The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-12-13
SULKY,S TREASURE.

"Bill, I've taken a liking to you, since
we've been together ON this voyage, anC
I'm going to fix ye, so you won't hav'
to go to sea and pull ropes no more"
l looked at my shipmate in astonish-
ment as he made this remark. The boy'
had christened him "Sulky. "and l dom
believe any one aboard knew his righ
name except the skipper, and he wOulc
have to look at the ships Articles t
make sure of it. Sailors are something
like Indians in bestowIng names upor
individuals in accordance with some pc
culiaI characteristic.
The first day of the voyage, as we were
seat ed around the ''mess-chest," at din
ner, our shipmate received his cogno
men of "Sulky," from some facetious
members of the crew, and it seemed tC
fit him exactly, for he was of retiring
morose and sulky disposition; hence,
the surprise which felt when this wor'
thy approached me with such remark.
1t was in the middle night watch,
while the vessel was slowly working up
the Bay of Bengal, bound for Calcutta.
You may think I'm giving you a
wrong course, mate, "he continued, but
" AIN bU, uluu Oh WHO wy
Just for twenty dollars month. No,
sir! It's a place where I've got to go to,
and don't want to go alone. Now, as
say, I've taken liking to you; you
and I'll whack up"
always thought from the first time |
saw "Sulky," that he wasn't just right
in his head, and now / was sure OF It,.
But as everything was still and quiet,
there being nothing to do, l listened to
his story, most wonderful tale, and l
have to admit that as it progressed, be-
came more and more interested in his
marvellous narrative. 1t was regular
Monte Christie revelation.
Perhaps you don't know" he began,
"that l was in India at the
time of the Sepoy rebellion. Well, l
was, and fought in a corps of marines,
under General Haverlock. We came up
the Hooghly in the Thunderer, and were
ordered ashore at Calcutta, in heavy
marching order. Now, chummy, you
may know, we sea boys didn't like that
any too well; but we had to obey the or.
ders of the After Guards, and we staid
there in Fort William for two days, and
then were sent up the river with whole
lot Of redcoats. clear up, on to the Ganges
to Delhi. There we struck across the
country to the westard, and we'd a-beD
going two days, which would made,
think about twenty miles, when we came
to place called Bassapore. There we
met the Sepoys. Twas hard fight,
every man for himself, and the devil
for us, as the Scotchman says. 1 had a
Sepoy down, and he was big fellow-a
Rajah-for he had large top turban on,
with star in the front of it, made OF
gold, and this in the centre of it"-sud-
denly fl lshing before my astonished gaze
an emerald, as large as a common-sized
walnut.
My companion vouchsafed me but a
momentary glimpse of his treasure. for
he quietly slowed it away in the folds OF
his sash. which he wore about his waist;
but the fleeting glance which l obtained
was sufficient TO convince me that 1t
was. indeed, gem of great value which
had scintillaIed before my eyes in the
starlight.
"Well, had my cutlass about onto
his headpiece when he speaks up in Eng
lish, Just as plain as I'm talking now,
and says Don't you knock me out and
LII make you a rich man,
~ looked at him quick, and, as I'm a
sailor, he was a white man a-begging for
his life. Now here's where our story
comes in. had no liking for the fight,
seeing rs l was sailor and not soldier
80 let the white niger up, ami he and
kind OF worked TO the rear. He
WAS my prisoner, don't you see A Ra-
jah and passed to the rear with him.
HE was smart, and knew enough not
to answer any questions, but all the
while he was giving me what jewels be
had about him, and promising me lots
OF wealth il I'd get him an English Off
GERS uniform and let him go.
well, just as Is making up my mind
whether TO knock him on the head or
turn him over to the guard we run afoul
of the dead body Of poor, young cap'n
Of the 69th. 1t was just about dark, and
it being right on the edge of jungle,
nobody happened to be around, and says
he to me
LET me have that mans clothes, and
you take mine; what's in 'em will make
you rich man.
II stopped bit and thought, but as
there was nobody around, took his tur-
ban and bis robe and sash, while he
stripped the young soldier, and in two
minutes was logged out as cap'n Of the
Hussars. Then fourishing his sword he
says, Il now fight for England; if l fall,
you will find in those garments papers
which will lead you to a fortune
81 was left on the edge of the jungle,
with the robe and turban Of a Rajah,
alongside Of the poor, dead cap'n, and
my prisoner was working to the front,
while stood knocked all aback. Now,
mate, you may guess that l didn't lay
'hove-to' long before l overhauled that
gear that was left with me. There was
scImitar that had jewels enough in its
hilt to make you and me rich, but l
threw II away. And his dress, finer silk
than any woman wears in the States
that was no use tn me. But in his tur-
ban, while l was taking out that star, l
found paper, and being as could read
English, l stored it away in my pocket,
and Nv got it now. didn't stop to read
1t then, but seeing as how I'd lost my
prisoner, hustled to the front. They
we're having it pretty heavy some Of my
shipmates, and felt kinder like a skirk,
as squared away and bore down upon
the Sepoys.
swell. just as was sheering up along
4 A a r