-fought mill at Mr. Burslem's school, he began to punish the -offender. His muscles were in good condition; Parmiter was too much -addicted to grog to make a steady pugilist; and though he was naturally -much the stronger man, he was totally unable to cope with his agile -antagonist. A few rounds settled the matter; Parmiter had to confess -that he had had enough, and Desmond, flinging his breeches to him, sat -down tingling among his mates, who greeted the close of the fight with -spontaneous and unrestrained applause. - -Next day Parmiter was in the foretop splicing the forestay. Desmond was -walking along the deck when suddenly he felt his arm clutched from -behind, and he was pulled aside so violently by Bulger's hook that he -stumbled and fell at full length. At the same moment something struck -the deck with a heavy thud. - -"By thunder! 'twas a narrow shave," said Bulger. "See that, matey?" - -Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail -sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have -been but for the intervention of Bulger's hook. Glancing aloft, he saw -Parmiter grinning down at him. - -"Hitch that block to a halyard, youngster," said the man. - -Desmond was on the point of refusing; the man, he thought, might at -least have apologised: but reflecting that a refusal would entail a -complaint to the captain, and subsequent punishment, he bit his lips, -fastened the block, and went on his way. - -"'Tis my belief 'twas no accident," said Bulger afterwards. "I may be -wrong, but Parmiter bears a grudge against you. And he and that there -Mr. Diggle is too thick by half. I never could make out why Diggle -diddled you about that supercargo business; he don't mean you no -kindness, you may be sure; and when you see two villains like him and -Parmiter puttin' their heads together, look out for squalls, that's what -I say." - -Desmond was inclined to laugh; the idea seemed preposterous. - -"Why are you so suspicious of Mr. Diggle?" he said. "He has not kept his -promise, that's true, and I am sorry enough I ever listened to him. But -that doesn't prove him to be an out-and-out villain. I've noticed that -you keep out of his way. Do you know anything of him? Speak out -plainly, man." - -"Well, I'll tell you what I knows about him." He settled himself -against the mast, gave a final polish to his hook with holy-stone, and, -using the hook every now and then to punctuate his narrative, began: -"Let me see, 'twas a matter o' three years ago. I was bosun on the -_Swallow_, a spanker she was, chartered by the Company, London to -Calcutta. There was none of the doldrums that trip, dodged 'em fair an' -square; a topsail breeze to the Cape, and then the fust of the monsoon -to the Hugli. We lay maybe a couple of months at Calcutta, when what -should I do but take aboard a full dose of the cramp, just as the -_Swallow_ was in a manner of speakin' on the wing. Not but what it -sarved me right, for what business had I at my time of life to be -wastin' shore-leave by poppin' at little dicky birds in the dirty slimy -jheels, as they call 'em, round about Calcutta! Well, I was put ashore, -as was on'y natural, and 'twas a marvel I pulled through--for it en't -many as take the cramp in Bengal and live to tell of it. The Company, -I'll say that for 'em, was very kind; I had the best o' nussin' and -vittles; but when I found my legs again there I was, as one might say, -high and dry, for there was no Company's ship ready to sail. So I got -leave to sign on a country ship, bound for Canton; and we dropped down -the Hugli with enough opium on board to buy up the lord mayor and a -baker's dozen of aldermen. - -"Nearly half a mile astern was three small country ships, such as might -creep round the coast to Chittagong, dodgin' the pirates o' the -Sandarbands if they was lucky, and gettin' their weazands slit if they -wasn't. They drew less water than us, and was generally handier in the -river, which is uncommon full o' shoals and sandbanks; but for all that -I remember they was still maybe half a mile astern when we dropped -anchor--anchors I should say--for the night, some way below Diamond -Harbour. But to us white men the ways o' these Moors[#] is always a bag -o' mystery, and as seamen they en't anyhow of much account. Well, it -might be about seven bells, and my watch below, when I was woke by a -most tremenjous bangin' and hullabaloo. We tumbles up mighty sharp, and -well we did, for there was one of these country fellows board and board -with us, and another foulin' our hawser. Their grapnels came whizzin' -aboard; but the first lot couldn't take a hold nohow, and she dropped -down stream. That gave us a chance to be ready for the other. She got -a grip of us and held on like a shark what grabs you by the legs. But -pistols and pikes had been sarved out, and when they came bundlin' over -into the foc'sle, we bundled 'em back into the Hugli, and you may be -sure they wasn't exactly seaworthy when they got there. They was a -mixed lot; that we soon found out by their manner o' swearin' as they -slipped by the board, for although there was Moors among 'em most of 'em -was Frenchies or Dutchmen, and considerin' they wasn't Englishmen they -made a good fight of it. But over they went, until only a few was left; -and we was just about to finish 'em off, when another country ship -dropped alongside, and before we knew where we was a score of yellin' -ruffians was into the waist and rushin' us in the stern-sheets, as you -might say. We had to fight then, by thunder! we did. - - -[#] The natives of India were thus called by Englishmen in the 18th -century. - - -"The odds was against us now, and we was catchin' it from two sides. -But our blood was up, and we knew what to expect if they beat us. 'Twas -the Hugli for every man Jack of us, and no mistake. There was no -orders, every man for himself, with just enough room and no more to see -the mounseer in front of him. Some of us--I was one of 'em--fixed the -flints of the pirates for'ard, while the rest faced round and kept the -others off. Then we went at 'em, and as they couldn't all get at us at -the same time owing to the deck being narrow, the odds was not so bad -arter all. 'Twas now hand to hand, fist to fist, one for you and one -for me; you found a Frenchman and stuck to him till you finished him -off, or he finished you, as the case might be, in a manner of speakin'. -Well, I found one lanky chap--he was number four that night, and all in -ten minutes as it were; I jabbed a pike at him, and missed, for it was -hard to keep footin' on the wet deck, though the wet was not Hugli -water; thick as it is, this was thicker--and he fired a pistol at me by -way of thank you. I saw his figure-head in the flash, and I shan't -forget it either, for he left me this to remember him by, though I -didn't know it at the time." - -Here Bulger held up the iron hook that did duty for his left forearm. -Then, glancing cautiously round, he added in a whisper: - -"'Twas Diggle--or I'm a Dutchman. That was my fust meetin' with him. -Of course, I'm in a way helpless now, being on the ship's books, and he -in a manner of speakin' an officer; but one of these days there'll be a -reckonin', or my name en't Bulger." - -The sailor brought down his fist with a resounding whack on the scuttle -butt, threatening to stave in the top of the barrel. - -"And how did the fight end?" asked Desmond. - -"We drove 'em back bit by bit, and fairly wore 'em down. They warn't -all sailormen, or we couldn't have done it, for they had the numbers; -but an Englishman on his own ship is worth any two furriners--aye, half -a dozen some do say, though I wouldn't go so far as that myself--and at -the last some of them turned tail an' bolted back. The ship's boy, what -was in the shrouds, saw 'em on the run and set up a screech: 'Hooray! -hooray!' That was all we wanted. We hoorayed too; and went at 'em in -such a slap-bang go-to-glory way that in a brace of shakes there warn't -a Frenchman, a Dutchman, nor a Moor on board. They cut the grapnels and -floated clear, and next mornin' we saw 'em on their beam ends on a -sandbank a mile down the river. That's how I fust come acrost Mr. -Diggle; I may be wrong, but I says it again: look out for squalls." - -For some days the wind held fair, and the ship being now in the main -track of the trades, all promised well for a quick run to the Cape. But -suddenly there was a change; a squall struck the vessel from the -south-west. Captain Barker, catching sight of Desmond and a seaman near -at hand, shouted: - -"Furl the top-gallant sail, you two. Now show a leg, or, by thunder, -the masts will go by the board." - -Springing up the shrouds on the weather side, Desmond was quickest -aloft. He crawled out on the yard, the wind threatening every moment to -tear him from his dizzy rocking perch, and began with desperate energy -to furl the straining canvas. It was hard work, and but for the -development of his muscles during the past few months, and a naturally -cool head, the task would have been beyond his powers. But setting his -teeth and exerting his utmost strength, he accomplished his share of it -as quickly as the able seaman on the lee yard. - -The sail was half furled when all at once the mast swung through a huge -arc; the canvas came with tremendous force against the cross-trees; and -Desmond, flung violently outwards, found himself swinging in mid-air, -clinging desperately to the leech of the sail. With a convulsive -movement he grasped at a loose gasket above him, and catching a grip -wound it twice or thrice round his arm. The strain was intense; the -gasket was thin and cut deeply into the flesh; he knew that should it -give way nothing could save him. So he hung, the wind howling around -him, the yards rattling, the boisterous sea below heaving as if to -clutch him and drag him to destruction. A few seconds passed, every one -of which seemed an eternity. Then through the noise he heard shouts on -deck. The vessel suddenly swung over, and Desmond's body inclined -towards instead of from the mast. Shooting out his hand he caught at -the yard, seized it, and held on, though it seemed that his arm must be -wrenched from the socket. In a few moments he succeeded in clambering -on to the yard, where he clung, endeavouring to regain his breath and -his senses. - -Then he completed his job, and with a sense of unutterable relief slid -down to the deck. A strange sight met his eyes. Bulger and Parmiter -were lying side by side; there was blood on the deck; and Captain Barker -stood over them with a martin spike, his eyes blazing, his face -distorted with passion. In consternation Desmond slipped out of the -way, and asked the first man he met for an explanation. - -It appeared that Parmiter, who was at the wheel when the squall struck -the ship, had put her in stays before the sail was furled, with the -result that she heeled over and Desmond narrowly escaped being flung -into the sea. Seeing the boy's plight Bulger had sprung forward and, -knocking Parmiter from the wheel, had put the vessel on the other tack, -thus giving Desmond the one chance of escape which, fortunately, he had -been able to seize. The captain had been incensed to a blind fury, -first with Parmiter for acting without orders and then with Bulger for -interfering with the man at the wheel. In a paroxysm of madness he -attacked both men with a spike; the ship was left without a helmsman, -and nothing but the promptitude of the melancholy mate, who had rushed -forward and taken the abandoned wheel himself, had saved the vessel from -the imminent risk of carrying away her masts. - -Later in the day, when the squall and the captain's rage had subsided, -the incident was talked over by a knot of seamen in the foc's'le. - -"You may say what you like," said one, "but I hold to it that Parmiter -meant to knock young Burke into the sea. For why else did he put the -ship in stays? He en't a fool, en't Parmiter." - -"Ay," said another, "and arter that there business with the block, eh? -One and one make two; that's twice the youngster has nigh gone to Davy -Jones through Parmiter, and it en't in reason that sich-like things -should allers happen to the same party." - -"But what's the reason?" asked a third. "What call has Parmiter to have -such a desperate spite against Burke? He got a lickin', in course, but -what's a lickin' to a Englishman? Rot it all, the youngster en't a bad -matey. He've led a dog's life, that he have, and I've never heard a -grumble, nary one; have you?" - -"True," said the first. "And I tell you what it is. I believe Bulger's -in the right of it, and 'tis all along o' that there Diggle, hang him! -He's too perlite by half, with his smile and his fine lingo and all. -And what's he keep his hand wropt up in that there velvet mitten thing -for? I'd like to know that. There's summat mortal queer about Diggle, -mark my words, and we'll find it out if we live long enough." - -"Wasn't it Diggle brought Burke aboard?" - -"Course it was; that's what proves it, don't you see? He stuffs him up -as he's to be supercargo; call that number one. He brings him aboard -and makes him ship's boy: that's number two. He looks us all up and -down with those rat's eyes of his, and thinks we're a pretty ugly lot, -and Parmiter the ugliest; how's that for number three? Then he makes -hisself sweet to Parmiter; I've seed him more'n once; that's number -four. Then there's that there block: five; and to-day's hanky-panky: -six; and it wants one more to make seven, and that's the perfect number, -I've heard tell, 'cos o' the Seven Champions o' Christendom." - -"I guess you've reasoned that out mighty well," drawled the melancholy -voice of Mr. Toley, who had come up unseen and heard the last speech. -"Well, I'll give you number seven." - -"Thunder and blazes, sir, he en't bin and gone and done it already!" - -"No, he en't. Number seven is, be kind o' tender with young Burke. -Count them words. He's had enough kicks. That's all." - -And the melancholy man went away as silently as he had come. - - - - - CHAPTER THE NINTH - - -*In which the *_*Good Intent*_* makes a running fight; and Mr. Toley -makes a suggestion.* - - -Making good sailing, the _Good Intent_ reached Saldanhas Bay, where she -put in for a few necessary repairs, then safely rounded the Cape, and -after a short stay at Johanna, one of the Comoro Islands, taking in -fresh provisions there, set sail for the Malabar coast. The wind blew -steadily from the south-west, and she ran merrily before it. - -During this part of the voyage Desmond found his position somewhat -improved. His pluck had won the rough admiration of the men; Captain -Barker was not so constantly chevying him; and Mr. Toley showed a more -active interest in him, teaching him the use of the sextant and -quadrant, how to take the altitude of the sun, and many other matters -important in navigation. - -It was the third week of April, and the monsoon having begun, Captain -Barker expected before long to sight the Indian coast. One morning, -about two bells, the look-out reported a small vessel on the larboard -bow, labouring heavily. The captain took a long look at it through his -perspective glass, anc made out that it was a two-masted grab; the -mainmast was gone. - -"Odds bobs," he said to Mr. Toley, "'tis strange to meet a grab so far -out at sea. We'll run down to it." - -"What is a grab?" asked Desmond of Bulger, when the news had circulated -through the ship's company. - -"Why, that's a grab, sure enough. I en't a good hand at pictur' -paintin'; we're runnin' square for the critter, and then you'll see for -yourself. This I'll say, that you don't see 'em anywheres in partickler -but off the Malabar coast." - -Desmond was soon able to take stock of the vessel. It was broad in -proportion to its length, narrowing from the middle to the end, and -having a projecting prow like the old-fashioned galleys of which he had -seen pictures. The prow was covered with a deck, level with the main -deck of the vessel, but with a bulkhead between this and the forecastle. - -"En't she pitchin'!" remarked Bulger, standing by Desmond's side. "You -couldn't expect nothing else of a craft built that shape. Look at the -water pourin' off her; why, I may be wrong, but I'll lay my best -breeches she's a-founderin'." - -As usual, Bulger was right. When the grab was overhauled, the men on -board, dark-skinned Marathas with very scanty clothing, made signs that -they were in distress. - -"Throw her into the wind," shouted the captain. - -Mr. Toley at the wheel put the helm down, the longboat was lowered, and -with some difficulty, owing to the heavy sea, the thirty men on the grab -were taken off. As they came aboard the _Good Intent_, Diggle, who was -leaning over the bulwarks, suddenly straightened himself, smiled, and -moved towards the taffrail. One of the newcomers, a fine muscular -fellow, seeing Diggle approaching, stood for a moment in surprise, then -salaamed. The Englishman said something in the stranger's tongue, and -grasped his hand with the familiarity of old friendship. - -"You know the man, Mr. Diggle?" said the captain. - -"Yes, truly. The Gentoos and I are in a sense comrades in arms. His -name is Hybati; he's a Maratha." - -"What's he jabbering about?" - -The man was talking rapidly and earnestly. - -"He says, captain," returned Diggle with a smile, "that he hopes you -will send and fetch the crew's rice on board. They won't eat our -food--afraid of losing caste." - -"I'll be hanged if I launch the long-boat again. The grab won't live -another five minutes in this sea, and I wouldn't risk two of my crew -against a hundred of these dirty Moors." - -"They'll starve otherwise, captain." - -"Well, let 'em starve. I won't have any nonsense aboard my ship. -Beggars mustn't be choosers, and if the heathen can't eat good honest -English vittles they don't deserve to eat at all." - -Diggle smiled and explained to Hybati that his provisions must be left -to their fate. Even as he spoke a heavy sea struck the vessel athwart, -and amid cries from the Marathas she heeled over and sank. - -When the strangers had dried themselves, Diggle inquired of Hybati how -he came to be in his present predicament. The Maratha explained that he -had been in command of Angria's fortress of Suvarndrug, which was so -strong that he had believed it able to withstand all attacks. But one -day a number of vessels of the East India Company's fleet had appeared -between the mainland and the island on which the fortress was situated, -and had begun a bombardment which soon reduced the parapets to ruins. -The chief damage had been done by an English ship. Hybati and his men -had made the best defence they could, but the gunners were shot down by -musket fire from the round-tops of the enemy, and when a shell set fire -to a thatched house within the fort, the garrison were too much alarmed -to attempt to extinguish the flames; the blaze spread, a powder magazine -blew up, and the inhabitants, with the greater part of the soldiers, -fled to the shore, and tried to make their escape in eight large boats. -Hybati had kept up the fight for some time longer, hoping to receive -succour; but under cover of the fire of the ships the English commodore -landed half his seamen, who rushed up to the gate, and, cutting down the -sally-port with their axes, forced their way in. - -Seeing that the game was up, Hybati fled with thirty of his men, and was -lucky in pushing off in the grab unobserved by the enemy. The winds, -however, proving contrary, the vessel had been blown northward along the -coast and then driven far out to sea. With the breaking of the monsoon -a violent squall had dismasted the grab and shattered her bulkhead; she -was continually shipping water, and, as the sahib saw, was at the point -of sinking when the English ship came up. - -Such was the Maratha's story, as by and by it became common property on -board the _Good Intent_. Of all the crew Desmond was perhaps the most -interested. To the others there was nothing novel in the sight of the -Indians; but to him they stood for romance, the embodiment of all the -tales he had heard and all the dreams he had dreamed of this wonderful -country in the East. He was now assured that he was actually within -reach of his desired haven; and he hoped shortly to see an end of the -disappointments and hardships, the toils and distresses, of the long -voyage. - -He was eager to learn more of these Marathas, and their fortress, and -the circumstances of the recent fight. Bulger was willing to tell all -he knew; but his information was not very exact, and Desmond did not -hear the full story till long after. - -The Malabar coast had long been the haunt of Maratha pirates, who -interfered greatly with the native trade between India and Arabia and -Persia. In defence of the interests of his Mohammedan subjects the -Mogul emperor at length, in the early part of the eighteenth century, -fitted out a fleet, under the command of an admiral known as the Sidi. -But there happened to be among the Marathas at that time a warrior of -great daring and resource, one Kunaji Angria. This man first defeated -the Sidi, then, in the insolence of victory, revolted against his own -sovereign, and set up as an independent ruler. By means of a -well-equipped fleet of grabs and gallivats he made himself master of -place after place along the coast, including the Maratha fortress at -Suvarndrug and the Portuguese fort of Gheria. His successors, who -adopted in turn the dynastic name of Angria, followed up Kunaji's -conquest, until by the year 1750 the ruling Angria was in possession of -a strip of territory on the mainland a hundred and eighty miles long and -about forty broad, together with many small adjacent islands. - -For the defence of this little piratical state Angria's Marathas -constructed a number of forts, choosing admirable positions and -displaying no small measure of engineering skill. From these -strongholds they made depredations by sea and land, not only upon their -native neighbours, but also upon the European traders, English, Dutch, -and Portuguese; swooping down on unprotected merchant vessels and even -presuming to attack warships. Several expeditions had been directed -against them, but always in vain; and when in 1754 the chief of that -date, Tulaji Angria, known to Europeans as the Pirate, burnt two large -Dutch vessels of fifty and thirty-six guns respectively, and captured a -smaller one of eighteen guns, he boasted in his elation that he would -soon be master of the Indian seas. - -But a term was about to be put to his insolence and his depredations. -On March 22, 1755, Commodore William James, commander of the East India -Company's marine force, set sail from Bombay in the _Protector_ of -forty-four guns, with the _Swallow_ of sixteen guns, and two bomb -vessels. With the assistance of a Maratha fleet he had attacked the -island fortress of Suvarndrug, and captured it, as Hybati had related. -A few days afterwards another of the Pirate's fortresses, the island of -Bancoote, six miles north of Suvarndrug, surrendered. The Maratha -rajah, Ramaji Punt, delighted with these successes against fortified -places which had for nearly fifty years been deemed impregnable, offered -the English commodore an immense sum of money to proceed against others -of Angria's forts; but the monsoon approaching, the commodore was -recalled to Bombay. - -The spot at which the _Good Intent_ had fallen in with the sinking grab -was about eighty miles from the Indian coast, and Captain Barker -expected to sight land next day. No one was more delighted at the -prospect than Desmond. Leaving out of account the miseries of the long -voyage, he felt that he was now within reach of the goal of his hopes. -The future was all uncertain; he was no longer inclined to trust his -fortunes to Diggle, for though he could not believe that the man had -deliberately practised against his life, he had with good reason lost -confidence in him, and what he had learnt from Bulger threw a new light -on his past career. - -One thing puzzled him. If the Pirate was such a terror to unprotected -ships, and strong enough to attack several armed vessels at once, why -was Captain Barker running into the very jaws of the enemy? In her -palmy days as an East Indiaman the _Good Intent_ had carried a dozen -nine pounders on her upper deck and six on the quarter-deck; and Bulger -had said that under a stout captain she had once beaten off near Surat -half a dozen three-masted grabs and a score of gallivats from the pirate -stronghold at Gheria. But now she had only half a dozen guns all told, -and even had she possessed the full armament there were not men enough -to work them, for her complement of forty men was only half what it had -been when she sailed under the Company's flag. - -Desmond confided his puzzlement to Bulger. The seaman laughed. - -"Why, bless 'ee, we en't a-goin' to run into no danger. Trust Cap'n -Barker for that. You en't supercargo, to be sure; but who do you think -them guns and round shots in the hold be for? Why, the Pirate himself. -And he'll pay a good price for 'em too." - -"Do you mean to say that English merchants supply Angria with weapons to -fight against their own countrymen?" - -"Well, blest if you en't a' innocent. In course they do. The guns en't -always fust-class metal, to be sure; but what's the odds? The -interlopers ha' got to live." - -"I don't call that right. It's not patriotic." - -"Patry what?" - -"Patriotic--a right way of thinking of one's own country. An Englishman -isn't worth the name who helps England's enemies." - -Bulger looked at him in amazement. The idea of patriotism was evidently -new to him. - -"I'll have to put that there notion in my pipe and smoke it," he said. -"I'd fight any mounseer, or Dutchman, or Portuguee as soon as look at -him, 'tis on'y natural; but if a mounseer likes to give me twopence for -a thing what's worth a penny--why, I'll say thank 'ee and ax -him--leastways if there's any matey by as knows the lingo--to buy -another." - -Shortly after dawn next morning the look-out reported four vessels to -windward. From their appearance Captain Barker at once concluded that -two were Company's ships, with an escort of a couple of grabs. As he -was still scanning them he was joined by Diggle, with whom he entered -into conversation. - -"They're making for Bombay, I reckon," said the captain. - -"I take it we don't wish to come to close quarters with them, Barker?" - -"By thunder, no! But if we hold our present course we're bound to pass -within hailing distance. Better put 'em off the scent." - -He altered the vessel's course a point or two with the object of passing -to windward of the strangers, as if steering for the Portuguese port of -Goa. - -"They're running up their colours," remarked Diggle half an hour later. - -"British, as I thought. We'll hoist Portuguese." - -A minute or two later a puff of smoke was observed to sally from the -larger of the two grabs, followed in a few seconds by the boom of the -gun. - -"A call to us to heave-to," said Bulger in answer to Desmond's inquiry. -"The unbelievin' critters thinks that Portuguee rag is all my eye." - -But the _Good Intent_ was by this time to windward of the vessels, and -Captain Barker, standing on the quarter-deck, paid no heed to the -signal. After a short interval another puff came from the deck of the -grab, and a round shot plunged into the sea a cable's length from the -_Good Intent's_ bows, the grab at the same time hauling her wind and -preparing to alter her course in pursuit. This movement was at once -copied by the other three vessels, but being at least half a mile ahead -of the grab that had fired, they were a long distance astern when the -chase--for chase it was to be--began. - -Captain Barker watched the grab with the eyes of a lynx. The _Good -Intent_ had run out of range while the grab was being put about; but the -captain knew very well that the pursuer could sail much closer to the -wind than his own vessel, and that his only chance was to beat off the -leading boat before the others had time to come up. - -It required very little at any time to put Captain Barker into a rage, -and his demeanour was watched now with different feelings by different -members of his crew. Diggle alone appeared unconcerned; he was smiling -as he lolled against the mast. - -"They'll fire at me, will they?" growled the captain with a curse. "And -chase me, will they? By jiminy, they shall sink me before I surrender!" - -"'Degeneres animos timor arguit,'" quoted Diggle, smiling. - -"Argue it? I'll be hanged if I argue it! They're not King's ships to -take it on 'emselves to stop me on the high seas! If the Company wants -to prevent me from honest trading in these waters let 'em go to law, and -be hanged to 'em! Talk of arguing! Lawyer's work. Humph!" - -"You mistake, Barker. The Roman fellow whose words slipped out of my -mouth almost unawares said nothing of arguing. 'Fear is the mark only -of base minds:' so it runs in English, captain; which is as much as to -say that Captain Ben Barker is not the man to haul down his colours in a -hurry." - -"You're right there. Another shot! That's their argument: well, Ben -Barker can talk that way as well as another." - -He called up the boatswain. Shortly afterwards the order was piped, "Up -all hammocks!" The men quickly stowed their bedding, secured it with -lashings, and carried it to the appointed places on the quarter-deck, -poop, or forecastle. Meanwhile the boatswain and his mates secured the -yards; the ship's carpenter brought up shot plugs for repairing any -breaches made under the water-line; and the gunners looked to the cannon -and prepared charges for them and the small arms. - -Bulger was in charge of the 12-pounder aft, and Mr. Toley had told off -Desmond to assist him. They stood side by side watching the progress of -the grab, which gained steadily in spite of the plunging due to its -curious build. Presently another shot came from her; it shattered the -belfry on the forecastle of the _Good Intent_, and splashed into the sea -a hundred yards ahead. - -"They make good practice, for sartin," remarked Bulger. "I may be -wrong, but I'll lay my life there be old man-o'-war's men aboard. I -mind me when I was with Captain Golightly on the _Minotaur_----" - -But Bulger's yarn was intercepted. At that moment the boatswain piped, -"All hands to quarters!" In a surprisingly short time all timber was -cleared away, the galley fire was extinguished, the yards slung, the -deck strewn with wet sand, and sails, booms, and boats liberally -drenched with water. The gun-captains, each with his crew, cast loose -the lashings of their weapons and struck open the ports. The tompions -were taken out, the sponge, rammer, crows and handspikes placed in -readiness, and all awaited eagerly the word for the action to begin. - -"'Tis about time we opened our mouths at 'em," said Bulger. "The next -bolus they send us as like as not will bring the spars a-rattlin' about -our ears. To be sure it goes against my stummick to fire on old -messmates; but it en't in Englishmen to hold their noses and swaller -pills o' that there size. We'll load up all ready, mateys." - -He stripped to the waist, and tied a handkerchief over his ears. -Desmond and the men followed his example. Then one of them sponged the -bore, another inserted the cartridge, containing three pounds of powder, -by means of a long ladle, a third shoved in a wad of rope yarn. This -having been driven home by the rammer, the round shot was inserted, and -covered like the cartridge with a wad. Then Bulger took his -priming-iron, an instrument like a long thin corkscrew, and thrust it -into the touch-hole to clear the vent and make an incision in the -cartridge. Removing the priming-iron, he replaced it by the -priming-tube--a thin tapering tube with very narrow bore. Into this he -poured a quantity of fine mealed powder; then he laid a train of the -same powder in the little groove cut in the gun from the touch-hole -towards the breech. With the end of his powder-horn he slightly bruised -the train, and the gun only awaited a spark from the match. - -Everything was done very quickly, and Desmond watched the seamen with -admiration. He himself had charge of the linstock, about which were -wound several matches, consisting of lengths of twisted cotton wick -steeped in lye. They had already been lighted, for they burnt so slowly -that they would last for several hours. - -"Now we're ship-shape," said Bulger. "Mind you, Burke, don't come too -far for'ard with your linstock. I don't want the train fired with no -sparks afore I'm ready. And 'ware o' the breech; she'll kick like a -jumpin' jackass when the shot flies out of her, an'll knock your teeth -out afore you can say Jack Robinson.--Ah! there's the word at last; now, -mateys, here goes!" - -He laid the gun, waited for the ship to rise from a roll, then took one -of the matches, gently blew its smouldering end, and applied the glowing -wick to the bruised part of the priming. There was a flash, a roar, and -before Desmond could see the effect of the shot Bulger had closed the -vent, the gun was run in, and the sponger was at work cleaning the -chamber. As the black smoke cleared away it was apparent that the -seaman had not forgotten his cunning. The shot had struck the grab on -the deck of the prow and smashed into the forecastle. But the -bow-chasers were apparently uninjured, for they replied a few seconds -later. - -"Ah! There's a wunner!" said Bulger admiringly. - -A shot had carried away a yard of the gunwale of the _Good Intent_, -scattering splinters far and wide, which inflicted nasty wounds on the -second mate and a seaman on the quarter-deck. A jagged end of wood -flying high struck Diggle on the left cheek. He wiped away the blood -imperturbably; it was evident that lack of courage was not among his -defects. - -Captain Barker's ire was now at white heat. Shouting an order to Bulger -and the next man to make rapid practice with the two stern-chasers, he -prepared to fall off and bring the _Good Intent's_ broadside to bear on -the enemy. But the next shot was decisive. Diggle had quietly strolled -down to the gun next to Bulger's. It had just been reloaded. He bade -the gun-captain, in a low tone, to move aside. Then, with a glance to -see that the priming was in order, he took careful sight, and waiting -until the grab's main, mizzen, and foremasts opened to view all -together, he applied the match. The shot sped true, and a second later -the grab's mainmast, with sails and rigging, went by the board. - -A wild cheer from the crew of the _Good Intent_ acclaimed the excellent -shot. - -"By thunder!" said Bulger to Desmond, "Diggle may be a rogue, but he -knows how to train a gun." - -Captain Barker signified his approval by a tremendous mouth-filling -oath. But he was not yet safe. The second grab was following hard in -the wake of the first; and it was plain that the two Indiamen were both -somewhat faster than the _Good Intent_; for during the running fight -that had just ended so disastrously for the grab, they had considerably -lessened the gap between them and their quarry. Captain Barker watched -them with an expression of fierce determination; but not without -anxiety. If they should come within striking distance it was impossible -to withstand successfully their heavier armament and larger crews. The -firing had ceased: each vessel had crowded on all sail; and the brisk -breeze must soon bring pursuer and pursued to a close engagement which -could have only one result. - -"I may be wrong, but seems to me we'd better say our prayers," Bulger -remarked grimly to his gun crew. - -But Desmond, gazing up at the shrouds, said suddenly: - -"The wind's dropping. Look!" - -It was true. Before the monsoon sets in in earnest it not unfrequently -happens that the wind veers fitfully; a squall is succeeded almost -instantaneously by a calm. So it was now. In less than an hour all five -vessels were becalmed; and when night fell, three miles separated the -_Good Intent_ from the second grab; the Indiamen lay a mile further -astern; and the damaged vessel was out of sight. - -Captain Barker took counsel with his officers. He expected to be -attacked during the night by the united boats of the pursuing fleet. -Under cover of darkness they would be able to creep up close and board -the vessel; and the captain knew well that if taken he would be treated -as a pirate. His papers were made out for Philadelphia; he had hoisted -Portuguese colours, but the enemy at close quarters could easily see -that the _Good Intent_ was British built; he had disabled one of the -Company's vessels; there would be no mercy for him. He saw no chance of -beating off the enemy; they would outnumber him by at least five to one. -Even if the wind sprang up again there was small likelihood of escape. -One or other of the pursuing vessels would almost certainly overhaul -him, and hold him till the others came up. - -"'Tis a 'tarnal fix," he said. - -"Methinks 'tis a case of 'actum est de nobis'," re marked Diggle, -pleasantly. - -"Confound you!" said the captain with a burst of anger. "What could I -expect with a gallows-bird like you aboard? 'Tis enough to sink a -vessel without shot." - -Diggle's face darkened. But in a moment his smile returned. - -"You are overwrought, captain," he said; "you are unstrung. 'Twould be -ridiculous to take amiss words said in haste. In cool blood--well, you -know me, Captain Barker. I will leave you to recover from your brief -madness." - -He went below. The captain was left with Mr. Toley and the other -officers. Barker and Toley always got on well together, for the simple -reason that the mate never thwarted his superior, never resented his -abuse, but went quietly his own way. He listened now for a quarter of -an hour, with fixed sadness of expression, while Captain Barker poured -the vials of his wrath upon everything under the sun. When the captain -had come to an end, and sunk into a state of lowering dudgeon, Mr. Toley -said quietly: - -"'Tis all you say, sir, and more. I guess I've never seen a harder -case. But while you was speaking, something you said struck a sort of -idea into my brain." - -"That don't happen often. What is it?" - -"Why, the sort of idea that came to me out o' what you was saying was -just this. How would it be to take soundings?" - -"So that's your notion, is it? Hang me, are you a fool like the rest of -'em! You're always taking soundings! What in the name of thunder do you -want to take soundings for?" - -"Nothing particular, cap'n. That was the kind o' notion that come of -what you was saying. Of course it depends on the depth hereabouts." - -"Deep enough to sink you and your notions and all that's like to come of -'em. Darned if I han't got the most lubberly ship's company ever mortal -man was plagued with. Officers and men, there en't one of you as is -worth your salt, and you with your long face and your notions--why, hang -me, you're no more good than the dirtiest waister afloat." - -Mr. Toley smiled sadly, and ventured on no rejoinder. After the -captain's outburst none of the group dared to utter a word. This -pleased him no better; he cursed them all for standing mum, and spent -ten minutes in reviling them in turn. Then his passion appeared to have -burnt itself out. Turning suddenly to the melancholy mate, he said -roughly: - -"Go and heave your lead, then, and be hanged to it." - -Mr. Toley walked away aft and ordered one of the men to heave the -deep-sea lead. The plummet, shaped like the frustum of a cone, and -weighing thirty pounds, was thrown out from the side in the line of the -vessel's drift. - -"By the mark sixty, less five," sang out the man when the lead touched -the bottom. - -"I guess that'll do," said the first mate, returning to the -quarter-deck. - -"Well, what about your notion?" said the captain scornfully. But he -listened quietly and with an intent look upon his weather-beaten face as -Mr. Toley explained. - -"You see, sir," he said, "while you was talking just now, I sort o' saw -that if they attack us, 'twon't be for at least two hours after dark. -The boats won't put off while there's light enough to see 'em; and won't -hurry anyhow, 'cos if they did the men 'ud have nary much strength left -to 'em. Well, they'll take our bearings, of course. Thinks I, owing to -what you said, sir, what if we could shift 'em by half a mile or so? -The boats 'ud miss us in the darkness." - -"That's so," ejaculated the captain; "and what then?" - -"Well, sir, 'tis there my idea of taking soundings comes in. The _Good -Intent_ can't be towed, not with our handful of men; but why shouldn't -she be kedged? That's the notion, sir; and I guess you'll think it -over." - -"By jimmy, Mr. Toley, you en't come out o' Salem Massachusetts for -nothing. 'Tis a notion, a rare one; Ben Barker en't the man to bear a -grudge, and I take back them words o' mine--leastways some on 'em. -Bo'sun, get ready to lower the long-boat." - -The long-boat was lowered, out of sight of the enemy. A kedge anchor, -fastened to a stout hawser, was put on board, and as soon as it was -sufficiently dark to make so comparatively small an object as a boat -invisible to the hostile craft, she put off at right angles to the _Good -Intent's_ previous course, the hawser attached to the kedge being paid -out as the boat drew away. When it had gone about a fifth of a mile -from the vessel the kedge was dropped, and a signal was given by hauling -on the rope. - -"Clap on, men!" cried Captain Barker. "Get a good purchase, and none of -your sing-song; avast all jabber." - -The crew manned the windlass and began with a will to haul on the cable -in dead silence. The vessel was slowly warped ahead. Meanwhile the -long-boat was returning; when she reached the side of the _Good Intent_, -a second kedge was lowered into her, and again she put off, to drop the -anchor two cables' length beyond the first, so that when the ship had -tripped that, the second was ready to be hauled on. - -When the _Good Intent_ had been thus warped a mile from her position at -nightfall, Captain Barker ordered the operation to be stopped. To avoid -noise the boat was not hoisted in. No lights were shown, and the sky -being somewhat overcast, the boat's crew found that the ship was -invisible at the distance of a fourth of a cable's length. - -"I may be wrong," said Bulger to Desmond, "but I don't believe kedgin' -was ever done so far from harbour afore. I allers thought there was -something in that long head of Mr. Toley, though, to be sure, there en't -no call for him to pull a long face too." - -An hour passed after the kedging had been stopped. All on board the -_Good Intent_ remained silent, or spoke in whispers, if they spoke at -all. There had been no signs of the expected attack. Desmond was -leaning on the gunwale, straining his eyes for a glimpse of the enemy. -But his ears gave him the first intimation of their approach. He heard -a faint creaking, as of oars in rowlocks, and stepped back to where -Bulger was leaning against the mast. - -"There they come," he said. - -The sound had already reached Captain Barker's ears. It was faint; -doubtless the oars were muffled. The ship was rolling lazily; save for -the creaking nothing was heard but the lapping of the ripples against -the hull. So still was the night that the slightest sound must travel -far, and the captain remarked in a whisper to Mr. Toley that he guessed -the approaching boats to be at least six cable-lengths distant. -Officers and men listened intently. The creaking grew no louder; on the -contrary, it gradually became fainter, and at last died away. There was -a long silence, broken only by what sounded like a low hail some -considerable distance astern. - -"They're musterin' the boats," said Bulger, with a chuckle. "I may be -wrong, but I'll bet my breeches they find they've overshot the mark. -Now they'll scatter and try to nose us out." - -Another hour of anxious suspense slowly passed, and still nothing had -happened. Then suddenly a blue light flashed for a few moments on the -blackness of the sea, answered almost instantaneously by a rocket from -another quarter. It was clear that the boats, having signalled that the -search had failed, had been recalled by the rocket to the fleet. - -"By thunder, Mr. Toley, you've done the trick!" said the captain. - -"I guess we don't get our living by making mistakes--not in Salem, -Massachusetts," returned the first mate with his sad smile. - -Through the night the watch was kept with more than ordinary vigilance, -but nothing occurred to give Captain Barker anxiety. With morning light -the enemy could be seen far astern. - - - - - CHAPTER THE TENTH - - -*In which our hero arrives in the Golden East; and Mr. Diggle presents -him to a native prince.* - - -About midday a light breeze sprang up from the north-west. The two -Indiamen and the uninjured grab, being the first to catch it, gained a -full mile before the _Good Intent_, under topgallant sails, studding -sails, royal and driver, began to slip through the water at her best -speed. But, as the previous day's experience had proved, she was no -match in sailing capacity for the pursuers. They gained on her -steadily, and the grab had come almost within cannon-range when the man -at the mast-head shouted: - -"Sail ho! About a dozen sail ahead, sir!" - -The captain spluttered out a round dozen oaths, and his dark face grew -still darker. So many vessels in company must surely mean the King's -ships with a convoy. The French, so far as Captain Barker knew, had no -such fleet in Indian waters, nor had the Dutch or Portuguese. If they -were indeed British men-o'-war he would be caught between two fires, for -there was not a doubt that they would support the Company's vessels. - -"We ought to be within twenty miles o' the coast, Mr. Toley," said -Captain Barker. - -"Ay, sir, and somewhere in the latitude of Gheria." - -"Odds bobs, and now I come to think of it, those there vessels may be -sailing to attack Gheria, seeing as how, as these niggers told us, -they've bust up Suvarndrug." - -"Guess I'll get to the foretop myself and take a look, sir," said Mr. -Toley. - -He mounted, carrying the only perspective glass the vessel possessed. -The captain watched him anxiously as he took a long look. - -"What do you make of 'em?" he shouted. - -The mate shut up the telescope and came leisurely down. - -"I count fifteen in all, sir." - -"I don't care how many. What are they?" - -"I calculate they're grabs and gallivats, sir." - -The captain gave a hoarse chuckle. - -"By thunder, then, we'll soon turn the tables! Angria's gallivats--eh, -Mr. Toley? We'll make a haul yet." - -But Captain Barker was to be disappointed. The fleet had been descried -also by the pursuers. A few minutes later the grab threw out a signal, -hauled her wind and stood away to the northward, followed closely by the -two larger vessels. The captain growled his disappointment. Nearly a -dozen of the coast craft, as they were now clearly seen to be, went in -pursuit, but with little chance of coming up with the chase. The -remaining vessels of the newly-arrived fleet stood out to meet the _Good -Intent_. - -"Fetch up that Maratha fellow," cried the captain, "and hoist a white -flag." - -When the Maratha appeared, a pitiable object, emaciated from want of -food, Captain Barker bade him shout as soon as the newcomers came within -hailing distance. The white flag at the mast-head, and a loud long-drawn -hail from Hybati, apprised the grab that the _Good Intent_ was no enemy, -and averted hostilities. And thus it was, amid a convoy of Angria's own -fleet, that Captain Barker's vessel, a few hours later, sailed -peacefully into the harbour of Gheria. - -Desmond looked with curious eyes on the famous fort and harbour. On the -right, as the _Good Intent_ entered, he saw a long narrow promontory, at -the end of which was a fortress, constructed, as it appeared, of solid -rock. The promontory was joined to the mainland by a narrow isthmus of -sand, beyond which lay an open town of some size. The shore was fringed -with palmyras, mangoes and other tropical trees, and behind the straw -huts and stone buildings of the town leafy groves clothed the sides of a -gentle hill. The harbour, which formed the mouth of a river, was -studded with Angria's vessels, large and small, and from the docks -situated on the sandy isthmus came the busy sound of shipwrights at -work. The rocky walls of the fort were fifty feet high, with round -towers, long curtains, and some fifty embrasures. The left shore of the -harbour was flat, but to the south of the fort rose a hill of the same -height as the walls of rock. Such was the headquarters of the notorious -pirate Tulaji Angria, the last of the line which had for fifty years -been the terror of the Malabar coast. - -The _Good Intent_ dropped anchor off the jetty running out from the -docks north of the fort. Captain Barker had already given orders that -no shore leave was to be allowed to the crew, and as soon as he had -stepped into the long-boat, accompanied by Diggle, the men's discontent -broke forth in angry imprecations, which Mr. Toley wisely affected not -to hear. - -No time was lost in unloading the portion of the cargo intended for -Angria. The goods were carried along the jetty by stalwart Marathas -clad only in loin-cloths, to be stored in rude cabins with penthouse -roofs. As Desmond knew, the heavy chests that taxed the strength of the -bearers contained for the most part muskets and ammunition. The work -went on for the greater part of the day, and at nightfall neither the -captain nor Diggle had returned to the vessel. - -Next day a large quantity of Indian produce was taken on board. Desmond -noticed that as the bales and casks reached the deck, some of the crew -were told off to remove all marks from them. - -"What's that for?" repeated Bulger, in reply to a question of Desmond's. -"Why, 'cos if the ship came to be overhauled by a Company's vessel, it -would tell tales if the cargo had Company's marks on it. That wouldn't -do by no manner o' means." - -"But how should they get Company's marks on them?" - -Bulger winked. - -"You're raw yet, Burke," he said. "You'll know quite as much as is good -for you by the time you've made another voyage or two in the _Good -Intent_." - -"But I don't intend to make another voyage in her. Mr. Diggle promised -to get me employment in the country." - -"What? You still believes in that there Diggle? Well, I don't want to -hurt no feelin's, and I may be wrong, but I'll lay my bottom dollar -Diggle won't do a hand's turn for you." - -The second day passed, and in the evening Captain Barker, who had -hitherto left Mr. Toley in charge, came aboard in high good humour. - -"I may be wrong," remarked Bulger, "but judgin' by cap'n's face, he've -been an' choused the Pirate--got twice the vally o' the goods he's -landed." - -"I wonder where Mr. Diggle is?" said Desmond. - -"You en't no call to mourn for him, I tell you. He's an old friend of -the Pirate, don't make no mistake; neither you nor me will be any the -worse for not seein' his grinnin' phiz no more. Thank your stars he've -left you alone for the last part of the voyage, which I wonder at, all -the same." - -Next day all was bustle on board in preparation for sailing. In the -afternoon a peon[#] came hurrying along the jetty, boarded the vessel, -and handed a note to the captain, who read it, tore it up, and dismissed -the messenger. He went down to his cabin, and coming up a few minutes -later, cried: - - -[#] Messenger. - - -"Where's that boy Burke?" - -"Here, sir," cried Desmond, starting up from the place where, in -Bulger's company, he had been splicing a rope. - -"Idling away your time as usual, of course. Here, take this chit[#] and -run ashore. 'Tis for Mr. Diggle, as you can see if you can read." - - -[#] Note. - - -"But how am I to find him, sir?" - -"Hang me, that's your concern. Find him, and give the chit into his own -hand, and be back without any tomfoolery, or by thunder I'll lay a rope -across your shoulders." - -Desmond took the note, left the vessel, and hurried along the jetty. -After what Bulger had said he was not very well pleased at the prospect -of meeting Diggle again. At the shore end of the jetty he was accosted -by the peon who had brought Diggle's note on board. The man intimated -by signs that he would show the way, and Desmond, wondering why the -Indian had not himself waited to receive Captain Barker's answer, -followed him at a rapid pace on shore, past the docks, through a corner -of the town, where the appearance of a white stranger attracted the -curious attention of the natives, to an open space in front of the -entrance to the fort. Here they arrived at a low wall cut by an open -gateway, at each side of which stood a Maratha sentry armed with a -matchlock. A few words were exchanged between Desmond's guide and one of -the sentries; the two entered, crossed a compound dotted with trees, and -passing through the principal gateway came to a large square building -near the centre of the fort. The door of this was guarded by a sentry. -Again a few words were spoken. Desmond fancied he saw a slight smile -curl the lips of the natives; then the sentry called another peon who -stood at hand, and sent him into the palace. - -Desmond felt a strange sinking at heart. The smile upon these dark -faces awakened a vague uneasiness; it was so like Diggle's smile. He -supposed that the man had gone in to report that he had arrived with the -captain's answer. The note still remained with him; the Marathas -apparently knew that it was to be delivered personally; yet he was left -at the door, and his guide stood by in an attitude that suggested he was -on guard. - -How long was he to be kept waiting? he wondered. Captain Barker had -ordered him to return at once; the penalty for disobedience he knew only -too well; yet the minutes passed, and lengthened into two hours without -any sign of the man who had gone in with the message. Desmond spoke to -his guide, but the man shook his head, knowing no English. Becoming -more and more uneasy, he was at length relieved to see the messenger -come back to the door and beckon him to enter. As he passed the -sentries they made him a salaam in which his anxious sensitiveness -detected a shade of mockery; but before he could define his feelings he -reached a third door guarded like the others, and was ushered in. - -He found himself in a large chamber, its walls dazzling with barbaric -decoration--figures of Ganessa, a favourite idol of the Marathas, of -monstrous elephants, and peacocks with enormously expanded tails. The -hall was so crowded that his first confusion was redoubled. A path was -made through the throng as at a signal, and at the end of the room he -saw two men apart from the rest. One of them, standing a little back -from the other, was Diggle; the other, a tall, powerful figure in -raiment as gaudy as the painted peacocks around him, his fingers covered -with rings, a diamond blazing in his headdress, was sitting cross-legged -on a dais. Behind him, against the wall, was an image of Ganessa, made -of solid gold, with diamonds for eyes, and blazing with jewels. At one -side was his hookah, at the other a two-edged sword and an unsheathed -dagger. Below the dais on either hand two fierce-visaged Marathas -stood, their heads and shoulders covered with a helmet, their bodies -cased in a quilted vest, each holding a straight two-edged sword. -Between Angria and the idol two fan-bearers lightly swept the air above -their lord's head with broad fans of palm leaves. - -Desmond walked towards the dais, feeling wofully out of place amid the -brilliant costumes of Angria's court. Scarcely two of the Marathas were -dressed alike; some were in white, some in lilac, others in purple, but -each with ornaments after his own taste. Desmond had not had time -before leaving the _Good Intent_ to smarten himself up, and he stood -there a tall, thin, sunburnt youth in dirty, tattered garments, doing -his best to face the assembly with British courage. At the foot of the -dais he paused and held out the captain's note. Diggle took it in -silence, his face wearing the smile that Desmond knew so well and now so -fully distrusted. Without reading it, he tore it in fragments and threw -them upon the floor, at the same time saying a few words to the -resplendent figure at his side. - -Tulaji Angria was dark, inclined to be fat, and not unpleasant in -feature. But it was with a scowling brow that he replied to Diggle. -Desmond was no coward, but he afterwards confessed that as he stood -there watching the two faces, the dark lowering face of Angria, the -smiling, scarcely less swarthy face of Diggle, he felt his knees tremble -under him. What was the Pirate saying? That he was the subject of -their conversation was plain from the glances thrown at him; that he was -at a crisis in his fate he knew by instinct; but, ignorant of the tongue -they spoke, he could but wait in fearful anxiety and mistrust. - -He learnt afterwards the purport of the talk. - -"That is your man!" said Angria. "You have deceived me. I looked for a -man of large stature and robust make, like the Englishmen I already -have. What good will this slim, starved stripling be in my barge?" - -"You must not be impatient, huzur[#]," replied Diggle. "He is a -stripling, it is true; slim, certainly; starved--well, the work on board -ship does not tend to fatten a man. But give him time; he is but -sixteen or seventeen years old, young in my country. In a year or two, -under your regimen, he will develop; he comes of a hardy stock, and -already he can make himself useful. He was one of the quickest and -handiest on board our ship, though this was his first voyage." - - -[#] Lord. - - -"But you yourself admit that he is not yet competent for the oar in my -barge. What is to recompense me for the food he will eat while he is -growing? No, Diggle sahib, if I take him I must have some allowance off -the price. In truth, I will not take him unless you send me from your -vessel a dozen good muskets. That is my word." - -"Still, huzur----" began Diggle, but Angria cut him short with a gesture -of impatience. - -"That is my word, I say. Shall I, Tulaji Angria, dispute with you? I -will have twenty muskets, or you may keep the boy." - -Diggle shrugged and smiled. - -"Very well, huzur. You drive a hard bargain; but it shall be as you -say. I will send a chit to the captain, and you shall have the muskets -before the ship sails." - -Angria made a sign to one of his attendants. The man approached -Desmond, took him by the sleeve, and signed to him to come away. -Desmond threw a beseeching look at Diggle, and said hurriedly: - -"Mr. Diggle, please tell me----" - -But Angria rose to his feet in wrath, and shouted to the man who had -Desmond by the sleeve. Desmond made no further resistance. His head -swam as he passed between the dusky ranks out into the courtyard. - -"What does it all mean?" he asked himself. - -His guide hurried him along until they came to a barn-like building -under the north-west angle of the fort. The Maratha unlocked the door, -signed to Desmond to enter, and locked him in. He was alone. - -He spent three miserable hours. Bitterly did he now regret having cast -in his lot with the smooth-spoken stranger who had been so sympathetic -with him in his troubles at home. He tried to guess what was to be done -with him. He was in Angria's power, a prisoner, but to what end? Had -he run from the tyranny at home merely to fall a victim to a worse -tyranny at the hands of an Oriental? He knew so little of Angria, and -his brain was in such a turmoil, that he could not give definite shape -to his fears. He paced up and down the hot, stuffy shed, awaiting, -dreading, he knew not what. Through the hole that served for a window -he saw men passing to and fro across the courtyard, but they were all -swarthy, all alien; there was no one from whom he could expect a -friendly word. - -Towards evening, as he looked through the hole, he saw Diggle issue from -the door of the palace and cross towards the outer gate. - -"Mr. Diggle! Mr. Diggle!" he called. "Please! I am locked up here." - -Diggle looked round, smiled, and leisurely approached the shed. - -"Why have they shut me up here?" demanded Desmond. "Captain Barker said -I was to return at once. Do get the door unlocked." - -"You ask the impossible, my young friend," replied Diggle through the -hole. "You are here by the orders of Angria, and 'twould be treason in -me to pick his locks." - -"But why? what right has he to lock me up? and you, why did you let him? -You said you were my friend; you promised--oh, you know what you -promised." - -"I promised? Truly, I promised that, if you were bent on accompanying -me to these shores, I would use my influence to procure you employment -with one of my friends among the native princes. Well, I have kept my -word; 'firmavi fidem,' as the Latin hath it. Angria is my friend; I -have used my influence with him; and you are now in the service of one -of the most potent of Indian princes. True, your service is but -beginning. It may be arduous at first; it may be long 'ab ovo usque ad -mala'; the egg may be hard, and the apples, perchance, somewhat sour; -but as you become inured to your duties, you will learn resignation and -patience, and----" - -"Don't!" burst out Desmond, unable to endure the smooth-flowing periods -of the man now self-confessed a villain. "What does it mean? Tell me -plainly; am I a slave?" - -"'Servulus, non servus,' my dear boy. What is the odds whether you -serve Dick Burke, a booby farmer, or Tulaji Angria, a prince and a man -of intelligence? Yet there is a difference, and I would give you a word -of counsel. Angria is an Oriental, and a despot; it were best to serve -him with all diligence, or----" - -He finished the sentence with a meaning grimace. - -"Mr. Diggle, you can't mean it," said Desmond. "Don't leave me here! I -implore you to release me. What have I ever done to you? Don't leave -me in this awful place." - -Diggle smiled and began to move away. At the sight of his malicious -smile the prisoner's despair was swept away before a tempest of rage. - -"You scoundrel! You shameless scoundrel!" - -The words, low spoken and vibrant with contempt, reached Diggle when he -was some distance from the shed. He turned and sauntered back. - -"Heia! Contumeliosae voces! 'Tis pretty abuse. My young friend, I -must withdraw my ears from such shocking language. But stay! if you -have any message for Sir Willoughby, your squire, whose affections you -have so diligently cultivated to the prejudice of his nearest and -dearest, it were well for you to give it. 'Tis your last opportunity; -for those who enter Angria's service enjoy a useful but not a long -career. And before I return to Gheria from a little journey I am about -to take, you may have joined the majority of those who have tempted fate -in this insalubrious clime. In a moment swift death cometh--you -remember the phrase?" - -Diggle leant against the wooden wall, watching with malicious enjoyment -the effect of his words. Desmond was very pale; all his strength seemed -to have deserted him. Finding that his taunts provoked no reply, Diggle -went on: - -"Time presses, my young friend. You will be logged a deserter from the -_Good Intent_. 'Tis my fervent hope you never fall into the hands of -Captain Barker; as you know, he is a terrible man when roused." - -Waving his gloved hand he moved away. Desmond did not watch his -departure. Falling back from the window, he threw himself upon the -ground, and gave way to a long fit of black despair. - -How long he lay in this agony he knew not. But he was at last roused by -the opening of the door. It was almost dark. Rising to his feet, he -saw a number of men hustled into the shed. Ranged along one of the -walls, they squatted on the floor, and for some minutes afterwards -Desmond heard the clank of irons and the harsh grating of a key. Then a -big Maratha came to him, searched him thoroughly, clapped iron bands -upon his ankles, and locked the chains to staples in the wall. Soon the -door was shut, barred, and locked, and Desmond found himself a prisoner -with eight others. - -For a little they spoke among themselves, in the low tones of men -utterly spent and dispirited. Then all was silent, and they slept. But -Desmond lay wide awake, waiting for the morning. - -The shed was terribly hot. Air came only through the one narrow -opening, and before an hour was past the atmosphere was foul, seeming -the more horrible to Desmond by contrast with the freshness of his life -on the ocean. Mosquitoes nipped him until he could scarcely endure the -intense irritation. He would have given anything for a little water; -but though he heard a sentry pacing up and down outside, he did not -venture to call to him, and could only writhe in heat and torture, -longing for the dawn, yet fearing it and what it might bring forth. - -Worn and haggard after his sleepless night, Desmond had scarcely spirit -enough to look with curiosity on his fellow-prisoners when the shed was -faintly lit by the morning sun. But he saw that the eight men, all -natives, were lying on rude charpoys[#] along the wall, each man chained -to a staple like his own. One of the men was awake; and, catching -Desmond's lustreless eyes fixed upon him, he sat up and returned his -gaze. - - -[#] Mat beds. - - -"Your honour is an English gentleman?" - -The words caused Desmond to start: they were so unexpected in such a -place. The Indian spoke softly and carefully, as if anxious not to -awaken his companions. - -"Yes," replied Desmond. "Who are you?" - -"My name, sir, is Surendra Nath Chuckerbutti. I was lately a clerk in -the employ of a burra[#] sahib, English factor, at Calcutta." - - -[#] Great. - - -"How did you get here?" - -"That, sahib, is a moving tale. While on a visit of condolence to my -respectable uncle and aunt at Chittagong, I was kidnapped by Sanderband -piratical dogs. Presto!--at that serious crisis a Dutch ship makes -apparition and rescues me; but my last state is more desperate than the -first. The Dutch vessel will not stop to replace me on mother-earth; -she is for Bombay across the kala pani[#], as we say. I am not a -swimmer; besides, what boots it?--we are ten miles from land, to say -nothing of sharks and crocodiles and the lordly tiger. So I perforce -remain, to the injury of my caste, which forbids navigation. But see -the issue. The Dutch ship is assaulted; grabs and gallivats galore -swarm upon the face of the waters; all is confusion worse confounded; in -a brace of shakes we are in the toils. It is now two years since this -untoward catastrophe. With the crew I am conveyed hither and eat the -bitter crust of servitude. Some of the Dutchmen are consigned to other -forts in possession of the Pirate, and three serve here in his state -barge." - - -[#] Black water--the sea. - - -Desmond glanced at the sleeping forms. - -"No, sir, they are not here," said the Babu[#], catching his look. -"They share another apartment with your countrymen--chained? Oh yes! -These, my bedfellows of misfortune, are Indians, not of Bengal, like -myself; two are Biluchis hauled from a country ship; two are Musalmans -from Mysore; one a Gujarati; two Marathas. We are a motley crew--a -miscellany, no less." - - -[#] Equivalent to Mr.; generally applied to educated Bengalis. - - -"What do they do with you in the daytime?" - -"I, sir, adjust accounts of the Pirate's dockyard; for this I am -qualified by prolonged driving of quill in Calcutta, to expressed -satisfaction of Honourable Company and English merchants. But my -position, sir, is of Damoclean anxiety. I am horrified by conviction -that one small error of calculation will entail direst retribution. -Videlicet, sir, this week a fellow-captive is minus a finger and -thumb--and all for oversight of six annas.[#] But I hear the step of -our jailer; I must bridle my tongue." - - -[#] The anna is the sixteenth part of a rupee. - - -The Babu had spoken throughout in a low monotonous tone that had not -disturbed the slumbers of his fellow-prisoners. But they were all -awakened by the noisy opening of the door and the entrance of their -jailer. He went to each in turn, and unlocked their fetters; then they -filed out in dumb submission, to be escorted by armed sentries to the -different sheds where they fed, each caste by itself. When the eight had -disappeared the jailer turned to Desmond, and, taking him by the sleeve, -led him across the courtyard into the palace. Here, in a little room, -he was given a meagre breakfast of rice; after which he was taken to -another room where he found Angria in company with a big Maratha, who -had in his hand a long bamboo cane. The Pirate was no longer in -durbar[#] array, but was clad in a long yellow robe with a -lilac-coloured shawl. - - -[#] Council, ceremonial. - - -Conscious that he made a very poor appearance in his tatters, Desmond -felt that the two men looked at him with contempt. A brief conversation -passed between them; then the Maratha salaamed to Angria and went from -the room, beckoning Desmond to follow him. They went out of the -precincts of the palace, and through a part of the town, until they -arrived at the docks. There the labourers, slaves and free, were -already at work. Desmond at the first glance noticed several Europeans -among them, miserable objects who scarcely lifted their heads to look at -this latest newcomer of their race. His guide called up one of the -foremen shipwrights, and instructed him to place the boy among a gang of -the workmen. Then he went away. Scarcely a minute had elapsed when -Desmond heard a cry, and looking round, saw the man brutally belabouring -with his rattan the bare shoulders of a native. He quivered; the -incident seemed of ill augury. In a few minutes Desmond found himself -among a gang of men who were working at a new gallivat in process of -construction for Angria's own use. He received his orders in dumb show -from the foreman of the gang. Miserable as he was, he would not have -been a boy if he had not been interested in his novel surroundings; and -no intelligent boy could have failed to take an interest in the -construction of a gallivat. It was a large rowboat of from thirty to -seventy tons, with two masts, the mizzen being very slight. The -mainmast bore one huge sail, triangular in form, its peak extending to a -considerable height above the mast. The smaller gallivats were covered -with a spar deck made of split bamboos, their armament consisting of -pettararoes fixed on swivels in the gunwale. But the larger vessels had -a fixed deck on which were mounted six or eight cannon, from two- to -four-pounders; and in addition to their sail they had from forty to -fifty oars, so that, with a stout crew, they attained, even in a calm, a -rate of four or five miles an hour. - -One of the first things Desmond learnt was that the Indian mode of -shipbuilding differed fundamentally from the European. The timbers were -fitted in after the planks had been put together; and the planks were -put together, not with flat edges, but rabbeted, the parts made to -correspond with the greatest exactness. When a plank was set up, its -edge was smeared with red lead, and the edge of the plank to come next -was pressed down upon it, the inequalities in its surface being thus -shown by the marks of the lead. These being smoothed away, if necessary -several times, and the edges fitting exactly, they were rubbed with -da'ma, a sort of glue that in course of time became as hard as iron. -The planks were then firmly riveted with pegs, and by the time the work -was finished the seams were scarcely visible, the whole forming -apparently one entire piece of timber. - -The process of building a gallivat was thus a very long and tedious one; -but the vessel when completed was so strong that it could go to sea for -many years before the hull needed repair. - -Desmond learnt all this only gradually; but from the first day, making a -virtue of necessity, he threw himself into the work and became very -useful, winning the good opinion of the officers of the dockyard. His -feelings were frequently wrung by the brutal punishments inflicted by -the overseer upon defaulters. The man had absolute power over the -workers. He could flog them, starve them, even cut off their ears and -noses. One of his favourite devices was to tie a quantity of oiled -cotton round each of a man's fingers and set light to these living -torches. Another, used with a man whom he considered lazy, was the -tank. Between the dockyard and the river, separated from the latter -only by a thin wall, was a square cavity about seven feet deep covered -with boarding, in the centre of which was a circular hole. In the wall -was a small orifice through which water could be let in from the river, -while in the opposite wall was the pipe and spout of a small hand-pump. -The man whom the overseer regarded as an idler was let down into the -tank, the covering replaced, and water allowed to enter from the river. -This was a potent spur to the defaulter's activity, for if he did not -work the pump fast enough the water would gradually rise in the tank, -and he would drown. Desmond learnt of one case where the man, utterly -worn out by his life of alternate toil and punishment, refused to work -the pump and stood in silent indifference while the water mounted inch -by inch until it covered his head and ended his woes. - -Desmond's diligence in the dockyard pleased the overseer, whose name was -Govinda, and he was by and by employed on lighter tasks which took him -sometimes into the town. Until the novelty wore off he felt a lively -interest in the scenes that met his eye--the bazaars, crowded with -dark-skinned natives, the men moustachioed, clad for the most part in -white garments that covered them from the crown of the head to the knee, -with a touch of red sometimes in their turbans; the women with bare -heads and arms and feet, garbed in red and blue; the gosains, mendicants -with matted hair and unspeakable filth; the women who fried chapatis[#] -on griddles in the streets, grinding their meal in handmills; the -sword-grinders, whetting the blades of the Maratha two-edged swords; the -barbers, whose shops had a never-ending succession of customers; the -Brahmans, almost naked and shaved bald save for a small tuft at the back -of the head; the sellers of madi, a toddy extracted from the cocoanut -palm; the magicians in their shawls, with high stiff red cap, painted -all over with snakes; the humped bullocks that were employed as beasts -of burden, and when not in use roamed the streets untended; occasionally -the hasawa, the sacred bull of Siva the destroyer, and the rath[#] -carrying the sacred rat of Ganessa. But with familiarity such scenes -lost their charm; and as the months passed away Desmond felt more and -more the gnawing of care at his heart, the constant sadness of a slave. - - -[#] Small flat unleavened cakes. - -[#] Car. - - - - - CHAPTER THE ELEVENTH - - -*In which the Babu tells the story of King Vikramâditya; and the -discerning reader may find more than appears on the surface.* - - -Day followed day in dreary sameness. Regularly every evening Desmond -was locked with his eight fellow-prisoners in the shed, there to spend -hours of weariness and discomfort until morning brought release and the -common task. He had the same rations of rice and ragi,[#] with -occasional doles of more substantial fare. He was carefully kept from -all communication with the other European prisoners, and as the Bengali -was the only man of his set who knew English, his only opportunities of -using his native tongue occurred in the evening, before he slept. - - -[#] A cereal. - - -His fellow-prisoners spoke Urdu among themselves, and Desmond found some -alleviation of the monotony of his life in learning the lingua franca of -India under the Babu's tuition. He was encouraged to persevere in the -study by the fact that the Babu proved to be an excellent story-teller, -often beguiling the tedium of wakeful hours in the shed by relating -interminable narratives from the Hindu mythology, and in particular the -exploits of the legendary hero Vikramâditya. So accomplished was he in -this very Oriental art that it was not uncommon for one or other of the -sentries to listen to him through the opening in the shed wall, and the -head-warder who locked the prisoners' fetters would himself sometimes -squat down at the door before leaving them at night, and remain an -interested auditor until the blast of a horn warned all in fort and town -that the hour of sleep had come. It was some time before Desmond was -sufficiently familiar with the language to pick up more than a few words -of the stories here and there, but in three months he found himself able -to follow the narrative with ease. - -Meanwhile he was growing apace. The constant work in the open air, -clad, save, during the rains, in nothing but a thin dhoti[#], developed -his physique and, even in that hot climate, hardened his muscles. The -Babu one day remarked with envy that he would soon be deemed worthy of -promotion to Angria's own gallivat, whose crew consisted of picked men -of all nationalities. This was an honour Desmond by no means coveted. -As a dockyard workman, earning his food by the sweat of his brow, he did -not come in contact with Angria, and was indeed less hardly used than he -had been on board the _Good Intent_. But to become a galley-slave seemed -to him a different thing, and the prospect of pulling an oar in the -Pirate's gallivat served to intensify his longing to be free. - - -[#] A cloth worn round the waist, passed between the legs and tucked in -behind the back. - - -For, though he proved so willing and docile in the dockyard, not a day -passed but he pondered the idea of escape. He seized every opportunity -of learning the topography of the fort and town, being aided in this -unwittingly by Govinda, who employed him more and more often, as he -became familiar with the language, in conveying messages from one part -of the settlement to another. But he was forced to confess to himself -that the chances of escape were very slight. Gheria was many miles from -the nearest European settlement where he might find refuge. To escape -by sea seemed impossible; if he fled through the town and got clear of -Angria's territory he would almost certainly fall into the hands of the -Peshwa's[#] people, and although the Peshwa was nominally an ally of the -Company, his subjects--a lawless, turbulent, predatory race--were not -likely to be specially friendly to a solitary English lad. A half-felt -hope that he might be able to reach Suvarndrug, lately captured by -Commodore James, was dashed by the news that that fort had been handed -over by him to the Marathas. Moreover, such was the rivalry among the -various European nations competing for trade in India that he was by no -means sure of a friendly reception if he should succeed in gaining a -Portuguese or Dutch settlement. Dark stories were told of Portuguese -dealings with Englishmen, and the Dutch bore no good repute for their -treatment of prisoners. - - -[#] The prime minister and real ruler of the Maratha kingdom. - - -It was a matter of wonder to Desmond that none of his companions ever -hinted at escape. He could not imagine that any man could be a slave -without feeling a yearning for liberty; yet these men lived through the -unvarying round, eating, toiling, sleeping, without any apparent mental -revolt. He could only surmise that all manliness and spirit had been -crushed out of them, and from motives of prudence he forbore to speak of -freedom. - -But one evening, a sultry October evening when the shed was like an -oven, and, bathed in sweat, he felt utterly limp and depressed, he asked -the Babu in English whether any one had ever escaped out of Angria's -clutches. Surendra Nath Chuckerbutti glanced anxiously around, as if -fearful that the others might understand. But they lay listless on -their charpoys; they knew no English, and there was nothing in Desmond's -tone to quicken their hopelessness. - -"No, sahib," said the Bengali; "such escapade, if successful, is beyond -my ken. There have been attempts: _cui bono_? Nobody is an anna the -better. Nay, the last state of such misguided men is even worse; they -die suffering very ingenious torture." - -Desmond had been amazed at the Babu's command of English until he learnt -that the man was an omnivorous reader, and in his leisure at Calcutta -had spent many an hour in poring over such literature as his master's -scanty library afforded, the works of Mr. Samuel Johnson and Mr. Henry -Fielding in particular. - -At this moment Desmond said no more, but in the dead of night, when all -were asleep, he leant over to the Babu's charpoy and gently nudged him. - -"Surendra Nath!" he whispered. - -"Who calls?" returned the Babu. - -"Listen. Have you yourself ever thought of escaping?" - -"Peace and quietness, sir. He will hear." - -"Who?" - -"The Gujarati, sir--Fuzl Khan." - -"But he doesn't understand. And if he did, what then?" - -"He was the single man, positively unique, who was spared among six -attempting escape last rains." - -"They did make an attempt, then. Why was he spared?" - -"That, sir, deponent knoweth not. The plot was carried to Angria." - -"How?" - -"That also is dark as pitch. But Fuzl Khan was spared, that we know. -No man can trust his _vis-à-vis_. No man is now so bold to discuss such -matters." - -"Is that why we are all chained up at night?" - -"That, sir, is the case. It is since then our limbs are shackled." - -Desmond thought over this piece of information. He had noticed that the -Gujarati was left much alone by the others. They were outwardly civil -enough, but they rarely spoke to him of their own accord, and sometimes -they would break off in a conversation if he appeared interested. -Desmond had put this down to the man's temper; he was a sullen fellow, -with a perpetually hangdog look, occasionally breaking out in paroxysms -of violence which cost him many a scourging from the overseer's -merciless rattan. But the attitude of his fellow-prisoner was more -easily explained if the Babu's hint was well founded. They feared him. -Yet, if he had indeed betrayed his comrades, he had gained little by his -treachery. He was no favourite with the officers of the yard. They -kept him hard at work, and seemed to take a delight in harrying him. -More than once, unjustly as it appeared to Desmond, he had made -acquaintance with the punishment tank. In his dealings with his fellows -he was morose and offensive. A man of great physical strength, he was a -match for any two of his shed companions save the Biluchis, who, though -individually weaker, retained something of the spirit of their race and -made common cause against him. The rest he bullied, and none more than -the Bengali, whose weaklier constitution spared him the hard manual work -of the yard, but whose timidity invited aggression. - -Now that the subject which constantly occupied his thoughts had been -mooted, Desmond found himself more eagerly striving to find a solution -of the problem presented by the idea of escape. At all hours of the -day, and often when he lay in sleepless discomfort at night, his active -mind recurred to the one absorbing matter: how to regain his freedom. -He had already canvassed the possibilities of escape by land, only to -dismiss the idea as utterly impracticable; for even could he elude the -vigilance of the sentries he could not pass as a native, and the perils -besetting an Englishman were not confined to Angria's territory. But -how stood the chances of escape by sea? Could he stow himself on board -a grab or gallivat, and try to swim ashore when near some friendly port? -He put the suggestion from him as absurd. Supposing he succeeded in -stowing himself on an outgoing vessel, how could he know when he was -near a friendly port without risking almost certain discovery? Besides, -except in such rare cases as the visit of an interloper like the _Good -Intent_, the Pirate did little trade. His vessels were employed mainly -in dashing out on insufficiently-convoyed merchantmen. - -But the train of thought once started could not but be followed out. -What if he could seize a grab or gallivat in the harbour? To navigate -such a vessel required a party, men having some knowledge of the sea. -How stood his fellow-prisoners in that respect? The Biluchis, tall wiry -men, were traders, and had several times, he knew, made the voyage from -the Persian Gulf to Surat. It was on one of these journeys that they had -fallen into Angria's hands. They might have picked up something of the -simpler details of navigation. The Mysoreans, being up-country men and -agriculturists, were not likely even to have seen the sea until they -became slaves of Angria. The Marathas would be loth to embark; they -belonged to a warrior race which had for centuries lived by raiding its -neighbours; but being forbidden by their religion to eat or drink at sea -they would never make good sailors. The Babu was a native of Bengal, -and the Bengalis were physically the weakest of the Indian peoples, -constitutionally timid, and unenterprising in matters demanding physical -courage. Desmond smiled as he thought of how his friend Surendra Nath -might comport himself in a storm. - -There remained the Gujarati, and of his nautical capacity Desmond knew -nothing. But, mentioning the matter of seamanship casually to the Babu -one day, he learnt that Fuzl Khan was a khalasi[#] from Cutch. He had -in him a strain of negro blood, derived probably from some Zanzibari -ancestor brought to Cutch as a slave. The men of the coast of Cutch -were the best sailors in India; and Fuzl Khan himself had spent a -considerable portion of his life at sea. - - -[#] Sailor. - - -Thus reflecting on the qualities of his fellow-captives. Desmond had -ruefully to acknowledge that they would make a poor crew to navigate a -grab or gallivat. Yet he could find no other, for Angria's system of -mixing the nationalities was cunningly devised to prevent any concerted -schemes. If the attempt was to be made at all, it must be made with the -men whom he knew intimately and with whom he had opportunities of -discussing a plan. - -But he was at once faced by the question of the Gujarati's -trustworthiness. If there was any truth in Surendra Nath's suspicions, -he would be quite ready to betray his fellows; and if looks and manner -were any criterion, the suspicions were amply justified. True, the man -had gained nothing by his former treachery, but that might not prevent -him from repeating it, in the hope that a second betrayal would compel -reward. - -While Desmond was still pondering and puzzling, it happened one -unfortunate day that Govinda the overseer was carried off within a few -hours by what the Babu called the cramp--the disease now known as -cholera. His place was immediately filled. But his successor was a -very different man. He was not so capable as Govinda, and endeavoured -to make up for his incapacity by greater brutality and violence. The -work of the yard fell off; he tried to mend matters by harrying the men. -The whip and rattan were in constant use, but the result was less -efficiency than ever, and he sought for the cause everywhere but in -himself. The lives of the captives, bad enough before, became a -continual torment. Desmond fared no better than the rest. He lost the -trifling privileges he had formerly enjoyed. The new overseer seemed to -take a delight in bullying him. Many a night, when he returned to the -shed, his back was raw where the lash had cut a livid streak through his -thin dhoti. His companions suffered in common with him, Fuzl Khan more -than any. For days at a time the man was incapacitated from work by the -treatment meted out to him. Desmond felt that if the Gujarati had -indeed purchased his life by betraying his comrades, he had made a dear -bargain. - -One night, when his eight companions were all asleep, and nothing could -be heard but the regular calls of the sentries, the beating of tom-toms -in the town, and the howls of jackals prowling on the outskirts, Desmond -gently woke the Babu. - -"My friend, listen," he whispered, "I have something to say to you." - -Surendra Nath turned over on his charpoy. - -"Speak soft, I pray," he said. - -"My head is on fire," continued Desmond. "I cannot sleep. I have been -thinking. What is life worth to us? Can anything be worse than our -present lot? Do you ever think of escape?" - -"What good, sir? I have said so before. We are fettered; what can we -do? There is but one thing that all men in our plight desire; that is -death." - -"Nonsense! I do not desire death. This life is hateful, but while we -live there is something to hope for, and I for one am not content to -endure life-long misery. I mean to escape." - -"It is easy to say, but the doing--that is impossible." - -"How can we tell that unless we try? The men who tried to escape did -not think it impossible. They might have succeeded--who can say?--if -Fuzl Khan had not betrayed them." - -"And he is still with us. He would betray us again." - -"I am not sure of that. See what he has suffered! To-day his whole body -must have writhed with pain. But for the majum[#] he has smoked and the -plentiful ghi[#] we rubbed him with, he would be moaning now. I think -he will be with us if we can only find out a way. You have been here -longer than I; cannot you help me to form a plan?" - - -[#] A preparation of hemp. - -[#] Clarified butter. - - -"No, sahib; my brain is like running water. Besides, I am afraid. If -we could get rid of our fetters and escape, we might have to fight. I -cannot fight; I am not a man of war; I am commercial." - -"But you will help me if I can think of a plan?" - -"I cannot persuade myself to promise, sahib. It is impossible. Death -is the only deliverer." - -Desmond was impatient of the man's lack of spirit. But he suffered no -sign of his feeling to escape him. He had grown to have a liking for -the Babu. - -"Well, I shall not give up the idea," he said. "Perhaps I shall speak -of it to you again." - -Two nights later, in the dark and silent hours, Desmond reopened the -matter. This time the conversation lasted much longer, and in the -course of it the Babu became so much interested and indeed excited that -he forgot his usual caution, and spoke in a high-pitched tone that woke -the Biluchi on the other side. The man hurled abuse at the disturber of -his repose, and Surendra Nath regained his caution and relapsed into his -usual soft murmur. Desmond and he were still talking when the light of -dawn stole into the shed; but though neither had slept, they went about -their work during the day with unusual briskness and lightness of heart. - -That evening, after the prisoners had eaten their supper in their -respective eating-rooms, they squatted against the outer wall of the -shed for a brief rest before being locked up for the night. The Babu -had promised to tell a story. The approaches to the yard were all -guarded by the usual sentries, and in the distance could be heard the -clanking of the warder's keys as he went from shed to shed performing -his nightly office. - -"The story! the story!" said one of the Marathas impatiently. "Why dost -thou tarry, Babu?" - -"I have eaten, Gousla, and when the belly is full the brain is sluggish. -But the balance is adjusting itself, and in a little I will begin." - -Through the further gate came the warder. Desmond and his companions -were the last with whom he had to deal. His keys jangling, he advanced -slowly between two Marathas armed with matchlocks and two-edged swords. - -The Babu had his back against the shed, the others were grouped about -him, and at his left there was a vacant space. It was growing dusk. - -"Hail, worthy jailer!" said Surendra Nath pleasantly. "I was about to -tell the marvellous story of King Bhoya's golden throne. But I will -even now check the stream at the source. Your time is precious. My -comrades must wait until we get inside." - -"Not so, Babu," said the warder gruffly. "Tell thy tale. Barik -Allah![#] you nine are the last of my round. I will myself wait and -hear, for thou hast a ready tongue, and the learning of a pundit,[#] -Babu, and thy stories, after the day's work, are they not as honey -poured on rice?" - - -[#] Praise to Allah! - -[#] Learned man, teacher. - - -"You honour me beyond my deserts. If you will deign to be seated!" - -The warder marched to the vacant spot at the Babu's side, and squatted -down, crossing his legs, his heavy bunch of keys lying on the skirt of -his dhoti. The armed Marathas stood at a little distance, leaning on -their matchlocks, within hearing of the Babu, and at spots where they -could see any one approaching from either end of the yard. It would not -do for the warder to be found thus by the officer of the watch. - -"It happened during the reign of the illustrious King Bhoya," began the -Babu; then he caught his breath, looking strangely nervous. "It is the -heat, good jailer," he said hurriedly; "--of the illustrious King Bhoya, -I said, that a poor ryot[#] named Yajnadatta, digging one day in his -field, found there buried the divine throne of the incomparable King -Vikramâditya. When his eyes were somewhat recovered from the dazzling -vision, and he could gaze unblinking at the wondrous throne, he beheld -that it was resplendent with thirty-two graven images, and adorned with -a multitude of jewels: rubies and diamonds, pearls and jasper, crystal -and coral and sapphires. - - -[#] Peasant. - - -"Now the news of this wondrous discovery coming to the ears of King -Bhoya, he incontinently caused the throne to be conveyed to his palace, -and had it set in the midst of his hall of counsel that rose on columns -of gold and silver, of coral and crystal. Then the desire came upon him -to sit on this throne, and calling his wise men, he bade them choose a -moment of good augury, and gave order to his servitors to make all -things ready for his coronation. Whereupon his people brought curded -milk, sandalwood, flowers, saffron, umbrellas, parasols, divers -tails--tails of oxen, tails of peacocks; arrows, weapons of war, mirrors -and other objects proper to be held by wedded women--all things, indeed, -meet for a solemn festival, with a well-striped tiger-skin to represent -the seven continents of the earth; nothing was wanting of all the -matters prescribed in the Shastras[#] for the solemn crowning of kings; -and having thus fulfilled their duty, the servitors humbly acquainted -his majesty therewith. Then, when the Guru,[#] the Purohita,[#] the -Brahmans, the wise men, the councillors, the officers, the soldiers, the -chief captain, had entered, the august King Bhoya drew near to the -throne, to the end that he might be anointed. - - -[#] Holy Books. - -[#] Religious teacher. - -[#] Hereditary priest of the royal house. - - -"But lo! the first of the carven figures that surrounded the throne thus -spake and said: 'Hearken, O king. That prince who is endowed with -sovereign qualities; who shines before all others in wealth, in -liberality, in mercy; who excels in heroism and in goodness; who is -drawn by his nature to deeds of piety; who is full of might and majesty; -that prince alone is worthy to sit upon this throne--no other, no meaner -sovereign, is worthy. Hearken, O king, to the story of the throne.'" - -"Go on, Babu," said the jailer, as the narrator paused; "what said the -graven image?" - -"'There once lived,'" continued the Babu, "'in the city of Avanti, a -king, Bartrihari by name. Having come to recognize the vanity of -earthly things, this king one day left his throne and went as a jogi[#] -afar into the desert. His kingdom, being then without a head--for he had -no sons, and his younger brother, the illustrious Vikramâditya, was -travelling in far lands--fell into sore disorder, so that thieves and -evil-doers increased from day to day. - - -[#] Ascetic. - - -"'The wise men in their trouble sought diligently for a child having the -signs of royalty, and in due time, having found one, Xatrya by name, -they gave the kingdom into his charge. But in that land there dwelt a -mighty jin,[#] Vetâla Agni,[#] who, when he heard of what the wise men -had done, came forth on the night of the same day the young king had -been enthroned and slew him and departed. And it befell that each time -the councillors found a new king, lo, the Vetâla Agni came forth and -slew him. - - -[#] Evil spirit. - -[#] Spirit of fire. - - -"'Now upon a certain day, when the wise men, in sore trouble of heart, -were met in council, there appeared among them the illustrious -Vikramâditya, newly returned from long travel, who, when he had heard -what was toward, said: "O ye wise men and faithful, make me king without -ado." And the wise men, seeing that Vikramâditya was worthy of that -dignity, thus spake: "From this day, O excellency, thou art king of the -realm of Avanti." Having in this fashion become king of Avanti, -Vikramâditya busied himself all that day with the affairs of his -kingdom, tasting the sweets of power; and at the fall of night he -prepared, against the visit of the Vetâla Agni, great store of heady -liquors, all kinds of meat, fish, bread, confections, rice boiled with -milk and honey, sauces, curded milk, butter refined, sandalwood, -bouquets and garlands, divers sorts of sweet-scented things; and all -these he kept in his palace, and himself remained therein, reclining in -full wakefulness upon his fairest bed. - -"'Then into this palace came the Vetâla Agni, sword in hand, and went -about to slay the august Vikramâditya. But the king said: "Hearken, O -Vetâla Agni; seeing that thy excellency has come for to cause me to -perish, it is not doubtful that thou wilt succeed in thy purpose; -albeit, all these viands thou dost here behold have been brought -together for thy behoof; eat, then, whatsoever thou dost find worthy; -afterwards thou shalt work thy will." And the Vetâla Agni, having heard -these words, filled himself with this great store of food, and, -marvellously content with the king, said unto him: "Truly I am content, -and well-disposed towards thee, and I give thee the realm of Avanti; sit -thou in the highest place and taste its joys; but take heed of one -thing: every day shalt thou prepare for me a repast like unto this." -With these words, the Vetâla Agni departed from that spot and betook him -unto his own place. - -"'Then for a long space did Vikramâditya diligently fulfil that command; -but by and by growing aweary of feeding the Vetâla Agni, he sought -counsel of the jogi Trilokanatha, who had his dwelling on the mount of -Kanahakrita. The jogi, perceiving the manifold merits of the -incomparable Vikramâditya, was moved with compassion towards him, and -when he had long meditated and recited sundry mantras,[#] he thus spake -and said: "Hearken, O king. From the sacred tank of Shakravatar spring -alleys four times seven, as it were branches from one trunk, to wit, -seven to the north, seven to the east, seven to the west, and seven to -the south. Of the seven alleys springing to the north do thou choose -the seventh, and in the seventh alley the seventh tree from the sacred -tank, and on the seventh branch of the seventh tree thou shalt find the -nest of a bulbul. Within that nest thou shalt discover a golden key.'" - - -[#] Hymns and prayers. - - -The Babu was now speaking very slowly, and an observer watching Desmond -would have perceived that his eyes were fixed with a strange look of -mingled eagerness and anxiety upon the story-teller. But no one -observed this; every man in the group was intent upon the story, hanging -upon the lips of the eloquent Babu. - -"'Having obtained the golden key,'" continued the narrator, "'thou shalt -return forthwith to thy palace, and the same night, when the Vetâla Agni -has eaten and drunk his fill, thou shalt in his presence lay the key -upon the palm of thy left hand, thus----'" (here the Babu quietly took -up a key hanging from the bunch attached to the warder's girdle, and -laid it upon his left palm). "'Then shalt thou say to the Vetâla: "O -illustrious Vetâla, tell me, I pray thee, what doth this golden key -unlock?" Then if the aspect of the Vetâla be fierce, fear not, for he -must needs reply: such is the virtue of the key; and by his words thou -shalt direct thy course. Verily it is for such a trial that the gods -have endowed thee with wisdom beyond the common lot of men. - -"'Vikramâditya performed in all points the jogi's bidding; and having in -the presence of the Vetâla laid the golden key upon the palm of his -hand, a voice within bade him ask the question: "O Vetâla, what art thou -apt to do? What knowest thou?" And the Vetâla answered: "All that I -have in my mind, that I am apt to perform. I know all things." And the -king said: "Speak, then; what is the number of my years?" And the -Vetâla answered: "The years of thy life are a hundred." Then said the -king: "I am troubled because in the tale of my years there are two gaps; -grant me, then, one year in excess of a hundred, or from the hundred -take one." And the Vetâla answered: "O king, thou art in the highest -degree good, liberal, merciful, just, lord of thyself, and honoured of -gods and Brahmans; the measure of the days that are ordained to fill thy -life is full; to add anything thereto, to take anything therefrom, are -alike impossible." Having heard these words the king was satisfied, and -the Vetâla departed unto his own place. - -"'Upon the night following the king prepared no feast against the coming -of the Vetâla, but girt himself for fight. The Vetâla came, and seeing -nothing in readiness for the repast, but, on the contrary, all things -requisite to a combat, he waxed wroth and said: "O wicked and perverse -king, why hast thou made ready nothing for my pleasure this night?" And -the king answered: "Since thou canst neither add to my length of years, -nor take anything therefrom, why should I make ready a repast for thee -continually and without profit?" The Vetâla made answer: "Ho!--'tis -thus that thou speakest! Now, truly, come fight with me; this night will -I devour thee." - -"'At these words the king rose up in wrath to smite the Vetâla, and held -him in swift and dexterous combat for a brief space. And the Vetâla, -having thus made proof of the might and heroism of the king, and being -satisfied, spake and said: "O king, thou art mighty indeed; I am content -with thy valour; now, then, ask me what thou wilt." And the king -answered: "Seeing that thou art well-disposed towards me, grant me this -grace, that when I shall call thee, thou wilt in that same instant stand -at my side." And the Vetâla, having granted this grace to the king, -departed unto his own place.'" - -The Babu waved his hands as a sign that the story was ended. He was -damp with perspiration, and in his glance at Desmond there was a kind of -furtive appeal for approval. - -"Thou speakest well, Babu," said the warder. "But what befell King -Bhoya when the graven image had thus ended his saying?" - -"That, good jailer, is another story, and if you please to hear it -another night I will do my poor best to satisfy you." - -"Well, the hour is late." The warder rose to his feet and resumed his -official gruffness. "Come, rise; it is time I locked your fetters; and, -in good sooth, mine is no golden key." - -He chuckled as he watched the prisoners file one by one into the shed. -Following them, he quickly locked each in turn to his staple in the wall -and went out, bolting and double locking the door behind him. - -"You did well, my friend," whispered Desmond in English to the Babu. - -"My heart flutters like the wings of a bulbul," answered the Babu; "but -I am content, sahib." - -"But say, Surendra Nath," remarked one of the Maratha captives, "last -time you told us that story you said nothing of the golden key." - -"Ah!" replied the Babu, "you are thinking of the story told by the -second graven image in King Vikramâditya's throne. I will tell you that -to-morrow." - - - - - CHAPTER THE TWELFTH - - -*In which our hero is offered freedom at the price of honour; and Mr. -Diggle finds that he has no monopoly of quotations.* - - -Next morning, when Desmond left the shed with his fellow-prisoners, he -took with him, secreted in a fold of his dhoti, a small piece of clay. -It had been given him overnight by the Babu. An hour or two later, -happening to be for a moment alone in the tool-shop, he took out the -clay and examined it carefully. It was a moment for which he had waited -and longed with feverish impatience. The clay was a thin strip, oval in -shape, and slightly curved. In the middle of it was the impression, -faint but clear, of a key. A footstep approaching, he concealed the -clay again in his garment, and, when a workman entered, was busily -plying a chisel upon a deal plank. - -Before he left the tool-shop, he secreted with the clay a scrap of steel -and a small file. That day, and for several days after, whenever chance -gave him a minute or two apart from his fellow-workmen, he employed the -precious moments in diligently filing the steel to the pattern on the -clay. It was slow work: all too tedious for his eager thought. But he -worked at his secret task with unfailing patience, and at the week's end -had filed the steel to the likeness of the wards of a key. - -That night, when his "co-mates in exile" were asleep, he gently inserted -the steel in the lock of his ankle-band He tried to turn it. It stuck -fast; the wards did not fit. He was not surprised. Before he made the -experiment he had felt that it would fail; the key was indeed a clumsy, -ill-shapen instrument. But next day he began to work on another piece -of steel, and on this he spent every spare minute he could snatch. This -time he found himself able to work faster. Night and morning he looked -searchingly at the key on the warder's bunch, and afterwards tried to -cut the steel to the pattern that was now, as it were, stamped upon his -brain. - -He wished he could test his second model in the morning light before the -warder came, and correct it then. But to do so would involve discovery -by his fellow-captives; the time to take them into his confidence was -not yet. He had perforce to wait till dead of night before he could -tell whether the changes, more and more delicate and minute, made upon -his key during the day were effective. And the Babu was fretful; having -done his part, admirably, as Desmond told him, in working the key into -his story, he seemed to expect that the rest would be easy, and did not -make account of the long labour of the file. - -At length a night came when, inserting the key in the lock, Desmond felt -it turn easily. Success at last! As he heard the click, he felt an -extraordinary sense of elation. Quietly unclasping the fetter, he -removed it from his ankle and stood free. If it could be called -free--to be shut up in a locked and barred shed in the heart of one of -the strongest fortresses in Hindustan! But at least his limbs were at -liberty. What a world of difference there was between that and his -former state! - -Should he inform the Babu? He felt tempted to do so, for it was to -Surendra Nath's ingenuity in interpolating the incident of the key into -a well-known story that he owed the clay pattern of the warder's key. -But Surendra Nath was excitable; he was quite capable of uttering a yell -of delight that would waken the other men and force a premature -disclosure. Desmond decided to wait for a quiet moment next day before -telling the Babu of his success. So he replaced his ankle-band, locked -the catch, and lay down to the soundest and most refreshing sleep he had -enjoyed for many a night. - -He had only just reached the workshop next morning when a peon came with -a message that Angria Rao[#] required his instant attendance at the -palace. He began to quake in spite of himself. Could the prince have -discovered already that the lock of his fetters had been tampered with? -Desmond could scarcely believe it. He had made his first test in -complete darkness; nothing had broken the silence save the one momentary -click; and the warder, when he unloosed him, had not examined the lock. -What if he were searched and the precious key were found upon him? It -was carefully hidden in a fold of his dhoti. There was no opportunity of -finding another hiding-place for it; he must go as he was and trust that -suspicion had not been aroused. But it was with a galloping pulse that -he followed the peon out of the dockyard, within the walls of the fort, -and into the hall where he had had his first interview with the Pirate. - - -[#] A chief or prince. - - -His uneasiness was hardly allayed when he saw that Angria was in company -with Diggle. Both were squatting on the carpeted dais; no other person -was in the room. Having ushered him in, the peon withdrew, and Desmond -was alone with the two men he had most cause to fear. Diggle was -smiling, Angria's eyes were gleaming, his mobile lips working as with -impatience, if not anxiety. - -The Pirate spoke quickly, imperiously. - -"You have learnt our tongue, Firangi[#] boy?" he said. - - -[#] Originally applied by the natives to the Portuguese, then to any -European. - - -"I have done my best, huzur," replied Desmond in Urdu. - -"That is well. Now hearken to what I say. You have pleased me; my -jamadar[#] speaks well of you; but you are my slave, and, if I will it, -you will always be my slave. You would earn your freedom?" - - -[#] Lieutenant. - - -"I am in your august hands, huzur," said Desmond diplomatically. - -"You may earn your freedom in one way," continued Angria in the same -rapid impatient tone. "My scouts report that an English fleet has -passed up the coast towards Bombay. My spies tell me that in Bombay a -large force is collected under the command of that soor ka batcha[#] -Clive. But I cannot learn the purpose of this armament. The dogs may -think, having taken my fortress of Suvarndrug, to come and attack me -here. Or they may intend to proceed against the French at Hyderabad. -It is not convenient for me to remain in this uncertainty. You will go -to Bombay and learn these things of which I am in ignorance and come -again and tell me. I will then set you free." - - -[#] Son of a pig. - - -"I cannot do it, huzur." - -Desmond's reply came without a moment's hesitation. To act as a spy upon -his own countrymen--how could Angria imagine that an English boy would -ever consent to win his freedom on such terms? His simple words roused -the Maratha to fury. He sprang to his feet and angrily addressed -Diggle, who had also risen, and stood at his side still smiling. Diggle -replied to his vehement words in a tone too low for Desmond to catch -what he said. Angria turned to the boy again. - -"I will not only set you free; I will give you half a lakh of rupees; -you shall have a place at my court, or, if you please, I will recommend -you to another prince, in whose service you may rise to wealth and -honour. If you refuse, I will kill you; no, I will not kill you, for -death is sweet to a slave; I will inflict on you the tortures I reserve -for those who provoke my anger: you shall lose your ears, your nose, -and----" - -Diggle again interposed. - -"Pardon me, bhai[#]," Desmond heard him say, "that is hardly the way to -deal with a boy of my nation. If you will deign to leave him to me, I -think that in a little I shall find means to overcome his hesitation." - - -[#] Brother. - - -"But even then, how can I trust the boy? He may give his word to escape -me; then betray me to his countrymen. I have no faith in the Firangi." - -"Believe me, if he gives his word he will keep it. That is the way with -us." - -"It is not your way." - -"I am no longer of them," said Diggle with consummate aplomb. "Dismiss -him now; I will do my best with him." - -"Then you must hasten. I give you three days: if within that time he -has not consented, I will do to him all that I have said, and more -also." - -"I do not require three days to make up my mind," said Desmond quietly. -"I cannot do what----" - -"Hush, you young fool!" cried Diggle angrily in English. Turning to the -Pirate he added: "The boy is as stiff-necked as a pig; but even a pig -can be led if you ring his snout. I beg you leave him to me." - -"Take him away!" exclaimed Angria, clapping his hands. Two attendants -came in answer to his summons, and Desmond was led off and escorted by -them to his workshop. - -Angry and disgusted as he was with both the Maratha and Diggle, he was -still more anxious at this unexpected turn in his affairs. He had but -three days! If he had not escaped before the fourth day dawned, his -fate would be the most terrible that could befall a living creature. -The tender mercies of the wicked are cruel! He had seen, among the -prisoners, some of the victims of Angria's cruelty; they had suffered -tortures too terrible to be named, and dragged out a life of unutterable -degradation and misery, longing for death as a blissful end. With his -quick imagination he already felt the hands of the torturers upon him; -and for all the self-control which his life in Gheria had induced, he -was for some moments so wholly possessed by terror that he could -scarcely endure the consciousness of existence. - -But when the first tremors were past, and he began to go about his usual -tasks, and was able to think calmly, not for an instant did he waver in -his resolve. Betray his countrymen! It was not to be thought of. Give -his word to Angria and then forswear himself! Ah! Even Diggle knew -that he would not do that. Freedom, wealth, a high place in some -prince's court! He would buy none of them at the price of his honour. -Diggle was false, unspeakably base; let him do Angria's work if he -would; Desmond Burke would never stoop to it. - -He scarcely argued the matter explicitly with himself: it was settled in -Angria's presence by his instinctive repulsion. But it was not in a boy -like Desmond, young, strong, high-spirited, tamely to fold his hands -before adverse fate. He had three days: it would go hard with him if he -did not make good use of them. He felt a glow of thankfulness that the -first step, and that a difficult one, had been taken, providentially as -it seemed, the very night before this crisis in his fate. His future -plan had already outlined itself; it was necessary first to gain over -his companions in captivity; that done, he hoped within the short period -allowed him to break prison and turn his back for ever on this place of -horror. - -It seemed to his eager impatience that that day would never end. It was -November, and the beginning of the cold season, and the work of the -dockyard, being urgent, was carried on all day without the usual break -during the hot middle hours, so that he found no opportunity of -consulting his fellows. Further, the foremen of the yard were specially -active. The Pirate had been for some time fearful lest the capture of -Suvarndrug should prove to be the prelude to an assault upon his -stronger fort and headquarters at Gheria, and to meet the danger he had -had nine new vessels laid down. Three of them had been finished, but -the work had been much interrupted by the rains, and the delay in the -completion of the remaining six had irritated him. He had visited his -displeasure upon the foremen. After his interview with Desmond he -summoned them to his presence and threatened them with such dire -punishment if the work was not more rapidly pushed or that they had used -the lash more furiously and with even less discrimination than ever. -Consequently when Desmond met his companions in the shed at night he -found them all in desperate indignation and rage. He had seen nothing -more of Diggle; he must strike while the iron was hot. - -When they were locked in, and all was quiet outside, the prisoners gave -vent, each in his own way, to their feelings. For a time Desmond -listened, taking no part in their lamentation and cursing. But when the -tide of impotent fury ebbed, and there was a lull, he said quietly: - -"Are my brothers dogs that, suffering these things, they merely whine?" - -The quiet level tones, so strangely contrasting with the tones of -fierceness and hate that were still ringing in the ears of the unhappy -prisoners, had an extraordinary effect. There was dead silence in the -shed: it seemed that every man was afraid to speak. Then one of the -Marathas said in a whisper: - -"What do you mean, sahib?" - -"What do I mean? Surely it must be clear to any man. Have we not sat -long enough on the carpet of patience?" - -Again the silence remained for a space unbroken. - -"You, Gulam Mahomed," continued Desmond, addressing one of the Biluchis -whom he considered the boldest--"have you never thought of escape?" - -"Allah knows!" said the man in an undertone. "But he knows that I -remember what happened a year ago. Fuzl Khan can tell the sahib -something about that." - -A fierce cry broke from the Gujarati, who had been moaning upon his -charpoy in anguish from the lashings he had undergone that day. Desmond -heard him spring up; but if he had meant to attack the Biluchi, the -clashing of his fetters reminded him of his helplessness. He cursed the -man, demanding what he meant. - -"Nothing," returned Gulam Mahomed. "But you were the only man, Allah -knows, who escaped the executioner." - -"Pig, and son of a pig!" cried Fuzl Khan, "I knew nothing of the plot. -If any man says I did he lies. They did it without me; some evil jin -must have heard their whisperings. They failed. They were swine of -Canarese." - -"Do not let us quarrel," said Desmond. "We are all brothers in -misfortune; we ought to be as close-knit as the strands of a rope. Here -is our brother Fuzl Khan, the only man of his gang who did not try to -escape, and see how he is treated! Could he be worse misused? Would not -death be a boon? Is it not so, Fuzl Khan?" - -The Gujarati assented with a passionate cry. - -"As for the rest of us, it is only a matter of time. I am the youngest -of you, and not the hardest worked, yet I feel that the strain of our -toil is wearing me out. What must it be with you? You are dying -slowly. If we make an attempt to escape and fail we shall die quickly, -that is all the difference. What is to be is written, is it not so, -Shaik Abdullah?" - -"Even so, sahib," replied the second Biluchi, "it is written. Who can -escape his fate?" - -"And what do you say, Surendra Nath?" - -"The key, sahib," whispered the Babu in English; "what of the key?" - -"Speak in Urdu, Babu," said Desmond quickly. "Don't agree at once." - -Surendra Nath was quick-witted; he perceived that Desmond did not wish -the others to suspect that there had been any confidences between them. - -"I am a coward, the sahib knows," he said in Urdu. "I could not give -blows; I should die. It was told us to-day that the English are about -to attack this fort. They will set us free; we need run no risks." - -"Wah!" exclaimed one of the Mysoreans. "If the Firangi get into the -fort we shall all be murdered." - -"That is truth," said a Maratha. "The Rao would have our throats cut at -once." - -The Babu groaned. - -"You see, Surendra Nath, it is useless to wait in the hope of help from -my countrymen," said Desmond. "If there is fighting to be done, we can -do all that is needed: is it not so, my brothers? As for you, Babu, if -you would sooner die without--well, there is nothing to prevent you." - -"If the sahib does not wish me to fight, it is well. But has the sahib -a plan?" - -"Yes, I have a plan." - -He paused; there was a sound of hard breathing. - -"Tell it us," said the Gujarati eagerly. - -"You are one of us, Fuzl Khan?" - -"The plan! the plan! Is not my back mangled? Have I not endured the -tank? Is not freedom sweet to me as to another? The plan, sahib! I -swear, I Fuzl Khan, to be true to you and all; only tell me the plan." - -"You shall have the plan in good time. First, I have a thing to say. -When a battle is to be fought, no soldier fights only for himself, doing -that which seems good to him alone. He looks to his captain for orders. -Otherwise mistakes would be made, and all effort would be wasted. We -must have a captain: who is he to be?" - -"Yourself, sahib," said the Gujarati at once. "You have spoken; you -have the plan; we take you as leader." - -"You hear what Fuzl Khan says. Do you all agree?" - -The others assented eagerly. Then Desmond told his wondering hearers -the secret of the key, and during several hours of that quiet night he -discussed with them in whispers the details of the scheme which he had -worked out. At intervals the sentry passed and flashed his light -through the opening in the wall; but at these moments every man was -lying motionless upon his charpoy, and not a sound was audible save a -snore. - -Next day when Desmond, having finished his mid-day meal of rice and -mangoes, had returned to his workshop, Diggle sauntered in. - -"Ah, my young friend," he said in his quiet voice and with his usual -smile, "doubtless you have expected a visit from me. Night brings -counsel. I did not visit you yesterday, thinking that after sleeping -over the amiable and generous proposition made to you by my friend -Angria you would view it in another light. I trust that during the -nocturnal hours you have come to perceive the advantages of choosing the -discreet part. Let us reason together." - -There were several natives with them in the workshop, but none of them -understood English, and the two Englishmen could talk at ease. - -"Reason!" said Desmond in reply to Diggle's last sentence. "If you are -going to talk of what your pirate friend spoke of yesterday, it is mere -waste of time. I shall never agree." - -"Words, my young friend, mere words! You will be one of us yet. You -will never have such a chance again. Why, in a few years you will be -able to return to England, if you will, a rich man, a very nawab.[#] My -friend Angria has his faults; 'nemo est sine culpa': but he is at least -generous. An instance! The man who took the chief part in the capture -of the Dutchman two years ago--what is he now? A naib,[#] a man of -wealth, of high repute at the Nizam's court. There is no reason why you -should not follow so worthy an example; cut out an Indiaman or two, and -Desmond Burke may, if he will, convey a shipload of precious things to -the shores of Albion, and enjoy his leisured dignity on a landed estate -of his own. He shall drive a coach while his oaf of a brother perspires -behind a plough." - - -[#] Governor. - -[#] Deputy-governor. - - -Desmond was silent. Diggle watched him keenly, and after a slight pause -continued: - -"This is no great thing that is asked of you. You sail on one of -Angria's grabs; you are set upon the shore; you enter Bombay with a -likely story of escape from the fortress of the Pirate; you are a hero, -the boon fellow of the men, the pet of the ladies--for there are ladies -in Bombay, 'forma praestante puellae.' In a week you know everything, -all the purposes that Angria's spies have failed to discover. One day -you disappear; the ladies wail and tear their hair, a tiger has eaten -you! in a week you will be forgotten. But you are back in Angria's -fortress, no longer a slave, down-trodden and despised; but a free man, -a rich man, a potentate to be. Is it not worth thinking of, my young -friend, especially when you remember the other side of the picture? It -is a dark side; an unpleasant side; even, let me confess, horrible: I -prefer to keep it to the wall." - -He waved his gloved hand deprecatingly, watching Desmond with the same -intentness. The boy was dumb; he might also have been deaf. Diggle -drew from his fob an elaborately chased snuff-box and took a pinch of -fine rappee, Desmond mechanically noticing that the box bore -ornamentation of Dutch design. - -"If I were not your friend," continued Diggle, "I might say that your -attitude is one of sheer obstinacy. Why not trust us? You see we trust -you. I stand pledged for you with Angria; but I flatter myself I know a -man when I see one: 'si fractus illabitur orbis'--you have already shown -your mettle. Of course I understand your scruples; I was young myself -once; I know the generous impulses that rule the hearts of youth. But -this is a matter that must be decided, not by feeling, but by hard fact -and cold reason. Who benefits by your scruples? A set of hard-living -money-grubbers in Bombay who fatten on the oppression of the ryot, who -tithe mint and anice and cummin, who hoard up treasure which they will -take back with their jaundiced livers to England, there to become pests -to society with their splenetic and domineering tempers. What's the -Company to you, or you to the Company? Why, Governor Pitt was an -interloper; and your own father: yes, he was an interloper, and an -interloper of the best." - -"But not a pirate," said Desmond hotly, his scornful silence yielding at -last. - -"True, true," said Diggle suavely; "but in the Indies, you see, we don't -draw fine distinctions. We are all buccaneers in a sense; some with the -sword, others the ledger. Throw in your lot frankly with me; I will -stand your friend----" - -"You are wasting your breath and your eloquence," interrupted Desmond -firmly, "and even if I were tempted to agree, as I never could be, I -should remember who is talking to me." Then he added with a whimsical -smile, "Come, Mr. Diggle, you are fond of quotations; I am not; but -there's one I remember--'I fear the Greeks, even----'" - -"You young hound!" cried Diggle, his sallow face becoming purple. His -anger, it seemed to Desmond afterwards reflecting on it, was out of -proportion to the cause of offence. "You talk of my eloquence. By -Heaven, when I see you again I will use it otherwise. You shall hear -something of how Angria wreaks his vengeance; you shall have a foretaste -of the sweets in store for an obstinate recalcitrant pigheaded fool!" - -He strode away, leaving Desmond a prey to the gloomiest anticipations. - -That evening, when the prisoners were squatting outside the shed for the -usual hour of talk before being locked up for the night, a new feature -was added to the entertainment. One of the Marathas had somehow -possessed himself of a tom-tom, and proved himself an excellent -performer on that weird instrument. While he tapped its sides, his -fellow Maratha, in a strange hard tuneless voice, chanted a song, -repeating its single stanza again and again without apparently wearying -his hearers, and clapping his hands to mark the time. It was a song -about a banya[#] with a beautiful young daughter-in-law, whom he -appointed to deal out the daily handful of flour expected as alms by -every beggar who passed his door. Her hands being much smaller than his -own, he pleased himself with the idea that, without losing his -reputation for charity, he would give away through her much less grain -than if he himself performed the charitable office. But it turned out -bad thrift, for so beautiful was she that she attracted to the door not -only the genuine beggars, but also many, both young and old, who had -disguised themselves in mendicant rags for the mere pleasure of -beholding her and getting from her a smile and a gentle word. It was a -popular song, and the warder himself was tempted to stay and listen -until, the hour for locking up being past, he at last recollected his -duty and bundled the prisoners into the shed. - - -[#] Hindu merchant. - - -"Sing inside if you must," he said, "but not too loud, lest the overseer -come with the bamboo." - -Inside the shed, reclining on their charpoys, the men continued their -performance, changing their song, though not, as it seemed to Desmond, -the tune. He, however, was perhaps not sufficiently attentive to the -monotonous strains, for, as soon as the warder had left the yard, he had -unlocked his fetters and begun to work in the darkness. Poised on one -of the rafters, he held on with one hand to a joist, and with the other -plied a small saw, well greased with ghi. The sound of the slow careful -movements of the tool was completely drowned by the singing and the -hollow rat-a-pan of the tom-tom. Beneath him stood the Babu, extending -his dhoti like an apron, and catching in it the falling shower of -sawdust. - -Suddenly the figure on the rafter gave a low whistle. Through the window -he had seen the dim form of the sentry outside approach the space -lighted by the rays from the lantern, which he had laid down at a corner -of the shed. Before the soldier had time to lift it and throw a beam -into the shed (which he did as much from curiosity to see the untiring -performers as in the exercise of his duty) Desmond had swung down from -his perch and stretched himself upon the nearest charpoy. The Babu -meanwhile had darted with his folded dhoti to the darkest corner. When -the sentry peered in, the two performing Marathas were sitting up; the -rest were lying prone, to all appearance soothed to sleep. - -"Verily thou wilt rap a hole in the tom-tom," said the sentry with a -grin. "Better save a little of it for to-morrow." - -"Sleep is far from my eyes," replied the man. "My comrades are all at -rest; if it does not offend thee----" - -"No. Tap till it burst, for me. But without sleep the work will be -hard in the morning." - -He went away. Instantly the two figures were again upon their feet, and -the sawing recommenced. For three hours the work continued, interrupted -at intervals by the visits of the sentry. Midnight was past before -Desmond, with cramped limbs and aching head, gave the word for the song -and accompaniment to cease, and the shed was in silence. - - - - - CHAPTER THE THIRTEENTH - - -*In which Mr. Diggle illustrates his argument; and there are strange -doings in Gheria harbour.* - - -The morning of the third day dawned--the last of the three allowed -Desmond for making up his mind. When the other prisoners were loosed -from their fetters and marched off under guard to their usual work, he -alone was left. Evidently he was to be kept in confinement with a view -to quickening his resolution. Some hours passed. About midday he heard -footsteps approaching the shed. The door was opened, and in the -entrance Diggle appeared. - -"You will excuse me," he said with a sniff, "if I remain on the -threshold of your apartment. It is, I fear, but imperfectly aired." - -He pulled a charpoy to the door, and sat down upon it, as much outside -as within. Taking out his snuff-box, he tapped it, took a pinch, -savoured it, and added: - -"You will find the apartment prepared for you in my friend Angria's -palace somewhat sweeter than this your present abode--somewhat more -commodious also." - -Desmond, reclining at a distance, looked his enemy calmly and steadily -in the face. - -"If you have come, Mr. Diggle," he said, "merely to repeat what you said -yesterday, let me say at once that it is waste of breath. I have not -changed my mind." - -"No, not to repeat, my young friend. 'Crambe repetita'--you know the -phrase? Yesterday I appealed, in what I had to say, to your reason; -either my appeal, or your reason, was at fault. To-day I have another -purpose. 'Tis pity to come down to a lower plane; to appeal to the more -ignoble part of man; but since you have not yet cut your wisdom teeth I -must e'en accommodate myself. Angria is my friend; but there are -moments, look you, when the bonds of our friendship are put to a heavy -strain. At those moments Angria is perhaps most himself, and I, perhaps, -am most myself; which might prove to a philosopher that there is a -radical antagonism between the Oriental and the Occidental character. -Since my picture of the brighter side has failed to impress you, I -propose to show you the other side--such is the sincerity of my desire -for your welfare. And 'tis no empty picture--'inanis imago,' as Ovid -might say--no, 'tis sheer reality, speaking, terrible." - -He turned and beckoned. In a moment Desmond heard the clank of chains, -and by and by, at the entrance of the shed, stood a figure at sight of -whom his blood ran cold. It was the bent, lean, broken figure of a -Hindu, his thin bare legs weighted with heavy irons. Ears, nose, upper -lip were gone; his eyes were lit with the glare of madness; the parched -skin of his hollow cheeks was drawn back, disclosing a grinning mouth -and yellow teeth. His arms and legs were like sticks; both hands had -lost their thumbs; his feet were twisted; straggling wisps of grey hair -escaped from his turban. Standing there beside Diggle, he began to mop -and mow, uttering incomprehensible gibberish. - -Diggle waved him away. - -"That, my dear boy, illustrates the darker side of Angria's -character--the side which forbids me to call Angria unreservedly my -friend. A year ago that man was as straight as you; he had all his -organs and dimensions; he was rich, and of importance in his little -world. To-day--but you have seen him: it boots not to attempt in words -to say what the living image has already said. And within twenty-four -hours, unless you come to a better mind, even as that man is, so will -you be." - -He rose slowly to his feet, bending upon Desmond a look of mournful -interest and compassion. Desmond had stood all but transfixed with -horror. But as Diggle now prepared to leave him, the boy flushed hot; -his fists clenched; his eyes flashed with indignation. - -"You fiend!" was all he said. - -Diggle smiled, and sauntered carelessly away. - -That night, when the prisoners were brought as usual to the shed, and -warder and sentries were out of earshot, Desmond told them what he had -seen. - -"It must be to-night, my brothers," he said in conclusion. "We have no -longer time. Before sunrise to-morrow we must be out of this evil -place. We must work, work, for life and liberty." - -This night again the singer sang untiringly, the tom-tom accompanying -him with its weird hollow notes. And in the blackness, Desmond worked -as he had never worked before, plying his saw hour after hour, never -forgetting his caution, running no risks when he had warning of the -sentry's approach. And hour after hour the shower of sawdust fell -noiselessly into the Babu's outspread dhoti. Then suddenly the beating -of the tom-tom ceased, the singer's voice died away on a lingering wail, -and the silence of the night was unbroken save by the melancholy howl of -a distant jackal, and the call of sentry to sentry as at intervals they -went their rounds. - -At midnight the guard was relieved. The new-comer--a tall, thin, lanky -Maratha--arriving at Desmond's shed, put his head in at the little -window-space, and flashed his lantern from left to right more carefully -than the man whom he had just replaced. The nine forms lay flat or -curled up on their charpoys--all was well. - -Coming back an hour later, he fancied he heard a slight sound within the -shed. He went to the window and peered in, flashing his lantern as -before from left to right. But as he did so, he felt upon his throat a -grip as of steel. He struggled to free himself; his cry was stifled ere -it was uttered; his matchlock fell with a clatter to the ground. He was -like a child in the hands of his captor, and when the Gujarati in a -fierce low whisper said to him: "Yield, hound, or I choke you!" his -struggles ceased and he stood trembling in sweat. - -But now came the sentries' call, passed from man to man around the -circuit of the fort. - -"Answer the call!" whispered the Gujarati, with a significant squeeze of -the man's windpipe. - -When his turn arrived, the sentry took up the word, but it was a thin -quavering call that barely reached the next man a hundred yards away. - -While this brief struggle had been going on, a light figure within the -shed had mounted to the rafters and, gently feeling for and twisting -round a couple of wooden pins, handed down to his companions below a -section of the roof some two feet square, which had been kept in its -place only by these temporary supports. The wood was placed silently on -the floor. Then the figure above crawled out upon the roof, and let -himself down by the aid of a rope held by the two Biluchis within. It -was a pitch-dark night; nothing broke the blackness save the scattered -points of light from the sentries' lanterns. Stepping to the side of the -half-garrotted Maratha, who was leaning passively against the shed, the -sinewy hand of the Gujarati still pressed upon his windpipe, Desmond -thrust a gag into his mouth and with quick deft movements bound his -hands. Now he had cause to thank the destiny that had made him Bulger's -shipmate; he had learnt from Bulger how to tie a sailor's knot. - -Scarcely had he bound the sentry's hands when he was joined by one of -his fellow-prisoners, and soon seven of them stood with him in the -shadow of the shed. The last man, the Gujarati, had held the rope while -the Babu descended. There was no one left to hold the rope for him, but -he swung himself up to the roof and climbed down on the shoulders of one -of the Biluchis. Meanwhile the sentry, whose lantern had been -extinguished and from the folds of whose garments his flint and -tinder-box had been taken, had now been completely trussed up, and lay -helpless and perforce silent against the wall of the shed. From the time -when the hapless man first felt the grip of the Gujarati upon his throat -scarcely five minutes had elapsed. - -Now the party of nine moved in single file, swiftly and silently on -their bare feet, under the wall of the fort towards the north-east -bastion, gliding like phantoms in the gloom. Each man bore his burden: -the Babu carried the dark lantern; one of the Marathas the coil of rope; -the other the sentry's matchlock and ammunition; several had small -bundles containing food, secreted during the past three days from their -rations. - -Suddenly the leader stopped. They had reached the foot of the narrow -flight of steps leading up into the bastion. Just above them was a -sentinel. The pause was but for a moment. The plan of action had been -thought out and discussed. On hands and knees the Gujarati crept up the -steps; at his heels followed Desmond in equal stealth and silence. At -the top, hardly distinguishable from the blackness of the sky, the -sentinel was leaning against the parapet, looking out to sea. Many a -night had he held that post, and seen the stars, and listened to the -rustle of the surf; many a night he had heard the call of the sentry -next below, and passed it to the man on the bastion beyond; but never a -night had he seen anything but the stars and the dim forms of vessels in -the harbour, heard anything but the hourly call of his mates and the -eternal voice of the sea. He was listless, bemused. What was it, then, -that made him suddenly spring erect? What gave him that strange -uneasiness? He had heard nothing, seen nothing, yet he faced round, and -stood at the head of the steps with his back to the sea. The figures -prone below him felt that he was looking towards them. They held their -breath. Both were on the topmost step but one; only a narrow space -separated them from the sentinel; they could hear the movement of his -jaws as he chewed his pan supari.[#] Thus a few moments passed. -Desmond's pulse beat in a fever of impatience; every second was -precious. Then the sentinel moved; his uneasiness seemed to be allayed; -he began to hum a Maratha camp song, and, half turning, glanced once -more out to sea. - - -[#] Nut of the areca palm wrapped in the leaf of the betel plant. - - -The moment was come. Silently Fuzl Khan rose to his feet; he sprang -forward with the lightness, the speed, the deadly certainty of a -Thug[#]; his hand was on the man's throat. Desmond, close behind, had a -gag ready, but there was no need to use it. In the open the Gujarati -could exert his strength more freely than through the narrow window of -the shed. Almost before Desmond reached his side the sentinel was dead. -In that desperate situation there was no time to expostulate. While the -Gujarati laid the hapless man gently beside the gun that peeped through -the embrasure of the parapet, Desmond picked up the sentinel's -matchlock, ran softly back, and summoned his companions. They came -silently up the steps. To fasten the rope securely to the gun-carriage -was the work of a few instants; then the Gujarati mounted the parapet, -and, swarming down the rope, sank into the darkness. One by one the men -followed; it came to the Babu's turn. Trembling with excitement and -fear he shrank back. - - -[#] Name of a class of hereditary stranglers. - - -"I am afraid, sahib," he said. - -Without hesitation Desmond drew up the rope and looped the end. - -"Get into the loop," he whispered. - -The Babu trembled but obeyed, and, assisting him to climb the parapet, -Desmond lowered him slowly to the foot of the wall. Then he himself -descended last of all, and on the rocks below the little group was -complete. They were free! But the most difficult part of their -enterprise was yet to come. Behind them was the curtain of the fort; -before them a short, shelving rocky beach and the open sea. - -No time was wasted. Walking two by two for mutual support over the -rough ground, the party set off towards the jetty. They kept as close -as possible to the wall, so that they would not be seen if a sentinel -should happen to look over the parapet; and being barefooted, the slight -sound they might make would be inaudible through the never-ceasing swish -of the surf. Their feet were cut by the sharp edges of the rocks; many -a bruise they got; but they kept on their silent way without a murmur. - -Reaching the angle of the wall, they had now perforce to leave its -shelter, for their course led past the outskirts of the native town -across a comparatively open space. Fortunately the night was very dark, -and here and there on the shore were boats and small huts which afforded -some cover. The tide was on the ebb; and, when they at length struck -the jetty, it was at a point some twenty yards from its shoreward end. -Groping beneath it they halted for a moment, then the two Marathas -separated themselves from the rest, and, with a whispered word of -farewell, disappeared like shadows into the blackness. The sea was not -for them; they would take their chance on land. - -From a point some distance beyond the end of the jetty shone a faint -glimmer of light. Desmond silently drew the Gujarati's attention to it. - -"They are gambling," whispered the man. - -"So much the better for our chances," thought Desmond. Turning to the -Babu he whispered: "Now, Surendra Nath, you know what to do?" - -"Yes, sahib." - -Placing their bundles in the woodwork supporting the jetty, five members -of the party--the Biluchis, the Mysoreans, and the Babu--stole away in -the darkness. Desmond and the Gujarati were left alone. The Babu -placed himself near the end of the jetty to keep guard. The two -Mysoreans struck off thence obliquely for a few yards until they came to -a rude open shed in which the Pirate's carpenters were wont to work -during the rains. From a heap of shavings they drew a small but heavy -barrel. Carrying this between them they made their way with some -difficulty back towards the jetty, where they rejoined the Babu. -Meanwhile the Biluchis had returned some distance along the path by -which they had come from the fort, then turned off to the left, and came -to a place where a number of small boats were drawn up just above high -water. The boats were the ordinary tonis[#] of the coast, each -propelled by short scull paddles. Moving quickly but with great caution -the Biluchis collected the paddles from all these boats save one, -carried them noiselessly down to the water's edge, waded a few yards -into the surf, and setting down their burdens, pushed them gently -seawards. They then returned to the one boat which they had not robbed -of its paddle, and lay down beside it, apparently waiting. - - -[#] Small boats cut out of the solid tree, used for passing between the -shore and larger vessels. - - -By and by they were joined by the Mysoreans. The four men lifted the -toni, and carrying it down to the jetty, quietly launched it under the -shadow of the woodwork. A few yards away the Babu sat upon the barrel. -This was lifted on board, and one of the men, tearing a long strip from -his dhoti, muffled the single paddle. Then all five men squatted at the -water-side, awaiting with true Oriental patience the signal for further -action. - -Not one of them but was aware that the plight of the two sentries they -had left behind them in the fort might at any moment be discovered. The -hourly call must be nearly due. When no response came from the sentry -whose beat ended at their shed the alarm would at once be given, and in -a few seconds the silent form of the sentinel on the bastion would be -found, and the whole garrison would be sped to their pursuit. But at -this moment of suspense only the Babu was agitated. His natural -timidity, and the tincture of European ways of thought he had gained -during his service in Calcutta, rendered him less subject than his -Mohammedan companions to the fatalism which rules the Oriental mind. To -the Mohammedan what must be must be. Allah has appointed to every man -his lot; man is but as a cork on the stream of fate. Not even when a -low, half-strangled cry came to them across the water, out of the -blackness that brooded upon the harbour, did any of the four give sign -of excitement. The Babu started, and rose to his feet shivering; the -others still squatted, mute and motionless as statues of ebony, neither -by gesture nor murmur betraying their consciousness that at any moment, -by tocsin from the fort, a thousand fierce and relentless warriors might -be launched like sleuth-hounds upon their track. - - -Meanwhile, what of Desmond and the Gujarati? - -During the months Desmond had spent in Gheria he had made himself -familiar, as far as his opportunities allowed, with the construction of -the harbour and the manner of mooring the vessels there. He knew that -the gallivats of the Pirate's fleet, lashed together, lay about eighty -yards from the head of the jetty under the shelter of the fortress rock, -which protected them from the worst fury of the south-west monsoon. The -grabs lay on the other side of the jetty, some hundred and twenty yards -towards the river--except three vessels which were held constantly ready -for sea somewhat nearer the harbour mouth. - -He had learnt, moreover, by cautious and apparently casual inquiries, -that the gallivats were under a guard of ten men, the grabs of twenty. -These men were only relieved at intervals of three days; they slept on -board when the vessels were in harbour and the crews dispersed ashore. - -In thinking over the difficult problem of escape, Desmond had found -himself in a state of perplexity somewhat similar to that of the man who -had to convey a fox and a goose and a bag of corn across a river in a -boat that would take but one at a time. He could not, with his small -party, man a gallivat, which required fifty oarsmen to propel it at -speed; while if he seized one of the lighter grabs, he would have no -chance whatever of outrunning the gallivats that would be immediately -launched in pursuit. It was this problem that had occupied him the -whole day during which Diggle had fondly imagined he was meditating on -Angria's offer of freedom. - -A few moments after their five companions had left them, Desmond and the -Gujarati climbed with the agility of seamen along the ties of the -framework supporting the jetty, until they reached a spot a yard or two -from the end. There, quite invisible from sea or land, they gently -lowered themselves into the water. Guided by the dim light which he had -noticed, and which he knew must proceed from one of the moored -gallivats, Desmond struck out towards the farther end of the line of -vessels, swimming a noiseless breast stroke. Fuzl Khan followed him in -equal silence a length behind. The water was warm. A few minutes' -steady swimming brought them within twenty or thirty yards of the light. -The hulls of the gallivats and their tall raking spars could now be seen -looming up out of the blackness. Desmond perceived that the light was -on the outermost of the line, and, treading water for a moment, he -caught the low hum of voices coming from the after part of the gallivat. -Striking out to the left, still followed by the Gujarati, he swam along -past the sterns of the lashed vessels until he came under the side of -the one nearest the shore. He caught at the hempen cable, swarmed up -it, and, the gallivat having but little freeboard, soon reached the -bulwark. There he paused to recover his breath and to listen. Hearing -nothing, he quietly slipped over the side and lay on the maindeck. In a -few seconds he was joined by his companion. In the shadow of the -bulwarks the two groped their way cautiously along the deck. Presently -Desmond, who was in front, struck his foot against some object invisible -to him. There was a grunt beneath him. The two paused, Fuzl Khan -nervously fingering the knife he had taken from the sentinel on the -bastion. The grunt was repeated; but the intruders remained still as -death, and with a sleepy grumble the man who had been disturbed turned -over on his charpoy, placed transversely across the deck, and fell -asleep. - -All was quiet. Once more the two moved forward. They came to the ropes -by which the vessel was lashed to the next in the line. For a moment -Desmond stood irresolute; then he led the way swiftly and silently to -the deck of the adjacent gallivat, crossed it without mishap, and so -across the third. Fortunately both were sailors, accustomed to finding -their way on ship-board in the night, as much by sense of touch as by -sight. Being barefooted, only the sharpest ears, deliberately on the -alert, could have detected them. - -They had now reached the fourth of the line of vessels. It was by far -the largest of the fleet, and for this reason Desmond had guessed that -it would have been chosen for his quarters by the serang[#] in charge of -the watch. If he could secure this man he felt that his hazardous -enterprise would be half accomplished. This was indeed the pivot on -which the whole scheme turned, for in no other way would it be possible -to seize the ten men on board the gallivats without raising such an -alarm as must shock fort, city, and harbour to instant activity. And it -was necessary to Desmond's plan, not only to secure the serang, but to -secure him alive. - - -[#] Head of a crew. - - -The gallivat was Angria's own vessel, used in his visits up-river to his -country house, and, during calm weather, in occasional excursions to -Suvarndrug and the other forts on the sea-coast. As Desmond was aware, -it boasted a large state-cabin aft, and he thought it very probable that -the serang had appropriated this for his watch below. - -Pausing a moment as they reached the vessel to make sure that no one was -stirring, Desmond and Fuzl Khan crept on to its deck and threw -themselves down, again listening intently. From the last vessel of the -line came the sound of low voices, accompanied at intervals by the click -of the oblong bone dice with which the men were gambling. This was a -boon, for when the Indian, a born gambler, is engaged in one of his -games of chance, he is oblivious of all else around him. But on -Angria's gallivat there was no sound. Rising to a crouching position, -so that his form could not be seen if any of the gamblers chanced to -look in his direction, Desmond slowly crept aft, halting at every few -steps to listen. Still there was no sound. But all at once he caught -sight of a faint glow ahead; what was it? For a few seconds he was -puzzled. As he approached, the glow took shape; he saw that it was the -entrance to the cabin, the sliding door being half open. Creeping to -the darker side, careful not to come within the radius of the light, he -stood erect, and again listened. From within came the snores of a -sleeper. Now he felt sure that his guess had been correct, for none but -the serang would dare to occupy the cabin, and even he would no doubt -have cause to tremble if his presumption should come to the Pirate's -ears. - -Keeping his body as much in the shadow as possible, Desmond craned his -head forward and peeped into the cabin. He could see little or nothing; -the light came from a small oil lantern with its face turned to the -wall. Made of some vegetable substance, the oil gave off a pungent -smell. The lantern was no doubt carried by the serang in his rounds of -inspection; probably he kept it within reach at night; he must be -sleeping in the black shadow cast by it. To locate a sound is always -difficult; but, as far as Desmond could judge, the snores came from the -neighbourhood of the lantern and as from the floor. - -He stepped back again into complete darkness. The Gujarati was at his -elbow. - -"Wait, Fuzl Khan," said Desmond in the lowest of whispers. "I must go -in and see where the man is and how the cabin is arranged." - -The Gujarati crouched in the shadow of the bulwarks. Desmond, dropping -on hands and knees, crawled slowly forward into the cabin towards the -light. It was slightly above him, probably on a raised divan,--the most -likely place for the serang to choose as his bed. In a few moments -Desmond's outstretched fingers touched the edge of the little platform; -the light was still nearly two yards away. Still he was unable to see -the sleeper, though by the sound of his breathing he must be very near. -Desmond feared that every movement might bring him into contact with the -man. Whatever the risk, it was necessary to obtain a little more light. -Slightly raising himself he found that, without actually mounting the -platform, he could just reach the lamp with outstretched fingers. Very -slowly he pushed it round, so that the light fell more directly into the -room. Then he was able to see, about four feet away, curled up on the -divan, with his arms under his head, the form of a man. There was no -other in the cabin. Having discovered all that he wished to know, -Desmond crawled backward as carefully as he had come. - -At the moment of the discovery he had felt the eager boy's impulse to -spring upon the sleeper at once, but although his muscles had been -hardened by a year of toil he doubted whether he had sufficient physical -strength to make absolutely sure of his man; a single cry, the sound of -a scuffle, might be fatal. The Gujarati, on the other hand, a man of -great bulk, could be trusted to overpower the victim by sheer weight, -and with his iron clutch to ensure that no sound came from him. -Desmond's only fear indeed was that the man, as in the case of the -sentinel on the bastion, might overdo his part and give him all too -thorough a quietus. - -He came to the entrance of the cabin. His appearance brought the -Gujarati to his side. - -"Remember, Fuzl Khan," he whispered, "we must keep the serang alive; not -even stun him. You understand?" - -"I know, sahib." - -Drawing him silently into the apartment and to the edge of the platform, -Desmond again crept to the lantern, and now turned it gradually still -farther inwards until the form of the sleeper could be distinctly seen. -The light was still dim; but it occurred to Desmond that the glow, -increased now that the lantern was turned round, might attract the -attention of the gamblers on the gallivat at the end of the line. So, -while the Gujarati stood at the platform, ready to pounce on the sleeper -as a cat on a mouse if he made the least movement, Desmond tiptoed to -the door and began to close the sliding panel. It gave a slight creak; -the sleeper stirred; Desmond quickly pushed the panel home, and as he -did so the serang sat up, rubbing his eyes and looking in sleepy -suspicion towards the lantern. While his knuckles were still at his -eyes Fuzl Khan was upon him. A brief scuffle, almost noiseless, on the -linen covering of the divan; a heavy panting for breath; then silence. -The Gujarati relaxed his grip on the man's throat; he made another -attempt to cry out; but the firm fingers tightened their pressure and -the incipient cry was choked in a feeble gurgle. Once more the hapless -serang tried to rise; Fuzl Khan pressed him down and shook him -vigorously. He saw that it was useless to resist, and lay limp and -half-throttled in his captor's hands. - -By this time Desmond had turned the lantern full upon the scene. Coming -to the man's head, while the Gujarati still held him by the throat, he -said, in low, rapid, but determined tones: - -"Obey, and your life will be spared. But if you attempt to raise an -alarm you will be lost. Answer my questions. Where is there some loose -rope on board?" - -The man hesitated to reply, but a squeeze from the Gujarati decided him. - -"There is a coil near the main mast," he said. - -Desmond slipped out, and in a few seconds returned with several yards of -thin coir, a strong rope made of cocoa-nut fibre. Soon the serang lay -bound hand and foot. - -"What are the names of the men on the furthest vessel?" - -"They are Rama, Sukharam, Ganu, Ganpat, Hari." - -"Call Rama gently; bid him come here. Do not raise your voice." - -The man obeyed. The clicking of the dice ceased, and in a few moments a -Maratha appeared at the doorway and entered blinking. No sooner had he -set foot within the cabin than he was seized by the Gujarati and gagged, -and then, with a rapidity only possible to the practised sailor, he was -roped and laid helpless on the floor. - -"Call Sukharam," said Desmond. - -The second man answered the summons, only to suffer the same fate. A -third was dealt with in the same fashion; then the fourth and fifth came -together, wondering why the serang was so brutally interfering with -their game. By the time they reached the door Desmond had turned the -lantern to the wall, so that they saw only a dim shape within the cabin. -Ganpat was secured before the last man became aware of what was -happening. Hari hesitated at the threshold, hearing the sound of the -slight scuffle caused by the seizure of his companion. - -"Tell him to come in," whispered Desmond in the serang's ear, -emphasizing the order by laying the cold blade of a knife against his -collar-bone. Fuzl Khan had not yet finished trussing the other; as the -last man entered Desmond threw himself upon him. He could not prevent a -low startled cry; and struggling together, the two rolled upon the -floor. The Maratha, not recognizing his assailant, apparently thought -that the serang had suddenly gone mad, for he merely tried to disengage -himself, speaking in a tone half angry, half soothing. But finding that -the man grasping him had a determined purpose, he became furious with -alarm, and plucking a knife from his girdle struck viciously at the form -above him. Desmond, with his back to the light, saw the blow coming. -He caught the man's wrist, and in another moment the Gujarati came to -his assistance. Thus the last of the watchmen was secured and laid -beside his comrades. - -Six of the men on board the gallivats had been disposed of. But there -still remained five, asleep until their turn for watching and dicing -came. So quietly had the capture of the six been effected that not one -of the sleepers had been disturbed. To deal with them was an easier -matter. Leaving the bound men in the cabin, and led by the serang, whose -feet had been released, Desmond and Fuzl Khan visited each of the -gallivats in turn. The sleeping men awoke at their approach, but they -were reassured by the voice of the serang, who in terror for his life -spoke to them at Desmond's bidding; and before they realized what was -happening they were in the toils, helpless like the rest. - -When the last of the watchmen was thus secured, Desmond crept to the -vessel nearest to the shore and, making a bell of his hands, sent a low -hail across the surface of the water in the direction of the jetty. He -waited anxiously, peering into the darkness, straining his ears. Five -minutes passed, fraught with the pain of uncertainty and suspense. Then -he caught the faint sound of ripples: he fancied he descried a dark form -on the water; it drew nearer, became more definite. - -"Is that you, sahib?" said a low voice. - -"Yes." - -He gave a great sigh of relief. The toni drew alongside, and soon five -men, with bundles, muskets, and the small heavy barrel, stood with -Desmond and the Gujarati on the deck of the gallivat. - - - - - CHAPTER THE FOURTEENTH - - -*In which seven bold men light a big bonfire; and the Pirate finds our -hero a bad bargain.* - - -Desmond's strongest feeling, as his companions stepped on board, was -wonder--wonder at the silence of the fort, the darkness that covered the -whole face of the country, the safety of himself and the men so lately -prisoners. What time had passed since they had left the shed he was -unable to guess; the moments had been so crowded that any reckoning was -impossible. But when, as he waited for the coming of the boat, his mind -ran over the incidents of the flight--the trussing of the sentry, the -wary approach to the bastion, the tragic fate of the sentinel there, the -stealthy creeping along the shore, the swim to the gallivats and all -that had happened since: as he recalled these things, he could not but -wonder that the alarm he dreaded had not already been given. But it was -clear that all was as yet undiscovered; and the plot had worked out so -exactly as planned that he hoped still for a breathing-space to carry -out his enterprise to the end. - -There was not a moment to be wasted. The instant the men were aboard -Desmond rapidly gave his orders. Fuzl Khan and one of the Mysoreans he -sent to carry the barrel to Angria's gallivat. It contained da'ma. -They were to break it open, tear down the hangings in the cabin, smear -them plentifully, and set light to them from the lantern. Meanwhile -Desmond himself, with the rest of the men, set about preparing the -gallivat in which he was about to make his next move. - -The lightest of the line of vessels was the one in which the watchmen -had been gambling. It happened that this, with the gallivat next to it, -had come into harbour late in the evening from a short scouting cruise, -and the sweeps used by their crews had not been carried on shore, as the -custom was. The larger vessel had fifty of these sweeps, the smaller -thirty. If pursuit was to be checked it was essential that none of them -should be left in the enemy's hands, and the work of carrying the fifty -from the larger to the smaller vessel took some time. There was no -longer the same need for quietness of movement. So long as any great -noise and bustle was avoided, the sentinels on the walls of the fort -would only suppose, if sounds reached their ears, that the watch on -board were securing the gallivats at their moorings. - -When the sweeps had all been transferred Desmond ordered the prisoners -to be brought from Angria's cabin to the smaller vessel. The lashings -of their feet were cut in turn; each man was carefully searched, -deprived of all weapons, and escorted from the one vessel to the other, -his feet being then securely bound as before. - -On board the smallest gallivat were now Desmond, five of his companions, -and eleven helpless Marathas. He had just directed one of the Biluchis -to cast loose the lashings between the vessels, and was already -congratulating himself that the main difficulties of his venture were -past, when he suddenly heard shouts from the direction of the fort. -Immediately afterwards the deep notes of the huge gong kept in Angria's -courtyard boomed and reverberated across the harbour, echoed at brief -intervals by the strident clanging of several smaller gongs in the town. -Barely had the first sound reached his ears when he saw a light flash -forth from the outermost bastion; to the left of it appeared a second; -and soon, along the whole face of the fort, in the dockyard, in the -town, innumerable lights dotted the blackness, some stationary, others -moving this way and that. Now cries were heard from all sides, growing -in volume until the sound was as of some gigantic hornets' nest awakened -into angry activity. To the clangour of gongs was added the blare of -trumpets, and from the walls of the fort and palace, from the hill -beyond, from every cliff along the shore, echoed and re-echoed an -immense and furious din. - -For a few seconds Desmond stood as if fascinated, watching the -transformation which the hundreds of twinkling lights had caused. Then -he pulled himself together, and, with a word to the Biluchi who had -loosed the lashings, bidding him hold on to the next gallivat, he sprang -to the side of this vessel, and hurried towards Angria's. Fuzl Khan had -not returned; Desmond almost feared that some mishap had befallen the -man. Reaching the centre vessel, he peered down the hatchway, but -started back as a gust of acrid smoke struck him from below. He called -to the Gujarati. There was no response. For an instant he stood in -hesitation; had the man been overcome by the suffocating fumes filling -the hold? But just as, with the instinct of rescue, he was about to -lower himself into the depths, he heard a low hail from the vessel at -the end of the line nearest the shore. A moment afterwards Fuzl Khan -came stumbling towards him. - -"I have fired another gallivat, sahib," he said, his voice ringing with -fierce exultation. - -"Well done, Fuzl Khan," said Desmond. "Now we must be off. See, there -are torches coming down towards the jetty." - -The two sprang across the intervening vessels, a dense cloud of smoke -following them from the hatchway of Angria's gallivat. Reaching the -outermost of the line, Desmond gave the word, the anchor was slipped, -the two Biluchis pressed with all their force against the adjacent -vessel, and the gallivat moved slowly out. Desmond ran to the helm, and -the Gujarati with his five companions seizing each upon one of the long -sweeps, they dropped their blades into the water and began to pull. - -Desmond was all a-tingle with excitement and determination. The shouts -from the shore were nearer; the lights were brighter; for all he knew -the whole garrison and population were gathering. They had guessed that -an escape was being attempted by sea. Even now perhaps boats were -setting off, bringing rowers to man the gallivats, and oars to send them -in pursuit. If they should reach the vessels before the middle one had -burst into flame, he felt that his chances of getting away were small -indeed. When would the flame appear? It might check the pursuers, -throw them into consternation, confuse and delay the pursuit. Would the -longed-for blaze never show itself? And how slowly his gallivat was -moving! The rowers were bending to their work with a will, but six men -were but a poor crew for so large a vessel, and the progress it was -making was in fact due more to the still ebbing tide than to the frantic -efforts of the oarsmen. The wind was contrary; it would be useless to -hoist the sail. At this rate they would be half an hour or more in -reaching the three grabs anchored nearer the mouth of the harbour. The -willing rowers on their benches could not know how slowly the vessel was -moving, but it was painfully clear to Desmond at the helm; relative to -the lights on shore the gallivat seemed scarcely to move at all. - -He called to Fuzl Khan, who left his oar and hurried aft. - -"We must make more speed, Fuzl Khan. Release the prisoners' hands; keep -their feet tied, and place them among our party. Don't take an oar -yourself: stand over them ready to strike down any man who mutinies." - -The Gujarati grunted and hurried away. Assisted by Surendra Nath, who, -being his companion on the rowing bench, had perforce dropped his oar, -he soon had the prisoners in position. Urging them with terrible -threats and fierce imprecations, he forced them to ply their oars with -long steady strokes. The way on the gallivat increased. There was not -a great distance now to be covered, it was unnecessary to husband their -strength, and with still more furious menaces Fuzl Khan got out of the -sturdy Marathas all the energy of which they were capable. The escaped -prisoners needed no spur; they were working with might and main, for -dear life. - -Desmond had to steer by guesswork and such landmarks as were afforded by -the lights on shore. He peered anxiously ahead, hoping to see the dim -shapes of the three grabs; but this was at present impossible, since -they lay between him and the seaward extremity of the fort, where lights -had not yet appeared. Looking back he saw a number of torches flitting -along the shore; and now two or three dark objects, no doubt boats, were -moving from the further side of the jetty towards the gallivats. At the -same moment that he caught sight of these he saw at last, rising from -the gallivats, the thin tongue of flame hi had so long expected. But -now that it had come at last, showing that the work on board had been -thorough, he almost regretted it, for it was instantly seen from the -shore and greeted by a babel of yells caught up in different parts of -the town and fort. As at a signal the torches no longer flickered -hither and thither aimlessly, but all took the same direction towards -the jetty. The hunt was up! - -Glancing round, Desmond suddenly gave the order to cease rowing, and -putting the helm hard down just avoided crashing into a dark object -ahead. The sweeps grated against the side of what proved to be one of -the grabs for which he had been looking. A voice from its deck hailed -him. - -"Take care! Where are you going? Who are you?" - -Desmond called up the serang. He dare not reply himself, lest his -accent should betray him. - -"Tell him all is well. We have a message from the fort to the -_Tremukji_," he said in a whisper. - -The serang repeated the words aloud. - -"Well, huzur. But what is the meaning of the noise and the torches and -the blaze on the sea?" - -"Tell him we have no time to waste. Ask him where the _Tremukji_ lies." - -The man on the grab replied that she lay outside, a dozen -boat's-lengths. Desmond knew that this vessel, which had been launched -during his captivity, and in whose construction he had had a humble -part, had proved the swiftest in the fleet, although much smaller than -the majority of the Pirate's. Once on board her, and beyond reach of -the guns of the fort, he might fairly hope to get clear away in spite of -his miscellaneous crew. Giving to the Gujarati the order to go ahead, -he questioned the serang. - -"What is the name of the serang in charge of the _Tremukji_?" - -"Pandu, sahib." - -"How many men are on board her?" - -"Three, sahib." - -"Then, when we come alongside and I give the word, you will tell him to -come aboard at once; we have a message from the fort for him." - -Owing to the trend of the shore, the gallivat had been slowly nearing -the walls of the fort, and at this moment could not be more than a -hundred and fifty yards distant from them. But for the shouting on -shore the noise of the sweeps must by this time have been heard. In the -glow of the blazing vessels in mid channel the moving gallivat had -almost certainly been seen. Desmond grew more and more anxious. - -"Hail the grab," he said to the serang as the vessel loomed up ahead. - -"Eo, eo, _Tremukji_!" cried the man. - -There came an answering hail. Then the serang hesitated; he was -evidently wondering whether even now he might not defy this foreigner -who was bearding his terrible master. But his hesitation was short. At -a sign from Desmond, Gulam the Biluchi, who had brought the serang -forward, applied the point of his knife to the back of the unfortunate -man's neck. - -"I have a message from Angria Rao," he cried quickly. "Come aboard at -once." - -The rowers at a word from Fuzl Khan shipped their oars, and the two -vessels came together with a sharp thud. The serang in charge of the -grab vaulted across the bulwarks and fell into the waiting arms of Fuzl -Khan, who squeezed his throat, muttered a few fierce words in his ear, -and handed him over to Gulam, who bundled him below. Then, shouting the -order to make fast, the Gujarati flung a hawser across to the grab. The -two men on board her obeyed without question; but they were still at the -work when Desmond and Fuzl Khan, followed by the two Mysoreans, leapt -upon them from the deck of the gallivat. There was a short sharp -scrimmage; then these guardians of the grab were hauled on to the -gallivat and sent to join the rowers on the main deck. - -Desmond and his six companions now had fourteen prisoners on their -hands, and in ordinary circumstances the disproportion would have been -fatal. But the captives, besides having been deprived of all means of -offence, had no exact knowledge of the number of men who had trapped -them. Their fears and the darkness had a magnifying effect, and, like -Falstaff, they would have sworn that their enemies were ten times as -many as they actually were. - -So deeply engrossed had Desmond been in the capture of the grab that he -had forgotten the one serious danger that threatened to turn the tide of -accident, hitherto so favourable, completely against him. He had -forgotten the burning gallivats. But now his attention was recalled to -them in a very unpleasant and forcible way. There was a deafening -report, as it seemed from a few yards' distance, followed immediately by -a splash in the water just ahead. The glare of the burning vessels was -dimly lighting up almost the whole harbour mouth, and the runaway -gallivat, now clearly seen from the fort, had become a target for its -guns. The gunners had been specially exercised of late in anticipation -of an attack from Bombay, and Desmond knew that in his slow-going vessel -he could not hope to draw out of range in time to escape a battering. - -But his gallivat was among the grabs. At this moment it must be -impossible for the gunners to distinguish between the runaway and the -loyal vessels. If he could only cause them to hold their fire for a -time! Knowing that the Gujarati had a stentorian voice, and that a -shout would carry upwards from the water to the parapet, in a flash -Desmond saw the possibility of a ruse. He spoke to Fuzl Khan. The man -at once turned to the fort, and with the full force of his lungs -shouted: - -"Comrades, do not fire. We have caught them!" - -Answering shouts came from the walls; the words were indistinguishable, -but the trick had succeeded, at any rate for the moment. No second shot -was at this time fired. - -Desmond made full use of this period of grace. He recognized that the -gallivat, while short-handed, was too slow to make good the escape; the -grab, with the wind contrary, could never be got out of the harbour; the -only course open to him was to make use of the one to tow the other -until they reached the open sea. As soon as a hawser could be bent the -grab was taken in tow: its crew was impressed with the other prisoners -as rowers, under the charge of the Biluchis; and with Desmond at the -helm of the grab and the Gujarati steering the gallivat, the two vessels -crept slowly seawards. They went at a snail's pace, for it was nearly -slack tide; and slow as the progress of the gallivat had been before it -was much slower now that the men had to move two vessels instead of one. -To Desmond, turning every now and again to watch the increasing glare -from the burning gallivats, it seemed that he scarcely advanced at all. -The town and the townward part of the fort were minute by minute -becoming more brightly illuminated; every detail around the blazing -vessels could be distinctly seen; and mingled with the myriad noises -from the shore was now the crackle of the flames, and the hiss of -burning spars and rigging as they fell into the water. - -The gallivats had separated into two groups; either they had been cut -apart, or, more probably, the lashings had been burnt through. Around -one of the groups Desmond saw a number of small boats. They appeared to -be trying to cut out the middle of the three gallivats, which seemed to -be as yet uninjured, while the vessels on either side were in full -blaze. Owing to the intense heat the men's task was a difficult and -dangerous one, and Desmond had good hope that they would not succeed -until the gallivat was too much damaged to be of use for pursuit. He -wondered, indeed, at the attempt being made at all; for it kept all the -available boats engaged when they might have dashed upon the grab in tow -and made short work of it. The true explanation of their blunder did -not at the moment occur to Desmond. The fact was that the men trying so -earnestly to save the gallivat knew nothing of what had happened to the -grab. They were aware that a gallivat had been cut loose and was -standing out to sea; but the glare of the fire blinded them to all that -was happening beyond a narrow circle, and as yet they had had no -information from shore of what was actually occurring. When they did -learn that two vessels were on their way to the sea, they would no doubt -set out to recapture the fugitives instead of wasting their efforts in a -futile attempt to save the unsavable. - -Desmond was still speculating on the point when another shot from the -fort aroused him to the imminent danger. The dark shapes of the two -vessels must now certainly be visible from the walls. The shot flew -wide. Although the grab was well within range it was doubtless difficult -to take aim, the distance being deceptive and the sights useless in the -dark. But this shot was followed at intervals of a few seconds by -another and another; it was clear that the fugitives were running the -gauntlet of the whole armament on this side of the fort. The guns were -being fired as fast as they could be loaded; the gunners were becoming -accustomed to the darkness, and when Desmond heard the shots plumping -into the water, nearer to him, it seemed, every time, he could not but -recognize that success or failure hung upon a hair. - -Crash! A round shot struck the grab within a few feet of the wheel. A -shower of splinters flew in all directions. Desmond felt a stinging -blow on the forehead; he put up his hand; when he took it away it was -wet. He could not leave the wheel to see what damage had been done to -the ship, still less to examine his own injury. He was alone on board. -Every other man was straining at his oar in the gallivat. He felt the -blood trickling down his face; from time to time he wiped it away with -the loose end of his dhoti. Then he forgot his wound, for two more -shots within a few seconds of each other struck the grab forward. -Clearly the gunners were aiming at his vessel, which, being larger than -the gallivat, and higher in the water, presented an easier mark. Where -had she been hit? If below the waterline, before many minutes were past -she would be sinking under him. Yet he could do nothing. He dared not -order the men in the gallivat to cease rowing; he dared not leave the -helm of the grab; he could but wait and hold his post. It would not be -long before he knew whether the vessel had been seriously hit: if it was -so, then would be the time to cast off the tow-rope. - -The gallivat, at any rate, appeared not to have suffered. Desmond was -beginning to think he was out of the wood when he heard a crash in -front, followed by a still more ominous sound. The motion of the -gallivat at once ceased, and, the grab slowly creeping up to her, -Desmond had to put his helm hard up to avoid a collision. He could hear -the Gujarati raging and storming on deck, and cries as of men in pain; -then, as the grab came abreast of the smaller vessel, he became aware of -what had happened. The mainmast of the gallivat had been struck by a -shot and had gone by the board. - -Desmond hailed the Gujarati and told him to get three or four men to cut -away the wreckage. - -"Keep an eye on the prisoners," he added, feeling that this was perhaps -the most serious element in a serious situation; for with round shot -flying about the vessel it might well have seemed to the unhappy men on -the rowing benches that mutiny was the lesser of two risks. But the -rowers were cowed by the presence of the two Biluchis armed with their -terrible knives, and they crowded in dumb helplessness while the tangled -rigging was cut away. - -"Is any one hurt?" asked Desmond. - -"One of the rowers has a broken arm, sahib," replied Shaik Abdullah. - -"And I have a contusion of the nose," said the Babu lugubriously. - -It was impossible to do anything for the sufferers at the moment. It -was still touch-and-go with the whole party. The shots from the fort -were now beginning to fall short, but, for all Desmond knew, boats might -have been launched in pursuit, and if he was overtaken it meant -lingering torture and a fearful death. He was in a fever of impatience -until at length, the tangled shrouds having been cut away, the rowing -was resumed and the two vessels began again to creep slowly seaward. - -Gradually they drew out of range of the guns. Steering straight out to -sea, Desmond had a clear view of the whole of the harbour and a long -stretch of the river. The scene was brightly lit up, and he saw that -two of the gallivats had been towed away from the burning vessels, from -which the flames were now shooting high into the air. But even on the -two that had been cut loose there were spurts of flame; and Desmond -hoped that they had sustained enough damage to make them unseaworthy. - -Suddenly there were two loud explosions, in quick succession. A column -of fire rose towards the sky from each of the gallivats that were -blazing most brightly. The fire had at length reached the ammunition. -The red sparks sprang upwards like a fountain, casting a ruddy glow for -many yards around; then they fell back into the sea, and all was -darkness, except for the lesser lights from the burning vessels whose -magazines had as yet escaped. The explosions could hardly have occurred -at a more opportune moment, for the darkness was now all the more -intense, and favoured the fugitives. - -There was a brisk breeze from the south-west outside the harbour, and -when the two vessels lost the shelter of the headland they crept along -even more slowly than before. Desmond had learnt enough of seamanship on -board the _Good Intent_ to know that he must have sea-room before he -cast off the gallivat and made sail northwards; otherwise he would -inevitably be driven on shore. It was this fact that had prompted his -operations in the harbour. He knew that the grabs could not put to sea -unless they were towed, and the gallivats being rendered useless, towing -was impossible. - -The sea was choppy, and the rowers had much ado to control the sweeps. -Only their dread of the Biluchis' knives kept them at their work. But -the progress, though slow, was steady; gradually the glow in the sky -behind the headland grew dimmer; though it was as yet impossible to -judge with certainty how much offing had been made, Desmond, resolving -to give away no chances, and being unacquainted with the trend of the -coast, kept the rowers at work, with short intervals of rest, until -dawn. By this means he hoped to avoid all risk of being driven on a lee -shore, and to throw Angria off the scent; for it would naturally be -supposed that the fugitives would head at once for Bombay, and pursuit, -if attempted, would be made in that direction. - -When day broke over the hills, Desmond guessed that the coast must be -now five miles off. As far as he could see, it ran north by east. He -had now plenty of sea-room; there was no pursuer in sight; the wind was -in his favour, and if it held, no vessel in Angria's harbour could now -catch him. He called to the Gujarati, who shouted an order to the -Biluchis; the worn-out men on the benches ceased rowing, except four, -who pulled a few strokes every now and again to prevent the two vessels -from colliding. Desmond had thought at first of stopping the rowing -altogether and running the grab alongside the gallivat; but that course, -while safe enough in the still water of the harbour, would have its -dangers in the open sea. So, lashing the helm of the grab, he dropped -into a small boat which had been bumping throughout the night against -the vessel's side, and in a few minutes was on board the gallivat. - -He first inquired after the men who had been wounded in the night. One -had a broken arm, which no one on board knew how to set. The Babu had -certainly a much discoloured nose, the contusion having been caused no -doubt by a splinter of wood thrown up by the shot. Two or three of the -rowers had slight bruises and abrasions, but none had been killed and -none dangerously hurt. - -Then Desmond had a short and earnest talk with the Gujarati, who alone -of the men had sufficient seamanship to make him of any value in -deciding upon the next move. - -"What is to be done with the gallivat?" asked Desmond. - -"Scuttle her, sahib, and hoist sail on the grab." - -"But the rowers?" - -"Fasten them to the benches and let them drown. They could not help our -enemies then, and it would make up for what you and I and all of us have -suffered in Gheria." - -"No, I can't do that," said Desmond. - -"It must be as I say, sahib. There is nothing else to do. We have -killed no one yet, except the sentinel on the parapet; I did that -neatly, the sahib will agree; I would have a life for every lash of the -whip upon my back." - -"No," said Desmond decisively, "I will not drown the men. We will take -on board the grab three or four, who must be sailors; let us ask who -will volunteer. We will promise them good pay; we haven't any money, to -be sure, but the grab can be sold when we reach Bombay, and though we -stole her I think everybody would admit that she is our lawful prize. I -should think they'll be ready enough to volunteer, for they won't care -to return to Gheria and face Angria's rage. At the same time we can't -take more than three or four, because in the daylight they can now see -how few we are, and they might take a fancy to recapture the grab. What -do you think of that plan?" - -The Gujarati sullenly assented. He did not understand mercy to an -enemy. - -"There is no need to pay them, sahib," he said. "You can promise pay; a -promise is enough." - -Desmond was unwilling to start an argument and said nothing. Once in -Bombay he could ensure that any pledges given would be strictly kept. - -As he expected, there was no difficulty in obtaining volunteers. Twice -the number required offered their services. They had not found their -work with the Pirate so easy and so well rewarded as to have any great -objection to a change of masters. Moreover, they no doubt feared the -reception they would get from Angria if they returned. And it appeared -afterwards that during the night the Biluchis had recounted many -fabulous incidents all tending to show that the sahib was a very -important as well as a very ingenious Firangi, so that this reputation, -coupled with an offer of good pay, overcame any scruples the men might -retain. - -Among those who volunteered and whose services were accepted was the -serang of Angria's gallivat. Unknown to Desmond, while he was holding -this conversation with the Gujarati, the serang, crouching in apparent -apathy on his bench, had really strained his ears to catch what was -being said. He, with the three other men selected, was released from -his bonds, and ordered to lower the long boat of the gallivat and stow -in it all the ammunition for the guns that was to be found in the ship's -magazine. This was then taken on board the grab, and Desmond ordered one -of the Mysoreans to load the grab's stern chaser, telling the Marathas -whom he intended to leave on the gallivat that, at the first sign of any -attempt to pursue, their vessel would be sunk. - -Then in two parties the fugitives went on board the grab. Desmond was -the last to leave the gallivat, releasing one of the captive rowers, who -in his turn could release the rest. - -As soon as Desmond stepped on board the grab, the hawser connecting the -two vessels was cast off, the mainsail was run up, and the grab, sailing -large, stood up the coast. Fuzl Khan, swarming up to the mast-head, -reported two or three sail far behind, apparently at the mouth of Gheria -harbour. But Desmond, knowing that if they were in pursuit they had a -long beat to windward before them, felt no anxiety on that score. -Besides, the grab he was on had been selected precisely because it was -the fastest vessel in Angria's fleet. - -Having got fairly under way, he felt that he had leisure to inspect the -damage done to the grab by the shots from the fort which had given him -so much concern in the darkness. That she had suffered no serious -injury was clear from the ease with which she answered the helm and the -rapidity of her sailing. He found that a hole or two had been made in -the forepart of the deck, and a couple of yards of the bulwarks carried -away. There was nothing to cause alarm or to demand instant repair. - -It was a bright cool morning, and Desmond, after the excitements and the -strain of the last few days, felt an extraordinary lightness of spirit -as the vessel cut through the water. For the first time in his life he -knew the meaning of the word freedom; none but a man who has suffered -captivity or duress can know such joy as now filled his soul. The long -stress of his menial life on board the _Good Intent_, the weary months -of toil, difficulty and danger as Angria's prisoner, were past; and it -was with whole-hearted joyousness he realized that he was now on his way -to Bombay, whence he might proceed to Madras, and Clive--Clive, the hero -who was as a fixed star in his mental firmament. - -The gallivat, lying all but motionless on the water, a forlorn object -with the jagged stump of her mainmast, grew smaller and smaller in the -distance, and was soon hull down. Desmond, turning away from a last -look in her direction, awoke from his reverie to the consciousness that -he was ravenously hungry. - - - - - CHAPTER THE FIFTEENTH - - -*In which our hero weathers a storm; and prepares for squalls.* - - -Hungry as he was, however, Desmond would not eat while he was, so to -speak, still in touch with Gheria. He ran up the sail on the mizzen, -and the grab was soon cutting her way through the water at a spanking -rate. He had closely studied the chart on board the _Good Intent_ when -that vessel was approaching the Indian coast--not with any fixed -purpose, but in the curiosity which invested all things Indian with -interest for him. From his recollection he believed that Gheria was -somewhat more than a hundred miles from Bombay. If the grab continued -to make such good sailing, she might hope to cover this distance by -midnight. But she could hardly run into harbour until the following -day. There was of course no chart, not even a compass, on board; the -only apparatus he possessed was a water-clock; naturally he could not -venture far out to sea, but neither dared he hug the shore too closely. -He knew not what reefs there might be lying in wait for his untaught -keel. Besides, he might be sighted from one or other of the coast -strongholds still remaining in Angria's hands, and it was not impossible -that swift messengers had already been sent along the shore from Gheria, -prescribing a keen look-out and the chase of any solitary grab making -northward. But if he kept too far out he might run past Bombay, though -when he mentioned this to his fellow-fugitives he was assured by the -Biluchis and Fuzl Khan that they would unfailingly recognize the -landmarks, having more than once in the course of their trading and -pirate voyages touched at that port. - -On the whole he thought it best to keep the largest possible offing that -would still leave the coast within sight. Putting the helm down he ran -out some eight or ten miles, until the coast was visible only from the -mast-head as a purple line on the horizon, with occasional glimpses of -high ghats[#] behind. - - -[#] Mountains. - - -Meanwhile the Gujarati and some of the others had breakfasted from their -bundles. Leaving the former in charge of the wheel, Desmond took his -well-earned meal of rice and chapatis, stale, but sweet with the -sweetness of freedom. - -In his ignorance of the coast he felt that he must not venture to run -into Bombay in the darkness, and resolved to heave-to during the night. -At the dawn he could creep in towards the shore without anxiety, for -there was little chance of falling in with hostile vessels in the -immediate neighbourhood of Bombay. Knowing that a considerable British -fleet lay there, the Pirate would not allow his vessels to cruise far -from his own strongholds. But as there was a prospect of spending at -least one night at sea, it was necessary to establish some system of -watches. The task of steering had to be shared between Desmond and Fuzl -Khan; and the majority of the men being wholly inexperienced, it was not -safe to leave fewer than six of them on duty at a time. The only danger -likely to arise was from the weather. So far it was good; the sea was -calm, the sky was clear; but Desmond was enough of a seaman to know -that, being near the coast, the grab might at any moment, almost without -warning, be struck by a squall. He had to consider how best to divide -up his crew. - -Including himself there were eleven men on board. Four of them were -strangers of whom he knew nothing; the six who had escaped with him were -known only as fellow-prisoners. - -To minimize any risk, he divided the crew into three watches. One -consisted of the Babu, the serang, and one of the Marathas from the -gallivat. Each of the others comprised a Mysorean, a Biluchi, and a -Maratha. Thus the strangers were separated as much as possible, and the -number of Marathas on duty was never in excess of the number of -fugitives; the steersman, Desmond or the Gujarati as the case might be, -turned the balance. - -The watch was set by means of the water-clock found in the cabin. -Desmond arranged that he and Fuzl Khan should take alternate periods of -eight hours on and four off. The two matchlocks taken from the -sentinels of the fort and brought on board were loaded and placed on -deck near the wheel. None of the crew were armed save the Biluchis, who -retained their knives. - -Towards midday the wind dropped almost to a dead calm. This was -disappointing, for Desmond suspected that he was still within the area -of Angria's piratical operations--if not from Gheria, at any rate from -some of the more northerly strongholds not yet captured by the East -India Company or the Peshwa. But he had a good offing: scanning the -horizon all around he failed to sight a single sail; and he hoped that -the breeze would freshen as suddenly as it had dropped. - -Now that excitement and suspense were over, and there was nothing that -called for activity, Desmond felt the natural reaction from the strain -he had undergone. By midday he was so tired and sleepy that he found -himself beginning to doze at the wheel. The Gujarati had been sleeping -for some hours, and as the vessel now required scarcely any attention, -Desmond thought it a good opportunity for snatching a rest. Calling to -Fuzl Khan to take his place, and bidding him keep the vessel's head, as -far as he could, due north, he went below. About six bells, as time -would have been reckoned on the _Good Intent_, he was wakened by the -Babu, with a message from the Gujarati desiring him to come on deck. - -"Is anything wrong, Babu?" he asked, springing up. - -"Not so far as I am aware, sahib. Only it is much hotter since I began -my watch." - -Desmond had hardly stepped on deck before he understood the reason of -the summons. Overhead all was clear; but towards the land a dense bank -of black cloud was rising, and approaching the vessel with great -rapidity. It was as though some vast blanket were being thrown seawards. -The air was oppressively hot, and the sea lay like lead. Desmond knew -the signs; the Gujarati knew them too; and they set to work with a will -to meet the storm. - -Fortunately Desmond, recognizing the unhandiness of his crew, had taken -care to set no more sail than could be shortened at the briefest notice. -He had not been called a moment too soon. A flash lit the black sky; a -peal of thunder rattled like artillery far off; and then a squall struck -the grab with terrific force, and the sea, suddenly lashed into fury, -advanced like a cluster of green liquid mountains to overwhelm the -vessel. She heeled bulwarks under, and was instantly wrapped in a dense -mist, rain pouring in blinding sheets. The maintopsail was blown away -with a report like a gun-shot; and then, under a reefed foresail, the -grab ran before the wind, which was apparently blowing from the -south-east. Furious seas broke over the deck; the wind shrieked through -the rigging; the vessel staggered and plunged under the shocks of sea -and wind. Fuzl Khan clung to the helm with all his strength, but his -arms were almost torn from their sockets, and he called aloud for -Desmond to come to his assistance. - -It was fortunate that little was required of the crew, for in a few -minutes all of them save the four Marathas from the gallivat were -prostrated with sea-sickness. The Babu had run below, and occasionally, -between two gusts, Desmond could hear the shrieks and groans of the -terrified man. But he had no time to sympathize; his whole energies -were bent on preventing the grab from being pooped. He felt no alarm; -indeed, the storm exhilarated him; danger is bracing to a courageous -spirit, and his blood leapt to this contest with the elements. He -thrilled with a sense of personal triumph as he realized that the grab -was a magnificent sea-boat. There was no fear but that the hull would -stand the strain; Desmond knew the pains that had been expended in her -building: the careful selection of the timbers, the niceness with which -the planks had been fitted. No European vessel could have proved her -superior in seaworthiness. - -But she was fast drifting out into the Indian Ocean, far away from the -haven Desmond desired to make. How long was this going to last? -Whither was he being carried? Without chart or compass he could take no -bearings, set no true course. It was a dismal prospect, and Desmond, -glowing as he was with the excitement of the fight, yet felt some -anxiety. Luckily, besides the provisions brought in their bundles by -the fugitives, there was a fair supply of food and water on board; for -although every portable article of value had been taken on shore when -the grab anchored in Gheria, it had not been thought necessary to remove -the bulkier articles. Thus, if at the worst the vessel were driven far -out to sea, there was no danger of starvation even if she could not make -port for several days. - -But Desmond hoped that things would not come to this pass. Towards -nightfall, surely, the squall would blow itself out. Yet the wind -appeared to be gaining rather than losing strength; hour after hour -passed, and he still could not venture to quit the wheel. He was -drenched through and through with the rain; his muscles ached with the -stress; and he could barely manage to eat the food and water brought him -staggeringly by the serang in the intervals of the wilder gusts. - -The storm had lasted for nearly ten hours before it showed signs of -abatement. Another two hours passed before it was safe to leave the -helm. The wind had by this time fallen to a steady breeze; the rain had -ceased; the sky was clear and starlit; but the sea was still running -high. At length the serang offered to steer while the others got a -little rest; and entrusting the wheel to him, Desmond and Fuzl Khan -threw themselves down as they were, on the deck near the wheel, and were -soon fast asleep. - -At dawn Desmond awoke to find the grab labouring in a heavy sea, with -just steering-way on. The wind had dropped to a light breeze. The -Gujarati was soon up and relieved the serang at the wheel; the rest of -the crew, haggard, melancholy objects, were set to work to make things -ship-shape. Only the Babu remained below; he lay huddled in the cabin, -bruised, prostrate, unable to realize that the bitterness of death was -past, unable to believe that life had any further interest for him. - -Desmond's position was perplexing. Where was he? Perforce he had lost -his bearings. He scanned the whole circumference of the horizon, and -saw nothing but the vast dark ocean plain and its immense blue -dome--never a yard of land, never a stitch of canvas. He had no means -of ascertaining his latitude. During the twelve hours of the storm the -grab had been driven at a furious rate; if the wind had blown all the -time from the south-east, the quarter from which it had struck the -vessel, she must now be at least fifty miles from the coast, possibly -more, and north of Bombay. In the inky blackness of the night, amid the -blinding rain, it had been impossible to read anything from the stars. -All was uncertain, save the golden sheen of sunlight in the east. - -Desmond's only course was to put the vessel about and steer by the sun. -She must thus come sooner or later in sight of the coast, and then one -or other of the men on board might recognize a landmark--a hill, a -promontory, a town. The danger was that they might make the coast in -the neighbourhood of one of the Pirate's strongholds; but that must be -risked. - -For the rest of the day there were light variable winds, such as, -according to Fuzl Khan, might be expected at that season of the year. -The north-east monsoon was already overdue. Its coming was usually -heralded by fitful and uncertain winds, varied by such squalls or storms -as they had just experienced. - -The sea moderated early in the morning, and became continually smoother -until, as the sun went down, there was scarce a ripple on the surface. -The wind meanwhile had gradually veered to the south-west, and later to -the west, and the grab began to make more headway. But with the fall of -night it dropped to a dead calm, a circumstance from which the Gujarati -inferred that they were still a long way from the coast. When the stars -appeared, however, and Desmond was able to get a better idea of the -course to set, a slight breeze sprang up again from the west, and the -grab crept along at a speed of perhaps four knots. - -It had been a lazy day on board. The crew had recovered from their -sickness, but there was nothing for them to do, and as Orientals they -were quite content to do nothing. Only the Babu remained off duty, in -addition to the watch below. Desmond visited him, and persuaded him to -take some food: but nothing would induce him to come on deck; the mere -sight of the sea, he said, would externalize his interior. - -It was Desmond's trick at the wheel between eight and midnight. Gulam -Mahomed was on the look-out; the rest of the crew were forward squatting -on the deck in a circle round Fuzl Khan. Desmond, thinking of other -things, heard dully, as from a great distance, the drone of the -Gujarati's voice. He was talking more freely and continuously than was -usual with him; ordinarily his manner was morose; he was a man of few -words, and those not too carefully chosen. So prolonged was the -monotonous murmur, however, that Desmond by and by found himself -wondering what was the subject of his lengthy discourse; he even -strained his ears to catch, if it might be, some fragments of it; but -nothing came into distinctness out of the low-pitched drone. -Occasionally it was broken by the voice of one of the others; now and -again there was a brief interval of silence; then the Gujarati began -again. Desmond's thoughts were once more diverted to his own strange -fate. Little more than a year before, he had been a boy, with no more -experience than was to be gained within the narrow circuit of a country -farm. What a gamut of adventure he had run through since then! He -smiled as he thought that none of the folks at Market Drayton would -recognize, in the muscular, strapping, sun-tanned seaman, the slim boy -of Wilcote Grange. His imagination had woven many a chain of incident, -and set him in many a strange place; but never had it presented a -picture of himself in command of as mixed a crew as was ever thrown -together, navigating unknown waters without chart or compass, a fugitive -from the chains of an Eastern despot. His quick fancy was busy even -now. He felt that it was not for nothing he had been brought into his -present plight; and at the back of his mind was the belief, founded on -his strong wish and hope, that the magnetism of Clive's personality, -which he had felt so strongly at Market Drayton, was still influencing -his career. - -At midnight Fuzl Khan relieved him at the wheel, and he turned in. His -sleep was troubled. It was a warm night--unusually warm for the time of -year. There were swarms of cockroaches and rats on board; the -cockroaches huge beasts, three times the size of those that overran the -kitchen at home; the rats seeming as large as the rabbits he had been -wont to shoot on the farm. They scurried about with their little -restless noises, which usually would have had no power to break his -sleep; but now they worried him. He scared them into silence for a -moment by striking upon the floor; but the rustle and clipper-clapper -immediately began again. - -After vain efforts to regain his sleep, he at length rose and went on -deck. He did not move with intentional quietness, but he was barefoot, -and his steps made no sound. It was a black night, a warm haze almost -shutting out the stars. As he reached the deck he heard low murmurs -from a point somewhere aft. He had no idea what the time was: Shaik -Abdullah had the water-clock, with which he timed the watches; and -Desmond's could not yet be due. Avoiding the spot where the -conversation was in progress, he leant over the bulwarks, and gazed idly -at the phosphorescent glow upon the water. Then he suddenly became -aware that the sounds of talking came from near the wheel, and Fuzl Khan -was among the talkers. What made the man so uncommonly talkative? -Seemingly he was taking up the thread where it had been dropped earlier -in the night; what was it about? - -Desmond asked himself the question without much interest, and was again -allowing his thoughts to rove when he caught the word "sahib," and then -the word "Firangi" somewhat loudly spoken. Immediately afterwards there -was a low hiss from the Gujarati, as of one warning another to speak -lower. The experiences of the past year had quickened Desmond's wits; -with reason he had become more suspicious than of yore, and the -necessity to be constantly on his guard had made him alert, alive to the -least suggestion. Why had the speaker been hushed--and by Fuzl Khan? -He remembered the ugly rumours, the veiled hints he had heard about the -man in Gheria. If they were true, he had sold his comrades who trusted -him. They might not be true; the man himself had always indignantly -denied them. Desmond had nothing against him. So far he had acted -loyally enough; but then he had nothing to gain by playing his -fellow-fugitives false, and it was with this knowledge that Desmond had -decided to make him privy to the escape. But now they were clear of -Gheria. Fuzl Khan was free like the rest; he had no longer the same -inducement to play straight if his interest seemed to him to clash with -the general. Yet it was not easy to see how such a clashing could -occur. Like the others he was lost at sea; until land was reached, at -any rate, he could have no motive for opposition or mutiny. - -While these thoughts were passing through Desmond's mind he heard a man -rise from the group aft and come forward. Instinctively he moved from -the side of the vessel towards the mainmast, and as the man drew near -Desmond stood so that the stout tree-trunk was between them. The man -went rapidly towards the bows, and in a low tone hailed the look-out, -whispering him a summons to join the Gujarati at the helm. The -look-out, one of the Marathas, left his post; he came aft with the -messenger, and, both passing on the same side of the vessel, Desmond by -dodging round the mast escaped their notice. - -At the best, the action of Fuzl Khan was a dereliction of duty; at the -worst!--Desmond could not put his suspicions into words. It was clear -that something was afoot, and he resolved to find out what it was. Very -cautiously he followed the two men. Bending low, and keeping under the -shadow of the bulwarks, he crept to within a few feet of the almost -invisible group. A friendly coil of rope near the taffrail gave him -additional cover; but the night was so dark that he ran little risk of -being perceived so long as the men remained stationary. He himself -could barely see the tall form of the Gujarati dimly outlined against -the sky. - - - - - CHAPTER THE SIXTEENTH - - -*In which a mutiny is quelled in a minute; and our Babu proves himself a -man of war.* - - -Crouching low, Desmond waited. When the Maratha joined the group Fuzl -Khan addressed him directly in a low firm tone. - -"We are all agreed, Nanna," he said. "You are the only man wanting to -our purpose. This is the fastest grab on the coast. I know a port -where we can get arms and ammunition; with a few good men (and I know -where they can be found), we can make a strong band, and grow rich upon -our spoils." - -"But what about the sahib?" - -"Wah! We know what these Firangi are like--at least the Angrezi.[#] -They have the heads of pigs; there is no moving them. It would be vain -to ask the young sahib to join us; his mind is set on getting to Bombay -and telling all his troubles to the Company. What a folly! And what an -injustice to us! It would destroy our chance of making our fortunes, -for what would happen? The grab would be sold; the sahib would take the -most of the price; we should get a small share, not enough to help us to -become rovers of the sea and our own masters." - - -[#] English. - - -"The sahib will refuse, then. So be it! But what then shall we do with -him?" - -"He will not get the chance of refusing. He will not be told." - -"But he is taking us to Bombay. How then can we work our will?" - -"He thinks he is sailing to Bombay: he will really take us to Cutch." - -"How is that, brother?" - -"Does he know Bombay? Of a truth no. He is a boy: he has never sailed -these seas. He depends on us. Suppose we come in sight of Bombay, who -will tell him? Nobody. If he asks, we will say it is some other place: -how can he tell? We will run past Bombay until we are within sight of -Cutch: then truly I will do the rest." - -The Maratha did not reply. The momentary silence was broken by Fuzl -Khan again. - -"See! Put the one thing in the balance against the other: how does it -turn? On the one side the twenty rupees--a pitiful sum--promised by the -sahib: and who knows he will keep his promise? On the other, a tenth -share for each of you in the grab and whatsoever prey falls to it." - -"Then the Babu is to have a share? Of a truth he is a small man, a hare -in spirit; does he merit an equal share with us? We are elephants to -him." - -"No. He will have no share. He will go overboard." - -"Why, then, what of the tenth share?" - -"It will be mine. I shall be your leader and take two." - -Desmond had heard enough. The Gujarati was showing himself in his true -colours. His greed was roused, and the chance of setting up as a pirate -on his own account, and making himself a copy of the man whose prisoner -he had been, had prompted this pretty little scheme. Desmond crept -noiselessly away and returned to his quarters. Not to sleep; he spent -the remainder of his watch below in thinking out his position--in trying -to devise some means of meeting this new and unexpected difficulty. He -had not heard what Fuzl Khan proposed ultimately to do with him. He -might share the Babu's fate: at the best it would appear that he had -shaken off one captivity to fall into the toils of another. He had -heard grim tales of the pirates of the Cambay Gulf; they were not likely -to prove more pleasant masters than the Marathas farther south, even if -they did not prefer to put him summarily out of the way. His presence -among them might prove irksome, and what would the death of a single -English youth matter? He was out of reach of all his friends; on the -_Good Intent_ none but Bulger and the New Englander had any real -kindness for him, and if Bulger were to mention at any port that a young -English lad was in captivity with the Pirate, what could be done? -Should the projected expedition against Gheria prove successful, and he -not be found among the European prisoners, it would be assumed that he -was no longer living; and even if the news of his escape was known, it -was absurd to suppose that all India would be searched for him. - -The outlook, from any point of view, was gloomy. The Gujarati had -evidently won over the whole ship's company. Were they acting from the -inclination for a rover's life, coupled with hope of gain, or had they -been jockeyed into mutiny by Fuzl Khan? Desmond could not tell, nor -could he find out without betraying a knowledge of the plot. Then he -remembered the Babu. He alone had been excepted; the other men held him -in contempt; but despite his weaknesses, for which he was indeed hardly -accountable, Desmond had a real liking for him; and it was an unpleasant -thought that, whatever happened to himself, if the plot succeeded -Surendra Nath was doomed. - -But thinking of this, Desmond saw one ray of hope. He had not been for -long the companion of men of different castes without picking up a few -notions of what caste meant. The Babu was a Brahman; as a Bengali he -had no claim on the sympathies of the others; but as a Brahman his -person to other Hindus was inviolable. The Marathas were Hindus, and -they at least would not willingly raise their hand against him. Yet -Desmond could not be certain on this point. During his short residence -in Gheria he had found that, in the East as too often in the West, the -precepts of religion were apt to be kept rather in the letter than in -the spirit. He had seen the sacred cow, which no good Hindu would -venture to kill for untold gold, atrociously overworked, and, when too -decrepit to be of further service, left to perish miserably of neglect -and starvation. It might be that although the Marathas would not -themselves lay hands on the Babu, they would be quite content to look -calmly on while a Mohammedan did the work. - -At the best, it was Desmond and the Babu against the crew--hopeless -odds, for if it came to a fight the latter would be worse than useless. -Not that Desmond held the man in such scorn as the men of his own -colour. Surendra Nath was certainly timid and slack, physically weak, -temperamentally a coward: yet he had shown gleams of spirit during the -escape, and it seemed to Desmond that he was a man who, having once been -induced to enter upon a course, might prove both constant and loyal. -The difficulty now was that, prostrated by his illness during the storm, -he was not at his best; certainly in no condition to face a difficulty -either mental or physical. So Desmond resolved not to tell him of the -danger impending. He feared the effect upon his shaken nerves. He -would not intentionally do anything against Desmond's interest, but he -could scarcely fail to betray his anxiety to the conspirators. Feeling -that there was nobody to confide in, Desmond decided that his only -course was to feign ignorance of what was going on, and await events -with what composure he might. Not that he would relax his watchfulness; -on the contrary he was alert and keen, ready to seize with manful grip -the skirts of chance. - -Perhaps, he thought, the grab might fall in with a British ship. But -what would that avail? The grab with her extraordinary sailing powers -could show a clean pair of heels to any Indiaman, however fast, even if -he could find an opportunity of signalling for help. Fuzl Khan, without -doubt, would take care that he never had such a chance. - -Turning things over in his mind, and seeing no way out of his -difficulty, he was at length summoned to relieve the Gujarati at the -wheel. It was, he supposed, about four in the morning, and still -pitch-dark. When he came to the helm Fuzl Khan was alone: there was -nothing to betray the fact that the plotters had, but little before, -been gathered around him. The look-out, who had left his post to join -the group, had returned forward, and was now being relieved, like the -Gujarati himself. - -Desmond exchanged a word or two with the man, and was left alone at the -wheel. His mind was still set on the problem how to frustrate the -scheme of the mutineers. He was convinced that if the grab once touched -shore at any point save Bombay, his plight would be hopeless. But how -could he guard against the danger? Even if he could keep the navigation -of the grab entirely in his own hands by remaining continuously at the -helm, he was dependent on the plotters for information about the coast; -to mislead him would be the easiest thing in the world. But it suddenly -occurred to him that he might gain time by altering the course of the -vessel. If he kept out of sight of land he might increase the chance of -some diversion occurring. - -Accordingly he so contrived that the grab lost rather than gained in her -tacks against the light north-west wind now blowing. None of the men, -except possibly the Gujarati, had sufficient seamanship to detect this -manoeuvre; he had gone below, and when he came on deck again he could -not tell what progress had been made during his absence. Only the -mainsail, foresail, and one topsail were set: these were quite enough -for the untrained crew to trim in the darkness--likely to prove too -much, indeed, in the event of a sudden squall. Thus the process of going -about was a long and laborious one, and at the best much way was lost. - -Not long after he had begun to act on this idea he was somewhat -concerned to see the serang, who was in charge of the deck watch, come -aft and hang about near the wheel, as though his curiosity had been -aroused. Had he any suspicions? Desmond resolved to address the man -and see what he could infer from the manner of his reply. - -"Is all well, serang?" - -"All well, sahib," answered the man. He stopped, and seemed to hesitate -whether to say more; but after a moment or two he moved slowly away. -Desmond watched him. Had he discovered the trick? Would he go below -and waken Fuzl Khan? Desmond could not still a momentary tremor. But -the serang did not rejoin his messmates, nor go below. He walked up and -down the deck alone. Apparently he suspected nothing. - -Desmond felt relieved; but though he was gaining time, he could but -recognize that it seemed likely to profit him little. A criminal going -to execution may step never so slowly across the prison yard; there is -the inexorable gallows at the end, and certain doom. Could he not force -matters, Desmond wondered? It was evidently to be a contest, whether of -wits or of physical strength, between himself and the Gujarati. Without -one or other the vessel could not be safely navigated; if he could in -some way overcome the ringleader, he felt pretty sure that the crew -would accept the result and all difficulty would be at an end. But how -could he gain so unmistakable an ascendency? In physical strength Fuzl -Khan was more than his match: there was no doubt of the issue of a -struggle if it were a matter of sheer muscular power. For a moment he -thought of attempting to enlist the Marathas on his side. They were -Hindus; the Gujarati was a Muslim; and they must surely feel that, once -he was among his co-religionists in Cutch, in some pirate stronghold, -they would run a very poor chance of getting fair treatment. But he -soon dismissed the idea. The Gujarati must seem to them much more -formidable than the stripling against whom he was plotting. The Hindu, -even more than the average human being elsewhere, is inclined to attach -importance to might and bulk--even to mere fat. If he sounded the -Marathas, and, their fear of the Gujarati outweighing their inevitable -distrust of him as a Firangi, they betrayed him to curry a little -favour, there was no doubt that the fate both of himself and the Babu -would instantly be decided. He must trust to himself alone. - -While he was still anxiously debating the matter with himself his eye -caught the two muskets lashed to the wooden framework supporting the -wheel. He must leave no hostages to fortune. Taking advantage of a -lull in the wind he steadied the wheel with his body, and with some -difficulty drew the charges and dropped them into the sea. If it came to -a tussle the enemy would certainly seize the muskets; it would be worth -something to Desmond to know that they were not loaded. It was, in -truth, but a slight lessening of the odds against him; and as he -restored the weapons to their place he felt once more how hopeless his -position remained. - -Thus pondering and puzzling, with no satisfaction, he spent the full -period of his term of duty. At the appointed time Fuzl Khan came to -relieve him. It was now full daylight; but, scanning the horizon with a -restless eye, Desmond saw no sign of land, nor the sail of any vessel. - -"No land yet, sahib?" said the Gujarati, apparently in surprise. - -"No, as you see." - -"But you set the course by the stars, sahib?" - -"Oh yes; the grab must have been going slower than we imagined." - -"The wind has not shifted?" - -"Very little. I have had to tack several times." - -The man grunted, and looked at Desmond, frowning suspiciously; but -Desmond met his glance boldly, and said, as he left to go below: - -"Be sure to have me called the moment you sight land." - -He went below, threw himself into his hammock, and being dead tired, was -soon fast asleep. - -Some hours later he was called by the Babu. - -"Sahib, they say land is in sight at last. I am indeed thankful. To -the landlubber the swell of waves causes nauseating upheaval." - -"'Tis good news indeed," said Desmond, smiling. "Come on deck with me." - -They went up together. The vessel was bowling along under a brisk -south-wester, which he found had been blowing steadily almost from the -moment he had left the helm. The land was as yet but a dim line on the -horizon; it was necessary to stand in much closer if any of the -landmarks were to be recognized. He took the wheel; the shade on the -sea-line gradually became more definite; and in the course of an hour -they opened up a fort somewhat similar in appearance to that of Gheria. -All the ship's company were now on deck, looking eagerly shorewards. - -"Do you know the place?" asked Desmond of the Gujarati unconcernedly. - -The man gazed at it intently for a minute or so. - -"Yes, sahib; it is Suvarndrug," he said. "Is it not, Nanna?" - -"Yes, of a truth; it is Suvarndrug; I was there a month ago," replied -the Maratha. - -"What do you say, Gulam?" he continued, turning to one of the Biluchis -standing near. - -"It is Suvarndrug. I have seen it scores of times. No one can mistake -Suvarndrug. See, there is the hill; and there is the mango grove. Oh -yes, certainly it is Suvarndrug." - -At this moment four grabs were seen beating out of the harbour. Fuzl -Khan uttered an exclamation; then, turning to Desmond, he said with a -note of anxiety: - -"It is best to put about at once, sahib. See the grabs! They may be -enemies." - -Desmond's heart gave a jump; his pulse beat more quickly under the -stress of a sudden inspiration. He felt convinced that the fortress was -not Suvarndrug; the Gujarati's anxiety to pile up testimony to the -contrary was almost sufficient in itself to prove that. If not -Suvarndrug it was probably one of Angria's strongholds, possibly Kolaba. -In that case the grabs now beating out were certainly the Pirate's, and -the men knew it. Here was an opportunity, probably the only one that -would occur, of grappling with the mutiny. The crew would be torn by -conflicting emotions; with the prospect of recapture by Angria their -action would be paralyzed; if he could take advantage of their -indecision he might yet gain the upper hand. It was a risky venture; -but the occasion was desperate. He could afford for the present to -neglect the distant grabs, for none of the vessels on the coast could -match the _Tremukji_ in speed, and bend all his energies upon the more -serious danger on board. - -"Surely it cannot be Suvarndrug?" he said, with an appearance of -composure that he was far from feeling. "Suvarndrug, you remember, has -been captured. The last news at Gheria was that it was in the Company's -hands, though there was a rumour that it might be handed over to the -Peshwa. We should not now see Angria's grabs coming out of Suvarndrug. -But if it is Suvarndrug, Fuzl Khan, why put about? As fugitives from -Gheria we should be assured of a welcome at Suvarndrug. We should be as -safe there as at Bombay." - -The Gujarati was none too quick-witted. He was patently taken aback, -and hesitated for a reply. The grab was standing steadily on her course -shorewards. Desmond was to all appearance unconcerned; but the crew were -looking at one another uneasily, and the Gujarati's brow was darkening, -his fidgettiness increasing. Surendra Nath was the only man among the -natives who showed no anxiety. He was leaning on the taffrail, gazing -almost gloatingly at the land, and paying no heed to the strange -situation around him. - -Desmond was watching the Gujarati keenly. The man's manner fully -confirmed his suspicions, and even in the tenseness of the moment he -felt a passing amusement at the big fellow's puzzle-headed attempts to -invent an explanation that would square with the facts. Failing to hit -upon a plausible argument, he began to bluster. - -"You, Firangi, heed what I say. It is not for us to run risks: the hind -does not walk open-eyed into the tiger's mouth. The grab must be put -about immediately, or----" - -"Who is in command?" asked Desmond quietly; "you or I?" - -"We share it. I can navigate as well as you." - -"You forget our arrangement in Gheria. You agreed that I should -command." - -"Yes, but at the pleasure of the rest. We are ten; we will have our -way; the grab must be put about, at once." - -"Not by me." - -Desmond felt what was coming and braced himself to meet it. - -Then things happened with startling rapidity. The Gujarati, with a yell -of rage, made a rush towards the wheel. Knowing what to expect Desmond -slipped behind it and with a few light leaps gained the deck forward. -Fuzl Khan shouted to the serang to take the helm and steer the vessel -out to sea; then set off in headlong pursuit of Desmond, who had now -turned and stood awaiting the attack. The Gujarati did not even trouble -to draw his knife. He plunged at him like a bull, shouting that he -would deal with the pig of a Firangi as he had dealt with the sentinel -at Gheria. - -But it was not for nothing that Desmond had fought a dozen battles for -the possession of Clive's desk at school, and a dozen more for the -honour of the school against the town; that his muscles had been -developed by months of hard work at sea and harder work in the dockyard -at Gheria. Deftly dodging the man's blind rush, he planted his bare -feet firmly and threw his whole weight into a terrific body blow that -sent the bigger man with a thud to the deck. Panting, breathless, -trembling with fury, Fuzl Khan sprang to his feet, caught sight of the -muskets, and tearing one from its fastenings raised it to his shoulder. -Desmond seized the moment with a quickness that spoke volumes for his -will's absolute mastery of his body. As the man pulled the harmless -trigger, Desmond leapt at him; a crashing blow beneath the chin sent him -staggering against the wheel; a second while he tottered brought him -limp and almost stunned to the deck. - -[Illustration: A SHORT WAY WITH MUTINEERS.] - -Meanwhile the crew had looked on for a few breathless moments in -amazement at this sudden turn of affairs. But as the Gujarati fell -Desmond heard a noise behind him. Half turning, he saw Shaik Abdullah -rushing towards him with a marlinspike. The man had him at a -disadvantage, for he was breathless from his tussle with Fuzl Khan; but -at that moment a dark object hurtled through the air, striking this new -antagonist at the back of the head, and hurling him a lifeless lump into -the scuppers. Desmond looked round in wonderment: who among the crew -had thus befriended him so opportunely? His wonder was not lessened when -he saw the Babu, trembling like a leaf, his eyes blazing, his dusky face -indescribably changed. At the sight of Desmond's peril the Bengali, -forgetting his weakness, exalted above his timidity, had caught up with -both hands a round nine-pounder shot that lay on deck, and in a sudden -strength of fury had hurled it at the Biluchi. His aim was fatally -true; the man was killed on the spot. - -With his eyes Desmond thanked the Babu; there was no time for words. -The hostile grabs were undoubtedly making chase. They had separated, -with the intention of bearing down upon and overhauling the _Tremukji_ -in whatever direction she might flee. Fuzl Khan still lay helpless upon -the deck. - -"Secure that man," said Desmond to two of the crew. He spoke curtly and -sternly, with the air of one who expected his orders to be executed -without question; though he felt a touch of anxiety lest the men should -still defy him. But they went about their task instantly without a -word: Desmond's bold stand, and the swift overthrow of the big Gujarati, -had turned the tide in his favour, and he thrilled with relief and keen -pleasure that he was master of the situation. - -While the ringleader of the mutineers was being firmly bound, Desmond -turned to Nanna and said: - -"Now, answer me at once. What is that place?" - -"It is Kolaba, sahib." - -"Where is Kolaba?" - -"Two or three miles south of Bombay, sahib." - -"Good. Run up the fore-topsail." - -He went to the wheel. - -"Thank you, serang. I will relieve you. Go forward and see that the -men crowd on all sail." - -The mutiny had been snuffed out; the men went about their work quietly, -with the look of whipped dogs; and barring accidents Desmond knew that -before long he would make Bombay and be safe. With every stitch of -canvas set, the vessel soon showed that she had the heels of her -pursuers. Before she could draw clear, two of them came within range -with their bow-chasers, and their shot whistled around somewhat too -close to be comfortable. But she steadily drew ahead, and ere long it -was seen that the four grabs were being hopelessly outpaced. They kept -up the chase for the best part of an hour, but as they neared the -British port they recognized that they were running into danger and had -the discretion to draw off. - -Now that the pursuit was over Desmond ventured to steer due north-east, -and the coast line became more distinctly visible. It was about two -o'clock in the afternoon, judging by the height of the sun, when the -serang, pointing shorewards, said: - -"There is Bombay, sahib." - -"You are sure?" - -"Yes; I know it by the cluster of palmyra trees. No one can mistake -them." - -Moment by moment the town and harbour came more clearly into view. -Desmond saw an extensive castle, a flag flying on its pinnacled roof, -set amid a green mass of jungle and cocoa-nut forest, with a few -Portuguese-built houses dotted here and there. In front a narrow -jungle-clad island, called, as he afterwards learnt, Old Woman Island, -stretched like a spit into the sea. To the south of the fort was the -Bunder pier, with the warehouses at the shore end. Southward of these -were the hospital and the doctor's house overlooking the harbour, while -hard by were the marine yard and the docks ensconced behind the royal -bastion. - -Feeling that he had nothing more to fear, Desmond ordered Fuzl Khan to -be cast loose and brought to him. The man wore a look of sullen -surprise, which Desmond cheerfully ignored. - -"Now, Fuzl Khan," he said, "we are running into Bombay harbour. You -know the channel?" - -The man grunted a surly affirmative. - -"Well, you will take the helm, and steer us in to the most convenient -moorings." - -He turned away, smiling at the look of utter consternation on the -Gujarati's face. To be trusted after his treacherous conduct was -evidently more than the man could understand. The easy unconcern with -which Desmond walked away had its effect on the crew. When orders were -given to take in sail they carried them out with promptitude, and -Desmond chuckled as he saw them talking to one another in low tones and -discussing him, as he guessed by their glances in his direction. The -Gujarati performed his work at the helm skilfully, and about five -o'clock, when the sun was setting, casting a romantic glow over the long -straggling settlement, the _Tremukji_ ran to her anchorage among a host -of small craft, within a few cables-lengths of the vessels of Admiral -Watson's squadron, which had arrived from Madras a few weeks before. - - - - - CHAPTER THE SEVENTEENTH - - -*In which our hero finds himself among friends; and Colonel Clive -prepares to astonish Angria.* - - -The entrance of a strange grab had not passed unnoticed. Before the -anchor had been dropped, the superintendent of marine put off in a toni. - -"What grab is that?" he shouted in Urdu, as he came alongside. - -"The _Tremukji_, sir," replied Desmond in English. - -"Eh! what! who in the name of Jupiter are you?" - -"You'd better come aboard, sir, and I'll explain," said Desmond with a -smile. - -The superintendent mounted the side, rapping out sundry exclamations of -astonishment that amused Desmond not a little. - -"Don't talk like a native! H'm! Queer! Turn him inside out! No -nonsense!" - -"Well, here I am," he added, stepping up to Desmond. "My name's Johnson, -and I'm superintendent of marine. Now then, explain; no nonsense!" - -Desmond liked the look of the little man. He was short and stout, with -a very large red face, a broad turn-up nose, and childlike blue eyes -that bespoke confidence at once. - -"My name is Desmond Burke, sir, and I've run away from Gheria in this -grab." - -"The deuce you have!" - -"Yes, sir. I've been a prisoner there for six months and more, and we -got off a few nights ago in the darkness." - -"H'm! Any more Irishmen aboard?" - -"Not that I'm aware of, sir." - -"And you got away from Gheria, did you? You're the first that ever I -heard did so. Nothing to do with Commodore James, eh?" - -"No, sir. I don't know what you mean." - -"Why, Commodore James started t'other day to take a good sea-look at -Gheria. There's an expedition getting ready to draw that rascally -Pirate's teeth. You saw nothing of the squadron? No nonsense, now." - -"Not a thing, sir. We were blown out to sea, and I suppose the -Commodore passed us in the night." - -"H'm! Very likely. And you weathered that storm, did you? Learnt your -seamanship, eh?" - -"Picked up a little on board the _Good Intent_, sir. I was ship's boy -aboard." - -"Mighty queer ship's boy!" said Mr. Johnson in an audible aside. "The -_Good Intent's_ a villainous interloper; how came you aboard of her?" - -"I was in a sense tricked into it, sir, and when we got to Gheria -Captain Barker and Mr. Diggle the supercargo sold me to Angria." - -"Sold you to the Pirate?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"And where do you hail from, then?" - -"Shropshire, sir; my father was Captain Richard Burke, in the Company's -service." - -"Jupiter! You're Dick Burke's son! Gad, sir, give me your hand; I knew -Dick Burke; many's the sneaker of Bombay punch we've tossed off -together. No nonsense about Dick; give me your fist. And so you -sneaked out of Gheria and sailed this grab, eh? Well, you're a chip of -the old block, and a credit to your old dad. I want to hear all about -this. And you'll have to come ashore and see the Governor." - -"It's very kind of you, Mr. Johnson, but really I can't appear before -the Governor in this rig." - -He glanced ruefully at his bare legs and feet and tattered garments. - -"True, you en't very ship-shape, but we'll soon alter that. Ever use a -razor?" - -"Not yet, sir," replied Desmond with a smile. - -"Thought not. Plenty of native barbers. You must get shaved. And I'll -rig you up in a suit of some sort. You must see the Governor at once, -and no nonsense." - -"What about the grab, sir?" - -"Leave that to me. You've got a pretty mixed crew, I see. All escaped -prisoners too?" - -"All but four." - -"And not one of 'em to be trusted, I'll swear. Well I'll put a crew -aboard to take charge. Come along; there's no time to lose. Colonel -Clive goes to bed early." - -"Colonel Clive! Is he here?" - -"Yes; arrived from home two days ago. Ah! that reminds me; you're a -Shropshire lad; so's he; do you know him?" - -"No, sir; I've seen him; I--I----" - -Desmond stammered, remembering his unfortunate encounter with Clive in -Billiter Street. - -"Well, well," said the superintendent, with a quizzical look; "you'll -see him again. Come along." - -Desmond accompanied Mr. Johnson on shore. A crowd had gathered. There -were sepoys in turban, cabay,[#] and baggy drawers; bearded Arabs; -Parsis in their square brimless hats; and a various assortment of -habitués of the shore--crimps, landsharks, badmashes,[#] bunder[#] -gangs. Seeing Desmond hold his nose at the all-prevailing stench of fish -Mr. Johnson laughed. - - -[#] Cloak. - -[#] Rowdy characters. - -[#] Port. - - -"You'll soon get used to that," he said. "'Tis all fish-oil and -bummaloes[#] in Bombay." - - -[#] Small fish the size of smelt, known when dried as "Bombay duck." - - -Having sent a trustworthy crew on board the Tremukji, the superintendent -led Desmond to his house near the docks. Here, while a native barber -plied his dexterous razor on Desmond's cheeks and chin, Mr. Johnson -searched through a miscellaneous hoard of clothes in one of his -capacious presses for an outfit. He found garments that proved a -reasonable fit, and Desmond, while dressing, gave a rapid sketch of his -adventures since he left the prison-shed in Gheria. - -"My wigs, but you've had a time of it. Mutiny and all! Dash my -buttons, here's a tale for the ladies! Let me look at you. Yes, you'll -do now, and faith you're a pretty fellow. And Dick Burke's son! You've -got his nose to a T; no nonsense about that. Now you're ready to make -your bow to Mr. Bourchier. He's been a coursing match with Colonel -Clive and Mr. Watson[#] up Malabar Hill, and we'll catch him before he -sits down to supper. How do you feel inside, by the way? Ready for a -decent meal after the Pirate's hog's wash, eh?" - - -[#] It was customary to use the title Mr. in speaking to or of both -naval and military officers. - - -"I'm quite comfortable inside," said Desmond smiling, "but, to tell you -the truth, Mr. Johnson, I feel mighty uneasy outside. After six months -of the dhoti these breeches and things seem just like bandages." - -"It en't the first time you've been swaddled, if you had a mother. Well -now, if you're ready. What! That rascal gashed you? Tuts! 'tis a -scratch. Can't wait to doctor that. Come on." - -The two made their way into the fort enclosure, and walked rapidly to -Government House in the centre. In answer to Mr. Johnson the darwan[#] -at the door said that the Governor would not return that night. After -the coursing match he was giving a supper party at his country house at -Parel. - - -[#] Doorkeeper. - - -"That's a nuisance. But we can't have any nonsense. The Governor's a -bit of an autocrat; too much starch in his shirt, I say; but we'll go -out to Parel and beard him, by Jove! 'Tis only five miles out, and -we'll drive there in under an hour." - -Turning away he hurried out past the tank-house on to the Green, and by -good luck found an empty shigram[#] waiting to be hired. Desmond -mounted the vehicle with no little curiosity. These great beasts with -their strange humps would surely not cover five miles in less than an -hour. But he was undeceived when they started. The two sturdy oxen -trotted along at a good pace in obedience to the driver's goad, and the -shigram rattled across Bombay Green, past the church and the whitewashed -houses of the English merchants, their oyster-shell windows already lit -up; and in some forty-five minutes entered a long avenue leading to Mr. -Bourchier's country house. Twice during the course of the journey -Desmond was interested to see the shigramwallah[#] pull his team up, -dismount, and, going to their heads, insert his hand in their mouths. - - -[#] Carriage like a palanquin on wheels. - -[#] Wallah is a personal affix, denoting a close connexion between the -person and the thing described by the main word. Shigramwallah -thus=carriage-driver. - - -"What does he do that for?" he asked. - -"To clear their throats, to be sure. When the beasts go at this pace -they make a terrible lot of foam, and if he didn't swab it out they'd -choke, and no nonsense. Well, here we are. Dash my wig, won't his -Excellency open his eyes!" - -Since their departure from the fort the sky had become quite dark. At -the end of the avenue they could see the lights of Governor Bourchier's -bungalow, and by and by caught sight of figures sitting on the veranda. -Desmond's heart beat high; he made no doubt that one of them was Clive; -the moment to which he had looked forward so eagerly was at last at -hand. He was in no dreamland; his dream had come true. He felt a -little nervous at the prospect of meeting men so famous, so immeasurably -above him, as Clive and Admiral Watson; but with Clive he felt a bond of -union in his birthplace, and it was with recovered confidence that he -sprang out of the cart and accompanied Mr. Johnson to the bungalow. He -was further reassured by a jolly laugh that rang out just as he reached -the steps leading up to the veranda. - -"Hallo, Johnson!" said a voice, "what does this mean?" - -"I've come to see the Governor, Captain." - -"Then you couldn't have come at a worse time. The supper's half an hour -late, and you know what that means to the Governor." - -Mr. Johnson smiled. - -"He'll forget his supper when he has heard my news. 'Tis about the -Pirate." - -"What's that?" said another voice. "News of the Pirate?" - -"Yes, Mr. Watson. This young gentleman----" - -But he was interrupted by the khansaman,[#] who came out at this moment -and with a salaam announced that supper was served. - - -[#] Butler. - - -"You'd better come in, Johnson," said the first speaker. "Any news of -the Pirate will be sauce to Mr. Bourchier's goose." - -The gentlemen rose from their seats, and went into the house, followed -by Desmond and the superintendent. In a moment Desmond found himself in -a large room brilliantly lighted with candles. In the centre was a -round table, and Mr. Bourchier, the Governor, was placing his guests. -He did not look very pleasant, and when he saw Mr. Johnson he said: - -"You come at a somewhat unseasonable hour, sir. Cannot your business -wait till the morning?" - -"I made bold to come, your Excellency, because 'tis a piece of news the -like of which no one in Bombay has ever heard before. This young -gentleman, Mr. Desmond Burke, son of Captain Burke, whom you'll -remember, sir, has escaped from Gheria." - -The Governor and his guests were by this time seated, and instantly all -eyes were focussed on Desmond, and exclamations of astonishment broke -from their lips. - -"Indeed! Bring chairs, Hossain." - -One of the native attendants left the room noiselessly, and returning -with chairs placed them at the table. - -"Sit down, gentlemen. That is amazing news, as you say, Mr. Johnson. -Perhaps Mr. Burke will relate his adventure as we eat." - -Desmond took the chair set for him. The guests were five. Two of them -wore the laced coats of admirals; the taller, a man of handsome -presence, with a round chubby face, large eyes, small full lips, his -head crowned by a neat curled wig, was Charles Watson, in command of the -British fleet; the other was his second, Rear-Admiral Pocock. A third -was Richard King, captain of an Indiaman, in a blue coat with velvet -lappets and gold embroidery, buff waistcoat and breeches. Next him sat -a jolly red-faced gentleman in plain attire, and between him and the -Governor was Clive himself, whose striking face--the lawyer's brow, the -warrior's nose and chin, the dreamer's mouth--would have marked him out -in any company. - -Desmond began his story. The barefooted attendants moved quietly about -with the dishes, but the food was almost neglected as the six gentlemen -listened to the clear, low voice telling of the escape from the fort, -the capture of the grab, and the eventful voyage to Bombay harbour. - -"By George! 'tis a famous adventure," exclaimed Admiral Watson, when the -story was ended. "What about this Pirate's den? Gheria fort is said to -be impregnable; what are the chances if we attack, eh? The approaches -to the harbour, now; do you know the depth of water?" - -"Vessels can stand in to three fathoms water, sir. Seven fathoms is -within point-blank shot of the fort. The walls are about fifty feet -high; there are twenty-seven bastions, and they mount more than two -hundred guns." - -"And the opposite shore?" - -"A flat tableland, within distance for bombarding. A diversion might be -made from there while the principal attack could be carried on in the -harbour, or from a hill south of the fort." - -"Is the landing easy?" - -"Yes, sir. There are three sandy bays under the hill, without any surf -to make landing difficult. One is out of the line of fire from the -fort." - -"And what about the land side? There's a town, is there not?" - -"On a neck of land, sir. There's a wall, but nothing to keep out a -considerable force. If an attack were made from that side the people -would, I think, flock into the fort." - -"And is that as strong as rumour says?" - -"'Tis pretty strong, sir; there are double walls, and thick ones; they'd -stand a good battering." - -"It seems to me, Admiral," said the red-faced gentleman, with a laugh, -"that you've learnt all you sent Commodore James to find out. What do -you say, Mr. Clive?" - -"It seems so, Mr. Merriman. But I think, Mr. Watson, in our eagerness -to learn something of Gheria, we must seem somewhat cavalier to this -lad, whose interest in our plans cannot be equal to our own. You have -shown, sir," he added, addressing Desmond, "great spirit and courage, -not less ingenuity, in your daring escape from the Pirate. But I want to -go farther back. How came you to fall into the Pirate's hands? You -have told us only part of your story." - -"Yes, indeed," said Mr. Bourchier. "If you are not tired, we shall be -vastly pleased to hear more, Mr. Burke." - -"Your name is Burke?" interrupted Clive. "I had not before caught it. -May I ask what part of Ireland you come from, sir? Pardon me, but your -accent smacks more of Shropshire than of County Dublin." - -"'Tis Shropshire, sir; I come from Market Drayton." ("Like yourself!" -his glowing cheeks and flashing eyes seemed to say. This was the -proudest moment in Desmond's life as yet.) - -"I was not mistaken," said Clive. "I remember a schoolfellow of mine of -your name; let me see----" - -"Richard Burke, sir, my brother; my father was Captain Burke in the -Company's service." - -"Sure I have it now. I remember him: a tall, fine old sea-dog whom I -saw at times in Market Drayton when I was a child. I had a great awe of -Captain Burke--i' faith the only man I was afraid of. And you are his -son!--But come, I am interrupting your story." - -Desmond spoke of his longing for adventure, which had led him to leave -home in search of fortune. He glossed over his brother's ill-treatment. -He told how he had been inveigled on board the _Good Intent_, and handed -over to Angria when the vessel arrived at Gheria. He mentioned no names -except that of Captain Barker, though he could not have explained his -motive in keeping silence about Diggle. - -"Barker is a villain, ripe for the gallows," said Captain King. "But -Mr. Burke, I don't understand how you came to be so hoodwinked in -London. Sure you must have known that a boy without an ounce of -experience would never be made supercargo. Had you any enemies in -London?" - -"I didn't know that I had, sir, till the _Good Intent_ had sailed. I -was deceived, but the man who promised me the berth was very friendly, -and I didn't suspect him." - -"It was not Barker, then?" - -"No, sir; it was a man I met at Market Drayton." - -"At Market Drayton?" said Clive. "That's odd. What was his name?" - -"His name was Diggle, and----" - -"A stranger? I remember no one of that name," said Clive. - -"I thought he was a stranger, sir; but of late I have begun to suspect -he was not such a stranger as he seemed." - -"How did you meet him?" - -"Accidentally, sir, the night of your banquet in Market Drayton." - -"Indeed! 'Tis all vastly curious. Was he lodging in the town?" - -"He came in from Chester that night and lodged at the _Four Alls_." - -"With that disreputable sot Grinsell----" Clive paused. "Did he tell you -anything about himself? - -"Very little, sir, except that he'd been unlucky. I think he mentioned -once that he was a fellow at a Cambridge college, but he spoke to me -most about India." - -As he put his questions Clive leant forward, and seemed to become more -keenly interested with every answer. He now turned and gave a hard look -at the bluff man whom he had called Mr. Merriman. The rest of the -company were silent. - -"Do you happen to know whether he went up to the Hall?" asked Clive. - -"Sir Willoughby's? I met him several times walking in that -neighbourhood, but I don't think he went to the Hall. He did not appear -to know Sir Willoughby.--And yet, sir, I remember now that I heard -Diggle and Grinsell talking about the Squire the night I first saw them -together at the _Four Alls_." - -"And you were with this--Diggle, in London, Mr. Burke?" - -"Yes, sir." - -Desmond began to feel uncomfortable. Clive had evidently not recognized -him before, and he was hoping that the unfortunate incident in Billiter -Street would not be recalled. Clive's next words made him wish to sink -into the floor. - -"Do you remember, Mr. Burke, in London, throwing yourself in the way of -a gentleman that was in pursuit of your friend Mr. Diggle, and bringing -him to the ground?" - -"Yes, sir, I did, and I am sorry for it." - -Desmond did not like the grim tone of Clive's voice; he wished he would -address him as "my lad" instead of "Mr. Burke." - -"That was a bad start, let me say, Mr. Burke--an uncommonly bad start." - -"Oh come, Mr. Clive!" broke in Mr. Merriman, "say no more about that. -The boy was in bad company: 'twas not his fault. In truth, 'twas my own -fault: I am impetuous; the sight of that scoundrel was too much for me. -I bear you no grudge, my lad, though I had a bump on my head for a week -afterwards. Had you not tripped me I should have run my rapier through -the villain, and there would like have been an end of me." - -"Shall I tell the boy, Mr. Merriman?" said Clive in an undertone. - -"Not now, not now," said Merriman quickly. - -The other gentlemen, during this dialogue, had been discussing the -information they had gained about Gheria. - -"Well," said Clive, "you are lucky, let me tell you, Mr. Burke, to be -out of this Diggle's clutches. By the way, have you seen him since he -sold you to the Pirate?" - -"He came a few days before I escaped, and wanted me to come here as a -spy. Angria promised me my freedom and a large sum of money." - -"What's that?" cried Merriman. "Wanted you to come as a spy?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"And what did you say?" - -"I told him he might do it himself." - -"A palpable hit!" said Merriman with a grim laugh, "and a very proper -answer. But he'll have more respect for his skin." - -"Gentlemen," put in Mr. Bourchier, "we have kept Mr. Burke talking so -much that he hasn't had a mouthful of food. I think we might go out on -the veranda and smoke our cheroots while he takes some supper. Mr. -Johnson, you've done most justice to my viands, I think. Perhaps you -will join us." - -The superintendent became purple in the face. He had in fact been -eating and drinking with great gusto, taking advantage of the -preoccupation of the company to ensure that the excellent fare should -not be wasted. He rose hurriedly, and, with a sheepish look that -scarcely fitted his cheerful features, followed his sarcastic host to -the veranda. All the guests save Mr. Merriman accompanied Mr. -Bourchier. - -"They all want to talk shop--this expedition against the Pirate," said -Mr. Merriman. "You and I can have a little chat." - -Desmond was attracted by the open face of his new acquaintance, slightly -disfigured, as he noticed, by a long scar on the left temple. - -"You're plucky and lucky," continued Merriman, "and in spite of what Mr. -Clive calls your bad start in bowling me over, you'll do well." - -His face clouded as he went on: - -"That man Diggle: why should he have sold you to the Pirate: what had he -against you?" - -"I cannot imagine, sir." - -"You are lucky to have escaped him, as Mr. Clive said. I think--yes, I -will tell you about him. His name is not Diggle; it is Simon Peloti. -He is a nephew of Sir Willoughby. His mother married a Greek, against -her brother's wish; the man died when the child was a year old. As a -boy Peloti was as charming a little fellow as one could wish: handsome, -high-spirited, clever. He did well at school, and afterwards at -Cambridge: won a fellowship there. Then he went to the dogs--not all at -once; men never do. He was absolutely without principle, and thought of -nothing but his own ease and success. One thing led to another; at -last, in the '45----" - -He paused. After a moment he went on: - -"I had a brother, my lad----" - -He stopped again, his face expressing poignant grief. - -"I know, sir," said Desmond. "Sir Willoughby told me." - -"He told you! And he did not mention Peloti?" - -"No, sir; but I see it all now. It was Diggle--Peloti, I mean--who -betrayed your brother. I understand now why the Squire took no steps -against Grinsell. His accomplice was Diggle." - -He related the incident of the housebreakers. - -"Yes," said Merriman, "that throws a light on things. Peloti, I imagine, -had previously seen the Squire, and tried to get money from him. Sir -Willoughby refused: he gave him a thousand pounds ten years ago on -condition he left the country and did not return. So the villain -resolved to rob him. 'Twas fortunate indeed you appeared in time. That -is the reason for his hating you." - -"There was another, sir," said Desmond with some hesitation. "He -thought I was hankering after the Squire's property--aiming at becoming -his heir. 'Twas ridiculous, sir; such an idea never entered my head." - -"I see. Peloti came to India and got employment in the Company's -service at Madras. But he behaved so badly that he had to be turned -out--he said Mr. Clive hounded him out. What became of him after that I -don't know. But let us leave the miserable subject. Tell me, what are -your ideas? What are you going to do now that you are a free man once -more? Get another berth as supercargo?" - -His eyes twinkled as he said this. - -"No thank you, sir; once bit twice shy. I haven't really thought of -anything definite, but what I should like best of all would be a -cadetship under Colonel Clive." - -"Soho! You're a fighter, are you? But of course you are; I have reason -to know that. Well, we'll see what my friend Mr. Clive says. You've no -money, I suppose?" - -"Not a halfpenny, sir; but if the Governor will admit that the grab is -my lawful prize, I thought of selling her; that will bring me a few -pounds." - -"Capital idea. Punctilio won't stand in the way of that, I should -think. Well now, I'll speak to Mr. Clive for you, but don't build too -much on it. He cannot give you a commission, I fear, without the -authority of the Governor of Madras; and though no doubt a word from him -would be effectual, he's a very particular man, and you'll have to prove -you're fit for a soldier's life. Meanwhile, what do you say to this? -I've taken a fancy to you. I'm a merchant; trade pays better than -soldiering, in general. I've got ships of my own, and I daresay I could -find a berth for you on one of them. You seem to know something of -navigation?" - -"Very little, sir; just what I picked up on the _Good Intent_." - -"Well, that's a beginning. I've no doubt that Admiral Watson will wish -you to go to Gheria with him: your knowledge of the place will be -useful. He won't start for a month or two: why not occupy the time in -improving your navigation, so that if there are difficulties about a -cadetship you'll be competent for a mate's berth? Nothing like having -two strings to your bow. What do you say to that?" - -"'Tis very good of you, sir; I accept with pleasure." - -"That's right. Now when you've finished that curry we'll go out on the -veranda. Before you came they were talking of nothing but their dogs; -but I wager 'tis nothing but the Pirate now." - -They soon rejoined the other gentlemen. - -"Come, Mr. Burke," said Admiral Watson, "we've been talking over the -information you've given us. You've nothing to do, I suppose?" - -"I've just suggested that he should read up navigation, Mr. Watson," -said Merriman. - -"You're a wizard, Mr. Merriman. I was proposing to engage Mr. Burke to -accompany us on our expedition against the Pirate. He can make himself -useful when we get to Gheria. We'll see how James's information tallies -with his. You won't object to serve his Majesty, Mr. Burke?" - -"'Tis what I should like best in the world, sir." - -"Very well. Meanwhile learn all you can; Captain King here will take -charge of you, I've no doubt." - -"Certainly, Mr. Watson." - -"You will give Mr. Burke quarters for the present, Mr. Johnson?" said -Merriman. - -"To be sure. And as 'tis late we'd better be going. Good night, your -Excellency; good night, gentlemen." - -Early next day Admiral Watson himself rode down to the harbour to -inspect the grab. He was so much pleased with her that he offered to -buy her for the service. Before the day was out Desmond found himself in -possession of seven thousand rupees. After paying the Marathas the -wages agreed upon, he proceeded to divide the balance. He retained two -shares for himself, and gave each of the men who had escaped with him an -equal part. No one was more surprised than Fuzl Khan when he received -his share in full. He had expected to get the punishment he knew he -well deserved. But Desmond, against the advice of the superintendent, -determined to overlook the man's misconduct. He went further. At his -request Admiral Watson gave him a place on the grab. The Gujarati seemed -overwhelmed by this generosity on the part of a man he had wronged, and -for the nonce breaking through his usual morose reserve, he thanked -Desmond, awkwardly indeed, but with manifest sincerity. - -The other men were no less delighted with their good fortune. The sum -they each received made them rich men for life. None was more elated -than Surendra Nath. It happened that Mr. Merriman came on board to see -the grab at the moment when Desmond was distributing the prize money. -Desmond noticed a curious expression on the Babu's face, and he was -compelled to laugh when the man, after a moment's hesitation, walked up -to Mr. Merriman, and with a strange mixture of humility and importance -said: - -"I wish you a very good morning, your honour." - -"Good gad!--Surendra Nath Chuckerbutti! I'm uncommonly glad to see -you." - -He shook hands warmly, a mark of condescension which made the Babu beam -with gratification. - -"Why," continued Merriman, "we'd given you up for dead long ago. So -you're the plucky and ingenious fellow who did so much to help Mr. Burke -in the famous escape! Surendra Nath was one of my best clerks, Mr. -Burke. His father is my head clerk for Company's business. He hasn't -been the same man since you disappeared. You must tell me your story. -Come up to Mr. Bowman's house on the Green to-night; I am staying -there." - -"I shall be most glad to return to my desk in Calcutta, your honour," -said the Babu. "But I do not like the sea. It has no sympathy with me. -I think of accomplishing the journey by land." - -"Good heavens, man! it would take you a year at the least, if you wasn't -swallowed by a tiger or strangled by a Thug on the way. You'll have to -go by water, as you came." - -The Babu's face fell. - -"That is the fly in the ointment, your honour. But I will chew majum -and bestow myself in the cabin; thus perhaps I may avoid squeamishness. -By the kindness of Burke Sahib I have a modicum of money, now a small -capital; and I hope, with your honour's permission, to do trifling trade -for myself." - -"Certainly," said Merriman with a laugh. "You'll be a rich man yet, -Surendra Nath. Well, don't forget; you'll find me at Mr. Bowman's on -the Green at eight o'clock." - - - - - CHAPTER THE EIGHTEENTH - - -*In which Angria is astonished; and our hero begins to pay off old -scores.* - - -Time sped quickly. Desmond made the best use of his opportunities of -learning navigation under Captain King and the superintendent, and -before two months had expired was pronounced fit to act as mate on the -finest East Indiaman afloat. He took this with a grain of salt. The -fact was that his adventures, the modesty with which he deprecated all -allusions to his part in the escape from Gheria, and the industry with -which he worked, won him the goodwill of all; he was a general favourite -with the little European community of Bombay. - -Apart from his study, he found plenty to interest him in his spare -moments. The strange mixture of people, the temples and pagodas, the -towers of silence on which the Parsis exposed their dead, the burning -ghats of the Hindus on the beach, the gaunt filthy fakirs[#] and jogis -who whined and told fortunes in the streets for alms, the exercising of -the troops, the refitting and careening of Admiral Watson's ships--all -this provided endless matter for curiosity and amusement. One thing -disappointed him. Not once during the two months did he come in contact -with Clive. Mr. Merriman remained in Bombay, awaiting the arrival of a -vessel of his from Muscat; but Desmond was loth to ask him whether he -had sounded Clive about a cadetship. As a matter of fact Mr. Merriman -had mentioned the matter at once. - - -[#] Religious mendicants (Mohammedan). - - -"Patience, Merriman," was Clive's reply. "I have my eye on the -youngster." - -And with that the merchant, knowing his friend, was very well content; -but he kept his own counsel. - -At length, one day in the first week of February 1756, Desmond received -a summons to visit the Admiral. His interview was brief. He was -directed to place himself under the orders of Captain Latham on the -_Tyger_; the fleet was about to sail. - -It was a bright, cool February morning, cool, that is, for Bombay, when -the vessels weighed anchor and sailed slowly out of the harbour. All -Bombay lined the shores: natives of every hue and every mode of attire; -English merchants; ladies fluttering white handkerchiefs. Such an -expedition had never been undertaken against the noted Pirate before, -and the report of Commodore James, confirming the information brought by -Desmond, had given the authorities good hope that this pest of the -Malabar coast was at last to be destroyed. - -It was an inspiriting sight as the vessels, rounding the point, made -under full sail to the south. There were six line-of-battle ships, six -Company's vessels, five bomb-ketches, four Maratha grabs--one of them -Angria's own grab, the _Tremukji_, on which Desmond had escaped--and -forty gallivats. The _Tyger_ led the van. Admiral Watson's flag was -hoisted on the _Kent_, Admiral Pocock's on the _Cumberland_. On board -the fleet were 200 European soldiers, 300 sepoys, and 300 -Topasses--mainly half-caste Portuguese in the service of the Company, -owing their name to the topi[#] they wore. To co-operate with this -force a land army of 12,000 Marathas, horse and foot, under the command -of Ramaji Punt, one of the Peshwa's generals, had been for some time -investing the town of Gheria. - - -[#] Hat. - - -At this time of year the winds were so slight and variable that it was -nearly a week before the fleet arrived off Gheria. When the bastions of -the fort hove into sight Desmond could not help contrasting his feelings -with those of two months before. - -"Like the look of your cage, Mr. Burke?" said Captain Latham at his -elbow. - -"I was just thinking of it, sir," said Desmond. "It makes a very great -difference when you're outside the bars." - -"And we'll break those bars before we're much older, or I'm a Dutchman." - -At this moment the signal to heave-to was seen flying at the masthead of -the _Kent_. Before the vessels had anchored one of the grabs left the -main fleet and ran into the harbour. It bore a message from Admiral -Watson to Tulaji Angria, summoning him to surrender. The answer -returned was that if the Admiral desired to be master of the fort he -must take it by force, as Angria was resolved to defend it to the last -extremity. The ships remained at anchor outside the harbour during the -night. Next morning a boat put off from the town end of the fort -conveying several of Angria's relatives and some officers of Ramaji -Punt's army. It by and by became known that Tulaji Angria, leaving his -brother in charge of the fort, had given himself up to Ramaji Punt, and -was now a prisoner in his camp. The visitors had come ostensibly to -view the squadron, but really to discover what were Admiral Watson's -intentions in regard to the disposal of the fort supposing it fell into -his hands. The Admiral saw through the device, which was no doubt to -hand the fort over to the Peshwa's general, and so balk the British of -their legitimate prize. Admiral Watson made short work of the visitors. -He told them that if Angria would surrender his fort peaceably he and -his family would be protected; but that the fort he must have. They -pleaded for a few days' grace, but the Admiral declined to wait a single -day. If the fort was not immediately given up he would sail in and -attack it. - -It was evident that hostilities could not be avoided. About one in the -afternoon Captain Henry Smith of the _Kingfisher_ sloop was ordered to -lead the way, and Desmond was sent to join him. - -"What is the depth under the walls, Mr. Burke?" the Captain asked him. - -"Three and a half fathoms, sir--deep enough to float the biggest of us." - -The sloop weighed anchor, and stood in before the afternoon breeze. It -was an imposing sight as the fleet formed in two divisions and came -slowly in their wake. Each ship covered a bomb-ketch, protecting the -smaller vessels from the enemy's fire. Desmond himself was kept very -busy, going from ship to ship as ordered by signals from the _Kent_, and -assisting each captain in turn to navigate the unfamiliar harbour. - -It was just two o'clock when the engagement began with a shot from the -fort at the _Kingfisher_. The shot was returned, and a quarter of an -hour later, while the fleet was still under full sail, the _Kent_ flew -the signal for a general action. One by one the vessels anchored at -various points opposite the fortifications, and soon a hundred and fifty -guns were blazing away at the massive bastions and curtains, answered -vigorously by Angria's two hundred and fifty. Desmond was all -excitement. The deafening roar of the guns, the huge columns of smoke -that floated heavily over the fort, and sometimes enveloped the vessels, -the bray of trumpets, the beating of tom-toms, the shouts of men, set -his blood tingling: and though he afterwards witnessed other stirring -scenes, he never forgot the vivid impression of the fight at Gheria. - -About three o'clock a shell set fire to one of the Pirate's grabs--one -that had formerly been taken by him from the Company. Leaving its -moorings, it drifted among the main fleet of pirate grabs which still -lay lashed together Where Desmond had last seen them by the blaze of the -burning gallivats. They were soon alight. The fire rapidly spread to -the dockyard, caught the unfinished grabs on the stocks, and before long -the whole of Angria's shipping was a mass of flame. - -Meanwhile the bombardment had made little impression on the -fortifications, and it appeared to the Admiral that time was being -wasted. Accordingly he gave orders to elevate the guns and fire over -the walls into the interior of the fort. A shell from one of the -bomb-ketches fell plump into one of the outhouses of the palace and set -it on fire. Fanned by the west wind, the flames spread to the arsenal -and the storehouse, licking up the sheds and smaller buildings until -they reached the outskirts of the city. The crackling of flames was now -mingled with the din of artillery, and as dusk drew on, the sky was lit -up over a large space with the red glow of burning. By half-past six -the guns on the bastions had been silenced, and the Admiral gave the -signal to cease fire. - -Some time before this a message reached Captain Smith ordering him to -send Desmond at once on board the _Kent_. When he stepped on deck he -found Admiral Watson in consultation with Clive. It appeared that -during the afternoon a cloud of horsemen had been observed hovering on a -hill eastward of the city, and being by no means sure of the loyalty of -the Maratha allies, Clive had come to the conclusion that it was time to -land his troops. But it was important that the shore and the neck of -land east of the fort should be reconnoitred before the landing was -attempted. The groves might, for all he knew, be occupied by the -Pirate's troops or by those of Ramaji Punt, and Clive had had enough -experience of native treachery to be well on his guard. - -"I am going to send you on a somewhat delicate mission, Mr. Burke," he -said. "You know the ground. I want you to go quietly on shore and see -first of all whether there is safe landing for us, and then whether the -ground between the town and the fort is occupied. Be quick and secret; I -need waste no words. Mr. Watson has a boat's crew ready." - -"I think, sir," said Desmond, "that it will hardly be necessary, perhaps -not advisable, to take a boat's crew from this ship. If I might have a -couple of natives there would be a good deal less risk in getting -ashore." - -"Certainly. But there is no time to spare; indeed, if you are not back -in a couple of hours I shall land at once. But I should like to know -what we have to expect. You had better get a couple of men from the -nearest grab." - -"The _Tremukji_ is only a few cables-lengths away, sir, and there's a -man on board who knows the harbour. I will take him, with your -permission." - -"Very well. Good luck go with you." - -Desmond saluted, and stepping into the boat which had rowed him to the -_Kent_, he was quickly conveyed to the grab. In a few minutes he left -this in a skiff, accompanied only by Fuzl Khan and a lascar. Not till -then did he explain what he required of them. The Gujarati seemed -overcome by the selection of himself for this mission. - -"You are kind to me, sahib," he said. "I do not deserve it; but I will -serve you to my life's end." - -There was in the man's tone a fervency which touched Desmond at the -time, and which he had good cause afterwards to remember. - -A quarter of an hour after Desmond quitted the deck of the _Kent_, he -was put ashore at a sandy bay at the further extremity of the isthmus, -hidden from the fort by a small clump of mango trees. - -"Now, Fuzl Khan," he said, "you will wait here for a few minutes till it -is quite dark, then you will row quickly along the shore till you come -to within a short distance of the jetty. I am going across the sand up -toward the fort, and will come round to you." - -He stepped over the soft sand towards the trees and was lost to sight. -The bombardment had now ceased, and though he heard a confused noise -from the direction of the fort, there was no sound from the town, and he -concluded that the people had fled either into the fort or away into the -country. It appeared at present that the whole stretch of land between -the town and the fort was deserted. - -He had not walked far when he was startled by hearing, as he fancied, a -stealthy footstep following him. Gripping in his right hand the pistol -he had brought as a precaution, and with the left loosening his sword in -its scabbard, he faced round with his back to the wall of a shed in -which Angria's ropes were made, and waited, listening intently. But the -sound, slight as it was, had ceased. Possibly it had been made by some -animal, though that seemed scarcely likely: the noise and the glare from -the burning buildings must surely have scared away all the animals in -the neighbourhood. Finding that the sound was not repeated, he went on -again. Some minutes later, his ears on the stretch, he fancied he -caught the same soft furtive tread: but when he stopped and listened and -heard nothing, he believed that he must have been mistaken, and set it -down as an echo of his own excitement. - -Stepping warily, he picked his way through the darkness, faintly -illumined by the distant glow of the conflagration. He skirted the -dockyard, and drew nearer to the walls of the courtyard surrounding the -fort, remembering how, nearly twelve months before, he had come almost -the same way from the jetty with the decoy message from Captain Barker. -Then he had been a source of amusement to crowds of natives as he passed -on his way to the palace; now the spot was deserted, and but for the -noises that reached him from distant quarters he might have thought -himself the sole living creature in that once populous settlement. - -He had now reached the outer wall, which was separated from the fort -only by a wide compound dotted here and there with palm-trees. It was -clear that no force, whether of the Pirate's men or of Ramaji Punt's, -held the ground between the shore and the fort. All the fighting men -had without doubt been withdrawn within the walls. His mission was -accomplished. - -It had been his intention to make his way back by a shorter cut along -the outer wall, by the west side of the dockyard, until he reached the -shore near the jetty. But standing for a moment under the shade of a -palm-tree, he hesitated to carry out his plan, for the path he meant to -follow must be lit up along its whole course by a double glare: from the -blazing buildings inside the fort, and from the burning gallivats in the -dockyard and harbour. He was on the point of retracing his steps when, -looking over the low wall towards the fort, he saw two dark figures -approaching, moving swiftly from tree to tree, as if wishing to escape -observation. It was too late to move now; if he left the shelter of the -palm-tree he would come distinctly into view of the two men, and it -would be unwise to risk anything that would delay his return to Clive. -Accordingly he kept well in the shadow and waited. The stealthy -movements of the men suggested that they were fugitives, eager to get -away with whole skins before the fort was stormed. - -They came to the last of the palm-trees within the wall, and paused -there for a brief space. A few yards of open ground separated them from -the gate. Desmond watched curiously, then with some anxiety, for it -suddenly struck him that the men were making for him, and that he had -actually been shadowed from his landing-place by some one acting, -strange as it seemed, in collusion with them. On all accounts it was -necessary to keep close. - -Suddenly he saw the men leave the shelter of their tree and run rapidly -across the ground to the gate. Having reached it, they turned aside -into the shadow of the wall and stood as if to recover breath. Desmond -had kept his eyes upon them all the time. Previously, in the shade of -the trees, their faces had not been clearly distinguishable; but while -now invisible from the fort, they were lit up by the glow from the -harbour. It was with a shock of surprise that he recognized in the -fugitives the overseer of the dockyard, whose cruelties he had so good -reason to remember, and Marmaduke Diggle, as he still must call him. -The sight of the latter set his nerves tingling; his fingers itched to -take some toll for the miseries he had endured through Diggle's -villainy. But he checked his impulse to rush forward and confront the -man. Single-handed he could not cope with both the fugitives; and -though, if he had been free, he might have cast all prudence from him in -his longing to bring the man to book, he recollected his duty to Clive -and remained in silent rage beneath the tree. - -All at once he heard a rustle behind him, a low growl like that of an -animal enraged; and almost before he was aware of what was happening a -dark figure sprang past him, leapt over the ground with the rapidity of -a panther, and threw himself upon the overseer just as with Diggle he -was beginning to move towards the town. There was a cry from each man, -and the red light falling upon the face of the assailant, Desmond saw -with amazement that it was the Gujarati, whom he had supposed to be -rowing along the shore to meet him. He had hardly recognized the man -before he saw that he was at deadly grips with the overseer, both -snarling like wild beasts. There was no time for thought, for Diggle, -momentarily taken aback by the sudden onslaught, had recovered himself -and was making with drawn sword towards the two combatants, who in their -struggle had moved away from him. - -Desmond no longer stayed to weigh possibilities or count risks. It was -clear that Fuzl Khan's first onslaught had failed; had he got home, the -overseer, powerful as he was, must have been killed on the spot. In the -darkness the Gujarati's knife had probably missed its aim. He had now -two enemies to deal with, and but for intervention he must soon be -overcome and slain. Drawing his sword, Desmond sprang from the tree and -dashed across the open, reaching the scene of the struggle just in the -nick of time to strike up Diggle's weapon ere it sheathed itself in the -Gujarati's side. Diggle turned with a startled oath, and seeing who his -assailant was, he left his companion to take care of himself and faced -Desmond, a smile of anticipated triumph wreathing his lips. - -No word was spoken. Diggle lunged, and Desmond at that moment knew that -he was at a perilous crisis of his life. The movements of the practised -swordsman could not be mistaken; he himself had little experience; all -that he could rely on was his quick eye and the toughness of his -muscles. He gave back, parrying the lunge, tempted to use his pistol -upon his adversary. But now that the cannonading had ceased, a shot -might be heard by some of the Pirate's men, and before he could escape -he might be beset by a crowd of ruffians against whom he would have no -chance at all. He could but defend himself with his sword and hope that -Diggle might overreach himself in his fury and give him an opportunity -to get home a blow. - -Steel struck upon steel; the sparks flew; and the evil smile upon -Diggle's face became fixed as he saw that Desmond was no match for him -in swordsmanship. But it changed when he found that though his young -opponent's science was at fault, his strength and dexterity, his -wariness in avoiding a close attack, served him in good stead. -Impatient to finish the fight, he took a step forward, and lunged so -rapidly that Desmond could hardly have escaped his blade but for an -accident. There was a choking sob to his right, and just as Diggle's -sword was flashing towards him a heavy form fell against the blade and -upon Desmond. In the course of their deadly struggle the Gujarati and -the overseer had shifted their ground, and at this moment, fortunately -for Desmond, Fuzl Khan had driven his knife into his old oppressor's -heart. - -But the same accident that saved Desmond's life gave Diggle an -opportunity of which he was quick to avail himself. Before Desmond -could recover his footing, Diggle shortened his arm and was about to -drive his sword through the lad's heart. The Gujarati saw the movement. -Springing in with uplifted knife he attempted to turn the blade. He -succeeded; he struck it upwards, but the force with which he had thrown -himself between the two swordsmen was his undoing. Unable to check his -rush, he received the point of Diggle's sword in his throat. With a -terrible cry he raised his hands to clutch his assailant; but his -strength failed him; he swayed, tottered, and fell gasping at Desmond's -feet, beside the lifeless overseer. Desmond saw that the turn of -fortune had given the opportunity to him. He sprang forward as Diggle -tried to recover his sword Diggle gave way: and before he could lift his -dripping weapon to parry the stroke, Desmond's blade was through his -forearm. Panting with rage he sought with his left hand to draw his -pistol; but Desmond was beforehand with him. He caught his arm, -wrenched the pistol from him, and, breathless with his exertions, said: - -"You are my prisoner." - -"'Tis fate, my young friend," said Diggle, with all his old blandness; -Desmond never ceased to be amazed at the self-command of this -extraordinary man. "I have let some blood, I perceive; my sword-arm is -for the time disabled; but my great regret at this moment--you will -understand the feeling--is that this gallant friend of yours lies low -with the wound intended for another. So Antores received in his flank -the lance hurled at Lausus: 'infelix alieno volnere'." - -"I dare say, Mr. Diggle," interrupted Desmond, "but I have no time to -construe Latin." Covering Diggle with his pistol, Desmond stooped over -Fuzl Khan's prostrate body and discovered in a moment that the poor -fellow's heart had ceased to beat. He rose, and added: "I must trouble -you to come with me; and quickly, for you perceive you are at my mercy." - -"Where do you propose to take me, my friend?" - -"We will go this way, and please step out." - -Diggle scowled, and stood as though meditating resistance. - -"Come, come, Mr. Diggle, you have no choice. I do not wish to have to -drag you; it might cause you pain." - -"Surely you will spare a moment to an old friend! I fear you are -entirely mistaken. 'Tis pity that with the natural ebullition of your -youthful spirit you should have set upon a man whom----" - -"You can talk as we go, Mr. Diggle, if you talk low enough. Must I -repeat it?" - -"But where are we going? Really, Mr. Burke, respect for my years should -prompt a more considerate treatment." - -"You see yonder point?" said Desmond impatiently--"yonder on the shore. -You will come with me there." - -Diggle looked round as if hoping that even now something might happen in -his favour. But no one was in sight; Desmond stood over him with sword -still drawn; and recognizing his helplessness the man at length turned -towards the shore and began to walk slowly along, Desmond a foot or so -in the rear. - -"'Twas a most strange chance, surely," he said, "that brought you to -this spot at the very moment when I was shaking the dust of Gheria from -my feet. How impossible it is to escape the penalty of one's -wrong-doing! Old Horace knew it: 'Raro antecedentem scelestum'--you -remember the rest. Mr. Burslem drubbed our Latin into us, Mr. Burke. I -am a fellow-townsman of yours, though you did not know it: ay, a boy in -your old school, switched by your old master. I have treated you badly. -I admit it; but what could I do? Your brother slandered you; I see now -how he deceived me; he wished you out of his way. Here I acted under -pressure of Angria; he was bent on sending you to Bombay; I could not -defy him; I was wrong; what you said when I saw you last made a deep -impression on me; I repented, and, as Tully, I think, puts it, 'a change -of plan is the best harbour to a penitent man.' I was indeed seeking -that refuge of the repentant, and altering my whole plan of life; and if -you will but tarry a moment----" - -"Keep on, Mr. Diggle," said Desmond, as the man, who had been talking -over his shoulder, half-stopped: "my point is sharp." - -"I was leaving the fort, as you saw. Not from any fear--you will acquit -me of that, and as you know, the fort is impregnable, and I might have -remained there in perfect safety. No, I was quitting it because I was -wearied, disgusted with Angria and his ways. 'Twas under a -misapprehension I for a time consorted with him; I am disabused, and it -is by the mere malignity of Fate that at this turning-point of my career -I encounter one whom, I acknowledge, I have wronged. I am beaten; I do -not blink that; and by a better man. But youth is generous; and you, -Mr. Burke, are not the man to press your advantage against one who all -his life has been the sport of evil circumstance. I was bound for -further India; I know a little port to the south where I should have -taken ship, with strong hope of getting useful and honourable employment -when my voyage was ended. Perchance you have heard of Alivirdi Khan; if -you would but pause a moment----" - -"Go on, Mr. Diggle," said Desmond inexorably; "and it will be well to -mend your pace." - -"Alivirdi Khan," resumed Diggle, speaking more rapidly--the waters of -the harbour, glowing red, were in sight--"Alivirdi Khan is sick unto -death. He is wealthy beyond all imaginings. His likeliest heir, -Siraj-uddaula, soon to be Subah[#] of Bengal, is well known to me, and -indeed beholden to me for services rendered in the past. Mr. Burke, I -make you a proposition--it is worth considering. Why not come with me? -Wipe off old scores, throw in your lot with mine. Together, what could -we not do--I with my experience, you with your youthful vigour! See, -here is an earnest of my sincerity." He took from his fob a large -diamond, which flashed in the red light of the conflagration. "Accept -this; in the treasuries of Alivirdi there are thousands like it, each -worth a king's ransom. Come with me, and I promise you that within two -years you shall be rich beyond your wildest dreams." - - -[#] Viceroy. - - -"Put up your diamond, Mr. Peloti. You may repeat your offer when we -reach Colonel Clive." - -Diggle stopped as if shot. He looked with startled eyes at the boy, who -had known him only as Diggle. - -"You are going to Colonel Clive!" he exclaimed. The smoothness of his -manner was gone; his tone expressed mortal anxiety. "But--but--he is a -personal enemy; he will--I beseech you think again; I----" - -He broke off, and with a suddenness that took Desmond by surprise he -sprang away, making towards the grove of mangoes that stood between him -and the shore. Desmond was instantly in pursuit. If Diggle gained the -shelter of the trees he might escape in the darkness. But the race was -short. Weak from fear and loss of blood, the elder was no match in -speed for the younger. In less than a hundred yards he was overtaken, -and stood panting, quivering, unnerved. Desmond gripped his uninjured -arm, and with quickened footsteps hurried him towards the shore. There -was the boat, the lascar resting motionless on his oar. Ten minutes -later Diggle was assisted up the side of the _Kent_, and handed over to -the officer of the watch. Then Desmond made his report to Clive. - -"All the enemy are withdrawn within the fort, sir. The whole ground -between the fort and the shore is clear. There is nothing to obstruct -your landing." - -"I thank you. You have exceeded your time by ten minutes. Who is that -man who came aboard with you?" - -"It was he who delayed me, sir. It is Mr. Diggle, or Peloti, I should -say." - -"The deuce he is!" - -"He was stealing out of the fort; it came to a scuffle, and he was -wounded--so I brought him along." - -"Mr. Speke," said Clive turning to the captain, "may I ask you to see -this man safe bestowed? I will deal with him when our business here is -concluded. Mr. Burke, you will come with me." - -By nine o'clock Clive had landed his troops. They bivouacked on the -shore, in expectation of storming the fort next day. At daybreak an -officer was sent into the fort with a flag of truce to demand its -surrender. This being refused, the Admiral ordered his ships to warp -within a cable's length of the walls in three fathoms and a quarter of -water, and the attack was renewed by sea and land, Clive gradually -advancing and worrying the enemy with his cannon. At two o'clock a -magazine in the fort blew up, and not long after, just as Clive was -about to give the order to storm, a white flag was seen fluttering at -one of the bastions. A messenger was sent to the governor to arrange -the capitulation, but when he was met by prevarication and pleas for -delay the bombardment was once more resumed. A few minutes of this -sufficed to bring the defenders to reason, and by five o'clock the -English flag flew upon the walls. - -Clive postponed his entry until dawn on the following morning. - -"By Jove, Mr. Burke," he said to Desmond, who showed him the way to the -palace, "if we had been within these walls I think we could have held -out till doomsday." - -All the English officers were impressed by the strength of the -fortifications. Besides Angria's 250 cannon, an immense quantity of -stores and ammunition fell into the hands of the captors. In the vaults -of the palace were found silver rupees to the value of £100,000, and -treasure worth £30,000 more. The capture had been effected with the -loss of only twenty killed and wounded. - -Desmond took the earliest opportunity of seeking the body of Fuzl Khan. -Fortunately the fires and the noises of the night had preserved it from -mangling by wild beasts. The poor man lay where he had fallen, near the -body of the overseer. - -"Poor fellow!" thought Desmond, looking at the strong, fierce face and -the gigantic frame now stiff and cold. "Little he knew, when he said -he'd serve me to his life's end, that the end was so near." - -He had the body carried into the town, and reverently buried according -to Mohammedan rites. From the lascar he had learnt all that he ever -knew of the motives of the Gujarati's action. Desmond had hardly left -the boat when the man sprang quickly after him, saying briefly: "I go to -guard the sahib." It was like the instinctive impulse of a faithful -dog; and Desmond often regretted the loss of the man who had shown -himself so capable of devotion. - -That evening Clive summoned Desmond to attend him in the palace. When -he entered the durbar hall, he saw a small group seated on the dais, -consisting of Clive, Admiral Watson, and two or three subordinate -officers. Standing in front of them was Diggle, in the charge of two -marines. - -"How many European prisoners have been released, Mr. Ward?" the Admiral -was saying. - -"Thirteen, sir; ten English and three Dutch." - -"Is that correct, Mr. Burke? Was that the number when you were here?" - -"Yes, sir, that is correct." - -"Then you may go, Mr. Ward, and see that the poor fellows are taken on -board the _Tyger_ and well looked after." As the officer saluted and -withdrew the Admiral turned to Clive. - -"Now for this white pirate," he said: "a most unpleasant matter, truly." - -Signing to the marines to bring forward their prisoner, he threw himself -back upon the divan, leaving the matter in Clive's hands. Clive was -gazing hard at Diggle, who had lost the look of terror he had worn two -nights before, and stood before them in his usual attitude of careless -ease. - -"You captured this man," said Clive, turning to Desmond, "within the -precincts of the fort?" - -His hard level tone contrasted strongly with the urbaner manner of the -Admiral. - -"Yes, sir," replied Desmond. - -"He is the same man who inveigled you on board the interloper _Good -Intent_ and delivered you to the Pirate?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"And he was to your knowledge associated with the Pirate, and offered -you inducements to spy upon His Majesty's forces in Bombay?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"Have you anything to say for yourself, Mr. Peloti?" - -"Pardon me, Mr. Clive; Diggle--Marmaduke Diggle." - -"Diggle if you like," said Clive with a shrug. "You will hang as well -in that name as another." - -One of the officers smiled at the grim jest, but there was no smile on -Clive's stern, set face. - -"You asked me had I anything to say for myself," said Diggle quietly. -"Assuredly; but it seems your honours have condemned me already. Why -should I waste your time, and my breath? I bethink me 'twas not even in -Rome the custom to judge a matter before learning the facts--'prius rem -dijudicare'; but it is a long time, Mr. Clive, since we conned our -Terence together." - -Desmond could not but admire the superb insouciance and the easy smile -with which Diggle played his card. Seeing that Clive for an instant -hesitated, the intrepid prisoner continued: - -"But there, Mr. Clive, you never excelled in the Latin. 'Twas a sore -point with poor Mr. Burslem." - -"Come, come," cried Clive, visibly nettled, "this is no time for quips. -You fail to appreciate your position. You are caught red-handed. If -you have no defence to make you will meet the fate of other pirates -before you. Have you anything to say?" - -"Yes. You accuse me of piracy; I have a complete answer to that charge; -but as an Englishman I claim an Englishman's right--a fair trial before -a jury of my countrymen. In any case, Mr. Clive, it would be invidious -to give me worse treatment than Monaji Angria and his officers. As for -the rest, it depends on the evidence of this single witness." - -Here Admiral Watson bent forward and said to Clive in an undertone, -inaudible to the others: - -"I think we had better defer this. If, as you suppose, the fellow has -knowledge of the French plans, it would be only politic to give Mr. -Bourchier an opportunity of inquiring into the matter. No doubt he -richly deserves hanging, but _dead_ men tell no tales." - -Clive frowned, and, drumming upon the divan impatiently with his -fingers, seemed for the moment to be lost in thought. Then he said: - -"Yes, Mr. Watson, I think you are right." - -"Take the prisoner back to your ship," said the Admiral, "and put him -under double guard. Thank you, Mr. Burke; we shall require your -evidence in Bombay. One word before you go. I am vastly indebted to -you for your services; you have been of the greatest use to myself and -my captains. Your name will frequently appear in our ships' logs, and I -shall take care to show your work in the proper light when I make my -report. Meanwhile, when the division of prize-money is made, you will -receive a lieutenant's share. Good-night, sir." - -And Desmond's face, as he left the room, bore a flush of happiness and -pride. - - - - - CHAPTER THE NINETEENTH - - -*In which the scene changes; the dramatis personĉ remaining the same.* - - -A few days after the capture, the _Tyger_ left Gheria, having on board -the men wounded in the attack and the European prisoners who had been -rescued. Desmond also sailed in her, with an official report from -Admiral Watson to Governor Bourchier. - -The arrival of the _Tyger_ at Bombay, with the first news of the success -of the expedition and the fall of the fortress so long deemed -impregnable, was the occasion of a great demonstration of rejoicing. -The trading community, whether European or native, was enthusiastic over -the ruin of the notorious Pirate; and Desmond, as one who had had a -share in the operations, came in for a good deal of congratulation which -he laughingly protested ought to have been reserved for better men. - -Mr. Merriman was among the crowd that welcomed the _Tyger_, and as soon -as Desmond had delivered his report to Mr. Bourchier, the genial -merchant carried him off to the house on the Green where he was staying -and insisted on having a full account of his experiences. When he -learnt that Diggle had been captured and would shortly reach Bombay as a -prisoner, his jolly face assumed as intense a look of vindictive -satisfaction as it was capable of expressing. - -"By thunder! that's the best of your news for me. The villain will get -his deserts at last. I'm only sorry that I shall not be here to serve -on the jury." - -"Are you leaving Bombay then?" - -"Yes, and I wanted you to come with me. My ship the _Hormuzzeer_ came -to port two days ago, and I had to dismiss the second mate, who was -continually at odds with the lascars. I hoped you would accept his -berth, and sail with me. I want to get back to Calcutta. We had -advices the other day that things are not looking well in Bengal. -Alivirdi Khan is dying; and there is sure to be some bother about the -succession. All Bengal may be aflame. My wife and daughter are in -Calcutta, and I don't care about being away from them if danger is -threatening. I want to get away as soon as possible, and thought of -taking passage in an Indiaman; but the _Hormuzzeer_ being here I'll sail -in that; she'll make direct for the Hugli; an Indiaman would put in at -Madras, and goodness knows how long I might be delayed." - -"'Tis a pity," said Desmond. "I should have liked of all things to -accept your offer, but I'm bound to stay for Diggle's trial, and that -can't be held until the fleet return." - -"How long will that be?" - -"I heard the Admiral say he expected it would take a month to settle -everything at Gheria. He wants to keep the place in our hands, but -Ramaji Punt claims it for the Peshwa, and Captain Speke of the _Kent_ -told me that it'll be very lucky if they come to an arrangement within a -month." - -"It's uncommonly vexatious. I can't wait a month. It'll take a week or -more to clean the _Hormuzzeer's_ hull, and another to load her; in a -fortnight at the outside I hope to be on my way. Well, it can't be -helped. What will you do when the trial is over?" - -"I don't know." - -"Did Mr. Clive say anything about a cadetship?" - -"Not a word. He only said that I should get a share of the Gheria -prize-money." - -"That's something to the good. Use it wisely. I came out to Calcutta -twenty years ago with next to nothing, and I've done well. There's no -reason why you should not make your fortune too if your health will -stand the climate. We'll have a talk over things before I sail." - -A week later the _Bridgewater_ arrived from Gheria, with Diggle on -board. He was imprisoned in the Fort, being allotted far too -comfortable quarters to please Mr. Merriman. But Merriman's indignation -at what he considered the Governor's leniency was changed to hot rage -three days later when it became known that the prisoner had disappeared. -Not a trace of him could be discovered. He had been locked in as usual -one night, and next morning his room was empty. Imprisonment was much -less stringent in those days than now; the prisoner was allowed to see -visitors and to live more or less at ease. The only clue to Diggle's -escape was afforded by the discovery that, at the same time that he -disappeared, there vanished also a black boy, who had been brought among -the prisoners from Gheria and was employed in doing odd jobs about the -harbour. Desmond had no doubt that this was Diggle's boy Scipio -Africanus. And when he mentioned the connexion between the two, it was -supposed that the negro had acted as go-between for his master with the -friends in the town by whose aid the escape had been arranged. Among the -large native population of Bombay there were many who were suspected of -being secret agents of the French, and as Diggle was well provided with -funds it was not at all unlikely that his jailer had been tampered with. -Merriman's wrath was very bitter. He had been waiting for years, as he -told Desmond, for the punishment of Peloti. It was gall and wormwood to -him that the villain should have cheated the gallows. - -Diggle's escape, however, gave Merriman an opportunity to secure -Desmond's services. The culprit being gone, the evidence was no longer -required. Finding that Desmond was still ready to accept the position -of mate on the _Hormuzzeer_, Merriman consulted Mr. Bourchier, who -admitted that he saw no reason for detaining the lad. Accordingly, at -the end of the first week in March, when the vessel stood out of Bombay -harbour, Desmond sailed with her. - -The weather was calm, but the winds not wholly favourable, and the -_Hormuzzeer_ made a somewhat slow passage. Mr. Merriman was impatient to -reach Calcutta, and Desmond was surprised at his increasing uneasiness. -He had believed that the French and Dutch were the only people in Bengal -who gave the Company trouble, and as England was then at peace with both -France and the Netherlands, there was nothing, he thought, to fear from -them. - -"You are mistaken," said Mr. Merriman, in the course of a conversation -one day. "The natives are a terrible thorn in our side. At best we are -in Bengal on sufferance; we are a very small community--only a hundred -or two Europeans in Calcutta: and since the Marathas overran the country -some years ago we have felt as though sitting on the brink of a volcano. -Alivirdi wants to keep us down; he has forbidden us to fight the French -even if war does break out between us at home; and though the Mogul has -granted us charters--they call them firmans here--Alivirdi doesn't care -a rap for things of that sort, and won't be satisfied until he has us -under his heel. Only his trading profits and his fear of the Mogul have -kept him civil." - -"But you said he was dying." - -"So he is, and that makes matters worse, for his grandson, -Siraj-uddaula, who'll probably succeed him, is no better than a tiger. -He lives at Murshidabad, about 100 miles up the river. He's a vain, -peacocky, empty-headed youth, and as soon as the breath is out of his -grandad's body he'll want to try his wings and take a peck or two at us. -He may do it slyly, or go so far as to attack us openly." - -"But if he did that, sure Calcutta is defended; and, as Mr. Clive said -to me in Gheria, British soldiers behind walls might hold out for ever." - -"Clive doesn't know Calcutta then! That's the mischief! At the Maratha -invasion the Bengalis on our territory took fright, and at their own -expense began a great ditch round Calcutta--we call it the Maratha -ditch; but the Nawab bought the Marathas off, the work was stopped, the -walls of the fort are now crumbling to ruins, and the cannon lie about -unmounted and useless. Worst of all, our governor, Mr. Drake, is a -quiet soul, an excellent worthy man, who wouldn't hurt a fly. We call -him the Quaker. Quakers are all very well at home, where they can -'thee' and 'thou' and get rich and pocket affronts without any harm; but -they won't do in India. Might is right with the natives; they don't -understand anything else; and as sure as they see any sign of weakness -in us they'll take advantage of it and send us all to kingdom come. And -I'm thinking of the women folk: India's no place for them at the best; -and I did all I could to persuade my wife and daughter to remain at -home. But they would come out with me when I returned last year; and -glad as I am to have them with me I sometimes get very anxious; I can't -bear them out of my sight, and that's a fact." - -Mr. Merriman showed his relief when, on the 30th of April, he noticed -the yellow tinge in the water which indicated that the vessel was -approaching the mouth of the Hugli. Next day the vessel arrived at -Balasore, where a pilot was taken on board, and entered the river. Mr. -Merriman pointed out to Desmond the island of Sagar, whither in the late -autumn the jogis came down in crowds to purify themselves in the salt -water, "and provide a meal for the tigers," he added. At Kalpi a large -barge, rowed by a number of men dressed in white, with pink sashes, came -to meet the _Hormuzzeer_. - -"That's my budgero," said Merriman. "We'll get into it and row up to -Calcutta in half the time it would take the ship. Each of us merchants -has his own budgero, and instead of putting our men in buttons with our -arms and all that nonsense, we give them coloured sashes--and don't our -women squabble about the colours, my boy, just don't they!" - -In the budgero they passed the Dutch factory at Fulta, and the Subah's -forts at Budge Budge and Tanna. At Gobindpur's reach, Merriman pointed -out the pyramid of stone that marked the limit of the Company's -jurisdiction. Soon the gardens of the British merchants came in sight, -then the Company's docks, and at last the town of Calcutta, where the -Company's landing-stage was thronged with people awaiting the arrival of -the budgero in the hope of getting news from home. - -"There's Surendra Nath and his father," said Mr. Merriman, as they came -near the steps. His jolly face beamed when he stepped on to the -ghat.[#] "Hullo, Babu!" he said. "Glad to see you again." He shook -hands with both the men; the elder was much like his son, a -slightly-built Bengali, with white hair and very bright eyes. Both were -clad in dhotis of pure white; their legs were bare from the knee, their -feet shod with sandals. When the greeting had passed between them and -their master, the old man moved towards Desmond, put his hands together, -and made a deep salaam. - - -[#] Landing-stage. - - -"I have heard what the sahib did for my son. I thank the sahib," he -said. - -"Yes, 'twas excellent good fortune for Surendra Nath," said Mr. -Merriman. "I knew you would be overjoyed to see your son again. But -how is the bibi,[#] and the chota[#] bibi?" - - -[#] Lady: _mem-sahib_ was not yet in use. - -[#] Young. - - -"They were well, sahib, when last I heard. They are on a visit to Watts -Sahib, at Cossimbazar." - -Merriman's face fell, but he had no time to say more, for he was -accosted by a friend. - -"Glad to see you back, Mr. Merriman. I've wanted your voice on the -Council for some time past." - -"Is anything wrong, Mr. Holwell?" asked Merriman anxiously. - -"Everything is wrong. Alivirdi died a fortnight ago; Siraj-uddaula has -stepped into his shoes; and Drake has made a mess of everything, with -Manningham's and Frankland's assistance. I want you to come and dine -with me this evening; we must have a serious talk; I've asked two or -three men of our sort in anticipation of your consent." - -"Very well. Let me present my friend Mr. Burke. He escaped from Gheria; -you've heard that Colonel Clive captured the place?" - -"Yes; we had despatches from Admiral Watson some days ago. I have heard -of Mr. Burke's adventures; your servant, sir; I am delighted to meet -you. Well, Merriman, three o'clock; I will not detain you now; you'll -want to get home." - -Mr. Merriman's bearers were at hand with his palanquin; he got into it; -the men set off at a swinging pace, warning the bystanders with their -cry of "Tok! Tok!" and Desmond walked by the side of the chair, amused -to watch the self-important airs of the peon who went in front. They -passed the Fort and the Company's house, and arrived at length at a -two-storey flat-roofed house with a veranda, the windows filled, not -with oyster shells as at Bombay, but with thin screens of reeds. - -"Here we are," said Merriman with a sigh of relief "Now I'll hand you -over to the baniya[#]; he'll show you to your room. I'm vexed that my -wife is not here; of course she didn't know when to expect me; and Mrs. -Watts is an old friend of hers. 'Tis a relief in one way; for Mr. Watts -is a shrewd fellow--he's head of our factory at Cossimbazar, and senior -member of Council here--and he would have sent the ladies away if he -scented danger. Sorry I shall have to leave you; I must dine with Mr. -Holwell; he's our zamindar--judge of the Cutcheri court and collector of -taxes: a fine fellow, the most cool-headed man on the Council. But the -khansaman will give you something to eat: and I'll be back as soon as I -can. You can take it easy on the veranda, and you'll find a hookah if -you care to try it." - - -[#] Factotum. - - -"No, thanks," said Desmond with a smile; "I've no fancy that way." - -Shortly afterwards Mr. Merriman left the house in his palanquin, wearing -the short white calico jacket that was then _de rigueur_ at dinner -parties. It was late before he returned. There was an anxious and -worried look on his face, but he said cheerily: - -"Well, how have you been getting on?" - -"I've been reading, sir: I found a volume of Mr. Fielding's _Amelia_, -and 'twas a change to read after eighteen months without setting eyes on -a book. I hope you had a good dinner." - -"'Pon my soul I don't know. None of us know. I warrant. We had too -much to talk about to think about our appetites. Two or three members -of Council were there, and Captain Minchin, the military commandant. -Things are looking black, Desmond. Alivirdi is dead, and, as I -expected, his scoundrel of a grandson, Siraj-uddaula, is the new Subah. -He has imprisoned one of his rivals, his aunt, and is marching against -another, his cousin Shaukat Jung; and 'tis the common talk that our turn -will come next." - -"But why should he be at odds with us?" - -"Why, to begin with, he's a native and hates us; thinks we're too rich; -and though he's rich enough he would like to get what we have and turn -us out. Then our president Mr. Drake has acted in the weakest possible -way; the very way to encourage the Subah. Instead of siding with -Siraj-uddaula from the first, as he might well have done, because the -rivals never had the ghost of a chance, he shilly-shallied. Then he -offended him by giving shelter to a fellow named Krishna Das, who came -in a month ago with fifty sacks of treasure from Murshidabad; it really -belonged to the Subah's aunt, but the Subah had an eye on it and he's -furious at losing it. That wasn't enough. Mr. Watts at Cossimbazar had -warned the Council here of the new Subah's unfriendliness; they talk at -Murshidabad of our weak defences and how easy it would be to overcome -us. He advised Mr. Drake to keep on good terms with the Subah; but what -must he do but turn out of the place a man named Narayan Das, the -brother of the new Nawab's chief spy." - -"Sure you don't allow the enemy's spies to live in Calcutta?" - -"Sure we can't help ourselves. The place is full of them--spies of the -Subah, and of the French too. We can't do anything. We may suspect, -but if we raised a hand we should stir up a hornets' nest, as indeed Mr. -Drake appears to be doing. But that isn't all. The Company's ship -_Delaware_ came in a fortnight ago with the news that a French fleet is -fitting out under Count Lally, at Brest; 'tis supposed war will break -out again and the fleet is intended to attack us here. So that we may -have the Subah making common cause with the French to crush us. He'll -turn against the French then, but that won't save us. On top of that -comes a fakir from Murshidabad demanding in the Subah's name that we -should stop work on our fortifications; the insolence of the wretch -passes all bounds. Mr. Drake properly refused the demand; he said we -were repairing our defences in case we needed 'em against the French; -but he undertook not to start any new works, which was a mistake. -Altogether, Desmond, things are in a pretty mess. I'm afraid Mr. Drake -is not the man to cope with a grave situation; but he has the majority -of the Council with him, and we can't alter it. Now I think we had -better turn in; perhaps I shall feel better after a good sleep; I am -certainly far from easy in mind." - -Desmond slept like a top on his light mattress, enveloped in his -mosquito curtains. In the morning he accompanied Mr. Merriman to his -daftarkhanah,[#] where he found a large staff under the superintendence -of the muhri,[#] Surendra Nath's father. He returned to the house for -tiffin, spent the afternoon indoors over his novel, and after the three -o'clock dinner accompanied his host in a walk through the English -quarter. - - -[#] Office. - -[#] Chief clerk. - - -As they returned, Mr. Merriman suggested that they should walk down to -Mr. Watts' house near the river to see if any news had arrived from -Cossimbazar. On the way they passed a large pakka[#] house, surrounded -by a compound and a low wall. - - -[#] Substantial. - - -"We were talking yesterday about spies," said Merriman. "In that house -lives a man who in my belief is a spy, and a treacherous -scoundrel--actually living next door to Mr. Eyre, the keeper of our -military stores. He's a Sikh named Omichand, and the richest merchant -in the city. He owns half of it; he's my landlord, confound him! For -forty years he was the contractor for supplying the Company with cloth, -but we found out that he was cheating us right and left, and dismissed -him. Yet he's very friendly to us, which is a bad sign. 'Twas he who -brought Krishna Das with his treasure into the place, and my belief is, -he did it merely to embroil us with the Subah. Mr. Drake is disposed to -pooh-pooh the idea, but I incline to Mr. Holwell's opinion, that -Omichand's a schemer and a villain, ready to betray us to French, Dutch, -or Gentoos as it suits him." - -"Why don't you turn him out, then?" asked Desmond. - -"My dear boy, he's far too powerful. And we'd rather keep him in sight. -While he's here we can tell something of what is going on; his house is -pretty well watched; but if he were away he might try all manner of -tricks and we should never learn anything about them. Our policy is to -be very sweet to him--to make friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, -as Mr. Bellamy, our padre, puts it. You're bound to see him one of -these days, the hoary-headed old villain." - -Though Mr. Merriman fully relied on Mr. Watts' discretion to send his -visitors back to Calcutta if there were the least sign of danger, he was -so anxious to have his wife and daughter with him that next day he sent -a special messenger up the river asking them to return as soon as they -could. He could not fetch them, public affairs not allowing him to -leave Calcutta at once, but he promised to meet them somewhere on the -way. He spent the day in making himself acquainted with the business -that had been done during his absence. A valuable consignment of silks, -muslins, and taffeties was expected from Cossimbazar, he learnt, and as -soon as it arrived the _Hormuzzeer_ would be able to sail for Penang. - -"A private venture," he said to Desmond, "nothing to do with the -Company." - -Desmond expressed his surprise that the Company's officials were at -liberty to engage in private trading. - -"Why, bless you, how could we live otherwise? Do you imagine I got rich -on the Company? What do you suppose my salary is as member of Council? -'Tis just forty pounds. The factors get fifteen and the writers five: -Colonel Clive began at five pounds a year: so you may guess that we have -to do something to keep flesh on our bones. And that reminds me of a -proposal I wished to make to you. You have a little money from the sale -of the Pirate's grab, and you'll have more by and by when the Gheria -prize-money is distributed. Why not put some of it into the -_Hormuzzeer_? Let me buy some goods for you, and send 'em to Penang: -they'll fetch top prices there in the present state of trade. 'Twill be -an excellent investment." - -"Thank you, sir, I'll be glad to follow your advice." - -"That's right. I'll see about it at once, and the sooner these things -come from Cossimbazar the better. The delay is vexing, and I fear I'll -have to change my agent there." - -Mr. Merriman being so much occupied with business and public affairs, -Desmond had much time to himself. He soon made friends among the junior -merchants and factors, and in their company went about Calcutta. Fort -William was built near the river, the factory house in the centre of the -enclosure. Around it on three sides were the houses of individual -merchants and officers. A wide avenue known as the Lai Bazar led from -the ravelin of the fort past the court-house to the native part of the -town. On one side of the avenue was the Park or Lai Bagh, with a great -tank by which a band played in the evening. Around the town was the -incomplete Maratha ditch. - -Desmond became the object of much kindly attention from the Company's -servants and their families. Every one was eager to hear from his own -lips the story of his adventures, and invitations to dinners and routs -and card parties poured upon him. He accepted a few and politely -excused himself from the rest, not from any want of sociability, but -from motives of prudence. His kind host had already given him a -friendly warning; some of the writers and younger servants of the -Company were wild spirits, and spent more time than was good for them in -cards and revels. - -On the evening of the third day after landing he went down to the river -to watch the arrival of some country vessels. There was the usual crowd -at the ghat, and as Desmond gradually worked his way through it he -suddenly saw, just in front of him, two men whose backs were very -familiar. They were in the dress of seamen: one was tall and thin, the -other broad and brawny, and Desmond did not need his glimpse of the iron -hook to be sure that the men were none other than his old friend Bulger -and Mr. Toley, the melancholy mate. They were standing side by side, -watching in silence the arrival of the boats. - -Desmond edged his way to them until he was within arm's length of -Bulger's hook. He stood for a moment looking at them, imagining their -surprise when they saw him, wondering if their pleasure would be as keen -as his own. Both appeared rather battered; Mr. Toley's expression was -never merry, and he was neither more nor less melancholy than usual; but -Bulger's habitual cheerfulness seemed to have left him; his air was -moody and downcast. How came they here? The _Good Intent_ being an -interloper, it was not at all likely that she had ventured to put in at -Calcutta. - -By and by Bulger seemed to become aware that some one was gazing at him, -for he turned round slowly. Desmond could not but smile at his -extraordinary change of expression. His first look of blank amazement -quickly gave place to one of almost boyish delight, and taking an eager -step forward he exclaimed: - -"By thunder, 'tis Mr. Burke or his ghost! Bless my heart! Ho! shake -hands, matey; this is a sight for sad eyes!" - -"Glad to see you, Bulger," said Desmond quietly; "and you too, Mr. -Toley." - -Mr. Toley had shown no surprise; but then, nothing ever surprised Mr. -Toley. - -"Sure I'm rejoiced," he said. "We had given you up for lost." - -His hearty hand-grip was more convincing than his words, though, indeed, -Desmond had good reason to know the real kindliness that always lay -behind his outward solemnity of manner. - -"You're better in togs than when I seed you last, sir," said Bulger, -gripping his hand again. "Which you look quite the gentleman; got a -berth as supercargo, sir?" - -"Not yet, Bulger," replied Desmond, laughing. "How's Captain Barker?" - -Bulger spat out a quid of tobacco and hitched up his breeches. - -"I don't know how Captain Barker is, and what's more, I don't care," he -said. "Me and Barker en't friends: leastways, not on speakin' terms; -which I will say, hang Captain Barker, topsy-versy, any way you like; -and I don't care who hears me." - -"What has happened?" - -"Happened! Why, sir, Mr. Toley'll tell you what happened. He knows the -thus, therefore, and whereupon of it." - -The good fellow was itching to tell, but in duty bound deferred to his -superior officer. - -"Go on, Bulger," said the American, "you've got a looser tongue than -me." - -"Which I don't deny, sir. Two days ago--'twas at Chandernagore, where -the _Good Intent's_ been laid up for a matter o' weeks--the captain he -went an' forgot hisself, sir; clean forgot hisself, an' lifted his hand -to Mr. Toley; ay, hit him, sir. Wunst it was, sir, on'y wunst; then -'twas Mr. Toley his turn. Ah, an' I warrant Captain Barker's in his -bunk to-day. Never did I see sich a sight all the years I've been -afloat, an' that's sayin' something. There was captain spread out on -deck, sir, with his eyes bunged up an' a tooth or two that had lost -their bearin's, and all his bones wonderin' if they was ever goin' to -get joined again. That's the why and wherefore of it, sir. Well, in -course, 'twas no kiss-an'-be-friends arter that; so, bein' in a -mounseer's place, Mr. Toley took French leave, which I did the same, and -here we are a-lookin' for a job. - -"But Lor' bless me! what's happened to you, Mr. Burke? When you didn't -come aboard at that there Gheria, Captain Barker he says, 'Log that -there knave Burke a deserter,' says he. But I says to Mr. Toley, 'I may -be wrong, sir,' says I, 'but I lay my whiskers that Diggle has been an' -sold him to the Pirate, an' that's the last we shall ever see of as nice -a young fellow as ever hauled on a hawser.' How did you get out of the -Pirate's den, sir?" - -"That's a long story, Bulger. I'll tell you all in good time. You're -looking for a job, are you? Well, I happen to know of a skipper here--a -good man: maybe he'll have a berth for a seasoned salt like you. I'll -present you to him, and I know he'll do what he can for you." - -Before he left the men, Desmond took Mr. Toley aside. - -"Mr. Toley," he said, "my friend Mr. Merriman wants a mate for one of -his vessels, as I happen to know. You would be willing to sign on?" - -"I would, sir. I'm a man of few words." - -"Very well; come up to Mr. Merriman's house by the Rope Walk and we'll -see what he says." - -That same day Mr. Merriman invited the American to dinner, and engaged -him, to Desmond's surprise, as first mate for the _Hormuzzeer_, with -Bulger as bo'sun. - -"Don't look so blue," he said to Desmond when Mr. Toley had gone. "He -will, of course, take your place. The fact is, I've taken a fancy to -you, and I think you can do better than by serving as mate on a country -vessel. Look in at the daftarkhanah sometimes, and get Surendra Nath to -explain something of our business methods." - -He said no more at that time, and Desmond felt no little curiosity about -his host's intentions. - -One evening Desmond was sitting alone on the veranda, reading, awaiting -Mr. Merriman's return from a meeting of the Council to which he had been -hastily summoned. Hearing a footstep he looked up, and was surprised to -see, instead of Mr. Merriman, as he expected, Bulger hastening up with -an air of excitement. - -"Mr. Burke, sir, what d'you think I've seed? I could hardly believe my -own eyes. I was walkin' down towards the fort when I seed two men goin' -into a big house. They was Englishmen, leastways white men, and I may be -wrong, but I bet my boots one on 'em was that there soft-speakin' -villain Diggle." - -"Diggle!" exclaimed Desmond, springing up. "You must be mistaken, -Bulger." - -"I may be wrong, sir, but I never remembers any time when I was." - -"What house did he go into?" - -"That I can't tell you, sir, not bein' sure o' my bearin's." - -"But you could point it out?" - -"'Course I could. Rather. Just so." - -"Then I'll come along with you, and you can show me. If it is Diggle we -must have him arrested." - -"True, an' I'll knot the rope for his neck." - -"How long ago was this?" - -"Not a quarter of an hour, sir. I comed up at once." - -The two set off together. They quickly reached the house; Desmond -recognized it as Omichand's. The evening was closing in, but no lights -were visible through the chiks[#] that covered the windows. While -Desmond was considering, two figures stepped down from the veranda and -walked rapidly across the compound towards the gate in the wall. At the -first glance Desmond saw that Bulger had not been mistaken. The taller -of the two figures was disguised, but it was impassible to mistake the -gloved right hand. It was Diggle to a certainty. - - -[#] Hanging screens made of thin strips of bamboo. - - -"Are you game to capture them?" said Desmond. - -Bulger grunted and gave a twist to his hook. - -"I'll take Diggle," added Desmond: "you go for the other man." - -They waited in the shadow of the wall. The gate opened, the two men -came out, and in an instant Desmond and his companion dashed forward. -Taken by surprise, the men had no time to defend themselves. With his -left hand Desmond caught at Diggle's sword-arm, and pointing his rapier -at his heart, said: - -"You are my prisoner, Mr. Diggle." - -At the same moment Bulger had caught the second man by the throat, and -raising his formidable hook, cried: - -"Heave to, matey, or I'll spoil your mug for you." - -The man uttered an exclamation in French, which ended in a wheeze as -Bulger's strong fingers clutched his windpipe. But the next moment an -unlooked-for diversion occurred. Attracted by the sound of the rapid -scuffle, a number of natives armed with lathis[#] rushed across the -compound into the street, and came swiftly to the rescue. Desmond and -his companion had perforce to release their prisoners and turn to defend -themselves. With their backs against the wall they met the assailants; -Desmond with his rapier, Bulger with his hook, dexterously warding off -the furious blows of the excited natives. Diggle and the Frenchman took -instant advantage of the opportunity to slip away, and the Englishmen -had already got home more than one shrewd thrust, provoking yells of -pain from the attackers, when the onslaught suddenly ceased, and the -natives stood rigid, as if under a spell. Looking round, Desmond saw at -the gate a bent old figure with dusky wrinkled face and prominent eyes. -He wore a turban in which a jewel sparkled, and his white garment was -girt with a yellow sash. - - -[#] Bludgeons. - - -"What is this, sahib?" he said severely in careful English, addressing -Desmond. - -"'Tis pretty plain what it is," said Desmond somewhat hotly; "we have -been set upon by these six ruffians----" - -The new-comer motioned with his hand, and the men slunk away. - -"I regret, sahib. The men are badmashes; Calcutta is unhappily in a -disturbed state." - -"Badmashes or not, they came from your house--if this is your house." - -"It is my house, sahib. My name is Omichand. I must inquire how the -badmashes came to be in my compound. I fear my darwan is at fault." - -"And what about the two men?" - -"The two men, sahib?" - -"Yes, the two Europeans who came first from the house, and were -protected by these ruffians?" - -"You must be mistaken, sahib. English sahibs do not visit at the houses -of Indian gentlemen. If the sahib had been longer in Calcutta he would -know that." - -A smile flickered on the Indian's face, but it was gone instantly. -Desmond was nonplussed. It was useless to contradict the merchant; he -was clearly not disposed to give any information; Diggle was gone. All -he could do was to return and report the matter to Mr. Merriman. - -"Come along, Bulger," he said, with an unceremonious gesture to -Omichand. "We can do no good here." - -"The old Ananias!" growled Bulger, as they walked away. "What in -thunder is Diggle's game here? I'd give a year's baccy to have a chanst -o' usin' my hook on him." - -Mr. Merriman looked grave when he heard what had happened. - -"To think of that villain once more escaping our clutches! The other -fellow was a Frenchman, you say? There's mischief brewing. Sure if I -was president I'd be tempted to arrest that wily old Omichand. Not that -it would be of much use probably. Peloti is a bold fellow to venture -here. You are sure 'twas he?" - -"Absolutely. His disguise was good; he has altered his face in some -way, and his dress is altogether changed; but I couldn't mistake the -covered hand." - -"'Tis an odd thing, that mitten. Probably it conceals some defect; the -man's as vain as a peacock. The mitten is a thing by which he may be -traced, and I'll send my peons to start inquiries to-morrow. But I've -something to say to you; something to propose. The _Hormuzzeer_ is -ready to sail, save for that consignment at Cossimbazar I mentioned. My -agent there is an Armenian named Coja Solomon; I've employed him for -some years and found him trustworthy; but I can't get delivery of these -goods. I've sent two or three messengers to him, asking him to hurry, -but he replies that there is some difficulty about the dastaks--papers -authorizing the despatch of goods free from customs duty. Now, will you -go up the river and see what is causing the delay? I'll give you an -introduction to Mr. Watts; he will do all he can for you, though no -doubt his hands are full. You can take Surendra Nath with you to -interpret; and you had better have some armed peons as an escort, and -perhaps a number of men we can trust to work the boats if you can -release the goods. Are you willing?" - -"I will gladly do anything I can, sir. Indeed, I wished for an -opportunity to see something of the country." - -"You may see too much! I'd say beware of tigers, but Surendra Nath is -so desperately timid that you can depend on him not to lead you into -danger." - -"The _Hormuzzeer_ will not sail until I return?" - -"Not till the goods arrive. Why do you ask?" - -"I should like to take Bulger with me. He's a good companion, with a -shrewd head----" - -"And a useful hook. I have no objection. You will be ready to start -to-morrow, then. You must be up early: travelling will be impossible in -the heat of the day." - -"At dawn, sir." - - - - - CHAPTER THE TWENTIETH - - -*In which there are recognitions and explanations; and our hero meets -one Coja Solomon, of Cossimbazar* - - -At sunrise next morning Desmond found his party awaiting him at the -Causeway beyond the Maratha ditch. The natives salaamed when he came up -in company with Mr. Merriman, and Bulger pulled his forelock. - -"Mornin,' sir; mornin'; I may be wrong, but 'tis my belief we're goin' -to have a bilin' hot day, and I've come accordin'." - -He was clad in nothing but shirt and breeches, with his coat strapped to -his back, and a hat apparently improvised out of cabbage leaves. The -natives were all in white, with their employer's pink ribands. Some -were armed with matchlocks and pikes; others carried light cooking -utensils; others groceries for the Englishmen's use; for their own food -they depended on the villages through which they would pass. - -"Well, I wish you a good journey," said Mr. Merriman, who appeared to be -in better spirits than for many a day. "I'm glad to tell you, Burke, -that I got a letter from Mr. Watts this morning, saying that my wife and -daughter are on their way down the river with Mrs. Watts and her -children. They've got Mr. Warren Hastings to escort them; trust 'em to -find a handsome man! The road follows the river, and if you look out I -dare say you will see them. You'll recognize our livery. Introduce -yourself if you meet 'em. You have your letter for Mr. Watts? That's -all right. Good-bye, and good luck to you." - -The party set off. The old road by which they were to travel ran at a -short distance from the left bank of the Hugli, passing through an -undulating country, interspersed with patches of low wood and scattered -trees. The scenery was full of charm for Desmond: the rich vegetation; -antelopes darting among the trees; flamingoes and pelicans standing -motionless at the edge of the slow-gliding stream; white-clad figures -coming down the broad steps of the riverside ghats to bathe; -occasionally the dusky corpse of some devotee consigned by his relations -to the bosom of the holy river. - -The first halt was called at Barrakpur, where, amid a luxuriant grove of -palms and bamboos, stood some beautiful pagodas, built of the unburnt -brick of the country, and faced with a fine stucco that gleamed in the -sunlight like polished marble. Here, under the shade of the palms, -Desmond lay through the hot afternoon, watching the boats of all shapes -and sizes that floated lazily down the broad-bosomed stream. In the -evening the march was resumed, the party crossed the river by a ford at -Pulta Ghat, and following the road on the other bank came at sundown to -the outskirts of the French settlement at Chandernagore. There they -camped for the night. Desmond was for some time tormented by the -doleful yells of packs of jackals roaming abroad in search of food. -Their cries so much resembled those of human beings in dire agony that -he shivered on his mattress; but falling asleep at length, he slept -soundly and woke with the dawn. - -He started again soon after sunrise. Just beyond Chandernagore Bulger -pointed out the stripped spars of the _Good Intent_, lying far up a -narrow creek. - -"Wouldn't I just like to cut her out?" said Bulger. "But 'spose we can't -stop for that, sir?" - -"Certainly not. And you'd have the French about our ears." - -Passing the Dutch settlement at Chinsura, he came into a country of -paddy fields, now bare, broken by numerous nullahs worn by the torrents -in the rainy season, but now nearly dry. Here and there the party had -to ford a jhil,--an extensive shallow lake formed by the rains. Desmond -tried a shot or two at the flights of teal that floated on these ponds; -but they were so wild that he could never approach within range. -Towards evening, after passing the little village of Amboa, they came to -a grove of peepuls filled with green parrots and monkeys screaming and -jabbering as though engaged in a competition. A few miles farther on -they arrived at the larger village of Khulna, where they tied up for the -night. - -Next morning Desmond was wakened by Surendra Nath. - -"Sahib," he said, "the bibi and the chota bibi are here." - -"Mrs. Merriman?" - -"Yes. They arrived last night by boat, and are pursuing their journey -to-day." - -"I should like to see them before they go. But I'm afraid I am hardly -presentable." - -"Believe me, sahib, you will not offend the bibi's punctilio." - -"Well, send one of the peons to say that I shall have the pleasure of -waiting on Mrs. Merriman in half an hour, if she will permit me." - -Having shaved and bathed, and donned a change of clothes, Desmond set -off accompanied by Surendra Nath to visit the ladies. He found them on -a long shallow boat, in a cabin constructed of laths and mats filling -one end of the light craft. The Babu made the introduction, then -effaced himself. A lady, whose voice seemed to waken an echo in -Desmond's memory, said: - -"How do you do, Mr. Burke? I have heard of you in my husband's letters. -Is the dear man well?" - -"He is in good health, ma'am, but somewhat anxious to have you back -again." - -"Dear man! What is he anxious about? Mr. Watts seemed anxious also to -get rid of us. He was vexed that Mrs. Watts is too much indisposed to -accompany us. And Mr. Warren Hastings, who was to escort us, was quite -angry because he had to go to one of the out-factories instead. I do -not understand why these gentlemen are so much disturbed." - -Desmond saw that Mrs. Merriman had been deliberately kept in ignorance -of the grounds of the Englishmen's anxiety, and was seeking on the spur -of the moment for a means to divert her from the subject, when he was -spared the necessity. Miss Merriman had been looking at him curiously, -and she now turned to her mother and said something in a tone inaudible -to Desmond. - -"La! you don't say so, my dear," exclaimed the lady. "Why, Mr. Burke, my -daughter tells me that we have met you before." - -His vague recollection of Mrs. Merriman's voice being thus so suddenly -confirmed, he recalled, as from a far distant past, a scene upon -Hounslow Heath; a coach that stood perilously near the ditch, a girl at -the horses' heads, a lady stamping her foot at two servants wrestling in -drunken stupidity on the ground. - -"You never gave us an opportunity of thanking you," continued Mrs. -Merriman. "'Twas not kind of you, Mr. Burke, to slip away thus without -a word after doing two poor lone women such a service." - -"Indeed, ma'am, 'twas with no discourteous intention, but seeing you -were safe with your friends I--I--in short, ma'am----" - -Desmond stopped in confusion, at a loss for a satisfactory explanation. -The ladies were smiling. - -"You thought to flee our acknowledgments," said Mrs. Merriman. "La, la, -I know; I have a young brother of my own. But you shall not escape them -now, and what is more, I shall see that Merriman, poor man, adds his, -for I am sure he has forgiven you your exploit." - -The younger lady laughed outright, while Desmond looked from one to the -other. What did they mean? - -"Indeed, ma'am," he said, "I had no idea----" - -"That there was need for forgiveness?" said the lady, taking him up. -"But indeed there was--eh, Phyllis? Mr. Burke," she added, with a sudden -solemnity, "a few minutes after you left us at Soho Square Merriman rode -up, and I assure you I nearly swooned, poor man! and hardly had strength -to send for the surgeon. It needed three stitches--and he such a -handsome man, too." - -A horrid suspicion flashed through Desmond's mind. He remembered the -scar on Mr. Merriman's brow, and that it was a scarcely healed wound -when he met him with Clive on that unfortunate occasion in Billiter -Street. - -"Surely, ma'am, you don't mean--the highwayman?" - -"Indeed I do. That is just it. Your highwayman was--Mr. Merriman. -Fancy the hurt to his feelings, to say nothing of his good looks. Fie, -fie, Mr. Burke!" - -For a moment Desmond did not know whether embarrassment or amazement was -uppermost with him. It was bad enough to have tripped Mr. Merriman up -in the muddy street; but to have also dealt him a blow of which he would -retain the mark to his dying day--"This is terrible!" he thought. Still -there was an element of absurdity in the adventure that appealed to his -sense of the ridiculous. But he felt the propriety of being apologetic, -and was about to express his regret for his mistake when Mrs. Merriman -interrupted him with a smile: - -"But there, Mr. Burke, he bears you no grudge, I am sure. He is the -essence of good temper. It was a mistake; he saw that when I explained; -and when he had vented his spleen on the coachman next day he owned that -it was a plucky deed in you to take charge of us, and indeed he said -that you was a mighty good whip; although," she added laughing, "you was -a trifle heavy in hand." - -Desmond felt bound to make a full confession. He related the incident -of his encounter with Merriman in London--how he had toppled him over in -the mud--wondering how the ladies would take it. He was relieved when -they received his story with a peal of laughter. - -"Oh, mamma; and it was his new frock!" said Phyllis. - -"La, so it was, just fresh from Mr. Small's in Wigmore Street--forty -guineas and no less!" - -"Well ma'am, I'm already forgiven for that; I trust that with your good -favour my earlier indiscretion will be forgiven." - -"Indeed it shall be, Mr. Burke, I promise you. Now tell me: what brings -you here?" - -Desmond explained his errand in a few words. The ladies wished him a -prosperous journey, and said they would hope to see him in a few days on -his return. He left them, feeling that he had gained friends, and with -a new motive, of which he was only vaguely conscious, to a speedy -accomplishment of his business. - -On the evening of the sixth day after leaving Calcutta there came into -sight a church of considerable size, which Surendra Nath explained was -the temple of the Armenian colony of Cossimbazar. Passing this, and -leaving a maze of native dwellings and the French factory on the left, -the travellers reached the Dutch factory, and beyond this the English -settlement and fort. Leaving the Babu to arrange quarters for the peons -in the native part of the town, Desmond hastened on past the stables and -the hospital to the factory. It was a rough oblong in shape, defended -at each corner by a bastion mounted with ten guns, the bastions being -connected by massive curtains. In the south curtain, windowed for the -greater part of its length, was the gateway. Desmond was admitted by a -native servant, and in a few minutes found himself in the presence of -the chief, Mr. William Watts. - -Mr. Watts was a tall man of near forty years--of striking presence, with -firm chin, pleasant mouth, and eyes of peculiar depth and brilliance. -He was clad in a long purple laced coat, with ruffles at the wrists and -a high stock, and wore the short curled wig of the period. He welcomed -Desmond with great cordiality, and, glancing over Mr. Merriman's letter, -said: - -"My friend Mr. Merriman needlessly disturbs himself, I think. I -apprehend no immediate difficulty with the new Subah, although 'tis true -there have been little vexations. As to the goods, they are in Coja -Solomon's godown; they were delivered some time ago and paid for; what -the reason of the delay is I cannot tell. One thing I may mention--it -appears that Mr. Merriman is ignorant of it: Coja Solomon has lately -become the agent of Omichand, whose peons have been seen to visit him, -then passing on to Murshidabad. I happen to know also that he has -communicated with Coja Wajid: do you know anything of him?" - -"No, sir, I have never heard his name." - -"He's a rich Armenian trader in Hugli, and acts as agent between the -Nawab and the French and Dutch. We suspect him of encouraging -Siraj-uddaula against us; but of course we can't prove anything. My -advice to you is, be wary and be quick; don't trust any of these fellows -further than you can see them. But you can't do anything to-night. You -will allow me to give you a bed: in the morning you can make a call on -Coja Solomon. What has become of your peons?" - -"A Babu I brought with me is looking after them. But I have an English -seaman also: can you tell me what to do with him?" - -"Sure he can lodge with Sergeant Bowler close by--near the south-east -bastion. The sergeant will be glad of the company of a -fellow-countryman; your man will be a change after the Dutchmen and -topasses he has to do with." - -Early next morning Desmond, accompanied by Surendra Nath, went to find -Coja Solomon. He lived in a house not far from the Armenian Church, -between it and the river. The Armenian was at home. He received Desmond -with great politeness, assuring him with much volubility that he had but -one interest in life, and that was the business of his honourable -employer Mr. Merriman. He invited Desmond to accompany him to the -godown near the river where the goods were stored--muslins of Dacca, -both plain and flowered, Bengal raw silk, and taffeties manufactured in -Cossimbazar. - -"You have not been long in the country, sir," said Coja Solomon, with a -shrewd look at Desmond, "and therefore you will find it hard to believe, -perhaps, that these goods, so insignificant in bulk, are worth over two -lakhs of rupees. A precious load indeed, sir. This delay is naturally -a cause of vexation to my distinguished superior, but it is not due to -any idleness or inattention on my part. It is caused by the surprising -difficulty of getting the dastaks countersigned by the Faujdar.[#] -Without his signature, as you know, the goods cannot be removed. I dare -not venture." - - -[#] Officer in command of troops, and also a magistrate. - - -"But why didn't the Faujdar sign the papers?" - -"That I cannot tell. I send messengers to him: they come back: the -Faujdar is much occupied with the Nawab's business, but he will attend -to this little matter as soon as he has leisure. He calls it a little -matter; and so it is, perhaps, if we remember that the Nawab's wealth is -reckoned by millions; but it is not a little matter to Mr. Merriman, and -I deeply deplore the unfortunate delay." - -"Well, be good enough to send another message at once. Represent to the -Faujdar that Mr. Merriman's ship is prevented from sailing until the -goods reach Calcutta, and that this causes great inconvenience and -loss." Here the Babu whispered in his ear. "Yes, and add--you will -know how to put it--that if the dastaks are sent off immediately, the -Faujdar will receive from Mr. Merriman a suitable gratification." - -The Armenian rubbed his hands and smilingly assented; but Desmond, who -had had some practice in reading faces since he left Market Drayton -eighteen months before, felt an uneasy suspicion that Coja Solomon was a -scamp. Returning to the factory he acquainted Mr. Watts with the result -of his interview and his opinion of the agent. The chief's eye twinkled. - -"You haven't been long reckoning him up, Mr. Burke. I'm afraid you're -right. I'll see what I can do for you." - -Calling "Qui hai!"[#] he ordered the peon who appeared in answer to his -summons to go to the black merchants' houses, a row of two-storey -buildings some forty yards from the south-west bastion, and bring back -with him Babu Joti Lai Chatterji. - - -[#] "Is there any one?"--used as a summons. - - -In less than ten minutes the man returned with an intelligent-looking -young Bengali. Mr. Watts addressed the latter in Hindustani, bidding -him hasten to Murshidabad and find out quietly what the Faujdar was -doing with the dastaks. When he had gone, Mr. Watts showed Desmond over -the fort, introduced him to his wife, and then took him round the -English settlement. - -Next day Joti Lai Chatterji returned from Murshidabad with the news that -the dastaks, duly signed by the Faujdar, had been delivered to Coja -Solomon a fortnight before. - -"'Tis rather worse than I expected," said Mr. Watts gravely. "There is -something in this that I do not understand. We will send for Coja -Solomon." - -No one could have seemed more genuinely surprised than the Armenian when -informed of what had been learnt. He had received no dastaks, he -declared; either a mistake had been made, or the papers had been -intercepted, possibly by some enemy who had a grudge against him and -wished to embroil him with his employer. It was annoying, he agreed; -and he offered to go to Murshidabad himself and, if necessary, get other -dastaks signed. - -"Very well," said Mr. Watts, from whose manner no one could have guessed -that he suspected his visitor. "We will look for you to-morrow." - -The man departed. Nothing was heard of him for two days. Then a letter -arrived, saying that he remained in Murshidabad, awaiting the return of -the Faujdar, who had been summoned to Rajmahal by the Nawab -Siraj-uddaula. Three more days slipped by, and nothing further was heard -from Coja Solomon. Desmond became more and more impatient. Bulger -suggested that they should break into the godown and remove the goods -without any ceremony--a course that Desmond himself was not disinclined -to adopt; but when he hinted at it to Mr. Watts that gentleman's look of -horror could not have been more expressive if his consent had been asked -to a crime. - -"Why, Mr. Burke, if we acted in that impetuous way we'd have all Bengal -at our throats. Trade must pass through the usual channels; to convey -goods from here to Calcutta without a dastak would be a grave -misdemeanour, if not high treason; and it would get us into very hot -water with the Nawab. I can only advise patience." - -One morning, Desmond had just finished breakfast with Mr. Watts and his -wife, when Lieutenant Elliott, in command of the garrison, came -unceremoniously into the room. - -"Mr. Watts," he said, "the fat's in the fire. A lot of the Nawab's -Persian cavalry have come into the town during the night. They have -surrounded the French and Dutch factories and are coming on here." - -"Don't be alarmed, my dear," said the chief, as his wife started up in a -state of panic; "'tis only one of the Nawab's tricks. He has used that -means of extorting money before. We'll buy them off, never fear." - -But it was soon seen that the troops had come with a more serious -purpose. They completely invested the factory, and next day withdrew -the guards that had been placed around the French and Dutch forts, and -confined their whole attention to the British. Mr. Watts withdrew all -the garrison and officials behind the bastioned walls of the fort, and -fearing that an attack in force would be made upon him, despatched a -kasid[#] to Calcutta with an urgent request for reinforcements. While -waiting anxiously for the reply, he took stock of his position. His -garrison numbered only fifty men all told, half of them being Dutch -deserters and the remainder half-caste topasses, with only two English -officers, Lieutenant Elliott and Sergeant Bowler. The guns of the fort -were old; and within a few yards of the walls were houses that would -afford excellent cover to the enemy. Without help resistance for any -length of time was impossible, and to resist at all meant a declaration -of war against the Nawab, and would entail serious -consequences--possibly involve the total ruin of the Company in Bengal. -In this difficult position Mr. Watts hoped that an opportunity of making -an arrangement with the besiegers would offer itself. Meanwhile, -pending the arrival of instructions from Calcutta, he gave orders that -any attempt to force an entrance to the fort was to be repelled. - - -[#] Courier. - - -But no letters came from Calcutta. Though several were despatched, none -of them reached Cossimbazar. On June 1 Rai Durlabh, in command of the -besiegers, received orders from the Nawab, now at Murshidabad, to take -the fort. He came to the gate and tried to force an entrance, but -hurriedly withdrew when he met Sergeant Bowler's gleaming bayonet and -saw the gunners standing by with lighted matches in their hands. By and -by he sent a messenger asking Mr. Watts to come out and parley, and -offering a betel, the usual native pledge of safe-conduct. Against the -advice of Lieutenant Elliott, Mr. Watts decided to leave the fort and -visit the Nawab himself. Next day, therefore, with Mr. Forth the -surgeon and two servants, he departed, cheerfully declaring that he -would make all right with Siraj-uddaula. Mr. Forth returned a day later -with the news that on reaching the Nawab's tent both he and Mr. Watts -had had their arms bound behind their backs and been led as prisoners -into Siraj-uddaula's presence. The Nawab had demanded their signatures -to a document binding the English at Calcutta to demolish their -fortifications. Mr. Watts explained that the signatures of two other -members of his Council were required, hoping that the delay would allow -time for help to reach him from Calcutta. After some hesitation two -gentlemen left the fort with the surgeon. The same evening Mr. Forth -once more returned to inform the garrison that the members of Council -had likewise been imprisoned, and that Mr. Watts recommended Lieutenant -Elliott to deliver up the fort and ammunition. - -The merchants in the factory were aghast; Lieutenant Elliott fumed with -indignation; but they saw that they had no alternative. Their chief had -been removed by treachery; to resist was hopeless; and though such -submission to a native was galling they could but recognize their -helplessness and make the best of a bad situation. Desmond, besides -sharing in their anger, had a further cause for concern in the almost -certain loss of Mr. Merriman's goods. But the fort would not be given -up till next day, and before he retired to rest he received a message -that turned his thoughts into another channel and made him set his wits -to work. - -During the siege natives had been allowed to go freely in and out -between the fort and the settlement; Rai Durlabh was confident in his -superior numbers and could afford to regard with indifference the -despatch of messages to Calcutta. A messenger came to Desmond in the -evening from Surendra Nath, to say that Coja Solomon had returned to -Cossimbazar, and was now loading up Mr. Merriman's goods in petalas,[#] -their destination being Murshidabad. Desmond saw at once that the -Armenian was taking advantage of the disturbance to make away with the -goods for his own behoof. He could always pretend afterwards that his -godown had been plundered. It was pretty clear, too, that his long -detention of the goods must be due to his having had a hint of the -Nawab's plans. - - -[#] Cargo boats. - - -This news reached Desmond just after Mr. Forth had brought orders for -the surrender of the fort. He kept his own counsel. After his -experience at Gheria he was resolved not to be made a prisoner again; -but he would not be content with merely saving his own skin. Mr. -Merriman's goods were valuable; it touched Desmond's self-esteem to -think he should be bested by a rascally Armenian. If there had been any -prospect of a fight in defence of the fort he would have stayed to take -his part in it; but as the factory was to be given up without a struggle -he saw no reason for considering anything except the interests of Mr. -Merriman and himself. - -Only one thing gave him a slight qualm. The equities of the case were -perfectly clear; but he had some doubt as to the issue if it should -become known that he had forcibly made off with the goods. The -relations between the Nawab and the Company were so strained, and the -circumstances of the moment so dangerous, that such action on his part -might prove the spark to a train of gunpowder. But he could not help -thinking that the Nawab was in any case bent on picking a quarrel with -the Company; anything that Desmond might do would be but one petty -incident in a possible campaign; meanwhile the goods were worth two -lakhs of rupees, a serious loss to Mr. Merriman if Coja Solomon's plans -succeeded; an effort to save them was surely worth the risk, and they -could only be saved if he could secure them before the Armenian's boats -had started for Murshidabad. - -He did not take long to decide upon a plan. Calling the native who had -attended him in the fort, he sent him out to Surendra Nath with -instructions to prepare his peons for instant action. Bulger was with -them; he had been absent from Bowler's house when the order came to -retire to the fort, and only just succeeded in joining Surendra Nath -before the investment began. From Joti Lai Chatterji, the man whom Mr. -Watts had employed to make inquiries in Murshidabad, the servant was to -get a dress such as would be worn by a khitmatgar,[#] and some material -for staining the skin. In the darkness Desmond hoped that he might pass -without question for a native so long as disguise was necessary. - - -[#] Table servant. - - -Within an hour the man returned, bringing the articles required. - - - - - CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FIRST - - -*In which Coja Solomon finds dishonesty the worse policy; and a journey -down the Hugli little to his liking.* - - -The short twilight was thickening into darkness when Desmond, with face, -legs, and arms stained brown, slipped out of the fort in native dress -and walked slowly towards the houses of the native merchants. In his -hand he carried a small bundle. Reaching the house where his party was -staying, kept by one Abdul Kader, he almost betrayed himself by -forgetting to slip off his sandals as he entered. But he bethought -himself in time and was admitted without question. - -He found that he was not a moment too soon. Bulger had taken up his -quarters there with a very bad grace, the arrival of the Nawab's army -having aroused in him the fighting spirit of the sturdy British tar. -But when the news ran through the settlement that the fort was to be -given up, his feelings overcame him, and it was only with the greatest -difficulty that Surendra Nath had persuaded him to wait patiently for -orders from Desmond. Then the Babu himself had quitted the house, and -Bulger was left without the restraint of any one who could speak -English. He was on the point of casting off all prudence and stalking -out like Achilles from his tent, when Desmond arrived. - -"By thunder, sir!" he said, when he had recovered from his astonishment -at seeing Desmond in native dress, "I en't a-goin' to surrender to no -Moors, sure as my name's Bulger. 'Tis a downright scandalous shame; -that's what I call it." - -"Well, you can tell Mr. Watts so if you ever see him. At present we have -no time to waste in talk. Where is Surendra Nath?" - -"Gone to keep his weather-eye on the codger's godown, sir." - -"Which shows he's a man of sense. Are all the men here?" - -"So far as I know, sir. I may be wrong." - -"Well, they'll make their way in small parties down to the river. 'Tis -dark enough now; they will not be noticed, and they can steal along the -bank under the trees until they come near Coja Solomon's ghat. You must -come with me." - -"Very good, sir," replied Bulger, hitching up his breeches and drawing -his hanger. - -"But not like that. You'll have to get those black whiskers of yours -shaved, my man. If they grew all over you'd pass perhaps for a Moor; -but not with a fringe like that. And you must stain your face; I have -the stuff in this bundle; and we'll borrow a dhoti and sandals from -Abdul Kader. We'll dress you up between us." - -Bulger looked aghast. - -"Dash my buttons, sir, I'll look like a November guy! What would my -mates say, a-seein' me dressed up like a stuffed Moor at Smithfield -fair--a penny a shy, sir?" - -"Your mates are not here to see you, and if you hold your tongue they'll -never know it." - -"But what about this little corkscrew o' mine, sir? I don't see any -ways o' dressin' that up." - -"You can stick it into your dhoti. Now here are soap and a razor; I -give you ten minutes to shave and get your face stained; Abdul Kader -will help. Quick's the word, man." - -A quarter of an hour later Desmond left the house with Bulger, the -latter, in spite of the darkness, looking very much ashamed of himself. -The other members of the party had already gone towards the river. -Walking very slowly until they had safely cleared the lines of the -investing troops, the two hurried their pace and about half-past eight -reached the Armenian's godown. The three boats containing Mr. -Merriman's goods were moored at the ghat. A number of men were on -board, and bales were still being carried down by the light of torches. -It appeared that Coja Solomon had no intention of leaving until the -factory was actually in Rai Durlabh's hands. - -Desmond had already decided that, to legalize his position, he must gain -possession of the dastaks. Not that they would help him much if, as was -only too probable, Coja Solomon should be backed up by the Nawab. As -soon as it was discovered that the goods had been carried off, kasids -would undoubtedly be sent along the banks, possibly swift boats would -set off down the river in pursuit, and, dastaks or no dastaks, the goods -would be impounded at Khulna or Hugli and himself arrested. It was -therefore of the first importance that the loss of the boats should not -be discovered until he was well on his way, and to ensure this he must -secure the person of Coja Solomon. If that could be done there was a -chance of delaying the pursuit, or preventing it altogether. - -Desmond kept well in the shelter of the palm trees as he made his -observation of the ghat. He wondered where Surendra Nath was, but could -not waste time in looking for him. Retracing his steps with Bulger for -some little distance, he came to a spot on the river bank where the rest -of his party were waiting in a boat, moored to an overhanging tree. He -ordered the men to land; then, leaving Bulger in charge of them, he -selected three of the armed peons and with them made his way across -paddy[#] fields towards the Armenian's house, a hundred yards or so from -the bank. Light came through the reed-screened window. Bidding the men -remain outside and rush in if he called them, he left the shelter of the -trees and, approaching the door, stumbled over the darwan lying across -the threshold. - - -[#] Rice. - - -"Uthao,[#] Marwan!" he said, with the bluntness of servant addressing -servant; "sleeping again! Go and tell your master I'm here to see him: -a khitmatgar from the fort." - - -[#] Get up. - - -The man rose sleepily and preceded him into the house. He made the -announcement, salaamed and retired. Desmond went in. - -In a little room on the ground floor Coja Solomon reclined on a divan, -smoking his hubble-bubble. A small oil-lamp burnt in a pendant above -his head. He looked up as Desmond entered; if he thought that his -visitor was somewhat better set-up than the average khitmatgar, he did -not suspect any disguise. The light was dim, and Coja Solomon was -growing old. - -"Good evening, Khwaja," said Desmond quietly. - -The man jumped as if shot. - -"No, don't get up, and don't make a noise. My business with you will -not take long. I will ask you to hand over Mr. Merriman's dastaks. I -know that they are in your possession. I have come to get them, and to -take away the goods--Mr. Merriman's goods." - -The Armenian had meanwhile removed the mouthpiece of his hubble-bubble, -and was bending over as if to replace it by one of several that lay on a -shelf at his right hand. But Desmond noticed that beneath the shelf -stood a small gong. He whipped out a pistol, and pointed it full at the -merchant. - -"Don't touch that," he said curtly. "I have not come unprepared, as you -see. Your plans are known to me. If you value your life you will do as -I wish without delay or disturbance. My men are outside; a word from me -will bring them swarming in. Now, the dastaks!" - -Coja Solomon was an Armenian and a merchant; in neither capacity a -fighting man. In a contest of wits he could be as cool and as ready as -any man in Bengal; but he had no skill in arms and no physical courage. -There was an air of determination about his visitor that impressed him; -and he felt by no means comfortable within point-blank range of the -pistol covering him so completely. If his thoughts had been read, they -would have run somewhat thus: "Pistols have been known to go off -accidentally. What will the goods profit me if such an accident happen -now? Besides, even if I yield there may still be a chance of saving -them. It is a long way to Calcutta: the river is low: God be praised -the rains have not begun! There are shallows and rocks along its -course: the boats must go slowly: and the Nawab's horsemen can soon -outstrip them on the banks. The dog of an Englishman thinks he has -outwitted me: we shall see. And he is only a youth: let us see if Coja -Solomon is not a match for him." - -Rising to his feet, he smiled and shrugged, and spread out his hands -deprecatingly. - -"It is true the dastaks are here," he said suavely, "but they only -reached me yesterday, and indeed, as soon as I received them, I had the -goods put on board the boats for transit to Calcutta." - -"That is very fortunate," said Desmond. "It will save my time. As Mr. -Merriman's representative I will take over the goods--with the dastaks." - -"If you will excuse me, I will fetch them." - -"Stay!" said Desmond, as the man moved towards the door. He had not -lowered the pistol. "Where are they?" - -"They are in my office beside the godown." - -"Very well. It would be a pity to trouble you to bring them here. I -will go with you. Will you lead the way?" - -He knew it was a lie. Valuable papers would not be left in a hut of an -office, and he had already noticed a curiously wrought almara[#] at one -end of the room--just the place to keep documents. - - -[#] Cabinet. - - -There was a shadow of a scowl on the Armenian's face. The man hesitated; -then walked towards the door: stopped as if at a sudden recollection; -and turned to Desmond with a bland smile. - -"I was forgetting," he said; "I brought the papers here for safety -sake." - -He went to the almara, searched for a moment, and handed two papers to -Desmond. - -"There, sir," he said, with a quite paternal smile; "you take the -responsibility. In these unfortunate circumstances"--he waved his hand -in the direction of the factory--"it is, believe me, a relief to me to -see the last of these papers." - -"That is well." - -But Desmond, as he took the papers, felt himself in a quandary. Though -he could speak, he could not read, Hindustani! The papers might not be -the dastaks after all. What was he to do? The peons were not likely to -be able to read. He scanned the papers. There was the name Merriman in -English characters, but all the rest was in native script. The smile -hovering on the Armenian's face annoyed Desmond, and he was still -undecided what to do when a voice at his elbow gave him welcome relief. - -"Babu Surendra Nath Chuckerbutti," announced the darwan. - -The Babu entered. - -"Come and tell me if these are our dastaks," said Desmond. - -The Babu ran his eye over the papers, and declared: - -"Yes, sir, they are the identical papers, and I perceive the signature -of the Faujdar is dated three weeks ago." - -"Thank you," said Desmond. "Now, Coja Solomon, I must ask you to come -with me." - -"Why, sir----" began the Armenian, no longer smiling. - -"I will explain to you by and by.--What is it, Surendra Nath?" - -The Babu whispered a word or two in his ear. - -"A happy thought!" said Desmond. "Surendra Nath suggests that I should -borrow that excellent robe I see yonder, Khwaja; and your turban also. -They will become me better than this khitmatgar's garb, I doubt not." - -Coja Solomon looked on helplessly as Desmond exchanged his meaner -garments for the richer clothes of his unwilling host. - -"Now we will go. You will tell the darwan that you have gone down to -the ghat, so that if a question is asked he will be at no loss for an -answer." - -In the faint light of the rising moon the barrel of the pistol gleamed -as they came into the open. The Armenian marched between Desmond and -the Babu. Behind came the three peons, moving as silently as ghosts. - -"The Khwaja," said Desmond to them in the Armenian's hearing, as they -reached the ghat, "is coming a little way with us down the river. You, -Kristodas Das, will go and tell Bulger Sahib that I wish him to follow -the Khwaja's boats at a few yards' distance, and to be prepared to board -at any moment. You," turning to the other two peons, "will come with -me. The Khwaja will send word to his darwan that he is going to -Murshidabad by river and will not return to-night; his house is to be -locked up. The Khwaja will, I am sure, give these orders correctly, for -Surendra Nath will understand better than I what he says." - -With the Babu, the two peons, and Coja Solomon, who was now obviously -ill at ease, Desmond went down the ghat to the place where the crews of -the petalas were squatting, and bade the Armenian carry out the part -assigned to him. The man durst not depart by a jot from the words put -into his mouth. One of his coolies left with the message, the rest -followed their employer on board with Desmond and his companions, and in -a few minutes the three boats were cast off and stood up stream. As -they started Desmond saw the boat containing Bulger and his men slip -from the shade of the trees and begin to creep after them. - -The boats had not gone for more than a couple of hundred yards up stream -when Coja Solomon, at Desmond's orders, bade the men row towards the -opposite shore and turn the boats' heads round, explaining that he had -decided after all to convey the goods to Hugli. There was some -grumbling among the crew, who had expected to go to Murshidabad, and did -not relish the prospect of the longer voyage. But the Armenian, knowing -that every word was overheard by Desmond's men, made haste to pacify the -boatmen. - -It was by no means easy work getting down the river. The boats were -flat-bottomed and drew very little water; but the stream being very low, -they stuck fast time after time in the shallows. By day the boatmen -might have picked their way more carefully, but the moon was new and -shed too little light for river navigation. More than once they had to -leap overboard and, wading, shove and haul until the boats came off the -mud banks into practicable water again. They rowed hard when the course -was clear, encouraged by promises of liberal bakshish made by their -employer at Desmond's prompting. But the interruptions were so frequent -that the dawn found the boats only some thirty miles from their -starting-point. The river being here a little deeper, Desmond could -afford to let the rowers take a much needed rest, while the boats -floated down with the stream. - -But as the day wore on the river again played them false, and progress -was at times reduced to scarcely more than two miles an hour. Things -had been uncomfortable in the night, but the discomforts were increased -tenfold in the day. It was the hottest season of the year; out of the -clear sky the sun's rays beat down with pitiless ferocity; the whole -landscape was a-quiver with heat; all things seemed to swoon under the -oppression. The petalas, being cargo boats, were not provided with any -accommodation or conveniences for passengers; and Desmond's thoughts, as -he lay panting on his mat, haggard from want of sleep, faint from want -of food--for though there was rice on board, and the men ate freely, he -had no appetite for that--reverted to the worst period of his -imprisonment in Gheria, and he recalled the sufferings he had endured -there. Here at least he was free. His journey had so far been -unmolested, and he hoped that the happy chance that had favoured him at -Cossimbazar would not fail him now. - -He was in a fever of impatience; yet the men were doing their best. -They passed the mud walls of Cutwa; another stage of the journey was -safely completed; but twelve miles lower down there was a post at Patli, -and with every mile the danger grew. Desmond talked over the situation -with the Babu. Surendra Nath agreed that by nightfall, if no unforeseen -delay occurred, they might hope to be in the neighbourhood of Khulna, -and arrive there before any messenger carrying news of the escape. But -there was little or no chance of the same good fortune at Hugli. The -prize was so valuable that every effort would certainly be made to stop -them. A whole day or more might pass before the reason of Coja -Solomon's absence was discovered. But when the discovery was made, fast -runners would be sent to Khulna and Hugli, and by relays the distance -between Cossimbazar and Hugli could be covered in twenty-two hours. -Supposing such a messenger started at nightfall on June 5, nearly -twenty-four hours after Coja Solomon's disappearance, he might well get -to Hugli long before the fugitive boats, even if they were rowed all -night without cessation; and the men were already so much fatigued that -such continuous exertion could hardly be expected of them. - -There was a further danger. If the news of the capture of Cossimbazar -Fort had preceded him, he might be stopped at any of the riverside -places without any reference to Coja Solomon's abduction, pending orders -from the Nawab. Desmond's anxiety would have been largely increased had -he known that Siraj-uddaula, before his men had actually marched into -the fort, had already started with the bulk of his forces on his fateful -march to Calcutta. - -Desmond was still in conversation with the Babu when the little flotilla -came in sight of Patli. Its approach was observed. A boat put off from -the ghat, and awaited the arrival of Desmond's boat in mid-stream. As -it came alongside an official ordered the men to cease rowing and -demanded to know who was the owner of the goods on board and to see the -dastaks. The Babu, to whom Desmond had entrusted the papers, showed -them to the man; he scanned them, said that he was satisfied, and rowed -back to the ghat. Evidently he had no suspicions. During the short -colloquy Desmond kept close beside the Armenian, who was well known to -the riverside official; but Coja Solomon was thoroughly scared, and had -not the presence of mind to do anything more than acknowledge the -customary salaam. - -Desmond breathed freely once more now that Patli was passed. But -two-thirds of the journey still remained to be completed, and he could -not dare hope that at his slow rate of progress he would be able always -to keep ahead of information from Cossimbazar. Seeing that he could not -hasten his journey, he wondered whether it was possible to put pursuers -off the scent. After thinking for a while he said to the Babu, out of -hearing of the Armenian: - -"I have an idea, Surendra Nath: tell me what you think of it. Did you -not tell me as we came up that there is a gumashta[#] of the Company at -Santipur?" - - -[#] Agent. - - -"Certainly I did, sir." - -"Well, as we are, I fear, sure to be cut off by water, may we not take -to the land? Could not the gumashta get us a dozen hackeris[#]? We -could transfer the goods to them and elude our pursuers perhaps long -enough for help to arrive from Calcutta." - - -[#] Bullock-carts. - - -"That is good counsel, sir; why should we not do so?" - -Accordingly, when they came to the spot where the high road crossed the -river by a ford, Desmond ordered his men to row in to the left bank. -Selecting two men who knew the country, he bade them land and make the -best speed in carrying out instructions which he proceeded to give them. - -"You, Mohun Lai," he said, "will go to Santipur, quickly, avoiding -observation, and request the gumashta in Merriman Sahib's name to have -twelve hackeris, or as many as he can collect, ready to receive loads -two or three hours before to-morrow's dawn. He must get them from the -villages, not from Khulna or Amboa, and he must not tell any one why he -requires the carts. You, Ishan, will go on to Calcutta, find Merriman -Sahib, and ask him to send a body of armed men along the Barrakpur road -towards Santipur. You will tell him what we have done, and also that -Cossimbazar Fort is in the hands of the Nawab, and Watts Sahib a -prisoner. He may know this already. You both understand?" - -The men salaamed and started on their journey. - - - - - CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SECOND - - -*In which is given a full, true, and particular account of the Battle of -the Carts.* - - -Desmond expected that Mohun Lai would reach Santipur shortly after -nightfall. He himself might hope to arrive there, if not intercepted at -Khulna or Amboa, at any time between midnight and three o'clock, -according to the state of the river. It was approaching dusk when he -drew near to Khulna. The boats having been tied up to the bank, as the -custom was, Desmond sent the Babu to find out from the Company's -gumashta whether news of the capture of Cossimbazar Fort had reached the -bazar, and if any runner had come in from the north. In an hour the -Babu returned. He said that there was great excitement in the bazar; no -official messenger had arrived, but everybody was saying that the Nawab -had captured the English factory at Cossimbazar, and was going to drive -all the Firangi out of Bengal. - -Desmond decided to take a bold course. Official news not having -arrived, he might seize the moment to present his dastaks and get away -before the customs officers found any pretext for stopping him. -Everything happened as he hoped. He met with no more difficulty than at -Patli, and informing the official who examined the dastaks that he would -drop down to Amboa before tying up for the night, he drew out again into -the stream. - -He spent some time in consultation with the serang. In a rather -desolate reach of the Hugli, he learnt, and in the middle of the stream, -there was a small island, uninhabited save by teal and other water-fowl, -and not known to be the haunt of tigers or other beasts of prey. -Reaching this islet about ten o'clock at night, when all river traffic -had ceased, he rowed in, and landed the Armenian with his crews. - -"I thank you for your company, Coja Solomon," he said blandly. "We must -here part, to my regret, for I should like to have the pleasure of -witnessing your meeting with Mr. Merriman. The nights are warm, and you -will, I am sure, be quite comfortable till the morning, when no doubt a -passing boat will take you off and convey you back to your business at -Cossimbazar." - -"I will not stay here," protested the Armenian, his face livid with -anger. - -"Believe me, you have no choice. Let me remind you that had you behaved -honestly there would have been no reason for putting you to the -inconvenience of this tiring journey. You have brought it on yourself." - -Coja Solomon sullenly went up the shore. Desmond then paid the men -handsomely: they had indeed worked well, and they were abundantly -satisfied with the hire they received. - -Leaving Coja Solomon to his bitter reflections, Desmond dropped down to -Santipur, arriving there about two o'clock in the morning. Just before -dawn ten hackeris, each yoked with two oxen, drew up near the Company's -ghat. They were accompanied by a crowd of the inhabitants, lively with -curiosity about the engagement of so many vehicles. The gumashta came -up with the first cart, his face clouded with anxiety. He recognized -the Babu at once, and said that while he had fulfilled the order he had -received on Mr. Merriman's behalf, he had done it in fear and trembling. -The whole country knew that Cossimbazar Fort was in possession of the -Nawab, and, more than that, the Nawab had on the previous day set out -with an immense army for Calcutta. Santipur was not on the high road, -and the Company was respected there; yet the gumashta feared the people -would make an attack on the party if they suspected that they carried -goods belonging to an Englishman. - -Hitherto Desmond had kept himself in the background. But now he had an -idea inspired by confidence in his costume. Introducing himself to the -gumashta, he asked him to give out that the party was in command of a -Firangi in the service of the Nawab, and was conveying part of the -Nawab's private equipage in advance to Baraset, a few miles north of -Calcutta, there to await the arrival of the main army. To make the -imposition more effective, he called for the lambadar[#] of the village -and ordered him in the Nawab's name to despatch a flotilla of -twenty-five wollacks[#] to Cutwa to convey the official baggage. The -plan proved successful. Desmond found himself regarded as a person of -importance; the natives humbly salaamed to him; and, taking matters with -a high hand, he impressed a score of the village idlers into the work of -transferring his precious bales from the boats to the hackeris. The -work was accomplished in half an hour. - - -[#] Headman. - -[#] Barges. - - -"Bulger," said Desmond, when the loading was done, "you will consider -yourself in charge of this convoy. The Babu will interpret for you. -You will hurry on as fast as possible towards Calcutta. I shall -overtake you by and by. The people here believe that I am a Frenchman, -so you had better pass as that too, for of course your disguise will -deceive no native in the daylight." - -"Well I knows it," said Bulger. "They've been starin' at me like as if -I was a prize pig this half-hour and more, and lookin' most uncommon -curious at my little button-hook. But, sir, I don't see any call for me -to make out I'm a mounseer. 'T'ud make me uneasy inside, sir, the very -thought of eatin' what they mounseers eat." - -"My good man, there's no need to carry it too far. Do as you please, -only take care of the goods." - -Except Desmond and four men whom he retained, the whole party moved off -with the hackeris towards Calcutta. The road was an unmade track, heavy -with dust, rough, execrably bad; and at the gumashta's suggestion -Desmond had arranged for three extra teams of oxen to accompany the -carts, to extricate them in case of necessity from holes or soft places. -Fortunately the weather was dry: had the rains begun--and they were -overdue--the road would have been a slough of mud and ooze, and the -journey would have been impossible. - -When the convoy had set off, Desmond with three men, including the -serang, returned to the empty boats. The lookers-on stared to see the -craft put off and drop down the river with a crew of one man each: -Desmond in the first, and the smaller boat that had contained Bulger and -his party trailing behind. Floating down some four or five miles with -the stream, Desmond gave the order to scuttle the three petalas, and -rowed ashore in the smaller boat. On reaching land he got the serang to -knock a hole in the bottom of the boat, and shoved it off towards mid -stream, where it rapidly filled and sank. - -It was full daylight when Desmond and his party of three struck off -inland in a direction that would bring them upon the track of the carts. -He had a presentiment that his difficulties were only beginning. By -this time, no doubt, the news of his escapade had been carried through -the country by the swift kasids of the Nawab. His passing at Khulna and -Amboa would be reported, and a watch would be kept for him at Hugli. If -perchance a kasid or a chance traveller entered Santipur, the trick he -had practised there would be immediately discovered; but if the -messenger only touched at the places on the direct route on the other -bank, he might hope that some time would elapse before the authorities -there suspected that he had left the river. They must soon learn that -three petalas lay wrecked in the stream below Amboa; but they could not -satisfy themselves without examination that these were the vessels of -which they were in search. - -Tramping across two miles of fields newly sown with maize and sorghum, -he at length descried the trail of his convoy and soon came up with it. -If pursuers were indeed upon his track, only by the greatest good -fortune could he escape them. The carts creaked along with painful -slowness; the wheels half-way to the axles in dust; now stopping -altogether, now rocking like ships in a stormy sea. With his arrival -and the promise of liberal bakshish the hackeriwallahs urged the -labouring oxen with their cruel goads till Desmond, always tender with -animals, could hardly endure the sight. By nine o'clock the morning had -become stiflingly hot. There was little or no breeze, and Desmond, -unused of late to active exercise, found the heat terribly trying. But -Bulger suffered still more. A stout, florid man, he toiled along, -panting, streaming with sweat, in difficulties so manifest that Desmond, -eyeing him anxiously, feared lest a stroke of apoplexy should bring him -to an untimely end. - -The country was so flat that a string of carts could not fail to be seen -from a long distance. If noticed from the towers of Hugli across the -river, curiosity, if not suspicion, would be aroused, and it would not -take long to send over by a ford a force sufficient to arrest and -capture the party. To escape observation it was necessary to make wide -detours. At several small hamlets on the route Desmond managed to get -fresh oxen, but not enough for complete changes of team. So, through -all the broiling heat of the day, at hours when no other Europeans in -all Bengal were out of doors, the convoy struggled on, making its own -road, crossing the dry beds of pools, skirting or labouring over rugged -nullahs. - -At nightfall Desmond learnt from one of the drivers that they were still -six miles short of being opposite to Hugli. The patient Bengalis could -endure no more; the oxen were done up, the men refused to go further -without a rest. Halting at a hamlet some five miles from the river, -they rested and fed till midnight, then set off again. It was not so -insufferably hot at night, but on the other hand they were less able to -avoid obstructions: and the rest had not been long enough to make up for -the terrible exertions of the day. - -By daybreak they were some distance past Hugli, still keeping about five -miles from the river. Desmond was beginning to congratulate himself -that the worst was over; Barrakpur was only about twelve miles away. But -a little after dawn he caught sight of a European on horseback crossing -their track towards the river. He was going at a walking pace, attended -by two syces.[#] Attracted, apparently, by the sight, unusual at this -time of year, of a string of hackeris, he wheeled his horse and cantered -towards the tail of the convoy, which was under Bulger's charge. - - -[#] Grooms. - - -"Eo, hackeriwallah," he said in Urdu to the rearmost driver, "to whom do -these hackeris belong?" - -"To the great Company, huzur. The sahib will tell you." - -"The sahib!--what sahib?" asked the rider in astonishment. - -"The sahib yonder," replied the man, pointing to Bulger. Bulger had been -staring at the horseman, and growing more and more red in the face. -Catching the rider's surprised look, he could contain himself no longer. - -"By thunder! 'tis that villain Diggle!" he shouted, and rushed forward -to drag him from his horse. - -But Diggle was not taken unawares. Setting spurs to his steed, he -caused it to spring away. Bulger raised his musket, but ere he could -fire Diggle was out of range. Keeping a careful distance he rode -leisurely along the whole convoy, and a smile of malignant pleasure -shone upon his face as he took stock of its contents. Meanwhile Bulger, -already repenting of his hasty action, hurried forward to acquaint -Desmond with what had happened. Diggle's smile broadened; he halted and -took a long look at the tall figure in native dress to whom Bulger was -so excitedly speaking. Then, turning his horse in the direction of the -river, he spoke over his shoulder to his syces and galloped away, -followed by them at a run. - -"You were a fool, Bulger," said Desmond testily. "This may lead to no -end of trouble." - -Bulger looked penitent, and wrathful, and overwhelmed. - -"We must try to hurry," added Desmond to Surendra Nath. "Promise the -men more bakshish: don't stint." - -For two hours longer they pushed on with all the speed of which the -jaded beasts were capable. Every now and again Desmond looked anxiously -back, hoping against hope that they would not be pursued. But he knew -that Diggle had recognized him, and being prepared for the worst, he -began to rack his brains for some means of defence. Misfortune seemed -to dog him. Two of the oxen collapsed. It was necessary to distribute -the loads of their hackeris among the others. The march was delayed, -and when the convoy was again under way, its progress was slower than -ever. - -It had, indeed, barely started, when in the distance Desmond spied a -horseman cantering towards them. A few minutes revealed him as Diggle. -He rode up almost within musket-shot, then turned and trotted back. -What was the meaning of his action? Desmond, from his position near the -foremost hackeri, could see nothing more. But, a few yards ahead of -him, to the right of the track, there was a low artificial mound, -possibly the site of an ancient temple, standing at the edge of a -nullah, its top some ten or twelve feet above the surrounding plain. -Hastening to this he gained the summit, and, looking back, saw a -numerous body of men on foot advancing rapidly from the quarter whence -the horseman had ridden. In twenty minutes they would have come up with -the convoy. He must turn at bay. - -He glanced anxiously around. He was in the midst of a dry, slightly -undulating plain, the new-sown fields awaiting the rains to spring into -verdure. Here and there were clumps of trees--the towering palmyra with -its fan-shaped foliage, the bamboo with its feathery branches, the -plantain, throwing its immense leaves of vivid green into every -fantastic form. There was no safety on the plain. But below him was -the nullah, thirty feet deep, eighty yards wide, soon to be a swollen -torrent dashing towards the Hugli, but now dry. Its sides were in parts -steep, and unscalable in face of determined resistance. In a moment -Desmond saw the utmost of possibility. - -Running back to the convoy, he turned its head towards the mound, and, -calling every man to the help of the oxen, he dragged the carts one by -one to the top. There he caused the beasts to be unyoked, and placed -the hackeris, their poles interlocked, so as to form a rough -semicircular breastwork around the summit of the mound. For a moment he -hesitated in deciding what to do with the cattle. Should he keep them -within his little entrenchment? If they took fright they might stampede -and do mischief; in any case they would be in the way, and he resolved -to send them all off under charge of such of the drivers as were too -timid to remain. He noticed that the Babu was quivering with alarm. - -"Surendra Nath," he said, "this is no place for you. Slip away quietly; -go towards Calcutta; and if you meet Mr. Merriman coming in response to -my message, tell him the plight we are in and ask him to hasten to our -help." - -"I do not like to show the white feather, sir," said the Babu. - -"Not at all, Babu, we must have a trustworthy messenger: you are the -man. Now get away as fast as you can." - -The Babu departed on his errand with the speed of gladness and relief. - -The ground sloped sharply outwards from the carts, and the rear of the -position was formed by the nullah. The last two hackeris were being -placed in position when the vanguard of the pursuers, with Diggle at -their head, came to a point just out of range. The party was larger -than Desmond had estimated it to be at his first hasty glance. There -were some twenty men armed with matchlocks, and forty with swords and -lathis. All were natives. His heart sank as he measured the odds -against him. What was his dismay when he saw, half a mile off, another -body following up. And these were white men! Was Diggle bringing the -French of Chandernagore into the fray? - -Desmond posted his twelve armed peons behind the hackeris. He gave them -strict orders to fire only at the word of command, and as they had -undergone some discipline in Calcutta he hoped that, if only in -self-preservation, they would maintain a certain steadiness. Behind -them he placed twelve sturdy boatmen armed with half pikes, instructing -them to take the place of the peons when they had fired. Bulger stood -at the midpoint of the semicircle; his rough square face was a deep -purple with a rim of black; his dhoti had become loosened, leaving his -great shoulders and brawny chest bare; his turban was awry; his eyes, -bloodshot with the heat, were as the eyes of Mars himself, burning with -the fire of battle. - -The pursuers had halted. Diggle came forward, trotting his horse up to -the base of the mound. The peons fingered their matchlocks and looked -expectant; Bulger growled; but Desmond gazed serenely at his enemy. - -"Your disguise is excellent," said Diggle in his smoothest tones; "but I -believe I speak to Mr. Desmond Burke." - -"Yes, Mr. Diggle," said Desmond, stepping forward. - -"I am glad to have overtaken you. Sure you have encamped early. I have -a message from my friend the Faujdar of Hugli. By some mistake a -consignment of merchandise has been illegally removed from Cossimbazar, -and the Faujdar, understanding that the goods are contained in these -carts, bids me ask you to deliver them up to his men, whom you see here -with me." - -Desmond was anxious to gain time. He thought out his plan of action -while Diggle was speaking. His impulsiveness prompted a flat defiance -in few words; policy counselled a formality of utterance equal to -Diggle's. - -"These carts certainly contain merchandise, Mr. Diggle," he said. "It -is the property of Mr. Edward Merriman, of Calcutta; I think you know -him? It was removed from Cossimbazar; but not, I assure you, illegally. -I have the dastaks authorizing its removal to Calcutta; they are signed -by the Faujdar of Murshidabad. Has the Faujdar of--where did you say?" - -"Of Hugli." - -"Has the Faujdar of Hugli power to countermand what the Faujdar of the -capital has done?" - -"Why discuss that point?" said Diggle with a smile. "The Faujdar of -Hugli is an officer of the Nawab; 'hoc sat est tibi'--blunt language, -but the phrase is Tully's." - -"Well, I waive that. But I am not satisfied that you, an Englishman, -have authority to act for the Faujdar of Hugli. The crowd I see before -me--a rabble of lathi-wallahs--clearly cannot be the Faujdar's men." At -this point he heard an exclamation from Bulger. The second body of men -had come up and ranked themselves behind the first. "And may I ask," -added Desmond, with a slight gesture to Bulger to restrain himself; he -too had recognized the new-comers; "since when the Nawab has taken into -his service the crew of an interloping English merchantman?" - -"I will give you full information, Mr. Burke," said Diggle suavely, -"when we stand together before my friend the Faujdar. In the meantime -you will, if I may venture to advise, consult your interest best in -yielding to superior numbers and delivering up the goods." - -"And what about myself, Mr. Diggle?" - -"You, of course, will accompany me to the Faujdar. He will be incensed, -I make no doubt, at your temerity, and not unjustly; but I will -intercede for you, and you will be treated with the most delicate -attentions." - -"You speak fair, Mr. Diggle," said Desmond, still bent upon gaining -time; "but that is your way. What assurance have I that you will, this -time, keep your word?" - -"You persist in misjudging me," said Diggle regretfully. "As Cicero says -in the play, you construe things after your fashion, clean from the -purpose of the things themselves. My interest in you is undiminished; -nay rather, it is increased and mixed with admiration. My offers still -hold good: join hands with me, and I promise you that you shall soon be -a _persona grata_ at the court of Murshidabad, with wealth and honours -in your grasp." - -"Your offer is tempting, Mr. Diggle, to a poor adventurer like me, and -if only my own interests were involved, I might strike a bargain with -you. I have had such excellent reasons to trust you in the past! But -the goods are not mine; they are Mr. Merriman's; and the utmost I can do -at present is to ask you to draw your men off and wait while I send a -messenger to Calcutta. When he returns with Mr. Merriman's consent to -the delivery of the goods, then----" - -The sentence remained unfinished. Diggle's expression had become -blacker and blacker as Desmond spoke, and seeing with fury that he was -being played with he suddenly wheeled round, and, cantering back to his -men, gave the order to fire. At the same moment Desmond called to his -men to lie flat on the ground and aim at the enemy from behind the thick -wooden wheels of the hackeris. Being on the flat top of the mound, they -were to some extent below the line of fire from the plain, and when the -first volley was delivered no harm was done to them save for a few -scratches made by flying splinters from the carts. But the crack of the -matchlocks struck terror into the pale hearts of some of the -hackeriwallahs. Several sprang over the breastwork and scuttled away -like scared rabbits. The remainder stood firm, grasping their lathis in -a manner that showed the fighting instinct to be strong, even in the -Bengali. - -Many anxious looks were bent upon Desmond, his men expecting the order -to fire. But he bade them remain still, and through the interval -between two carts he watched for the rush that was coming. The crew of -the _Good Intent_, headed by Sunman the cross-eyed mate and Parmiter, -had come up behind the natives. These having emptied their matchlocks -were now retiring to reload. Diggle had dismounted, and was talking -earnestly with the mate. They walked together to the edge of the -nullah, and looked up and down it, doubtless canvassing the chances of -an attack in the rear; but the sides were steep; there was no hope of -success in this direction; and they rejoined the main body. - -Evidently they had decided on making a vigorous direct attack over the -carts. Dividing his troop into two portions, Diggle put himself at the -head of the one, Sunman at the head of the other. Arranged in a -semicircle concentric with the breastwork, at the word of command all -the men with firearms discharged their pieces; then, with shrill cries -from the natives, and a hoarse cheer from the crew of the _Good Intent_, -they charged in a close line up the slope. Behind the barricade the -men's impatience had only been curbed by the quiet imperturbable manner -of their young leader. But their self-restraint was on the point of -breaking down when, short, sharp, and clear, the long-awaited command -was given. Their matchlocks flashed; the volley told with deadly effect -at the short range of thirty paces; four or five men dropped; as many -more staggered down the slope; the rest halted indecisively, in doubt -whether to push forward or turn tail. - -"Blockheads! cowards!" shouted Diggle in a fury. "Push on, you dogs; we -are four to one!" - -He was now a very different Diggle from the man Desmond had known -hitherto. His smile was gone; all languor and indolence was lost; his -eyes flashed, his lips met in a hard cruel line; his voice rang out -strong and metallic. That he was no coward Desmond already knew. He put -himself in the forefront of the line, and, as always happens, a brave -leader never lacks followers. The whole of the seamen and many of the -Bengalis surged forward after him. Behind the breastwork all the men -were now mixed up--musketeers with pikemen and lathiwallahs. Upon these -came the swarming enemy, some clambering over the carts, others -wriggling between the wheels. There was a babel of cries; the exultant -bellow of the born fighter, British or native; a few pistol-shots; the -scream of the men mortally hit; the "Wah! wah!" of the Bengalis -applauding their own prowess. - -As Diggle had said, the odds were four to one. But the defenders had -the advantage of position, and for a few moments they held the yelling -mob at bay. The half-pikes of the boatmen were terrible weapons at -close quarters, more formidable than the cutlasses of the seamen balked -by the breastwork, or the loaded bamboo clubs of the lathiwallahs. - -Sunman the mate was one of the first victims; he fell to a shot from -Bulger. But Parmiter and Diggle, followed by half a dozen of the -sailors, and a score of the more determined lathiwallahs and musketeers -with clubbed muskets, succeeded in clambering to the top of the carts -and prepared to jump down among the defenders, most of whom were busily -engaged in jabbing at the men swarming in between the wheels. Desmond -saw that if his barricade was once broken through the issue of the fight -must be decided by mere weight of numbers. - -"Bulger, here!" he cried, "and you, Hossain." - -The men sprang to him, and, following his example, leapt on to the cart -next to that occupied by Diggle and Parmiter. Desmond's intention was -to take them in flank. Jumping over the bales of silk, he swung over his -head a matchlock he had seized from one of his peons, and brought it -down with a horizontal sweep. Two of the Bengalis among the crowd of -lathiwallahs, who were hanging back out of reach of the boatmen's pikes, -were swept off the cart. But the violence of his blow disturbed -Desmond's own balance; he fell on one knee; his matchlock was seized and -jerked out of his hand; and in a second three men were upon him. Bulger -and the serang, although a little late owing to want of agility in -scaling the cart, were close behind. - -"Belay there!" roared Bulger, as he flung himself upon the combatants. - -The bullet head of one sturdy badmash cracked like an egg-shell under -the butt of the bold tar's musket; a second received the terrible hook -square in the teeth; and a third, no other than Parmiter himself, was -caught round the neck at the next lunge of the hook, and flung, with a -mighty heave, full into the midst of the defenders. Bulger drew a long -breath. - -At the same moment Diggle, attacked by the serang, was thrown from his -perch on the hackeri and fell among his followers outside the barricade. -There was a moment's lull while both parties recovered their wind. -Firing had ceased; to load a matchlock was a long affair, and though the -attackers might have divided and come forward in relays with loaded -weapons, they would have run the risk of hitting their own friends. It -was to be again a hand-to-hand fight. Diggle was not to be denied. -Desmond, who had jumped down inside the barricade when the pressure was -relieved by Bulger, could not but admire the spirit and determination of -his old enemy, though it boded ill for his own chance of escape. He was -weary; worn out by want of rest and food; almost prostrated by the -terrible heat. Looking round his little fort, he felt a tremor as he -saw that five out of his twenty-four men were more or less disabled. -True, there were now more than a dozen of the enemy in the same or a -worse plight; but they could afford their losses, and Desmond indeed -wondered why Diggle did not sacrifice a few men in one fierce -overwhelming onslaught. - -[Illustration: THE BATTLE OF THE CARTS.] - -"A hundred rupees to the man who kills the young sahib, two hundred to -the man who takes him alive!" cried Diggle to his dusky followers, as -though in answer to Desmond's thought. Then, turning to the discomfited -crew of the _Good Intent_, he said: "Sure, my men, you will not be beat -by a boy and a one-armed man. There's a fortune for all of you in those -carts. At them again, my men; I'll show you the way." - -He was as good as his word. He snatched a long lathi from one of the -Bengalis and rushed up the slope to the hacked nearest the nullah. -Finding a purchase for one end of his club in the woodwork of the wagon, -he put forth all his strength in the effort to push it over the edge. -Owing to the length of the lathi he was out of reach of the half-pikes -in the hands of the boatmen, who had to lunge either over or under the -carts. His unaided strength would have been unequal to the task of -moving the hackeri, heavily laden as it was, resting on soft soil, and -interlocked with the next. But as soon as his followers saw the aim of -his movements, and especially when they found that the defenders could -not touch him without exposing themselves, he gained as many eager -helpers as could brine their lathis to bear upon the two carts. - -Meanwhile the defence at this spot was weak, for the men of the _Good -Intent_ had swarmed up to the adjoining carts and were threatening at -any moment to force a way over the barricade. They were more formidable -enemies than the Bengalis. Slowly the two hackeris began to move, till -the wheels of one hung over the edge of the nullah. One more united -heave, and it rolled over, dragging the other cart with it and splitting -itself into a hundred fragments on the rocky bottom. Through the gap -thus formed in the barricade sprang Diggle, with half a dozen men of the -_Good Intent_ and a score of Bengalis. - -Desmond gathered his little band into a knot in the centre of the -enclosure. Then the brazen sun looked down upon a Homeric struggle. -Bulger, brawny warrior of the iron hook, swung his musket like a flail, -every now and again shooting forth his more sinister weapon with -terrible effect. Desmond, slim and athletic, dashed in upon the enemy -with his half-pike as they recoiled before Bulger's whirling musket. -The rest, now a bare dozen, Bengalis though they were, presented still -an undaunted front to the swarm that surged into the narrow space. The -hot air grew hotter with the fight. - -To avoid being surrounded, the little band instinctively backed towards -the edge of the nullah. Diggle exulted as they were pressed -remorselessly to the rear. Not a man dreamt of surrender; the temper of -the assailants was indeed so savage that nothing but the annihilation of -their victims would now satisfy them. Yet Diggle once again bethought -himself that Desmond might be worth to him more alive than dead, and in -the midst of the clamour Desmond heard him repeat his offer of reward to -the man who should capture him. - -Diggle himself resolved to make the attempt. Venturing too near, he -received an ugly gash from Desmond's pike, promising a permanent mark -from brow to chin. This was too much for him. Beside himself with fury, -he yelled a command to his men to sweep the pigs over the brink, and, -one side of his face livid with rage, the other streaming with blood, he -dashed forward at Bulger, who had come up panting to engage him. He had -well timed his rush, for Bulger's musket was at the far end of its -pendulum swing; but the old seaman saw his danger in time. With a -movement of extraordinary agility in a man of his bulk, he swung on his -heel, presenting his side to the rapier that flashed in Diggle's hand. -Parrying the thrust with his hook, he shortened his stump and lunged at -Diggle below the belt. His enemy collapsed as if shot; but his -followers swept forward over his prostrate body, and it seemed as if, in -one brief half-minute, the knot of defenders would be hurled to the -bottom of the nullah. - -But, at this critical moment, assailants and defenders were stricken -into quietude by a tumultuous cheer, the cheer of Europeans, from the -direction of the gap in the barricade. Weapons remained poised in -mid-air; every man stood motionless, wondering whether the interruption -came from friend or foe. The question was answered on the instant. - -"Now, men, have at them!" - -With a thrill Desmond recognized the voice. It was the voice of Silas -Toley. There was nothing of melancholy in it, nor in the expression of -the New Englander as he sprang, cutlass in hand, through the gap. Slow -to take fire, when Toley's anger was kindled it blazed with a devouring -flame. The crowd of assailants dissolved as if by magic. Before the -last of the crew of the _Hormuzzeer_, lascars and Europeans, had passed -into the enclosure, the men of the _Good Intent_ and their Bengali -allies were streaming over and under the carts towards the open. Diggle -at the first shock had staggered to his feet and stumbled towards the -barricade. As he reached it, a black boy, springing as it were out of -the earth, hastened to him and helped him to crawl between the wheels of -a cart and down the slope. On the boy's arm he limped towards his -horse, tethered to a tree. A wounded wretch was clumsily attempting to -mount. Him Diggle felled; then he climbed painfully into the saddle and -galloped away, Scipio Africanus leaping up behind. - -By this time his followers were dispersing in all directions--all but -eight luckless men who would never more wield cutlass or lathi, and a -dozen who lay on one side or other of the barricade, too hard hit to -move. - - - - - CHAPTER THE TWENTY-THIRD - - -*In which there are many moving events; and our hero finds himself a -cadet of John Company.* - - -Diggle's escape passed unnoticed until it was too late to pursue him. -At the sight of Toley and his messmates of the _Hormuzzeer_, Bulger had -let fall his musket and dropped to the ground, where he sat mopping his -face and crying "Go it, mateys!" Desmond felt a strange faintness, and -leant dizzily against one of the hackeris. But, revived by a draught -from Mr. Toley's flask, he thanked the mate warmly, and wanted to hear -how he had contrived to come up in time. - -When Desmond's messenger arrived in Calcutta, Mr. Merriman was away up -the river, engaged in very serious business. The messenger had applied -to the Governor, to members of the Council, to Captain Minchin and other -officers, and the reply of one and all was the same: they could do -nothing; it was more important that every man should be employed in -strengthening the defences of Calcutta than in going up-country on what -might prove a vain and useless errand. But Toley happened to be in the -town, and hearing of the difficulties and perils of his friend Burke, -with the captain's consent he had hastily collected the crew of the -_Hormuzzeer_, that still lay off the Fort, and led them, under the -guidance of the messenger, to support him. Meeting Surendra Nath, and -learning from him that a fight was imminent, he had pushed on with all -speed, the Babu leading the way. - -"It was well done," said Desmond warmly. "We owe our lives to you, and -Mr. Merriman his goods. But what was the business that took Mr. -Merriman from Calcutta at this time of trouble?" - -"Trouble of his own, Burke," said Mr. Toley. "I guess he'd better have -let the Nawab keep his goods and sent you to look after his women-folk." - -"What do you mean? I left the ladies at Khulna; what has happened to -them?" - -"'Tis what Mr. Merriman would fain know. They've disappeared, gone -clean out of sight." - -"But the peons?" - -"Gone too. Nothing heard or seen of them." - -This serious news came as a shock to Desmond. If he had only known! -How willingly he would have let Coja Solomon do what he pleased with the -goods, and hastened to the help of the wife and daughter Mr. Merriman -held so dear! While in Cossimbazar, he had heard from Mr. Watts -terrible stories of the Nawab's villainy, which no respect of persons -held in check. He feared that if Mrs. Merriman and Phyllis had indeed -fallen into Siraj-uddaula's hands, they were lost to their family and -friends for ever. - -But, eager as he was to get back to Calcutta and join Mr. Merriman in -searching for them, he had a strange certainty that it was not to be. -The faintness that he had already felt returned. His head was burning -and throbbing; his ears buzzed; his limbs ached; his whole frame was -seized at moments with paroxysms of shivering which no effort could -control. Unknown to himself the seeds of malarial fever had found a -lodgment in his system. While listening to Toley's story, he had -reclined on the ground. When he tried to rise, he was overcome by -giddiness and nausea. - -"I am done up," he continued. "Mr. Toley, you must take charge and get -these goods conveyed to Calcutta. Lose no time." - -Surendra Nath recognized the symptoms of the disease, and immediately -had a litter improvised for Desmond out of the linen covering of one of -the carts and a couple of muskets. Mr. Toley at once made preparations -for moving on with the convoy. The hackeriwallahs who had driven off -the cattle had not gone far; they had waited in the hope of getting the -bakshish promised them--if not from the young sahib, at least from the -leader of the attacking party, which from its numbers they believed -would gain the day. The oxen were soon yoked up. Mr. Toley would not -wait to recover the loads of the carts that had toppled into the nullah, -nor would he leave men for that purpose, lest another attack should be -made on them from Hugli. He set off as soon as the teams were ready. -Half an hour after they started, Bulger, walking beside the litter, saw -to his dismay that Desmond had lost consciousness. - - -It was nearly a fortnight later when Desmond came to himself in his old -bunk on board the _Hormuzzeer_. He was alone. Lying on his back, -feebly trying to adjust his thoughts to his surroundings, he heard the -faint boom of guns. What was happening? He tried to rise, but all -power was gone from him; he could hardly lift an arm. Even the slight -effort was too much for him, and he swooned again. - -When he once more recovered consciousness, he saw a figure by his side. -It was Mr. Toley. Again the distant thunder of artillery fell upon his -ears. - -"What is happening?" he asked, feebly. - -"Almighty be praised!" said Toley fervently, "you're coming safe to -port. Hush! Lie you still. You'll want nussin' like a babby. Never -you heed the pop-guns; I'll tell you all about them when you're -stronger. Food, sleep, and air; that's my catechism, larned from the -surgeon. Bless you, Burke, I feared you was a done man." - -With this Desmond had to be for the time content. But every day he heard -firing, and every day, as he slowly regained strength, he became more -and more anxious to know what it meant. Toley seemed to have left the -ship; Desmond was tended only by natives. From them he learned that the -Nawab was attacking Calcutta. How were the defenders faring? They could -not tell. He knew how small was the garrison, how weak the -fortifications; but, with an English lad's unconquerable faith in his -countrymen's valour, he could not believe that they could fail to hold -their own. - -One day, however, he heard no more firing. In the afternoon Mr. Toley -came to his bunk, bringing with him Mr. Merriman himself. The merchant -had his head bound up, and wore his left arm in a sling. He was pale, -haggard, the shadow of his former self. - -"What has happened, sir?" cried Desmond the instant he saw him. "Are -the ladies safe?" - -"God pity us, Desmond! I shall never see them again. My poor Dora! my -sweet Phyllis! They are lost! All is lost! The Nawab has taken the -Fort. We are beaten, shamed, ruined!" - -"How did it happen? I heard the firing. Tell me; it cannot be so bad -as that. Sure something can be done!" - -"Nothing, nothing; we did all we could. 'Twas little; would that Drake -had heeded our advice! But I am rejoiced to see you on the road to -recovery, dear boy; 'twould have been another nail in my coffin to know -that you had lost your life in doing a service for me. I thank God for -that, from the bottom of my heart." - -He pressed Desmond's hand affectionately. - -"But tell me, sir; I want to know what has happened. How came you to be -wounded? Sure I am strong enough to hear now; it will do me no harm." - -"It cuts me to the heart, Desmond, but you shall know. I was absent when -you were carried to my house--searching for my dear ones. But Dr. Gray -tended you; alas! the good man is now a prisoner. I returned three days -after, driven back from up the river by the advance of the Nawab's army. -I was worn out, distraught; not a trace had I found of my dear wife; she -had vanished; nor of my daughter; nor even of my peons; all had gone. -And there was trouble enough in Calcutta, for me and for all. 'Twas the -very day I returned that news came of Siraj-uddaula's approach. And a -letter from his chief spy was intercepted, addressed to Omichand, -bidding him escape while there was yet time and join the Subah. That -seemed to Mr. Drake clear proof that Omichand was in league with our -enemies, and he had him arrested and thrown into the Fort prison. But -Mr. Drake never acts till 'tis too late. He gave orders next to arrest -Krishna Das. The man barricaded himself in his house and beat our peons -off, till Lieutenant Blagg and thirty Europeans drove in his gates. They -found a vast quantity of arms collected there. They stormed Omichand's -house also, where three hundred armed domestics made a stout fight -against 'em. When our men got in--'tis a horrid story--the head jamadar -with his own hands stabbed all his master's women and children, to -prevent 'em falling into our hands, and then set fire to the place. - -"Our men had already been driven out of Tanna fort by Manik Chand, who -had come up with two thousand men and a couple of field-pieces. Then -came up Mir Jafar, the Nawab's bakshi,[#] and began firing from the -Chitpur gate. We got all our women into the Fort; the poor creatures -left all they had but their clothes and their bedding. You may guess -the confusion. The natives were flocking out of the town; most of our -servants fled with them; all our cooks were gone, so that though we had -a great stock of food we were like to starve in the midst of plenty. -But we filled their places with some of the Portuguese who came crowding -into the Fort. Two thousand of 'em, men, women, and children, filled -the courtyard, sitting among their bundles of goods, so that we could -scarce move for 'em. The enemy was in the town; they had set light to -the Great Bazar, and were burning and plundering in the native parts. -We fired the bastis[#] to the east and south, to deprive 'em of cover; -and you may imagine the scene, Desmond--the blazing sky, the tears and -screams of the women, the din of guns. We wrote to the French at -Chandernagore begging 'em to lend us some ammunition, for the most of -ours was useless; but they sent us a genteel reply saying they'd no more -than sufficient for their own needs; yet the wretches made the Nawab a -present of two hundred chests of powder, 'tis said. - - -[#] Commander-in-chief. - -[#] Blocks of huts. - - -"Next day we were besieged in earnest. The Nawab had, we learnt, nigh -50,000 men, with 150 elephants and camels, and 250 Frenchmen working his -artillery. Against 'em we had about 500 in all, only half of 'em -Europeans. What could so few do against so many? Our officers were all -brave enough, but they've had a slack time, and few of 'em are fit for -their work. Ensign Picard, sure, did wonders, and Lieutenant Smyth -defended the North battery with exceeding skill; but we had not men -enough to hold our positions, and step by step we were driven back. -'Twas clear we could not hold out long, and on Friday night we held a -council of war, and decided to send the women on board the ships in the -river, to get 'em out of harm's way. Then by heaven! Desmond, two of -the Council shamed 'emselves for ever. Mr. Manningham and Mr. -Frankland, special friends of Mr. Drake, attended the ladies to the -ship--'twas the _Dodalay_, of which they are owners--and they stayed on -board with 'em--the cowards, to set such an infamous example! And well -'twas followed. 'Tis scarce credible, but Captain Minchin, our gallant -commander, and Mr. Drake, our noble president, went down to the ghat and -had 'emselves rowed off to the shipping and deserted us: good God! do -they deserve the name of Englishmen? One of our gentlemen standing on -the steps was so enraged that he sent a bullet after the cravens; others -did the same, and I would to heaven that one of their shots had took -effect on the wretches! We made Mr. Holwell governor in the Quaker's -place; and I tell you, Desmond, had we done so before, there would have -been a different story to tell this day. - -"Mr. Holwell saw 'twas impossible to withstand the Nawab's hordes much -longer, and spoke for an orderly retreat; but he was overrid by some of -the military officers; and besides, retreat was cut off, for the ships -that had lain in the river moved away, and though we hung out signals -from the Fort asking 'em to come back and take us off, they paid no -heed; nay, they stood further off, leaving us to our fate. What could -we do? Mr. Holwell sent to Omichand in his prison and offered to -release him if he would treat with the Nawab for us. But the Gentoo -refused. All he would do was to write a letter to Manik Chand asking -him to intercede for us. Mr. Holwell threw the letter over the wall -among the enemy, and by heaven! Desmond, never did I suppose Englishmen -would be reduced to such a point of humiliation. But 'twas of no -effect. The enemy came on with the more determination, and brought -bamboos to scale the walls. We drove 'em off again, but with frightful -loss; twenty-five of our bravest men were killed outright and sixty -wounded. 'Twas there I got my wounds, and 'twould have been all over -with me but for that fine fellow Bulger; he turned aside with his hook a -slashing blow from a scimitar and gave my assailant his quietus. Bulger -fought like a hero, and the very look of him, black with powder and -stained with blood, seemed to drive all the fight out of the Moors that -came his way. - -"All this time the shots of the Nawab's cannon annoyed us, not to much -harm, for they were most villainously served; their fire-arrows did us -more mischief, flying into the thick of the crowds of screaming women -and children. It made my heart sick to think of the poor innocent people -suffering through the weakness and incompetence and the guilty neglect -of our Council. The heat and the glare, the want of food, the uproar -and commotion--may I never see or hear the like again! - -"Yesterday there was a lull in the fighting about mid-day. The enemy -were still outside the Fort, though they had possession of all the -houses around. They showed a flag of truce, whereupon Mr. Holwell writ -a letter asking 'em for terms. But 'twas a trick to deceive us. While -we were resting, waiting the result of the parley, the Moors poured out -of their hiding-places and swarmed upon the eastern gate of the Fort and -the pallisadoes on the south-west. In the interval many of our common -men had fallen asleep, some, alas! were drunk, so that we had no force -to resist the invaders, who scaled the roof of the godowns on the north -wall with the aid of their bamboos and swept over into the Fort. - -"Most of us Europeans who were left collected in the veranda in front of -the barracks--you know, between the great gate and the south-east -bastion. Scarce a man of us but was wounded. There we were unmolested, -for the enemy, as soon as they burst into our private rooms, made busy -with their spoil; and, as it appeared, the Nawab had given orders that -we were to be spared. At five o'clock he came into the Fort in a gay -litter and held a durbar in our Council room, Mir Jafar salaaming before -him and making fulsome compliments on his great victory. Then the wretch -sent for Mr. Holwell. We bade him farewell; sure we thought we should -never see him more. But he returned to us presently, and told us the -Nawab was vastly enraged at the smallness of the treasure he had found; -the stories of the French had led him to expect untold wealth. Omichand -and Krishna Das had been took out of prison, and treated with great -affability, and presented by the Nawab with siropas--robes of honour, a -precious token of his favour. But the Nawab, Mr. Holwell told us, had -promised no harm should befall us. A guard of 500 gun-men was set over -us with matches lighted, and the sun being now nigh setting, men came -with torches, though sure they were not needed, a great part of the -factory being in flames, so that indeed we feared we should be -suffocated. But we were shortly afterwards told to go into the -barracks, nigh the veranda where we stood. Then it was that I, by the -mercy of God, was enabled to escape. I was at the end of the veranda, -farthest from the barracks. Just as I was about to move off after the -rest, one of the guards came in front of me, and whispered me to hide -behind the last of the thick pillars till he came for me. I recognized -the man: 'twas an old peon of mine. Thank God for a faithful servant! -More dead than alive I did what he said. For hours I lay there, fearing -I know not what, not daring to stir lest some eye should see me, and -suffering agonies from my untended wounds. At last the man came to me. -'Sahib,' he said, 'you were good to me. I will save you. Come quickly.' -I got up and stumbled after him. He led me by dark ways out of the -Fort, past the new godown, across the burying-ground, down to Chandpal -ghat. There I found Mr. Toley awaiting me with a boat, and 'tis thanks -to my old peon and him I now find myself safe." - -"And do you know what became of Bulger?" asked Desmond. - -"He is with the rest, sorely battered, poor man." - -"What will happen to the prisoners? How many are there?" - -"There are nigh a hundred and fifty. The Nawab has promised they shall -suffer no harm, and after a night in barracks I suppose he will let 'em -go. We shall drop down the river till we reach the other vessels at -Surman's, and then, by heaven! I shall see what I can do to bring Mr. -Drake to a sense of his duty, and persuade him to come back and take off -the Europeans. Sure this action of Siraj-uddaula's will not go -unavenged. We have already sent letters to Madras, and within two -months, I hope, succour will reach us from thence, and we shall chastise -this insolent young Nawab." - -"Do you think he will keep his word?--I mean, to do the prisoners no -harm." - -"I think so. He has done no harm to Mr. Watts, whom he brought with him -from Cossimbazar; and our people will be more valuable to him alive than -dead. Yes; by this time to-morrow I trust Mr. Holwell and the others -will be safe on board the ships, and I do not envy Mr. Drake his bitter -experience when the men he has deserted confront him." - -While Mr. Merriman was telling his story, the _Hormuzzeer_ was slowly -drifting down the river. At Surman's garden, about five miles south of -Calcutta, it joined the other vessels belonging to British owners, and -dropped anchor. Several gentlemen came on board, eager to learn what -had been the last scene in the tragic drama. Mr. Merriman told them all -he knew, and every one drew a long breath of relief when they learnt -that, though prisoners, Mr. Holwell and the gallant few who had stuck to -their posts had been assured of good treatment. During the day the -vessel dropped still lower down the river to Budge Budge, running the -gauntlet of a brisk but ineffective fire from Tanna Fort, now in the -hands of the Nawab's troops. - -When the _Hormuzzeer_ lay at anchor at Budge Budge, Mr. Merriman -explained to Desmond the plans he had formed for him. The vessel now -had her full cargo, and would sail immediately for Penang. Mr. Merriman -proposed that Desmond should make the voyage. In his weak state the -climate of Fulta, where the Europeans intended to stay until help -reached them from Madras, might prove fatal to him; while the sea air -would complete his cure. - -His share of the sale-price of the _Tremukji_, together with the Gheria -prize-money, amounted to more than a thousand pounds, and this had been -invested for him by his friend. - -"For myself," added Merriman, "I shall remain. My wounds are not -severe; I am accustomed to the climate; and though India is now odious -to me, I shall not leave Indian soil until I find traces of my dear wife -and daughter. God grant that by the time you return I shall have some -news of them." - -Desmond would have liked to remain with the merchant, but he knew that -in his weakness he could have done him no service, and he acquiesced in -the arrangement. - -That same evening the fugitives received news that made their blood run -cold. Two Englishmen, Messrs. Cooke and Lushington, who had remained -staunchly by Mr. Holwell's side, came from the shore in a small boat and -boarded the _Dodalay_. Their appearance struck every one with amazement -and horror. Mr. Cooke was a merchant, aged thirty-one; Mr. Lushington a -writer in the Company's service, his age eighteen; but the events of one -night had altered them almost beyond recognition. They said that when -the order had been given to confine them in the barracks, the prisoners -had all expected to pass the night in comparative comfort. What was -their amazement when they were escorted to the Black Hole, a little -chamber no more than eighteen feet square, which was only used as a rule -for the confinement of one or two unruly prisoners. In vain they -protested; their brutal guards forced them, a hundred and forty-six in -number, into the narrow space, and locked the door upon them. It was one -of the hottest nights of the year; there was but one small opening in -the wall, and before long the want of air and the intense heat drove the -poor people to fury. They trampled each other down in their mad attempts -to get near the opening for air and the water which one of their -jailers, less brutal than the rest, handed in to them. The horror of the -scenes that passed in that small room baffles description. In the -agonies of thirst and suffocation the prisoners fought like tigers. -Many prayed their guards to shoot them and end their sufferings, only to -meet with jeers and laughter. Some of the native officers took pity on -them and would have opened the door; but none durst move without the -Nawab's permission, or brave his fury if they roused him from his sleep. -From seven in the evening till six in the morning the agony continued, -and when at length the order came for their release, only twenty-three -of the hundred and forty-six tottered forth, the ghastliest wrecks of -human beings. Mr. Holwell and three others were then conveyed as -prisoners in a bullock-cart to Omichand's garden, and thence to -Murshidabad; the rest were bidden to go where they pleased. - -The news was kept from Desmond. It was not till weeks after that he -heard of the terrible tragedy. Then, with the horror and pity he felt, -there was mingled a fear that Bulger had been among those who perished. -The seaman, he knew, had taken a stout part in the defence of the Fort; -Mr. Merriman had not mentioned him as being among the prisoners; it was -possible that he had escaped; but the thought that the brave fellow had -perhaps died in that awful hole made Desmond sick at heart. - -Though the season was now at its hottest, the fresh sea air proved a -wonderful tonic to him, and he rapidly regained his strength. The -voyage was slow. The _Hormuzzeer_ beat down the Bay of Bengal against -the monsoon now beginning, and it was nearly two months before she made -Penang. She unloaded there: her cargo was sold at great profit, she -being the only vessel that had for some time left the Hugli; and Desmond -found his capital increased by nearly a hundred per cent. She then took -on a cargo for Madras, where she arrived in the first week of September. - -Desmond took the earliest opportunity of going on shore. The roads were -studded with Admiral Watson's fleet, and he learnt that Clive was in the -town preparing an expedition to avenge the wrong suffered by the English -in Calcutta. He hastened to obtain an interview with the colonel. - -"'Tis no conventional speech when I say I am glad to see you alive and -well, Mr. Burke," said Clive. "Have you come direct from Calcutta?" - -"No, sir. I left there some ten weeks ago for Penang." - -"Then I have later news of my friend Merriman than you. Poor fellow! -He is distraught at the loss of his wife and girl. I have received -several letters from him. He spoke of you; told me of what you had done -at Cossimbazar. Gad, sir, you did right well in defending his goods; -and I promise myself if ever I lay hands on that villain Peloti he shall -smart for that piece of rascaldom and many more. Are you still minded -to take service with me?" - -"I should like nothing better, sir, but I doubt whether I can think of -it until I see Mr. Merriman." - -"Tut, man, that is unnecessary. 'Twas arranged between Mr. Merriman and -me in Bombay that he would release you as soon as a vacancy occurred in -the Company's military establishment. There are several such vacancies -now, and I shall be glad to have a Shropshire man as a lieutenant. I -trow you are not averse to taking a hand in this expedition?" - -"No one who knows what happened in Calcutta can be that, sir." - -"That is settled, then. I appoint you a cadet in the Company's -service." - -"Thank you indeed, sir," said Desmond, flushing with pleasure. "I have -longed all my life to serve under you." - -"You may find me a hard task-master," said Clive, setting his lips in -the grim way that so many had cause to fear. - -"When do we start, sir?" - -"That I can't say. 'Tis not by my wish we have delayed so long. I will -let you know when I require your services. Meanwhile, make yourself -acquainted with the officers." - -Desmond learnt from his new comrades that there was some disagreement -among the Madras Council about the command of the expedition. Clive had -volunteered to lead it as soon as the news of the fall of Calcutta -arrived; but he was inferior in rank to Colonel Adlercron of the 39th -Regiment, and that officer was a great stickler for military etiquette. -The Council had some reason for anxiety. They might hear, at any moment, -of the outbreak of war between France and England; and as the French -were strong in Southern India, it required much moral courage to weaken -the force disposable for the defence of Madras. - -One day, before the matter of the command had been definitely settled, -Desmond received a summons from Clive. He found the great soldier -alone. - -"You have heard of the discussions in the Council, Mr. Burke," began -Clive without ceremony. "I tell you this: I and no other will command -this expedition. In that confidence I have sent for you. What I have -heard of you speaks well for your readiness and resource, and I think -you could be more useful to me in the Hugli than waiting here until our -respected Council can make up their minds. The men here are not -acquainted with Bengal. You are: you know the country, from Calcutta to -Murshidabad, at all events, and you speak Hindustani with some fluency. -You can serve me best by picking up any information you can get -regarding the enemy's movements. You are willing, I take it, to run -some risks?" - -"I'll do anything you wish, sir." - -"As I expected. Well, you will go at once to Fulta. Not to Mr. Drake: -I've no confidence in him and the other old women who are conducting the -Company's affairs in Bengal. Major Killpatrick, an excellent officer, -left here in June with a small reinforcement. He is now at Fulta. You -will join him. I will ask him to give you a free hand in going and -coming and collecting information. You understand that in a sense you -are on secret service. I want you to keep an eye particularly on the -movements of the French. 'Tis reported that they are in league with -Siraj-uddaula: find out whether that's the case: and gad, sir, if it is, -I'll not be satisfied till I've turned 'em neck and crop out of Bengal. -You'll want money: here are 5,000 rupees; if you want more, ask Major -Killpatrick. Now, when can you start?" - -"The _Hormuzzeer_ is sailing in ballast to-morrow, sir. She'll go light, -and aboard her I should get to Fulta as quickly as on any other vessel." - -"Very well. I trust you: much depends on your work; go on as you have -begun and I promise you Robert Clive won't forget it. Good-bye.--By the -way, your duties will take you through the parts where Mrs. Merriman -disappeared. Your first duty is to me, and through me to your King and -country, remember that. But if you can get any news of the missing -ladies, so much the better. Mrs. Merriman is a cousin of my wife, and I -am deeply concerned about her fate." - -Next day the _Hormuzzeer_ sailed, and by the middle of September Desmond -had reached Fulta, and reported himself both to Major Killpatrick and to -Mr. Merriman there. - - - - - CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FOURTH - - -*In which the danger of judging by appearance is notably exemplified.* - - -"Sure 'tis a most pleasant engaging young man," said Mrs. Merriman, as -her boat dropped down the river towards Chandernagore. "Don't you think -so, Phyllis?" - -"Why, mamma, it does seem so. But 'tis too soon to make up my mind in -ten minutes." - -"Indeed, miss! Let me tell you I made up my mind about your father in -five. La, how Merriman will laugh when he hears 'twas Mr. Burke gave -him that scar!--What is the matter, Munnoo Khan?" - -The boat had stopped with a jerk, and the boatmen were looking at one -another with some anxiety. The serang explained that ill luck had -caused the boat to strike a snag in the river, and she was taking in -water. - -"You clumsy man! The Sahib will be angry with you. Make haste, then; -row harder." - -"Mamma, 'tis impossible!" cried Phyllis in alarm, "See, the water is -coming in fast; we shall be swamped in a few minutes!" - -"Mercy me, 'tis as you say! Munnoo Khan, row to the nearest ghat: you -see it there! Sure 'tis a private ghat, belonging to the house of one -of the French merchants. He will lend us a boat. 'Twill be vastly -annoying if we do not reach home to-night." - -The men just succeeded in reaching the ghat, on the left bank of the -river about a mile below Chandernagore, before the boat sank. When the -party had landed, Mrs. Merriman sent her jamadar up to the house to ask -for the loan of a boat, or for shelter while one was being obtained from -Chandernagore. - -"Tell the Sahib 'tis the bibi of an English sahib," she said. "He will -not refuse to do English ladies a service." - -The jamadar shortly returned, followed by a tall dark-featured European -in white clothes. He bowed and smiled pleasantly when he came down to -the ghat, and addressed Mrs. Merriman in French. - -"I am happy to be of service, madam. Alas! I have no boat at hand, but -I will send instantly to Chandernagore for one. Meanwhile, if you will -have the goodness to come to my house, my wife will be proud to offer -you refreshments, and we will do our best to entertain you until the -boat arrives. Permit me, madam." - -He offered his left hand to assist the lady up the steps. - -"I had the mischance to injure my right hand the other day," he -explained. "It is needful to keep it from the air." - -It was thrust into the pocket of his coat. - -"The Frenchman is vastly polite," said Mrs. Merriman to her daughter, as -they preceded him up the path to the house. "But there, that is the way -with their nation." - -"Hush, mamma!" said Phyllis, "he may understand English. I do not like -his smile," she added in a whisper. - -"La, my dear, it means nothing; it comes natural to a Frenchman. He -looks quite genteel, you must confess; I should not be surprised if he -were a somebody in his own land." - -As if in response to the implied question, the man moved to her side, -and, in a manner of great deference, said-- - -"Your jamadar named you to me, madam; I feel that I ought to explain who -I am. My name is Jacques de Bonnefon--a name, I may say it without -boasting, once even better known at the court of His Majesty King Louis -the Fifteenth than in Chandernagore. Alas, madam! fortune is a fickle -jade. Here I am now, in Bengal, slowly retrieving by honest commerce a -patrimony of which my lamented father was not too careful." - -"There! What did I say?" whispered Mrs. Merriman to her daughter as -Monsieur de Bonnefon went forward to meet them on the threshold of his -veranda. "A noble in misfortune! I only hope his wife is presentable." - -They entered the house and were shown into a room opening on the -veranda. - -"You will pardon my leaving you for a few moments, mesdames," said their -obliging host. "I will bring my wife to welcome you, and send to -Chandernagore for a boat." - -With a bow he left them, closing the door behind him. - -"Madame de Bonnefon was taken by surprise, I suppose," said Mrs. -Merriman, "and is making her toilet. The vanity of these French people, -my dear!" - -Minutes passed. Evening was coming on apace; little light filtered -through the jhilmils. The ladies sat, wondering why their hostess did -not appear. - -"Madame takes a long time, my dear," said Mrs. Merriman. - -"I don't like it, mamma. I wish we hadn't come into the stranger's -house." - -"Why, my love, what nonsense! The man is not a savage. The French are -not at war with us, and if they were, they do not war with women. -Something has happened to delay Monsieur de Bonnefon." - -"I can't help it, mamma; I don't like his looks; I fear something, I -don't know what. Oh, I wish father were here!" - -She got up and walked to and fro restlessly. Then, as by a sudden -impulse, she went quickly to the door and turned the handle. She gave a -low cry under her breath, and sprang round. - -"Mamma! mamma!" she cried. "I knew it! The door is locked." - -Mrs. Merriman rose immediately. - -"Nonsense, my dear! He would not dare do such a thing!" - -But the door did not yield to her hand, though she pulled and shook it -violently. - -"The insolent villain!" she exclaimed. She had plenty of courage, and -if her voice shook, it was with anger, not fear. She went to the window -opening on the veranda, loosed the bars, and looked out. - -"We can get out here," she said. "We will go instantly to -Chandernagore, and demand assistance from the Governor." - -But the next moment she shrank back into the room. Two armed peons stood -in the veranda, one on each side of the window. Recovering herself Mrs. -Merriman went to the window again. - -"They will not dare to stop us," she said. "Let me pass, you men; I -will not be kept here." - -But the natives did not budge from their post. Only, as the angry lady -flung open one of the folding doors, they closed together and barred the -way with their pikes. Accustomed to absolute subservience from her own -peons, Mrs. Merriman saw at once that insistence was useless. If these -men did not obey instantly they would not obey at all. - -"I cannot fight them," she said, again turning back. "The wretches! If -only your father were here!" - -"Or Mr. Burke," said Phyllis. "Oh, how I wish he had come with us!" - -"Wishing is no use, my dear. I vow the Frenchman shall pay dearly for -this insolence. We must make the best of it." - -Meanwhile Monsieur de Bonnefon had gone down to the ghat. But he did -not send a messenger to Chandernagore as he had promised. He told the -jamadar, in Urdu, that his mistress and the chota bibi would remain at -his house for the night. They feared another accident if they should -proceed in the darkness. He bade the man bring his party to the house, -where they would all find accommodation until the morning. - -In the small hours of that night there was a short sharp scuffle in the -servants' quarters. The Merriman boatmen and peons were set upon by a -score of sturdy men who promptly roped them together and, hauling them -down to the ghat and into a boat, rowed them up to Hugli. - -There they were thrown into the common prison. In the morning a charge -of dacoity[#] was laid against them. The story was that they had been -apprehended in the act of breaking into the house of Monsieur Sinfray. -Plenty of witnesses were forthcoming to give evidence against them; such -can be purchased outside any cutcherry[#] in India for a few rupees. -The men were convicted. Some were given a choice between execution and -service in the Nawab's army; others were sentenced off-hand to a term of -imprisonment, and these considered themselves lucky in escaping with -their lives. In vain they protested their innocence and pleaded that a -messenger might be sent to Calcutta; the Nawab was known to be so much -incensed against the English that the fact of their being Company's -servants availed them nothing. - - -[#] Gang robbery. - -[#] Court-house. - - -About the same time that the men were being condemned, a two-ox hackeri, -such as was used for the conveyance of pardahnishin[#] women, left the -house of Monsieur de Bonnefon and drove inland for some five miles. The -curtains were closely drawn, and the people who met it on the road -wondered from what zenana the ladies thus screened from the public gaze -had come. The team halted at a lonely house surrounded by a high wall, -once the residence of a zamindar, now owned by Coja Solomon of -Cossimbazar, and leased to a fellow Armenian of Chandernagore. It had -been hired more than once by Monsieur Sinfray, the Secretary to the -Council at Chandernagore and a _persona grata_ with the Nawab, for _al -fresco_ entertainments got up in imitation of the fêtes at Versailles. -But of late Monsieur Sinfray had had too much important business on hand -to spare time for such delights. He was believed to be with -Siraj-uddaula at Murshidabad, and the house had remained untenanted. - - -[#] Literally, sitting behind screens. - - -The hackeri pulled up at the gate in the wall. The curtains were drawn -aside; a group of peons surrounded the cart to fend off prying eyes; and -the passengers descended--two ladies clad in long white saris[#] and -closely veiled. A sleek Bengali had already got out from a palanquin -which had accompanied the hackeri; in a second palanquin sat Monsieur de -Bonnefon, who did not take the trouble to alight. With many salaams the -Bengali led the ladies through the gate and across the compound towards -the house. They both walked proudly erect, with a gait very different -from that of the native ladies who time and again had followed the same -path. They entered the house; the heavy door was shut; and from behind -the screens of the room to which they were led they heard the hackeri -rumbling away. - -[#] Garment in one piece, covering the body from head to foot. - -Monsieur de Bonnefon, as his palanquin was borne off, soliloquized, -ticking off imaginary accounts on the fingers of his left hand; the -right hand was partly hidden by a black velvet mitten. His reckoning -ran somewhat as follows-- - -"In account with Edward Merriman-- - -"Credit--to the hounding out of the Company by his friend Clive: -nominal: I made more outside; to scurrilous abuse in public and private: -mere words--say fifty rupees; to threat to hang me: mere words -again--say fifty rupees. Total credit, say a hundred rupees. - -"Debit--to ransom for wife and daughter: two lakhs. - -"Balance in my favour, say a hundred and ninety-nine thousand nine -hundred rupees. - -"In a few weeks, Mr. Edward Merriman, I shall trouble you for a -settlement." - - - - - CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FIFTH - - -*In which our hero embarks on a hazardous mission; and Monsieur -Sinfray's khansaman makes a confession.* - - -On arriving at Fulta Desmond found that the European fugitives from -Calcutta were living for the most part on board the country ships in the -river, while the military were cantoned in huts ashore, on a plain -eastward of the town. The avenues leading to their camp were occupied -by sepoys. Desmond lost no time in making his way to Major -Killpatrick's hut and presenting his credentials. - -"Very glad to make your acquaintance," said the major heartily. "Oh -yes, I know all about you. Mr. Merriman has told me of the way you -brought his cargo through from Cossimbazar, and the plucky stand you -made against odds. By Jove, sir, 'twas an amazing good piece of work. -You deserved a commission if any youngster ever did, and I'm glad Mr. -Clive has done the right thing. Let me tell you, Mr. Clive don't make -mistakes--in military matters, that is to say. And Gheria, now: egad, -sir, you must have a head on your shoulders; and that en't flattery; we -soldiers en't in the habit of laying on the butter. You did well; and -sure you'll be of the greatest use to us here. We need a few men as are -able to keep their heads in a warm place: and, begad, if they'd had such -men in Bengal these last months we wouldn't be rotting here in this -fever-haunted place. Why, I've lost thirty-two officers and men in less -than a couple of months, and I'll be lucky if I've fifty fit for service -by the time Mr. Clive arrives. When may we expect him, sir?" - -"He couldn't tell me, sir. The Madras Council can't make up their minds -who is to command the expedition, and they're waiting for ships from -home." - -Major Killpatrick laughed. - -"Why, I know how that will end. With Mr. Stringer Lawrence laid up -there is only one man fit to do this job, and that's Mr. Clive, and the -sooner the gentlemen on their office stools at Madras see that, the -better in the end for everybody. Now you're strong again, eh? Got rid -of that touch of fever?" - -"Yes, sir; I'm as well as ever." - -"And want to be doing something, I'll be bound. Well, 'twill need some -thinking, what you're to do. We're badly served with news. We've got -spies, of course; but I don't set much store by native spies in this -country. We've information by the bushel, but when you come to sift it -out there's precious little of it you can trust. And the enemy has got -spies too--hundreds of 'em. I'll bet my boots there's a regular system -of kasids for carrying news of us to Manik Chand and from him to the -Nawab. If the truth was known, I daresay that rascal knows how many -hairs I have on my bald crown under my wig--if that's any interest to -him. Well, I suppose you'll join Mr. Merriman on board one of the -ships. Better chance of escaping the fever there. I'll turn over a -thing or two I have in my mind and send for you when I've done turning." - -On the way back to the shore Desmond met the serang who had accompanied -him down the river from Cossimbazar. The man explained that after the -capture of Calcutta his brother Hubbo, the Company's syr serang,[#] had -been impressed into the service of the Nawab, and he himself had been -sent by Hubbo to Fulta to assist the Council and merchants of the -Company. He had there met Mr. Merriman, whom in common with many others -he had believed to be dead. Mr. Merriman, having no immediate need for -his services, had willingly permitted him to take his brother's place in -the employment of the Company. - - -[#] Head boatman. - - -Mr. Merriman welcomed Desmond with quite fatherly affection, and -congratulated him heartily on his appointment. The _Hormuzzeer_ being -unlikely, owing to the complete cessation of trade, to make another -voyage for some months to come, he decided to take up his quarters on -board, and Desmond lived with him as a matter of course. Desmond was -shocked to see the change wrought on his friend by the loss of his wife -and daughter. All his gay spirits had left him; he had thinned -perceptibly, and his eyes had that strained look which only a great -sorrow can cause. - -"I have been thinking it over, Desmond," he said as they sat in the -cabin, "and I can only conclude that this is one more of Peloti's -villainies. Good God! had he not done me and mine harm enough? Who -else would be so dead to all sense of right, of decency, as to seize -upon two helpless women? My brother was hanged, Desmond; hanging is too -good for that scoundrel; but we cannot touch him; he laughs at us; and I -am helpless--helpless!" - -"Like you, sir, I have come to believe that you owe this terrible sorrow -to Diggle--I must always call him that. Don't give up heart, sir. What -his motive is, if he has indeed captured the ladies, I cannot tell. It -may be to use them as hostages in case he gets into trouble with us; it -is impossible to see into the black depths of his mind. But I believe -the ladies are safe, and, please God, I will learn something about them -and maybe bring them back to you." - -Desmond waited a couple of days in the hope of receiving a definite task -from Major Killpatrick. But that officer, while an excellent soldier, -was not fertile in expedients. The process of "turning things over in -his mind" did not furnish him with an inspiration. He came on board the -_Hormuzzeer_ one afternoon, and confessed that he didn't see how Desmond -could possibly get up and down the river. Mr. Merriman reminded him -that in the early days of the stay at Fulta, Mr. Robert Gregory had gone -up with requests to the French and Dutch for assistance. Under cover of -a storm he passed Tanna and Calcutta unnoticed by the Nawab's men. - -"The French were very polite, but wouldn't move a finger for us," added -Mr. Merriman. "The Dutch were more neighbourly, and sent us some -provisions--badly needed, I assure you. Mr. Gregory is still with them -at Chinsura." - -"If he got through, why shouldn't I?" asked Desmond. - -"My dear boy," said Killpatrick, "the river is narrowly watched. The -Moors know that Gregory outwitted them; sure no other Englishman could -repeat the trick. And if you were caught, there's no saying how Manik -Chand might serve you. He seems disposed to be friendly, to be sure: -he's made governor of Calcutta now, and wants to feel his feet. But -he's a weak man, by all accounts; and weak men, when they are afraid, -are always cruel. If he caught an Englishman spying out the land he'd -most probably treat him after Oriental methods. In fact, the situation -between him and us is such," concluded the major with a laugh, "that -he'd be quite justified in stringing you up." - -Major Killpatrick left without offering any suggestion. When he had gone -Desmond spent an hour or two in "turning things over in his mind." He -felt that the major was well disposed and would probably jump at any -reasonable scheme that was put before him. After a period of quiet -reflection he sought out Hossain the serang and had a long talk with -him. At the conclusion of the interview he went to see Mr. Merriman. -He explained that Hossain wished to return to the service of a former -employer, a native grain merchant in Calcutta, who did a large trade -along the Hugli from the Sanderbands to Murshidabad. The consent of the -Council was required, and Desmond wished Mr. Merriman to arrange the -matter without giving any explanation. The merchant was naturally -anxious to know why Desmond interested himself in the man, and what he -learnt drew from him an instant promise to obtain the Council's consent -without delay. Then Desmond made his way to Major Killpatrick's hut, -and remained closeted with that genial officer till a late hour. - -Six weeks later a heavily laden petala, with a dinghy trailing behind, -was dropping down the river above Hugli. Its crew numbered four. One -was Hossain the serang, who had left Fulta with Desmond on the day after -his interview with Major Killpatrick. Two were dark-skinned boatmen, -Bengalis somewhat stupid in appearance. The fourth, who was steering, -was rather lighter in hue, as well as more alert and energetic in mien: -a lascar, as Hossain explained in answer to inquiries along the river. -He had lately been employed on one of the Company's vessels, but it had -been sunk in the Hugli during the siege of Calcutta. He was a handy man -in a boat, and very glad to earn a few pice in this time of stagnant -trade. Things were not looking bright for boatmen on the Hugli; as only -a few vessels had left the river from Chandernagore and Chinsura since -the troubles began, there was little or no opening for men of the -shipwrecked crew. - -The petala made fast for the night near the bank, at a spot a little -below Hugli, between that place and Chinsura. When the two Bengalis had -eaten their evening rice, Hossain told them that they might, if they -pleased, take the dinghy and attend a tamasha[#] that was being held in -Chinsura that night in honour of the wedding of one of the Dutch -Company's principal gumashtas. The Bengalis, always ready for an -entertainment of this kind, slipped overboard and were soon rowing down -to Chinsura. Their orders were to be back immediately after the second -watch of the night. Only the lascar and Hossain were left in the boat. - - -[#] Entertainment. - - -Ten minutes after the men had disappeared from view, the serang lit a -small oil-lamp in the tiny cabin. He then made his way to the helm, -whispered a word in the lascar's ear, and took his place. The latter -nodded and went into the cabin. Drawing the curtains, he squatted on a -mattress, took from a hiding-place in the cabin a few sheets of paper -and a pencil, and, resting the paper on the back of a tray, began to -write. As he did so he frequently consulted a scrap of paper he kept at -his left hand; it was closely covered with letters and figures, these -latter not Hindustani characters, but the Arabic figures employed by -Europeans. The first line of what he wrote himself ran thus-- - -29 19 28 19 36 38 32 20 31 39 23 34 19 29 29 35 32 38 24 38 23 32 - - -[#] Constructed from the cipher used by Mr. Watts at Murshidabad. -[Transcriber's note: there was no footnote reference in the source book -for this footnote.] - - -The letter or message upon which he was engaged was not a lengthy one, -but it took a long time to compose. When it was finished the lascar went -over it line by line, comparing it with the paper at his left hand. -Then he folded it very small, sealed it with a wafer, and, returning to -the serang, said a few words. Hossain made a trumpet of his hands, and, -looking towards the left bank, sounded a few notes in imitation of a -bird's warble. The shore was fringed here with low bushes. As if in -answer to the call a small boat darted out from the shelter of a bush; a -few strokes brought it alongside of the petala; and the serang, bending -over, handed the folded paper to the boatman, and whispered a few words -in his ear. The man pushed off, and the lascar watched the boat float -silently down the stream until it was lost to sight. - -Dawn was hardly breaking when Major Killpatrick, awakened by his -servant, received from his hands a folded paper which by the aid of a -candle he began to pore over, laboriously comparing it with a small code -similar to that used by the lascar. One by one he pencilled on a scrap -of paper certain letters, every now and then whistling between his teeth -as he spelt out the words they made. The result appeared thus-- - - -Magazines for ammunition and stores of grain being prepared Tribeni and -Hugli. Bazar rumour Nawab about to march with army to Calcutta. Orders -issued Hugli traffic to be strictly watched. Dutch phataks[#] closed. -Forth unable leave Chinsura. Tanna Fort 9 guns; opposite Tanna 6 guns; -Holwell's garden 5 guns; 4 each Surman's and Ganj; 2 each Mr. Watts' -house, Seth's ghat, Maryas ghat, carpenter's yard. - - -[#] Gate or barrier. - - -"Egad!" he exclaimed, on a second reading of the message, "the boy's a -conjurer. This is important enough to send to Mr. Clive at once. But -I'll make a copy of it first in case of accident." - -Having made his copy and sealed the original and his first -transcription, he summoned his servant and bade him send for the kasid. -To him he entrusted the papers, directing him to convey them without -loss of time to Clive Sahib, whom he might expect to find at Kalpi. - -It was December 13. Two months before, the fleet containing Colonel -Clive and the troops destined for the Bengal expedition had sailed from -Madras. The force consisted of 276 King's troops, 676 of the Company's, -about a thousand sepoys, and 260 lascars. They were embarked on five of -the King's ships, with Admiral Watson in the _Kent_, and as many -Company's vessels. Baffling winds, various mishaps, and the calms usual -at this time of the year had protracted the voyage, so seriously that -the men had to be put on a two-thirds allowance of rations. Many of the -European soldiers were down with scurvy, many of the sepoys actually -died of starvation, having consumed all their rice, and refusing to -touch the meat provided for the British soldiers, for fear of losing -caste. When the Admiral at length arrived at Fulta, he had only six of -the ten ships with which he started, two that had parted company -arriving some ten days later, and two being forced to put back to -Madras, under stress of weather. - -While the _Kent_ lay at Kalpi, Clive received the message sent him by -Major Killpatrick, and was visited by Mr. Drake and other members of the -Council, from whom he heard of the sickness among the troops. On -arriving at Fulta he at once went on shore and visited the Major. - -"Sorry to hear of your sad case, Mr. Killpatrick," he said. "We're very -little better off. But we must make the best of it. I got your note. -'Twas an excellent greeting. Young Burke is a capital fellow; I have -not mistook his capacity." - -"Faith, 'twas what I told him, sir. I said Colonel Clive never mistook -his men." - -"Well, if that's true, what you said won't make him vain. This -information is valuable: you see that. Have you heard anything more -from the lad?" - -"Nothing, sir." - -"And you can't communicate with him?" - -"No, 'twas his scheme only to send messages; to receive them would -double the risk." - -"So: 'twas his scheme, not yours?" - -"Egad, sir, I've no head for that sort of thing," said Killpatrick with -a laugh. "Give me a company, and a wall to scale or a regiment to -charge, and----" - -"My dear fellow," interrupted Clive, "we all know the King has no better -officer. Credit where credit is due, major, and you're not the man to -grudge this youngster his full credit for an uncommonly daring and -clever scheme. Did you see him in his disguise?" - -"I did, sir, and at a distance he took in both Mr. Merriman and myself." - -"Well, he's a boy to keep an eye on, and I only hope that tigers or -dacoits or the Nawab's Moors won't get hold of him; he's the kind of lad -we can't spare. Now, let me know the state of your troops." - - -When he had sent off his note to Major Killpatrick, Desmond enjoyed a -short spell on deck preparatory to turning in. Hossain was placidly -smoking his hubble-bubble; from the far bank of the Hugli came the -mingled sounds of tom-toms and other instruments; near the boat all was -quiet, the wavelets of the stream lapping idly against the sides, the -stillness broken only by the occasional howl of a jackal prowling near -the bank in quest of the corpses of pious Hindus consigned to the sacred -waters of the Ganges. - -Desmond was half dozing when he was startled into wakefulness by a -sudden clamour from the native town. He heard shots, loud cries, the -hideous blare of the Bengal trumpets. For half an hour the shouts -continued intermittently; then they gradually died away. Wondering -whether the tamasha had ended in a tumult, Desmond was about to seek his -couch when, just beneath him, as it seemed, he heard a voice--a feeble -cry for help. He sprang up and looked over the side. Soon a dark head -appeared on the water. With a cry to the serang to cast loose and row -after him, Desmond took a header into the stream, and in a few strokes -gained the drowning man's side. He was clearly exhausted. Supporting -him with one arm, Desmond struck out with the other, and being a strong -swimmer he reached the stern of the boat even before the serang had -slipped his moorings. With Hossain's aid he lifted the man into the -boat, and carried him to the cabin. He was all but unconscious. A -mouthful of arrack[#] from the serang's jar revived him. No sooner was -he in command of his breath than he implored his rescuers for their help -and protection. He had escaped, he said, from Hugli Fort, not without a -gun-shot wound behind his shoulder. He spoke in Bengali. Seeing that -he was too much exhausted and agitated to tell his story that night, -Desmond bade the serang assure him of his safety. Then they made shift -to tend his wound, and, comforting him with food and drink, left him to -sleep and recover. - - -[#] A fermented liquor made from rice or the juice of the palm. - - -The two Bengalis who had been to Chinsura returned before they were -expected. They had been alarmed by the uproar. As soon as they were -aboard Desmond decided to drop a mile or two farther down the river. -The boat coming to a ghat below Chandernagore, the serang ordered the -men to pull in, and tied up for the rest of the night. - -In the morning the Bengalis were despatched on some errand along the -bank, and the coast being clear Desmond went with the serang to the -wounded man to learn particulars of his escape. The Bengali had now -almost wholly recovered, and was very voluble in his gratitude for his -rescue. While he was speaking the boat slightly shifted her position, -and the Bengali suddenly caught sight, through the matting, of a large -house beyond the ghat. He uttered an exclamation of fear, and begged the -serang with frantic waving of the hands to leave the spot at once. - -"Why, O brother, this fear?" asked Hossain. - -"I will tell you. It is a great fear. Just before the coming of the -rains I was at Khulna. There I was hired by the head serang of a lady -travelling to Calcutta. She was the wife of a burra sahib of the great -Company, and with her was her daughter. All went well until we came -near Chandernagore; we struck a snag; the boat sprang a leak; we feared -the bibis would be drowned. We rowed to this very ghat; a sahib -welcomed the ladies; they went into his house yonder. Presently he sent -for us; we lodged with his servants; but in the night we were set upon, -bound, and carried to Hugli. False witnesses accused us of being -dacoits; we were condemned; and I was confined with others in the -prison. - -"Always since then have I looked for a chance of escape. It came at -last. Some of the jailers went last night to the tamasha at Chinsura. -I stole out and got away. A sentry fired upon me, and hit me; but I am -a good swimmer and I plunged into the river. You know all that happened -then, O serang, and I beseech you leave this place; it is a dreadful -place; some harm will come to us all." - -Desmond's knowledge of Bengali was as yet slight, and he caught only -portions of the man's narrative. But he understood enough to convince -him that he was at last on the track of the missing ladies; and when, -shortly afterwards, Hossain gave him in Urdu the whole of the story, he -determined at once to act on the information. On the return of the two -Bengalis, he arranged with the serang to set them at work on some -imaginary repairs to the boat: that pretext for delay was as good as -another. Then, Hossain having reassured the fugitive, he himself landed -and made his way up to the house. - -It was closed. There was no sign of its being inhabited. But about a -hundred yards from the gate Desmond saw a basti, and from one of the -huts smoke was issuing. He sauntered up. Before the door, lolling in -unstudied deshabille, squatted a bearded Mohammedan, whom from his -rotundity Desmond guessed to be the khansaman of the big house. - -"Salaam aleikam,[#] khansaman!" said Desmond suavely. "Pardon the -curiosity of an ignorant sailor from Gujarat. What nawab owns the great -house yonder?" - - -[#] Peace be with you! - - -The khansaman, beaming in acknowledgment of the implied compliment to -his own importance, replied: - -"To Sinfray Sahib, worthy khalasi." - -"The great Sinfray Sahib of Chandernagore? Surely that is a strange -thing!" - -"Strange! What is strange? That Sinfray Sahib should own so fine a -house? You should see his other house in Chandernagore: then indeed you -might lift your eyes in wonder." - -"Nay, indeed, I marvelled not at that, for Sinfray Sahib is indeed a -great man. We who dwell upon the kala pani know well his name. Is it -not known in the bazars in Pondicherry and Surat? But I marvel at this, -khansaman: that on one day, this day of my speaking to you, I should -meet the sahib's most trusty servant, as I doubt not you are, and also -the man who has sworn revenge upon the owner of this house--ay, and on -all the household." - -"Bismillah!"[#] exclaimed the khansaman, spitting out his supari. He -was thoroughly interested, but as yet unconcerned. "What do you mean, -khalasi?" - - -[#] "In the name of Allah!"--a common exclamation. - - -"I parted but now, on the river, from a fellow-boatman who of late has -lain in prison at Hugli, put there, they say, by order of Sinfray Sahib. -He is not a dacoit; no man less so; but false witnesses rose up against -him. And, I bethink me, he said that the sahib's khansaman was one of -these men with lying lips. Surely he was in error; for your face, O -khansaman, is open as the sun, your lips are fragrant with the very -attar of truth. But he is filled with rage and fury; in his madness he -will not tarry to inquire. If he should meet you--well, it is the will -of Allah: no man can escape his fate." - -The khansaman, as Desmond spoke, looked more and more distressed; and at -the last words his face was livid. - -"It is not true," he said. "But I know the blind fury of revenge. Do -thou entreat him for me. I will pay thee well. I have saved a few -pice.[#] It will be worth five rupees to thee; and to make amends to -the madman, I will give him fifty rupees, even if it strips me of all I -have. Allah knows it was not my doing; it was forced upon me." - - -[#] Coin, value one-eighth of a penny. - - -"How could that be, khansaman?" said Desmond, letting pass the man's -contradictory statements. - -"It is not necessary to explain; my word is my word." - -"No doubt; but so enraged is the khalasi I speak of that unless I can -explain to him fully he will not heed me. Never shall I dissuade him -from his purpose." - -"It is the will of Allah!" said the khansaman resignedly. "I will tell -you. It was not Sinfray Sahib at all. He was at the Nawab's court at -Murshidabad. He had lent his house to a friend while he was absent. -The friend had a spite against Merriman Sahib, the merchant at Calcutta; -and when the bibi and the chota bibi came down the river he seized them. -Sinfray Sahib believes there was an attack by dacoits; but the bibi's -peons were carried away by the sahib's friend: it was he that brought -the evidence against them. The Angrezi sahib induced me to swear -falsely by avouching that Sinfray Sahib was also an enemy of Merriman -Sahib; but when the judge had said his word the sahib bade me keep -silence with my master, for he was ignorant of it all. The Angrezi -sahib is a terrible man: what could I do? I was afraid to speak." - -"And what was the name of the Angrezi sahib?" - -"His name?--It was Higli--no, Digli Sahib--accursed be the day I first -saw him!" - -Desmond drew a long breath. - -"And what became of the bibi and the chota bibi?" - -"They were taken away." - -"Whither?" - -"I do not know." - -The answer was glib; Desmond thought a little too glib. - -"Why then, khansaman," he said, "I fear it would be vain for me to -reason with the man I spoke of. He has eaten the salt of Merriman -Sahib; his lord's injury is his also. But you acted for the best. -Allah hafiz! that will be a morsel of comfort even if this man's knife -should find its way between your ribs. Not every dying man has such -consolation. Live in peace, good khansaman." - -Desmond, who had been squatting in the Oriental manner--an -accomplishment he had learnt with some pains at Gheria--rose to leave. -The khansaman's florid cheeks again put on a sickly hue, and when the -seeming lascar had gone a few paces he called him back. - -"Ahi, excellent khalasi! I think--I remember--I am almost sure I can -discover where the two bibis are concealed." - -"Inshallah![#] That is indeed fortunate," said Desmond, turning back. -"There lies the best chance of averting the wrath of this much-wronged -man." - - -[#] "Please God!"--a common exclamation. - - -"Wait but a little till I have clad myself duly; I will then go to a -friend yonder and inquire." - -He went into his hut and soon returned clothed in the garments that -befitted his position. Walking to a hut at the end of the block, he -made pretence, Desmond suspected, of inquiring. He was soon back. - -"Allah is good!" he said. "The khitmatgar yonder tells me they were -taken to a house three coss[#] distant, belonging to the great faujdar -Manik Chand. It is rented from him by Digli Sahib, who is a great -friend of his excellency." - - -[#] The coss is nearly two miles. - - -"Well, khansaman, you will show me the way to the house." - -But the khansaman appeared to have donned, with his clothes, a sense of -his own importance. The authoritative tone of the lascar offended his -dignity. - -"Who are you, scum of the sea, that you tell a khansaman of Bengal what -he shall do? Hold your tongue, piece of seaweed, or by the beard of the -Prophet----" - -The threat was never completed, for Desmond, stepping up close to the -man, caught him by the back of the neck and shook him till his teeth -rattled in his head. - -"Quick! Lead the way! Foolish khansaman, do you want your fat body -shaken to a jelly? That is the way with us khalasis from Gujarat. -Quick, I say!" - -"Hold, khalasi!" panted the khansaman; "I will do what you wish. -Believe me, you are the first khalasi from Gujarat I have seen----" - -"Or you would not have delayed so long. Quick, man!" - -With a downcast air the man set off. The sun was getting high; being -fat and soft, the khansaman was soon in distress. But Desmond allowed -him no respite. In about two hours they arrived at the house he had -mentioned. The gate was ajar; the door broken open. Hastily entering, -Desmond knew instinctively by the appearance of the place that it was -deserted. - -He went through the house from bottom to top. Not a living person was -to be seen. But in one of the rooms his quick eye caught sight of a -small hair-pin such as only a European woman would use. He picked it -up. In another room a cooking-pot had been left, and it was evident -that it had but lately been used. The simple furniture was in some -disorder. - -The khansaman had with much labour managed to mount the stairs. - -"Inshallah!" he said. "They are gone!" - - - - - CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SIXTH - - -*In which presence of mind is shown to be next best to absence of body.* - - -The khansaman's surprise was clearly genuine, and Desmond refrained from -visiting on him his disappointment. Bitter as that was, his alarm was -still more keen. What had become of the ladies! With all his old -impulsiveness he had come to rescue them, never pausing to think of what -risks he might himself run. And now they were gone! Could Diggle have -suspected that his carefully hidden tracks were being followed up, and -have removed his prisoners to some spot remoter from the river? It was -idle to speculate; they were gone; and there was no obvious clue to -their whereabouts. - -The khansaman, limp and damp after his unwonted exercise, had squatted -on the floor and was fanning himself, groaning deeply. Desmond went to -the window of the room and looked out over the country, wondering, -longing, fearing. As he gazed disconsolately before him, he caught -sight of a party of horsemen rapidly approaching. Bidding the khansaman -stifle his groans, he watched them eagerly through the chiks of the -window. Soon a dozen native horsemen cantered up to the front gate and -drew rein. One of them, clad in turban of gold tissue, short blue -jacket lavishly decorated with gold, and crimson trousers, bade the rest -dismount. He was a tall man, a handsome figure in his fine array. He -wore a sword with hilt inlaid with gold, the scabbard covered with -crimson velvet; and in his girdle was stuck a knife with agate handle, -and a small Moorish dagger ornamented with gold and silver. - -He stood for a time gazing as in perplexity at the broken gateway. His -face was concealed by his turban from Desmond, looking from above. But -when he directed his glance upward, Desmond, peering through the chiks, -could scarcely believe his eyes. The features were those of Marmaduke -Diggle. His heart thumped against his ribs. Never, perhaps, in the -whole course of his adventures, had he been in such deadly peril. The -appearance of the party had been so sudden, and he had been so deeply -engrossed with his musings, that he had not had time to think of his own -situation. - -"Come, son of a pig," said Diggle at length, throwing himself from his -horse and beckoning to his syce, "we will search the place. There must -be something to show who the dacoits were." - -He strode into the compound, followed by his trembling servant. - -"Indeed, huzur," said the man in shrill tones of excuse, "we did our -best. But they were many: our livers were as water." - -"Chup[#], pig! Wait till you are spoken to," exclaimed Diggle, turning -angrily upon him. - - -[#] Shut up. - - -"Achchha, sahib! bahut achchha, sahib![#]----" - - -[#] Good, sahib--very good, sahib. - - -A vicious kick cut short his protestations, and the two passed out of -hearing of the two watchers above, the khansaman having brought his -quivering flabbiness to Desmond's side. Diggle passed into the -entrance-hall, the native horsemen waiting like statues at the gate. - -"It is the sahib!" whispered the shaking khansaman to Desmond: "Digli -Sahib. He will kill me. He is a tiger." - -"Silence, fool!" said Desmond sternly: "there must be a way out. Jaldi -jao![#] we shall be too late." - - -[#] Go quickly. - - -The man seemed glued to the spot with fear. The footsteps of Diggle -could be heard in the rooms below. In a few minutes he would reach the -upper story; then it would indeed be too late to flee. If they could -gain the back staircase they might slip down and hide in the garden. But -fright appeared to have bereft the khansaman of all power of movement. -Yet Desmond, for more than one reason, was unwilling to leave him. He -knew what Diggle's tender mercies were; but he also knew that the -khansaman, if discovered, would certainly try to purchase his safety by -betraying his companion. So, without more ado, seizing him by the neck, -Desmond shook him vigorously. - -"Come!" he said in a fierce whisper, "or I will leave you to face the -sahib alone." - -This summary treatment shocked the man from his stupor. Stepping on -tiptoe he darted across the room, through the door communicating with a -room beyond, into a narrow passage-way at the rear of the house. Here -was a second staircase leading downwards to the servants' quarters. - -"Wait there," said Desmond when they were half-way down. "If you hear -any one coming up, rejoin me above." - -He himself crept noiselessly back to the upper floor. No sooner had he -reached the top than he heard Diggle moving in the room he had recently -left. He darted to a khaskhas[#] curtain, through the meshes of which -he could see into the two intercommunicating rooms. Diggle was -carefully searching the apartment; he clearly knew it was the one lately -occupied by the ladies. - - -[#] A fragrant grass whose roots are used for making screens. - - -As he stooped to pick up a cushion that lay on the floor beside a divan, -his eye was caught by a scrap of crumpled paper. He snatched at it like -a hawk and with quick fingers straightened it out--the fingers of the -mittened hand that Desmond knew so well. On the paper was writing; the -characters were English, but Diggle appeared to have some difficulty in -making them out. - -"'Your servant Surendra Nath Chuckerbutti,'" he said slowly aloud. "Who -is Surendra Nath Chuckerbutti?" he asked his man, standing behind. - -"Truly, huzur, I know not. It is a common name in Bengal--a vile Hindu; -an unbeliever----" - -"How did this paper come here?" cried Diggle impatiently. - -"How should I know, sahib? I am a poor man, an ignorant man; I do not -read----" - -"Come with me and search the back of the house," said Diggle, turning -away with an oath. - -Desmond stepped noiselessly across the floor and joined the khansaman. -They made their way out stealthily down the stairs, through the garden -at the back, into a mango grove. There they remained hidden until -Diggle, finding his search fruitless, remounted with his men and -galloped away. - -Desmond felt in a maze of bewilderment. It was clear that Diggle was -ignorant of the whereabouts of the ladies; where had they been spirited -to, and by whom? Apparently there had been an attack on the house, and -they had been carried away: was it by friends or foes? What was the -meaning of the paper found by Diggle? Had the Babu had any hand in the -latest disappearance, or was it his letter that had put some one else on -their track? Desmond had heard nothing of Surendra Nath or his father -since the sack of Calcutta. - -There was no clue to the solution of the problem. Meanwhile it was -necessary to get back to Calcutta. The journey had been delayed too -long already, and Hossain's employer the grain merchant would have good -reason for complaint if he felt that his business was being neglected. - -"We must go, khansaman," said Desmond. - -The man was nothing loth. They returned by the way they had come. -Desmond left the man some distance short of Sinfray's house, promising, -in return for his assistance, to use his best offices with the irate -manjhi[#] on his behalf. Then he struck off for the point lower down -the river where his boat was moored. As soon as he arrived they got -under way, and late that evening reached Tanna Fort, where they had to -deliver their cargo of rice for the use of the Nawab's garrison. - - -[#] Steersman. - - -In the dead of night they were surprised by a visit from Hubbo, the -serang's brother. He had seen them, as they passed, from one of the -sloops that lay in the river opposite to the fort. Though in chief -command of the Nawab's boats at that point, he was still secretly loyal -to the Company, and was anxious to serve their interests to the best of -his power. He had now brought important news. The three sloops and two -brigantines that lay off the fort were, he said, filled with earth. On -the approach of Admiral Watson's fleet they were to be scuttled and sunk -in the fairway. A subahdar[#] of Manik Chand's force was at present on -board one of the sloops to superintend the work of scuttling. The -signal would be given by the subahdar himself from his sloop. - - -[#] Equivalent to captain of infantry. - - -"Very well, Hubbo," said Desmond, "that signal must not be given." - -"But how prevent it, sahib? I wish well to the Company; have I not -eaten their salt? But what can one man do against many? The subahdar -is a very fierce man; very zabburdasti.[#] When he gives the word it -will be death to disobey." - - -[#] Masterful. - - -Desmond sat for some time with his chin on his hands, thinking. Then he -asked: - -"Do you know where the British fleet is at present?" - -"Yes, sahib. I was in the bazar to-day; it was said that this morning -the ships were still at Fulta. The sepoys are recovering from their -privations during the voyage." - -"We will drop down the river to-morrow as soon as we have unloaded our -cargo. You may expect us back ahead of the fleet, so keep a good -look-out for us. I will take care that Mr. Drake is informed of your -fidelity, and you will certainly be well rewarded." - -Early in the morning the cargo was unloaded; then, under pretence of -taking in goods at Mayapur, the petala dropped down the river and gained -Fulta under cover of night. - -Next morning Desmond, having resumed his ordinary attire, sought an -interview with Clive. - -"The very man I wished to see," said Clive, shaking hands. "Your -scouting is the one ray of light in the darkness that covers the enemy's -arrangements. You have done remarkably well, and I take it you would -not be here unless you had something to tell me." - -Desmond gave briefly the information he had learnt from Hubbo. - -"That's the game, is it?" said Clive. "A pretty scheme, egad! 'Twill -be fatal to us if carried out. 'Twould put a spoke in the admiral's -wheel and throw all the work on the land force. That's weak enough, -what with Mr. Killpatrick's men dying off every day--he has only thirty -left--and my own sepoys mostly skeletons. And we haven't proved -ourselves against the Nawab's troops; I suppose they outnumber us thirty -to one, and after their success at Calcutta they'll be very cock-a-hoop. -Yet 'tis so easy to sink a few ships, especially if preparations have -been made long in advance, as appears to be the case." - -"I think sir, it might be prevented." - -Clive, who had been pacing up and down in some perturbation of mind, his -head bent, his hands clasped behind him, halted, looked up sharply, and -said: - -"Indeed! How?" - -"If we could get hold of the subahdar." - -"By bribing him? He might not be open to bribery. Most of these native -officials are, but there are some honest men among them, and he may be -one. He wouldn't have been selected for his job unless Manik Chand -thought him trustworthy. Besides, how are we going to get into -communication with him? And even if we did, and filled him to the brim -with rupees, how are we to know he wouldn't sell us in turn to the -enemy?" - -"But there are other ways, sir. We can depend on Hubbo, and if I might -suggest, it would pay to promise him a rich reward if he managed to keep -the passage clear." - -"Yes, I agree. What reward would be most effective?" - -"A few hundred rupees and the post of syr serang in the Company's -service when Calcutta is retaken." - -"Not too extravagant! Well, I will see Mr. Drake; the offer had better -come from him and reach Hubbo through his brother." - -"And then, sir, it ought not to be impossible to secure the subahdar -himself when the moment arrives." - -Clive looked at the bright eager countenance of the boy before him. - -"Upon my word, my lad," he said, "I believe you can do it. How, I don't -know; but you have shown so much resource already that you may be able -to help us in this fix--for fix it is, and a bad one. 'Tis the will -that counts; if one is only determined enough no difficulty is -insuperable--a lesson that our friends from Calcutta might take to -heart. But have you a plan?" - -"Not at present, sir. I should like to think it over; and if I can hit -on anything that seems feasible I should be glad of your leave to try." - -"By all means, my lad. If you fail--well, no one will be more sorry -than I, for your sake. If you succeed, you will find that I shall not -forget. There's one thing I want to ask you before you go. Have you -heard anything of my friend Merriman's ladies?" - -"Yes, sir: and, as I suspected, Diggle is at the bottom of their -disappearance." - -He related the series of incidents up the river. - -"Dressed like a native, was he? And looked like a risaldar?[#] There's -no end to that fellow's villainy. But his day of reckoning will come I -am sure of it, and the world will be none the worse for the loss of so -vile a creature. If you take my advice, you'll say nothing to Mr. -Merriman of this discovery. 'Twould only unsettle the poor man. He had -better know nothing until we can either restore the ladies to him or -tell him that there is no hope." - - -[#] Officer commanding a troop of horse. - - -"I don't give up hope, sir. They're alive, at any rate; and Diggle has -lost them. I feel sure we shall find them." - -"God grant it, my lad." - - - - - CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SEVENTH - - -*In which an officer of the Nawab disappears; and Bulger reappears.* - - -"This will be my last trip, sahib, for my present master. He says I -waste too much time on the river. He also complains that I go to places -without leave and without reason. He heard we were at Mayapur, and -wanted to know why. I made excuses, sahib; I said whatever came into my -head; but he was not satisfied, and I leave his service in a week." - -"That is a pity, Hossain. Unless we are in the service of some -well-known banya we cannot go up and down the river without exciting -suspicion. However, let us hope that before the week is out the fleet -will be here." - -Desmond looked a little anxious. The success of his project for -preventing the fouling of the passage at Tanna Fort was more than eyer -doubtful. The petala was moored opposite the Crane ghat at Calcutta, -taking in a cargo of jawar[#] for Chandernagore. The work of loading -had been protracted to the utmost by the serang; for Desmond did not -wish to leave the neighbourhood of Calcutta at the present juncture, -when everything turned upon their being on the spot at the critical -moment. - - -[#] Millet. - - -While they were talking, a man who had every appearance of a respectable -banya approached the plank over which the coolies were carrying the -jawar on board. He stood idly watching the work, then moved away, and -squatted on a low pile of bags which had been emptied of their contents. -For a time the serang paid no apparent heed to him; but presently, while -the coolies were still busy, he sauntered across the plank, and -strolling to the onlooker, exchanged a salaam and squatted beside him. -Passers-by might have caught a word or two about the grain-market; the -high prices; the difficulties of transit; the deplorable slackness of -trade; the infamous duplicity of the Greek merchants. At last the banya -rose, salaamed, and walked away. - -As he did so the serang carelessly lifted the bag upon which the banya -had been sitting, and, making sure that he was not observed, picked up a -tiny ball of paper scarcely bigger than a pea. Waiting a few moments, -he rose and sauntered back on board. A minute or two later the lascar -in the after part of the boat was unobtrusively examining the scrap of -paper. It contained three words and an initial: - -_To-morrow about ten.--C._ - -A change had been made in the composition of Hossain's crew since the -incident at Sinfray's house. One day Desmond had found one of the -Bengalis rummaging in the corner of the cabin where he was accustomed to -keep his few personal belongings. Hossain had dismissed the man on the -spot. The man saved from the river had been kept on the boat and proved -a good worker, eager, and willing to be of use. He was an excellent -boatman, a handy man generally, and, for a Bengali, possessed of -exceptional physical strength. At Desmond's suggestion Hossain offered -him the vacant place, and he at once accepted it. - -Since his rescue he had shown much gratitude to Desmond. He was -quick-witted, and had not been long on board before he felt that the -khalasi was not quite what he appeared to be. His suspicion was -strengthened by the deference, slight but unmistakable, paid by the -serang to the lascar; for though Desmond had warned Hossain to be on his -guard, the man had been unable to preserve thoroughly the attitude of a -superior to an inferior. - -On receiving the short message from Clive, Desmond had a consultation -with Hossain. The coolies had finished their work and received their -pay, and there was nothing unusual in the sight of the boatmen squatting -on deck before loosing their craft from its moorings. - -"If we are to do what we wish to do, Hossain," said Desmond, "we shall -require a third man to help us. Shall we take Karim into our -confidence?" - -"That is as you please, sahib. He is a good man, and will, I think, be -faithful." - -"Well, send the other fellow on shore; I will speak to the man." - -The serang gave the second of the two Bengalis who had formed his -original crew an errand on shore. Desmond beckoned up the new man. - -"Are you willing to undertake a service of risk, for a big reward, -Karim?" he asked. - -The man hesitated. - -"It will be worth a hundred rupees to you." - -Karim's eyes sparkled; a hundred rupees represented a fortune to a man -of his class; but he still hesitated. - -"Am I to be alone?" he asked at length. - -"No," said Desmond; "we shall be with you." - -"Ji! Han! If the sahib"--the word slipped out unawares--"is to be -there it is fixed. He is my father and mother: did he not save me from -the river? I would serve him without reward." - -"That is very well. All the same the reward shall be yours--to be paid -to you if we succeed, to your family if we fail. For if we fail it will -be our last day: they will certainly shoot us. There is time to draw -back." - -"If the sahib is to be there I am not afraid." - -"Good. You can go aft. We will tell you later what is to be done. -And, remember, on this boat I am no sahib. I am a khalasi from Gujarat." - -"I will remember--sahib." - -Desmond told the serang that the help of the man was assured, and -discussed with him the enterprise upon which he was bent. He had given -his word to Clive that the blocking of the river should be prevented, -and though the task bade fair to be difficult he was resolved not to -fail. The vessels that were to be sunk in the fairway were moored -opposite the fort at a distance of about a ship's length from one -another. The subahdar was on the sloop farthest down the river, Hubbo -on the next. With the subahdar there were three men. The signal for -the scuttling of the vessels was to be the waving of a green flag by the -subahdar; this was to be repeated by Hubbo, then by the serang on the -sloop above him, and so on to the end. The vessels were in echelon, the -one highest up the river lying well over to the left bank and nearest to -the fort, the rest studding the fairway so that if they sank at their -moorings it would be impossible for a ship of any size to thread its way -between them. It did not appear that anything had been done to ensure -their sinking broadside to the current, the reason being probably that, -whatever might be attempted with this design, the river would have its -will with the vessels as soon as they sank. - -"Our only chance," said Desmond, "is to get hold of the subahdar. If we -can only capture him the rest should be easy--especially as Hubbo is on -the next sloop, which screens the subahdar's from the rest. It is out -of speaking distance from the fort, too--another piece of luck for us. -I will think things over in the night, Hossain; be sure to wake me, if I -am not awake, at least a gharri[#] before dawn." - - -[#] A 60th part of a day: _i.e._ 24 minutes. - - - -It was the first of January, 1757. At half-past seven in the morning a -heavily-laden petala was making its way slowly against the tide down the -Hugli. Four men were on board; two were rowing, one was at the helm, -the fourth stood looking intently before him. The boat had passed -several vessels lying opposite Tanna Fort, at various distances from the -bank, and came abreast of the last but one. There the rowers ceased -pulling at an order from the man standing, who put his hand to his mouth -and hailed the sloop. An answer came from a man on deck inviting the -caller to come on board. With a few strokes of the oars the petala was -run alongside, and Hossain joined his brother. - -"Is it well, brother?" he said. - -"It is well," replied Hubbo. - -Desmond at the helm of the petala looked eagerly ahead at the last sloop -of the line. He could see the subahdar on deck, a somewhat portly -figure in resplendent costume. A small dinghy was passing between his -vessel and the shore. It contained a number of servants, who had -brought him his breakfast from the fort. The crews of the other vessels -had prepared their food on board. - -After a time a dinghy was let down from Hubbo's sloop. Hubbo himself -stepped into it with one of his crew, and was rowed to the subahdar's -vessel. Desmond, watching him narrowly, saw him salaam deeply as he -went on board. - -"Salaam, huzur!" said Hubbo. "Your excellency will pardon me, but -bismillah! I have just discovered a matter of importance. Our task, -huzur, has lain much on my mind; we have never done anything of the sort -before, and seeing on yonder petala a man I know well, who has spent -many years on the kala pani, I ventured to ask if he knew what time -would be needed to sink a ship with several holes drilled in the hull." - -"That depends on the size of the holes, fool!" said the subahdar with a -snort. - -"True, huzur; that is what the serang said. But he went on to tell me -of a case like your excellency's. His ship was once captured by the -pirates of the Sanderbands. They drilled several holes in the hull, and -rowed away, leaving my friend and several of the crew to sink with the -vessel. But the holes were not big enough. When the pirates had -disappeared, the men on the ship, using all their strength, managed to -run her ashore, filled up the holes at low tide, and floated her off -when the tide came in again." - -A look of concern crept over the subahdar's face as he listened. He was -a man without experience of ships, and became uneasy at the suggestion -that anything might mar the execution of his task. Manik Chand would -not lightly overlook a failure. - -"Hearing this, huzur," Hubbo continued, "I venture to mention the matter -to your excellency, especially as it seemed to me, from what the serang -said, that the holes drilled by the pirates were even larger than those -made by the mistris[#] sent from the fort." - - -[#] Head workmen. - - -The subahdar looked still more concerned. - -"Wai!" he exclaimed, "it is very disturbing. And there is no time to do -anything; the Firangi's ships are reported to be on their way up the -river; the dogs of Kafirs[#] may be here soon." - - -[#] Unbelievers. - - -He bit his fingers, frowned, looked anxiously down the river, then -across to the brick fort at Tanna, then to the new mud fort at Aligarh -on the other bank, as if wondering whether he should send or signal a -message to one or the other. Hubbo was silent for a moment, then he -said: - -"Have I the huzur's leave to speak?" - -"By the twelve imáms[#], yes! but quickly." - - -[#] High priests descending from Ali, the son-in-law of Mahomet. - - -"There is a mistri on board the serang's boat who is used to working in -ships--a khalasi from Gujarat. He might do something on board your -excellency's ship. If this vessel sank, according to the plan, the -Firangi would not be able to get aboard the others, and they would have -time to sink slowly." - -"Barik allah![#] It is a good idea. Bid the mistri come aboard at -once." - - -[#] "Bravo!" - - -Hubbo sent a long hail over the water. The serang cast off the rope by -which he had made fast to the sloop, and the petala came slowly down -until it was abreast of the subahdar's vessel. Hossain, Desmond, and -Karim stepped aboard, the last carrying a small box of tools. Only the -Bengali was left in the boat. All salaamed low to the subahdar. - -"This, huzur, is my friend," said Hubbo, presenting his brother. "This -is the mistri, and this his assistant." - -"Good!" said the subahdar. "Go down into the hold, mistri: look to the -holes; if they are not large enough, make them larger, and as quickly as -you can." - -Desmond with Karim dived down into the hold. It was filled with earth, -except where a gangway shored up with balks of timber had been left to -give access to the holes that had been drilled and temporarily stopped. -After a few words from the subahdar, Hubbo and his brother followed -Desmond below. - -Half an hour later, Hubbo climbed up through the hatchway and approached -the subahdar, who was pacing the deck, giving many an anxious glance -down the river. - -"The mistri has bored another hole, huzur. He said the more holes the -better. Perhaps your excellency will deign to see whether you regard it -as sufficient." - -"Nay, I should defile my clothes," said the subahdar, not relishing the -thought of descending into the malodorous depths. - -"As your excellency pleases," said Hubbo salaaming. - -Then the gravity of his charge appeared to overcome the subahdar's -scruples. Gathering his robes close about him, he stepped to the -hatchway and lowered himself into the hold. - -"We must hasten," he said. "The ships of the Firangi may appear at any -moment, and I must be on the look-out. Meantime," he added to Hubbo, -"you keep watch." - -For a man of his build he was fairly active. Dropping on to the loose -earth, he scrambled over it towards the oil-lamp by whose light the -mistri and his assistant were working. - -"This, huzur," said Hossain, pointing to a circular cut in the planking -of the vessel, "is the new hole. It is not yet driven through, but if -your excellency thinks it sufficient----" - -The subahdar craned forward to examine it. "Khubbar dar!"[#] said -Desmond in a low voice. - - -[#] Look out! - - -Hossain had only waited for this signal. He threw himself on the -stooping subahdar and bore him to the floor, at the same time stuffing a -gag between his teeth. In a couple of minutes he was lying bound and -helpless. His ornate garment was but little sullied. It had been -stripped from him by the mistri, who hastily donned it over his own -scanty raiment, together with the subahdar's turban. - -"How will that do, Hossain?" asked Desmond with a smile. - -The serang held up the oil-lamp to inspect him. With his other hand he -slightly altered the set of the turban and rearranged the folds of the -robe. - -"That is excellent, sahib," he said. "A little more girth would perhaps -have been better, but in the distance no one will notice." - -Then calling to Hubbo he said that all was ready. Hossain clambered -through the hatchway, leaving Desmond concealed behind a large timber -upright supporting the deck. As soon as the serang had reached his side -Hubbo called to the men on watch and said-- - -"Eo! Ali, Chedi, come here!" - -"Jo hukm!"[#] replied one of the men. Two of the three hurried aft, and -at Hubbo's bidding swung down into the hold. The serang ordered them to -go towards the lamp. They groped their way in that direction; Desmond -sprang up through the hatchway; it was clapped down and firmly secured, -and the subahdar with two-thirds of his crew was a prisoner in the hold. -The third man at the far end of the boat had not seen or heard anything -of what had happened. - - -[#] Whatever is ordered (I will obey) - - -So far the plot had succeeded admirably. Whatever order might reach the -waiting vessels, it would not be given by the subahdar. The question -now was, how to prevent the men in charge of the vessels and the -authorities in Tanna Fort from becoming suspicious. The latter would -not be difficult. Manik Chand would gain nothing by blocking the -fairway unless it were absolutely necessary to do so, and, in common -with other of the Nawab's lieutenants, he had an overweening confidence -in the power of the forts to repel an attack from the English ships. -For this reason it was advisable to make the minds of the other men -easy, and Desmond soon hit on a plan. - -"You had better return to your sloop, Hubbo," he said. "Send a message -to the men on the other vessels that I--the subahdar, you know--have -made up my mind to allow one of the enemy's ships to pass me before -giving the signal. I shall thus capture one at least, and it may be the -admiral's." - -Hubbo set off, and when he reached his own vessel he sent a boat with a -message to each of the ships in turn. Meanwhile, thinking the appearance -of a petala alongside of the subahdar's sloop might awaken suspicion or -at least curiosity in the fort, Desmond decided to send it down the -river in charge of Hossain. He was thus left alone on deck with the -subahdar's third man. - -For a time the man, standing far forward, was unaware of the striking -change in the personality garbed in the subahdar's clothes. But -glancing back at length, he started, looked a second time, and after a -moment's hesitation walked down the deck. - -"Go back to your post," said Desmond sternly, "and see that you keep a -good look-out for the Firangi's ships." - -The man salaamed and returned to the prow in manifest bewilderment. -More than once he looked back as he heard strange knockings from below. -Desmond only smiled. If the sound was heard from the forts, it would be -regarded merely as a sign that the preparations for sinking the vessel -were not yet completed. - -Time passed on, and ever and anon Desmond looked eagerly down the river -for a sign of the oncoming fleet. At last, somewhere about midday, he -observed signs of excitement in Tanna Fort, and almost simultaneously -saw a puff of smoke and heard a report from one of its guns. Shortly -afterwards he observed the spars of a British-built ship slowly -approaching up-stream. In full confidence that the scheme for blocking -the river was now frustrated, he awaited with patience the arrival of -the fleet, wondering whether the forts would make a determined -resistance. - -Slowly the vessel drew nearer. Another shot was fired from the fort, -with what result Desmond could not tell. But immediately afterwards he -heard the distant report of a heavy gun, followed by a crash near at -hand, and a babel of yells. A shot from the British ship had plumped -right in the centre of Tanna Fort. At the same moment Desmond -recognized the figure-head. - -"'Tis the _Tyger_!" he said to himself with a smile. "Won't Captain -Latham grin when he sees me in this rig!" - -Then he laughed aloud, for the valiant defenders of Tanna Fort had not -waited for a second shot. They were swarming helter-skelter out of -harm's way, rushing at the top of their speed up the river and leaving -their fortress to its fate. On the other bank the garrison of Aligarh -Fort had also taken flight, and were streaming along with excited cries -in the direction of Calcutta. The man in the bows of the sloop looked -amazedly at the new subahdar. Why did he laugh? Why did he not wave -the green flag that lay at his hand? When were the men who had gone -below going to knock out the stoppings of the holes and take to the boat -with himself and their commander? But the subahdar still stood -laughing. - -All at once Desmond, remembering the real subahdar below, asked himself: -what if he drove out the bungs and scuttled the vessel? But the -question brought a smile to his lips. He could not conceive of the -Bengali playing such a heroic part, and he possessed his soul in peace. - -Now the _Tyger_ was full in sight, and behind her Desmond saw the -well-remembered _Kent_, Admiral Watson's flagship. The stampede from -the forts had evidently been observed on board, for firing had ceased, -and boats were already being lowered and filled with men. Desmond -waited. The _Tyger's_ boats, he saw, were making for Tanna Fort: the -_Kent's_ for Aligarh. But one of the latter was heading straight for -the sloop. Desmond could not resist the temptation to a joke. Making -himself look as important as he could, he stood by the gunwale watching -with an air of dignity the oncoming of the boat. It was in command of a -young lieutenant. The men bent to their oars with a will, and Desmond -could soon hear the voice of the officer as he called to his crew. - -But his amusement was mingled with amazement and delight when, in the -big form sitting in the bow of the boat, he recognized no other than his -old messmate, his old comrade in the Battle of the Carts--William -Bulger. The joke would be even better than he had expected. The boat -drew closer: it was level with the nose of the sloop; and the lieutenant -sang out the command, "Ship oars!" It came alongside. - -"Bulger," cried the lieutenant, "skip aboard and announce us to that old -peacock on deck." - -"Ay, ay, sir," replied Bulger, "which his feathers will be plucked, or -my name en't Bulger." - -At the side of the sloop lay the dinghy intended to convey the subahdar -and his men ashore when the work of sinking had been started. It was -made fast to the vessel by a rope. Bulger sprang into the dinghy and -then began an ascent so clever, and at the same time so comical, that -Desmond had much ado not to spoil his joke by a premature explosion of -laughter. The burly seaman swarmed up the rope like a monkey, clasping -it with his legs as he took each upward grip. But the comedy of his -actions was provided by his hook. Having only one arm--an arm, it is -true, with the biceps of a giant--he could not clutch the rope in the -ordinary way. But at each successive spring he dug his hook into the -side of the vessel, and mounted with amazing rapidity, talking to -himself all the time. - -"Avast, there!" he shouted, as with a final heave upon the hook dug into -the gunwale he hoisted himself on deck. "Haul down your colours, matey, -which they make a pretty pictur', they do." - -He came overpoweringly towards Desmond, his arm and stump spread wide as -if to embrace him. - -"I may be wrong," said Desmond, "but have I not the pleasure of -addressing Mr. William Bulger?" - -Bulger started as if shot. His broad face spelt first blank amazement, -then incredulity, then surprised belief. Spreading his legs wide and -bending his knees, he rested his hand on one and his hook on the other, -shut one eye, and stuck his tongue out at the corner of his mouth. - -"By the Dutchman!" he exclaimed, "if it don't beat cock-fighting! Sure, -'tis Mr. Burke himself! Anna Maria! But for why did you go for to make -yourself sich a Guy Faux guy, sir?" - -"How are you, old fellow?" said Desmond heartily. "I am a bit of a -scarecrow, no doubt, but we've won the trick, man. The real guy is down -below, dead from fright by this time, I expect. Sorry to give you the -trouble of boarding, sir," he added, as the lieutenant came over the -side. "If you'll take me into your boat, I'll be glad to report to the -admiral or to Colonel Clive." - -"By jiminy, Mr. Burke!" said the lieutenant, laughing, "you've got a way -of your own of popping up at odd times and in odd places. Come with me -by all means--just as you are, if you please. The admiral wouldn't miss -the look of you for anything. By George! 'tis a rare bit of -play-acting. Did I hear you say you've got some natives under -hatchways?" - -"Yes; the owner of this finery is below with two of his men. You can -hear him now." There was a violent and sustained knocking below deck. -"I'll send my man to release him. The fleet are all coming up, sir?" - -"Yes; the _Bridgewater_ and _Kingfisher_ are close in our wake. Come -along; we'll catch the admiral before he goes ashore." - - - - - CHAPTER THE TWENTY-EIGHTH - - -*In which Captain Barker has cause to rue the day when he met Mr. -Diggle; and our hero continues to wipe off old scores.* - - -Desmond received a warm welcome both from Admiral Watson and Colonel -Clive. His account of the manner in which he had defeated Manik Chand's -scheme for blocking the river was received with shouts of laughter, -while his ingenuity and courage were warmly commended by both officers. -Indeed, the admiral, always more impulsive than Clive, offered him on -the spot a lieutenancy in the fleet, and was not very well pleased when -Desmond politely declined the honour. Desmond caught a gleam of -approval in Clive's eyes, and later in the day, when he saw his hero -alone, he felt well rewarded. - -"A naval lieutenant ranks higher than a lieutenant in the army--I -suppose you know that, Burke?" said Clive. - -"Yes, sir." - -"And you're only a cadet. From to-day you are a lieutenant, my lad. I -am pleased with you, and whatever his enemies say of Bob Clive, no one -ever said of him that he forgot a friend." - -The forces proceeded to Calcutta next day, and retook the town with -surprising ease. Manik Chand was so much alarmed by seeing the effect -of the big guns of the fleet that he abandoned the place almost without -striking a blow, and when the British troops entered they were too late -even to make any prisoners save a few of the rag-tag and bobtail in the -rear. - -Mr. Merriman returned to Calcutta a few days later. Desmond was grieved -to observe how rapidly he was aging. In spite of Clive's recommendation -to keep silence he could not refrain from telling his friend what he had -discovered about the missing ladies; and he did not regret it, for the -knowledge that they were alive and, when last heard of, out of Peloti's -clutches, acted like a tonic. Merriman was all eagerness to set off and -search for them himself; but, Desmond pointing out the danger of such a -course, he reluctantly agreed to wait a little longer, and see whether -any news could be obtained during the operations which Clive was -planning against the Nawab. - -Meanwhile, Desmond learnt from Bulger what had happened to him since the -fall of Calcutta. He was one of the hundred and forty-six thrown into -the Black Hole. - -"'Tis only by the mercy of the Almighty I'm here to-day," he said -solemnly. "I saw what 'twould be as soon as the door of that Black Hole -was locked, and me and some others tried to force it. 'Twern't no good. -Mr. Holwell--he's a brave man, an' no mistake--begged an' prayed of us -all to be quiet; but lor' bless you, he might ha' saved his breath. -'Twas a hot night; we soon began to sweat most horrible an' feel a -ragin' thirst. We took off most of our clothes, an' waved our hats to -set the air a-movin'; which 'twas hard enough work, 'cos we was packed -so tight. I en't a-going' to tell you all the horrors o' that night, -sir; I'd like uncommon to forget 'em, though I don't believe I never -shall. 'Twas so awful that many a poor wretch begged of the Moors -outside to fire on 'em. Worst was when the old jamadar put skins o' -water in at the window. My God! them about me fought like demons, which -if I hadn't flattened myself against the wall I should ha' been crushed -or trodden to death, like most on 'em. For me, I couldn't get near the -water; I sucked my shirt sleeves, an' 'tis my belief 'twas on'y that -saved me from goin' mad. A man what was next me took out his knife an' -slit a vein, 'cos he couldn't bear the agony no longer. Soon arter, I -fell in a dead faint, an' knowed no more till I found myself on my back -outside, with a Moor chuckin' water at me. They let me go, along with -some others; and a rotten old hulk I was, there en't no mistake about -that. Why, bless you, my skin come out all boils as thick as barnacles -on a hull arter a twelve months' voyage, all 'cos o' being in sich bad -air without water. And then the fever came aboard, an' somehow or other -I got shipped to the mounseers' hospital at Chandernagore, which they -was very kind to me, sir; there en't no denyin' that. I may be wrong, -but I could take my oath, haffidavy, an' solemn will an' testament that -a mounseer's got a heart inside of his body arter all, which makes him -all the better chap to have a slap at if you come to think of the why -an' wherefore of it." - -"But how came you on board the _Tyger_?" - -"Well, when my boils was gone an' the fever slung overboard, I got down -to Fulta an' held on the slack there; an' when the ships come up, they -sent for me, 'cos havin' sailed up an' down the river many a time, they -thought as how I could do a bit o' pilotin', there not bein' enough -Dutch pilots to go round. An' I ha' had some fun, too, which I wonder I -can laugh arter that Black Hole and all. By thunder! 'tis a merry sight -to see the Moors run. The very look of a cutlass a'most turns 'em -white, and they well-nigh drops down dead if they see a sailor man. -Why, t'other day at Budge-Budge--they ought to call it Fudge-Fudge now, -seems to me--the Jack-tars went ashore about nightfall to help the -lobsters storm the fort in the dark. But Colonel Clive he was dog-tired -an' went to his bed, sayin' as how he'd lead a boardin' party in the -mornin'. That warn't exactly beans an' bacon; nary a man but would ha' -took a big dose o' fever if they'd laid out on the fields all night. -Anyways, somewhere about eleven, an' pitch dark, a Jack which his name -is Strahan--a Scotchman, by what they say--went off all alone by himself -to have a sort of private peep at that there fort. He was pretty well -filled up wi' grog, or pr'aps he wouldn't ha' been quite so venturesome. -Well, he waded up to his chin in a ditch o' mud what goes round the -fort, with his pistols above his head. When he gets over, bang goes one -pistol, an' he sets up a shout: 'One and all, my boys! one and all, -hurray!' a-dreamin' I s'pose as he was captain of a boardin' party an' a -crew o' swabs behind him. Up he goes, up the bastion; bang goes t'other -pistol; then he outs with his cutlass, a-roarin' hurray with a voice -like a twelve-pounder; down goes three o' them Moors; another breaks -Jack's cutlass with his scimitar; bless you, what's he care? don't care -a straw, which his name is Strahan; he've got a fist, he have, an' he -dashes it in the Moor's face, collars his scimitar, cuts his throat and -sings out 'Ho, mateys! this 'ere fort's mine!' Up comes three or four -of his mates what heard his voice; they swings round the cannon on the -bastion an' turns it on the enemy; bang! bang! and bless your heart, the -Moors cut and run, an' the fort was ourn." - -At the moment Desmond thought that Bulger was drawing the long bow. But -meeting Captain Speke of the _Kent_ a little later, he asked how much -truth there was in the story. - -"'Tis all true," said the captain, laughing, "but not the whole truth. -The day after Strahan's mad performance the admiral sends for him: -discipline must be maintained, you know. 'What's this I hear about -you?' says Mr. Watson, with a face of thunder. Strahan bobbed, and -scratched his head, and twirled his hat in his hand, and says: 'Why to -be sure, sir, 'twas I took the fort, and I hope there en't no harm in -it!' By George! 'twas as much as the admiral could do to keep a -straight face. He got the fellow to tell us about it: we had our faces -in our handkerchiefs all the time. Then Mr. Watson gave him a pretty -rough wigging, and wound up by saying that he'd consult me as to the -number of lashes to be laid on. You should have seen the fellow's face! -As he went out of the cabin I heard him mutter: 'Well, if I'm to be -flogged for this 'ere action, be hanged if I ever take another fort -alone by myself as long as I live!'" - -"Surely he wasn't flogged?" said Desmond, laughing heartily. - -"Oh no! Mr. Watson told us as a matter of form to put in a plea for the -fellow, and then condescended to let him off. Pity he's such a loose -fish!" - -For two months Desmond remained with Clive. He was with him at the -capture of Hugli, and in that brisk fight at Calcutta on February 5 -which gave the Nawab his first taste of British quality. Siraj-uddaula -was encamped to the north-east of the town with a huge army. In a heavy -fog, about daybreak, Clive came up at the head of a mixed force of -King's troops, sepoys and sailors, some 2,000 men in all. Hordes of -Persian cavalry charged him through the mist, but they were beaten off, -and Clive forced his way through the enemy's camp until he came near the -Nawab's own tents, pitched in Omichand's garden. Siraj-uddaula himself -was within an ace of being captured. His troops made but a poor stand -against the British, and by midday the battle was over. - -Scared by this defeat, the Nawab was ready to conclude with the Company -the treaty which long negotiations had failed to effect. By this treaty -the trading privileges granted to the Company by the Emperor of Delhi -were confirmed; the Nawab agreed to pay full compensation for the losses -sustained by the Company and its servants; and the right to fortify -Calcutta was conceded. The long-standing grievances of the Company were -thus, on paper, redressed. - -A day or two after the battle a ship arrived with the news that war had -been declared in Europe between England and France. Efforts to maintain -neutrality between the English and French in Bengal having failed, Clive -wished the Nawab to join him in an attack on the French settlements in -Bengal. This the Nawab refused to do, though he wrote promising that he -would hold as enemies all who were enemies of Clive--a promise that bore -bitter fruit before many months had passed. - -The French were keen rivals of the Company in the trade of India, and -constantly took advantage of native troubles to score a point in the -game. Clive had come to Bengal with the full intention of making the -Company, whose servant he was, supreme; and having secured the treaty -with Siraj-uddaula he resolved to turn his arms against the French. -They were suspected of helping the Nawab in his expedition against -Calcutta: it was known that the Nawab, treating his engagements with -reckless levity and faithlessness, was trying to persuade Bussy, the -French commander in the Dekkan, to help him to expel the British from -Bengal. There was excuse enough for an attack on Chandernagore. - -But before Clive could open hostilities, he was required, by an old -arrangement with the Mogul, to obtain permission from the Nawab. This -permission was at length got from him by Omichand. The sack of Calcutta -by the Nawab had caused Omichand great loss, and, hoping in part to -retrieve it, he made his peace with Clive and the Council, and was then -selected to accompany Mr. Watts when he went as British representative -to Murshidabad. The wily Sikh, working always for his own ends, -contrived to make the unstable young despot believe that the French were -tricking him, and in a fit of passion he sealed a letter allowing -Admiral Watson to make war upon them. He repented of it immediately, -but the letter was gone. On the day after it reached the Admiral, March -12, 1757, Clive sent a summons to Monsieur Renault, the governor of -Chandernagore, to surrender the fort. No reply was received that day, -and Clive resolved, failing a satisfactory answer within twenty-four -hours, to read King George's declaration of war and attack the French. - -Desmond was breakfasting among a number of his fellow-officers next -morning when up came Hossain, the serang who had accompanied him in his -eventful journeys up and down the Hugli. Lately he had been employed, -on Desmond's recommendation, in bringing supplies up the river for the -troops. The man salaamed and said that he wished to say a few words -privately to the sahib. Desmond rose, and went apart with him. At -sunrise, said the man, a vessel flying Dutch colours had dropped down -the river past the English fleet. Her name was Dutch, and her -destination Rotterdam; but Hossain was certain that she was really the -_Good Intent_, which Desmond had pointed out to him as they passed -Chandernagore, and which they had more than once seen since in the -course of their journeys. Her appearance had attracted some attention -on the fleet; and the _Tyger_ had sent a shot after her, ordering her to -heave to; but having a strong north-east wind behind her, she took no -notice of the signal and held on her course. Desmond thanked Hossain -for the information, and, leaving his breakfast unfinished, went off at -once to see Clive, whom he was to join that morning on a tour of -inspection of the north-west part of the French settlement. - -"Well, I don't see what we can do," said Clive, when Desmond repeated -the news to him. "Mr. Watson no doubt suspected her when it was too -late. Nothing but a regular chase could have captured her after she had -passed. Ships can't be spared for that; they've much more important -work on hand." - -"Still, 'tis a pity, sir," said Desmond. "'Tis not only that Captain -Barker is an interloper; he has been in league with pirates, and his -being at Chandernagore all these months means no good." - -"It means at any rate that he hasn't been able to get a cargo. Trade's -at a standstill. Well, I'd give something to lay Mr. Barker and his -crew by the heels--on behalf of the Company, Burke, for don't forget, as -some of our friends of the Calcutta Council do, that I am here to save -the Company, not their private property. 'Tis too late to stop the -vessel now." - -"I'd like to try, sir." - -"I daresay you would. You're as ready to take risks as I am," he added, -with his characteristic pursing of the lips; "and 'pon my word, you're -just as lucky! For I'm lucky, Burke; there's no doubt of it. That -affair at Calcutta might have done for us but for the morning mist. I'd -like to try myself. It would punish a set of rogues, and discourage -interloping, to the benefit of the Company. But I can't spare men for -the job. Barker has no doubt a large crew; they'll be on the look-out -for attack; no, I can't touch it." - -Desmond hesitated for a moment. He did not wish to lose the fighting at -Chandernagore, but he had the strongest personal reasons for desiring -the arrest of the _Good Intent_. - -"Do you think, sir, we shall capture this place to-morrow?" he asked -suddenly. - -"Scarcely, my boy," said Clive, "nor by to-morrow week unless the French -have forgotten how to fight. Why do you ask?" - -"Because if you'd give me leave I'd like to have a shot at the _Good -Intent_--provided I got back in time to be with you in the fighting -line, sir." - -"Well, I can't keep things waiting, even for you," said Clive with a -smile; "and it seems a wild-goose chase--rather a hazardous one." - -"I'd risk that, sir. I could get together some men in Calcutta, and I'd -hope to be back here in a couple of days." - -"Well, well, Burke, you'd wheedle the Mogul himself. Any one could tell -you're an Irishman. Get along then; do your best, and if you don't come -back I'll try to take Chandernagore without you." - -He smiled as he slapped Desmond on the shoulder. Well pleased with his -ready consent, Desmond hurried away, got a horse, and, riding hard, -reached Calcutta by eight o'clock and went straight to Mr. Merriman. -Explaining what was afoot he asked for the loan of the men of the -_Hormuzzeer_. Merriman at once agreed; Captain Barker was a friend of -Peloti; and he needed no stronger inducement. Desmond hurried down to -the river; the _Hormuzzeer_ was lying off Cruttenden Ghat, and Mr. Toley -for once broke through his settled sadness of demeanour when he learnt -of the expedition proposed. - -While Toley collected the crew and made his preparations, Desmond -consulted a pilot. The _Good Intent_ had passed Calcutta an hour -before; but the man said that, though favoured by the wind, she would -scarcely get past the bar at Mayapur on the evening tide. She might do -so if exceptionally lucky; in that case there would be very little -chance of overtaking her. - -Less than two hours after Desmond reached Calcutta two budgeros left -Cruttenden Ghat. Each was provided with a double complement of men, and -although the sails filled with a strong following wind, their oars were -kept constantly in play. The passengers on board were for the most part -unaccustomed to this luxurious mode of travelling. There were a dozen -lascars; Hossain the serang; Karim, the man saved by Desmond at -Chandernagore; Bulger and the second mate of the _Hormuzzeer_, and Mr. -Toley, who, like Desmond and the serang, was clothed, much to Bulger's -amusement, as a fairly well-to-do ryot. - -For some hours the tide was contrary, but when it turned, the budgeros, -under the combined impulse of sail, oar and current, made swift -progress, arousing some curiosity among the crews of riverside craft, -little accustomed to the sight of budgeros moving so rapidly. -Approaching Mayapur, Desmond descried the spars of the _Good Intent_ a -long way ahead. Was there enough water to allow her to pass the bar? he -wondered. Apparently there was, for she kept straight on her course -under full sail. Desmond bit his lips with vexation, and had almost -given up hope, though he did not permit any slackening of speed, when to -his joy he saw the vessel strike her topsails, then the rest of her -canvas. He at once ran his boats to the shore at Mayapur. There were a -number of river craft at the place, so that the movements of his -budgeros, if observed from the _Good Intent_, were not likely to awaken -suspicion. On landing, he went to the house of a native merchant, Babu -Aghor Nath Bose, to whom he had a letter from Mr. Merriman. - -"Can you arrange for us," he said, when civilities had been exchanged, -"to-night, the loan of two shabby old country boats?" - -The native considered. - -"I think I can, sahib," he said at length. "I would do much for -Merriman Sahib. A man I frequently employ is now anchored off my ghat. -No doubt, for fair pay, he and another might be persuaded to lend their -craft." - -"Very well, be good enough to arrange it. I only require the boats for -a few hours to-morrow morning. Do you think twenty rupees would -suffice?" - -The native opened his eyes. He himself would not have offered so much. -But he said-- - -"Doubtless that will suffice, sahib. The matter is settled." - -"I will meet you in an hour. Thank you." - -Returning to the budgeros, Desmond instructed Hossain to go into the -bazar and buy up all the fresh fruit he could find. The sales for the -day were over, but Hossain hunted up the fruit sellers and bargained so -successfully that when he returned he was accompanied by a whole gang of -coolies, bearing what seemed to Desmond an appalling quantity of melons, -all for thirty rupees. - -Before this, however, Aghor Nath Bose had reported that the hire of the -two boats was duly arranged. They were open boats, little more than -barges, with a small cabin or shelter aft. Their crews had been -dismissed and had taken their belongings ashore; both were empty of -cargo. Desmond went with Bulger on board and arranged a number of -bamboos crosswise on the boats, covering up the empty spaces which would -usually be occupied by merchandise. Over the bamboos he placed a layer -of thin matting, and on this, when Hossain returned, he ordered the -coolies to put the melons. To a casual observer it would have appeared -that the boats were laden with a particularly heavy cargo of the golden -fruit. - -An hour before dawn the lascars and others from the _Hormuzzeer_ slipped -quietly from the budgeros on board the country boats, and bestowed -themselves as best they could under the bamboo deck supporting the -melons. It was cool in the early morning, although the hot season was -approaching; but Desmond did not envy the men their close quarters. -They were so much excited, however, at the adventure before them, and so -eager to earn the liberal reward promised them if it succeeded, that not -a man murmured. The Europeans had cooler quarters in the rude cabins, -where they were hidden from prying eyes under miscellaneous native -wraps. - -Desmond had learnt from the pilot that it would be nearly eight o'clock -before the depth of water over the bar was sufficient to allow a ship -like the _Good Intent_ to proceed with safety. A little before daybreak -the two boats crept out from the ghat. It was well to avoid curiosity -before Mayapur woke up. Desmond steered the first, Hossain the second; -and besides the steersman there were two men visible on the deck of -each. The tide was running up, but the wind still held from the -north-east, and, though moderated in force since the evening, it was -strong enough to take them slowly down towards the _Good Intent_. The -sky was lightening, but a slight mist hung over the river. Desmond kept -a close look-out ahead, and in a quarter of an hour he caught sight of -the hull of the _Good Intent_, looming before him out of the mist. -Allowing the second boat to come alongside, he turned and spoke to the -serang. - -"Now, Hossain, there she is. Hail her." - -"Eo, eo!" shouted the man. "Do the sahibs want to buy any fresh fruit?" - -An oath floated down from the stern. Captain Barker was there, peering -intently through the mist up the river. - -"Good melons, sahib, all fresh, and not too ripe. Cheap as ragi, -sahib." - -The mate had joined the captain; the Dutch pilot stood by smoking a -pipe. The fruit boats had by this time come under the stern of the -vessel, and Desmond heard the mate say-- - -"We came away in such a hurry, sir, that we hadn't time to take in a -supply of vegetables. Melons'll keep, sir, if they en't over-ripe." - -Barker growled, then bent over and called to the serang. "How much?" - -"Very cheap, sahib, very cheap. I will come aboard." - -"Then be quick about it: we're going to trip the anchor, melons or no -melons. D'ye hear?" - -Hossain ran down the sail and clambered up the chains, while the other -boatmen made fast to a rope thrown from the deck. Desmond also lowered -his sail, steering so as to approach the port quarter of the _Good -Intent_, the serang's boat being on the starboard. No rope was thrown -to him, but he found that the tide was now only strong enough to -neutralize the wind, and a stroke every now and again with the paddle at -the stern kept his boat stationary. - -Meanwhile there came from the deck the sing-song of men heaving up the -anchor. When the serang stepped on board the greater part of the crew -of the _Good Intent_ were forward. Little time was spent in haggling. -A melon was thrown up as a sample, and the price asked was so -extraordinarily low that Captain Barker evidently thought he had got a -bargain. - -"Heave 'em up," he said, "and if they en't all up to sample----" - -He broke off, no doubt believing that his fierce scowl was sufficient to -point his threat. The serang hailed Desmond to come alongside. A few -sweeps of the paddle brought the boat close underneath the _Good -Intent's_ side, and a second rope enabled him to make fast. - -He swarmed up the rope, followed by one of the boatmen. The other on -the boat began to fill a basket with melons, as if preparing to send -them on board. At the same time Karim joined Hossain from the other -side, so that there were now four of the party on deck. At a sign from -Desmond, the two natives, carrying out instructions previously given, -strolled towards the companion way. Hossain had started a conversation -with the captain and mate, telling them about the British fleet he had -passed as he came down the river. The Dutch pilot looked on, stolidly -puffing his pipe. - -Desmond stepped to the side of the vessel as though to hoist the basket -with the running tackle. Making a sign to the men below, he called in a -loud voice-- - -"Tano!" - -Instantly the men swarmed up the rope. At the signal, misleading to the -crew of the _Good Intent_, man after man crawled from beneath the -matting on the boat below, and clambered up the ropes, led by Bulger on -one side and Mr. Toley on the other. They made little noise, and that -was drowned by the sing-song of the sailors and the grinding of the -cables; the pilot with his back to the bulwarks saw nothing, and before -Captain Barker knew that anything unusual was occurring both Bulger and -Toley were tumbling over the sides. The captain stood almost petrified -with amazement as he saw Bulger's red face rising like the morning sun. -He stepped back a pace. - -"What the----" - -The exclamation was never completed. Desmond stepped up to him, and in -a low voice said-- - -"In the name of His Majesty King George I call upon you, Captain Barker, -to surrender this ship." - -He had a levelled pistol in his hand. Bulger with a cutlass sprang to -one side, and Toley ranged himself on the other. Hossain had joined the -two boatmen at the companion way; all had brought out pistols from the -folds of their clothing, and the companion way commanded access to the -ship's armoury. - -Barker, who had grown purple at the sight of Bulger, now turned a sickly -white. The mate dashed forward, calling to the crew, who, seeing that -something was amiss, came along with a rush, arming themselves with -belaying pins and any other weapons that came handy. Toley, however, -leaving the cowed and speechless captain to Desmond, stepped towards the -men. They recognized him at once and paused doubtfully. - -"You know me," he said. "I'm a man of few words. You won't go further -this voyage. Captain Barker has surrendered the ship. You'll drop -those desperate things in your hands and go for'ard. Show a leg, now!" - -The men looked from one to another, then at the captain, who was at that -moment handing over his sword to Desmond. If Captain Barker was too -badly beaten to swear, he was in poor case indeed. The crew's -hesitation was but momentary: under Toley's sad gaze they sullenly flung -down their weapons and went forward. Only then did the captain find -speech. But it was to utter a fearful curse, ending with the name-- - -"Diggle." - - - - - CHAPTER THE TWENTY-NINTH - - -*In which our hero does not win the Battle of Plassey; but, where all do -well, gains as much glory as the rest.* - - -Leaving Mr. Toley to bring the _Good Intent_ up to Calcutta, Desmond -hurried back in advance and remained in the town just long enough to -inform Mr. Merriman of the happy result of his adventure and to change -into his own clothes, and then returned to Chandernagore on horseback as -he had come. He found Clive encamped two miles to the west of the fort. -No reply having reached him from Monsieur Renault, Clive had read the -Declaration of War as he had threatened, and opened hostilities by an -attack on an outpost. - -"You've no need to tell me you've succeeded, Burke," he said, when -Desmond presented himself. "I see it in your eyes. But I've no time to -hear your story now. It must wait until we have seen the result of the -day's fighting. Not that I expect much of it in this quarter. We can't -take the place with the land force only, and I won't throw away life -till the Admiral has tried the effect of his guns." - -The French in Chandernagore were not well prepared to stand a determined -siege. The Governor, Monsieur Renault, had none of the military genius -of a Dupleix or a Bussy. With him were only some eight hundred fighting -men, of whom perhaps half were Europeans. Instead of concentrating his -defence on the fort he scattered his men about the town, leaving the -weakest part of his defences, the eastern curtain, insufficiently -manned. He believed that Admiral Watson would find it impossible to -bring his biggest ships within gunshot, and fancied that by sinking some -vessels at the narrowest part of the river he would keep the whole -British fleet unemployed--a mistake that was to cost him dear. - -By the night of March 14 Clive had driven in the outposts. The -immediate effect of this was the desertion of 2,000 natives sent to -Renault's assistance by Nandkumar the faujdar of Hugli. A continuous -bombardment was kept up until the 19th, when Admiral Watson arrived from -Calcutta with the _Kent_, the _Tyger_, and the _Salisbury_. - -Next morning an officer was despatched in a boat to summon Renault once -more to surrender. Rowing between the sunken vessels, whose masts -showed above water, he took soundings and found that with careful -handling the men-o'-war might safely pass. Once more Renault refused to -surrender. His offer to ransom the fort was declined by the Admiral, -who the same night sent the master of the _Kent_ to buoy the Channel. -Two nights later, in pitch darkness, several English boats were rowed -with muffled oars to the sunken vessels. Their crews fixed lanterns to -the masts of these in such a way that the lights, while guiding the -warships, would be invisible from the fort. - -Early next morning Clive captured the battery commanding the river -passage, and the three British ships ran up with the tide. The _Kent_ -and _Tyger_ opened fire on the south-east and north-east bastions, and -these two vessels bore the brunt of a tremendous cannonade from the -fort. The French artillery was well served, doing fearful damage on -board the British vessels. On the _Kent_, save the Admiral himself and -one lieutenant, every officer was killed or wounded. One shot struck -down Captain Speke and shattered the leg of his son, a brave boy of -sixteen, who refused to allow his wound to be examined until his father -had been attended to, and then bore the pain of the rough amputation of -those days without a murmur. Meanwhile Clive's men had climbed to the -roofs of houses near the fort, which commanded the French batteries; and -his musketeers poured in a galling fire and shot down the gunners at -their work. As the walls of the barracks and fort were shattered by the -guns from the ships, the sepoys crept closer and closer, awaiting the -word to storm. - -The morning drew on. Admiral Watson began to fear that when the tide -fell his big guns would be at too low a level to do further execution. -There was always considerable rivalry between himself and Clive, fed by -the stupid jealousy of some of the Calcutta Council. While Clive, -foreseeing even more serious work later, was anxious to spare his men, -Watson was equally eager to reap all possible credit for a victory over -the French. As it happened, neither had to go to the last extremity, -for about half-past nine a white flag was seen flying from the fort. -Lieutenant Brereton of the _Kent_ and Captain Eyre Coote from the land -force were sent to arrange the surrender, and a little later the -articles of capitulation were signed by Admirals Watson and Pocock, and -by Clive. - -Desmond was by no means satisfied with the part he played in the fight. -In command of a company of sepoys, he was one of the first to rush the -shore battery and take post under the walls of the barracks in readiness -to lead a storming party. But, as he complained afterwards to his -friend Captain Latham of the _Tyger_, the fleet had the honours of the -day. - -"After all, you're better off than I am," grumbled the captain; "how -would you like to have your laurels snatched away? Admiral Pocock ought -to have remained on the _Cumberland_ down the river and left the _Tyger_ -to me. But he didn't see the fun of being out of the fighting; and up -he came post-haste and hoisted his flag on my ship, putting my nose -badly out of joint, I can tell you. Still, one oughtn't to grumble. It -doesn't matter much who gets the credit so long as we've done our job. -'Tis all in the day's work." - -The victory at Chandernagore destroyed the French power in Bengal. But -it turned out to be only the prelude to a greater event--an event which -must be reckoned as the foundation stone of the British Empire in India. -It sprang from the character of Siraj-uddaula. That prince was a cruel -despot, but weak-willed, vacillating, and totally unable to keep a -friend. One day he would strut in some vainglorious semblance of -dignity; the next he would engage in drunken revels with the meanest and -most dissolute of his subjects. He insulted his commander-in-chief, Mir -Jafar: he offended the Seths, wealthy bankers of Murshidabad who had -helped him to his throne: he played fast and loose with every one with -whom he had dealings. His own people were weary of him, and at length a -plot was hatched to dethrone him and set Mir Jafar in his place. - -Mr. Watts, the British agent in Murshidabad, communicated this design to -Clive and the Council of Calcutta, suggesting that they should -co-operate in deposing the vicious Nawab. They agreed, on the grounds -that his dishonesty and insolence showed that he had no real intention -of abiding by the terms of his treaty, and that he was constantly -intriguing with the French. A treaty was accordingly drawn up with Mir -Jafar, in which the prospective Subah agreed to all the terms formerly -granted by Siraj-uddaula. But Omichand, who was on bad terms with Mir -Jafar and the Seths, threatened to reveal the whole plot to the Nawab -and have Mr. Watts put to death, unless he were guaranteed in the treaty -the payment of a sum of money equivalent to nearly £400,000. Clive was -so much disgusted with Omichand's double-dealing that, though he was -ready to make him fair compensation for his losses in Calcutta, he was -not inclined to accede to his impudent demand. Yet it would be -dangerous to refuse him point-blank. He therefore descended to a trick -which, whatever may be urged in its defence--the proved treachery of -Omichand, the customs of the country, the utter want of scruple shown by -the natives in their dealings--must ever remain a blot on a great man's -fame. Two treaties with Mir Jafar were drawn up; one on red paper, -known as _lal kagaz_, containing a clause embodying Omichand's demand; -the other on white, containing no such clause. Admiral Watson, with -bluff honesty, refused to have anything to do with the sham treaty; it -was dishonourable, he said, and to ask his signature was an affront. -But his signature was necessary to satisfy Omichand. At Clive's request -it was forged by Mr. Lushington, a young writer of the Company's. The -red treaty was shown to Omichand; it bought his silence; he suspected -nothing. - -The plot was now ripe. Omichand left Murshidabad; Mr. Watts slipped -away; and the Nawab, on being informed of his flight, wrote to Clive and -Watson, upbraiding them with breaking their treaty with him, and set out -to join his army. - -Clive left Chandernagore on June 13, his guns, stores and European -soldiers being towed up the river in 200 boats, the sepoys marching -along the highway parallel with the right bank. Palti and Katwa were -successively occupied by his advance guard under Eyre Coote. But a -terrible rainstorm on the 18th delayed his march, and next day he -received from Mir Jafar a letter that gave him no little uneasiness. -Mir Jafar announced that he had pretended to patch up his quarrel with -the Nawab and sworn to be loyal to him; but he added that the measures -arranged with Clive were still to be carried out. This strange message -suggested that Mir Jafar was playing off one against the other, or at -best temporising until he was sure of the victor. It was serious enough -to give pause to Clive. He was 150 miles from his base at Calcutta; -before him was an unfordable river watched by a vast hostile force. If -Mir Jafar should elect to remain faithful to his master the English Army -would in all likelihood be annihilated. In these circumstances Clive -wrote to the Committee of Council in Calcutta that he would not cross -the river until he was definitely assured that Mir Jafar would join him. - -His decision seemed to be justified next day when he received a letter -from Mr. Watts at Kalna. On the day he left Murshidabad, said Mr. -Watts, Mir Jafar had denounced him as a spy and sworn to repel any -attempt of the English to cross the river. On receipt of this news -Clive adopted a course unusual with him. He called a Council of War, -for the first and last time in his career. Desmond was in Major -Killpatrick's tent when the summons to attend the Council reached that -officer. - -"Burke, my boy," he said, "'tis a mighty odd thing. Mr. Clive is not -partial to Councils; has had enough of 'em at Madras first, and lately -at Calcutta. D'you know, I don't understand Mr. Clive; I don't believe -any one does. In the field he is as bold as a lion, fearless, quick to -see what to do at the moment, never losing a chance. Yet more than once -I've noticed, beforehand, a strange hesitation. He gets fits of the -dumps, broods, wonders whether he is doing the right thing, and is as -touchy as a bear with a sore head. Well, 'tis almost noon; I must be -off; we'll see what the Council has to say." - -Desmond watched the Major almost with envy as he went off to this -momentous meeting. How he wished he was a little older, a little higher -in rank, so that he too might have the right to attend! He lay back in -the tent wondering what the result of the Council would be. "If they -asked for my vote," he thought, "I'd say fight;" and then he laughed at -himself for venturing to have an opinion. - -By and by Major Killpatrick returned. - -"Well, my boy," he said, "we've carried our point--twelve against -seven!" - -"For fighting?" - -"No, my young firebrand; against fighting. You needn't look so -chopfallen. There'll be a fight before long; but we're going to run no -risks. We'll wait till the monsoon is over and we can collect enough -men to smash the Subah." - -"Was that Colonel Clive's decision?" - -"'Twas indeed. But let me tell you. There was a comical thing to start -with. Lieutenant Hayter, one of Watson's men, was bid to the Council, -but the nincompoop was huffed because he wasn't allowed precedence of -the Company's captains. These naval men's airs are vastly amusing. He -took himself off. Then Mr. Clive put the case; fight at once, or wait. -Against the custom, he voted himself first--against immediate action. -Then he asked me and Grant in turn; we voted with him. 'Twas Eyre -Coote's turn next; he voted t'other way, and gave his -reasons--uncommonly well, I must admit. He said our men were in good -spirits, and had been damped enough by the rains. The Frenchman Law -might come up and join the Nawab, and then every froggy who entered our -service after Chandernagore would desert and fight against us. We're so -far from Calcutta that 'twould be difficult to protect our -communications. Those were his reasons. I watched Clive while Coote was -speaking; he stuck his lips together and stared at him; and, have you -noticed? he squints a trifle when he looks hard. Well, the voting went -on, and ended as I said--twelve against immediate action, seven for." - -"How did the Bengal men vote?" - -"I'm bound to say, for--except Le Beaume. 'Twas the Madras men who -outvoted 'em." - -"Well, with all respect, sir, I think the opinion of the Bengal men, who -know the people and the country, ought to have outweighed the opinion of -strangers. Still, it would be difficult to oppose Colonel Clive." - -Further conversation was cut short by the arrival of a messenger -summoning Desmond to attend the colonel. - -"Where is he?" he asked. - -"Under a clump of trees beyond the camp, sir. He's been there by -himself an hour or more." - -Desmond hurried off. On the way he met Major Coote. - -"Hullo, Burke," cried the major; "you've heard the news?" - -"Yes, and I'm sorry for it." - -"All smoke, my dear boy, all smoke. Colonel Clive has been thinking it -over, and has decided to disregard the decision of the Council and cross -the river at sunrise to-morrow." - -Desmond could not refrain from flinging up his hat and performing other -antics expressive of delight; he was caught in the act by Clive himself, -who was returning to his tent. - -"You're a madcap, Burke," he said. "Come to my tent." - -He employed Desmond during the next hour in writing orders to the -officers of his force. This consisted of about 900 Europeans, 200 -topasses, a few lascars, and some 2,000 sepoys. Eight six-pounders and -two howitzers formed the whole of the artillery. Among the Europeans -were about fifty sailors, some from the King's ships, some from -merchantmen. Among the latter were Mr. Toley and Bulger, whose -excellent service in capturing the _Good Intent_ had enforced their -request to be allowed to accompany the little army. - -Shortly before dawn on June 22 Clive's men began to cross the river. -The passage being made in safety, they rested during the hot hours, and -resumed their march in the evening amid a heavy storm of rain, often -having to wade waist-high the flooded fields. Soon after midnight the -men, drenched to the skin, reached a mango-grove somewhat north of the -village of Plassey: and there, as they lay down in discomfort to snatch -a brief sleep before dawn, they heard the sound of tom-toms and trumpets -from the Nawab's camp three miles away. - -"'Tis a real comfort, that there noise," remarked Bulger, as he stirred -the camp-fire with his hook. Desmond had come to bid him good-night. -"Ay, true comfort to a sea-goin' man like me. For why? 'Cos it makes -me feel at home. Why, I don't sleep easy if there en't some sort o' -hullabaloo--wind or wave, or, if ashore, cats a-caterwaulin'. No, Mr. -Subah, Nawab, or whatsomdever you call yourself, you won't frighten Bill -Bulger with your tum-tum-tumin'. I may be wrong, Mr. Burke, which I -never am, but there'll be tum-tum-tum of another sort to-morrer." - -The grove held by Clive's troops was known as the Laksha Bagh--the grove -of a hundred thousand trees. It was nearly half a mile long and three -hundred yards broad. A high embankment ran all round it, and beyond -this a weedy ditch formed an additional protection against assault. A -little north of the grove, on the bank of the river Cossimbazar, stood a -stone hunting-box belonging to Siraj-uddaula. Still farther north, near -the river, was a quadrangular tank, and beyond this a redoubt and a -mound of earth. The river there makes a loop somewhat like a horseshoe -in shape, and in the neck of land between the curves of the stream the -Nawab had placed his intrenched camp. - -His army numbered nearly 70,000 men, of whom 50,000 were infantry, armed -with matchlocks, bows and arrows, pikes and swords. He had in all -fifty-three guns, mounted on platforms drawn by elephants and oxen. The -most efficient part of his artillery was commanded by Monsieur Sinfray, -who had under him some fifty Frenchmen from Chandernagore. The Nawab's -vanguard consisted of 15,000 men under his most trusty lieutenants, -including Manik Chand and Mir Madan. Rai Durlabh, the captor of -Cossimbazar, and two other officers commanded separate divisions. - -Dawn had hardly broken on June 23, King George's birthday, when Mir -Madan, with a body of picked troops, 7,000 foot, 5,000 horse, and -Sinfray's artillery, moved out to the attack with great clamour of -trumpets and drums. The remainder of the Nawab's army formed a wide arc -about the north and east of the English position. Nearest to the grove -was Mir Jafar's detachment. The English were arranged in four -divisions, under Majors Killpatrick, Grant, and Coote, and Captain -Gaupp. These had taken position in front of the embankment, the guns on -the left, the Europeans in the centre, the sepoys on the right. -Sinfray's gunners occupied an eminence near the tank, about two hundred -yards in advance of the grove, and made such good play that Clive, -directing operations from the Nawab's hunting-box, deemed it prudent to -withdraw his men into the grove, where they were sheltered from the -enemy's fire. The Nawab's troops hailed this movement with loud shouts, -of exultation, and, throwing their guns forward, opened a still more -vigorous cannonade, which, however, did little damage. - -If Mir Madan had had the courage and dash to order a combined assault, -there is very little doubt that he must have overwhelmed Clive's army by -sheer weight of numbers. But he let the opportunity slip. Meanwhile -Clive had sent forward his two howitzers and two large guns to check -Sinfray's fire. - -Midday came, and save for the cannonading no fighting had taken place. -Clive left the hunting-box, called his officers together, and gave -orders that they were to hold their positions during the rest of the day -and prepare to storm the Nawab's camp at midnight. He was still talking -to them when a heavy shower descended, the rain falling in torrents for -an hour. Wet through, Clive hastened to the hunting-lodge to change his -clothes. Scarcely had he departed when the enemy's fire slackened. -Their ammunition, having been left exposed, had been rendered almost -entirely useless by the rain. Fancying that the English gunners had -been equally careless, Mir Madan ordered his horse to charge; but the -Englishmen had kept their powder dry, and received the cavalry with a -deadly fire that sent them headlong back. At this moment Mir Madan -himself was killed by a cannon-ball, and his followers, dismayed at his -loss, began a precipitate retreat to their entrenchments. - -Clive was still absent. The sight of the enemy retreating was too much -for Major Killpatrick. Forgetting the order to maintain his position, -he thought the moment opportune for a general advance. He turned to -Desmond, who had remained at his side all the morning, and said: - -"Burke, run off to Mr. Clive, and tell him the Moors are retreating, and -I am following up." - -Desmond hurried away, and reached the hunting-box just as Clive had -completed his change of clothes. He delivered his message. Then for -the first time he saw Clive's temper at full blaze. With a passionate -imprecation he rushed from the lodge, and came upon the gallant major -just as he was about to lead his men to the assault. - -"What the deuce do you mean, sir, by disobeying my orders? Take your -men back to the grove, and be quick about it." - -His tone stung like a whip. But Killpatrick had the courage of his -opinions, and Desmond admired the frank manner in which he replied. - -"I beg a thousand pardons, Mr. Clive, for my breach of orders, but I -thought 'twas what you yourself, sir, would have done had you been on -the spot. If we can drive the Frenchmen from that eminence yonder, we -command the field, sir, and----" - -"You're right, sir," said Clive, his rage subsiding as easily as it had -arisen. "You're too far forward to retire now. I'll lead your -companies. Bring up the rest of the men from the grove." - -Placing himself at the head of two companies of grenadiers he continued -the advance. Sinfray did not wait the assault. He hastily evacuated -his position, retiring on the redoubt near the Nawab's entrenchments. -It was apparent to Clive that the main body of the enemy was by this -time much demoralized, and he was eager to make a vigorous attack upon -them while in this state. But two circumstances gave him pause. To -advance upon the entrenchments would bring him under a cross fire from -the redoubt, and he had sufficient respect for the Frenchmen to hesitate -to risk losses among his small body of men. Further, the movements of -the enemy's detachments on his right caused him some uneasiness. He -suspected that they were the troops of Mir Jafar and Rai Durlabh, but he -had no certain information on that point, nor had he received a message -from them. He knew that Mir Jafar was untrustworthy, therefore he was -unwilling to risk a general assault until assured that the troops on his -flank were not hostile to him. The doubt was suddenly resolved when he -saw them check their movement, retire, and draw apart from the remainder -of the Nawab's army. Giving the word at once to advance, he led his men -to storm the redoubt and the mound on its right. For a short time -Sinfray and his gallant Frenchmen showed a bold front; but the vigorous -onslaught of the English struck fear into the hearts of his native -allies; the news that the Nawab had decamped completed their panic, and -then began a wild and disorderly flight: horsemen galloping from the -field; infantry scampering this way and that; elephants trumpeting; -camels screaming, as they charged through the rabble. With British -cheers and native yells Clive's men poured into the Nawab's camp, some -dashing on in pursuit of the enemy, others delaying to plunder the -baggage and stores, of which immense quantities lay open to their hand. -By half-past five on that memorable 23rd of June the battle was -over--the battle that gave Britain immediately the wealthiest province -of India and, indirectly, the mastery of the whole of that vast Empire. -The loss to the British was only twenty-three killed and fifty wounded. - -Clive rested for a while in Siraj-uddaula's tent, where he found on his -inkstand a list of thirteen courtiers whom, even in that moment of dire -extremity, the tyrant had condemned to death. From a prisoner it was -learnt that the Nawab had escaped on a camel with two thousand horsemen, -fleeing towards Murshidabad. All day he had been in a state of terror -and agitation. Deprived of his bravest officer, Mir Madan; betrayed by -his own relatives; the wretched youth had not waited for the critical -moment. Himself carried to his capital the news of his defeat. - -Orders were given to push on that night to Daudpur, six miles north of -Plassey. But some little time was occupied by Clive's commissariat in -replacing their exhausted bullocks with teams captured in the Nawab's -camp. Meanwhile Clive sent Eyre Coote forward with a small detachment -to keep the enemy on the run. Among those who accompanied him was -Desmond, with Bulger and Mr. Toley. Desmond hoped that he would -overtake and capture Monsieur Sinfray, from whom he thought it likely he -might wrest information about Mrs. Merriman and her daughter. Diggle -had made use of Sinfray's house; it was not improbable that the -Frenchman knew something about the ladies. As for the seamen, they were -so much disgusted at the tameness of the enemy's resistance that they -were eager for anything that promised activity and adventure. Their -eagerness was no whit diminished when Desmond mentioned what he had in -his mind. - -"By thunder, sir," said Bulger, "give me the chanst, and I'll larn the -mounseer the why and wherefore of it. And as for Diggle--well, I maybe -wrong, but I'll lay my share o' the prize money out o' the _Good Intent_ -that he's hatchin' mischief, and not far off neither. Show a leg, -mateys." - - - - - CHAPTER THE THIRTIETH - - -*In which Coja Solomon reappears; and gives our hero valuable -information.* - - -Before Major Coote reached Daudpur he was overtaken by a horseman -bearing a message from Clive. - -"A job for you, Burke," said the major, after reading the note. "Mr. -Clive is annoyed at the Nawab's escape, and thinks he may give us -trouble yet if he can join hands with Law and his Frenchmen. I am to -send you ahead to reconnoitre. You've been to Murshidabad, I think?" - -"No, only to Cossimbazar; but that is not far off." - -"Well, you know best part of the road, at any rate. The colonel wants -you to go with a small party to Murshidabad and find out whether the -Frenchmen have come within reach. You'll have to go on foot; take care -you don't get into trouble. Pick your own men, of course. You must have -a rest first." - -"Two or three hours will be enough for me. If we start soon, we shall -reach Murshidabad before dawn, and with little risk. I'm to come back -and report, sir?" - -"Of course. No doubt you will meet us on the way." - -On reaching Daudpur Desmond selected twenty sepoys who knew the country, -and ordered them to be ready to start with him at midnight. Bulger and -Mr. Toley he had already informed of his mission, and he found them more -than eager to share in it. Just after midnight the little party set -out. A march of some four hours brought them to the outskirts of -Murshidabad. Desmond called a halt, encamped for the remainder of the -night in a grove of palmyras, and at dawn sent forward one of the -sepoys, disguised as a ryot, to make inquiries as to what was happening -in the town. - -It was near midday when the man returned. He reported that the Nawab -had gone to his palace, while the chiefs who had accompanied or followed -him from the field of battle had shown their recognition that his cause -was lost by deserting him and going to their own houses. He had heard -nothing of the French. The Nawab, in order to ingratiate himself with -the people, had thrown open his Treasury, from which all and sundry were -carrying off what they pleased. The city was in such a disturbed state -that it would be exceedingly unsafe for any stranger to enter. - -Desmond decided to remain where he was until nightfall, and then to -skirt the city and move northwards, in the hope of learning something -definite of the movements of the French. Meanwhile he sent the man back -to learn if anything happened during the day. - -In the evening the man returned again. This time he reported that Mir -Jafar had arrived with a large force and taken possession of the Nawab's -palace of Mansurganj. Immediately after the traitor's arrival -Siraj-uddaula had collected all the gold and jewels on which he could -lay hands and fled with his women. Suspecting that the luckless Nawab -was making for Rajmahal in the hope of meeting Law there, Desmond made -up his mind to follow. He struck his camp, marched all night, and soon -after daybreak reached a village near the river some miles south of -Rajmahal. - -He was surprised to find the village deserted. But passing a small -house, he heard cries of distress, and going in he found the place full -of smoke from some straw that had been kindled, and a man tied by his -thumbs to a staple in the wall. He recognized the man in a moment. It -was Coja Solomon, Mr. Merriman's rascally agent of Cossimbazar. He was -half dead with pain and fright. Desmond cut him loose and hurried him -out of the stifling room into the open, where Bulger revived him with -copious douches of water until he was sufficiently recovered to explain -his unhappy plight. - -"God be praised!" exclaimed the Armenian fervently. "You were in time, -sir. I was seeking safety. The Faujdar of Murshidabad villainously -ill-used me. He owes me much, but there is no gratitude in him. I saw -that neither my life nor my goods were safe, so I packed up what -valuables I could and left with my servants, intending to go to Patna, -where I have a house. I had just reached this village when I saw a band -of some fifty horsemen approaching from the other end, and fearing that -I might be set upon and plundered, I hastily concealed my goods at the -edge of the tank hard by. Alas! it availed me nothing. My servants -were dispersed, and the risaldar of the horsemen, a European, seized me -and thrust me into this house, abandoned like all the rest, for the -people fled before his approach, fearing he would burn and destroy. Then -I was tied up as you saw, until I confessed where my valuables were -hidden: one of my servants must have betrayed me. The risaldar promised -to release me as soon as I should confess; but instead of that he set -fire to the straw out of pure villainy, for what could I do to him? I -have been a good friend to the English. Sir, pursue that man: he must -be a Frenchman. I will give you a quarter, nay, a third of my goods, if -you recover them." - -"That is impossible, Khwaja. I've only twenty men on foot: what is the -use of pursuing fifty on horseback? Your friendship for the British has -come, I fear, a little too late." - -The Armenian wrung his hands in despair, whining that he was a ruined -man. Then his tone changed; was there not still a chance? He explained -that, some hours before his capture, he had met a man who recognized him -as the agent of Mr. Merriman. The man said that he was a servant of -Surendra Nath Chuckerbutti, and was on his way to meet Clive Sahib, -carrying a letter to him from his master. But he was worn out, having -come many miles through the heat without rest. Coja Solomon -unblushingly confessed that, while the man slept at midday, he had taken -the letter from him and read it. - -"Why did you do that?" - -"I thought it would be safer with me, for every one knows----" - -"Yes, that'll do, Khwaja; go on with your story." - -"The letter was written at Manda, a village on the other side of the -river, and the writer, Surendra Nath, informed Mr. Clive that the wife -and daughter of Mr. Merriman were in his house there, and asked him to -send a party to bring them away. Naturally, sir, I was pleased to -find----" - -"Go on with your story," cried Desmond impatiently, all excitement at -coming upon the track of the ladies at last. - -"It was while I was reading the letter that the horsemen came up. The -risaldar took it from me, read it, and questioned me. His face changed; -he smiled evilly, and from the questions he asked me, and from what I -heard him say to his followers, he has gone to Manda, with a design to -take these ladies." - -"Stay, Khwaja; what was he like?" - -"He was a tall man, with scars on his face, and on his right hand he -wore a black glove." - -"The scoundrel!" exclaimed Desmond. His look of trouble and anxiety did -not escape the Armenian. - -"It is but a little since he left me," he said. "If you make your way -to the village--it is three coss on the other side of the river--you may -capture him, sir, as well as regain my property, a third of which is -yours." - -"But how--how, man?" cried Desmond impatiently. "How can we overtake him -on foot?" - -"He will have to ride near to Rajmahal to find a ford, sir. He will -cross there, and ride back down the river some five coss before he comes -to Manda." - -"But could he not swim the river?" - -"He could, sir, but it is a feat he is not likely to attempt, seeing -that there is no need for haste. I implore you, sir, start at once. -Otherwise I am a ruined man; my old age will be spent in poverty and -distress." - -"If he cannot cross, how can I?" said Desmond. - -"There is sure to be a boat on the bank, sir, unless they have all been -seized by the Nawab, who, rumour says, is coming from Bhagwangola by -river to Rajmahal." - -Desmond felt uneasy and perplexed. He doubted whether his duty to Clive -did not forbid him to go in search of the ladies, and there was no -possibility of communicating in time with either Clive or Coote. Then -it suddenly occurred to him that pursuit of Diggle might well come -within his duty. Diggle was in the service of the Nawab; it was -possible that he was even leading an advance guard of Law's Frenchmen. - -"Were there any other Europeans besides the risaldar among the -horsemen?" he asked. - -"Two, sahib, and they were French. I suspect they were from the force -of Law Sahib; he was, I know, at Patna a few days ago." - -Desmond hesitated no longer. His affection for Mr. Merriman prompted an -attempt to save the ladies: his mission from Clive was to discover the -movements of the French. If he set off on Diggle's track he might -succeed in both. It was a risky adventure--to pursue fifty men under -such a leader as Diggle, with only a score. But twice before he had -tried conclusions with Diggle and come off best: why should fortune fail -him the third time? - -Hurriedly explaining the situation to Mr. Toley and Bulger, he hastened -with his men down to the river. There was no boat at the village ghat. -He looked anxiously up and down. On the opposite side he saw a long -river-boat moored in a narrow backwater. He could only get it by -swimming, and here the current ran so swiftly that to swim would be -dangerous. Yet, on the spur of the moment, he was preparing to take to -the water himself when one of his men, a slim and active sepoy, -volunteered to go. - -"Good! I will give you ten rupees if you bring the boat across. You -are a good swimmer?" - -"The sahib will see," replied the man, with a salaam and a smile. - -He took a kedgeree pot, an earthen vessel used for cooking, and firmly -tied to it a stout bamboo some six feet long, so that the thicker end of -the pole was even with the mouth of the vessel. The boat was slightly -down the stream. The man ran a little way up stream to a point where a -spit of land jutted out into the river, his companions following quickly -with the pot. This they placed mouth downwards in the water. Then the -sepoy mounted on top, launched himself on this novel buoy, and, holding -on to the pole, floated breast high in the water down with the current, -dexterously steering himself with his legs to the point where the boat -was moored. He clambered into it, and with rapid movements of the stern -oar brought it to the other side, receiving with beaming face the -promised reward. - -While this was going on the sky had been darkening. A north-wester was -coming up, and after his experience on the eve of Plassey, Desmond knew -what that meant. He hastily embarked his men, and the boat started; but -it had scarcely covered a third of the distance across the river when -the wind struck it. Fortunately the sail was not up: as it was, the -flat-bottomed boat was nearly swamped. Drenching rain began to fall. -The river was lashed to fury: for three crowded minutes it seemed to -Desmond a miracle that the boat was still afloat. The waves dashed over -its sides; the men, blinded by the rain, were too much cowed to attempt -to bale out. Desmond was at the helm; Bulger and Toley had an oar each; -although only a few yards distant, Desmond could scarcely see them -through the pelting rain. Then the wind moderated somewhat: he -peremptorily ordered the men to use their brass lotis[#] to bale out the -boat, and determined to turn the storm to account. - - -[#] Drinking vessels. - - -With great difficulty he got the sail hoisted, and their the vessel ran -down the river at racing speed. The distance to Manda, as the Armenian -had told him, was six miles--four by river, two by land. By Diggle's -route it was ten miles. The horsemen had had such a start of him that -he feared he could not overtake them in time. Still the storm that now -helped him would hinder them. If he survived the perils of the river -passage, he might even yet succeed. He was alive to the risks he ran. -More than once, as the wind changed a point, it seemed that the cranky -craft must turn turtle. But she escaped again and again, plunging on -her headlong course. The sepoys were sturdy enough fellows, but being -unused to the water they cowered in the bottom of the boat, except when -Desmond's stern command set them frantically baling. Almost before it -seemed possible they came in sight of a bend in the river, which one of -the men, who knew the district, had described to Desmond as the nearest -point to the village he sought. So rapid had the passage been that -Desmond felt that, if they could only land in safety, they might have -gained considerably on Diggle's horsemen. The latter must have felt the -full effect of the gale: it was likely that for a time they had taken -shelter. Desmond and his men were wet to the skin, but, profiting by -the recollection of what had happened at Plassey, they had kept their -ammunition dry. - -At the bend the river presented a shelving beach, being at least twice -as wide at this point during the rainy season as at other periods. -Without hesitation Desmond ran the nose of the boat straight at the -beach: she came to with a violent bump; the men tumbled out waist-deep -into the water, and with shrill cries of relief scrambled ashore. - -No time was lost. Waiting only to inspect their muskets, Desmond at -once began the march, the band being led by the man who knew the -country. Another man, a noted runner, formerly a kasid in the -employment of the Nawab of the Dekkan, was sent in advance to find -Surendra Nath's house, give him warning of Desmond's coming, and -instruct him to have some one on the look-out for the approach of the -enemy, if Diggle was not indeed already in possession of the village. -The rest pushed on with all speed. The storm had cleared the air: the -rain had ceased; and though it was unpleasant walking over the soppy -ground, the march was much cooler than it had been earlier in the day. - -Desmond longed for a hill from which to get a view of the country; but, -as almost everywhere in the valley of the Ganges, it was dead flat. The -party was within a quarter-mile of the village when the kasid came -running back. He had found the Babu's house. From its flat roof a body -of horse had been seen in the distance, nearly a coss away. Desmond at -once ordered his men to double, and as they dashed into the village -among the wondering people the kasid pointed out Surendra Nath's house -at the far end--a small two-storied building, surrounded by a wall and -approached through a rickety iron gateway. It was the first house to -which the approaching horsemen would come. - -A man in native dress was standing at the gate. At first Desmond did -not recognize him, but as he drew nearer he saw that it was Surendra -Nath himself, looking years older--weak, thin, sunken-eyed, little like -the sleek well-fed Babu Desmond had last seen in Calcutta. - -"Are the ladies safe?" asked Desmond, yards ahead of his men. - -"Yes, sir, quite safe," replied Surendra Nath, trembling. - -"Thank God for that! Go in, Babu; tell them we are here to protect -them." - -While speaking he had eagerly scanned the surroundings. On each side of -the sodden track that did duty for a road there was a mango grove. -Desmond directed Toley to take four men to one side, and Bulger four men -to the other, and place themselves among the trees. When the first -three files of the horsemen should have passed through, the seamen were -to give the word to fire; then, taking advantage of the inevitable -confusion, to rush with their men to the house. Desmond himself -meanwhile, with the remaining twelve, set to work to strengthen the -defences. These proceedings were watched with amazement by the -villagers, who, men, women, and children, stood in groups, discussing in -shrill tones the movements of these energetic strangers. - -There was a small veranda to the house. This was wrenched away by main -force. The posts and other parts of the woodwork were carried to the -gateway and piled up as rapidly as possible to form a rough barricade. -Scarcely was this task half accomplished when the clanking of weapons -was heard in the distance, soon accompanied by the swashing of horses' -hoofs on the drenched soil. Desmond coolly ordered his men to proceed -with the work. A minute later there was a sharp discharge of musketry, -followed by cries, shouts, and the sound of galloping horses. The -villagers scuttled away shrieking. Immediately afterwards Bulger and -Toley with their eight men sprang from cover and made a dash for the -wall. - -"Muskets first!" shouted Desmond. - -The muskets were pitched over: then the men scrambled up, Desmond and -his sepoys assisting them to get across. Almost the first to drop down -into the compound was Bulger, whose hook had proved, not for the first -time, of more service than a sound left arm. Once over himself, he used -his hook to haul the sepoys after him, with many a vigorous "Yo heave -ho!" - -"All aboard, sir," he cried, when the last of the men was within the -wall. "I may be wrong, but I lay my button-hook 'tis now all hands to -repel boarders; and only two cutlasses among us--mine and Mr. Toley's. -Howsomdever, notwithstandin', and which is all the same!" - -Desmond ordered four of his men to post themselves at the barricaded -gateway: the rest he divided into two parties, and stationed behind the -wall at each side. The wall was six feet high--too high to fire -over--but as it was in a somewhat dilapidated condition there was no -difficulty in knocking away several loose bricks at intervals, so as to -make a rough-and-ready battlement. Desmond instructed the men to fire -alternately through the embrasures thus made. As soon as one had fired -he was to fall back and reload as fast as possible while another man -took his place. By this device, Desmond hoped to deceive the enemy for -a time as to the numbers of the defenders in the compound. - -But it was not to be expected that the enemy could long be kept out, and -in the last resort it would be necessary to retreat to the house. In -view of the presence of the ladies this was a step to be avoided if -possible. It might indeed be the wiser course to surrender for their -sakes. As the thought struck Desmond he called to the Babu, who was -keeping watch on the roof. - -"Babu," he said, "ask the ladies to occupy the least-exposed room. Tell -them that if the enemy get over the wall I will try to make an -arrangement with them, rather than provoke an attack on the house." - -The Babu disappeared. But a few moments later Phyllis Merriman, wearing -the costume of a native lady came running out. - -"Mother bids me say, Mr. Burke," she said, "on no account let such -considerations weigh with you. She says fight to the last. We will -risk anything rather than go back to captivity. You will beat them, Mr. -Burke, won't you?" - -"I will do my best, Miss Merriman," replied Desmond. "But pray go back; -they may be here at any moment. I need not say how glad I am to find -you well. Pray tell Mrs. Merriman that we will all do our best for her -and you." - -"I know you will. And my father?" - -"He is distressed, of course, but clings to hope. Do, Miss Merriman, -retire at once. I see the enemy coming from the grove." - -"Phyllis! Phyllis!" cried Mrs. Merriman from the house; "come in at -once! Mr. Burke, send her in. Have no mercy on the wretches, I implore -you." - -The girl walked back reluctantly. Unknown to Desmond, she went no -further than the doorway, where, just hidden from sight, she watched all -that followed. - -The enemy had clearly been nonplussed by their sudden check. There were -no British troops, so far as they knew, for many miles round, and -concerted resistance from the natives was unlikely. But they were now -emerging from the mango grove, a hundred yards away. They came on foot, -leaving their horses out of musket range. Desmond's heart sank as he -counted them. There were even more than he had supposed. They numbered -fifty-four, and several had no doubt been left in charge of the horses. -Still he felt that he had two advantages. The first was his position -behind a wall; the second, the fact that the enemy, unless they had -obtained information from the villagers, could not know what force they -had to deal with. Their ignorance of course must be only temporary; if -one of them should succeed in mounting the wall the weakness of the -defence must immediately be seen. - -As the enemy, tall men in the costume of native cavalry, assembled by -twos and threes at the edge of the grove Desmond noticed three Europeans -leave the main body and advance some way into the open. It was with a -flush of indignation and a fierce resolve to bring him at last to book -that Desmond recognized one of them as Diggle. With his companions he -walked at a safe distance completely round the building. For some time -they halted at the back, carefully scanning the position. Here the wall -approached the house much more closely than in the front, and no one -could mount it without being fully exposed to fire from the upper -windows. After his examination, Diggle returned with the two men, whom -from their appearance Desmond judged to be Frenchmen, to the main body, -and sent off half a dozen men towards the other end of the village. -While they were gone one of the Frenchmen seemed to Desmond to be -expostulating with Diggle; but the latter only laughed and waved his -gloved hand in the direction of the house. - -The messengers soon returned, dragging with them three of the villagers. -These Diggle took aside separately and questioned: it was clear to -Desmond that he was ascertaining the strength of the garrison. -Apparently satisfied, he divided his force into three parts; the -largest, consisting of some forty men, remained at the edge of the -grove; the two smaller proceeded to the right and left of the back of -the house. One was in command of a Frenchman, but the Frenchman who had -expostulated with Diggle had apparently refused to have anything to do -with the affair: he held himself aloof, and by and by disappeared into -the grove. Diggle's evident intention was to weaken the garrison by -forcing Desmond to divide his already too small force. He had to detach -eight of his men--three to the windows and five to the wall; leaving -only fourteen, including Bulger and Toley, to meet the rush in front. - -It was not long in coming. Diggle did not wait to parley. Taking a -musket from one of his men he raised it to his shoulder and fired at a -sepoy whose head just showed above the gate. The man raised his hand to -his brow and fell back with a sharp cry--a bullet had ploughed a furrow -through his scalp. Desmond checked his men as they were about to fire -in reply; but when, in the rush that followed, the enemy came within -thirty yards, he gave the word, and seven muskets flashed forth across -the barricade. The attacking party were coming forward in close order, -and five of the men fell. But the rest sprang forward with shrill -yells, Diggle, who was untouched, urging them on. Even the fire of -Desmond's second rank failed to check them. Two or three dropped; -others were soon swarming up the wall, and though the defenders with -clubbed muskets struck savagely at their heads and hands as they -appeared above the coping, if one drew back, another took his place; and -the wall was so long that at several points there were gaps between -Desmond's sepoys where the enemy could mount unmolested. - -Desmond, having discharged his two pistols, disposing of one of the -assailants with each shot, was in the act of reloading when Diggle leapt -into the compound, followed by two of his men. Shouting to Bulger, -Desmond threw the pistols and rammer on the ground behind him, and, -drawing his sword, dashed at the three intruders, who were slightly -winded by the charge and their exertions in scaling the wall. - -Desmond could never afterwards remember the details of the crowded -moments that followed. There were cries all around him: behind, the -strident voice of Mr. Toley was cheering his men to repel the assault at -the back of the house; at his side Bulger was bellowing like a bull of -Bashan. But all this was confused noise to him, for his attention was -wholly occupied with his old enemy. His first lunge at Diggle was -neatly parried, and the two, oblivious of all that was happening around -them, looked and into each other's eyes, read grim determination there, -and fought with a cold fury that meant death to the first that gave an -opening to his opponent's sword. - -If motive counted, if the right cause could always win, the issue -admitted of no doubt. Desmond had a heavy score to pay off. From the -time when he had met Diggle in the street at Market Drayton to his last -encounter with him at the Battle of the Carts, he had been the mark of -his enmity, malice, spite, trickery. But Desmond thought less of his -own wrongs than of the sorrow of his friend Mr. Merriman, and the -harrowing wretchedness which must have been the lot of the ladies while -they were in Diggle's power. The man had brought misery into so many -lives that it would be a good deed if, in the fortune of war, Desmond's -sword could rid the world of him. - -And Diggle, on his side, was nerved by the power of hate. Baseless as -were his suspicions of Desmond's friendship with Sir Willoughby Stokes, -he felt that this boy was an obstacle. Ever since their paths had -crossed he had been conscious that he had to do with a finer, nobler -nature than his own; and Desmond's courage and skill had again and again -frustrated him. As he faced him now, it was with the feeling that, if -this boy were killed, a most dangerous barrier to the realisation of his -nefarious schemes would be removed. Thus, on either side, it was war to -the death. What Desmond lacked in skill and experience he made up for -by youth and strength. The two combatants were thus equally matched: a -grain in the scale might decide the issue. But the longer the fight -lasted the better were Desmond's chances. He had youth in his favour. -Thanks in large measure to Diggle himself, Desmond had led a hard life: -his muscles were like iron. The older man by and by began to flag: more -than once his guard was nearly beaten down: nothing but his great skill -in swordsmanship and the coolness that never deserted him saved him from -the sharp edge of Desmond's blade. - -But when he seemed almost at the end of his strength, fortune suddenly -befriended him. Bulger, with his clubbed musket and terrible iron hook, -had disposed of the two men who leapt with Diggle into the compound; but -there were others behind them: three men dropped to the ground close by, -and, making a simultaneous rush, bore Bulger back against Desmond, -hampering his sword arm. One of Desmond's sepoys sprang to the rescue, -but he was too late to stem the tide. A blow from a musket stock -disabled Bulger's right arm; he lost his footing. As he fell, his hook, -still active, caught Diggle's leg and brought him to the ground, just -as, taking advantage of the diversion, he was making exultantly what he -intended for a final lunge at Desmond. He fell headlong, rolling over -Bulger, who was already on the ground. - -How the end came Desmond did not clearly see. He knew that he was beset -by three of Diggle's men, and, falling back before them, he heard the -voice of Phyllis Merriman close by, and felt a pistol thrust into his -hand. She had slipped out of the doorway, picked up the weapons as they -lay where Desmond had flung them, completed the loading, and advanced -fearlessly into the thick of the fray. At one and the same moment -Desmond fired upon his enemies and implored the brave girl to go back. -Then suddenly there was a lull in the uproar. Bulger was upon his feet, -Diggle's men paused in their fighting and gazed in consternation at -their prostrate leader. It seemed but a moment; then every man of them -was scrambling pell-mell over the wall, yelling as the stocks of the -sepoys' muskets sped them on their flight. - -"What is it?" asked Desmond. - -Bulger pointed to the form of Diggle, lying huddled among the fallen. - -"He've gone to his account, sir, which I may be wrong, but the Almighty -have got a long black score agen him." - -"How did it happen?" - -Bulger lifted his hook. - -"'Twas that there Diggle as was the why and wherefore o' this little -ornament, sir, and 'twas only right he should be paid for what he done. -We fell down, him and me; I was under. He hoisted himself on his hands -to get free, and I lifted my hook, sir, and caught him a blow under the -chin. If it didn't break his neck, sir, my name en't Bill Bulger, which -I'm sorry for his poor wicked soul all the same." - -Phyllis had her hands clasped about Desmond's arm. - -"Is he dead?" she asked in a voice of awe. - -"Come away," said Desmond quietly, leading her towards the house. "Let -us find your mother." - - - - - CHAPTER THE THIRTY-FIRST - - -*In which friends meet, and part; and our hero hints a proposal.* - - -The fight was over. It was Diggle's quarrel; neither the Frenchmen nor -the natives had any concern in it, and when their leader was dead they -had no more interest in continuing the struggle. They drew off; the -weary defenders collected the dead and attended to the wounded; and -Desmond went into the house. - -"God bless you, Mr. Burke!" said Mrs. Merriman, tears streaming from her -eyes as she met him and clasped his hands. "You are not hurt?" - -"Just a scratch or two, ma'am; nothing to trouble about." - -But the ladies insisted on bathing the two slight wounds on head and arm -which in the heat of the fight he had not noticed. And then Mrs. -Merriman told him all that had happened since the day he left them in -such merry spirits at Khulna. How they had been trapped by Diggle, -pretending to be a Monsieur de Bonnefon: how he had conveyed them to the -house of his friend Sinfray: how after many months their whereabouts had -been revealed to Surendra Nath by one of his numerous relatives, a man -who had a distant cousin among Sinfray's servants: how the Babu, -displaying unwonted energy, had come with a number of friends and fallen -unawares upon their captors, afterwards taking them to a house of his -father's in this village: how the old man and his son had both been -stricken with jungle fever and the father died, and when the Babu lay -helpless and unconscious on his sick bed they had found no means of -communicating with their friends. Mrs. Merriman shuddered as she spoke -of the terrors of their captivity. They had been well treated, indeed; -Monsieur de Bonnefon, or Diggle, as she afterwards learned to call him, -had visited them several times and seen that their wants were supplied. -But their enforced seclusion and inactivity, their dread of the unknown, -their uncertainty as to what might have befallen Mr. Merriman, had told -heavily upon their health and spirits. Rumour brought news of the -tragedy of the Black Hole: they heard that the few survivors were -prisoners of the Nawab, and they feared the worst. From Surendra Nath -they learnt that they need not despair; and since then they had lived on -in the hope that when the Babu had recovered from his illness, he would -find some means of restoring them to the husband and father from whom -they had so long been parted. - -"Surendra Nath has a heart of gold, Mr. Burke," said Mrs. Merriman in -concluding her story. "Poor man! he has been very ill. We must do -something to show our gratitude for his devotion when we get back to -Calcutta." - -Desmond then in his turn told them all that had happened since their -disappearance. When they learnt of the result of the battle of Plassey -and that Clive was marching towards Murshidabad, they were eager to set -off at once. - -"Yes, ma'am," said Desmond, "we will start as soon as we can. I will -leave you to make your preparations. It may not be possible to start -before night, the country being so disturbed, so that if you can sleep -through the day you will be fitter for the journey." - -He left them, and going into the compound found Bulger and Toley looking -with curiosity at the body of Diggle. - -"Hi, sir!" said Bulger as Desmond came up to them; "this here bit o' -velvet is explained at last. Mr. Toley he slit it with his cutlass, -sir, and never did I see a man so down in the mouth when he knowed what -was under it. Ten't nothing at all, sir; just three letters; and what -for he went and burnt them three letters into the back of his hand -'twould beat a Daniel to explain. 'Fur,' sir, that's what they spells; -but whether 'tis rabbit-skin or fox I can't say, though 'tis most likely -fox, knowin' the man." - -Desmond stooped and looked at the unclad right hand. The letters FUR -were branded livid below the knuckles. - -"He was always quoting Latin, Bulger," he said. "Fur is a Latin word: -it means 'thief'." - -"Which I might have knowed it, sir, only I think as how the man what did -the stampin' might have done it in plain English. I don't hold with -these foreign lingos, sir; there allers seems something sly and -deceivin' about 'em. No right man 'ud ever think 'fur' meant 'thief'! -Thief an' all, sir, he's dead. Mr. Toley and me 'll put him away decent -like: and it won't do him no harm if we just says 'Our Father' over the -grave." - -Desmond was turning away when three of his men came into the compound, -two grasping a Frenchman by the arms, the third a black boy. The former -Desmond recognized as the man whom he had seen expostulating with -Diggle; the latter was Scipio Africanus, looking scared and miserable. -The men explained that, pursuing the fugitives, they had captured their -prisoners in the grove. The Frenchman at once addressed Desmond in -broken English. He said that he had tried in vain to dissuade Diggle -from his attempt to capture the ladies. The party had been sent by -Monsieur Law to announce his coming. He was advancing from Patna with a -considerable body of French troops designed for the support of the -Nawab. As he was speaking the Frenchman caught sight of Diggle's exposed -hand. He started, with an exclamation of surprise. Then in answer to -Desmond's question he revealed the secret that had so long perplexed -him. - -Seven years before, he said, in December, 1750, there was a brilliant -foreigner named Peloti among the officers of Major de la Touche, a young -soldier who had been singled out by Dupleix, the French Governor of -Pondicherry, as a military genius of the first order. Peloti was with -the French army when, less than 4,000 in number, it fell upon the vast -hordes of Nadir Jang near Gingi, and won the battle that set Muzaffar -Jang on the throne of the Dekkan and marked the zenith of Dupleix's -success. The new Nawab, in gratitude to the French for the services -rendered him, sent to Dupleix a present of a million rupees, and a -casket of jewels worth half as much again. This casket was given to -Peloti to deliver: he had abused his trust by abstracting the gem of the -collection, a beautiful diamond; and the theft being accidently -discovered, Dupleix in his rage ordered the thief to be branded on the -right hand with the word 'fur,' and drummed him out of the French -employment. For some years nothing more had been seen of Peloti; but he -had recently returned, and offered his services to Bussy, the French -commander in the Dekkan. He brought with him valuable information, -gained in London, of the East India Company's intentions; and this, -together with his evident knowledge of Clive's movements and of affairs -in Calcutta, had caused his former offence to be overlooked, and his -offer was accepted. - -Desmond thanked the Frenchman for his information. "I am sorry to keep -you a prisoner, monsieur," he said; "but I must trouble you to return -with me to Murshidabad. I can promise you good treatment from Colonel -Clive." - -The Frenchman smiled, shrugged, and exclaimed: "Eh bien! À la guerre -comme à la guerre!" - -Remembering Coja Solomon, Desmond asked Toley to search Diggle's body -before burying it. But nothing was found, except a little money. The -Armenian's property had evidently been left under guard in the grove, -and was doubtless by this time far away, in the possession of one or -other of Diggle's runagate followers. - -Desmond was collecting his party, preparatory to starting for -Murshidabad, when a native horseman rode into the village at full speed, -dismounted, and, humbly salaaming, announced that he had a message from -Law Sahib. It was clear that, seeing Europeans, he supposed them to be -Frenchmen. Desmond did not undeceive him. The man said that Law Sahib -had received news of Clive Sahib's victory at Plassey, and, seeing that -his promised assistance to the Nawab was too late, had at once retired -to Patna and wished Diggle Sahib to rejoin him there. Dismissing the -messenger, Desmond rejoiced that there was no reason now to delay his -departure; his mission for Clive was fulfilled. - -At nightfall the party set off. Closed chairs had been provided for the -ladies, and these were carried in the midst, Bulger on one side, Toley -on the other, and Desmond behind. One person whom Desmond had expected -to take with him was absent: Scipio Africanus, on seeing the dead body -of his master, had uttered one heart-rending howl and fled. No attempt -was made to pursue him; and Desmond never saw him again. He reflected -that, villainous as Diggle had proved to be, he had at least been able -to win the affection of his servant. - -On the way they met Coja Solomon, who, on learning of the disappearance -of his valuables, heaped abuse upon Desmond and went away wringing his -hands. - -Travelling slowly, by easy stages, and only in the cooler hours, it took -the party three days to reach Murshidabad. Desmond found that Clive had -entered the city two days before and taken up his abode at the Murad -Bagh. Mir Jafar had been accepted as Nawab, and nothing had been heard -of Siraj-uddaula. Desmond first sought out Major Coote. - -"By George, Burke!" said that officer, "Colonel Clive is in a towering -rage at your long absence; he expected your return long ago. And you -ought to know that Colonel Clive in a rage is not quite as mild as -milk." - -"I'm afraid I must brave his anger," said Desmond. "I've found Mr. -Merriman's ladies." - -"You have?" - -"Yes, and brought them back with me. And Peloti will trouble us no -more: we had to fight for the ladies, and Bulger killed him. Won't Mr. -Clive forgive me?" - -"I can't answer for Mr. Clive; no one can say what he will do. But I -tell you one thing: you'll put Warren Hastings' nose out of joint. You -knew he was sweet on Merriman's daughter?" - -"No, I didn't know it. I don't see what that has to do with me." - -"Don't you, egad!" said Coote with a laugh. "Sure, my boy, you'll see -it before long. Well, I won't keep you to hear your story. Go to Mr. -Clive at once, and let me know what happens." - -Desmond found Clive in company with Mr. Watts and Rai Durlabh, Mr. -Scrafton and Omichand. He had some difficulty in obtaining admittance; -only his representation that he bore important news prevailed with the -darwan. He learnt afterwards that the great bankers, the Seths, had just -left the meeting, after it had been proved that, owing to the depletion -of the treasury, only one half of the immense sums promised to Clive and -the English in Mir Jafar's treaty could be paid at once, the remainder -to follow in three years. Desmond entered the room just in time to hear -Clive say to Scrafton: - -"It is now time to undeceive Omichand." - -Mr. Scrafton went up to the Sikh, and said quietly in Hindustani: - -"Omichand, the red paper is a trick; you are to have nothing." - -Omichand stood for a moment dazed: then he fell back in a faint and was -carried by his attendants from the room. The shock had unhinged the poor -man's reason: he lingered insane for eighteen months and died. - -At the time Desmond knew nothing of the deceit that had been practised -on him; but in the light of his after knowledge he understood the -strange expression that clouded Clive's face as the old man was carried -away: a look of pity mingled with contempt. Catching sight of Desmond, -the great soldier flashed out: - -"What do you mean, sir, by absenting yourself so long? I sent you in -advance because I thought you would be speedy. A snail would have gone -more quickly." - -"I am sorry, sir," said Desmond. "I was unexpectedly delayed. I had -got nearly as far as Rajmahal when I learnt the whereabouts of Mrs. -Merriman. She was in hiding with Surendra Nath, one of Mr. Merriman's -men. I heard that Diggle--Peloti, sir--was about to attempt her -recapture, and I felt that you yourself, had you been in my place, would -have tried to save the ladies." - -Clive grunted. "Go on, sir," he said. - -"We found the place, just in time, sir. Diggle came up with a couple of -Frenchmen and a troop of native horse. We beat them off, and I have -brought the ladies here." - -"And forgotten your instructions?" - -"No, sir. Monsieur Law was advancing from Patna: Peloti was coming -ahead to inform the Nawab of his approach. But the whole country knows -of your victory; the news reached Monsieur Law, and he at once turned -back. The messenger he sent to inform Peloti of his change of plan came -too late." - -"Indeed! What was Peloti about?" - -"He was killed in the fight, sir." - -"A good riddance!" exclaimed Clive impetuously. Then a far-away look -came into his eyes; his expression softened. "Poor wretch!" he said in -an undertone. "How many did his men muster, Burke?" - -"Nearly sixty, sir." - -"And yours?" - -"A score of sepoys, sir; but I had two seamen with me: Bulger, whom you -know; and Mr. Toley, an American, mate of one of Mr. Merriman's ships. -They were worth a dozen others." - -Clive grunted again. - -"Well, go and tell Mrs. Merriman I'll be glad to wait on her. And look -here, Burke: you may consider yourself a captain in the Company's -service from this day. Come now, I'm very busy: go and give Mrs. -Merriman my message, and take care that next time you are sent on -special service you are not drawn off on any such mad expedition. Come -to me to-morrow." - -Desmond trod on air as he left the house. Clive's impulsiveness had -never before seemed to him such an admirable quality. - -As he went into the street he became aware from the excited state of the -crowd that something had happened. Meeting a sepoy he inquired, and -learnt that Siraj-uddaula had just been brought into the city. The -luckless Nawab had arrived in his boat close to Rajmahal, and, with the -recklessness that characterized him, he had gone ashore while his -servants prepared a meal. Though disguised in mean clothes he had been -recognized by a fakir who happened to be at the very spot where he -landed. The man had a grudge against him; his ears and nose had been -cut off some time before by the Nawab's orders. Hastening into Rajmahal -he had informed the governor, who sent a guard at once to seize the -unhappy prince and bring him to Murshidabad. - -Before the next morning dawned Siraj-uddaula was dead. Mir Jafar handed -him to his son Miran with strict orders to guard him carefully. Acting -on a mocking suggestion of Miran, a courtier named Muhammad Beg took a -band of armed men to the Nawab's room, and hacked him to death. Next -morning his mutilated body was borne on an elephant's back through the -streets, and it was known to his former subjects that the prince who had -ruled them so evilly was no more. Such was the piteous end, in his -twenty-sixth year, of Siraj-uddaula. - -Immediately on arriving in Murshidabad, Desmond had sent a kasid to -Calcutta to inform Mr. Merriman that his wife and daughter had been -found and were safe. The merchant set off at once on horseback and -arrived in the midst of preparations for the return of the army to -Calcutta. Desmond was present at his meeting with the ladies; the scene -brought a lump into his throat, and his embarrassment was complete when -one and all overwhelmed him with praise and thanks. - -Nor was Surendra Nath forgotten. His readiness and courage at the -critical moment had undoubtedly saved the ladies; Mr. Merriman declared -that he would henceforth have a higher opinion of the Bengali character. -The Babu beamed with joy when his employer announced that he would give -him the _Hormuzzeer_ and a considerable part of his business. - -"I change the name to _Merriman_, sir," he said, "and my family will -hold that name in veneration and esteem unto third and fourth -generations." - -A few days later a long procession of three hundred boats, laden with -the money, plate and jewels that had been handed over to the British, -set off with colours flying, amid strains of martial music, down the -river to Calcutta. Every man who had taken part in the expedition had a -share of the vast treasure. Desmond found himself richer by £3,000. - -Calcutta was _en fête_ when the expedition returned. Desmond was -surprised to see how much had already been done to repair the ruin -wrought by the Nawab. A new city was rising from the ruins. -Congratulations were poured on the victors; and though now, as always, -Clive had to contend with the jealousies of lesser men, there was none -but had to admit that he was a great man who deserved well of his -country. - -Mr. Merriman at once completed the winding up of his affairs, begun -months before. His recent troubles had much aged him; India was to him -now a hateful country, and he decided to return to England immediately -with his wife and daughter. He tried to persuade Desmond to accompany -him, but in vain. - -"'Tis very good of you, sir," said Desmond warmly; "you have done so -much for me. But Mr. Clive has made me a captain: his work is not yet -done, and I do not feel that I can leave him until I have done something -to justify his confidence in me." - -"Well, boys will be boys. I have made a fortune here: I suppose you -want to do the same. 'Tis natural. But don't stay in India as long as -I have. I don't want to lose sight of you. You have done me the best -service man ever did: you have avenged my brother and restored to me all -that I held dearest in the world. I love you as a son, Desmond; I wish -you were my son indeed, my boy." - -Desmond looked a little uncomfortable. - -"May I venture----" he began hesitatingly; "do you think, in some years -time, if I get on here, I might----" - -"Well?" - -"Do you think I might--in short, that I might have a chance of becoming -your son, sir?" - -"Eh? Is that it? Mr. Warren Hastings asked me the same question the -other day, Desmond. You can't both have her, you know. What does -Phyllis say?" - -"I--I haven't asked her, sir." - -"Quite right. You're only a boy. Well, Hastings is to remain as -assistant to Mr. Scrafton, our new agent at Murshidabad. You remain as -assistant--or is it rival, eh?--to Mr. Clive. You're both out of the -way. Phyllis may prefer Bulger." - -"Bulger!" - -"Yes. Didn't you know? Phyllis has taken a fancy to him; that hook of -his appears to be a most fascinating feature; and he will accompany us -home." - -Desmond laughed a little awkwardly. - -"I hope----" he began. - -"He won't hook her? But there, I mustn't make sport of such a serious -matter. Go on as you have begun, my dear lad, and I promise you, when -you come home, that if Phyllis hasn't found some one already to her -liking, you shall have all the influence I can exert with the minx." - -"Thank you, sir: I couldn't ask for more. There's another thing: do you -think you could do anything for Mr. Toley? He's a capital fellow." - -"I know it. I have anticipated you. Toley is appointed captain of the -_Jane_, an Indiaman that arrived the other day; her captain died of -scurvy on the way out. She'll sail for England next week; we go with -her, and so does that villain Barker, who'll get his deserts when he -reaches London. The _Good Intent_ is broken up; her interloping is over -for good and all. But come, my boy, sure 'tis time we dressed: Admiral -Watson likes punctuality, and I promise you he'll give us a capital -dinner. A word in your ear: Phyllis is to sit between you and Hastings. -You can't eat him, at any rate." - -A week later Desmond went down to the Company's ghat to see the _Jane_ -sail. Mr. Toley, in his brand new uniform, looked more melancholy than -ever, and Phyllis Merriman made a little grimace when she saw for the -first time the captain under whose charge she was to sail for home. - -"Don't be alarmed," said Desmond, laughing. "The sadder he looks, I -believe the happier he is. Silas Toley is a fine seaman and a true -gentleman.--I wonder if we shall ever meet again, Miss Merriman?" - -"I wonder, Mr. Burke." - -"I shall hear about you, I hope." - -"Dear me! 'tis very unlikely. Father hates putting pen to paper. 'Tis -far more likely I shall hear of you, Mr. Burke, doing terrible things -among these poor Indians--and tigers: I am sure you must want to shoot a -tiger." - -"You shall have my first skin--if I may send it." - -"Mamma will be charmed, I am sure; though, indeed, she may have too many -of them, for we have the same promise from--let me see--Mr. Lushington, -Mr. Picard, Mr. Hastings, and----" - -"All aboard!" sang out a voice from the deck of the vessel. - -Phyllis gave Desmond her hand, and looked at last into his eyes. What -he read in hers filled him with contentment. She ran across the plank -and joined her father and mother, to whom Desmond had already said his -adieus. At the last moment Bulger came up puffing, a miscellaneous -collection of curiosities dangling from his hook. - -"Good-bye, sir," he said, giving Desmond a hearty grip. Then he shut one -eye and jerked his head in the direction of the vessel. "Never you -fear, sir: I'll keep my weather eye open. Missy have took an uncommon -fancy to this here little fish-hook o' mine, and 'tis my belief I'll -keep her hangin' on to it, sir, nevertheless and notwithstandin' and all -that, till you comes home covered with gore and glory. I may be wrong." - -He tumbled on deck. Then amid cheers, with flags flying and -handkerchiefs waving, the good ship moved from the ghat into the -swelling river. - - - - - CHAPTER THE THIRTY-SECOND - - -*In which the curtain falls, to the sound of bells; and our hero comes -to his own.* - - -It was a mellow day in October, 1760, a little more than six years since -the day when Market Drayton gave rein to its enthusiasm in honour of -Clive. From a flagstaff newly erected on the roof of the _Four Alls_ on -the Newport Road a square of bunting flapped in the breeze. Inside the -inn the innkeeper was drawing a pint of ale for his one solitary -customer, a shambling countryman with a shock of very red hair, and eyes -of innocent blue. - -"There, that makes a quart, Tummas Biles, and 'tis as much as your -turnip head can safely carry." - -He passed the can across the bar on a hook that projected from a wooden -socket in his sleeve. - -"Why now, Mr. Bulger," said Tummas the tranter, "what fur do you go fur -to miscall me like other fowk? I've been miscalled ever since that day -since I drove a stranger into Market Drayton six year ago. I mind me he -had a red feather in his cap, and not knowing my name was plain Tummas -he called me Jehu, he did, and I never forgot it. Ay, and I tell ya -what, Mr. Bulger: it took me two year to find out why he give me such an -uncommon name. I mind I was sittin' by a hayrick of Mr. Burke's--that -was long afore he was lamed by that terrible horse o' his--and ponderin' -on that heathen name, when all at wunst it comed to me like a flash o' -lightnin'. 'Jehu!' says I to myself. 'I bin and got ya at last.' Ya -see, when that stranger saw me, I were drivin' a horse. Well, I says to -my horse, 'Gee-ho!' says I. Not knowin' my true chrisom name, the -stranger takes up my words an' fits 'em to me. 'Gee-ho!' says I; -'Gee-ho!' says he; only bein' a kind o' furriner he turns it into -'Jehu': an' the name fits me uncommon. Hee! hee!" - -"I may be wrong," said Bulger, "but 'tis my belief 'Hee-haw!' would fit -you a big sight better. But hark! en't them the bells a-ringin '?" - -The two hastened to the door, and stood looking down the road towards -Market Drayton. From the distance came the faint sounds of a merry -peal. By and by a four-horsed open carriage with outriders appeared on -the crest of the hill. Amid the dust it raised another could be seen, -and behind this a long line of vehicles. Every coachman's whip was -decorated with a wedding favour. The cavalcade approached rapidly. As -the first carriage drew nearer Bulger became more and more excited, and -when it dashed past the inn he raised his hook and shouted "Hurray! -hurray!" with the full force of his lungs. - -"Give 'em a cheer, Tummas," he cried. "Hee-haw will do if you knows no -better. Hurray for Major Desmond Burke and his madam--the purtiest gal -I ever did see, east or west. Hurray for her father and mother: there -they are, with old squire an' the Major's mother. And there's Mr. -Clive, all alone by himself 'cos his leg's stiff wi' the rheumatics; but -he would come to see the deed done, which I may be wrong, but the new -King George'll make him a live lord afore he's much older. Open your -mouth, Tummas, an' if you hee-haw loud enough, I'll draw you another -pint for nothing." - -Desmond, now a Major, had returned home in company with Clive. During -the three years that had passed since he witnessed the sailing of the -_Jane_ he had seen much service. He had been with Colonel Forde when -that fine soldier expelled the French from the Northern Sirkars. He was -with the same officer when he thrashed the Dutch at Biderra. He had -been in close touch with Clive when these successful operations were -planned; and the nearer he saw him, the more he admired the great man's -courage in taking risks, promptitude in dealing with sudden emergencies, -sagacity in seeing to the heart of a difficult situation. Thus, during -those years, he gained much knowledge of the science of war, and much -experience in dealing with men. He became rich also, not by -questionable means, but by reaping the legitimate rewards of good and -faithful service. - -Before leaving India, Desmond learnt of changes that had happened at -home. His brother had been thrown by a young and mettlesome horse, and -so badly trampled that he must remain a helpless invalid for the rest of -his life. Sir Willoughby Stokes, even before he learnt of the death of -his nephew Peloti, had made Desmond his heir. Mr. Merriman had bought an -estate near his father's old friend, and settled down to the life of a -country gentleman. A year after his return, Job Grinsell, the landlord -of the _Four Alls_, had been sentenced to a long term of imprisonment -for poaching, and Mr. Merriman had no difficulty in persuading Sir -Philip Chetwode to let his inn to Bulger. - -After an interview with Mr. Merriman, Desmond found the courage to put -to Phyllis the question which he had not ventured to ask before she left -India. What the answer was may be inferred from the fact that Sir -Willoughby insisted on the wedding taking place at once. It was time -for the return of his old enemy the gout, he said; he was going to -Buxton to end his days, and wished to see the Hall in the hands of his -heir before he left. Mr. Burslem, Desmond's old schoolmaster, performed -the ceremony, and Clive, though suffering from rheumatism, came down for -the occasion. The only familiar form that Desmond missed was that of -old Dickon, who had died a few months after Desmond's departure from -home. - -Desmond settled down for a time at the Hall, cheering his mother's -declining years, repaying good for ill to his invalid brother, and -winning golden opinions from all his neighbours high and low. He -eagerly watched the further career of his old hero, now Lord Clive; -learnt to admire him as statesman as well as soldier; sympathized with -him through all the attacks made upon him, and mourned him sincerely -when, in 1774, the great man, preyed upon by an insidious disease, died -by his own hand. Five years later he felt the East calling, bought a -commission, and sailed with General Sir Eyre Coote, to take part in the -"frantic military exploits," as some one called them, of Warren Hastings -against Haidar Ali and Tippu in Mysore. He came home a Colonel, and was -made a baronet for his services in the war. Finally retiring from -public life, he lived for thirty years longer on his estate, happy in -the careers of his two sons, who became soldiers like himself. He died, -an old man, in the year after Waterloo, at which his eldest grandson, a -lieutenant in the Guards, behaved with a gallantry that attracted the -notice of the Iron Duke. - -Visitors to Sir Desmond Burke's house were amused and interested to see -a battered wooden stump with an iron hook hanging in a conspicuous place -in the hall, amid tigers' heads, Indian weapons, and other trophies from -the East. - -"That?" Sir Desmond would say, in answer to their question. "That -belonged to one of the best friends I ever had, a fine old salt named -William Bulger. I met him when I was sixteen, and buried him when I was -forty: and my wife and I have felt ever since a blank in our lives. If -you can put up with an old man's stories, I'll tell you something of -what Bulger and I went through together, when I was a youngster with -Clive in India." - - - - - THE END. - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - Uniform Edition of the Stories of - - HERBERT STRANG - - SIZE 7 3/4 in. x 5 in., CLOTH, WITH COLOUR AND HALF-TONE - PLATES, AND FULL COLOUR JACKETS. - - -Tom Burnaby: A Story of Uganda and the Great Congo Forest. Illustrated -by C. SHELDON. - -A particular interest attaches to "Tom Burnaby," for it was the first -romance of adventure written by Mr. Herbert Strang, and it secured for -him the place in the forefront of writers of boys' stories that he has -maintained ever since. The hero is attached to an expedition sent to -punish a band of slave-raiding Arabs in the vicinity of the Victoria -Nyanza. He is captured by the Arabs, but escapes, and, after long -wanderings in the great Congo Forest, is befriended by an African chief, -whom he assists in a prolonged struggle with his old enemies. The story -of Tom's efforts to impart military discipline to the natives, his -strategy and final triumph over the Arabs, is told with great zest and -with many touches of humour. - -"The tone of the story is excellent; manly and spirited, it cannot fail -to rouse a response in a boy's heart."--_World_. - - - -A Gentleman-at-Arms: Being Passages in the Life of Sir Christopher Rudd, -Knight, as Related by Himself in the Year 1641. - -This book is unique in literature for boys. It relates the adventurous -career of an Elizabethan gentleman, in a style carefully modelled on the -simple prose of the century which produced the Authorised Version of the -Bible. No previous writer for boys has ever attempted a similar -achievement. Apart from its romantic and exciting incidents, this story -has great value by reason of its historical and geographical -information, and its exceptional style. - - - -Sultan Jim: Empire Builder. Illustrated by CYRUS CUNEO. - -Mr. Herbert Strang has chosen the African continent as the setting for -some of his most remarkable stories, and of these "Sultan Jim" is not -the least remarkable. It was written prior to the war, when the -colonising activities of rival European powers was raising problems of -the greatest interest and importance. The presence of a young -Englishman in one of the debatable lands at a time of upheaval and -international rivalry enables him to uphold the interests of the Empire -against formidable opposition. The story is brimful of adventure, and -its moral is that of patriotic self-sacrifice. - - - -The Adventures of Harry Rochester: A Story of the Days of Marlborough -and Eugene. Illustrated by W. RAINEY. - -Harry Rochester stands unrivalled amongst stories for boys as a living -presentment of a stirring period of English history. It creates anew the -glamour of the eighteenth century, and many of the great personages of -the time cross its pages. Harry's ambition is to carry the Queen's -colours, but his father being a poor country parson, and commissions -selling high, he sees no prospect of attaining it. Nothing daunted, -however, he takes whatever means offer to carve out a career for -himself. As assistant to a Dutch merchant responsible for victualling -certain of the Allied troops, Harry is brought into contact with the -army in Flanders, and with Marlborough himself; and, later, his desire -for a military career finds an outlet with the army of Prince Eugene, -under whom he fights at Blenheim. - -"A stirring tale ... told in such a manner as to make it welcome to any -healthy-minded boy, and also, be it said, to not a few whose boyhood, -alas! is many a long year behind them."--_Daily Telegraph_. - - - -Humphrey Bold: His Chances and Mischances by Land and Sea. A Story of -the Time of Benbow. Illustrated by W. H. MARGETSON. - -In this book, one of Mr. Herbert Strang's best-known historical -romances, are recounted the adventures of Humphrey Bold from the time -when he was a puny slip of a boy attending Shrewsbury School, the butt -of his companions, who chaffed him for being Bold by name and timid by -nature, until he had grown into a sturdy young giant, and sailed into -Plymouth Sound as First Lieutenant of the Bristol frigate. The -intervening chapters tell of Humphrey's service at sea under Admiral -Benbow, his capture by the French and his escape from prison, and of the -many exciting events that befell him in the West Indies. - -"So felicitous is he in imparting local colour to his narrative that -whilst reading it we have found ourselves thinking of Thackeray. This -suggests a standard by which very few writers of boys' books will bear -being judged. The majority of them are content to provide their young -friends with mere reading. Herbert Strang offers them -literature."--_Glasgow Herald_. - - - -Rob the Ranger: A Story of the Fight for Canada. Illustrated by W. H. -MARGETSON. - -"Rob the Ranger," which has been placed by General Baden-Powell first -among the great scouting stories, brings out the romantic side of the -fight for Canada. Rob Somers, son of an English settler in New York -State, sets out with Lone Pete, a trapper, in pursuit of an Indian -raiding party which has destroyed his home and carried off his younger -brother. He is captured and taken to Quebec, where he finds his brother -in strange circumstances, and escapes in dead of winter, in company with -a little band of New Englanders. They are pursued over snow and ice, -and in a log-hut beside Lake Champlain maintain a desperate struggle -against a large force of French, Indians, and half-breeds, ultimately -reaching Fort Edward in safety. - -"If there had ever been the least doubt as to Mr. Strang's pre-eminence -as a writer of boys' books, it would be very effectually banished by -this work of his."--_Glasgow Herald_. - - - -Palm Tree Island: A Romance of the South Seas. Illustrated by ARCHIBALD -WEBB and ALAN WRIGHT. - -In this story two boys are left on a volcanic island in the South Seas, -destitute of everything but their clothes. The story relates how they -provided themselves with food and shelter, with tools and weapons; how -they fought with wild dogs and sea monsters; and how, when they have -settled down to a comfortable life under the shadow of the volcano, -their peace is disturbed by the advent of savages and a crew of mutinous -Englishmen. The savages are driven away; the mutineers are subdued -through the boys' ingenuity; and they ultimately sail away in a vessel -of their own construction. In no other book has the author more -admirably blended amusement with instruction. - -"Written so well that there is not a dull page in the book."--_The -World_. - -"A capital story for boys, thoroughly healthy in tone, providing plenty -of adventure and a quantum of the marvellous to satisfy the most -exacting of our young bloods."--_Schoolmaster_. - - - -Settlers and Scouts: A Story of Pioneering in East Africa. Illustrated -by T. C. DUGDALE. - -The scene of this story is laid in the Highlands of British East Africa, -and the book gives a vivid and accurately-drawn picture of the dangers -and hardships that even in these days await the pioneer in the more -remote parts of the British Empire. It also furnishes a good deal of -information respecting the country and the people amid which the story -moves. An Englishman and his son emigrate thither and settle down as -farmers and stock-raisers; and the difficulties they encounter, first -through the depredations of wild beasts, and afterwards owing to the -hostility of an Arab chief and his followers engaged in the ivory trade, -prove in the highest degree their courage and resource. - -"Mr. Strang, as behoves such a favourite as he, provides plenty of -adventure and excitement, but he gives much practical information as -well, and his books may be recommended to any reader who wishes to learn -what chance there is for a white settler in Uganda or to study the state -of affairs at the Congo."--_Daily Mail_. - - - -Boys of the Light Brigade: A Story of the Peninsular War. Illustrated -by W. RAINEY. - -This book opens in the streets of Salamanca with Lieutenant Jack Lumsden -of the 95th Rifles endeavouring to keep the peace between some of his -own Riflemen and the Spaniards. His harangue in fluent Spanish is -overheard by Sir John Moore, who recognises in the young officer just -the man he wants for his purpose, and sends him off upon a mission of -some delicacy. Thence onward, Lumsden's adventures are interwoven with -the history of Moore's gallant army in the Peninsula, culminating in the -great retreat and the Battle of Corunna. - -"Of all the qualities that go to make up a perfect boys' book we know of -none that is wanting in 'Boys of the Light Brigade,'"--_Glasgow Herald_. - - - -Kobo: A Story of the Far East. Illustrated by W. RAINEY. - -This book recounts the adventures of a young British engineer during the -opening phases of the Russo-Japanese War. Bob Fawcett is sent to the -Far East on behalf of his firm, which has supplied range-finding -instruments to the Japanese Navy. His arrival coinciding with the -outbreak of war leads, by a natural sequence of events, to his being an -eye-witness of the first great sea fights by which Japan revealed -herself to the world as a first-rate naval power; and the grim struggle -between East and West is an ever-present background to the stirring -story of his subsequent adventures amongst Cossacks and Manchu brigands, -and of his friendship with Kobo, an officer of the Japanese Secret -Service. - -"An excellent story, such as one might expect to have from the author of -that capital book, 'Tom Burnaby.' 'With a Japanese duty comes -inexorably first.' This, indeed, is the keynote of the whole story. -This principle of action dominates Bob's friend, and it dominates the -story."--_Spectator_. - -"The book is capital: full of life and vigour and local colour.... Mr. -Strang has intimate personal knowledge of the countries of which he -writes, which, no doubt, accounts for much of the _vraisemblance_ of his -story."--_Guardian_. - - - -Jack Brown in China: A Story of the Russo-Japanese War. (Originally -published under the title of "Brown of Moukden.") Illustrated by W. -RAINEY. - -This book describes the adventures of a young Englishman in Manchuria -during the latter stages of the Russo-Japanese War. Mr. Brown, senior, -a merchant of Moukden, is wrongly convicted by the Russian authorities -of giving information to the Japanese, and is deported from the city. -Jack does not know where his father has been sent, but he goes through -some desperate adventures in his attempts to find out, and to get his -wrongs redressed. At one time he is in imminent danger of being -beheaded as a "foreign devil" in an outlying village, but is delivered -in the nick of time by a band of brigands; and he has more than a -passing glimpse of actual warfare. There is humour as well as excitement -in the book, and some of Mr. Strang's orientals are very entertaining -characters. - -"The equal of anything we know of in the whole range of juvenile -fiction.... The book will hold boy readers spellbound."--_Church -Times_. - - - -Samba: A Story of the Congo. Illustrated by W. RAINEY. - -The scene of this story is laid in the Congo Free State, where a young -Englishman and his uncle, while prospecting for gold, are brought into -violent contact with the Belgians who are working the rubber -concessions. Moved to indignation by the sight of the barbarous methods -employed to extort rubber from the natives, the hero openly champions -the cause of the oppressed; he gathers about him a small force, to which -he imparts a measure of military discipline, and with it administers a -sharp lesson to the slave-drivers. He restores the confidence of the -natives in the White Man; to them he is Lokolobolo, a great chief, and a -harbinger of brighter days. - -"It was an excellent idea on the part of Mr. Herbert Strang to write a -story about the treatment of the natives in the Congo Free State.... Mr. -Strang has a big following among English boys, and anything he chooses -to write is sure to receive their appreciative attention."--_Standard_. - -"Mr. Herbert Strang has written not a few admirable books for boys, but -none likely to make a more profound impression than his new story of -this year."--_Scotsman_. - - - -The Adventures of Dick Trevanion: A Story of 1804. Illustrated by W. -RAINEY. - -This is a romance of the early years of the nineteenth century. In it -the old smuggling days are made to live again, and reverberations are -heard of the war with Napoleon. The Trevanions are a Cornish family, -whose fortunes have fallen low through the working out of their tin -mines, and the scheming of a relative who bears a grudge against the -head of the house. Dick, after many exciting events in which he is -involved with smugglers and French privateers, makes a happy discovery, -through which the prosperity of his family is restored. - -"Mr. Herbert Strang has been well called the 'Twentieth-Century -Marryat.' His many books stand high up on the list of boys' favourites. -and among his new books for this year none is likely to be more welcome -than 'The Adventures of Dick Trevanion.' The story is dated in the -early years of the nineteenth century, and Dick's adventures on land and -sea are so vividly depicted by Mr. Strang that it would not be -surprising to find the book in the hands of older readers with a taste -for adventure."--_Gentlewoman_. - - - -With Drake on the Spanish Main: Illustrated by ARCHIBALD WEBB. - -A rousing story of adventure by sea and land. The hero, Dennis -Hazelrig, is cast ashore on an island in the Spanish Main, the sole -survivor of a band of adventurers from Plymouth. He lives for some time -with no companion but a spider monkey, but by a series of remarkable -incidents he gathers about him a numerous band of escaped slaves and -prisoners, English, French and native; captures a Spanish fort; fights a -Spanish galleon; meets Francis Drake, and accompanies him in his famous -adventures on the Isthmus of Panama; and finally reaches England the -possessor of much treasure. - -"Mr. Herbert Strang bids fair to become to the present what the late G. -A. Henty was to the past generation of young folk; in fact, his stirring -romances, though, like Henty's, worked up on a sound historical basis, -are far better written."--_The Lady_. - -"Another of Mr. Herbert Strang's masterful stories of adventure and -romance."--_School Guardian_. - - - -The Air Patrol: A Story of the North-West Frontier. Illustrated by CYRUS -CUNEO. - -In this book Mr. Strang looks ahead to a time when there is a great -Mongolian Empire whose army sweeps down on to the North-West Frontier of -India. His two heroes luckily have an aeroplane, and with the help of a -few Pathan miners, they hold a pass in the Hindu Kush against a swarm of -Mongols, long enough to prevent the cutting of the communications of the -Indian army operating in Afghanistan. - -"An exceptionally good book, written moreover in excellent -style."--_Times_. - -"The 'Air Patrol' is really a masterpiece."--_Morning Post_. - - - -Barclay of the Guides: A Story of the Indian Mutiny. Illustrated in -Colour by W. KOEKKOEK. With Maps. - -Of all our native Indian regiments the Guides have probably the most -glorious traditions. They were among the few who remained true to their -salt during the trying days of the great Mutiny, vying in gallantry and -devotion with our best British regiments. The story tells how James -Barclay, after a strange career in Afghanistan, becomes associated with -this famous regiment, and, though young in years, bears a man's part in -the great march to Delhi, the capture of the royal city, and the -suppression of the Mutiny. - -"Mr. Strang has been truly described as 'a born teacher of history,' and -this story of the Indian Mutiny is an additional proof of the truth of -the observation."--_Schoolmistress_. - - - - - _Complete List of Stories for Boys by_ - HERBERT STRANG - - -ADVENTURES OF DICK TREVANION, THE -ADVENTURES OF HARRY ROCHESTER, THE -A GENTLEMAN-AT-ARMS -A HERO OF LIEGE -AIR PATROL, THE -AIR SCOUT, THE -BARCLAY OF THE GUIDES -BLUE RAIDER, THE -BOYS OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE -BRIGHT IDEAS -BURTON OF THE FLYING CORPS -CARRY ON -CRUISE OF THE GYRO-CAR, THE -FIGHTING WITH FRENCH -FLYING BOAT, THE -FRANK FORESTER -HEIR OF A HUNDRED KINGS, THE -HUMPHREY BOLD -JACK BROWN IN CHINA -JACK HARDY -KING OF THE AIR -KOBO -LONG TRAIL, THE -LORD OF THE SEAS -MOTOR SCOUT, THE -NO MAN'S ISLAND -OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN, THE -ONE OF CLIVE'S HEROES -PALM TREE ISLAND -ROB THE RANGER -ROUND THE WORLD IN SEVEN DAYS -SAMBA -SETTLERS AND SCOUTS -SULTAN JIM -SWIFT AND SURE -THOUSAND MILES AN HOUR, A -THROUGH THE ENEMY'S LINES -TOM BURNABY -TOM WILLOUGHBY'S SCOUTS -TRUE AS STEEL -WINNING HIS NAME -WITH DRAKE ON THE SPANISH MAIN -WITH HAIG ON THE SOMME -YOUNG JACK - - - - - - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ONE OF CLIVE'S HEROES *** - - - - -A Word from Project Gutenberg - - -We will update this book if we find any errors. - -This book can be found under: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/41489 - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one -owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and -you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission -and without paying copyright royalties. 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