In Clive's Command: A Story of the Fight for India

by Herbert Strang

  Chapter 21: In which Coja Solomon finds dishonesty the worse policy; and ajourney down the Hugli little to his liking.

  The short twilight was thickening into darkness when Desmond, with face,legs, and arms stained brown, slipped out of the fort in native dress andwalked slowly towards the houses of the native merchants. In his hand hecarried a small bundle. Reaching the house where his party was staying,kept by one Abdul Kader, he almost betrayed himself by forgetting to slipoff his sandals as he entered. But he bethought himself in time and wasadmitted without question.

  He found that he was not a moment too soon. Bulger had taken up hisquarters there with a very bad grace, the arrival of the Nawab's armyhaving aroused in him the fighting spirit of the sturdy British tar. Butwhen the news ran through the settlement that the fort was to be given uphis feelings overcame him, and it was only with the greatest difficultythat Surendra Nath had persuaded him to wait patiently for orders fromDesmond. Then the Babu himself had quitted the house, and Bulger was leftwithout the restraint of anyone who could speak English. He was on thepoint of casting off all prudence and stalking out, like Achilles fromhis tent, when Desmond arrived.

  "By thunder, sir!" he said, when he had recovered from his astonishmentat seeing Desmond in native dress, "I en't a-goin' to surrender to noMoors, sure as my name's Bulger. 'Tis a downright scandalous shame;that's what I call it."

  "Well, you can tell Mr. Watts so if ever you see him. At present we haveno time to waste in talk. Where is Surendra Nath?"

  "Gone to keep his weather eye on the codger's godown, sir."

  "Which shows he's a man of sense. Are all the men here?"

  "So far as I know, sir. I may be wrong."

  "Well, they'll make their way in small parties down to the river. 'Tisdark enough now; they will not be noticed, and they can steal along thebank under the trees until they come near Coja Solomon's ghat. You mustcome with me."

  "Very good, sir," replied Bulger, hitching up his breeches and drawinghis hanger.

  "But not like that. You'll have to get those black whiskers of yoursshaved, my man. If they grew all over you'd pass perhaps for a Moor; butnot with a fringe like that. And you must stain your face; I have thestuff in this bundle; and we'll borrow a dhoti and sandals from AbdulKader. We'll dress you up between us."

  Bulger looked aghast.

  "Dash my buttons, sir, I'll look like a November guy! What would my matessay, a-seein' me dressed up like a stuffed Moor at Smithfield fair--apenny a shy, sir?"

  "Your mates are not here to see you, and if you hold your tongue they'llnever know it."

  "But what about this little corkscrew o' mine, sir? I don't see any wayso' dressin' that up."

  "You can stick it into your dhoti. Now here are soap and a razor; I giveyou ten minutes to shave and get your face stained; Abdul Kader willhelp. Quick's the word, man."

  A quarter of an hour later Desmond left the house with Bulger, thelatter, in spite of the darkness, looking very much ashamed of himself.The other members of the party had already gone towards the river.Walking very slowly until they had safely cleared the lines of theinvesting troops, the two hurried their pace and about half-past eightreached the Armenian godown. The three boats containing Mr. Merriman'sgoods were moored at the ghat. A number of men were on board, and baleswere still being carried down by the light of torches. It appeared thatCoja Solomon had no intention of leaving until the factory was actuallyin Rai Durlabh's hands.

  Desmond had already decided that, to legalize his position, he must gainpossession of the dastaks. Not that they would help him much if, as wasonly too probable, Coja Solomon should be backed up by the Nawab. As soonas it was discovered that the goods had been carried off, kasids wouldundoubtedly be sent along the banks, possibly swift boats would set offdown the river in pursuit, and, dastaks or no dastaks, the goods would beimpounded at Khulna or Hugli and himself arrested. It was therefore ofthe first importance that the loss of the boats should not be discovereduntil he was well on his way, and to insure this he must secure theperson of Coja Solomon. If that could be done there was a chance ofdelaying the pursuit, or preventing it altogether.

  Desmond kept well in the shelter of the palm trees as he made hisobservation of the ghat. He wondered where Surendra Nath was, but couldnot waste time in looking for him. Retracing his steps with Bulger for alittle distance, he came to a spot on the river bank where the rest ofhis party were waiting in a boat, moored to an overhanging tree. Heordered the men to land; then, leaving Bulger in charge of them, heselected three of the armed peons and with them made his way across paddy{rice} fields toward the Armenian's house, a hundred yards or so from thebank.

  Light came through the reed-screened window. Bidding the men remainoutside and rush in if he called them, he left the shelter of the treesand, approaching the door, stumbled over the darwan lying across thethreshold.

  "Hai, darwan!" he said, with the bluntness of servant addressing servant;"sleeping again! Go and tell your master I'm here to see him: akhitmatgar from the fort."

  The man rose sleepily and preceded him into the house. He made theannouncement, salaamed and retired. Desmond went in.

  In a little room on the ground floor Coja Solomon reclined on a divan,smoking his hubblebubble. A small oil lamp burnt on a bracket above hishead. He looked up as Desmond entered; if he thought that his visitor wassomewhat better set-up than the average khitmatgar, he did not suspectany disguise. The light was dim, and Coja Solomon was old.

  "Good evening, Khwaja," said Desmond quietly.

  The man jumped as if shot.

  "No, don't get up, and don't make a noise. My business with you will nottake long. I will ask you to hand over Mr. Merriman's dastaks. I knowthat they are in your possession. I have come to get them, and to takeaway the goods--Mr. Merriman's goods."

  The Armenian had meanwhile removed the mouthpiece of his hubblebubble,and was bending over as if to replace it by one of several that lay on ashelf at his right hand. But Desmond noticed that beneath the shelf stooda small gong. He whipped out a pistol, and pointed it full at themerchant.

  "Don't touch that," he said curtly. "I have not come unprepared, as yousee. Your plans are known to me. If you value your life you will do as Iwish, without delay or disturbance. My men are outside; a word from mewill bring them swarming in. Now, the dastaks!"

  Coja Solomon was an Armenian and a merchant; in neither capacity afighting man. In a contest of wits he could be as cool and as ready asany man in Bengal; but he had no skill in arms and no physical courage.There was an air of determination about his visitor that impressed him;and he felt by no means comfortable within point-blank range of thepistol covering him so completely. If his thoughts had been read, theywould have run somewhat thus: "Pistols have been known to go offaccidentally. What will the goods profit me if such an accident happennow? Besides, even if I yield there may still be a chance of saving them.It is a long way to Calcutta: the river is low: God be praised the rainshave not begun! There are shallows and rocks along its course: the boatsmust go slowly: and the Nawab's horsemen can soon outstrip them on thebanks. The dog of an Englishman thinks he has outwitted me: we shall see.And he is only a youth: let us see if Coja Solomon is not a match forhim."

  Rising to his feet, he smiled and shrugged, and spread out his handsdeprecatingly.

  "It is true the dastaks are here," he said suavely, "but they onlyreached me yesterday, and indeed, as soon as I received them, I had thegoods put on board the boats for transit to Calcutta."

  "That is very fortunate," said Desmond. "It will save my time. As Mr.Merriman's representative I will take over the goods--with the dastaks."

  "If you will excuse me, I will fetch them."

  "Stay!" said Desmond, as the man moved toward the door. He had notlowered the pistol. "Where are they?"

  "They are in my office beside the godown."

  "Very well. It would be a pity to trouble you to bring them here. I willgo with you. Will you lead the w
ay?"

  He knew it was a lie. Valuable papers would not be left in a hut of anoffice, and he had already noticed a curiously wrought almara {cabinet}at one end of the room--just the place to keep documents.

  There was the shadow of a scowl on the Armenian's face. The manhesitated; then walked towards the door: stopped as if at a suddenrecollection; and turned to Desmond with a bland smile.

  "I was forgetting," he said, "I brought the papers here for safety'ssake."

  He went to the almara, searched for a moment, and handed two papers toDesmond.

  "There, sir," he said, with a quite paternal smile; "you take theresponsibility. In these unfortunate circumstances"--he waved his hand inthe direction of the factory--"it is, believe me, a relief to me to seethe last of these papers.

  "That is well."

  But Desmond, as he took the papers, felt himself in a quandary. Though hecould speak, he could not read Hindustani! The papers might not be thedastaks after all. What was he to do?

  The peons were not likely to be able to read. He scanned the papers.There was the name Merriman in English characters, but all the rest wasin native script. The smile hovering on the Armenian's face annoyedDesmond, and he was still undecided what to do when a voice at his elbowgave him welcome relief.

  "Babu Surendra Nath Chuckerbutti," announced the darwan.

  The Babu entered.

  "Come and tell me if these are our dastaks," said Desmond.

  The Babu ran his eyes over the papers, and declared:

  "Yes, sir, they are the identical papers, and I perceive the signature ofthe Faujdar is dated three weeks ago."

  "Thank you," said Desmond.

  "Now, Coja Solomon, I must ask you to come with me."

  "Why, sir--" began the Armenian, no longer smiling.

  "I will explain to you by and by.--

  "What is it, Surendra Nath?"

  The Babu whispered a word or two in his ear.

  "A happy thought!" said Desmond. "Surendra Nath suggests that I shouldborrow that excellent robe I see yonder, Khwaja; and your turban also.They will become me better than this khitmatgar's garb, I doubt not."

  Coja Solomon looked on helplessly as Desmond exchanged his meanergarments for the richer clothes of his unwilling host.

  "Now we will go. You will tell the darwan that you have gone down to theghat, so that if a question is asked he will be at no loss for ananswer."

  In the faint light of the rising moon the barrel of the pistol gleamed asthey came into the open. The Armenian marched between Desmond and theBabu. Behind came the three peons, moving as silently as ghosts.

  "The Khwaja," said Desmond to them in the Armenian's hearing, as theyreached the ghat, "is coming a little way with us down the river.

  "You, Kristodas Das, will go and tell Bulger Sahib that I wish him tofollow the Khwaja's boats at a few yards' distance, and to be prepared toboard at any moment.

  "You," turning to the other two peons, "will come with me. The Khwajawill send word to his durwan that he is going to Murshidabad by river andwill not return tonight; his house is to be locked up. The Khwaja will, Iam sure, give these orders correctly, for Surendra Nath will understandbetter than I what he says."

  With the Babu, the two peons, and Coja Solomon, who was now obviously illat ease, Desmond went down the ghat to the place where the crews of thepetalas were assigned to him. The man dared not depart by a jot from thewords put into his mouth. One of his coolies left with the message, therest followed their employer on board with Desmond and his companions,and in a few minutes the three boats were cast off and stood upstream. Asthey started Desmond saw the boat containing Bulger and his men slip fromthe shade of the trees and begin to creep after them.

  The boats had not gone more than a couple of hundred yards upstream whenCoja Solomon, at Desmond's orders, bade the men row toward the oppositeshore and turn the boats' heads round, explaining that he had decidedafter all to convey the goods to Hugli. There was some grumbling amongthe crew, who had expected to go to Murshidabad, and did not relish theprospect of the longer voyage. But the Armenian, knowing that every wordwas overheard by Desmond's men, made haste to pacify the boatmen.

  It was by no means easy work getting down the river. The boats were flatbottomed and drew very little water; but the stream being very low, theystuck fast time after time in the shallows. By day the boatmen might havepicked their way more carefully, but the moon was new and shed too littlelight for river navigation. More than once they had to leap overboardand, wading, shove and haul until the boats came off the mud banks intopracticable water again. They rowed hard when the course was clear,encouraged by promises of liberal bakshish made by their employer atDesmond's prompting. But the interruptions were so frequent that the dawnfound the boats only some thirty miles from their starting-point. Theriver being here a little deeper, Desmond could afford to let the rowerstake a much-needed rest, while the boats floated down with the stream.

  But as the day wore on the river again played them false, and progresswas at times reduced to scarcely more than two miles an hour. Things hadbeen uncomfortable in the night, but the discomforts were increasedtenfold in the day. It was the hottest season of the year; out of theclear sky the sun's rays beat down with pitiless ferocity; the wholelandscape was a-quiver with heat; all things seemed to swoon under theoppression. The petalas, being cargo boats, were not provided with anyaccommodation or conveniences for passengers; and Desmond's thoughts ashe lay panting on his mat, haggard from want of sleep, faint from want offood--for though there was rice on board, and the men ate freely, he hadno appetite for that--reverted to the worst period of his imprisonment inGheria, and he recalled the sufferings he had endured there.

  Here at least he was free. His journey had so far been unmolested, and hehoped that the happy chance that had favored him at Cossimbazar would notfail him now.

  He was in a fever of impatience; yet the men were doing their best. Theypassed the mud walls of Cutwa; another stage of the journey was safelycompleted; but twelve miles lower down there was a post at Path; and withevery mile the danger grew.

  Desmond talked over the situation with the Babu. Surendra Nath agreedthat by nightfall, if no unforeseen delay occurred, they might hope to bein the neighborhood of Khulna, and arrive there before any messengercarrying news of the escape.

  But there was little or no chance of the same good fortune at Hugli. Theprize was so valuable that every effort would certainly be made to stopthem. A whole day or more might pass before the reason of Coja Solomon'sabsence was discovered. But when the discovery was made fast runnerswould be sent to Khulna and Hugli, and by relays the distance betweenCossimbazar and Hugli could be covered in twenty-four hours. Supposingsuch a messenger started at nightfall on June fifth, nearly twenty-fourhours after Coja Solomon's disappearance, he might well get to Hugli longbefore the fugitive boats, even if they were rowed all night withoutcessation; and the men were already so much fatigued that such continuousexertion could hardly be expected of them.

  There was a further danger. If the news of the capture of CossimbazarFort had preceded him, he might be stopped at any of the riverside placeswithout any reference to Coja Solomon's abduction, pending orders fromthe Nawab. Desmond's anxiety would have been largely increased had heknown that Sirajuddaula, before his men had actually marched into thefort, had already started with the bulk of his forces on his fatefulmarch to Calcutta.

  Desmond was still in conversation with the Babu when the little flotillacame in sight of Patli. Its approach was observed. A boat put off fromthe ghat, and awaited the arrival of Desmond's boat in midstream. As itcame alongside an official ordered the men to cease rowing and demandedto know who was the owner of the goods on board and to see the dastaks.The Babu, to whom Desmond had intrusted the papers, showed them to theman; he scanned them, said that he was satisfied, and rowed back to theghat.

  Evidently he had no suspicions. During the short colloquy Desmond keptclose beside the Armenian, who was w
ell known to the riverside official;but Coja Solomon was thoroughly scared, and had not the presence of mindto do anything more than to acknowledge the customary salaam.

  Desmond breathed freely once more now that Path was passed. Buttwo-thirds of the journey still remained to be completed, and he dare nothope that at his slow rate of progress he would be able always to keepahead of information from Cossimbazar. Seeing that he could not hastenhis journey, he wondered whether it was possible to put pursuers off thescent. After thinking for a while he said to the Babu, out of hearing ofthe Armenian:

  "I have an idea, Surendra Nath: tell me what you think of it. Did you nottell me as we came up that there is a gumashta {agent} of the Company atSantipur?"

  "Certainly I did, sir."

  "Well, as we are, I fear, sure to be cut off by water, may we not take tothe land? Could not the gumashta get us a dozen hackeris {bullock carts}?We could transfer the goods to them and elude our pursuers perhaps longenough for help to arrive from Calcutta."

  "That is good counsel, sir; why should we not do so?"

  Accordingly, when they came to the spot where the high road crossed theriver by a ford, Desmond ordered his men to row in to the left bank.Selecting two men who knew the country, he bade them land and make thebest speed in carrying out instructions which he proceeded to give them.

  "You, Mohun Lal," he said, "will go to Santipur, quickly, avoidingobservation, and request the gumashta in Merriman Sahib's name to havetwelve hackeris, or as many as he can collect, ready to receive loads twoor three hours before tomorrow's dawn. He must get them from thevillages, not from Khulna or Amboa, and he must not tell anyone why herequires the carts.

  "You, Ishan, will go on to Calcutta, find Merriman Sahib, and ask him tosend a body of armed men along the Barrakpur road towards Santipur. Youwill tell him what we have done, and also that Cossimbazar Fort is in thehands of the Nawab, and Watts Sahib a prisoner. He may know this already.You both understand?"

  The men salaamed and started on their journey.