Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-21
CHAPTER IV.-Continued.

II apologize" he said. Il apologize all
around ! seem to have been insulting
everybody in turn. l dare say you are all
right. The rajah may be ill-used and
Miss Cary well-meaning. l don't know.
And what on earth does it matter? The
fat is in the fire, and here We stand chat
tering like old women about how ii got
there. Something must be done. The
regiment is a days march from here, and
with a company OF your Gurkhas. Nichol-
son. we shan't do much-scarcely hold out
IL they dare attack u.s.
They will dare Nicholson answered.
$50 much ] know for certain ans 1T will
men, and we muS.>5 our best until Nelp
comes. But" lie paused rather sIS-
nificantly.
But what, man? Don't you think it
will come I'm time? ] have already tele-
graphed. They will be here I'm twenty
four hours. Surely We can manage so
long"
Colonel, if you had seen what / saw
last night, you would not count much on
help. 1t isn't the rising OF a few UNI
armed men. 1t is the revolt of fanatic.
warlike nation. led by a man. They call
him god. His godhead does not matter
to us. AS god we have no need TO fear
him: but as a man and born leader or
men, with hatred and revenge as an In
centive. armed with unlimited power. he
is an enemy not to be held at bay by
handful of Gurkhas and not 10 be con-
quered by regiment"
His words had their quiet. fatal sig
nificance. Col. Carmichael and stafford
looked at each other. Hitherto they had
faced the situation coolly enough. with
their eternal national optimism and self
confidence. This man had wrenched down
the VEIL and they stood before a chasm
to which there seemed no shore, no bot
tom. 1t was the end and they knew II.
You mean, then. that it is all over
the colonel said. casually. You know
more than either of US. You ought 10 lie
able to tell.
"Yes, colonel. I should judge that 1t was
all over. unless a miracle happens
I'VE might fight our way through"
ION my way early this morning the
roads were already guarded. They did
not recognize me, otherwise ! should net
be here
And the women
All three men had grown cool and in
different. Death had stepped IN, and
from that moment it was not seemiy to
show either trouble or excitement.
According to my idea, the women had
better be lodged here in your oupsalo%.
Nicholson said. 1.-The surrounding walls
make 1t a good place of defense The
barracks are too open"
The colonel nodded. Quite unconscious
ly he was letting the reils OF command
slip into the younger and stronger hancs
'They must be brought over at once.
he assented. Thank heaven most of them
have gone to the hills. Mrs. Berry and
that-that other woman had better not be
told what's up. They will only make a
fuss Ny wife will Understandable -ois
will be all right We must get hold of
Travers. if it is only for her sake II
would serve him right If we lett him to
his fate"
Stafford took a step forward
Il have suggestion to make, colonel,
he said.
Col Carmichael looked at him. Through
out the interview Stafford had acted ard
spoken like man who is weighed down
by a burden of terrible doubt and per-
pleXity He alone of the three men had
shown the first sign OF emotion. and emo
ton in the face of death was for the colo
mel no better than fear. His face hard
ened.
Well he said, what is it,
"Rajah Nehal Singh Is not a bar
barian, Stafford began. Il believe he
would listen to reason IL one of us could
get hold of him He seems to have his
country's welfare at heart. and If II was
explained to what horrible bloodshed he
was leading tt
There must be no cringing.' Col. Car
michael interrupted. sharply.
st will not be case OF cringing. We
could simply put the matter before him"
There is something I'm what Stafford
says" Nicholson agreed. From what l
know of the rajah. he seems both rea-
sonable and humane. He may have yield
ed to his fathers opportunities In ft OF
anger, and is, perhaps. already wishing
himself well out of the mess. For the
women's sake. colonel, we ought to have
a shetland not all for the women's sake,
either. Heaven knows what this business
will cost England if II comes to a head"
Col Carmichael bit his lip impatientiy.
He did not recognize his own motives or
desiring last hand-to-hand struggle.
They were those of an old man who sees
Cheltenham and stagnation looming in
the distance and prays for death. But
his common sense conquered the selfish
promptingS.
"Who would be likely to undertake the
mission with any hope OF success?' he
asked.
.'Nehal Singh and were, toward the
end. rather more than friendly" Nichol-
son began. Il believe he entertained a
real liking for mo
IF any one goes, I must"' The inter-
ruption came from STAFFORD. His head
was raised. He faced the two men with
stern determination. mo, Nicholson;
know all you want to say. I have no
sort OF sympathy with the natves-I
haven't your power over them. But this
Let me go If fail. then you can try
by the time you have failed it will be
too late" Nicholson returned. He was
watching Stafford with almost plying
curiosity His keen instinct penetrated
the man't strained and nervous bearing
to some conflict which seemed TO have
had its birth with the first mention nf
Nehal Singh's name.
1T will not be too late Stafford an
swered, persistently. Il ask for an hour.
colonel. In an hour I shall know
whether-whether / have the power"
Capt. Stafford, are you mad" the colo
mel said. sternly. This is not q time for
experiments"
Il ask for an hour" Stafford repeated.
ness in his voice which cut short Col.
Carmchael's angry sarcasm. AT the
end of that time Nicholson can do what