Jones of the 64th: A Tale of the Battles of Assaye and Laswaree

by F. S. Brereton

  CHAPTER XVII

  Owen makes an Effort

  Two days passed slowly for Owen in his prison, and during that time thetedious hours were broken only by the half-hour when he was marched toan adjoining room and ate his meal in the presence of the three otherimprisoned officers. However, on the third afternoon after his arrivalat Indore an event occurred which roused him from the lethargy which wasbeginning to come over him. All was still in the noonday heat, and thecity of Indore seemed to be asleep. The clatter and hum of the populacehad died down, for the people were following a custom in favour with theSpaniards and were indulging in a siesta. In the palace there was not asound to be heard, while in the tower in which he was a prisoner nothingoccurred to break the silence. Owen stood at the window listless anddispirited, and if the truth be told, almost asleep, when suddenly thefaint sound of a distant footstep attracted his attention.

  "The jailer," he thought; "but why is he coming now? It is his custom tobring me food and water just before the sun goes down. It is strangethat he should be here now. Perhaps he is about to make a surprisevisit, for he is creeping up the stairs."

  He tiptoed across to the door of his cell and listened eagerly. He couldhear the almost silent footfall as the man ascended the stairs, andpresently the hollow noise given out by the corridor outside as peoplecame along it.

  "He is sneaking along by the wall. I don't like this visit," thoughtOwen. "I wonder what he wants?"

  A minute later it was clear that the man outside was within a foot ofhis door, and as he listened Owen could hear his deep and hurriedbreathing, which made it appear as if he had come up the long flight ofsteps two at a time. Then there was a movement of a shoe, a hand went tothe lock and tried it, and then the door was shaken ever so gently. Oweneased his sabre in its scabbard, for he had even now not been disarmed.Then he dropped on hands and knees and placed his ear close to thefloor. Next second he leaped to his feet with a cry of joy, for a voicecalled to him.

  "Sahib! Sahib! Is the sahib Cornet Jones there?"

  "Here! I am here, Mulha!"

  The breathing was even deeper and quicker outside, and Owen heard a sighof relief. Then the voice came even more distinctly, for Mulha, hisfaithful servant, had placed his lips close to the crack where the doorclosed.

  "Master, master," he said in eager, trembling tones, "they have broughtthe troopers together again. They and their horses are quartered justoutside the courtyard, and they have orders to move to-morrow. Yes, onthe morrow they are to ride back to the General. I have seen themessage which they are to carry. Holkar will make war with the British,and will kill you first so that there shall be good cause. I have seenit, sahib, I say."

  The poor fellow could hardly continue, for the very mention of such afact unmanned him. His voice trembled even more, and Owen heard a soundas of a man who has only just succeeded in choking down a sob.

  "Hush!" he whispered through the narrow crevice. "I'm still alive, andwill give some trouble before I am killed, Mulha. Tell me more, and lookcarefully at the bolts. Can you loosen them?"

  "Alas! sahib, there are two locks, and I have no implements. More thanthat, the approach to the tower is so carefully watched that I haveobtained admission by the merest chance. The man on duty fell asleep ashe watched, and I slipped past him. But I will try later as the eveningcomes, though there is little hope. Sahib, what can we do?"

  "Nothing. You cannot help me. I must escape by my own efforts, and Iwill do so. Tell me, Mulha, where are you quartered, so that I can findyou if I manage to break out?"

  "I am with the troopers, minding your horse and mine," came the answer."It is a long, low building to the right, just outside the courtyard.Sahib, the door is double-locked, and how can you escape? To-night theywill murder you. I have made sure of that. These miscreants will killyou, and so make cause for war."

  At that the poor fellow who was so attached to Owen broke down, and theprisoner could hear his sobs. He tapped on the door to arrest the noise,and whispered again.

  "Tell the men to be ready at any time," he said quietly. "If it ispossible I will escape. Let them wait and be ready. Where are the guardsstationed?"

  "At the foot of the stairs, sahib, at the main entrance and at the exitfrom the courtyard. As for the troopers, they are free to move about intheir quarters, but they are watched. We have seen men hovering about.This white officer too,"--Owen heard his servant grind his teeth as hespoke of the French colonel,--"sahib, I tell you that he watches everymovement and every one of the guards. I have seen him in the courtyard,and I have heard him threaten death to any who allowed his prisoner toescape. Beware, sahib! This man bears you but evil friendship, and wouldslay you. Who knows, it may be his doing that these orders have beengiven to the troopers, for here in Indore he commands. Holkar is beneathhis thumb, and an order from this white fiend is obeyed as if he were anemperor indeed. Hush! I hear some one moving. We will wait, sahib!"

  Even Owen behind his prison door could hear the far-off sound of a step,and therefore could not feel surprise when the sounds outside told himthat Mulha had moved away. However, in a moment or two he was back, andhis voice was heard again.

  "Farewell, sahib," he whispered. "We will wait. I believe that you willescape. If not, rest assured, we will avenge you."

  He was gone. Owen could hear his faint footfall as he slipped down thestairs. Then followed silence, complete silence, broken after a littlewhile by the awakening noises from the city outside.

  "Forewarned!" said Owen as calmly as he could, though his heart beatmore forcibly now that he had heard Mulha's news. "So they will murderme, and make that a cause for war, as if there was not enough already!Ah! I know whom I have to thank for this! It is the Frenchman; but why?Why?"

  Why indeed? Had our hero devoted himself to elucidating the reason forsuch display of malice for a week or even more he would have been nonearer the answer. The fact remained that Colonel Le Pourton had taken asudden and none too friendly interest in him, and, moreover, appeared tobe in some manner connected with his earlier history. What was therewhich could possibly make this English youth--a poorhouse boy, a beggaralmost till friends came forward to help him--an enemy to be feared byone in such high command as this French colonel? And yet----

  "He fears me, and he knows something of my earlier history. Hisconscience hurts him perhaps. Who knows, he may have been the very onewho arranged for my abduction, for I was certainly stolen when I was achild. But a Frenchman! It seems impossible."

  Owen looked at the matter from all sides, and could not fail to see theunlikelihood of this man having had anything to do with him in formerdays; for, as he had just said, Colonel Le Pourton was a Frenchman, andwe had been at war with his country for a long while. True, there hadbeen a truce every now and again, even in India, where the two nationshad been struggling the one against the other. English possessions hadbeen captured and handed back again at the end of hostilities, and thesame could be said of Pondicherry and other French holdings. It waspossible that this Frenchman had known, in times of peace, some of theBritish officers, and then----

  "What is the good of worrying about the matter?" thought Owen peevishly."My life is of far more value to me than is this matter, and I willleave it. Now, how to escape? I will get away if it is possible. Buthow?"

  He went over to the window again and stood there, leaning against thewall and staring down at the streets beneath. And as he did so he notedthe surroundings of the palace, the courtyard below with its outergates, the sentries stationed there, magnificent men of Holkar'sbodyguard. And outside the very building to which Mulha had alluded.Yes, and as he looked there was the figure of the faithful servantentering the quarters allotted to his comrades. Owen waved his hand tohim, and Mulha, happening to look up at his window, as he had done manya time in the last few hours without doubt, wondering behind which hismaster lay a prisoner, saw the signal and answered it. Then hedisappeared, and our hero saw no more of him. He followed the courtyardround to its limits, and
then traced the walls which surrounded thepalace. They were evidently part of the defences of the town, and werearmed with heavy guns, some of brass and some of iron, and all of largeproportions.

  "That is certainly the largest I have ever seen in my life," thoughtOwen as his eye lit on one piece of gigantic size which towered over theothers. "Its muzzle must be a couple of feet across."

  This, in fact, was the case, and the gun in question almost rivalled insize another which was captured later in this campaign in Agra--a gun sohuge that a man could easily slide into the barrel. But Owen's attentionwas soon taken up by other matters, and for a long while he stood there,unmindful of what he saw, planning an escape. The sun sank, the lastwhich he was to see if Colonel Le Pourton could have his way, and theshort twilight lit up the city of Indore, its palace, its minarets, andits squalid hovels. The sounds in its streets died down, while close tothe gates the gathering throng showed that the country-folk were aboutto return to their homes. They were filing through the massive entranceto Indore, and he could see a thin stream of carts and pedestriansmoving away into the distance. And gradually the gloom deepened,the light disappeared, and night fell with characteristicsuddenness--perhaps Owen's last. The hour approached for hisassassination, and at the thought he shuddered. Then his couragerevived, and the very imminence of his danger spurred him on and madehim reckless of danger and difficulty, willing to attempt anything.

  "We shall see," he said, as his teeth closed together. "This Holkar andhis French friend shall see. They have not killed me yet, and----"

  He broke off suddenly and once more tiptoed across to the door, for awaydown below came the slither of a sandal and the well-known step of thejailer. He was coming up the stairs, and very soon he was close to theprisoner's door. He stopped, and Owen heard the clink of the platterwhich carried his evening meal against the stone chatti containing hisallowance of water.

  "My evening meal," he thought. "He will come in and place the things onthe floor, and then leave at once without a word, and with only a shakeof his ugly head and an oath if I ask a question. A pleasant fellowindeed, and just the one to carry out this assassination of which I havebeen warned. He'll go, and that is the last time I shall be disturbedtill he or others come on behalf of the Frenchman."

  Suddenly his breath came faster and deeper, for a thought had struckhim, and he realised that, since to break out of his prison wasimpossible, then the only way now was to throw himself upon his keeper;and that individual was now about to pay his last evening visit. It wasnow or never, and in an instant his determination was taken. He changedhis position slightly, and stood so that when the door opened he wouldbe behind it. The locks grated; he heard the man swear as he struggledwith the key, for one hand was filled. But in a moment the fastening wasundone and the door swung open, while the jailer, taking the platter inone hand and bearing the chatti in the other, stepped into the cell. Acry escaped him, for up to now Owen had always stationed himself at thewindow.

  "What! Gone! Escaped!"

  The man's jaws opened in his consternation, while the chatti droppedfrom his hand and crashed to the floor, splintering there and scatteringthe contents. Then his wits returned, and he suddenly remembered to lookbehind the door. In an instant his mouth opened wide to give vent to ashout of rage and astonishment, for the prisoner stood there with drawnsabre in his hand. But the sound never left his lips, for as his eyefell upon the figure of the prisoner Owen leaped forward and, puttingall his force into the blow, struck the man full in the face with thehilt of his weapon. There was a sickening crash, and then the clatter ofthe plate as it smashed on the floor. As for the Mahratta guard, he felllike an ox struck true and sure with a pole-axe, and lay stunned andhelpless on the floor.

  "The first step towards liberty," said Owen grimly, sheathing his sabre."And now to get away. I must not delay, and yet I must not spoil all byundue hurry. Of course the only sensible thing to do is to take thisfellow's clothes."

  That such a course was advisable could not be gainsaid, and he set towork to carry out the change without delay or hesitation. And presentlyhe was a Mahratta in appearance and dress, save that his skin was toolight. However, a handful of dust from the floor remedied that defect,and with his sabre hooked to his belt and his pistol beneath hisquilted jacket he was ready. He stooped and looked carefully at thejailer.

  "A broken nose at any rate," he said, as he observed the man's injuries,"and for my part I have no hesitation in saying that he richly deservesit. He is stunned, and I fancy will lie insensible for some littlewhile. I'll lash his hands behind him and make him fast to that ring inthe wall."

  He set to work on a portion of the jailer's waist-cloth, and tore itinto long shreds which he knotted together. When he had a piece ofsufficient length he turned the man on his face and lashed his handsfirmly, afterwards dragging him to the ring and making the tail end ofthe improvised rope fast there. He had now done all that was possible,and therefore, taking the bunch of keys which the Mahratta carried athis belt when he entered, Owen coolly left the cell, carefully shut andbolted the door after him, and having shot the locks stood in thepassage thinking and listening.

  "What of the other prisoners?" he said to himself. "They are somewherein this tower, though I believe on another story. No. They say that theyare in no immediate danger, while their imprisonment is no affair ofmine. Had they been taken with me it would have been a different matter.I must leave them, for to attempt their rescue would be to throw awayall chance of escape. Here goes!"

  Never before had he been in disguise, but he was a lad who took thetrouble to observe, and whose interest in life and people was so greatthat he was not content to think of himself and his own appearancealone, as is the case with some smaller minds, but noted the ways andappearance of all strangers, seeing the difference between theiractions, their walk, their manner of sitting, and a thousand and oneother matters which might have escaped the eye of one less wide awake.And now, thanks to that very power of observation, he fell into thecharacteristic light step of a Mahratta unconsciously, holding himselfproudly erect as was the wont of the soldiers and servants of the mightyHolkar. He jingled the keys in his hand, and since it was useless tostand there at the top of the stairs, he descended, two steps at a time,as his jailer was accustomed to do. And very soon he was at the foot, inthe big hall which gave access to the courtyard, and at his elbow wasthe sentry, a tall fellow wearing a steel head-piece. In the distance,suspended from the roof, was a lamp of Eastern manufacture, which shed afaint light over the place, and for an instant fear of recognitioncaused Owen to hesitate. But it happened that a strong night breeze hadgot up, and this playing into the hall and upon the lamp caused theflame to flicker and cast fitful shadows on the walls. The sentry turnedto face Owen, stared at him intently, and then shouldered his pike,giving a nod of recognition.

  "You will be making another journey, brother," he said in low tones, forit was well for Holkar's guards to refrain from disturbing him. "I heardthe chatti and the platter fall to the ground, and I suppose you will bereturning. It is the last meal which he will ever take. He is well, Ihope; but did you strike him? I thought I heard the sound of a blowalso."

  Owen stamped his foot as the man spoke, and swore in Mahratti. Turninghis head, he placed his hand to his ear and growled out a reply.

  "Speak not to me of the dog," he said angrily. "The fellow commanded meto set him free, and struck me to make me let him pass. That was thecause of the breakage. But he will be careful next time. I dealt him ablow in return which will keep him silent till----"

  "Till his hour comes, comrade. Hah! hah! These Feringhee dogs will allpay the price for their arrogance. But, hus-s-sh! Holkar is within."

  "Then I will go. Heed not the noise upstairs should the prisoner call.Let the dog lie and hunger till to-night."

  Owen went across the hall holding his hand to his ear, and boldlystepped down into the courtyard. It was empty save for the sentrystanding erect and alert at the gate, and Owen was in
the very act ofcrossing to him to bid him open when a thought struck him.

  "If this fellow, the French colonel, is so anxious about my safety inthe cell it is just possible that he has given orders that none are toleave the palace," he thought. "This man might then suspect, for as thejailer I ought to know all about the order. Hm! That is an unpleasantthought."

  While he pondered on the matter he wandered away across the courtyard,and presently found himself on the wide ledge which ran along behindthe wall defending the palace. It was in semi-darkness, for though asmall crescent of the moon was up, clouds filled the sky and obscuredthe light. And here he remained for some minutes, thinking deeply andstarting nervously at every sound. Suddenly a door opened at the side ofthe palace, some thirty yards behind him, and a flood of light pouredout, illuminating a portion of one of Holkar's gardens. Owen crouchedbeneath one of the brass cannon beside which he happened to have beenstanding, and then lay flat on his face, for the figure which emergedwas that of Colonel Le Pourton. He stood silhouetted against thebrightly illuminated archway of the door for some few seconds, and thenhe strode across to the courtyard with the step of a man who has amatter of some importance to carry out. Owen followed carefully, hisbody close to the wall, shrouded in the dense darkness which existedthere. And very fortunate for him was it that he did so; for as theColonel came to the main entrance of the palace Owen heard him call tothe sentry.

  "It is time the jailer took food to the prisoner," he cried. "Bid himcome to me ere he does so, for I desire to go to the cell and speak withthe white man. I will return to my quarters now. Bid him come there tosummon me."

  And faintly the answer came back, "My lord, the prisoner is fed, and theman you ask for gone some little time. He went into the courtyard, and Ihave not seen him since."

  The Frenchman growled out at the reply, and swinging round went to theman stationed at the outer gate, of whom he demanded whether he had seenthe jailer.

  "I did, some little while ago now, my lord," came the answer, while thecourtyard rang with the sound of the man's pike as he grounded it on theflags. "He went across this place and on to the wall yonder, where he isnow without doubt, for there is no way out and he has not returned.Unless he slipped past against the far wall, when the sentry within willhave seen him."

  Once more the Colonel swung round, and Owen realised with a sickeningfeeling of dread that he was coming across to the spot where he was inhiding. Terror of discovery and what would follow almost rooted him tothe spot, and it was fortunate for him that his enemy, happening tothink of some other matter, returned to question the sentry again. Owentook full advantage of the respite. Darting along the wall, he did nothalt till he came to the farther end, where a flanking tower was erectedpreventing farther progress. There he halted, looking about him like ahunted animal, while his ears caught the approaching step of the Colonelin the distance. His danger was imminent, and discovery seemed more thancertain. He drew his sabre, and then thrust it back with a sharp cry ofdelight. For danger sharpens men's wits at times, and Owen's mind hadsuddenly returned to what he had seen that day. He ran towards theapproaching step, tiptoeing over the grass which bordered the wall, andhalted beside the big gun which had caught his eye. There was not aninstant to be lost, and therefore without hesitation he unhooked hissabre and thrust it into the muzzle, lest it should strike later andattract attention. Then he sprang on to the wall, and thrust one leginto the gun. Leaning all his weight on his hands, he did the same withthe other, and in less time than it takes to tell he was out of sight,swallowed by the gigantic weapon.

  What if it were loaded! What if this Colonel discovered him, and takingadvantage of his position fired the gun!

  "It would come to the same in the end," thought Owen. "Anyhow, I am surethat I could not have found a finer hiding-place, while as for room, inhere there is heaps. It is as I thought. The calibre is very muchgreater than one usually comes across, and the muzzle must measure quitetwo feet--ample room for a youngster like me. Hark! There he comes."

  He held his breath, for the sound of a footstep near at hand camedistinctly to his ears. He heard the Colonel move along past the gun tothe wall of the flanking tower, and then his steps as he returned.Evidently he was a little uncertain of the sentry's tale, for he steppedto the wall, and leaning his hand on the muzzle of the giant gun withinwhich his prisoner lay he leaned over and peered into the darkness ofthe street below.

  "Not there. It is a good jump, and the fellow knows that I have givenstrict orders that none are to leave the palace," Owen heard him say.Then he raised his voice and called angrily to the sentry.

  "Over there!" he shouted; "the jailer is not here, and doubtless youhave never seen him. Pass the word in that he is to be found and is tocome to me without delay. See that the order is given."

  He leaped to the ground and went off in the darkness, while Owen,waiting till his steps had ceased to reach his ears, dragged himself tothe edge of the muzzle, and craning his head over it stared after him.The figure of the French colonel had disappeared in the gatheringdarkness, but within a minute it appeared again at the entrance to hisquarters, where his tall frame was again silhouetted against the lightwithin. Then he was gone again, and there was only the light, streamingout from the opening.

  "He wants the jailer, and the orders are that none leave the palace,"said Owen. "Very well. He shall be obeyed. I will go to him."

  He swung himself out of the gun, hitched on his sabre, and crossed tothe opening. A minute later he disappeared within, bent on interviewinghis enemy.