Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-09-14
bay; and here he was enjoying the hos
pltal1ty of the Mahratta prince.


The other two were the major and cap
tam OF the resident detachment, both
tolerably old campaigners, and resolute
to get what enjoyment they could out oil
everything. Major Peele was especially
fond OF, and an adept at, billiards, and
was immediately interested in the pool,
which the Nawab's table was enabling
them to enjoy to perfection. Like many
half-Angllclsed Hindoos, the Nawab was
clever with his cue, and at this moment
the two junior officers had lost all their
lives, and were standing out. The game
lay between the other two, and was in
favor OF the major, who, by possible,
though rather difficult stroke, might fin
ish the contest. He was leaning over
the table, measuring the distance critic
ally, when Preston exclaimed:
Major, here's your orderly just MAX
ing for the courtyard, and with dis
patches, think. They must be impor-
tant, or he would not have come up here
after us.
"Bother the dispatches, young fellow,
and watch this stroke, and you'll learn
something for your money"
And the major made his stroke and
missed his game by a hairs breadth.
Its your turn now, Nawabi Bah!
That's the worst stroke I've ever seen
you make. Will / see the sergeant
now? No, won't till I've made this
stroke"
And this time he did it, and won the
game.
"That's your last life gone, Nawab.
You are not playing up to your usual
form.
And the Nawah was not, indeed, for
his ears were listening for something as
they had never listened before, and now
they caught the desired sound. All, ma
Jor, the mimic life you have spent five
precious moments in taking has cost you
your own, aye, and many another life.
The orderly is on the steps, is even at
the door with the dispatches that contain
the first mutterings of the storm. The
warning comes too late. The treacher-
GUS Hindoo at your side has caught the
signal that tells him all is right for his
share In the plot. He walks to the other
end and strikes a bell. In moment. as
the unconscious Englishmen are loung-
ing round the table, the curtains are
flung aside and score of swarthy IA
natics sieze them. Resistance, even if
surprise permitted any, is i'm possible.
They are thrown down and savagely pin
Toned, while the Hindoo prince, his life
long mask laid aside, his eyes glittering
with long pent-up rage, his figure drawn
up to its full height, gloats over them in
his hour Of triumph, and promises for
them the most horrible death he can in
vent. With his threats ringing in their
ears, they are flung into chamber on
the ground floor, below the level of the
veranda. 1t seemed a dream to them,
though we now understand it we'll
enough. The dispatches that would
have warned them that the great mutiny
had broken out are in the Hindoo's
hands, their bearers mutilated corpse is
lying in the court-y yard. Rage is the
predominant feeling. The outrage is so
audacious, an English officer has hith-
erto been so sacred, that they can hard
ly believe their senses, or the vengeful
and unceasing cries that are uttered by
the crowd that surrounds their prison.
The only survivor of that night is chary
Of talking of it and of them. Some idea
he gives of how YEARLY the hours went,
Of the darkness, of the intense listening
for the coming of their troops to the res
cue, of the thirst, and of the useless de-
mand for water.
But about midnight the crowd with
out suddenly became silent, and the
prisoners watched, 0, how anxiously
as the door opened. To their astonish-
ment, a female, dressed in dark garments
and yelled, entered with some of the
guard. Silently she pointed to Preston,
and her attendants removed all save the
thongs that bound his hands. Then
they led him out after her and through
the press outside. He fancied, as he
passed these last, that he heard angry
they led him up to the billiard hall, with
it's open veranda, from which steps led
to the courtyard Here the men drew
back to the other end of the room. The
yelled figure came closer, drew dagger
from some hidden pouch, and silently
cut his remaining bonds. Sc
&C.," said the woman, in English,
while it more and more seemed night
mare. Ride for your lifeto Ondipore.
Your detachment there may still be
faithful; here all have mutinied or are
dead. A horse is waiting for you by
the gate, and don't spare him if you
would avoid torture as well as DEATH
"But who are you % said the young
officer, trying to get a better view, which
the dim light of the torches at the other
end did not permit him to do. CHOW
can | leave my comrades to die?''
Fool can you save them? And for
me, am not his favorite, or how have
you come here? Go, and remember
that Hester Leonard did not fail her old
friend -
Before in his astonishnent he could
reply, an outcry arose in the house. She
pushed him onto the verandah and
pointed to the gateway silently. Obey
ing the impulse, he hurried across the
deserted court, and found horse held
by syce, who instantly disappeared in
the darkness. Great, however, as was
still his own peril, he could not avoid
pausing to see what happened on the
veranda, which was now brilliantly
lighted by score of torches, borne by a
throng of men who poured from the
house. The Nawab was at their head,
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