Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-03-25
A NARROW ESCAPE.
Experience of IN English Cavalryman
With Indian Treachery.

experience OF IN English Cavalryman
With Indian Treachery.
was not a religious man, but never
bishop or parson prayed with greater
fervor. From 1848 till now is long
time, but / still wake in the night,
though not SO often as once did, after
fighting that battle over again. It was
in 184S, and I belonged to the Nine
teenth Hussars, the one white cavalry
regiment operating in the second Sikh
war. That war lasted only 60 days, but
it had more fighting compressed into it
than many three years campaign.
While the suffering was greater in the
Crimea, the fighting never was harder.
A cavalryman away from his horse is
like fish out Of water, and they had
not mounted infantry in those days, so
it was with bad grace that we, whose
horses had been lost at Chillian- Wallah
and Sobraon, found ourselves attached to
the Twenty fourth infantry and guard
ing supplies while the regiment pushed
on.
There were two companies of the
Twenty fourth and about troop of our
men, some of us wounded, but able to do
work which did not necessitate march
ing. The camp was in deserted temple,
which allowed some protection from at
tack, and also contained large tank.
This water would have startled people
at home, but we were glad to have it,
such as it was. I was not nervous
man; had been in the first line at
Sadoolapoor, but when found myself
doing picket duty in the early morning
on the outer edge of the temple bounda-
ries devoutly wished myself safe be-
yond the sea, under the shadow of st.
Paul's. The moon was shining bright
ly, but stood in the shadow of one of
the two tall pillars peculiar to those
temples. 1t was clear as day elsewhere,
but still as the grave, and would have
welcomed the bowls Of the jackal, but
they were all away following the army.
No obstruction prevented my seeing in
all directions, but it was this very thing
which chilled my heart. An open foe
could be met, but, though for two nights
the sentries at this post had never re-
turned alive, nothing of a struggle had
been heard. The body Of one of them
had been found lying in the temple tank
only that morning Oh, for my good
horse, which had seen hamstrung by a
keen Baluchi blade! had now been on
duty an hour, and nothing had happen
ed. The early morning hours, the hard
est of all, were here, and my mind had
unconsciously gone on with the regiment
and in spirit was near the gates of
Lahore, when thought heard muffled
sound. closely scanned the ground
around, but l could see nothing, and,
though I listened, while the perspiration
came off in big beads, though it was a
cool night for India, the sound was not
repeated
had begun to think that was mis-
taken and that my nervousness had
alarmed me and was laughing at my
fears, when once more I heard distinctly |
the sound as of a cancels soft foot, al |
most noiseless. Wheeling around the |
next moment, I saw for an instant fig
ure stealing toward me in the shadow of |
the temple tower and hardly to be dis
cerned from it. It was between me and
my friends but what was it? Much
larger than a man it seemed. Should
fire and give the alarm, or should I
wait? In those days we had only muzzle
leaders, and to fire without the shot tell
ing meant to have nothing but the bay
onet to depend on. I raised my musket
and fired. No motion, and I reloaded
while the guard hurried down from
camp, and all was hustle and preparation.
Going cautiously forward we found
what appeared in the dim light to be a
black bear, but pulling it into the moon
light large crooked blade shone out
from one of its paws. The next day we
found hole in the ground, which in
the day was covered by stone slab,
leading down to canal which connect
ed with the tank in the temple, and in
this canal were the bodies of three of
our sentries, with their Threats cut.
The mystery of the floating body was
solved.-Chicago Times Herald.