Part 47 (1/2)
”I suppose not, Doctor. I expect we shall be horribly cramped up. I long to be there. I hope to get attached to one of the regiments coming up, so as to help in giving the thras.h.i.+ng to these scoundrels that they deserve. I would give a year's pay to get that villain, Nana Sahib, within reach of my sword. It is awful to think of the news you brought in, Bathurst, and that there are hundreds of women and children in his power now. What a day it will be when we march into Cawnpore!”
”Don't count your chickens too soon, Wilson,” the Doctor said, ”The time I am looking forward to is when we shall have safely pa.s.sed Cawnpore on our way down; that is quite enough for me to hope for at present.”
”Yes, I was thinking of that myself,” Wilson replied. ”If the Nana could not be bound by the oath he had taken himself, he is not likely to respect the agreement made here.”
”We must pa.s.s the place at night,” Bathurst said, ”and trust to not being seen. Even if they do make us out, we shan't be under fire long unless they follow us down the bank; but if the night is dark, they may not make us out at all. Fortunately there is no moon, and boats are not very large marks even by daylight, and at night it would only be a chance shot that would hit us.”
”Yes, we should be as difficult to hit as a tiger,” the Doctor put in.
Wilson laughed.
”I have gained a lot of experience since then, Doctor. What ages that seems back! Years almost.”
”It does indeed,” the Doctor agreed; ”we count time by incidents and not by days. Well, I think I shall turn in.. Are you coming, Bathurst?”
”No, I could not sleep,” Bathurst said; ”I shall watch till morning. I feel sure it is all safe, but the mutineers might attempt something.”
The night, however, pa.s.sed off quietly, and soon after daybreak eight bullock carts were seen approaching, with a strong body of Oude men.
Half an hour later the luggage was packed, and the sick and wounded laid on straw in the wagons. Several of the ladies took their places with them, but Mrs. Doolan, Isobel, and Mary Hunter said they would walk for a while. It had been arranged that the men might carry out their arms with them, and each of the ten able to walk took their rifles, while all, even the women, had pistols about them. Just as they were ready, Por Sing and several of the Zemindars rode up on horseback.
”We shall see you to the boats,” he said. ”Have you taken provisions for your voyage? It would be better not to stop to buy anything on the way.”
This precaution had been taken, and as soon as all was ready they set out, guarded by four hundred Oude matchlock men. The Sepoys had gathered near the house, and as soon as they left it there was a rush made to secure the plunder.
”I should have liked to have emptied the contents of some of my bottles into the wine,” the Doctor growled; ”it would not have been strictly professional, perhaps, but it would have been a good action.”
”I am sure you would not have given them poison, Doctor,” Wilson laughed; ”but a reasonable dose of ipecacuanha might hardly have gone against your conscience.”
”My conscience has nothing to do with it,” the Doctor said. ”These fellows came from Cawnpore, and I have no doubt took part in the ma.s.sacre there. My conscience wouldn't have troubled me if I could have poisoned the whole of the scoundrels, or put a slow match in the magazine and blown them all into the air, but under the present conditions it would hardly have been politic, as one couldn't be sure of annihilating the whole of them. Well, Miss Hannay, what are you thinking of?”
”I am thinking that my uncle looks worse this morning, Doctor; does it not strike you so too?”
”We must hope that the fresh air will do him good. One could not expect anyone to get better in that place; it was enough to kill a healthy man, to say nothing of a sick one.”
Isobel was walking by the side of the cart in which her uncle was lying, and it was not long before she took her place beside him.
The Doctor shook his head.
”Can you do nothing, Doctor?” Bathurst said, in a low tone.
”Nothing; he is weaker this morning, still the change of air may help him, and he may have strength to fight through; the wound itself is a serious one, but he would under other circ.u.mstances have got over it.
As it is, I think his chance a very poor one, though I would not say as much to her.”
After three hours' travel they reached the river. Here two large native boats were lying by the bank. The baggage and sick were soon placed on board, and the Europeans with the native servants were then divided between them, and the Rajah's son and six of the retainers took their places in one of the boats. The Doctor and Captain Doolan had settled how the party should be divided. The Major and the other sick men were all placed in one boat, and in this were the Doctor, Bathurst, and four civilians, with Isobel Hannay, Mrs. Hunter, and her daughter. Captain Doolan, his wife, Mrs. Rintoul, and the other three ladies, with the six children who had alone survived, and the rest of the party, were in the other boat.
Por Sing and his companions were thanked heartily for the protection they had given, and Bathurst handed them a doc.u.ment which had been signed by all the party, testifying to the service they had rendered.
”If we don't get down to Allahabad,” Bathurst said, as he handed it to him, ”this will insure you good treatment when the British troops come up. If we get there, we will represent your conduct in such a light that I think I can promise you that the part you took in the siege will be forgiven.”
Then the boats pushed off and started on their way down the stream.