STORY ONE, CHAPTER NINE.
The next morning was hotter, I think, than ever, with no prospect eitherof rain or change; and, after doing what little work I had to get over,it struck me that I might as well attend to what Captain Dyer advised--give two eyes to Chunder and his friends; so I left Mrs Bantem busyover her cooking, and went down into the court.
All below was as still as death--sunshine here, shadow there, but,through one of the windows, open to catch the least breeze that might beon the way, and taking in instead the hot, sultry air, came now and thenthe silvery laughter of the children--that pleasant cheery sound thatmakes the most rugged old face grow a trifle smoother.
I looked here, and I looked there, but could only see old _Nabob_amusing himself with the hay, a sentry on the roof to the east, andanother on the roof to the west, and one in the gateway, broilingalmost, all of them, with the heat.
The ladies and the children were seldom seen now, for they were introuble; and Mrs Maine was worn almost to skin and bone with anxiety,as she sat waiting for tidings of the expedition.
Not knowing what to do with myself I sauntered along by where there wasa slip of shade, and entered the south side of the palace--an oldhalf-ruinous part; and after going first into one, and then into anotherof the bare empty rooms, I picked out what seemed to be the coolestcorner I could find, sat down with my back propped against the wall,filled and lit my pipe, and then putting things together in my mind,thoroughly enjoyed a good smoke.
There was something wonderfully soothing in that bit of tobacco, and itappeared to me cooling, comforting, and to make my bit of a love-affairseem not so bad as it was. So, on the strength of that, I refilled, andwas about halfway through another pipe, when things began to grow verydim round about me, and I was wandering about in my dreams, and noddingthat head of mine in the most curious and wild way you can think of.What I dreamed about most was about getting married to Lizzy Green; andin what must have been a very short space, that event was coming off atleast half-a-dozen times over, only _Nabob_, the elephant, would come inat an awkward time and put a stop to it. But at last, in my dreamyfashion, it seemed to me that matters were smoothed over, and heconsented to put down the child, and, flapping his ears, promised he'dsay yes. But in my stupid, confused muddle, I thought that he'd nosooner put down the child with his trunk than he wheeled round and tookhim up with his tail; and so on, backwards and forwards, when, gettingquite out of patience, I caught Lizzy's hand in mine, saying: "Nevermind the elephant--let's have it over;" and she gave a sharp scream.
I jumped to my feet, biting off, half swallowing a bit of pipe-shank asI did so, and then stood drenched with perspiration, listening to ascuffling noise in the next room; when, shaking off the stupid confusedfeeling, I ran towards the door just as another scream--not a loud, buta faint excited scream--rang in my ears, and the next moment Lizzy Greenwas sobbing and crying in my arms, and that black thief Chunder wascrawling on his hands and knees to the door, where he got up, holdinghis fist to his mouth, and then he turned upon me such a look as I havenever forgotten.
I don't wonder at the people of old painting devils with black faces,for I don't know anything more devilish-looking than a black's phiz whenit is drawn with rage, and the eyes are rolling about, now all blackflash, now all white, while the grinning ivories below seem to begrinding and ready to tear you in pieces.
It was after that fashion that Chunder looked at me as he turned at thedoor; but I was then only thinking of the trembling, frightened girl Iheld in my arms, trying at the same time to whisper a few gentle words,while I had hard work to keep from pressing my lips to her whiteforehead.
But the next minute she disengaged herself from my grasp, and held outher little white hand to me, thanking me as sweetly as thanks could begiven.
"Perhaps you had better not say a word about it," she whispered. "He'scome under pretence of seeing the nurse, and been rude to me once ortwice before. I came here to sit at that window with my work, and didnot see him come behind me."
I started as she spoke about that open window, for it looked out uponthe spot where I sometimes stood sentry; but then, Harry Lant sometimesstood just in the same place, and I don't know whether it was a strangeimpression caused by his coming, that made me think of him, but justthen there were footsteps, and, with his pipe in his mouth, andfatigue-jacket all unbuttoned, Harry entered the room.
"Beg pardon; didn't know it was engaged," he says lightly, as he steppedback; and then he stopped, for Lizzy called to him by his name.
"Please walk back with me to Mrs Maine's quarters," she said softly;and once more holding her hand out to me, with her eyes cast down, shethanked me; and the question I had been asking myself--Did she loveHarry Lant better than me?--was to my mind answered, and I gave a groanas I saw them walk off together, for it struck me then that they hadengaged to meet in that room, only Harry Lant was late.
"Never mind," I says to myself; "I've done a comrade a good turn." Andthen I thought more and more of there being a feeling in the blacks'minds that their hour was coming, or that ill-looking scoundrel wouldnever have dared to insult a white woman in open day.
Ten minutes after, I was on my way to Captain Dyer, for, in spite ofwhat Lizzy had said, I felt that, being under orders, it was my duty toreport all that occurred with the blacks; for we might at any time havebeen under siege, and to have had unknown and treacherous enemies in thecamp would have been ruin indeed.
"Well, Smith," he said, smiling as I entered and saluted, "what news ofthe enemy?"
"Not much, sir," I said; what I had to tell, going, as I have beforesaid, very much against the grain. "I was in one of the empty rooms onthe south side, when I heard a scream, and running up, I found it wasMiss Ross."
"What!" he roared, in a voice that would have startled a stronger manthan I.
"Miss Ross's maid, sir, with that black fellow Chunder, the mahout,trying to kiss her."
"Well!" he said, with a black angry look overspreading his face.
"Well, sir," I said, feeling quite red as I spoke, "he kissed my fistinstead--that's all."
Captain Dyer began to walk up and down, playing with one of the buttonson his breast as was his way when eager and excited.
"Now, Smith," he said at last, stopping short before me, "what does thatmean?"
"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 wouldonly mean that it was a bit of his black--I beg your pardon, captain," Isays, 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, lookingme through and through.
"Well, sir," I said, "I don't want to croak, nor for other people tobelieve what I say; but it seems to me that that black fellow's kickingout of the ranks means a good deal; and I take it that he is excitedwith the news that he has somehow got hold of--news that is getting intohis head like so much green 'rack. I've thought of it some little timenow, sir; and--it strikes me that if, instead of our short company beingEnglishmen, 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 witha pleasant smile.
"But you see, though, Smith," he said, "our short company is made up ofdifferent 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 fewmoments, scowling at us both.
"Well, what do you think?" said Captain Dyer.
"Think?" said Lieutenant Leigh contemptuously, as he turnedaway--"nothing!"
"But," said Captain Dyer quietly, "really I think there is much truth inwhat he, an obser
vant man, says."
There was a challenge from the roof just then; and we all went out tofind that a mounted man was in sight; and on the captain making use ofhis glass, I heard him tell Lieutenant Leigh that it was an orderlydragoon.
A few minutes after, it was plain enough to everybody; and soon, man andhorse dead beat, the orderly with a despatch trotted into the court.
It was a sight worth seeing, to look upon Mrs Maine clutching at theletter enclosed for her in Captain Dyer's despatch. Poor woman! it wasa treasure to her--one that made her pant as she hurriedly snatched itfrom 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 thenews.