The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-06-02


ance. Several Of the regiments protested,
and asked that the grease on the cart
ridges be changed so as no longer to
clash with their religious principles; and
had the advice, strongly urged, of the
astute Sir John Lawrence, then collector
OF Agra, afterward governor-general of
India, been taken these requests would
have been granted at once: but India's
rulers, in the pride of a century's almost
undisturbed possession, feared nothing,
suspected no danger, and drifted blindly
on to the sharpest crisis in England's
later history.
A clump of bamboos is good spot for
a fugitive to hide in. 1t is an excellent
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 toa l asked
my preserver, in a whisper. 'He has
gone to your bungalow" she replied,
significantly. 'He expects to find you
therep
Situated as l then was, forewarned
and, therefore, forearmed, was sin
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
ingime. 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
lcttersgiven to me by q messenger from
Sir John Lawrence to- aeliver to the
commissioner of Jubbulpore. In view
of the expected outbreak such an inten-
ton, if exposed, would .infallibly have
been quickly followed by Boden Singhs
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 l may do
for you what you have done for him, and''
she stopped down, picked up small
piece of eaIth and swallowed it, following
a well known custom 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.
"Pooniahl Why are you here9" It
was Bodcn 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 carv-
ing knife from the mess table-was in
his hand; and in the next 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 sahibl 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 toldl 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 i, for the second
time, allowed Boden Singh to go in
peace.
"Sahib,n said Pooniah, 'I have kept
my trust. / can do no more for you.
Salaam." She was gone, and 1 never
saw her again.
More fortunately than the "Martyr of
Allahabad" l got 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 mutineer. / saw him for the last
time near Cawnpore. He was one of
long line of Sepoys tied to a staked rope
running forward from the muzzle of a
shotted gun.
0Boden Singh, " said, 'T cannot save
you this time"
"Would you if you could9" he asked.
And as / looked on the traitors face,
and recollections of the past crowded
upon me, could only reply:
II don't think / would. "-NeD York
Star.
A Novel Trade Custom.