Part 4 (2/2)
”Well, sir,” I said, feeling quite red as I spoke, ”he kissed my fist instead--that's all.”
Captain Dyer began to walk up and down, playing with one of the b.u.t.tons on his breast as was his way when eager and excited.
”Now, Smith,” he said at last, stopping short before me, ”what does that mean?”
”Mean, sir?” I said, feeling quite as excited as himself. ”Well, sir, if you ask me, I say that if it was in time of peace and quiet, it would only mean that it was a bit of his black--I beg your pardon, captain,” I says, stopping short, for, you see, it was quite time.
”Go on, Smith,” he said quietly.
”His black impudence, sir.”
”But, as it is not in time of peace and quiet, Smith?” he said, looking me through and through.
”Well, sir,” I said, ”I don't want to croak, nor for other people to believe what I say; but it seems to me that that black fellow's kicking out of the ranks means a good deal; and I take it that he is excited with the news that he has somehow got hold of--news that is getting into his head like so much green 'rack. I've thought of it some little time now, sir; and--it strikes me that if, instead of our short company being Englishmen, they were all Chunder Chows, before to-morrow morning, begging your pardon, Captain Dyer and Lieutenant Leigh would have said 'Right wheel' for the last time.”
”And the women and children!” he muttered softly: but I heard him.
He did not speak then for quite half a minute, when he turned to me with a pleasant smile.
”But you see, though, Smith,” he said, ”our short company is made up of different stuff; and therefore there's some hope for us yet; but--Ah, Leigh, did you hear what he said?”
”Yes,” said the lieutenant, who had been standing at the door for a few moments, scowling at us both.
”Well, what do you think?” said Captain Dyer.
”Think?” said Lieutenant Leigh contemptuously, as he turned away--”nothing!”
”But,” said Captain Dyer quietly, ”really I think there is much truth in what he, an observant man, says.”
There was a challenge from the roof just then; and we all went out to find that a mounted man was in sight; and on the captain making use of his gla.s.s, I heard him tell Lieutenant Leigh that it was an orderly dragoon.
A few minutes after, it was plain enough to everybody; and soon, man and horse dead beat, the orderly with a despatch trotted into the court.
It was a sight worth seeing, to look upon Mrs Maine clutching at the letter enclosed for her in Captain Dyer's despatch. Poor woman! it was a treasure to her--one that made her pant as she hurriedly s.n.a.t.c.hed it from the captain's hand, for all formality was forgotten in those days; and then she hurried away to where her sister was waiting to hear the news.
STORY ONE, CHAPTER TEN.
The orderly took back a despatch from Captain Dyer, starting at daybreak the next morning; but before then, we all knew that matters were getting to wear a terrible aspect. At first, I had been disposed to think that the orderly was romancing, and giving us a few travellers' tales; but I soon found out that he was in earnest; and more than once I felt a s.h.i.+ver as he sat with our mess, telling us of how regiment after regiment had mutinied and murdered their officers; how station after station had been plundered, collectors butchered, and their wives and daughters sometimes cut down, sometimes carried off by the wretches, who had made a sport of throwing infants from one to the other on their bayonets.
”I never had any children,” sobbed Mrs Bantem then; ”and I never wished to have any; for they're not right for soldiers' wives; but only to think--the poor sweet, suffering little things. Oh, if I'd only been a man, and been there!”
We none of us said anything; but I believe all thought as I did, that if Mrs Bantem had been there, she'd have done as much--ah, perhaps more-- than some men would have done. Often, since then, as I think of it, and recall it from the bygone, there I can see Mother Bantem--though why we called her mother, I don't know, unless it was because she was like a mother to us--with her great strapping form; and think of the way in which she--
Halt! Retire by fours from the left.
Just in time; for I find handling my pen's like handling a commander-in-chief's staff and that I've got letters which make words, which make phrases, which make sentences, which make paragraphs, which make chapters, which make up the whole story: and that is for all the world like the army with its privates made into companies, and battalions, and regiments, and brigades. Well, there you are: if you don't have discipline, and every private in his right place, where are you? Just so with me; my words were coming out in the wrong places, and in another minute I should have spoiled my story, by letting you know what was coming at the wrong time.
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