The Disputed V.C.: A Tale of the Indian Mutiny

by Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards

  CHAPTER XXIII

  Ted Extinguishes Himself

  "Where shall I find Ensign Russell?" enquired a messenger fromhead-quarters as he approached the outpost. Ted was quickly found, andhis agitation may be imagined when he learned that General Nicholson hadsent for him. Nervously, reverently, and full of sorrow, he entered thetent. The somewhat stern and haughty look, so well known to allevil-doers who had chanced to cross his path, had vanished from thegreat man's countenance as he greeted the boy.

  "So, young man, you've escaped unwounded?"

  "Yes, sir, ... at least only very slightly."

  "Ah, your arm, I see!" began the general. "Perhaps you can guess why Isent for you? Somehow I took a strange liking to you that day I arrivedon the Ridge, ... though I ought not to approve of disobedience,"continued the wounded man, smiling.

  Ted bent his head and was silent.

  "You are the son of Major-general Russell, I hear? I knew your fatherwell. I served with him in Afghanistan, and he will be a proud man whenhe hears that by an act of conspicuous bravery you perhaps averted adisaster to a whole column."

  John Nicholson was silent for a few moments before resuming:

  "I have since heard how you distinguished yourself when your regimentmutinied. You have begun well, keep on in the same way. Put duty first,and your country may one day be proud of you, as she is to-day of Tombsand Brind and Reid."

  Here the wounded general was interrupted by the entrance of Sir ArchdaleWilson, who, with grave and anxious face, had come to enquire as to thecondition of his second in command.

  Nicholson turned to him.

  "This is the lad, Wilson, of whom we were speaking yesterday. Youreceived a report from the officer commanding the 4th Column, statinghow Ensign Russell had helped to bring it safely in."

  Ted stood by with downcast eyes, and as he fumbled nervously with hissword-hilt he looked anything but a hero. Once or twice he opened hismouth as though he wished to speak, but could not overcome hisnervousness.

  General Wilson spoke cordially and kindly to him.

  "So you are Ensign Russell? I must tell you that your storming of thatnullah was worthy of the best traditions of our young officers. I amproud of commanding an army in which deeds of heroism are of dailyoccurrence, and young as you are, on General Nicholson's advice, Iintend to mark my appreciation by recommending you for promotion. Whilstawaiting formal confirmation, I take upon myself to raise you tosubaltern rank. Good-day, Lieutenant Russell!"

  "Good-bye, lad!" echoed Nicholson.

  "Thank you, sir!" Ted mumbled and moved away, then stopped in someconfusion, and again made as if to speak, but the eyes of the twogenerals were turned away.

  Anticipating some such reward for his brother's display of courage andresource, Jim had accompanied him to the camp, and was now walking upand down at some distance from the general's tent.

  "Well, what is it, old boy?" he asked excitedly, for Jim was feelingproud of his younger brother's distinction.

  For a few paces the boy walked on without replying. Then he said quietlyand wearily:

  "They complimented me about something or other. I'm sick of it."

  "What's the matter, young 'un, you look miserable? Is your cut smarting,or had you set your heart on promotion and feel disappointed? It's ashame! I think you ought to be promoted!"

  "No, it isn't," Ted contradicted testily.

  "Ted, whatever is the matter?"

  "Oh, I'm not well, Jim! I'm sorry I'm such a brute."

  "You look bad, young 'un; you must have that cut seen to. I thought youwere queer as we came along."

  Ted turned on his heel.

  "Don't wait for me," he muttered, and retraced his steps towards thetent he had just quitted, leaving Jim staring in bewilderment.Recognizing the ensign, the sentry gave admittance without question.General Wilson was still with his junior, and both turned their heads ashe entered.

  "Well, Russell, what is it?" General Wilson asked with surprise.

  "I'm very sorry, sir," faltered Ted, "I've been deceiving you."

  "How? What do you mean?"

  "I never meant to attack that nullah or rescue the fellows in it," theboy replied, now speaking eagerly and hurriedly. "I never knew there wassuch a place. I had lost a lot of my men, sir, and as the enemy werebeing reinforced in front, I ordered the men to double back to where Ithought our supports were. The ditch was hidden from us by anembankment, and we stumbled into the midst of the rebels, and if ithadn't been that the Gurkhas are so sharp and never get flurried, we'dall have been cut up, sir. As it happened, the pandies were moresurprised than we were, and they thought, I suppose, that we were inforce, and so they cut away. And everyone thought I had done it onpurpose, and they didn't give me a chance to explain. And then, aseveryone has been congratulating me, and I hadn't denied it at once, Ifound it still harder to explain afterwards. And--well, sir, after whatyou and General Nicholson said just now, I couldn't stand it any longer.And I'm very sorry, sir."

  General Wilson glanced at General Nicholson, who laughed The former laidhis hand on Ted's shoulder.

  "Don't be alarmed, youngster," he said; "I think I see how it was. Ofcourse I can't send in the recommendation now. You understand that, ofcourse?"

  "Of course, sir."

  "Come here, Ensign Russell," said John Nicholson.

  Ted approached.

  "I like to shake hands with an honest man. Oblige me by taking myhand--I can't take yours very well."

  Gently and reverently Ted pressed the hero's hand, then silently turnedand left the tent, lighter at heart than when he had entered it.

  Almost boisterously he greeted his brother, who had anxiously retracedhis steps, and was now awaiting him.

  "I'm all right now, Jim!" he cried, and proceeded to relate the wholestory, concluding:

  "You'll explain to Charlie and the others, won't you? I don't like to.There's a good fellow!"

  "I'm rather glad it's turned out this way, young 'un," said the elder."I knew you were plucky enough before, now I know you're somethingbetter."

  "I say, Jim," Ted blurted out after a few moments' silence, "supposeTynan's been done the same way?"

  "Done? What way?" asked the slower Jim.

  "I mean that perhaps someone began praising him for something he'd neverdone, and didn't give him a chance to put it right at once, and then hestuck to it for fear that people would blame him for not denying itstraight off. If it has happened that way I'm sorry for him, for he'llbe jolly miserable."

  "It's hardly likely," said Jim.

  * * * * *

  Outside the dying man's tent a few fierce tribesmen from Hazara and wildcut-throats from Bannu (in these two provinces Nicholson had beencommissioner) had collected from the various Punjab regiments, and wereloudly lamenting the supposed death of their idol.

  "Jan Nikkulseyn is dead! The great sahib is no more!" they wailed, asEnsign Russell appeared before them.

  "Tell us, _huzoor_[24]" a veteran native officer eagerly demanded, "ishe indeed dead?"

  [24] A title of respect.

  Ted assured the men that their idol still lived; but they shook theirheads, crying that the English were merely trying to keep the death asecret, and the wailing recommenced still more noisily. A loud voicefrom the other side of the canvas thundered:

  "Budmashes! Why do ye disturb my peace with that unseemly noise? WaliKhan, drive the rascals away and thrash them well! Know ye then that JanNikkulseyn is still very much alive!"

  At the sound of the well-known voice a cry of joy went up, and WaliKhan, the old subadar-major, at once proceeded to carry out his orderwith vigour. So he mercilessly thrashed those whose chorus he had justbeen leading, scattering them in all directions.

  "Allah be praised!" yelled the men of Bannu, as they jumped out of reachof Wali Khan's stick. "Allah be praised! Nicholson Sahib is indeedalive!"

  He only lingered, however, for a very short time. On the 23rd September,1857, Jo
hn Nicholson died at the early age of thirty-five, having donehis duty to God and to his country. Heavy were all British hearts thatday, not only with the Delhi army but throughout the Punjab. May ourcountry never lack such a son in time of trouble!

  The tidings of his death were soon proclaimed along the border, and menwent about heavily as though mourning for a father. Many a villainousfellow, whose evil ways and dark deeds had incurred the displeasure ofthe commissioner, felt a sense of personal loss now that JanNikkulseyn--his father and mother and hero--was no more.

  Shortly after the arrival of the news, a number of his devotees in Bannu(a place which has been described as a "hell upon earth", because of itswickedness, before Nicholson was made commissioner thereof) gatheredtogether to mourn their beloved chief. A _malik_, or headman, rising,spoke of the general's virtues, his love of truth and justice; then,suddenly ending, cried:

  "Oh, my brothers, what good is there in life now that our sahib isdead?"

  As he uttered the last word, the malik drew a knife quickly across histhroat, and fell in their midst--a corpse.

  "He speaks truly! What is there to live for now?" cried others. But apious man of great influence arose, and, stretching forth his hands torestrain them, spoke:

  "My children, think ye that our dead master would approve of this? Ourbrother was mistaken; that is not the way to honour him. Let us ratherseek to learn something of the God who was worshipped by NicholsonSahib."

  The listeners considered and approved this idea, and forthwith a numberset out for Peshawur. From that town a visit was paid to the nearestmissionary, with the result that several were converted to the Christianfaith.

  To this day, when the wind blows strongly between the mountains, menalong that frontier declare that they hear the tramp of Nicholson'swar-horse.

  * * * * *

  The heroes of the Siege of Delhi were without number, but of all theregiments engaged, the Sirmur Battalion had carried off the highesthonours. With tooth and nail had they defended their post, by day and bynight, for more than three months. No fewer than twenty-six distinct anddetermined attacks (one lasting all day and all night) had been made onthem by overwhelming hordes of the enemy, by brave men bent on obtainingpossession of that all-important post, and twenty-six times had theybeen hurled back by the handful of loyal, steadfast little highlanders.

  Their dogged achievements were not passed by unnoticed.

  Twenty years later, when the Prince of Wales paid his visit to India, heheld a review of British and Native troops on the historic Ridge, andthe 2nd Gurkhas (the old Sirmur Battalion) were given the place ofhonour in front of Hindu Rao's house, the post with which the corps willever be associated.

  On that spot the prince spoke to them of the heroic deeds of theirpredecessors, and conferred upon the regiment the title of "The Princeof Wales' Own Gurkhas"; and you can imagine how the little men,listening on that spot to the words of the great Queen's son, would feeltheir hearts stirred within them, and would resolve that they would playtheir part as their fathers had done, that the regiment might neversuffer disgrace.

  The Guide Corps was also awarded a special recognition of their services(though not at the same date), the queen granting them the title of "TheQueen's Own Corps of Guides", a compliment of which they are justlyproud. The king is now the colonel of both the "Guides" and the 2ndGurkhas, the latter being the corps that distinguished itself so greatlywith the Gordon Highlanders at the storming of Dargai a few years ago.

  To return to our story. The capture of Delhi broke the back of themutiny. By that feat the British gained the upper hand and kept it, andthenceforward their part was to attack and hunt the rebels from oneplace to another, instead of being constantly attacked and pressedthemselves. The regiments that had taken part in the siege of the Mogulcapital were despatched to various points, to join the different forcesengaged in subduing the revolt.

  Charlie Dorricot was too seriously injured to take any further part inthe campaign, and he had left for England before Lucknow was finallyrelieved. Alec Paterson had been less seriously injured, and was on hisfeet again within a fortnight.

  Captain Russell and the Guides returned to the Punjab, for that corps,as well as the Sirmur Battalion, had suffered terribly during thethree-months' fighting, and they were not employed in Sir ColinCampbell's campaign along the Ganges. Jim, however, succeeded inobtaining his majority towards the conclusion of the Sepoy war, and notvery long afterwards he was given the command of one of the newly-raisedPunjab infantry regiments.

  Ted, with his usual good luck--as his brother did not forget to informhim,--was remembered by General Wilson, and was attached to one of theregiments that was now ordered to reinforce the Lucknow Relief Force.

  But before he could join his new regiment an order came for him toproceed to Lahore, where a court of enquiry would decide whether he orTynan was unfit to wear Her Majesty's uniform. The court consisted ofColonel Bratherton and two captains. Tynan, Pir Baksh, and Dwarika Raiswore on oath to the truth of the statements made before their officersat Aurungpore. Colonels Woodburn and Munro gave evidence as to thecharacter borne by the two ensigns, and related all they had gatheredfrom Ambar Singh. Ethel Woodburn and Sir Arthur Fletcher corroborated.

  Unfortunately for Ted, Ambar Singh, the havildar, could not be traced.He had evidently been restored to health, for all that could bediscovered pointed to the fact that he had re-enlisted in one of thenewly-enrolled regiments, and was probably with Sir Colin Campbell.

  In his evidence Ted flatly denied all Tynan's statements, one by one.

  First, he swore that he was positive Tynan had pointed out Pir Baksh byname as the man who shot Colonel Woodburn; secondly, that Tynan hadcursed Pir Baksh more than once as a ringleader; and thirdly, that Tynanhad never suggested blowing up the arsenal, nor indeed had any idea thatsuch a step was contemplated. Fourthly, that Tynan had tried to preventhim from lighting the train, and that there could have been no possibledoubt of his intention when struggling for possession of the light.

  Ted's evidence and the manner in which it was given impressed the courtfavourably. Tynan's did not. His manner was not convincing, and it wasevident that he shrank from the gaze of the other ensign. Still, therewere three witnesses for him, and Ted's word stood alone.

  Then came new evidence to spring a surprise upon Ted's party. Two sepoysof the Rajputs deposed that Ambar Singh had confessed to them that hisconscience upbraided him for having taken money from Russell Sahib toblacken the character of the dead ensign--meaning Tynan Sahib.

  The feeling in court at once swung round in Tynan's favour, and theofficers of the 193rd looked at one another aghast. Sir Arthur Fletchersmiled. He knew something about native witnesses. Ethel quietlywhispered to Lieutenant Leigh, who was acting as counsel for Ted, andhis face brightened.

  "Admitting the probability of bribery," he said, "what, then, is theevidence of these two men worth? Mr. Tynan has had better opportunitiesand more time than Mr. Russell to resort to such means--and, I may say,a far greater supply of the wherewithal to bribe."

  But in reply to questions of the opposing counsel, Munro admitted thatwhen Dwarika Rai first gave evidence there was practically nopossibility of collusion with Tynan. Dwarika Rai had at that momentheard that he was alive, and Tynan was evidently greatly surprised tosee Dwarika Rai.

  The court retired to consider their judgment. The evidence was in favourof one--the bearing and character in favour of the other. They reportedto Sir John Lawrence that they could arrive at no decision in thematter. The great man listened attentively, and proceeded to give thematter his consideration. Something must be settled without delay, heresolved, for the position was intolerable for that one of the twoensigns who had right and justice on his side.

  Sir John requested the senior of the three officers to remain when theothers retired. Colonel Bratherton was a power in the district, with anexcellent reputation among the Sikhs and an unusually intimate knowledgeof the m
en he commanded.

  "Tell me your private opinion about this affair, Bratherton?" asked thechief commissioner.

  Colonel Bratherton was silent and thoughtful for some time.

  "Well, Sir John, the evidence is against young Russell, but somehow I'mconvinced that he's straight and that the other is not."

  "Um!"

  A look of annoyance came over those masterful eyes, and the broad browwas knit in perplexity. But not for long. A humorous twinkle took theplace of the frown, and the ruler of the Punjab presently whispered tothe soldier, whose expression of deep concern gradually resolved itselfinto a smile in sympathy with his chief. They conferred for at least tenminutes before the colonel rose to take his leave.

  "I'll arrange it all, Sir John," said he. "There will be littledifficulty, for I have the very men we want. Kendal will do itadmirably, and he can make up to the life. Where shall we be, though, ifthey both hold out?"

  "Both?" Sir John's eyes sparkled as he added: "You forget there will bea third--Pir Baksh. But of the ensigns one is evidently quiteunscrupulous, and will no doubt give himself away."