The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-08
THE LOST LEGION.
The Story Of a Raid in India.
BY RUDYARD KIPLINa.
Cbpyrioh, 1899, by Rudpard Etpltno,

When the Indian mutiny broke out and q
little time before the siege OF Delhi regim ent
| OF native irregular horse was stationed al
| Peshawur. on the frontier OF India. That
| regiment caught what John Lawrence called
| at the time 1.-The prevalent MANIA" and would
| have thrown in its lot with the mutineers had
| 1t been allowed to do so. The chance never
came. for as the regiment swept or dovr
| south It was headed of by o remnant OF an
English corps into the hills OF Afghanistan
and there the newly conquered tribesm en-
| turned against It as wolves turn against
buck. It was hunted for the sake OF its
arms and accoutroments from hill to hill
| from ravine to ravine. up and down the
dried beds OF rivers and round the shout.
doris OF bluffs. till 1t disappeared as water
sinks In tho sand-this offlcerless rebel regi-
mont. Tho only trace left Of its existence to-
day is q nominal roll drawn up in neat roun
hand and countersigned by an officer who
called himself "Adjutant, late - Irregular
Cavalry" Tho paper is yellow with years and
dirt. but on the back OF it you can still read a
pencil note by John Lawrence to this effect:
SEQ that the two native officers who remained
loyal are not deprived OF their estates. J. L.
or $50 sabres only two stood tho strain. and
John Lawrence. in the midst Of all tho agony OF
the first months Of the mutiny. found time to
think about their merits.
That was moro than thirty-six years ago.
and the tribesmen across the Afghan border
who helped to annihilate the regiment are
now old men. Sometimes n gray beard peaks
Of his share in the massacre. "They came"
he will say. across the border very proud.
calling upon US to rise and kill tho English
and 20 down to the sack OF Delhi But we. who
had Just been conquered by the same English.
knew that they wore OVERLOAD. and that tho
Government could account easily for those
down-country dogs. This Hindustani regl-
ment therefore. We treated with fair words.
and kept standing in one place till the redcoats
came nfter them very hot and angry. Then
this regiment ran forward q little more
into our hills to avoid tho wrath OF the
English. and We lay upon their TANKS watch
ing from tho sides Of the hills till we were we'll
assured that their path was lost behind them.
Then We came down, for we desired their
clothes. and their brides. and their rifles. and
eirboots-more especially their boots That
was great killing-done slowly" Here the
old man will rub his nose. and shake his long
snaky locks. and lick his bearded lips. and grin
till the yellow tooth stumps show. Yea. We
killed them because we needed their gear and
we knew that their lives had been forfeited
to God on account Of their sin-the sin
OF treachery to the salt which they had
stumbling and rocking in their saddles and
bowling for mercy. We drove them slowly
like cattle till they were all assembled in one
place. the fiat wide valley Of Sheer kot. Many
had died from want OF wator. but there still
were many left, and they could not make any
stand. We went among them. pulling them
down with our hands two at a time and our
boys killed them who were new to the sword.
My share Of tho plumber was such and such
so many guns and so many saddles. The guns
were good In those days. Now We steal the
Government rifles and despise smooth bar
rels. Yes. beyond doubt we wiped tina. reg
iment from of the face OF the earth. and even
the memory OF tho decd is now dying. But
men say"
At this point the tale would stop abruptly
and it was impossible to find out what mon
said across the border. The Aighans were al
ways a secretive race. and vastly preferred
doing something wicked to saying anything at
all. They would be quiet and we'll behaved for
months, till ono night. without word or warn
Ing they would rush u police post. cut tho
throats Of constable or two dash through a
village. carry away throe or four women. and
withdraw in tho red glare OF burning thatch.
driving the cattle and goats before them to
their own desoate hills. The Indian Govern
ment would become almost fearful on these
occasions. First it would say, Please be good
and We'll forgive you" The tribe concerned in
the latest depredatlons would collectively put
its thumb to it's nose and answer rudely. Then
the Government would say: Hadn't you bot
ter pay up q little money for those few corpses
you loft behind you tho other niGht?" Here
the tribe would temporize. and lie and bully.
and some OF the younger men. merely to show
contempt Of authority. would raid another po-
lice post and fire into somo frontier mud fort.
and. il lucky. kill a real English officer Then
the Government would say: Observe. If you
really persist in this line of conduct you will be
hurt" II the tribe knew eyuctly what was GO
ing on In India 1t would apologize or be- rude
according as it learned whether tho Govern
ment was busy with other things or able to
devote its full attention to their performances.
Some of tho tribes knew to one corpse how far
to TO- Others became excited. lost their heads
and told tho Government to come on. With
sorrow and tears. aud one eye on the British
taxpayer at homo. who insisted on regarding
these exercises as brutal wars OF annexation.
the Government would prepare an expensive
little field brigade and some guns. and send
all up into the hills to chase tho wicked tribe
out Of the valleys where tho corn grow.
into the hilltops. whore there was moth
ing to eat Tho tribe would turn out
in full strength and enjoy the campaign.
for they knew that their women would
never BIO touched. that their wounded would
be nursod. not mutilated. and thar as soon rs
each mans bag of corn was spent they could
surrender and palaver with the English Gen
oral rs though they had boon real enemy.
years afterward. they would pay
the blood money. driblet by driblet. to the
Government, and toll their children how they
had slain the rsdcoats by thousandssThe only
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