The Opelousas courier., 1889-08-31
THE FAITHLESS SERVANT.

I had been in India ten months when
the first meeting among native troops
occurred. The English have been harshly
criticised that the civil and military
officials in the several provinces were not
better posted, and that more vigorous
measures were not taken at the outset to
crush the rebellion. No European, no
matter what his position or how keen he
was, could have foretold the widespread
mutiny, and in most instances the native
troops so greatly outnumbered the Euro
pean that the military authorities were
poWerless to quell mutiny. Long enough
before the first nutiny occurred every
body knew that the country was restless,
and that incendiary addresses were being
made ndrcbelIious documents circulated,
but the natives played their parts so well
as to deceive military men born and
reared with them. aeD
Soon after my arrival at Seetapore, in
the territory Of Gwalior, the signs of an
outbreak became so menacing that ]
made preparations to depart, but was in
duced to remain BY the representations OF
the British officers. They declared their ut
most faith In the native soldiery, and to
This was added the protestations of the
body servant who had been with me for
half d year. He was an intelligent, we'll
educated Sapoy, who had Travelled ex-
xensiyely with Europeans, and who was
well posted in the names and CUSTOMS
0f the natives. He solemnlv assured me
that tie outbreaks at Delhi, Agra,
Nusseerabad and other places were
owing entirely to local causes. As ]
afterWard came t o know, this fellow,
while telling me this, was not only acting
as spy for the malcoDtents, but had
carefully appraised my personal property
and made his calculations to kill me and
take possession.
There were over 5000 native soldiery in
camp 1T Seetapore, and nothing in their
conduct up to the first of June gave rise
to the slightest suspicion that an out
break was intended. On the morning OF
the Cd revolt was ripe. The command
ant was informed that the entire body
Of native soldierY had determined to
snrow Oh the yoke and tsnthe rebellion,
bnt that all Europeans would have,sa CO.
portunity to leave the place in safety
Lucknow was only fifty miles away, and
al could reach the place. Strangely
enough, this warning was ridiculed by
the military, although discipline in the
cantoment was at an end, and one-third
Of the native soldiery were intoxicated.
Isaw this as T rode out to the camps
from the town, and although assured that
there was no. the slightest cause to run
away. i returned to the house OF my
cousin, who was In the civil service, and
at once made preparations to leave. My
servant used his utmost efforts to prevent
my going, but when I found that two
thirds DC the citizens were also making
preparations to leave, ! determined to
take the safe side.
When T set out from Seetapore on the
highway for Lucknow it was in 9 car
riage, IL which were my cousin, bus Wlfe,
another civil official named Roberts and
bis wife, and q young man named hes
tel, who was d clerk in Roberts's employ.
The driver was q native who had been IN
the service of my cousin for fifteen years.
We had our rifles and pistols and plenty
0f ammunition, and all the small valua-
bles about the house were packed in the
carriage. Two miles out we overlook
similar outfit, which contained three
civil officials, two of whom were married
men and had their wives and children
along. AS all were acquainted it was
agreed to travel together, and the jour
new during the afternoon was entirely
safe and pleasant. We passed many ma
lives, ali headed for Seetapore, most o.
whom saIuted us courteonsly, and an
hour before shutdown, when we had made
seventeen miles and drew up q Govern.
ment bungalow to refresh ourselves, w
felt rather cheap at having run way g
8 There were no other travellers al
the bungalow, and after resting Tor gu
hoar We we're discussing the IDEA OF
return 20 Eeetapore, when = native wo'
man, whose presence none Of us had de'
teCted, showed herself to my cousins
wife. She proved to be O woman Wit
had been athe lady's employ for several
years and had left her 70 set married
and now lived near the bungalow. Shs
stated that the soldiery BIT Seetapors
would rebel on the morrow and sack cha
town aud slaughter all Europeans. aIc
hat body 0f natives over q hundred
strong had tIat afternoon r-endezVouaso
Niitill1in half i mile Of the bungalow and
fAen procsadedf0apoi ls three miles down
ad where EheY propcsed ~ VOL