Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1886-07-29
Mechancstow Frederick County, Maryland Thursday July 29, 1885,

| the mutlny. Ihe cartridges OF that
day had to be bitten before they were
used, and both Hindoo and Mussulman
abhor the flesh of the pig, though the
higher classes eat imported hams and
bacon, and protest that they are not
the meat at all. The Sepoys had gone
on biting the cartridges contentedly,
and with no idea that they We're put
ting the unclean thing into their mouths
until the rebellious rajahs, watching
for such an opportunity, willy pointed
out the grievance. Several Of the reg
iments protested, and asked that the
grease on the cartridges be changed, so
as 10 longer to clash with their 1elig-
ious principles; and had the advice,
strongly urged, Of the astute Sir John
Lawrence, then collector of Agra. af-
terward governor-general of India,
been taken these requests would have
been granted at once, but India's rul.
ers, in the pride Of a century's almost
undisturbed possession, feared nothing,
suspected no danger. and drifted blind
ly on to the sharpest crisis in England's
later history.
A clump of bamboos is a good spot
for fugitive to hide in. 1t is a good
place also for party of soldiers to en-
camp by. The mutineers thought so'
and, throwing themselves on the parch'
ed grass beside the road twenty yards
from where we were hidden, they be-
gan to smoke and discuss in low, eau
tious tones, for they were still d!strust-
full Of themselves 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
soldiers. where has he gone tor |
asked my preserver, in whisper" He
has gone to your bungalow she re-
piled, significantly. "IIe expects to
find you there!'
Situated as I then was, forewarned
and therefore, forearmed, / was sincere
]y sorry that Bodcn Singh would not
find me in my bungalow.
The clump of tall, thin bamboos were
singing there endless song to the night
breeze, felt by their sensitive, lofty tops
though not preceptible below and,
our voices lost to the mutuers in the
groaning and creaking Of the branches,
learned from Pooniah her reason for
saving me. A few weeks previously,
when the shadow Of the advancing mu-
tiny had fallen on the country, caught
Bodcn Singh, who could read and
speak English remarkably we'll, about
to open letter given to me by mes
senger from Sir John Lawrence to de-
liver to the commissioner of Jubilee
pore. In view of the expected out
break such an intention, if exposed,
would infallibly have been quickly fol-.
lowed by Boden Singh's execution but
he had read nothing of the dispatch
and, yielding to Pooniah's entreaties,
I 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 a
small piece of earth and swallowed 1t,
following a we'll known custom of Hin
doc fanaticism-"may this choke me if
I betray the trust.
Boden Singh, to, pledged himself to
repay the debt | had placed him un-
der How the husband and wife kept
faith with me the coming ordeal show
ed.
'Pooniah ! Why are you here?' 1t
was Boden Singh who spoke. Coming
by short cut from my bungalow he
he had approached the rear Of the
clump and nearly fallen over us. In
another second he had seen me, and
his knfe-a carving knife from the
mess table was in his hand !; and in the
next l had him by the throat, disarm'
ed, and on the ground. He would
have shouted for help, but Poonlah,
stopped, and in quick, nervous tones
whispered: "Boden Singh, utter one
word and I will run out and say YOU
were saving your sahlb! You were his
bearer, and gave him warming in time
to prevent him from going to the mess
table. How long do you think you
would live after that was told : The
sahlb will spare your life again if you
will promise not to join the mutlneers
Lie quiet now, and you will never see
me after tonight"
The william saw his only chance fol