Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-05-07

- AASAtlfO W hAAI III. II Is III tAGtll6uL
place also for party of soldiers to en-
camp by. The mutineers thought so,
and, throwing themselves on the parched
grass beside the road twenty yards from
where we were hidden, they began to
smoke and discuss in low, cautious tones,
for they were still distrustful of them
selves and each other, the prospects of
the desperate venture to which they were
now irretrievably committed.
1t was quite light enough now to see
that Boden Singh was not with the sol
diers. Where has he gone tol 1 asked
my preserver, in a whisper. "He has
gone to your bungalow she replied,
significantly. ''He expects to find you
there!"
Situated as l then was, forewarned
and, therefore, forearmed, | was sim
cerely sorry that Boden Singh would not
find me in my bungalow.
The clump of tall, thin bamboos were
singing their endless song to the night
breeze, felt by their sensitive, lofty tops,
though not perceptible below; and, our
voices lost to the mutiners in the groan-
ing and creaking of the branches,
learned from Pooniah her reason for saw
ing me. A few weeks previously, when
the shadow of the advancing mutiny had
fallen on the country, / caught Boden
Singh, who could read and speak Eng
lish remarkably well, about to open
letter given to me by messenger from
Sir John Lawrence to deliver to the
commi 5sioner of Jubbulpore. In view
of the expected outbreak such an inten-
tion, if exposed, would infallibly have
been quickly followed by Boden Singh's
execution; but he had read nothing of
the dispatch, and. yielding to Pooniah's
entreaties, l was silent, and his life was
spared.
''The time is close at hand, sahib,"
said the grateful wife, "when may do
for you what you have done for him, and"
she stopped down, picked up small
piece OF earth and swallowed it, following
a well known Gu u,tom of Hindoo fanat-
icism-''may this choke me if betray
the trust"
Boden Singh, too, pledged himself to
repay the debt | had placed him under.
How the husband and wife kept faith
with me the coming ordeal showed.
'Pooniah! Why are you hereW It
was Boden Singh who spoke Coming
by short cut from my bungalow he had
approached the rear of the clump and
nearly fallen over us. In another second
he had seen me, and his knife,--a cary
ing knife from the mess table--was in
his hand and in the next l had him by
the throat, disarmed, and on the ground.
He would have shouted for help, but
Pooniah stopped, and in quick, nervous
tones whispered: "Boden Singh, utter
one word and will run out and say you
were saving your sahib! You were his
bearer, and gave him warning in time to
prevent him from going to the mess
table. How long do you think you would
live after that was told? The sahib Will
spare your life again if you will promise
not to join the mutineers. Lie quiet now,
and you will never see me after to-
night"
The villain saw his only chance for
safety. Sullenly he gave the promise re-
quired of him, and lay still for twenty
minutes. Then the Sepoys moved away,
and half an hour later |, for the second
time, allowed Boden Singh to go in
peace.
"sahib," said Pooniah, II have kept
my trust. can do no more for you.
Salaam." She was gone, and I never
saw her again.
More fortunately than the "Martyr of
Allahabad" IgOt safely into Lucknow, and
came out with Sir Colin Campbells men
when they marched to our relief. 1t is,
perhaps, needless to say that Boden
Singh's word was broken. He was an
active mulineer. | saw him for the last
tine near Cawnpore. He was one of
long line of Sepoys tied to staked rope
running forward from the muzzle of
shotted gun.
"Boden Singh, " l said, 'T cannot save
you this time"
Would you if you could?" he asked
And as looked on the traitors face,
and recollections of the past crowded
upon ne, could only reply:
81 don't think | would. "-NeW York
Star.