CHAPTER XIX

Ted's Friends are Bewildered

The 4th Sikhs had left Aurungpore for Delhi, and the fort was garrisoned by a corps of the newly-recruited Punjab Irregulars, of whom Major Munro was in command, with Leigh as his second in command. Colonel Woodburn was now able to hobble about, helped by a stick and his daughter's arm. Sir Arthur Fletcher had resumed the administration of justice, the shops were open once more, and the town had settled down almost to its normal state.

One day late in June Ethel and her father were seated in the officers' quarters of the fort, whither the colonel was wont to resort daily to talk over the latest rumours and reports. Munro and Leigh were lamenting their fate, tied down to police and depot duty, when they wanted to be up and doing before Delhi.

"I am sending a draft to Delhi to-morrow," said the major, "and there's a new batch of recruits due to-day--raw peasants, who must be polished up."

"It is rough on us being shut up here," said Leigh, "drilling and training the raw material, and as soon as they are soldiers, comes an order from John Lawrence saying, 'How many can you send to Delhi?' Still, if we were not here, there'd soon be a rumpus again."

"How many do you send off to-morrow?" the colonel asked.

"A hundred; all Sikhs, and fine men too. They go to Lahore first to be inspected by Sir John, and then they join other detachments going to Delhi.---- Well, what is it?"

An orderly had entered.

"The draft has arrived, sahib."

"Very good. Send the officer in charge to me."

Who should enter the room but Ensign Tynan? The four occupants started to their feet. They had not heard of his escape from death, and firmly believed he had been blown to pieces, his body never having been found, for the best of reasons. Tynan was white, and looked ill both in body and mind, and he trembled from head to foot.

"Tynan! Can it be possible, my lad?" cried Colonel Woodburn, holding out his hand. "I never thought to see you again."

Tynan saluted his colonel, and bowed to Ethel. He hesitated, however, and his face flushed as she stepped forward with outstretched hand to greet him. Stammering some more or less appropriate reply, he sat down in a palpable and inexplicable state of nervousness.

In reply to the shower of questions, he told the story of his rescue. Not the true story, but one he had had plenty of time to fabricate, and had repeated over and over again to himself in readiness for the dread moment. He was committed now to the statements contained in that detestable document--the trap set for him by the unscrupulous Pir Baksh. The paper had passed from hand to hand, from one officer to another, and he would have to attest its truth before Colonel Woodburn and Major Munro. No wonder he was agitated. Before strangers he had repeated the lie with comparative calmness and confidence, but the officers of the 193rd knew both Russell and himself too well, and he had little doubt whom they would be most ready to believe.

He had only recently heard that Ted and the two sepoys had also been saved from destruction, and he did not know what account of the incident Ted had given to the world, neither was he aware that his cowardice had been reported by Ambar Singh.

He told the story of his escape with unusual caution and deliberation, and painted in more glowing colours the services rendered by Pir Baksh, to whom he gave credit for risking his life in order to save Tynan's. His audience opened their eyes, and Munro interposed:

"But Russell distinctly stated that Pir Baksh was one of the ringleaders."

"So he appeared to be, sir, but he was forced to play that rôle. He tried to save us in the fort, but Russell would not trust him. I felt sure that he was genuine, and was doing his best to hold the others back."

"Oh, indeed!" said the major drily; "yet Russell informed us that you told him and Lowthian that you saw Pir Baksh shoot the colonel."

"Russell told you that, sir!" Tynan replied with an air of great surprise. "He must have misunderstood me completely."

Tynan had forgotten his unlucky remark, and bitterly he repented the cowardice that had landed him in this net. It was the old story of the first easy lie that had to be supported and buttressed by innumerable untruths.

"Not Pir Baksh, sir," he continued hastily. "It was Abdul Din who shot Colonel Woodburn. I think I see how it was. When they were attacking us, Abdul Din stood by the side of Pir Baksh, and when I pointed, saying, 'That's the fellow who fired the shot!' they must have thought I meant Pir Baksh."

"Oh!"

His hearers hardly knew what to think. Tynan's tale was plausible enough, and Ted might easily have been mistaken. Perhaps after all Pir Baksh had been judged too hastily, and had been less of a scoundrel than they had imagined. He had always seemed a friendly fellow, apparently proud of his regiment.

"And after your rescue by the Gurkhas?" asked Colonel Woodburn.

"I had the fever for at least a fortnight, sir. My first thought when I heard that Aurungpore was saved was to report myself, and I received orders from Colonel Bratherton at Jehanabad to take Pir Baksh with me, as an investigation of his conduct must be held by his C.O. We were to have accompanied the 49th Punjabis, but at the last moment they were ordered to Delhi, so I was told to wait for this draft and bring them here."

"I suppose," asked Colonel Woodburn "that some enquiry was held, considering the suspicious conduct of Pir Baksh at the moment of your rescue?"

"Yes, sir;" and Tynan's agitation increased. "I have to hand you the statement signed by the officer whose men rescued me, and of course the subadar's character must be cleared."

He handed various documents to the major, and broke into a perspiration as he anticipated the coming amazement, incredulity, and growing suspicion. He hated Ethel Woodburn for being there, and would have given anything to have induced her to leave.

It was surely by the irony of fate that Tynan, being in command of the draft, was also responsible for the safe custody of Pir Baksh, whose final disappearance he longed and prayed for. The Moslem had tried hard to find some excuse for slipping away, but Captain Hornby had kept him under arrest, and so had Colonel Bratherton, both having their own opinion of the fellow's loyalty. Pir Baksh was no more anxious to be off than was Tynan to rid himself of his "old man of the sea".

In fact the subadar of the 193rd was having a less anxious time than his accomplice, for he still hoped, by force of lying, to pull through the enquiry. He reflected that in all probability he had not been recognized by anyone except Russell, who was at Delhi, having been more concerned with the attacks on the fort than with those on the house, and neither he nor Tynan were aware that Ambar Singh and Dwarika Rai had been saved. Of course the budmashes of Aurungpore would know the part he had played, but they would say nothing for fear of incriminating themselves.

Major Munro first read through Colonel Bratherton's covering letter and looked hard at Tynan, who was sitting in profound contemplation of his boots, and boorishly repelling the friendly advances made by Ethel. Munro then read Hornby's report of the rescue, and finally the remarkable papers signed by Tynan and Pir Baksh. Colonel Woodburn, watching him narrowly, saw that the major was striving hard to overcome some strong emotion. The contents mastered, he handed the documents to his former colonel without a word.

"I don't believe a word of it," said the latter, throwing the papers on the table.

Tynan flushed.

"My word should be as good as Russell's," he muttered; "but he was always in favour, and you were always down on me."

"It has been your fault, Tynan," said the major mildly, "if we have had a higher opinion of Russell than of you. Russell said nothing about this affair, and gave you as much credit as himself, until Ambar Singh told us the whole story."

This was another blow for Tynan, for he had not heard that Ambar Singh was to be reckoned with. He was becoming more and more entangled in the meshes.

"Ambar Singh?" said he after a moment's hesitation. "I expect he did it to curry favour by praising Russell."

It was now Ethel's turn to flush. She was on the point of expressing a very decided opinion, when a look from her father checked the words. It was no business of hers at present.

"That is not very likely, Tynan," the major replied. "To speak plainly, this won't wash with us, though it may do for strangers who know nothing about the matter. You've had fever, and you've imagined all this and forgotten what really happened."

Tynan heartily wished that this had been the case, and the colonel pointed out that the document was signed before the fever, not after.

"But I expect the poor fellow was raving," said Munro, "after the shock and the blow on his head."

"It's perfectly true," Tynan vehemently asserted as the major's words gave him an idea. Dull though he was, like many foolish people he had a certain amount of cunning.

"Why should it not be true?" he continued. "I don't wish to say anything against Ted Russell, but I don't see why he should have the credit that's due to me."

"Tell us, then," suggested Colonel Woodburn, "what really did happen in the fort, and when the idea of blowing up the magazine first occurred to you."

"As soon as we got inside," Tynan doggedly answered, "I whispered to Russell that perhaps we should be reduced to that. I whispered, because I did not wish the Rajputs to suspect. Then during one of the quiet intervals I slipped away and laid a trail of powder from the magazine to the door of the room we were holding. I didn't carry it farther, for the same reason--fear of our sepoys' terror."

Tynan had now completely abandoned himself to the father of lies, and he went on recklessly.

"When Pir Baksh offered to save our lives I felt convinced that he really wished to help us. Russell and I quarrelled because he would not trust him."

"Then you admit that you would have surrendered the stores and munitions had it not been for Russell?" the colonel coldly remarked.

"No, sir, I would not. I should first have made conditions that before we marched out the sepoys must clear away and leave the streets clear for us, and I believe Pir Baksh could have induced them to agree, and I should have lighted a slow match as we left the place and run for it. But Russell would not give me the chance of explaining, and he influenced the sepoys against me and closed the negotiations before I'd any chance of showing what I meant."

"Well, go on," said the colonel more kindly.

"Well, sir, I will say this for Russell, that he was very plucky, and at the end, when all was hopeless, he finished the powder-trail. Until then Ambar Singh and the others had not dreamt of my plans."

He broke off abruptly, and, as though suddenly enlightened, continued:

"I see it now! I dare say that Ambar Singh really did think that Russell alone was responsible. When it came to firing the powder I claimed the right to do it, but he had hold of the candle, and said he had taken over the command, that he'd deposed me, and he would do it. We had a bit of a scuffle, and he threatened me with a pistol. So he set the powder alight. But I claim that I was in command; it was my suggestion, and I laid most of the train, and therefore I should have the credit. I will say for Russell that he backed me up well, and was plucky. That's all I've got to say."

Woodburn and Munro were silent for some time. Tynan's tale was certainly plausible enough, and it seemed as if there might have been misunderstanding. Perhaps Ted had been too hasty in thinking that Tynan was willing to surrender unconditionally. Still, it was very strange that he had never mentioned that Tynan had first suggested the explosion, and that he had laid the train. Though, now they came to think of it, Ted had at first said "we". They had put it down to modesty, yet the words might have been correct. Could it be that when Ambar Singh had given his version, the temptation to take the credit to himself, now that he believed Tynan dead, had been too strong for the boy?

This was not like Ted, but in justice to Tynan they must admit that it was possible.

"We must consider your report, Tynan," said the major. "If any wrong has been done to you, we will try our best to get at the truth without any favouritism. Go and see to your men now. We dine in an hour."

"Well, Woodburn, what do you make of it?" he continued, when the ensign had departed.

"I can't make head or tail of it. There is evidently room for doubt, and it may have been as he says."

"I'm afraid I was hasty in sending off that recommendation for the V.C.," said Munro, "because if Tynan's tale is true, Ted will not be entitled to it."

"You'd better put that right at once," advised the colonel. "Write and explain that there is some doubt."

"I will at once. I hope the letter may be received before anything has been said to Ted. It would be cruel to raise the lad's hopes."

"I don't believe a word of what Tynan has said," Ethel declared. "I'm sure he was lying. I was watching his eyes all the time, and there was no truth in them."

"It may be so, but I must write," said Munro.

For a long time the major wrestled with pen and paper before he composed a letter to his satisfaction. The contents we already know, and how they dashed Ted's hopes to the ground. The missive sealed, the colonel observed:

"I suppose we can trace Havildar Ambar Singh? His evidence will be wanted."

Ambar Singh had returned to his home in Merwar. The 193rd had been disbanded, and the few who remained loyal had been drafted into the newly-raised corps. But the havildar was not in a fit condition to endure the strain of a campaign, so he had gone home to recruit his health. However, they thought they knew where to find him.

"We can hold no enquiry," said the major, "until Delhi has fallen and Ted is free again, and the case ought certainly to be tried before officers other than those of the 193rd. We are hardly impartial, our sympathies being with Ted. Luckily Dwarika Rai is still here, and he may throw some light on the subject."

For Dwarika Rai, the fourth survivor of Lowthian's handful, had been promoted to the rank of havildar, and was now employed in drilling the raw material and teaching them the beauties of the goose-step.

"I'll drive Ethel home," said the colonel, "and come back presently with Sir Arthur, and we'll examine Dwarika Rai."

When the Woodburns had gone, Tynan returned to dine with Munro and Leigh. The colonel and the deputy-commissioner entered as the officers were smoking after their meal, and Dwarika Rai was sent for.

The Rajput entered the room, and in the act of saluting started back on beholding Tynan, who also gave a start and rose to his feet.

"Why!" he gasped, for no warning had been given him, "what is he doing here? I thought only Russell and I and Ambar Singh were saved."

Dwarika Rai still stood open-mouthed as though he had seen a ghost.

"He also was saved," explained the major. "Dwarika Rai, it is indeed Tynan Sahib."

"I am rejoiced to see him, for I thought he was dead," said the soldier simply.

"We wish to recall to your memory some of the events that took place in the fortress when you were attacked," Munro began. "Didst thou notice the part taken by Pir Baksh during the fighting? Was he a ringleader?"

"Indeed, sahib, I'm not sure. Russell Sahib and Ambar Singh considered him so, but I could not help thinking that he wished us well. He seemed to fire without aiming, and never hit anyone, and I verily believe that he wished to save our lives. But the others would not trust him, and perhaps they were right."

Munro and the colonel looked at one another.

"Your opinion, then, was that he had been forced to rebel?"

"I thought it might be so, Colonel Sahib; in fact, once after the firing had been hot, Bisesar Singh whispered to me that the heart of Pir Baksh was not in the affair. When I asked him why, he replied that the subadar had covered him with his musket, and then winked at him and fired high. Yet sometimes he appeared to lead the dogs; but perhaps that was to divert suspicion, perhaps he had to feign to be as faithless as themselves whenever they were watching him."

"That is probable enough," Sir Arthur whispered to his colleagues. "Under the circumstances I can quite understand a man doing that."

"Yes, so can I," the colonel agreed. "Ted and Ambar Singh might easily have been mistaken, and have misjudged him."

When Leigh had finished recording the evidence, Major Munro asked Tynan to retire for a few moments. He then questioned Dwarika Rai as to who laid the powder train.

"Russell Sahib, I think," was the reply.

"Did you notice Tynan Sahib enter the magazine?"

"Yes, sahib, before they battered the door in. He was away some time, and I wondered why."

The major turned to his colleagues and observed in English:

"Tynan's tale is true so far;" and the others nodded assent.

"Tell us, then," asked Leigh, "is it true that Tynan Sahib tried to prevent Russell Sahib firing the train?"

"In short," said the deputy-commissioner, "did Ensign Tynan act as an officer or as a coward?"

"Nay," the man earnestly replied, "I do not like Tynan Sahib overmuch, greatly preferring Russell Sahib, but he was not a coward. He was very much excited, as we all were, and he tried to snatch the candle from his comrade's hand. But I thought they were contesting who should light the train, as if it matters who did it. The important thing is that it was done."

The Englishmen whispered together, and presently Munro said: "You may go, Dwarika Rai."

"I must say," began Colonel Woodburn, "his evidence confirms Tynan's in every important respect. I'm afraid we've done the lad a serious injustice."

"Yet his account differs from Russell's in point of actual fact, not merely in the interpretation put upon facts," the deputy-commissioner argued.

"Ted was probably excited, and the shock may have temporarily affected his memory," Leigh suggested.

"Ted is certainly to blame," said Munro. "He may easily have mistaken Tynan's excitement for terror."

Said Leigh:

"We forget. Ted Russell never accused Tynan of cowardice. That was Ambar Singh."

"But Ted did not deny it," said Munro, "and he ought to have done so. But when asked, he did state implicitly that the suggestion was wholly his. Either he or Tynan is lying. We must have a full enquiry, and meanwhile Tynan must be treated as 'not guilty' of cowardice."

"My humble opinion," said Leigh thoughtfully, "is that I'd believe Ted Russell's word against Tynan's oath. I don't understand it."

Had he seen Dwarika Rai's cheerful nod, as, returning to the men's quarters, he passed Ensign Tynan, he might have understood it better.

The havildar was a brave and loyal fellow, but he was a Hindu with a Hindu's respect for truth. Tynan, returning after the first interview with his superior officers, had almost run into Dwarika Rai as he entered the men's quarters. The surprise was great on both sides.

"I'm done for," was the first thought of our unscrupulous ensign. "This fellow will knock my tale on the head." His next was: "Why not bribe him to confirm what I have said?"

No one was looking on; he drew the Rajput aside into the orderly-room from which he had just emerged, and offered him a big bribe to bear false witness. The sepoy was greatly in want of money. In common with so many others of his class, the fields owned and tilled by many generations of his forbears were hopelessly mortgaged to the money-lending parasites, the curse of Hindustan. Here a sum was offered that might redeem them, and save his family from disgrace and ruin.

He hesitated. Would his evidence injure Russell Sahib? Tynan assured him it would not, he simply wanted a share of the credit for himself; and the Rajput consented. Tynan warned him what questions would be asked, and coached him to give suitable replies. He cunningly advised him not to appear too eager, and not to pretend to know too much, the chief points being that Pir Baksh was to be absolved, and that he, Tynan, was to have a share of the credit attached to the destruction of the magazine. The sharp-witted Hindu quickly understood his part, and improved upon his teacher's suggestions.

"It will do Russell Sahib no harm," he reflected.

Tynan then warned him that when they should meet in the room they were both to express the utmost amazement, and Dwarika Rai nodded in acquiescence.

He thoroughly earned his pay, as Tynan discovered when he rejoined his comrades.