Chapter XVIII
_A PRINCE IN SCARLET_
With caution, the troopers encircling the Rani, felt their way out fromthe shadow of the rock. Then with loosened reins they rode, as withthe speed of a monsoon wind, northward to the rendezvous of the Nativeforces at Kalpi.
At first, they avoided the main road and, with unslackened pace, tookto by-paths that led over ditches and streams, through dense jungleunderbrush, and across rocky plains, until the danger of an immediatepursuit was past. Throughout the night the form of the officer who hadtaken the Rani from Ahmad's arms kept closely at her side. That hisorder must have been to watch over her as a priceless treasure, wasevident from the care he took to guide her horse at dangerous places,and to remove from her course an occasional overhanging branch thatmight have caused painful if not serious injury. In the darkness hisfeatures were indistinguishable. Indeed, it seemed as if he purposelykept his face turned from her; though in the open, the brilliancy ofthe starlight shining upon a closely fitting cap of steel, and arms ofornate workmanship, proclaimed him a cavalier of rank.
As in the early part of the ride silence was imperative, the Rani didnot attempt to broach a conversation with her companion. In fact, thepace was too swift to permit even a consecutive flow of thought. Suchthoughts as did occupy her mind were naturally directed to the reasonsshe would urge upon Tantia Topi for the immediate recapture of herbeloved city.
Day was breaking when the troopers drew up before the fortress gatesof a friendly raja. The Rani glanced round to offer her thanks to theofficer who had so faithfully protected her from harm during the longnight ride; but he had disappeared. So also had Ahmad Khan.
Upon seeking the reason for their absence, she was informed that onstriking into the main road, the former had fallen behind with a smallbody of men to cover her retreat, and the latter had been compelled toseek relief from his fatigue by a short period of rest in the seclusionof the jungle.
A sudden inspiration prompted her to ask the name of the gallantcaptain of the escort. A look of disappointment crossed her face uponlearning that he was a northern chief attached to the army of TantiaTopi, by name, Parma Nand Bai Bahadur.
It seemed to the Rani that she had scarcely closed her eyes in muchneeded sleep, when a trooper arrived in haste bearing the wakingmessage that the Foreign cavalry were in pursuit.
"To the saddle," was the immediate cry. Within a few minutes she wasagain flying northward, her escort reinforced by the presence andbody-guard of her recent host.
Through the trying heat of day, with but momentary halts forrefreshment, she pressed forward over the hundred and ten milesintervening between Jhansi and Kalpi. At nightfall a trooper caught upwith her party to deliver the welcome intelligence that the rearguardhad beheld the Foreign cavalry relinquish the pursuit.
Thus she was enabled to rest for the night at a wayside village withoutfear of personal danger. Before retiring, and again on setting forththe next morning she had looked for the reappearance of the officer whohad so skillfully conducted her retreat; but it seemed he had turnedback upon the heels of the Foreign cavalry to make certain of theiractions.
By easier stages she accomplished the remaining distance to Kalpi,reaching her destination at sunset to find that she had outstrippedTantia Topi in his more leisurely retreat from Jhansi. In the waninglight his vanguard was seen emerging from the ravines by which thecity is approached on three sides. On its fourth, the sacred watersof the Jumna reflected the deep shadows of a long line of temples andmausoleums, terminating in the rock fortress with the _ghat_ at itsfoot.
The Rao Sahib, who, as the nephew and representative of the Peshwa, hadfor several months commanded the garrison and arsenal at Kalpi, wasadvised of the Rani's approach. He sent forward an aide-de-camp to meether on the road, and with greetings conduct her to a house prepared forher reception. He requested that early on the following morning shewould assist at a council-of-war to discuss the operations necessaryto turn back the victorious advance of the enemy.
The Rani was concluding her evening meal, when raising her eyes theyrested with surprise upon the form of her worthy secretary, Bipin Dat.
"Why, good Bipin," she exclaimed in accents of welcome. "Thou here. Ithought thou wert far off discussing intricate family problems with thygenial uncles."
"Illustrious Lady," Bipin replied gravely. "Such was undoubtedly myintention when I departed from your Highness's side in Jhansi; butalas! the pace of those rascally troopers thou gavest me as an escort,so jolted my limbs, that on reaching the camp of the invincible TantiaTopi, I could scarce crawl into his presence. For days my bones achedto such an extent that a tortoise would have travelled faster to theabode of my people. Then when I learned the straits in which yourGreatness was placed, how could I do otherwise than assist in yourrelief."
"I see," the Rani exclaimed. "Thy aches and pains vanished when itbecame necessary to move faster than a tortoise, after that feat was sogallantly relinquished."
"Noble Rani," protested Bipin. "Had the great Tantia Topi only followedthe advice of thy humble servant and been more circumspect in hismethod of attack, undoubtedly the Foreigners would all have been eatenup like grass before a plague of locusts. As it was, with several otherobservant fellows, I saw to it that no assault was contemplated in rearwhile the battle raged in front--a responsible office, great Lady," heconcluded, self approvingly, "that Tantia Topi admitted had been wellcarried out."
"No doubt," acquiesced the Rani, expressing in her voice the contemptshe felt for the conduct of those in command of the Native army on thatcritical occasion. "No doubt, good Bipin. The retreat, they say, wasconducted with masterly judgment. But tell me," she asked with greaterinterest. "Hast thou seen aught of Prasad Singh with the army of TantiaTopi"?
Bipin started at the mention of the Hindu noble's name.
"Thanks be to God, not I," he exclaimed. "By the will of the Almighty Itrust his spirit has long since passed into the body of a toad. I haveseen naught of that accursed man."
The Rani's brow darkened for a moment as if Bipin's expression ofsentiment met with her disapproval; but she spoke again in reference toanother matter.
"Good Bipin," she said, "I am glad to see thee once more, for thoucanst render me an immediate service."
He _salaamed_ obediently, while she took a purse from her girdle andhanded him a considerable sum of money.
"Go," she enjoined, "into the bazaar, and without disclosing who itis that commissions thee, purchase for me a suit of male attire. Iwould have thee buy a scarlet jacket and trousers, a white turban, andred leather shoes to which spurs may be strapped. Get me also a swordof the finest tempered steel, and pistols that will shoot straight.Remember I care more for the quality of the weapons than for theirornamentation. Let it be understood that the sword and pistols will bepurchased only if they meet with my approval. Thou hadst better orderseveral from which I can make a choice. Go, and do this speedily, as Ihave a use for them upon the morrow."
With an expression of surprise on his face Bipin hesitated, when theRani, emphatically repeating her order, he _salaamed_ and departed onhis errand.
The sun had risen but a few degrees above the horizon on the followingmorning when the Rao Sahib, Tantia Topi, Ahmad Khan, who had arrived inKalpi overnight, and other native leaders, were gathered about a tablein a room of the governor's house, awaiting the Rani of Jhansi's comingto take a seat at the council.
A curtain screening the doorway of the room was drawn aside and a youngofficer entered. With the exception of his white turban, he was attiredin a blood red uniform from head to foot. It contrasted well with hisdark, handsome features, and admirably displayed his slender figure.One hand, unusually delicate for a man, rested upon the butt of apistol protruding from his girdle, while the other rose to his turbanin a military salute.
The Rao Sahib and Tantia Topi gazed inquiringly as well as withadmiration, upon the newcomer, whom it was evident they had never seenbefore. Ahmad Khan with his back to t
he stranger's position had failedto remark his entrance.
With the exception of a white turban, she was attired ina blood-red uniform from head to foot.--Page 213.]
"Well officer," the Rao Sahib asked. "Dost bring us a message fromsomeone"?
The young officer laughed musically as he assumed a captivating pose.
"I bring you a message, noble Sahibs," he replied, "to say that theRaja of Jhansi is now present at the council."
"The Raja of Jhansi"? the Rao Sahib and Tantia Topi both echoedinterrogatively, while Ahmad turned impulsively in his seat.
For a moment the Mohammedan scrutinized the young officer's features,then gave vent to an exclamation of surprise.
"By Allah"! he cried, "my Lords, it is the valiant Rani herself."
The nobles rose from their seats and welcomed her effusively. For aspace the eyes of the Rao Sahib could discover no other object save herform to gaze upon.
She gracefully moved forward and took a seat at the board. The cloudof misfortune that had overshadowed their faces was lifted by herpresence. As a ray of heaven's light to storm-beset travellers she cameamong them.
For a time the assembled nobles proceeded to discuss the eventsleading up to the numerous reverses they had recently suffered, thosemore directly implicated endeavoring by one plea and another toshirk individual responsibility. In this useless wrangle over pastdisasters the Rani's patience soon became exhausted. She perceivedthat unless brought to a speedy termination it might lead, by way ofheated arguments, to the greater disaster of a feud among themselves.Already Ahmad Khan and Tantia Topi had exchanged angry words over thegeneralship displayed in the battle before Jhansi.
"My Lords," she at this point interposed. "All this seems to me to addlittle to the solution of our present difficulty, except in so far aswe may have gathered experience to bring victory out of defeat. Withdeference to your greater knowledge of such matters, in my mind themost important question, is how to insure a speedy turn of the campaignin our favor."
"Truly, thou speakest to the point, O Rani," the Rao Sahib remarkedapprovingly. "Dost agree then with Tantia Topi, that we intrenchourselves here in Kalpi and await the coming of the Foreigners"?
The Rani rose to her feet with a gesture of impatience.
"Noble Rao," she returned vehemently. "That plan will never do. Ifit was impossible to hold Jhansi, a stronger position by a hundredfold than any that might be afforded by the defenses here, how do yousuppose we could drive away the Foreigners from Kalpi? No," she urged,"while I agree that the Kalpi arsenal must be saved to us at all costs,I believe that the enemy must first be fought and beaten in the open,at a time and place the most advantageous to ourselves. To a spot ofour own selection, I would move forward to encounter them on their wayfrom Jhansi. There, with our troops well rested and theirs exhaustedby a long march, the chance of victory will rest on our side. Aye,I would so arrange the hour of battle that we fight in the heat ofnoonday, when the sun will aid us as a powerful ally."
"Well spoken, brave Rani," Ahmad Khan applauded enthusiastically."Hadst thou learned thy military lessons from the great Dost Mohammed,thou couldst not have counseled us more wisely."
"Nay, my lords," she protested, "it is after all but the opinion of awoman; but if any remain still in doubt as to the advisability of theplan, give into my hands the command of this affair and see what comesof it. If a leader's courage can drive these people back, I vow theyshall never desecrate with their feet the eighty temples of Kalpi."
The Rao Sahib was enthralled by the beauty and enthusiasm of the Raniof Jhansi. He would willingly have granted her request, but that he wasfearful of offending the susceptibilities of his generals. He pondereddeeply before rendering a decision. At last he spoke authoritatively.
"In what the Rani says there is certainly displayed much gooddiscernment of the situation. I agree with her that it is better tointercept the Foreigners' advance than await them here in Kalpi. So ifshe will accept the leadership of the cavalry under the supreme commandof Tantia Topi, I believe Kalpi may be saved."
"Noble Rao Sahib," the Rani returned. "Most readily will I accept anyoffice which you may be pleased to give into my hands. But I would urgethat we set out forthwith, in order that we may have time to select agood position. Be assured the Foreigners will not rest while anotherprize remains to fall into their hands."
"Thou art right, noble Rani," the Rao Sahib acquiesced. Then turning toTantia Topi he asked if any place suggested itself to his mind as thebest vantage ground on which to meet the enemy.
Tantia Topi called for a map of the country, and for several minutesstudied it carefully. At last he gave it as his opinion that at Kunch,forty miles distant, the nature of the country would afford the beststrategic position for a decisive battle.
"It is a good place," he explained, "because lying half way on the roadto Jhansi, if the rout of the Foreigners be complete, a flying columnmay push swiftly on to the Rani's capital, with a chance of surprisingand capturing the weak garrison that the Foreign general can onlyafford to leave there."
"Good, most sagacious Tantia Topi," the Rani exclaimed approvingly.Then turning to the Rao Sahib she earnestly besought of him a favor.
"My Lord," she said, "thou wilt not deny me the command of any forcedetached for the recapture of my own city"?
The Rao Sahib replied with gallantry.
"Assuredly that thou shalt possess, fair cavalier. Tantia Topi now hathmy orders to give that command to no one else."
"So to Kunch, my Lords," he added, "is our final decision."
"Aye and to victory, forget not that," the Rani cried enthusiastically.
The council then proceeded with a discussion of the details of theexpedition, to rise, at last, confident that with the greater numberof men and guns they could put into the field, together with naturaladvantages on their side, the result of the battle could not beotherwise than a victory for the Native arms.