The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-30
j CHAPTER XVII.
THD RAJAII'S DEMAND.

have been chosen for the destructive
storm that flashed like bolt from n
clear sky, hurled deluge Of blood. RAJ
pine and cruelty on defenseless and
unprepared India. and ran from point to
point throughout the country M low
/ lands arc rave ed by telnpestuous sea
thnt has suddenly burst It's dykes.
Meerut was tho spark that fired the
train. and to the refugees In tho Jungle
village the further news of the fall of
Delhi. that great fortified city, seemed
as bad as 1t could well be.
But this wae merely the beginning.
While the majority OF Manrao Punt's
people quietly pursued their agricultural
vocations, certain others-picked men
i kept going to and from the outer world
and picking UP scraps OF information
with that marvellous aptitude which only
natives possess.
| 1t was all one-sided mt first-all In
favor OF tho rebels. Horror multiplied
| horror With rage and despair Jack and
Ills friends learned Of revolt and mas
sncre at Feruzpore. Aligahr, 1tawah and
numerous other places.
/ They heard almost daily. through that
black month Of May Of tho destruction
Of bridges, telegraphs and railways. of
| the slaughter of soldiers and civilians,
women and children. OF cantonmcnts and
towns given over TO flame and sword
Tho rulo OF the British seemed indeed
to be nearing It's end. Everywhere the
Sepoys. transformed from docie ma
chimes into ravenng monsters of iniqulty.
| were victorious and unchecked Here
and there garrison was holding out
but for the most part. from Calcutta up
country. tho English were either dead
or flying for their lives from foe with
out mercy.
| the Mogu standard waved from the pal-
| ace walls, and the wicked old king
! dwelt In pomp and power, as insolently
| MS his ancestors had done IN the past
| Ilther. along all the southern roads.
poured bands OF mutineers. horse, foot
and artillery. to render allegiance 10
| Bahadur Shah.
| And what OF tho authorities? What
! was the stricken government doing to
| arrest the march OF lnsurrectioqn! Ihere
| was no answer TO that question az YET.
| Jack and Ruggles did not even know
| tho fate OF their own regiment. nor, had
they known, could they possibly have
Round about lurlcd constant danger
and TO leave their shelter would have
| meant capture and death by ro'ins
bands OF thugs and robbers. Whotn inc
+ mutlny nhu hcL ltS' w. w
| derous trade
Rut not n ripple broke the smooth cur
| rent OF life In the isolated village OF the
i forest which was SO near 70 oelnl, a!lu
| vet 40 well hidden from tho beaten trachs'
No strangers. no threatening messase'
/ ds,urhed the peace OF the little commu-
/ nity and there seemed every reason 10
| helieve that the ryots had. as Manrao
| punt predicted, quite forgotten the Ter
i inghees who had slipped through their
| clutches.
! ratrant1,t would have been difficult to
/ And. II was almost buried beneath lux
,,rIant verdure and flowers, shaded by
j mango and tamarind trees, planthiih hl'u
] banians. in the branches OF winch many
varieties OF birds made their MONIES.
Under other circumstances tho zenin-
/ dnr,s guests would have been happy ana
contented. but tho uncertainty OF the ~
! t,,ra rendered that impossible. The strain
and suspense told most severely on
Madge, and with helpless pity her iover
saw the roses fade graoually toi' ne
| cheeks.
FOR the men 1t was n period OF monos-
| onous idling, except when fresh mes
| senper arrived from the outer Wor!o'
| They bathed In the sacred tank eu e., GU
morning and then discussed me s.tuh.ion
| cheroots with which their host liberaliy
| nroyIded them. or read the few books
4
| that were in the house.
Govina punt led his own life and most
| " held himself aloof from the Ensiisn-
men, though there were occasions wv, Mnt ~
i he condesccnded to be very agreeaple %
| them: hut this did not lessen their iiu .
tuol dtstrust of him. and they felt ina !
he was CAPABLE of any deceit or treach-
cry to safeguard his own Interests.
AS for Nath Banerj. he had his favor
| ,ta snot in a corner OF one OF the veran-
i ha an n
morning TIL night. smoking bhbplins
| nine and staring with n troubled, mys-
/ ticai look in his eyes at JACK whenever
! TINT young officer passed within ms range
| OF vision. -
! ~ YOU was his long lost brother" Ser
,,,ennt Rugglcs once remarked audacious-
The DAYS grew to weeks. May became
| lime and on the third OF that month.
/ toward evening, n travel-worn horsemar
i rode through the gates. he was one OF
i tho zemindar's cleverest spies. SRI Rh1n
4 Inv name. and he brought stirring news.
Fiftv thousand troops, nc declared, were
/ now within the walls Of Delhi, and more
| wore constantly arriving. There had been
massacres Mt Bareilly and Lucknow. sud
the garrison ut the latter city were ~
n state of siege. Much the sAkce condition
of affairs existed at Cawnpore, Where
| General Wheeler was IN coinHanu'
"But the English are not all dend yet:
nor have they been driven to the sea. "
the messenger continued, as he teiH iis
story. 1T is reported that ferlnghes sol
/ dlers nre marching up country. ana thar
i ihey cali themselves the army OF rctrlbu-
ton. !, myself. when I was IN DEM on
the both of May. heard the sound of-sls-
tant artillery to the SOUTH
IAN English army coming!" exclaimed
Madge her face flushing with JOY "Anf
they were very near four days ago!"
',rhey will be hurled back exterrn't
mated" said Govlnd Punt. IN sneering
tone. what can they hope to accom-
plish against 10 ono we'll armed rebels
who hold the strongest Notifications in
| Indla2"
"You will see" replied Jack. when
our troops attack Delhi. tho city must
| speedily fall"
eyes, 1t Will fall" echoed Manrao Punt.
"Most assuredlyl The end Is close, and
! dire. punishment awaits the evil doors, as
Il nredicted You chose wisely. my