Part 53 (2/2)

Why? I can't understand it! Where has an order to charge, to advance boldly, met with a reverse? It seems to me that but for these ma.s.sacres, this fear for women and children, we could hold our own gayly. Look at Lucknow----”

”Yes, Lucknow,” a.s.sented Hodson savagely. ”Sir Henry, the bravest, gentlest, dead! Women and children pent up--by Heaven! it's sickening to think what may have happened.”

John Nicholson shot a quick glance at Jim Douglas.

”It proves my contention,” said the latter. ”Think of it! Fifteen hundred, English and natives, in a weak position with not even a palisade in some places between them and five times their number of trained soldiers backed by the wildest, wickedest, wantonest town rabble in India! What does it mean? Make every one of the fifteen hundred a paladin, and, by Heaven! they are heroes. Still, what does it mean?”

He spoke to the General, but he was silent.

”Mean?” echoed Hodson. ”Palpably that the foe is contemptible. So he is. Pandy can't fight----”

”He fought well enough for us in the past. I know my regiment----” Jim Douglas caught himself up hard. ”I believe they will fight for us again. The truth is that half, even of the army, does not want to fight, and the country does not mean fight at all.”

”Delhi?” came the dry voice again.

”Delhi is exceptional. Besides, it can do nothing else now. Remember we condemned it, unheard, on the 8th of June.”

”I told you that before, sir; didn't I?” put in Hodson quickly. ”If we had gone in on the 11th, as I suggested.”

”You wouldn't have succeeded,” replied Jim Douglas coolly. Nicholson rose with a smile.

”Well, we are going to succeed now. So, good-luck in the meantime, Hodson. Put bit and bridle on the Ranghars. Show them we can't have 'em disturbing the public peace, and kicking up futile rows. Eh--Mr.

Douglas?”

”No fear, sir!” said Hodson effusively. ”The Ring-tailed Roarers are not in a blind funk. I only wish that I was as sure that the politicals will keep order when we've made it. I had to do it twice over at Bhagput. And it is hard, sir, when one has f.a.gged horses and men to death, to be told one has exceeded orders----”

”If you served under me, Major Hodson,” said the General with a sudden freeze of formality, ”that would be impossible. My instructions are always to do everything that can be done.”

Jim Douglas felt that he could well believe it, as with a regret that the interview was over, he held the flap of the tent aside for the imperial figure to pa.s.s out. But it lingered in the blaze of suns.h.i.+ne after Major Hodson had jingled off.

”You are right in some things, Mr. Douglas,” said the sonorous voice suddenly: ”I'd ask no finer soldiers than some of those against us. By and by, unless I'm wrong, men of their stock will be our best war weapons; for, mind you, war is a primitive art and needs a primitive people. And the country isn't against us. If it were, we shouldn't be standing here. It is too busy plowing, Mr. Douglas; this rain is points in our favor. As for the women and children--poor souls”--his voice softened infinitely--”they have been in our way terribly; but--we shall fight all the better for that, by and by. Meanwhile we have got to smash Delhi. The odds are bigger than they were first. But Baird Smith will sap us in somehow, and then----” He paused, looking kindly at Jim Douglas, and said, ”You had better stop and go in with--with the rest of us.”

”I think not, sir----”

”Why? Because of that poor lady? Woman again--eh?”

”In a way; besides, I really have nothing else to do.”

John Nicholson looked at him for a moment from head to foot; then said sharply:

”I didn't know, sir. I give my personal staff plenty of work.”

For an instant the offer took his hearer's breath away, and he stood silent.

”I'm afraid not, sir,” he said at last, though from the first he had known what his answer would be. ”I--I can't, that's the fact. I was cas.h.i.+ered from the army fifteen years ago.”

General Nicholson stepped back, with sheer anger in his face. ”Then what do you mean, sir, by wearing Her Majesty's uniform?”

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