In Times of Peril: A Tale of India

by G. A. Henty

  CHAPTER XXII.

  THE LAST CAPTURE OF LUCKNOW.

  The women and children brought from Lucknow once sent off from theBritish camp, the commander-in-chief was able to direct his attentionto the work before him--of clearing out of Cawnpore the rebel army,composed of the Gwalior contingent and the troops of Koer Sing and NanaSahib, in all twenty-five thousand men. Against this large force hecould only bring seventy-five hundred men; but these, well led, wereample for the purpose.

  The position on the night of the 5th of December was as follows. TheBritish camp was separated from the city by a canal running east andwest. The enemy were entirely on the north of this canal, their centeroccupying the town. Outside the city walls lay the right of the rebelarmy, while his left occupied the space between the walls and theriver. In the rear of the enemy's left was a position known as theSubadar's Tank. The British occupied as an advanced post a large bazaaron the city side of the river.

  The operations of the 6th of December were simple. A demonstration wasmade against the city from the bazaar, which occupied the attention ofthe large force holding the town. The main body of the British werequietly massed on its left, and, crossing three bridges over the canal,attacked the enemy's right with impetuosity. These, cut off by the citywall from their comrades within, were unable to stand the Britishonslaught and the thunder of Peel's guns, and fled precipitately,pursued by the British for fourteen miles along the Calpee Road. Everygun and ammunition wagon of the mutineers on this side fell into thehands of the victors.

  As the victorious British force swept along past the city, Sir ColinCampbell detached a force under General Mansfield to attack and occupythe position of the Subadar's Tank--which was captured after some hardfighting. Thus the British were in a position in rear of the enemy'sleft. The mutineers, seeing that their right was utterly defeated, andthe retreat of their left threatened, lost all heart, and as soon asdarkness came on, fled, a disorganized rabble, from the city they hadentered as conquerors only six days before. The cavalry started nextday in pursuit, cut up large numbers, and captured the greater part oftheir guns.

  The threatening army of Gwalior thus beaten and scattered, and Cawnporein our hands, Sir Colin Campbell was able to devote his whole attentionto clearing the country in his rear, and in preparing for the greatfinal campaign against Lucknow, which, now that Delhi had fallen, wasthe headquarters of the mutiny.

  The next two months were passed in a series of expeditions by flyingcolumns. In some of these the Warreners took part, and both shared inthe defeats of the Sepoys and the capture of Futtyghur andFurruckabad--places at which horrible massacres of the whites had takenplace in the early days of the mutiny. During these two months largereinforcements had arrived; and Jung Bahadoor, Prince of Nepaul, hadcome down with an army of ten thousand Ghoorkas to our aid.

  On the 15th of February the tremendous train of artillery, ammunitionand stores, collected for the attack upon the city, began to cross theriver; and upon the 26th of the month the order was given for the armyto move upon the following day.

  The task before it was a difficult one. From all the various pointsfrom which the British had driven them--from Delhi, from Rohilcund, andthe Doab, from Cawnpore, Furruckabad, Futtyghur, Etawah, Allyghur,Goruckpore, and other places--they retreated to Lucknow, and there werenow collected sixty thousand revolted Sepoys and fifty thousandirregular troops, besides the armed rabble of the city of three hundredthousand souls. Knowing the storm that was preparing to burst upontheir heads, they had neglected no means for strengthening theirposition. Great lines of fortifications had been thrown up; enormousquantities of guns placed in position; every house barricaded andloopholed, and the Kaiserbagh transformed into a veritable citadel. Inhopes of destroying the force under General Sir James Outram, at theAlumbagh--which had been a thorn in their side for so long--a series ofdesperate attacks had been made upon them; but these had been uniformlydefeated with heavy loss by the gallant British force. On the 3d ofMarch the advanced division occupied the Dil Koosha, meeting with butslight resistance; and the commander-in-chief at once took up hisheadquarters here. The next three days were spent in making thenecessary disposition for a simultaneous attack upon all sides of thetown--General Outram on one side, Sir Hope Grant upon another, JungBahadoor, with his Nepaulese, on the third, and the main attack, underSir Colin Campbell himself, on the fourth.

  Great was the excitement in the camp on the eve of this tremendousstruggle. Colonel Warrener and his sons met on the night before thefighting was to begin.

  "Well, boys," he said, after a long talk upon the prospects of thefighting, "did you do as you talked about, and draw your pay and get itchanged into gold?"

  "Most of it," Ned said; "we could not get it all; and had to pay atremendous rate of exchange for it."

  "Here are the twenty pounds each, in gold, lads," Colonel Warrenersaid, "that I told you I could get for you. Now what do you want itfor? You would not tell me at Cawnpore."

  "Well, father, at Delhi there was lots of loot taken, quantities ofvaluable things, and the soldiers were selling what they had got fornext to nothing. I had some lovely bracelets offered me for a fewrupees, but no one had any money in their pockets. So Dick and Idetermined that if we came into another storming business, we wouldfill our pockets beforehand with money. They say that the palaces, theKaiserbagh especially, are crowded with valuable things; and as theywill be lawful loot for the troops, we shall be able to buy no end ofthings."

  Colonel Warrener laughed.

  "There is nothing like forethought, Ned, and I have no doubt that youwill be able to pick up some good things. The soldiers attach no valueto them, and would rather have gold, which they can change for spirits,than all the precious stones in the world. I shall be out of it, as, ofcourse, the cavalry will not go into the city, but will wait outside tocut off the enemy's retreat."

  The fighting began with General Outram's division, which worked roundthe city, and had on the 7th, 8th, and 9th to repulse heavy attacks ofthe enemy.

  On the 9th Sir Colin Campbell advanced, took the Martiniere with butslight opposition, crossed the canal, and occupied theSecunderbagh--the scene of the tremendous fighting on the previousadvance. The Begum's palace, in front of Bank House, was then attacked,and after very heavy fighting, carried. Here Major Hodgson, the captorof the king of Delhi, was mortally wounded. General Outram's force hadby this time taken up a position on the other side of the river, andthis enabled him to take the enemy's defenses in flank, and so greatlyto assist the advancing party.

  Day by day the troops fought their way forward; and on the 14th theImaumbarra, a splendid palace of the king of Oude, adjoining theKaiserbagh, was breached and carried. The panic-stricken defenders fledthrough the court and garden into the Kaiserbagh, followed hotly by theSikhs, Ghoorkas, and Highlanders. Such was the terror which theirappearance excited that a panic seized also the defenders of theKaiserbagh, and these too fled, deserting the fortifications raisedwith so much care, and the British poured into the palace. For a fewminutes a sharp conflict took place in every room, and then, the Sepoysbeing annihilated, the victors fell upon the spoil. From top to bottomthe Kaiserbagh was crowded with valuable articles, collected from allparts of the world. English furniture, French clocks andlooking-glasses, Chinese porcelain, gorgeous draperies, golden thronesstudded with jewels, costly weapons inlaid with gold, enormousquantities of jewelry--in fact, wealth of all kinds to an almostfabulous value. The wildest scene of confusion ensued. According to therule in these matters, being taken by storm, the place was lawfulplunder. For large things the soldiers did not care, and set to tosmash and destroy all that could not be carried away. Some put on theturbans studded with jewels; others hung necklaces of enormous valueround their necks, or covered their arms with bracelets. None knew thevalue of the costly gems they had become possessed of; and few indeedof the officers could discriminate between the jewels of immense valueand those which were mere worthless imitations.

  As soon as
the news spread that the Kaiserbagh was taken the guns fireda royal salute in honor of the triumph; and all officers who couldobtain an hour's leave from their regiments hurried away to see theroyal palace of Oude.

  The Warreners were both near the spot when the news came; both wereable to get away, and met at the entrance to the palace. Alreadysoldiers, British and native, were passing out laden with spoil.

  "What will you give me for this necklace, sir?" a soldier asked Ned.

  "I have no idea what it's worth," Ned said.

  "No more have I," said the soldier; "it may be glass, it may besomething else. You shall have it for a sovereign."

  "Very well," Ned said; "here is one."

  So onward they went, buying everything in the way of jewels offeredthem, utterly ignorant themselves whether the articles they purchasedwere real gems or imitation.

  Penetrating into the palace, they found all was wild confusion.Soldiers were smashing chandeliers and looking-glasses, breaking upfurniture, tumbling the contents of chests and wardrobes and casketsover the floors, eager to find, equally eager to sell what they hadfound.

  Bitter were the exclamations of disappointment and disgust which theWarreners heard from many of the officers that they were unprovidedwith money--for the soldiers would not sell except for cash; but for afew rupees they were ready to part with anything. Strings of pearls,worth a thousand pounds, were bought for a couple of rupees--fourshillings; diamond aigrettes, worth twice as much, went for asovereign; and the Warreners soon laid out the seventy pounds whichthey had between them when they entered the palace; and their pocketsand the breasts of their coats were stuffed with their purchases, andeach had a bundle in his handkerchief.

  "I wonder," Dick said, as they made their way back, "whether we havebeen fools or wise men. I have not a shadow of an idea whether thesethings are only the sham jewels which dancing girls wear, or whetherthey are real."

  "It was worth running the risk, anyhow; for if only half of them arereal they are a big fortune. Anyhow, Dick, let's hold our tongues aboutit. It's no use making fellows jealous of our good luck if they turnout to be real, or of getting chaffed out of our lives if they provefalse. Let us just stow them away till it's all over, and then askfather about them."

  It was calculated that twenty thousand soldiers and camp-followersobtained loot of more or less value, from the case of jewelry, valuedat one hundred thousand pounds, that fell into the hands of an officer,to clocks, candelabra, and articles of furniture, carried off by theleast fortunate. The value of the treasure there was estimated at tenmillions of money at the lowest computation.

  The fall of the Kaiserbagh utterly demoralized the enemy; and from thatmoment they began to leave the town by night in thousands. Numbers werecut off and slaughtered by our cavalry and artillery; but large bodiessucceeded in escaping, to give us fresh trouble in the field.

  Day by day the troops fought their way from palace to palace and fromstreet to street. Day and night the cannon and mortar batteriesthundered against the districts of the city still uncaptured; and greatfires blazed in a dozen quarters, until gradually the resistance ceasedand Lucknow was won.

  It was not until a week after the storming of the Kaiserbagh--by whichtime everything had settled down, order was restored, and theinhabitants were, under the direction of the military authorities,engaged in clearing away rubbish, leveling barricades, and razing tothe ground a considerable portion of the city--that Colonel Warrenerand his sons met. The troops were now all comfortably under canvas inthe cantonments, and were enjoying a well-earned rest after theirlabors.

  "Well, boys," he said, "have you heard Warrener's Horse is to be brokenup? The officers have all been appointed to regiments, the civiliansare anxious to return to look after their own affairs. I am to go up totake the command of a newly-raised Punjaub regiment. Dunlop goes withme as major. Manners has been badly hit, and goes home. The greaterpart of the naval brigade march down to Calcutta at once. The forcewill be broken up into flying columns, for there is much to be doneyet. The greater portion of these scoundrels have got away; and thereare still considerably more than one hundred thousand of the enemyscattered in large bodies over the country. I am going to Delhi,through Agra, with Dunlop; I accompany a detachment of fifty irregularPunjaub horse, who are ordered down to Agra. Then I shall go up toMeerut, and have a week with the girls; and do you know I have seenCaptain Peel and your colonel, Ned, and have got leave for you both fora month. Then you will go down to Calcutta, Dick, and join your ship;Ned will of course, rejoin his regiment."

  The lads were delighted at the prospect of again seeing their sisterand cousin; and Dick indulged in a wild dance, expressive of joy.

  "Well, boys, and how about loot; did you lay out your money?"

  "We laid it out, father; but we have not the least idea whether we havebought rubbish or not. This black bag is full of it."

  So saying, Ned emptied a large handbag upon the top of a barrel whichserved as a table. Colonel Warrener gave a cry of astonishment, as agreat stream of bracelets, necklaces, tiaras, aigrettes, and otherornaments, poured out of the bag.

  "Good gracious, boys! do you mean to say all these are yours?"

  "Ours and yours, father; there were forty pounds of your money, andthirty-five of ours. Do you think they are real?"

  Colonel Warrener took one or two articles from the flashing heap ofdiamonds, emeralds, rubies, opals, and pearls.

  "I should say so," he said; "some of them are certainly. But have youany idea what these are worth?"

  "Not the least in the world," Ned said; "if they are real, though, Isuppose they are worth some thousands of pounds."

  "My boys, I should say," Colonel Warrener replied, turning over theheap, "they must be worth a hundred thousand if they are worth a penny."

  The boys looked at each other in astonishment:

  "Really, father?"

  "Really, my boys."

  "Hurrah," Dick said. "Then you can give up the service when this war isover, father, and go home and live as a rich man; that will beglorious."

  "My dear boys, the prize is yours."

  "Nonsense, father!" exclaimed the boys together. And then began anamicable contest, which was not finally concluded for many a long day.

  "But what had we better do with all these things, father?" Dick said atlast.

  "We will get a small chest and put them in, boys. I will give it to thepaymaster--he is sending a lot of treasure down under a strongescort--and will ask him to let it go down with the convoy. I willdirect it to a firm at Calcutta, and will ask them to forward it to myagent at home, to whom I will give directions to send it to afirst-class jeweler in London, to be by him opened and valued. I willtell the Calcutta firm to insure it on the voyage as treasure at twentythousand pounds. Even if some of them turn out to be false, you maycongratulate each other that you are provided for for life."

  "And when do we set out, father?" Ned asked, after they had talked forsome time longer about their treasure.

  "In three days' time. We shall accompany a flying column for the firsttwo days' march, and then strike across for Agra."

  The next two days the Warreners spent in investigating the town, inwandering through the deserted palaces, and admiring their vast extent,and in saying good-by to their friends. A great portion of the teemingpopulation of Lucknow had fled, and the whole city outside the originaltown was to be cleared away and laid out in gardens, so that henceforthLucknow would be little more than a fifth of its former size. Theruined Residency was to be cleared of its _debris_, replanted withtrees, and to be left as a memorial of British valor. The entiredistrict through which Havelock's men had fought their way was to becleared of its streets, and the palaces only were to be left standing,to be utilized for public purposes. The whole of the remaining malepopulation of Lucknow was set to work to carry out these alterations.The scene was busy and amusing, and the change from the fierce fight,the din of cannon, and the perpetual rattle of musketry, to the order,regula
rity, and bustle of work, was very striking. Here was a party ofsappers and miners demolishing a row of houses, there thousands ofnatives filling baskets with rubbish and carrying them on their headsto empty into bullock carts, whence it was taken to fill up holes andlevel irregularities. Among the crowd, soldiers of manyuniforms--British infantry, Rifles, Highlanders, artillery and cavalry,sinewy Sikhs, and quiet little Nepaulese--wandered at will or worked infatigue parties.

  The three days past, Colonel Warrener, his sons, and Major Dunlop tooktheir places on horseback with the troop of irregular cavalry commandedby Lieutenant Latham, and joined the flying column which was settingout to attack a large body of the enemy, who were reported to begathering again near Furruckabad, while simultaneously other columnswere leaving in other directions, for broken at Lucknow, the rebelswere swarming throughout all Oude. The day was breaking, but the sunwas not yet up, when the column started--for in India it is theuniversal custom to start very early, so as to get the greater part ofthe march over before the heat of the day fairly begins--and the youngWarreners were in the highest spirits at the thought that they were ontheir way to see their sister and cousin, and that their nine months ofmarching and fighting were drawing to a close, for it is possible tohave too much even of adventure. At ten o'clock a halt was called atthe edge of a large wood, and after preparing breakfast there was arest in the shade until four in the afternoon, after which a two hours'march took them to their halting-place for the night. Tents werepitched, fires lighted, and then, dinner over, they made merry groups,who sat smoking and chatting until nine o'clock, when the noise ceased,the fires burned down, and all was quiet until the _reveille_ soundedat four o'clock, after which there was an hour of busy work, gettingdown, rolling up, and packing the tents and baggage in the wagons.

  Another day's march and halt, and then Colonel Warrener and his friendssaid good-by to their acquaintances in the column, and started with thetroop of cavalry for Agra. Unincumbered by baggage, and no longerobliged to conform their pace to that of the infantry, they trottedgayly along, and accomplished forty miles ere they halted for the nightnear a village. The country through which they had passed had an almostdeserted appearance. Here and there a laborer was at work in thefields, but the confusion and alarm created by the bodies of mutineerswho had swept over the country, and who always helped themselves towhatever pleased them, had created such a scare that the villagers forthe most part had forsaken their abodes, and driven their animals, withall their belongings, to the edge of jungles or other unfrequentedplaces, there to await the termination of the struggle.

  At the end of the day's journey they halted in front of a greatmosque-like building with a dome, the tomb of some long dead prince.The doors stood open, and Colonel Warrener proposed that they shouldtake up their quarters for the night in the lofty interior instead ofsleeping in the night air, for although the temperature was still high,the night dews were the reverse of pleasant. It was evident by theappearance of the interior that it had been used as the headquartersand storehouse of some body of the enemy, for a considerable quantityof stores, military saddles, harness, coils of rope, and barrels offlour were piled against the wall. A space was soon swept, and a firelighted on the floor. Outside the troopers dismounted, some proceededto a wood at a short distance off to fetch fuel, others took the horsesto a tank or pond to drink. It was already getting dusk, and inside thegreat domed chamber it was nearly dark.

  "The fire looks cheerful," Colonel Warrener said, as, after seeing thatthe men had properly picketed their horses, and had made all theirarrangements, the little group of officers returned to it. A trooperhad already prepared their meal, which consisted of kabobs, or piecesof mutton--from a couple of sheep, which they had purchased at avillage where they halted in the morning--a large bowl of boiled rice,and some chupatties, or griddle cakes; a pannikin of tea was placed byeach; and spreading their cloaks on the ground, they set to with theappetite of travelers. Dinner over, a bottle of brandy was producedfrom one of Major Dunlop's holsters, the pannikin was washed out, and asupply of fresh water brought in, pipes and cheroots were lighted, andthey prepared for a cheerful evening.

  "I am very sorry Manners is not here," Dick said; "it would have beenso jolly to be all together again. However, it is a satisfaction toknow that his wound is doing well, and that he is likely to be allright in a few months."

  "Yes," Colonel Warrener said, "but I believe that he will have to leavethe service. His right leg will always be shorter than the left."

  "I don't suppose he will mind that," Ned said. "I should think he musthave had enough of India to last for his life."

  "Mr. Latham," Dick said presently to the officer in command of thecavalry, "will you tell us your adventures? We know all about eachother's doings."

  So they sat and talked until ten o'clock, when Mr. Latham went round tosee that the sentries were properly placed and alert. When he returnedthe door was shut, to keep out the damp air, and the whole party,rolling themselves in their cloaks, and using their saddles forpillows, laid up for the night. Dick was some time before he slept. Hisimagination was active; and when he at last dozed off, he was thinkingwhat they had best do were they attacked by the enemy.

  It was still dark when with a sudden start the sleeping party in thetomb awoke and leaped to their feet. For a moment they stoodbewildered, for outside was heard on all sides the crack of volleys ofmusketry, wild yells and shouts, and the trampling of a large body ofcavalry.

  "Surprised!" exclaimed the colonel. "The sentries must have beenasleep!"

  There was a rush to the door, and the sight that met their eyes showedthem the extent of the disaster. The moon was shining brightly, and byher light they could see that a large body of rebel cavalry had fallenupon the sleeping troopers, while the heavy musketry fire showed that astrong body of infantry were at work on the other side of the mosque.Lieutenant Latham rushed down the steps with his sword drawn, but fellback dead shot through the heart.

  "Back, back!" shouted Colonel Warrener. "Let us sell our lives here!"