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occupation。
〃I was； as you can imagine； pretty down on my luck at this time； for I
was a useless cripple though not yet in my twentieth year。 However； my
misfortune soon proved to be a blessing in disguise。 A man named
Abelwhite； who had come out there as an indigo… planter； wanted an
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overseer to look after his coolies and keep them up to their work。 He
happened to be a friend of our colonel's； who had taken an interest in me
since the accident。 To make a long story short； the colonel recommended
me strongly for the post and； as the work was mostly to be done on
horseback； my leg was no great obstacle； for I had enough knee left to
keep good grip on the saddle。 What I had to do was to ride over the
plantation； to keep an eye on the men as they worked； and to report the
idlers。 The pay was fair； I had comfortable quarters； and altogether I was
content to spend the remainder of my life in indigo…planting。 Mr。
Abelwhite was a kind man； and he would often drop into my little shanty
and smoke a pipe with me； for white folk out there feel their hearts warm
to each other as they never do here at home。
〃Well； I was never in luck's way long。 Suddenly； without a note of
warning； the great mutiny broke upon us。 One month India lay as still
and peaceful； to all appearance； as Surrey or Kent； the next there were two
hundred thousand black devils let loose； and the country was a perfect hell。
Of course you know all about it； gentlemen；a deal more than I do； very
like； since reading is not in my line。 I only know what I saw with my
own eyes。 Our plantation was at a place called Muttra； near the border of
the Northwest Provinces。 Night after night the whole sky was alight with
the burning bungalows； and day after day we had small companies of
Europeans passing through our estate with their wives and children； on
their way to Agra； where were the nearest troops。 Mr。 Abelwhite was an
obstinate man。 He had it in his head that the affair had been exaggerated；
and that it would blow over as suddenly as it had sprung up。 There he sat
on his veranda； drinking whiskey…pegs and smoking cheroots； while the
country was in a blaze about him。 Of course we stuck by him； I and
Dawson； who； with his wife； used to do the book…work and the managing。
Well； one fine day the crash came。 I had been away on a distant
plantation； and was riding slowly home in the evening； when my eye fell
upon something all huddled together at the bottom of a steep nullah。 I
rode down to see what it was； and the cold struck through my heart when I
found it was Dawson's wife； all cut into ribbons； and half eaten by jackals
and native dogs。 A little further up the road Dawson himself was lying
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on his face； quite dead； with an empty revolver in his hand and four
Sepoys lying across each other in front of him。 I reined up my horse；
wondering which way I should turn； but at that moment I saw thick smoke
curling up from Abelwhite's bungalow and the flames beginning to burst
through the roof。 I knew then that I could do my employer no good； but
would only throw my own life away if I meddled in the matter。 From
where I stood I could see hundreds of the black fiends； with their red coats
still on their backs； dancing and howling round the burning house。 Some
of them pointed at me； and a couple of bullets sang past my head； so I
broke away across the paddy…fields； and found myself late at night safe
within the walls at Agra。
〃As it proved； however； there was no great safety there； either。 The
whole country was up like a swarm of bees。 Wherever the English could
collect in little bands they held just the ground that their guns commanded。
Everywhere else they were helpless fugitives。 It was a fight of the
millions against the hundreds； and the cruellest part of it was that these
men that we fought against； foot； horse； and gunners； were our own picked
troops； whom we had taught and trained； handling our own weapons； and
blowing our own bugle…calls。 At Agra there were the 3d Bengal Fusiliers；
some Sikhs； two troops of horse； and a battery of artillery。 A volunteer
corps of clerks and merchants had been formed； and this I joined； wooden
leg and all。 We went out to meet the rebels at Shahgunge early in July；
and we beat them back for a time； but our powder gave out； and we had to
fall back upon the city。 Nothing but the worst news came to us from
every side；which is not to be wondered at； for if you look at the map you
will see that we were right in the heart of it。 Lucknow is rather better
than a hundred miles to the east； and Cawnpore about as far to the south。
From every point on the compass there was nothing but torture and murder
and outrage。
〃The city of Agra is a great place； swarming with fanatics and fierce
devil…worshippers of all sorts。 Our handful of men were lost among the
narrow； winding streets。 Our leader moved across the river； therefore；
and took up his position in the old fort at Agra。 I don't know if any of
you gentlemen have ever read or heard anything of that old fort。 It is a
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very queer place；the queerest that ever I was in； and I have been in some
rum corners； too。 First of all； it is enormous in size。 I should think that
the enclosure must be acres and acres。 There is a modern part； which
took all our garrison； women； children； stores； and everything else； with
plenty of room over。 But the modern part is nothing like the size of the
old quarter； where nobody goes； and which is given over to the scorpions
and the centipedes。 It is all full of great deserted halls； and winding
passages； and long corridors twisting in and out； so tha