The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1903-12-15


we could not see them-gallop on to-
wards Cawnpore, shouting to each
other: I'VE have themi They are not
far ahead" Fortunately we we're not
discovered. SO again we had to decide
what was to be done. knowing our awk-
ward position between the rebels at
Busseerutgunge and those on the road
to Cawnpore.
But we were bound to face the mu-
sic" After resting for an hour we pro-
ceeded, and got through Onoa without
being in any way molested- Then at
Munglewar. which was only eight miles
from our destination. we we're told by
a native traveller from Cawnpore that
a large body of rebel cavalry had passed
through the town about an hour before,
most Of them squabbling with one an
other at the stupidity OF allowing two
Englishmen to outpace them and es-
cape. He also added that he had seen
them leave the road about half mile
OF and make for tope of trees On
hearing this Butler proposed that we
should set off and ride as hard as we
could for the banks of the Ganges OPP
| posite Cawnpore. But that would not
| do; as. if the rebels should see us (and
it was very probable they would. as
daylight was breaking), OF If they over
took us (which they would do unless
the horses were fresh). our end would
not be far off. Therefore we made up
| our minds to proceed at a walk for the
| rest of the journey, and that in the event
of being waylaid or chased we would sit
down in our saddles and ride as we had
never ridden before.
We got along unmolested within
three miles Of our destination, when at
sunrise we heard numerous trumpet
calls on our left "Ah! ah!" both of us
exclaimed almost simultaneously; "so
there you are! Well. you beggars, you
shall ride for 1t. Our horses are fresh
and by the time you get into your sad
dies and form up we will have had q
good start; and. if the worst comes to
the worst. the odds are that all that
can happen is that we may have to swim
our horses across the Ganges." Away
we went at a ripping gallop. and or
came the rebel cavalry in hundreds
They chased us for over a mile, but
never got within 500 yards; and they
gave up the pursuit when the Cawnport
garrison, seeing the fix We were in
loosed off few shells in the midst o.
them, making them retreat pretty
sharp. On arrival at the banks Of the
Gauges we found a large fiat-bottomec
boat waiting for US with a party Of
armed men; and within quarter of ar
hour were landed safe and sound a
Cawnpore. where we were entertained
for week like kings
1t was considered by Sir John Inglii
too risky to let us return to the Alum
Bagh alone; therefore we were ordered
to await the departure Of a convoy tina
was to leave for that place in a few
days; so we had to stay This week.
absence made Gen. outram decide tina
we had fallen into the hands of tn,
enemy and been killed, which was tn,
fate of nearly all those who were cap
tured by the rebels You can pictur
to yourself how we were welcomed oil
our return.
l cannot conclude without bringing t,
notice the heroic conduct of Sergt
Butler during the trying night we spen
together, and also the fate Of his poo
horse. Butler was very stout man
and when he began to ride fast, whel
chased by the cavalry. his weight be
gan to tell on the animal Butler fel
this and said: Ride on and save your
self; leave me to my fate. There is n
need for both of us to be caught" But
thanks to a merciful Providence Their
was no necessity fol this. as the gam
old horse seemed to waken up sudden
ly to the danger Of falling behind, mad
a desperate effort and carried his ride
safely to the Ganges. But. alas! tn
effort was too much for him and he die
the next day.-Chambers' Journal