Part 24 (1/2)

Chapter 18: The ”Black Hole” Of Calcutta.

When the fire of the enemy slackened, Charlie went to Mr. Holwell.

”It is impossible, sir,” he said, ”that the fort can hold out; for in another three or four days, the whole of the garrison will be killed. The only hope of safety is for the s.h.i.+ps to come up, and remove the garrison, which they can do without the slightest danger to themselves. If you will allow me, sir, I will swim down to the s.h.i.+ps, and represent our situation. Cowardly and inhuman as Mr. Drake has proved himself, he can hardly refuse to give orders for the fleet to move.”

”I don't know,” said Mr. Holwell. ”After the way in which he has behaved, there are no depths of infamy of which I believe him incapable. But you are my right hand here. Supposing Mr. Drake refuses, you could not return.”

”I will come back, sir,” Charlie answered. ”I will, if there be no other way, make my way along by the river bank. It is comparatively free of the enemy, as our guns command it. If you will place Mr. Haines at the corner bastion, with a rope, he will recognize my voice, and I can regain the fort.”

Mr. Holwell consented, and as soon as it was perfectly dark, Charlie issued out at the watergate, took off his coat, waistcoat, and boots, and entered the stream. The current was slack, but he had no difficulty in keeping himself afloat until he saw, close ahead of him, the lights of the s.h.i.+ps.

He hailed that nearest him. A rope was thrown, and he was soon on board. Upon stating who he was, a boat was at once lowered, and he was taken to the s.h.i.+p upon which Mr. Drake and Captain Minchin had taken refuge. Upon saying that he was the bearer of a message from the gentleman now commanding the fort, he was conducted to the cabin, where Mr. Drake and Captain Minchin, having finished their dinner, were sitting comfortably over their wine with Captain Young, the senior captain of the Company's s.h.i.+ps there.

”I have come, sir,” Charlie said to Mr. Drake, ”from Mr. Holwell; who has, in your absence, been elected to the command of the fort. He bids me tell you that our losses have been already very heavy, and that it is impossible that the fort can hold out for more than twenty-four hours longer. He begs you, therefore, to order up the s.h.i.+ps tonight, in order that the garrison may embark.”

”It is quite out of the question,” Mr. Drake said coldly. ”Quite. It would be extremely dangerous.

”You agree with me, Captain Young, that it would be most dangerous?”

”I consider that it would be dangerous,” Captain Young said.

”And you call yourself,” Charlie exclaimed indignantly, ”a British sailor! You talk of danger, and would desert a thousand men, women, and children, including two hundred of your own countrymen, and leave them at the mercy of an enemy!”

”You forget whom you are speaking to, sir,” Mr. Drake said, angrily.

”I forgot nothing, sir,” Charlie replied, trying to speak calmly. ”Then, sir, Mr. Holwell has charged me that if--which, however, he could not believe for a moment to be possible--you refuse to move up the s.h.i.+ps to receive the garrison on board, that you would at least order all the boats up, as these would be amply sufficient to carry them away. Even in the daytime there would be no danger for the s.h.i.+ps; and at night, at least, boats might come up, without being exposed to any risk whatever.”

”I shall certainly do nothing of the sort,” Mr. Drake said. ”The danger is even greater for the boats than for the s.h.i.+ps.”

”And am I, sir, to return to the garrison of that fort, with the news that you utterly desert them, that you intend to remain quietly here, while they are sacrificed before your eyes? Is it possible that you are capable of such infamy as this?”

”Infamy!” exclaimed the three men, rising to their feet.

”I place you in arrest at once, for your insolence,” Mr. Drake said.

”I despise your arrest, as I do yourself.

”I did not believe it possible,” Charlie said, at last giving vent to his anger and scorn; ”and England will not believe, that three Englishmen so cowardly, so infamous as yourselves, are to be found.

”As for you, Captain Minchin, if ever after this I come across you, I will flog you publicly first, and shoot you afterwards like a dog, if you dare to meet me.

”As for you, Mr. Drake--as for you, Captain Young--you will be doomed to infamy, by the contempt and loathing which Englishmen will feel, when this deed is known.

”Cowards; base, infamous cowards!”

Charlie stepped back to go.

”Seize him!” Mr. Drake said, himself rus.h.i.+ng forward.

Charlie drew back a step; and then, with all his strength, smote the governor between the eyes, and he fell in a heap beneath the table. Then Charlie grasped a decanter.