Part 59 (2/2)

”Yes, that is it,” he said, ”to arrange everything, and above all to get up as quickly as possible three or four troops of horse artillery. You know exactly how it should be done, and could teach the men till they were as quick and das.h.i.+ng as your own.”

”It would require Englishmen then,” I thought, for I could not see that it was possible with Indians.

”Would it take very long?” he said. ”You could start with men from the cavalry, and so only have to teach them gun-drill.”

”Yes, it would take very long,” I said.

”Never mind; they would get better every day. I should be satisfied, for I know what you can do.”

”Why do you wish to have these troops?” I said, more for the sake of keeping back my reply than for anything else.

”Why? To make me strong,” he cried excitedly. ”With men like that, and the quick-firing guns, I shall be more powerful than any of the rajahs near. But you hesitate; you do not say yes.”

I looked at him sadly.

”Come,” he continued, ”at your age there should not be any hanging back.

Have you thought what it means?”

”You have taken me so by surprise,” I replied.

”Oh yes; but can you not see that I make you at once a great man? one whom I trust in everything, and who will be next in my country to myself? Come, speak. You will accept?”

His eyes were fixed upon me searchingly, and I felt that I must speak now, though I trembled for the effect my words would have upon such a determined, relentless man, accustomed to have his will in all things.

”There are plenty of men more suited to the task than I am,” I said with a last attempt to put off the final words.

”Where?” he said, coldly. ”Bring me a thousand older and more experienced than you, and I should refuse them all.”

”Why?”

”Because I like and trust you, and know that you would be faithful.”

”Then,” I cried, s.n.a.t.c.hing at the chance of escape, ”if you knew I should be faithful, why did you propose such a thing?”

”I do not understand you,” he said coldly.

”I am one of the Company's officers, sworn to be true to my duties. How can I break my oath? I should be a traitor, and worthy of death.”

”You have been faithful,” he said quietly. ”I knew you would say that.

But the tie is broken now.”

”No; not while I am in their service.”

”You are no longer in their service,” he said, watching me intently the while. ”The great Company is dead; its troops are defeated, scattered, and in a short time there will hardly be a white man left in the land over which they have tyrannised so long.”

I sank back staring at him wildly, for his words carried conviction, and setting aside the horrors that such a state of affairs suggested, and the terrible degradation for England, I began thinking of myself cut off from all I knew, separated from my people, perhaps for ever, asked to identify myself with the enemies of my country--become, in short, a renegade.

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